[Mpls] Scott Vreeland for Mpls. Park and Rec. Board District 3

[Svattheriver]

I am announcing my candidacy for the Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board.
I would like to serve on the Operations and Environment committee. Dean
Zimmerman is the current commissioner for the third district.

I am a board member of the Seward Neighborhood Group and an advocate of
neighborhood control and grassroots democracy. With our very active
environment committee, I have worked on riverbluff restoration, planting
native species, alternative energy projects, environmental education and
sustainability/livability issues. I am a member of the Community Oriented
Policing Task Force and the Mayor's Graffiti Task Force. I am participating
in the Solid Waste Management Coordinating board Community Education Project.
I am a member of Seward Redesign

How can we have a cleaner, greener city?
Clean water is an essential focus. Our drinking water comes from the
Mississippi River. Can we swim in our lakes? Can we eat the fish? Working to
get our water cleaner involves many interrelated problems/solutions:
pollution, watersheds, development, staffing, intergovernmental relations
public education and major changes in how we use and have huge grass lawns.
We need to invest in and preserve a healthy urban forest. We need clean and
safe parks, a commitment to youth and youth activities, environmental
education and advocacy of life long sports and recreation.

We can promote an appreciation of the natural environment and encourage
environmentally friendly policies and practices for reducing waste and
recycling and promote ecologically sound plant and tree management.

The Mississippi River is such an incredible river and the river gorge in
south Minneapolis is quite unique. I would like to develop more appreciation
for the river so there would be more advocates of natural preservation.

I would like a campaign of ideas and energy and a word of mouth campaign that
is not focused on how much money needs to be raised. I would like to work on
physical activities, (planting seeds, growing trees, watershed cleanup) that
bring us together, working with our hands - so that our hearts  may grow.     
   Thanks, Scott Vreeland  Ward 2  Seward   Park District 3