The Minneapolis Park & Recreation Board (MPRB) is moving aggressively to shut down the Minnehaha Off-Leash Recreation Area by December 31, 2026. For more than three decades, this natural space has served as a vital sanctuary where thousands of Minneapolis residents and their companion animals connect with nature, build deep community, and support their physical and mental well-being.

This would be an unfortunate and unprecedented action as MPRB has never before decommissioned a park. 

We approach this issue with immense reverence for the historical, cultural, and archaeological significance of this land to our Dakota neighbors. However, we believe that true stewardship of this land does not require dismantling a cherished community asset. We are demanding that the Park Board halt this resolution, engage in a transparent public process, and commit to a compromise that protects sacred spaces without destroying a vital community resource. Ultimately, the Minnehaha Dog Park—just as it is—remains an irreplaceable asset to the health, welfare, and soul of Minneapolis.

Email our MPRB Commissioners and tell them to stop the rushed shut down of the Minnehaha off-leash dog park! 

Copy and paste the below to email the commissioners and superintendent en masse. 

abangoura@minneapolisparks.org; dengelhart@minneapolisparks.org; crucker@minneapolisparks.org; kdeshpande@minneapolisparks.org; jgarcia@minneapolisparks.org; kmoran@minneapolisparks.org; cabene@minneapolisparks.org; tolsen@minneapolisparks.org; mforney@minneapolisparks.org; afrederick@minneapolisparks.org

Or reach out individually. 

Administration

 Superintendent: Al Bangoura

 Email: abangoura@minneapolisparks.org

 Phone: 612-230-6404

District Commissioners

 District 1: Dan Engelhart

 Email: dengelhart@minneapolisparks.org

 Phone: 612-230-6443, Ext. 1

 District 2: Charles Rucker

 Email: crucker@minneapolisparks.org

 Phone: 612-230-6443, Ext. 2

 District 3: Kedar Deshpande (Vice President)

 Email: kdeshpande@minneapolisparks.org

 Phone: 612-230-6443, Ext. 3

 District 4: Jason Garcia (Resolution Author)

 Email: jgarcia@minneapolisparks.org

 Phone: 612-230-6443, Ext. 4

 District 5: Kay Carvajal Moran

 Email: kmoran@minneapolisparks.org

 Phone: 612-230-6443, Ext. 5

 District 6: Cathy Abene

 Email: cabene@minneapolisparks.org

 Phone: 612-230-6443, Ext. 6

At-Large Commissioners (Represent the Entire City)

 Tom Olsen (President)

 Email: tolsen@minneapolisparks.org

 Phone: 612-230-6443, Ext. 7

 Meg Forney

 Email: mforney@minneapolisparks.org

 Phone: 612-230-6443, Ext. 8

 Amber A. Frederick

 Email: afrederick@minneapolisparks.org

 Phone: 612-230-6443, Ext. 9