The community created a master plan for the Mall in Uptown after years of stakeholder engagement. Now, a few neighbors are trying to sabotage that. 

Help us save the community's plan to actually make the Mall a better park!

Make your voice heard for the community's climate-friendly plan! 

Sign this petition to tell the MPRB to respect the community planning process.  Tell them that you want a better park - one that serves residents with recreation, enhanced natural features, and overall supports a cleaner environment.  

Background:

A Southwest Service Area Master Plan Community Advisory Committee (CAC) was appointed by MPRB and worked for two years to develop master plan recommendations for the 40+ parks in SW Mpls.  Over that time, CAC members drove deep into the use details of the many parks, gathered feedback from the community at dozens of meetings, and developed recommendations. The group worked very hard to prioritize equity and sustainability and balance all of the competing needs for park space.

Many ideas were proposed for this large section of park land in one of the densest areas of the city, including adding soccer fields, volleyball courts, urban community gardens, and more trees. There was lots of discussion over many months with many stakeholders from neighborhood organizations, to tenants, from the Walker Library, to apartment owners. After hearing from the community, the CAC summarized the need for the Mall space to be used better, to be used as a real park - whether that involve active or passive spaces. 

In 2020, the community seized a once in a generation opportunity to reclaim land for true park uses - ones that achieve MPRB's mission​.  Below is the plan for the Mall approved by the CAC. It features significant removal of asphalt in the two western blocks and restoration of green space to those areas.  This change majorly improves and enhances natural resources as guided by MPRB's mission. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 Beyond the roadway removal, the plan:

• enlarges the area for recreation and respite and provides greater distances from vehicles
• making it more inviting as a destination than a pass through
• increases forest canopy and carbon uptake
• includes significant urban agriculture and gardening, which is especially valuable in this dense area and community-garden lacking area of the city
• enhances water retention and reduces storm water runoff into our precious lakes
• increases wildlife habitat
• keeps all through streets
• maintains alley outlets

The major change, removal of the roadway is proposed only for half of four blocks.  This reasonable compromise balances the desire for increased activity and environmental protection with existing uses, such as the East Isles Farmers Market on the two eastern blocks.  Community discussions and ideas ranged greatly from maintaining the status quo to including soccer fields and volleyball courts.  The compromise keeps the passive natural feel of the area, while providing additional space for recreational park uses. 

The community's master plan approved in 2020 is designed to provide high level guidance. It was always intended for further details to be worked out when project funding became available.

Where we are now

Now that funding is available, MPRB has been conducting further engagement for detailed design of the woonerf on the eastern two blocks.  Detailed design includes incorporating and placing things like benches, a bike lane, chicanes, community gardens, and a fountain.  The main concept of a woonerf on the two eastern blocks and a full green space on the two western blocks should remain. 

However, there are a few vocal neighbors who are using this phase of community engagement to relitigate the plan.  Doing so would be a waste. It would be a waste of people's time and a waste of people's resources. The community took two years to develop the thoughtful master plan.  It took taxpayer dollars for MPRB to conduct such a thorough engagement.  To respect the community and financial prudence, MPRB should stick with the plan for the Mall.