Universal Access Playground for Minnehaha Regional Park
We’re excited to relay that in June 2011 the Carolyn Foundation awarded a $15,000 grant to the Falls 4 All playground project at Wabun Picnic Area at Minnehaha Regional Park. The anticipated project cost is $1 million -MPRB has committed $300,000 and People for Parks’ Falls 4 All committee has now raised close to $100,000. Although the standards established by the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) eliminated some of the hurdles facing park users with disabilities, universal-access playgrounds go beyond ADA standards to create a space in which children or parents with physical, sensory, or developmental disabilities can use at least 70% of the outdoor equipment.

Universal-access playgrounds enable all children to enjoy healthy social interaction, fun with peers, and opportunities to explore their own abilities. In addition to providing increased self-esteem and confidence, the playground will help children with and without disabilities learn cooperation and mutual respect for each other through regular play, and its soft surfaces will provide both kids and elderly caretakers with an added measure of safety. Learn more here.

Make a designated donation! Click here for details.

Earlier this year, PFP board member Mark Kaplan spearheaded a campaign to raise funds for a historical marker commemorating those who lost their lives in the NW307 plane crash on Minnehaha Parkway. The funding goal was reached and a marker was installed on August 27, 2011. See photos and video of the event here.

276 Trees Planted in Pearl Park
2011 marked our second annual sponsorship of Minneapolis Parks and Recreation Board Arbor Day activities, with 276 trees planted at Pearl Park on Diamond Lake Road.  Children from Hale School performed songs and poems during a special program, then helped plant trees with volunteers from People for Parks, Target, Best Buy and the community. This was the second of a three year tree-planting commitment made possible by a bequest by People for Parks member Carl Remick Jr. for reforestation. 

Annual 5k Run/Walk/Stroll
With the success of 2010’s fun, family 5K, PFP will repeat the categories such as “parent and child” “grandparent and child”, “family duo” and “family trio”. The biggest family group (minimum of 20) will win a bandshell spectator bench with the inscription of their choice. We’d love you to show your support by joining us to run or walk this event to be held on September 11th 2011. Proceeds from each years race benefit the Lake Harriet Bandshell and surrounds. Print out an entry form and learn more here.

Photo Contest
2010's photo contest generated great photos of the parks. Some of you may have seen the posters of the photos displayed in local recreation centers. PFP, the MPRB and National Camera Exchange invite you to submit photos and win great prizes in the 2011 contest. Youth (17 and under) and adult (18 and up) photos will be evaluated for impact, image quality, composition and storytelling in three categories: Events in the Parks, Beauty in the Parks and Fun in the Parks. See 2010’s winners on our facebook page! And upload photos at www.natcam.com. Learn more here.

Lake Harriet Bandshell Bench and Paver Program
People for Parks raised funds to pave the audience area in front of the bandshell and refurbish the worn benches. Dusty crushed limestone was replaced by environmentally friendly permeable pavers which serve as a water filtration system, improving water quality in Lake Harriet. See above for before and after photos! (Click on photos to enlarge). Click here to see how you can support this project with a personalized bench or paver.

Sound system upgrade for Lake Harriet Bandshell
In April 2008 People for Parks donated the funds required to upgrade the sound system at the Lake Harriet Band Shell.   

Arbor Day
People for Parks provided money to cover food and transportation for schoolchildren to attend Minneapolis Park’s Arbor Day celebration held in May 2008 at Kenwood Park, purchased 140 trees for Jordan Park in 2010 and 276 trees for Pearl Park in 2011.

Tennis Courts Upgrade
People for Parks donated $7500 in May 2008 to Support the Courts, a Minneapolis nonprofit which rebuilt tennis courts at Powderhorn Park, Webber Park, and Pershing Park.

Lake Harriet Picnic Shelter
People for Parks was the major sponsor of the Lake Harriet picnic shelter, built in 2007 to  provide shade and shelter for picnickers on the north shore of Lake Harriet. The picnic shelter was repainted in 2011 using proceeds from the Bandshell 5K.

Dutch Elm Inoculation
Foresters from all five districts of the Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board identified boulevard and parkland Elms of “importance” to the city –elms that would be sadly missed if they were to succumb to Dutch Elm Disease. People for Parks donated $10,000 for inoculating the trees against Dutch Elm Disease.

Elm Trees on Victory Memorial Drive
In summer 2006, People for Parks donated $9,675 to MPRB for the planting and maintenance of 43 new trees on Victory Memorial Drive. The trees replaced trees that had been lost to Dutch Elm Disease.

Showmobile
People for Parks purchased and donated the Showmobile to the Minneapolis Park and Recreation board.  The Showmobile is still in use today at many community events including concerts, speakers, and festivals.

Theodore Wirth Park improvements
A $2,700 donation from the Minneapolis Ski Club for cross country trail lighting at Theodore Wirth Park developed into a long term project for People for Parks.  People for Parks raised money in subsequent years to complete a network of ski trails at Wirth, providing signage and additional lighting.

Lake Harriet Rock Garden
One of the most popular People for Parks projects was the Lake Harriet Rock Garden. A bridge was constructed as a symbol for peace, with a Japanese planting at one end and an American planting at the other

Daffodil Gardens
A People for Parks member provided the original funding for a daffodil garden on Minnehaha Parkway near Nicollet Avenue. During subsequent years, over thirty beautiful daffodil gardens were planted in Minneapolis parks. 

Recreation Center Signs
People for Parks offered a matching fund program for communities who wanted to install outdoor, lighted informational signs for their recreation centers. Lions Clubs, Kiwanis and others stepped forward to meet the need. Signs were eventually placed at all Rec centers.

Minneapolis Pops Orchestra
Renowned for great sound and family oriented concerts, the Minneapolis Pops Orchestra has performed for decades at outdoor Minneapolis venues. People for Parks was an initial contributing sponsor of this summer tradition.

Theodore Wirth Green Book
People for Parks supported the Minneapolis Parks Legacy Society with a $2,500 donation towards the reprinting of a limited edition of a book written by Theodore Wirth, “The History of the Minneapolis Park System, 1883-1944”, which chronicles his efforts to develop the Minneapolis Park System.