Parks, Environment & Schools Committee (PES)
Parks, Environment & School Committee
The Parks, Environment & School Committee works with neighbors and the Minneapolis Park & Recreation Board on a variety of programs to ensure a sustainably healthy environment and a clean, vital, safe, and active system of parks.
Programs and projects include:
• Bryant/Barton Environmental Awareness Team! (Bryant/BEAT!)
• Environmental education
• Park Board and Minneapolis Public Schools liaison
• "Greening" of the neighborhood
• Dutch Elm Disease Treatment Rebate Program
• Earth Day Clean-up
• Household Hazardous Waste Drop-Off
Contact committee chair Bruce Wadman via email if you have an idea for a parks and environment project or if you would like more information about anything related to our parks or the environment.
Lyndale Community School
MPS Transition
Transition Updates
MPS Decision-Making Timeline Regarding Proposed Changes in 2010 to be Revised
On May 6, Superintendent Bill Green issued a statement that the previously announced community engagement meetings for May would be postponed as would the board vote on May 26. A new schedule is expected to be shared with families and communities within the week.
April 28: Plan Recommended to School Board
Weeks of May 4 and 11: Community Meetings POSTPONED
Week of May 18: Public Hearing POSTPONED
May 26: School Board Vote for phased implementation of changes in the 2010-11 school year. POSTPONED TO LATER DATE.
MPS Changing School Options Recommendation Available Online
The Minneapolis Public Schools Administration posted on the MPS web site this afternoon the recommendation they will be presenting to the Board of Education at their April 28th meeting regarding changing school options. You can get to the recommendation by clicking here.
In advance of the recommendation being formally presented, the East Harriet Farmstead Neighborhood Association (EHFNA) Board of Directors sent a letter to the Minneapolis Board of Education requesting our neighborhood boundaries be honored in drawing attendance areas and an offer to be a partner in reaching out to the community in identifying programs and facilities that might be part of the community school for our neighborhood. We attached to that letter the EHFNA adopted "Guiding Principles for Strong-Neighborhood Synergy." These documents were sent to the Board of Education on April 24, 2009.
You can download the letter sent to the Board of Education HERE.
You can download the Guiding Principles for Strong-Neighborhood Synergy HERE.
We will be posting more information on how we will be reaching out to the community and further engaging with the Board of Education and the MPS Administration. Please check back here soon.
We want to hear from you. If you have questions, comments or concerns please contact us at info@eastharriet.org or 612-824-9350. Additional EHFNA contact information can be found on Contact Us page HERE.
March 23 Meeting on MPS Changes Draws Nearly 200 F2 Open Area Residents
Nearly 200 F2 Open Area neighbors (Kingfield and East Harriet) attended a meeting on Monday, March 23 to learn more about Minneapolis Public Schools proposed changes in 2010. The discussion with Jackie Turner, Head of Minneapolis Public Schools' (MPS) Student Placement, addressed potential school attendance and program changes and the District's viewpoint on how changes may impact Open Area F2. For more information on the program changes being explored by MPS to implement in Fall 2010, visit the MPS website: http://mpls.k12.mn.us/.
Peace Bridge Dedication
East Harriet Resident to Serve on Lake Harriet Concessions CAC
The Minneapolis Park & Recreation Board (MPRB) has approved establishing a Citizen's Advisory Commission (CAC) for the Lake Harriet Concession Project. East Harriet resident Donovan Hart applied for and was chosen to represent our neighborhood on this Commission. The charge for the committee is "to review and discuss the scope of concession opportunities; the general atmosphere of the band shell; to review a schematic design and site for a potential auxiliary concession or other structure; and present a report with recommendations to the Board."
The CAC will be meeting 3-4 times over the next three months to meet its charge.
Lake Harriet Citizens Advisory Council
The Lake Harriet Citizen's Advisory Committee (CAC) is a resident-based body created by the Minneapolis Parks and Recreation Board (MPRB) Commissioners at their April 4, 2009 board meeting. The charge of the Lake Harriet CAC is "to review and discuss the scope of concession opportunities; the general atmosphere of the band shell; to review a schematic design and site for a potential auxiliary concession or other structure; and present a report with recommendations to the Board."
The Lake Harriet CAC is made up of 11 residents who will conduct their work over six meetings from May to October. Their recommendations are expected to be presented in the fall of 2009. Visit the Lake Harriet CAC website to follow their work and get up to date information.
Visit the Lake Harriet CAC website:
www.lakeharrietcac.ning.com
or
the Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board website for the Lake Harriet CAC site:
www.minneapolisparks.org
UPCOMING COMMITTEE MEETINGS
The PES Committee meets on the fourth Monday of each month at Java Jacks at 7:00 p.m.
Meeting Agenda Monday, Jan. 25
- Update on Roberts Bird Sanctuary
project (invasive species removal) from Kit Healy, Audubon Chapter of Minneapolis - Update on Lyndale Community School transition
- 2010 committe budget & goals
Household Hazardous Waste Drop-Off Event a success!
Thanks to the combined neighborhood associations and volunteers, the event proved to be a success with 166 residents from nine neighborhoods dropping off items.
Annual Household Hazardous Waste Drop-Off September 26!
East Harriet, Kingfield, Lyndale and CARAG neighborhood organizations will partner with Hennepin County to sponsor a neighborhood collection event for residents to safely and properly dispose of their unwanted garden and household hazardous wastes on Saturday, September 26.
WHEN: Sat., Sept. 26 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.
WHERE: Minneapolis Park Board Southside Operations Center Parking Lot, 3800 Bryant Ave. So.; Enter off Kings Hwy/Dupont Ave.
Be sure to bring your ID to drop-off; residency in Minneapolis will be verified.
The county will accept many household hazardous wastes at no cost, including: mercury items (fluorescent bulbs and HID lamps, thermostats and thermometers); pesticides; automotive wastes (fuels, fuel additives, starter fluid, waxes); aerosol cans, corrosives, flammables, gas cylinders (propane less than 40 lbs.; specialty gases less than 59 lbs. will be evaluated; some may not be accepted due to management restrictions), paint, lead-based paint chips, solvents and thinners; pool, photographic and hobby chemicals; rechargeable tools and household batteries. Items are accepted from households only, business waste cannot be accepted.
Items not accepted at this event include: appliances, asbestos, electronics, explosives, garbage (food waste, furniture, carpet, lumber, empty paint cans), gas cylinders (propane greater than 40 lbs.; gases requiring special management and all gases greater than 59 lbs.), medical or infectious waste, motor oil and filters, radioactive waste (smoke detectors), recyclables (scrap metal, paper, cardboard, etc.), tires, vehicle lead acid batteries.
This collection event provides residents with a convenient neighborhood location to bring their problem wastes. As a year-round alternative, Hennepin County provides residents with permanent drop-off facilities located at 1400 W. 96th St., Bloomington; and 8100 Jefferson Highway, Brooklyn Park. Visit www.hennepin.us/dropoffs for more information.
For a complete list of acceptable and non-acceptable items or more information on drop-off facilities, call Hennepin County Environmental Services at 612-348-3777.
EHFNA Hosts 2009 Earth Day Clean up at Lake Harriet on Sat., April 18
Click on the photo above to view all of the photos from the event!
EHFNA Hosts 2009 MPRB Earth Day Clean Up at Lake Harriet!
From 9:30-noon last Saturday, April 18, volunteers helped to beautify our neighborhood lake. East Harriet hosted this site, handing out gloves and yellow bags to volunteers from around the area who found everything from diapers to lighters to a stolen wallet and a row boat oar! Thank you to all of the volunteers who helped out that day. Please click on the photo above to view more photos from the morning.
PES Committee Gearing up for a Busy Year
The Parks, Environment and Schools (PES) committee is gearing up for another busy year. The first event was the Earth Day Clean-up at Lake Harriet on Sat., April 18 from 9:30-noon. A slide show of photos from that event is on this page.
The Barton Environment Awareness Team (Bryant/BEAT) at Barton School is a 7th and 8th grade environmental science class in its fifth year. This spring the kids are tackling an energy conservation curriculum and helping the school expand its recycling program. A community fair revolving around the students' projects on the topic will occur at Barton School on the morning of Sat., May 16. Stay tuned for more details.
Once again, EHFNA is offering rebates to East Harriet residents who immunize their elm trees against Dutch Elm Disease. This still-spreading disease kills dozens of trees in our neighborhood every year. An injectable treatment is available that will protect these attractive trees for three years. To help offset the cost, we offer a $200 rebate to property owners who want to keep elm trees in their yards and on their boulevards. Please contact our office at 612-824-9350 for more information on this program.
The PES committee meets on the 4th Monday of every month to discuss all things "green" in the East Harriet neighborhood. We also focus on school-related issues important to our residents. Join us at Java Jacks for one of our monthly meetings - grab a cup of coffee, share your ideas and hear what we're up to. Emails are always welcome to the PES chair, Patty Selly: patty@domware.com