NRP Success Stories - Ward 12 - Some of the Success Stories from Ward 12

• Midtown YWCA – Residents in five Minneapolis neighborhoods invested more than $1 million of NRP funds in the construction of a new $21 million Midtown YWCA Community and Urban Sports Center that provides youth, childcare and fitness programs to thousands of residents. Construction of the Midtown YWCA helped fuel development on a previously neglected stretch of Lake Street.  

• Midtown Greenway Bicycle and Pedestrian Path – Residents in six Minneapolis neighborhoods invested nearly $90,000 in NRP funds to convert an unused sunken rail corridor into the 2.8-mile Midtown Greenway Bicycle and Pedestrian Path. When complete, the Midtown Greenway will extend all the way from Minneapolis’ western border to the Mississippi River along 29th Street.  

• Brackett Park Recreation Center and Park Renovations – Longfellow residents invested $677,000 of NRP funds to help bring a new $1.2 million recreation center to Brackett Park. The 5,300 square-foot recreation center replaced a 70-year old park structure that was in need of major renovation.  In addition, the neighborhood used NRP funds to create and support community programs for children, families, and seniors at Brackett Park.

•  Mississippi River Gorge Stewardship Initiative – Using the River Gorge Master Plan as its guide, the Longfellow Community Council (LCC) created the Mississippi River Gorge Stewardship Initiative. The initiative consists of projects that have made and will continue to make aesthetic, accessibility, and environmental improvements to the Mississippi River Gorge area. The improvements include bluff stabilization and erosion prevention, blight and debris removal, trail restoration and access, savannah and prairie restoration, bridge repair, and river access. The 35th Street Overlook (a beautiful new overlook with benches) and the 27th Street Stairway (a stairway that gives residents access to a mid bluff area above the river) are two visible results of the initiative.

• Lake Nokomis Improvement Project – Residents in the Nokomis East area invested $350,000 of NRP funds to carry out several initiatives designed to address environmental concerns in the neighborhoods. Residents established the Blue Water Commission in partnership with two other neighborhood groups, the City of Minneapolis, the Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board, the Minnehaha Creek Watershed District, and Hennepin County to oversee these efforts. The Commission issued a report that has served as the blueprint for addressing Lake Nokomis water quality concerns. Three wetland ponds were constructed as part of the plan near the southwest part of Lake Nokomis to help capture contaminated runoff before it enters the lake.

• Native Gardens/Savanna Restoration Project – Nokomis area residents concerned about the water quality of Lakes Nokomis and Hiawatha completed several environmental projects to address the negative impact of phosphorous runoff from fertilizer use. The neighborhood invested NRP funds to reintroduce native plants, grasses, and wildflowers in three gardens near Lake Nokomis.  Volunteers planted wetland and other native vegetation in three gardens and on the shoreline around Lake Nokomis to improve water quality by controlling erosion. The gardens have been a major source of pride and community building for residents who have been responsible for their maintenance.  

• Midtown YWCA – Residents in five Minneapolis neighborhoods invested more than $1 million of NRP funds in the new $21 million Midtown YWCA Community and Urban Sports Center that provides youth, childcare and fitness programs to thousands of residents. The Midtown YWCA opened on August 1, 2000 and has helped fuel development of a previously neglected stretch of Lake Street.

• Lake Hiawatha Park- A neighborhood priority was to install safe and functional play equipment in, and rehabilitate the recreational areas at, Lake Hiawatha Regional Park.  SENA helped develop the master plan for Lake Hiawatha Park.  The first stage of the Master Plan was to update the Lake Hiawatha playground. The neighborhood invested $359,500 in developing the Master Plan and implementing a completely renovated playground.  It also invested $145,000 in shoreline stabilization and plantings. A neighborhood dedication ceremony was held with the Park Board on August 1, 2001 when the new play area was opened. An old and dangerous collection of cement tubes, dirty sand, splintery wood, and metal was transformed into a colorful, safe, state-of-the-art playground that is accessible to all of the children of the neighborhood.

• Minnehaha Creek Wetland- Standish-Ericsson wanted to create a pilot creek storm water wetland along Minnehaha Creek. The Minneapolis Park Board excavated the wetland, provided the design and supervised the plantings by neighborhood volunteers. The neighborhood invested $78,000 in the Minnehaha wetlands to improve the water quality of the creek.  This project won a CUE (Committee on Urban Environment) award.