The Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board (MPRB) is dialing up its efforts to revamp the Cedar Avenue Field Park and East Phillips Park, dropping dibs on what could become a lush blueprint for the next few decades. MPRB has been making the rounds, from school functions to local powwows since the project's kickoff last fall, seeking to hear from the people about what makes their green spaces tick.
They're on a mission to not just shake hands and kiss babies but to genuinely listen and learn where the parks hit the mark or miss the boat. Fancy an indoor spot for youth sports or can't stand the idea of sitting on the sidelines without a proper seat? MPRB wants to know. The public's been chiming in with what's hip and what's a trip, from a lack of bathrooms to downright dirty pools. Plans to give Cedar Avenue Field a cultural glow-up with spaces for traditional activities are also on the agenda, according to the recent update from MPRB.
The scoop is simple: Cedar Avenue Field could use more play and fewer hazards. Kids keen on swinging or splashing around have something to look forward to with the proposed additions of extra swings and a water feature. Elders want seating and safety is a sore point with calls for more lighting and cameras. Now, jump across to East Phillips Park, and you'll hear calls for bettering the bathrooms, upping the game in sports facilities with adjustable basketball rims and nets, and a dire desire to make the place safer after dark.
Thoughts on a splash pad or a grilling hub for your family? Shoot your shot at the public survey available in both Española and English. And in case you've got the kind of inspo that spreads like wildfire, you could become a "Community Collaborator." MPRB's willing to toss some coin your way to help engage your neighborhood in dreaming up the future of East Phillips Park – but you'll have to be quick. Applications for the gig need to be in by "Wednesday, April 17," as stated in the MPRB's recent bulletin.
For more details on what's cooking at MPRB or to invite project manager Emma Pachuta to jaw about the project, give her a buzz or peep the MPRB's newsletters. Let's face it, in the whirlwind saga of urban renewal, it's not just about splashing new paint on an old fence – it's about scripting a nifty era for the community's open spaces, one swing, slide, and safety feature at a time.
