$35,000 grant will be used for new nature play area shaped by feedback from North Minneapolis park users.

People for Parks recently approved one of their largest grants in its 41-year history to create an interactive nature play space near the Carl W. Kroening Interpretive Center in North Mississippi Regional Park. 

The $35,000 grant will be used to construct the new nature play area after North Minneapolis park users have a chance to weigh in on the plan. Nature play areas are built using materials like logs, sticks, rocks or water to foster imaginative play and a deeper connection to the natural world. We hope to begin construction in late 2018.

People for Parks’ Executive Director, Chriss Joyce, reminisces about when she was a kid, “I would find a fallen tree in the forest and it would provide hours of entertainment as my rocket ship, pirate ship, castle wall, or just be a place that I could enjoy the nature around me and watch the clouds pass by. I hope that this nature play area will allow for that same kind of curiosity, adventure, and fun for the nearby communities of North Minneapolis as well as residents beyond the Minneapolis boundaries.”

The Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board opened its first nature play area last summer at Lake Nokomis Community Center. Nature play areas were also included in plans for Keeywaydin, Matthews and Powderhorn Parks as part of the South Service Area Master Plan, a long-term plan for all South Minneapolis neighborhood parks approved in 2016.

“Playing for life is my motto, and nature play areas provide a wonderful way to promote discovery, creativity and imagination through outdoor experiences,” said Mary Merrill, MPRB Superintendent. “We’re excited about diversifying outdoor play opportunities at Minneapolis parks and grateful for partners like People for Parks to help make that happen.”

Future growth opportunities exist to help draw more visitors to the many offerings at the Interpretive Center. To learn more or to make an individual donation, visit www.peopleforparks.netor contact chriss@peopleforparks.net.

​Learn more about this Nature Play Space Project.

About People for Parks
People for Parks is a grass-roots 501(c)(3) non-profit that funds projects and programs which enhance the Minneapolis park system. In four decades, People for Parks has contributed more than $2 million and thousands of volunteer hours toward making Minneapolis parks more beautiful, more useful and more enjoyable. People for Parks was created in 1977 to help fight Dutch Elm Disease, which was decimating the city’s urban forest. By 1979, as the worst of the scourge had passed, People for Parks began to solicit contributions for a variety of park programs, working with the staff of the Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board to identify unfunded needs. 
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About the Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board
The Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board is an independent, semi-autonomous body responsible for the Minneapolis park system.  With 179 park properties totaling 6,804 acres of land and water, the Park Board provides places and recreation opportunities for all people to gather and engage in activities that promote health, well-being, community and the environment. Its Grand Rounds Scenic Byway, neighborhood parks, recreation centers and diversified programming have made the park system an important component of what makes Minneapolis a great place to live, play and work.  More than 22 million annual visits are made to the nationally acclaimed park system, which was named the number one park system in the nation in 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016 and 2017 by The Trust for Public Land’s ParkScore® Index.

Announcing our 2nd Annual Root Beer Run! We had so much fun last year that we decided to do it again and as more of a kick off to summer! The run will be on Mother's Day this year and we can't think of a better way to spend the afternoon with your family getting some fresh air and then rewarding yourself with a root beer float! 

We hope to see you at Boom Island on Sunday, May 13!

The Root Beer Run has a simple purpose: Be Active. Have Fun. Give Back. We hope kids of all ages join us for either the 0.5 mile dash or 1 mile fun run, both which finish with FREE ROOT BEER in a COMMEMERATIVE EVENT MUG, a kid's zone of activities, local community partners, and fun...all while raising money for local nonprofits People for Parks!

You can register now: https://www.eventsprout.com/event/rootbeer​ 

Announcing our 1st Annual Root Beer Run! We decided to change things up a bit this year and replace the Run, Walk, Stroll 5k with a shorter and more family friendly Root Beer Run. 

We hope to see you at Boom Island on Sunday, September 3rd!

The Root Beer Run has a simple purpose: Be Active. Have Fun. Give Back. We hope kids of all ages join us for either the 0.5 mile dash or 1 mile fun run, both which finish with FREE ROOT BEER in a COMMEMERATIVE EVENT MUG, a kid's zone of activities, local community partners, and fun...all while raising money for local nonprofits People for Parks and Red Shoe Society!


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Event details and registration can be found here: Root Beer Run

People for Parks offering customized permeable pavers to help fund new plaza coming this fall near World War I Mast Memorial at northeast end of the lake. 

The new plaza will be constructed this fall and connect a recently improved pedestrian trail to the existing WWI Mast Memorial that sits north of the Calhoun/Bde Maka Ska Refectory, where the Tin Fish restaurant currently leases space. The Calhoun/Bde Maka Ska-Harriet Master Plan, approved by MPRB Commissioners in May 2017, included restoration of historic objects and structures within the Northeast Calhoun/Bde Maka Ska focus area. 

Please Note: Pavers will not be installed until May/June 2018.

Please visit the People for Parks Pavers and Benches page for more information.

​People for Parks offering customized permeable pavers to help fund new plaza coming this fall near World War I Mast Memorial at northeast end of the lake 
The Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board (MPRB) would like to thank People for Parks for its generous donation of $17,500 for a new permeable paver plaza next to the World War I Mast Memorial at the northeast end of Lake Calhoun/Bde Maka Ska.
The new plaza will be constructed this fall and connect a recently improved pedestrian trail to the existing WWI Mast Memorial that sits north of the Calhoun/Bde Maka Ska Refectory, where the Tin Fish restaurant currently leases space. The Calhoun/Bde Maka Ska-Harriet Master Plan, approved by MPRB Commissioners in May 2017, included restoration of historic objects and structures within the Northeast Calhoun/Bde Maka Ska focus area. 
People for Parks will manage a paver customization program where members of the public can customize a paver that will be installed in the plaza by MPRB staff. This program will be run in a similar fashion to the existing paver customization program at the Lake Harriet Bandshell.
Please visit the People for Parks Pavers and Benches page for more information.
About People for Parks
People for Parks is a grass-roots 501(c)(3) non-profit that funds projects and programs which enhance the Minneapolis park system. In four decades, People for Parks has contributed more than $2 million and thousands of volunteer hours toward making Minneapolis parks more beautiful, more useful and more enjoyable. People for Parks was created in 1977 to help fight Dutch Elm Disease, which was decimating the city’s urban forest. By 1979, as the worst of the scourge had passed, People for Parks began to solicit contributions for a variety of park programs, working with the staff of the Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board to identify unfunded needs.
About the Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board
The Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board is an independent, semi-autonomous body responsible for the Minneapolis park system.  With 179 park properties totaling 6,804 acres of land and water, the Park Board provides places and recreation opportunities for all people to gather and engage in activities that promote health, well-being, community and the environment.  Its Grand Rounds Scenic Byway, neighborhood parks, recreation centers and diversified programming have made the park system an important component of what makes Minneapolis a great place to live, play and work.  More than 22 million annual visits are made to the nationally acclaimed park system, which was named the number one park system in the nation in 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016 and 2017 by The Trust for Public Land’s ParkScore® Index.

​In celebration of our 40th year we have committed to something big and bold for Minneapolis Parks! We have allocated $20,000 in matched funding to our mini grant program! Now we need your help to maximize our impact by raising a total of $40,000!

Learn more about our matching campaign and how to donate by visiting our Donate page.

People for Parks is happy to announce a $1,000 grant award to Hiawatha School Park for a community gardening project! Park program participants and community members will be able to tend the land, learn about plants and gardening, and engage with other members of their community in this food generating, sustainable space.

​Join us for the annual Arbor Day Celebration at Lake Hiawatha Park on April 28, 4-8 pm! Group tree planting will run from 4:30-6:30 with 300 trees available. Free family-friendly games and activities lead by MPRB Arborists will take place throughout the park. Food, beer and coffee will be for sale and musical performances by School House Rocks and Twin Town Blasting Corps (a blend of May Day Parade's Your Community Band with members of the Brass Messengers and Arborators).
 
New this year: 
Arbor Day Fun Run: The Brewery Running Series is offering a special Arbor Day Fun Run beginning at 6 pm. Visit the race website for more information.
Heritage Tree Bike Ride: Harmony Tree Works will lead two pre-party bike rides visiting several magnificent trees from Minneapolis' Heritage Tree Program. Rides leave from Angry Catfish Bicycle + Coffee Bar (4208 28th Ave. S) at noon and 2 pm.

Event sponsors: People for Parks, Brewing a Better Forest and Pat's Tap. Also, thank you to Friends of Lake Hiawatha, Giving Tree Gardens, Harmony Tree, Free Forest School and Ecological Design.