The NRP is the best thing to happen to foster grass-roots management in any city since we got too big for all-city New England town hall meetings.
25 years ago, there were almost NO sidewalk cafes. Powers had to fight city hall to get provisional permission for 3 or 4 tables out there. Kramarczucks and others soon followed and we have all benefitted, all over the city. Green approaches to the river. The world's second most famous river is now being integrated with the social life of the city instead of being hidden behind light and heavy industry, and that's wonderful. Boom Island Park, Mississippi Mile, the new park-archaeological site, Main Street and Nicollet Island development. I wonder if the Klonderator decisions had anything to do with our nearly new council? Paddlewheelers at Boom Island Stone Arch Bridge belongs in there also along with the new cobblestone extension past the A-mill. The really real trolley and the new bandshell. Cleaner lakes in the city. Pocket parks and plants all over the place. My children sold Marcy School fundraiser plants to merchants in Dinkytown for about 10 years. The plants looked great and (IMHO) started a change in the way Dinkytown presented itself. The powers that be decided to replace the planting area with iron grates around the trees, so now cigarette butts and you-don't-want-to-know-what are back on the street all over the place, but for about 10 years it was begonias and impatiens instead of grunge and butts. The sculpture garden and the blue and yellow bridge. I wish we could get Gehry's crystal carp over to the Weisman--I happen to think they belong together and the open space between the Weisman and Coffman is just the place for the crystal carp. Downtown city lights are wonderful! Try the view from East Hennepin. Dolly Fitterman Gallery at Central and University; Swedish Museum; Art Institute; Walker; Hennepin County History; Uptown Art Fair and its two sister fairs; free concerts all over the place The Farmer's Market at Lyndale North has expanded on Sunday into some sort of a all-products street fair. A-1! The Ceresota Flour sign has NOT been painted over or "updated" in any way (Yeaaaahhhh!!!) No one has offered to take down the witch's hat tower on Prospect Hill. They rehabbed the Wright house in Prospect Park--and a major job, it was! The cooperation between the Metro area public libraries, giving us all access to everything. As a 3rd generation University of Minnesota person, I have to add the covered pedestrian bridge over the Mississippi between East and West Banks. I grew up listening to tales of noses frozen while people trekked across the river. I never had a problem and the older ones frankly envied me. Emilie Quast SE Como _______________________________________ Minneapolis Issues Forum - A Civil City Civic Discussion - Mn E-Democracy Post messages to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subscribe, Unsubscribe, Digest option, and more: http://e-democracy.org/mpls
