$5 Million Theo Wirth Decision Grows Near

A little more than one hundred people showed up at the chalet at Wednesday night to get a lesson in the history, ecology, topography and geology of the largest park in Minneapolis.

They even learned how hard it is to play the par 5, dogleg left,12th hole on the park’s 18- hole .

Bruce Chamberlain, assistant superintendent for planning services for the Minneapolis Park Board, opened the evening by telling the audience “there is a strong basis for the work already done and now we will move on from here.”

The goal of the project is to increase use of the park, lower maintenance costs and protect, as well as increase, habitat.

With issues from a to the upgrade of hiking, biking and cross-country ski trails to improvements to the golf course, there was a lot of ground to cover.

Wednesday night was the first of several days of activity.

The first two-and-a-half hours of the three-hour meeting were devoted to a parade of consultants, experts and Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board personnel giving an overview of the park, namely where it has been, where it is now and where it hopes to be.

It is all part of the nearly year-old charrette—a collaborative effort between park professionals and the 19-member Citizen Advisory Council (CAC) about what to do with the approximately $5 million earmarked for Wirth improvements by the Metropolitan Council and the State of Minnesota.

When the presentations were over, the audience was invited to ask questions. A few questions were asked, but there were also personal comments as to what people want to see done in the park as well as several concerns.

In the roughly 30 minutes open for questions, the members of the audience brought up a broad array of subjects.

These ranged from a desire to see more input from residents of the near north side of Minneapolis to concerns over too much widening of the trails and pathways already in the park.

“I would hope we would keep and protect the wooded perimeter around the Eloise Butler Gardens in order to save habit and protect the wildlife there,” said one audience member.

“In the past, there have been a lot of erosion problems along the trails and I hope that gets addressed in the plans,” said another.

From 9:30 to 11:30 am this morning (11/5), at the Par 3 clubhouse, concepts will be on display for review and comment by the public.

On Tuesday, Nov. 8, the CAC will meet and begin the process of selecting the final design plan for the project.

Regardless, the specific use of the $5 million will soon be unveiled and the future look and use of Theodore Wirth made clear.