Saturday, March 2, 2013
Channel 12 News reported that some residents are concerned that current Bottineau Transitway plans will “wipe out wetlands.”
On Wednesday, Feb. 27, residents gathered at the Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board headquarters to discuss the possible impacts that the Bottineau Transitway plans may have on Theodore Wirth Park. According to Channel 12 news, many residents attended to show their discomfort with plans to uproot existing railroad tracks to put in the new line. In a broadcast segment published Thursday, Golden Valley resident Carmen Heim is shown with signs that say no to “D1 through Theo Wirth Park.” Her signs were decorated with pine branches. “This is the park board, something’s wrong with the picture,” Heim told Channel 12. “It will be devastating.” The Wednesday meeting was the first of many upcoming meetings about Bottineau. The community open …
Wednesday, February 20, 2013
In a letter sent to members of the Hennepin County Board and Metropolitan Council, Mayor Shep Harris asked for clarification regarding the purpose of the upcoming Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board’s community meeting.
On Feb. 27, the Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board will host a public meeting to discuss how plans for the Bottineau Transitway may impact open space near Theodore Wirth Park. Related:Bottineau Public Meetings Coming Up, Residents Reflect on Council Decision In a letter sent last week to the Hennepin County Board and Metropolitan Council, Golden Valley Mayor Shep Harris outlined concerns regarding the upcoming meetings and intended outcomes. Harris said that city staff was “informed” that outcomes of the Park Board meeting might be used as part of the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) application needed to begin preliminary engineering. “We believe that broad-scale public input over number, location, and function of light rail …
Thursday, February 14, 2013
With new Bottineau meetings scheduled, Golden Valley Patch reached out to two vocal residents to get both sides of the Bottineau debate.
The Bottineau Transitway is slowly becoming a reality. Plans show the transitway coming through Golden Valley, which has stirred quite a bit of controversy among residents and city leaders. Last December, the council voted to support the rail line through the city. Today, both the Met Council and the Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board are scheduling public meetings to move plans forward. Related: Met Council Will Hold Public Hearing on Bottineau The topic has generated discussions on Golden Valley Patch, so we reached out to two Patch users to get their take on the recent decision. "I was happy to see that the majority of the council members took the time to research the issue and made a decision that will help bring Light Rail through …
Tuesday, February 5, 2013
The Star Tribune published renditions of the center, which is part of a Wirth expansion project that would cost about $6 million.
In a Feb. 4 article, the Star Tribune wrote about proposed changes coming to Theodore Wirth Park. Writer Eric Roper reported that the park is in a “tug of war” between golf lovers and the exploding interest in cross country skiing and mountain biking. According to the article, the proposed welcome center is just part of the larger picture of change for the park. "It's a bit of culture shift. It is," Bruce Chamberlain, Minneapolis Park Board assistant superintendent, said in the article. "And it's because of the changing dynamic of the city and what people want out of recreation." Roper reported that the Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board and the Loppet Foundation will vote on the welcome center and proposed changes in February. The …
Friday, January 25, 2013
The Southwest Journal Reported that an issue with the “silent sports center” contract delayed next steps.
In an article Friday, the Southwest Journal reported that an contract issue between the Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board and the Loppet Foundation set back plans for a new Theodore Wirth Park sports center. Writer Nick Halter said that the Loppet Foundation would be responsible for raising $3 million by the end of 2014 for a center that would house ski rentals and bike rentals. The facility would also have a conference room, great room and concession stand, according to the article. The Wirth Golf Course clubhouse would be knocked down in order to build the welcome center, but the Southwest Journal said building plans are delayed. On the board’s most recent agenda, an item was removed because commissioners want “issues addressed in a …
Monday, December 17, 2012
While winter officially begins Dec. 21, the Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board reminds winter enthusiasts that Mother Nature determines when its outdoor ice rinks can open.
**Information provided by the Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board. Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board (MPRB) crews need 10 consecutive days, 24 hours daily, of temperatures of 20 degrees or lower to create ice and open rinks. Since late November, MPRB crews have been preparing to open 46 ice rinks for skating, broomball, hockey and pond hockey at 22 parks citywide. Typically, MPRB rinks are open in time for the holidays, however, rink preparations have suffered continual setbacks due to snow, rain and temperatures above freezing. If weather permits, the MPRB hopes to have at least some of its rinks open by the end of the month. The status of each rink can be viewed online at www.minneapolisparks.org/rinks. Once open and weather …
Friday, November 9, 2012
Are you a golfer? Squeeze in your last few swings before cooler weather arrives.
If you’re looking to get one last round of golf in before the snow arrives, time may be running short. Minneapolis golf courses have begun to close as they are being prepared for winter, though select courses will remain open as long as there is no snow on the ground. Wirth Golf Club’s Par 3 course, the back nine of its 18-hole course and the Columbia Learning Center are now closed for the season. Hiawatha Learning Center and the front nine at Hiawatha Golf Club are slated to close Monday, Nov. 12. Take advantage of fall rates while courses at Columbia, Gross, Hiawatha, Meadowbrook and Wirth (front nine only) Golf Clubs remain open. Play 18 holes for just $19 Monday through Thursday or $23 Friday through Sunday. Fort Snelling Golf Club …
Thursday, October 11, 2012
The City Council will meet with representatives from the Metropolitan Council and Hennepin County in November to get questions answered about the Bottineau Transitway, and its potential path through Golden Valley.
At a meeting on Oct. 9, Mayor Shep Harris and the Golden Valley City Council announced that the city will revisit plans for the Bottineau Transitway. According to Harris, on November 13, representatives from the Metropolitan Council and Hennepin County will sit down with councilmembers and answer questions about the transitway. "I think its important for this communication to happen," Harris told Patch. "We need to have these conversations to discuss concerns and get clarification." At a City Council meeting last June, councilmembers voted against the transitway, making Golden Valley the only city along the route to oppose the light rail construction. But today, the Golden Valley City Council isn't the only group thinking twice about …
Friday, August 31, 2012
Late summer heat pushed the Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board to extend summer wading pool season, just in time for Labor Day.
Minneapolis wading pools were originally scheduled to close on Sept. 4, but above average temperatures will keep half of the pools open longer than usual. According to a statement released by the Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board, 32 of their 65 wading pools will remain open until Sept. 9. Where, near Golden Valley, can you beat the heat by wading in the water? North Commons Park and Shingle Creek Park are nearby and will have extended hours. According to the Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board, about 30 wading pools located near Minneapolis public schools closed Monday, Aug. 24, and water parks closed Aug. 26. While there is no lifeguard duty, beaches remain open from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. daily. Wirth Lake Beach reopened Aug. 30 after …
Tuesday, August 28, 2012
The Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board announced Tuesday that Wirth Lake Beach will be temporarily closed due to increased levels of E. coli bacteria.
In a statement on Tuesday, the Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board announced that Wirth Lake Beach will be closed due to a rise in E. coli bacteria levels. The current levels exceed state guidelines. The Wirth Beach announcement comes on the heels of other beach closures due to bacteria, including the closure of Plymouth's Medicine Lake beach in French Park last week. "The temporary, late-season rise in bacteria levels at Wirth Beach is likely due to the increased amount of birds at the lake since the start of the migration season," Dawn Sommers, communications and marketing manager for the park board, said in the statement. According to the Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board, no illnesses have been reported and monitoring the levels …
Kasia
9:05 pm on Sunday, March 3, 2013
I attended both of the meetings, and 90% of the comments were concerns from residents about how light rail will negatively impact Theodore Wirth Park. The most frequently stated concerns were: "where will all the parking go?" and "why are we using the regional park land to build a transit project?" The Minneapolis Parks Board does not have any authority over whether the light rail will go through… more ›