I am also adding to this e-message (since its my 2nd post of the day) the announcement about the Parkway Closings - coming up this Sunday and neighborhood groups who can use help at the vehicle stopping points.
Annie
> Subject: Parkway Closings to vehicular traffic June 29, July 27, August 31, and September 28th
>
> Here are the specifics of the Parkway closings. Each of the neighborhood people I have been dealing with wanted to be sure we had barricades available at some point where the people could turn either left or right to avoid having to back down the street at the closure. This would include 28th and Thomas and Dean Parkway and Thomas. In addition at the intersection of West Lake of the Isles Parkway and East Lake of the Isles Parkway, Chad Larsen the President of CIDNA requested a total of 4 barricades.
>
> The contact people from the Neighborhood Organizations are:
>
> Debbie Nelson @ (612)529-9558 w/ the Victory Cleveland Neighborhood Organization
> Meg Fourney @ (612)924-4343 w/ the West Lake Calhoun Neighborhood Organization
> Chad Larson @ ( 612)677-7283 w/ the CIDNA Neighborhood Organization [EMAIL PROTECTED]
> Bruce Grimm @ (612)825-5831 w/the East Lake Calhoun Neighborhood Organization
> Betsy Hodges @ (612)925-5999 w/ the Linden Hills Neighborhood Organization [EMAIL PROTECTED]
>
> Work with these people directly if you have any concerns or questions.
And here is the actual Press release for those who want to take the time to read it.
Minneapolis Park & Recreation Board
200 Grain Exchange, 400 S. 4th Street
Minneapolis, MN 55415
www.minneapolisparks.org
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE200 Grain Exchange, 400 S. 4th Street
Minneapolis, MN 55415
www.minneapolisparks.org
Contact: Mike Schmidt, 612-661-4800
Ginger Sisco, Sisco Public Relations, Inc., 763-544-0629, [EMAIL PROTECTED]
PARK BOARD TO CLOSE SELECTED PARKWAYS TO VEHICLES
LAST SUNDAY OF THE MONTH ALL SUMMER
Walkers and bikers take to the streets noon to 4 p.m. on June 29
Minneapolis, MN�June 24, 2003�In the summer of l997, certain parkways were closed to cars so pedestrians and bicyclists could have free access to the streets. The Park Board is bringing the practice back on the last Sunday of each summer month starting Sunday, June 29.LAST SUNDAY OF THE MONTH ALL SUMMER
Walkers and bikers take to the streets noon to 4 p.m. on June 29
On June 29, July 27, August 31 and September 28, the following parkways will be closed to vehicle traffic from noon to 4 p.m.:
East Calhoun Parkway between Lake Street and Richfield Road
West Calhoun Parkway between Lake Street and 36th Street West
Lake of the Isles Parkway West between Dean Parkway and Calhoun Drive
Memorial (Victory) Parkway between 34th and 45th Avenue North
After seeing a 1997 photo of people walking on the parkway, Commissioner John Erwin initiated conversation about bringing the practice back. �In a time of budget cuts, we need free events to bring people together.�
Many of the commissioners met with neighborhood groups adjacent to the parkways to get their reaction and gauge their willingness to volunteer to make the closures happen.
�When we received a positive response, we selected the last Sunday of the month to make it consistent and easy to remember,� said Commissioner Annie Young. The Park Board will provide roving concession carts.
Commissioner Vivian Mason initiated parkway closures in l997 when paths were under construction at Lake of the Isles. �Families needed safe places to walk and bike,� she said. Parkways were first closed in the l970s when there were no split paths for walkers and bikers.
Neighborhood groups will share the cost of the closures by putting up and taking down the street barricades. Property owners adjacent to the closed sections of the parkways have been notified by postcard.
�We�ll evaluate the public�s response later in the fall. Our plan is to bring back the closures next summer,� said Park Board Chair Bob Fine.
#
