I studied the question of whether the golf courses produced a profit several
years ago. Back then, the golf courses did transfer some monies to the Park
Board general fund but it didn't even cover the administrative costs
incurred because of the golf courses, much less return a profit to the
taxpayer.
Golf courses were not purposefully built in flood plains. The golf courses
were built where the Park Boards could buy farms. This is why Meadowbrook
is situated outside of Minneapolis. It may have been easier to get farms
where the land was poor, however.
Carol Becker
Longfellow
----- Original Message -----
From: Michael Welch <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
To: Multiple recipients of list <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
Sent: Friday, November 03, 2000 1:29 PM
Subject: Re: Meadowbrook
> Somebody may have noted this early on in the discussion and I missed it,
> but I'm pretty sure the city golf courses produce a profit for the park
> board, underwriting other amenities instead of requiring a subsidy. I
> have to admit that I view the debate about the courses and potential
> sale thereof through the lens of a frequent user of the courses. Like
> Catherine Shreeves, I consider the Mpls public courses a unique treasure
> and would not be able to play very much were it not for their affordable
> rates (I and other mpls residents can get a discount card). Recent
> improvements to Wirth, Hiawatha, Columbia and Meadowbrook have really
> made them extra nice.
>
> Also, the courses mentioned above were built (purposely, I assume) in
> flood plains. This produces another benefit to the community at large --
> the courses hold water during big storms. In the mid-80s, the park board
> granted an easement to the Bassett Creek Water Management Commission
> (for $1) to store an enormous amount of water on Wirth in the event of a
> 100-year flood. Construction of the associated flood-control devices was
> completed in June 1987, just weeks before the most tremendous rain I've
> ever seen in my life. I don't have exact figures handy, but I know the
> storage of water on Wirth saved more than $1M in damage to homes and
> businesses downstream.
>
> ---Michael Welch
> Bryn Mawr
> VV
>
