Jason Stone wrote: Minneapolis is well known for its healthy park system. Peter Harnik, of the Trust for Public Land, describes the city as closer to “urban park nirvana” than any other city in the nation. The current system is not only accessible, large, and beautiful, it is also well managed by its governing body, the Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board. Continued at ... http://www.ny4p.org/parks/minneapolis.php
Peter Vevang Writes: The parks are great 'in some areas'. Around the lakes, I agree that the parks are fantastic. Major investments have been made, including managing the entire watershed to protect the lakes. Hundreds of millions of tax dollars have gone into that area to build that value. The effect of all of that investment has been to improve the quality of life in these areas and to stabilize and maintain property values in bad years, and push them up in good years. Stable nieghborhoods have resulted in more stable schools and other practical benefits. The park system has been an economic lifesaver to certain parts of the city and an engine for development in areas served by the best parks.
But there is a disproportionate tilt of resources to areas that are already well served by the park system. NE is not well served well by the park system. We don't we have a decent link to the Minneapolis greenway system. The Park Board can't even find the spare change to mow their dandelion lawns in our area! We see cuts first and improvements last. Holland park will see its first major update literally since the 1950's. We have had 50 years of neglect, while our tax dollars paid for many millions of dollars in improvements elsewhere. We had to raid our NRP money to get our meager improvements. One project can't make up for 50 years and we shouldn't have had to bribe the Park Board with NRP money. I personally believe that NE is due more attention on a large scale, we paid taxes and deserve a service in return. We NEED major park and civic investments if we are to prosper on par with the rest of the city.
I would like to see a greater commitment to fair resource allocation and more vision from our park board, if they can't do that then we need a new park board.
Peter Vevang Holland
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