Off-Leash Dog Park Update
The Minneapolis Parks and Recreation Board (MPRB) have received the bids for the 6th District Off-Leash Dog Park and will be taking the best bid to the next MPRB meeting on November 7 for approval.
The start of construction is later than anticipated. Additionally, the surface product needed for the park will not be available until spring. Knowing the urgency for the dog park to open is high, they are working on a near term solution that could allow the park to open for winter use. The park would then need to be closed temporarily to complete the project once construction season begins again in spring.
EHFNA requested more information from the MPRB about changes to the plan recommended by the CAC (Citizens Advisory Committee), specifically parking 'bump-outs' along King's Highway that were not included in the original plan. MPRB Staff and two Commissioners met with EHFNA's PES Committee & residents on Sept 24 to discuss the changes. Given an exhaustive parking survey conducted by MPRB Staff during the CAC process which clearly showed no need for additional parking, EHFNA has asked the MPRB to re-assess the need for parking using data from the first year of operation of the new dog park before building the on-street parking spots. The MPRB has decided not to move forward with construction of parking bays until more community outreach is done.
The start of construction is later than anticipated. Additionally, the surface product needed for the park will not be available until spring. Knowing the urgency for the dog park to open is high, they are working on a near term solution that could allow the park to open for winter use. The park would then need to be closed temporarily to complete the project once construction season begins again in spring.
EHFNA requested more information from the MPRB about changes to the plan recommended by the CAC (Citizens Advisory Committee), specifically parking 'bump-outs' along King's Highway that were not included in the original plan. MPRB Staff and two Commissioners met with EHFNA's PES Committee & residents on Sept 24 to discuss the changes. Given an exhaustive parking survey conducted by MPRB Staff during the CAC process which clearly showed no need for additional parking, EHFNA has asked the MPRB to re-assess the need for parking using data from the first year of operation of the new dog park before building the on-street parking spots. The MPRB has decided not to move forward with construction of parking bays until more community outreach is done.
6th District Off-Leash Dog Park Update
_The Citizen Advisory Committee (CAC) for the 6th District Dog Park was charged by the Park Board Commissioners to recommend a preferred location and design for an off-leash recreational area on the eastern side of the 6th Park District. After a comprehensive process seeking public input and reviewing 31 sites, the last meeting of the CAC was September 12.
The final recommendation of the CAC is as follows:
Interested parties who submitted comments to the CAC should submit comments again directly to the Commissioners. Emailing all of the Commissioners would be most effective. For complete list of all Commissioners see the MPRB website.
There will be a public hearing on Tuesday, November 22 at 6:30pm as part of the Planning Committee meeting at the MPRB Administrative Offices, Board Room Suite 255, 2117 West River Road. Check MPRB website for last minute changes to the meeting time or place.
More background information can be found on the MPRB website: Sixth Park District Dog Park. Maps of Site 32 and Site 1 can be found at the top of the page. Concept design plans, budgets, a grid comparing the sites and a parking analysis can be found in the meeting notes and handouts for the September 12 CAC meeting. The Background Materials section has further helpful information, including a map of the search area and the boundary of the historic site designation for the Wirth House and surrounding landscape.
The final recommendation of the CAC is as follows:
- Primary recommendation of Site 32 (Southside Operations Center parking lot, Dupont Ave S & 39th St, 'behind the wall'), with a request to implement at least the draft design presented to the CAC.
- Backup recommendation of Site 1 (triangle of trees behind Theodore Wirth House, Dupont Ave S & 40th St,'outside the wall').
- Create a community body to develop a system-wide master plan for off-leash areas.
Interested parties who submitted comments to the CAC should submit comments again directly to the Commissioners. Emailing all of the Commissioners would be most effective. For complete list of all Commissioners see the MPRB website.
There will be a public hearing on Tuesday, November 22 at 6:30pm as part of the Planning Committee meeting at the MPRB Administrative Offices, Board Room Suite 255, 2117 West River Road. Check MPRB website for last minute changes to the meeting time or place.
More background information can be found on the MPRB website: Sixth Park District Dog Park. Maps of Site 32 and Site 1 can be found at the top of the page. Concept design plans, budgets, a grid comparing the sites and a parking analysis can be found in the meeting notes and handouts for the September 12 CAC meeting. The Background Materials section has further helpful information, including a map of the search area and the boundary of the historic site designation for the Wirth House and surrounding landscape.