2011 Annual Report

People for Parks

Mission: People for Parks is a non-profit organization created to
stimulate financial and community support for Minneapolis Parks
from citizens, businesses and organizations.
People for Parks carries out special projects in cooperation with our donors and the Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board.
People for Parks purpose is to sponsor programs and projects that enhance and promote our city's park services and facilities.
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2011 Accomplishments
2011 was easily the most active and engaged year in recent People for Parks (PFP) history. We look back on the achievements your support made possible with pride and gratitude. We couldn’t have accomplished this without you!

2011 Citizen Partnerships

This spring we partnered with long time PFP member Peg Meier and her West Cedar Lake neighbors to help them gather and administrate funds to reforest their nearby Triangle Park successfully. We also partnered with residents in the South Minneapolis Lynnhurst neighborhood and surviving family members, led by Mark Kaplan, to gather funds to create and install a large, stone memorial marker on Minnehaha Parkway near Bryant Avenue South. The memorial commemorated the fifteen people who died in the 1950s crash of NW Flight 307 into a home on the parkway. That successful citizen initiative and placement was completed in August.

Our most ambitious citizen-initiated partnership was with a group named Falls 4 All (F4A). Their goal was to raise over $100,000+ to help create a disabled-access playground in Minneapolis. The site selected was the Upper Wabun playground area slated for a complete updating in 2012. (Wabun Park is located directly east of Minnehaha Falls and adjacent to the Ford Bridge.) The F4A group became an operating committee of People for Parks this year with PFP providing administrative support, liaison with the Park Board and personnel support as needed.  Their efforts included staging fund-raising events and aggressive grant writing. Year-to-date they have raised close to their original goal for the project with some precincts yet to report in. We are proud to be associated with this effort.

Trees for Parks

On a familiar front, PFP’s underwriting of the Minneapolis Park and Recreation’s May 2011 Arbor Day was the largest yet. With a major grant the MPRB were able to plant close to 300 new trees in Pearl Park which is located adjacent to Diamond Lake.  In October, we granted additional funding to help enable planting of trees in Folwell Park in North Minneapolis. The Folwell effort is an initial response to the loss of trees incurred in North Minneapolis as a result of the May 22nd tornado. 

5K Funded Projects

The 6th Edition of the People for Parks 5K was held in early September at Lake Harriet.  Net proceeds of the event are allocated to maintain and improve Lake Harriet buildings. Close to 500 participants took part in the event this year.  From both an aesthetic experience and as a fund raising effort it was a solid success.

Using funds from the 5K fund, PFP joined with the MPRB to undertake two major improvements to Lake Harriet facilities this year. One PFP grant enabled the replacement and repair of the wood shake roof and a complete power washing and exterior painting of the building known as the Women’s Ordinary Building.  Located just north and west of the Bandshell seating plaza, this building is one of the two oldest buildings in the Minneapolis Parks system with a fascinating history.  Completely refurbished by a citizen’s initiative in 2001 it was badly in need of repair and exterior painting again. That project was completed in August of this year, along with power washing and repainting of the Lake Harriet concession building.

Other 2011 Projects Made Possible by Your Donations

2011 PFP grants also enabled purchase of buckthorn removal tools, and paid for the installation of new chess tables purchased by the surrounding neighborhood for Linden Hills Park.  Additionally, we matched funds raised by neighborhood residents for landscaping at Audubon Park. Last but not least, the 2nd Annual PFP/MPRB  Picture-a-Park Photo Contest grew substantially from its inaugural effort.  This year there were over 300 entries and selecting the winners proved to be very difficult. The winning photos can now be seen at www.peopleforparks.net.

Please Join Us in Our Efforts to Enhance Our Parks

Funding for parks from property taxes has decreased. Maintenance and enhancement continues to be required. A donation to People for Parks provides you a tax-deductible opportunity to support the parks you love. Whether you run or stroll the chain of lakes, take advantage of summer camps or adult classes, or simply enjoy the beauty they add to our urban environment, Minneapolis Parks are an essential part of our quality of life. Giving back allows us to act as stewards of a crucial community asset, allowing it to be maintained, improved and enjoyed for generations to come.

As you reflect on your year-end giving, please consider making a tax deductible donation to People for Parks, or purchasing a bench or paver in celebration of a special person or occasion. As always, People for Parks strives to keep our overhead low, leveraging volunteer efforts and minimizing expenses to ensure more of your donation goes back to the parks you love.

We truly appreciate your support. Without it, none of the 2011 projects above would have been possible. Thank you for joining us to work with passion and dedication for Minneapolis Parks.

People for Parks Board Members 2011

Jeff Winter, President

Myles Johnson, Vice President

Sylvia Fine, Secretary

Mark Kaplan, director

Jay Halvorson, director

Paul Hokeness, director
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2011 Income & Expenses
Public Donations
Bench/paver Income
Interest Income
Total Income

Expenses
Grants to Minneapolis Park Board
Accountant Fees
Annual State Filing Fees
Bank Fees
Bookkeeping
Contract Labor
Dues & Subscriptions
Office Administrator
Office Supplies
Postage & Delivery
Printing & Reproduction
Sponsorships
Telephone Expenses
Project & Event supplies
Kiosk Upgrade 
Office Space
Total Expenses (including grants disbursed)

$37,580.00
$14,760.00
$1,730.97
$54,070.97


$36,451.48
$01,029.00
$00,025.00
$00,035.94
$01,128.71
$00,908.38
$00,150.00
$07,827.50
$00,458.59
$01,196.26
$06,176.67
$00,387.50
$00,579.03
$11,197.00
$01,000.00
$00,840.00
$67,551.06

Balance Sheet

Dec 31, 2011 (Not including fixed assets and depreciation)

Checking/Savings
Total Checking/Savings  

Current Liabilities (held for others)
Peace Bridge Payable
Falls 4 All Payable (Gross) 
Total Current Liabilities  

Net People for Parks Funds
includes:
Designated Funds
Triangle Park 
Remick Tree Fund
Chess Table Fund
5K Funds/LHBS Funds
Flt 307 (net after expenses spent)
Total Designated Funds

Net Undesignated Funds 
    

Balance Sheet





$287,767.52


$006,463.92
$092,909.60
$099,373.52

$188,394.00


$01,058.30
$38,651.73
$03,016.00
$06,454.64
$00,305.00
$49,485.67

$138,908.33

2011 Form 990