Growing up in Minneapolis, I have so many wonderful memories of my neighborhood park. Minneapolis is internationally famous for its exceptional local parks. Now, as a parent living in the Cooper neighborhood, I watch my 7-year-old son, who has hyperactive-impulsive ADHD, thrive when he plays in his neighborhood park. Cooper Park has become his sanctum—a place where he finds joy playing with new and old friends in the newly renovated playground, and literally runs off his built-up energy on the sprawling field all throughout the year. But now, this precious space is under threat.

When I first heard that Cooper School, with its large bright windows and beautiful brick architecture, was going to be the future home of the Anishinabe students, I was thrilled! Finally Cooper school will be re-opened and filled with school children once again. But then I found out that the financially-strapped Minneapolis Public School Board is pushing forward with a $100 million-plus (ONE HUNDRED MILLION+) proposal to tear down Cooper School AND destroy the entire Cooper Park. In its place, they plan to construct a brand-new, three-story school facility for the 220 Anishinabe students. I strongly support Anishinabe Academy's vital mission of cultural revitalization and completely agree that they deserve a dedicated, permanent home to thrive. And while a dedicated space is important for Anishinabe Academy, which has been sharing a building with Sullivan STEAM School for years, MPS simply cannot afford this type of massive financial strain. In addition, ripping out this green space will have a devastating impact not only on the environment, but also the Cooper community. For neurodivergent individuals, like my son, this park offers a calm, sensory-inclusive sanctuary. Removing it takes away a vital outlet for open play and regulation that indoor spaces simply cannot provide.

 Cooper Park is a 100 yr old community hub. The invaluable green space is used for all kinds of sports and activities. The Hispanic community uses it nightly for soccer games, while their kids play in the newly built playground. The Church, kitty-corner from the Park, uses it multiple times a week to give their preschool children much needed exercise and fresh air. Neighborhood parks are vital for creating friendships, reducing mental fatigue and depression, improving childhood development, and combating childhood obesity. It's a place that brings together families, friends, and neighbors of all ages, fostering social ties and promoting well-being. It’s the only park within walking distance for hundreds of Cooper residents. Without this park, many kids will simply not have a playground to play on.

Just months ago...through dedicated grassroots efforts and advocacy for local funding, the Cooper community helped save the playground from being demolished and instead, a new $100,000 playground was installed, preserving the site as an essential neighborhood asset.. So the recent decision to destroy the park, which has been so fervently fought for, has left the residents of Cooper, and neighboring Longfellow and Howe, feeling both saddened and angered. The feeling in the neighborhood is one of frustration and heartbreak as our cherished park is set to be replaced by an institution that does not adequately serve the broader community’s needs. Moreover, many residents remain unaware of the plan, since not a single resident was informed of these plans by mail, but mainly by word of mouth.

The environmental harm that this project will create is enormous. Cooper Park, with its large open field and mature trees, provides critical ecological infrastructure. It combats climate change, reduces the urban-heat-island effect, and captures thousands of gallons of storm water, which prevents neighborhood flooding and filters pollutants. Removing significant green space and replacing naturally cooling vegetation with heat-absorbing concrete and roofing, raises localized ambient temperatures and increases energy demands for air conditioning in nearby homes. Demolishing an older building and the multi-year construction of a larger school will spike particulate matter (dust), heavy machinery exhaust, and greenhouse gas emissions in the immediate vicinity. Tearing out a city block of parkland destroys established micro-habitats for birds, pollinators, and urban wildlife. Plus the heavy construction equipment severely compacts the remaining soil, destroying its natural porosity and making it difficult for new, meaningful greenery to thrive. Meanwhile the demolition of Cooper School and the new construction will cause airborne pollutants and contaminated runoff that will pollute the Mississippi River.

Understanding the importance of educational infrastructure, it's hard to see why $100 million dollars should go toward a facility for just 220 students, while the existing school buildings for the other 30,000 students are in desperate need of crucial structural and safety improvements.   -5 schools currently have NO air conditioning. Minneapolis Public Schools students and teachers have described un-airconditioned classrooms as sweltering, with students sweating through the day and teachers scrambling to keep their classrooms cooler by pulling shades and turning off lights. This is especially taxing for Muslim teachers and students who wear traditional full-coverage clothing.   -6 schools do not have adequate security entrances.  At a time when school security needs to be of the highest importance, this should not be put on the back burner.   -Numerous schools lack disability access, need roof and electrical repairs, require athletic field improvements, need updated fire sprinklers, and many more repair needs.

We must prioritize critical infrastructure for ALL students, over an untenable project for a few. 

Anashinabe is hoping that the new school building will attract more students. But with their Reading and Math scores (10% and 8%) being some of the lowest in the City, combined with the already dwindling enrollment across the city, it is unlikely that a new building will garner more students. 12 MPS schools are operating at under 50% capacity-and some under 30%. These schools are facing the real possibility of closure due to gross under-enrollment. The Minneapolis School Board could re-purpose an underutilized, soon-to-be-closed building to serve as the new location for Anishinabe Academy. The district could then allocate dedicated funds to redesign the outdoor grounds to support the school's cultural vision. In addition to saving an existing school building from being boarded up, MPS would save an additional $3.3-$5 million dollars a year in the operational costs that would have gone to running an extra brand new school building. These extra funds could help a school like Anishinabe with Culturally Responsive Teaching resources to boost the academic performance of their students. Longfellow School, for instance, does not have a community park, and has only 50 students using the entire School building. so it is likely to be closed. Those 50 students could move to the Anne Sullivan building (or another underutilized building), and Anishinabe could transform Longfellow School and it's outdoor space, for a fraction of the cost of building a brand new school. 

A better solution for the Cooper School building...Because there is high demand for art studio space in Minneapolis, I will be pitching a shared venture to developers and management companies within the art co-op community. This proposal would transform the beautiful Cooper School into an Art Studio Co-op, hosting monthly art fairs and markets in the gymnasium. A designated percentage of rental income, sales from the art fairs, and event concessions would go directly to the MSP operational budget. These extra funds could help a school like Anishinabe with Culturally Responsive Teaching resources to boost the academic performance of their students.  Let's turn this historic building into a shining example of neighborhood adaptive reuse—where the hopes and dreams of former students echo the vibrant passion and enthusiasm of local artists. This project will breathe new life into this beloved neighborhood landmark, replacing its quiet, empty spaces with the heartbeat of creativity and giving profound pride to a community that rallied to protect its soul.

*With 5 of the 9 Minneapolis School Board seats up for re-election this Fall, there is a real opportunity to get a re-vote on this proposal. We need to elect board members who will reconsider this current plan.*

Instead of bulldozing a beloved community resource, spending 100 million dollars and leaving a massive carbon footprint...why not invest a much smaller amount in upgrading an existing school facility for Anishinabe. 

Preserving Cooper Park is not just about maintaining a physical space, it’s about preserving the spirit of our community. Let’s advocate for a solution that respects the voices and needs of the not only the Anishinabe students, but also the residents that surround Cooper Park, and ALL of the students attending Minneapolis Public Schools.

Join us in demanding that the Minneapolis Public School Board halts plans to demolish Cooper Park and prioritize sustainable community planning.. Sign this petition to ensure that our voices are heard, and our community spaces are preserved for future generations.   

To contact the Minneapolis Public Schools (MPS) Board of Education, email the full board at SchoolBoard@mpls.k12.mn.us or call the main district office at 612-668-0000