Final Thoughts on the Wirth Park Citizens Advisory Committee

On Saturday, June 2nd, the Theodore Wirth Park Citizens Advisory Committee (CAC) convened for the final time for a public open house and meeting on a master plan for the park.  The purpose of this gathering was to get final input on, and make final adjustments to, a plan that had been nearly 3 years in the making.  A tornado had ripped through the park, we'd been sued in federal court, people had argued and fought, but, we were finally done.  I have some explaining to do.

I considered going through my years of notes and emails about my time on the CAC, and writing a detailed, multi-part series. But, much like the last three years, that would have grown tiresome for us all rather quickly. So instead I'll try here to write about several things in my experience that I view as important. You may not like them, or you may disagree. But in the end I hope you'll understand how we got here.

About three years ago Golden Valley was given a seat on the Wirth CAC, and a close friend encouraged me to apply for it in order to help 'protect the ski trails'.   Simple, right?   Go in, vote, get your way and leave.   Boy, was I wrong.

We on the CAC (about 12 regular meeting attendees, all but I from Minneapolis) argued over a lot of things about Wirth Park.  Sometimes these arguments were acrimonious.  It's a big park; about 750 acres.  And it's a regional park.  There are a lot of users of, and interests in, the park. You name it, we argued about it.  Conflict and conflicts of interest were inevitable, and some of these became severe.   Everyone was always united in the belief that no harm should be done to the park and the wildlife in it.  But, naturally, significant differences arose over what does, or does not, constitute harm.  And everyone was certain they were right.

Gradually, over a lot of time, after many, many meetings and a design charette with outside experts, things began to change.  Compromise, understanding and empathy became much more common on the CAC.  Relationships warmed. 

Again, Wirth is a regional park.  It must serve regional needs, not neighborhood needs or private 'backyard' interests.  That's not to say that neighborhood interests aren't valued.  In fact, most of the CAC was comprised of people who live by or near the park, and who use it regularly.  We may not like to see a particular user or activity in the park, but we need to learn to accept that others have an equally valid right to be in the park, engaging in their chosen activities there.

What I truly want readers to know, and what one can't possibly get from having shown up at a meeting or two, is how we arrived at where we are.  Your voice and opinion mattered, but so did the voices and opinions of those on the 'other side' of an issue.  Many of you will undoubtedly not like some of the changes to the park.  I don't like some of the changes.  But I would have gotten nowhere had I continually railed and voted against things I didn't like.  I for sure never supported or opposed anything without carefully considered reasons.  It was give and take.  I did my best.  The plan was formulated and built over time, and by establishing relationships and learning to understand folks with different wants or needs.  No, it's not perfect.  I'm sorry to disappoint.  But there it is.

And, despite what some may think, it's not gloom and doom.  Many of you have already enjoyed the new walkway around Wirth Lake.  And if the Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board (MPRB) of Commissioners approves the master plan, we'll eventually see, among other things here in Golden Valley, reforestation along the parkway, better natural resource management, improved trails, better signage, a first-class off-leash dog park facility, a world-class Nordic skiing center, and an improved golf course.  Not too bad, I think.

You'll have a final opportunity to say something about the plan or the process (http://www.minneapolisparks.org/default.asp?PageID=1150), if you wish.  On June 20, at 6:30 pm, the MPRB will hold a public hearing on the plan.  I encourage you to attend, if you can make.

I'm glad the Wirth CAC is finally over.  I have always enjoyed quiet obscurity, and using Wirth Park in that capacity, just like most of you.  However, I am grateful for having had the opportunity, and I can't thank the MPRB enough for that.  As far as I know, it was under no obligation to include Golden Valley in the planning process, but it graciously did.  I think Golden Valley has been, and will continue to be, a good partner with Minneapolis in park matters.  While we in Golden Valley do not support the park in the same manner as those in Minneapolis, we do in fact support the park in all ways.  I wanted to stand up and state this fact emphatically on several occasions throughout the CAC process, but I just let it go.  I guess to some I would always represent the non-contributing, out-of-touch exurbanite who drives his car everywhere.  Not true, in case anyone is wondering.

The CAC was a learning and growing experience, to say the least.  Thank you to the other CAC members for your efforts, courtesy and respect.  It was a pleasure to get to know you and to work with you.

And I can't thank or say enough good things about the CAC chairperson, George Puzak, and the MPRB planning staff, Bruce Chamberlain (who was a genius with a seemingly impossible job), Jennifer Ringold and Andrea Weber.  I wouldn't have wished their task on my worst enemy.  I think many times they treated me, and many others, with much more patience, respect and professionalism than we probably deserved.

Finally, thank you to our own city's leadership.  Our former Mayor, Linda Loomis, was kind enough to interview me and appoint me to the seat.  But, in her own way, she made sure I understood that there were other Golden Valley interests in the park, and that I was to look out for those as well.   After all, most of the park lies within our city, and not everyone skis.  She, along with the rest of our city council (in particular councilperson DeDe Scanlon) remained engaged and supportive throughout.   And our new Mayor, Shep Harris, didn't skip a beat.   Even though I harbored some small hope that he would replace me after he was elected, he reached out, and graciously lent his full support and encouragement to our efforts.  He continues to remain interested, engaged, and involved.

And so, that is it.  Thank you for reading and sharing your comments, if you have any.  And if you ever see me out in the park sometime, feel free to say 'Hello' and let me know what you think.