Just a couple of informational notes: 1) Mike Hohmann mentioned that the Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board should facilitate community gardening throughout Minneapolis. I agree with this. I started a process where the MPRB will play a greater role in community gardening in Minneapolis. Comm. Annie Young and Vivian Mason have been very interested in this topic for sometime now and are long-term community garden advocates as well.
2) To that end, I made a motion last spring, which passed, for the MPRB to facilitate community gardens off of park board lands by offering to become landholders of such properties and helping organize their maintenance. The motion was developed in conjunction with representatives of neighborhood groups as well as the Green Institute. Neighborhoods groups would, however, have to give their blessing in each case. Therefore, another non-profit that can not be a landholder can transfer such properties to the MPRB for current or future use as a community garden. The cost of running that garden will not rest on the shoulders of the MPRB, however, but the users and they must participate in maintenance of that property including winter snow shoveling. 3) This is a beginning. I agree that community gardens should be permissible on park lands as well - if neighborhoods are behind it. This is a completely legitimate use of park lands - however, such gardens should not be profit making ventures. We made a start of this in Powderhorn Park (with Comm. Marie Hauser's support) last year with the Youth Farm - although profit generating, this was a youth recreation function. 4) In short, the MPRB may be able to help facilitate keeping the community garden on the north side recently discussed! MPRB Comm. Jon Olson has already called Council member Samuel's office to suggest this option. 5) Call the MPRB (612-661-4800) for the exact motion and wording. The Planning division (Judd Rietkirk - Assistant Superintendent) is responsible for organizing the paperwork with any such efforts. Feel free to call me also with any questions and/or concerns (612-385-6863). Sincerely, John Erwin City-Wide MPRB Commissioner and Horticulture Prof at the U. TEMPORARY REMINDER: 1. Don't feed the troll! Ignore obvious flame-bait. 2. If you don't like what's being discussed here, don't complain - change the subject (Mpls-specific, of course.) ________________________________ Minneapolis Issues Forum - A City-focused Civic Discussion - Mn E-Democracy Post messages to: mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Subscribe, Unsubscribe, Digest, and more: http://e-democracy.org/mpls
