Parks+Placemaking

Parks+Placemaking Committee

The Parks + Placemaking Committee (P+P) is dedicated to the planning, design, development, and care of North Loop public spaces. Through a community-centered approach, the committee works closely with city and local partners to connect the North Loop neighborhood residents and businesses to current and upcoming public space developments through discussion, engagement, and volunteerism.

Meeting Time & Place

TractorWorks Meeting Room

Google Meet link available for remote participation

2nd Wednesday of every month

800 N Washington Avenue
6:00 – 7:30 pm

All meetings of the board and any committees are open to any Member of the board, and to all general Members.

P+P Committee Members

David Crary (co-chair)*

Amber Taft (co-chair)

Cristy Blake*

Grant Johnson

* Current board member

Agendas

Parks+Placemaking 2022 Highlights / Facts

Service Saturday Projects

  • Trash Cleanup
  • River Cleanup (invasive species removal)

Organics Recycling

  • Worked with individual buildings to add Organics Recycling

Dog Park

  • Removed weeds and brush around North Loop Dog Park
  • Repaired the wood bench and add a new bench

Public Art

  • Short- and long-term installations
    • Long term – North Loop Welcome Monument (installed in 2019)
    • Short term future – temporary painted sidewalks, pop-up art, seasonal installations at 3rd street park, murals, sculptures…

3rd Street Park

  • Provided all who attended the North Loop Food Truck Fair in July a spot to sit and enjoy their food.

James Rice Park Maintenance

  • Planted 400 Daffodil bulbs at James Rice Park in October 
  • Added a volunteer toolbox for volunteers to use at their discretion
  • Minneapolis Park Board approved the Friends of the Mississippi habitat Restoration plan for the park.
  • Volunteers are continuing to implement the Friends of the Mississippi’s plan for the park

2023 Committee Priorities

  • Funding for 3rd Street Park improvements
  • Funding for James Rice Park River bank expansion and enhancements
  • Positive movement on TractorWorks Building project
  • Public art plan developed for the North Loop
    • Public art 3rd Street Park
  • Successful service Saturday events
  • Continue to develop a tree planting program that is unique to the North Loop urban environment
  • Continue to develop organic recycling in the community

Parks+Placemaking (P+P) Committee Charter

Membership and Authority

The North Loop Association board of directors will appoint committees by resolution and delegate to these committees such powers and responsibilities as it may from time to time deem appropriate. Any Member of the General Membership is eligible to serve on and participate in these committees. All actions taken by a committee that are not explicitly granted by the board shall be forwarded to the board, which shall have the right to alter, accept, or reject these actions. At the time that a committee is formed, the board shall appoint a temporary chair and thereafter the committee Members shall elect the committee’s chairperson or two co-chairpersons. The board will identify the committee as either standing or temporary and shall identify the major purpose, term, and tasks of that committee in writing.

Vision / Mission

The Parks + Placemaking Committee is dedicated to the planning, design, development, and care of North Loop public spaces. Through a community-centered approach, the committee works closely with city and local partners to connect the North Loop neighborhood residents and businesses to current and upcoming public space developments through discussion, engagement, and volunteerism.

Scope

The Parks + Placemaking Committee will leverage community and partner-organization insights and expertise to:

  • Provide recommendations on public space design, development, and implementation
  • Promote volunteerism to encourage the community to invest their time in public space improvements
  • Communicate with the neighborhood through NLNA to educate and engage NL residents

Leadership

The committee will elect annually two committee members to co-chair the committee. At least one of the elected members to co-chair the committee will be from the Board of Directors of the North Loop Association.

Committee Members

Committee membership shall consist of 9 individuals. At least one member of the committee will be from the Board of Directors of the North Loop Neighborhood Association. Any member of the General Membership of the North Loop Neighborhood Association is eligible to participate in the Parks + Placemaking Committee. Individuals interested in joining the committee will be asked to submit their name to the Committee co-chairs, and a formal slate of candidates will be created. The slate of candidates will then be submitted to the North Loop Neighborhood Association Board for approval of candidates. The current committee co-chairs will also provide recommendations to the North Loop Neighborhood Association Board for committee member selection.

Term of Service

Two-year staggered term, renewable annually in February.

Vacancies

Open positions will be filled on an as-needed basis determined by the committee.

Meeting Schedule

Meetings held on the 2nd Wednesday of each Month, approximately 1 hour each. It is strongly recommended that Committee members do not miss more than two consecutive scheduled meetings.

Meeting Structure

The committee will create minutes or reports of its meetings for board review including dates, roll call information, and decisions made (if any are authorized). 

Quorum

A majority of the number of committee seats, which are not vacant, shall be necessary to constitute a quorum for the transaction of business. Members may not conduct any voting business without a quorum present.

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