February 2022 by the Numbers from Cynthia Froid Group

Downtown real estate market update from Cynthia Froid Group:

Redistricting for Minneapolis Wards and Park Districts Has Been Finalized

Via a March 4 e-newsletter from the City of Minneapolis:

The Minneapolis Charter Commission has approved new boundaries for 13 City Council wards and the six Park & Recreation districts. These ward and park district maps are available on the City website.

The Charter Commission updates boundaries of ward and park districts to reflect new population counts after every census. A redistricting group composed of commissioners and nine advisory member volunteers was formed last year to do this work using 2020 census data. After considering public input received during public hearings and in writing, the group recommended the new ward and park district maps that commission members approved March 2.

The City Council will now consider and approve updated election precincts and polling place locations, all of which go into effect this year. Every registered voter in Minneapolis will receive a notice of their ward, precinct and polling place via a postal verification mailing before the primary election.

The new City Council ward boundaries will be used for Council Member elections in November 2023. The new Park & Recreation district boundaries will be used for Park Board Commissioner elections in November 2025.

All maps considered during the redistricting process are displayed in the map Submission Gallery. The Gallery was created to allow anyone to submit a map for public review and comment. Meetings of the Redistricting Group and Charter Commission are archived at the City’s YouTube channel.

Miller Lite’s Free Rides Returns to Offer Safe and Free Transit This St. Patrick’s Day

Via a March 3 e-announcement:

Program provided more than 8 million safe and Free Rides over three decades

Molson Coors is encouraging those celebrating St. Patrick’s Day to plan their free and safe ride home through its 2022 Miller Lite Free Rides program. In partnership with local mass transit, participants in Minneapolis/St. Paul can ride the Metro Transit for free, beginning at 6 p.m. through the end of service.

“We encourage all to celebrate responsibly this St. Patrick’s Day. Our Miller Lite Free Rides program promotes responsible consumption and a safe ride home,” said Tami Garrison, Community Affairs Director. “Providing safe, free transportation is just one of the ways Molson Coors is working toward giving back to the communities where we work and live.”

The St. Patrick’s Day Free Rides program began in Minneapolis/St. Paul in 1997 and has since provided a safe ride home to more than 1.2 million individuals in the metro area. The city’s New Year’s Eve program, which began in 2011, provides on average 34,000 individuals with a safe ride home each year.

Since the start of the program, more than eight million people have gotten home safely during major holidays on the bus, rail or train systems in cities across the country through Free Rides. This year, the St. Patrick’s Day program will resume after pausing the past two years due to COVID-19, and will serve those celebrating in both Milwaukee and Minneapolis/St. Paul.

“Our partnership with Miller Lite’s Free Rides program is a longstanding tradition in our community,” said Wes Kooistra, Metro Transit General Manager. “We’re proud to partner with Molson Coors to offer a safe option to those celebrating this St. Patrick’s Day.”

Visit the Metro Transit’s website to review transit routes and make plans for a safe ride home this holiday.

Documenting a Reckoning: The Murder of George Floyd Exhibit Opens at Mill City Museum on March 17

Exhibit on display through June 5, Free and open to the public during regular business hours. Opening Reception is Friday, April 1, 6-8 p.m.

A new exhibit at Mill City Museum examines that long year in the Twin Cities from the murder of George Floyd on May 25, 2020, to the Chauvin trial with a guilty verdict on April 20, 2021, as documented in 54 images by diverse professional, community and student photographers. The goal is to highlight the people and events that changed the region and showcases some of the powerful images created during that time.

On April 1, an opening reception for Documenting a Reckoning will include a panel discussion led by Brent Lewis, New York Times photo editor and exhibit juror with Octavio Jones, freelance photographer, Gene Garvin, community photographer and others whose work is featured in the exhibit. The reception also commemorates the 100th anniversary of the Hubbard School of Journalism and Mass Communication. Hors d’oeuvres and cash bar will be available.

The exhibit runs March 17-June 5. The Mill City Museum is located at 704 S 2nd Street.

Documenting a Reckoning: The Murder of George Floyd is presented by the Hubbard School of Journalism and Mass Communication at the University of Minnesota and was previously on view at the Elmer L. Andersen Library.

NOTE: MNHS requires a mask be worn while indoors at all MNHS sites. For more information, visit mnhs.org/covid-19.

MPRB Announces New Weekly Program "Walk & Talk with a Naturalist" Beginning Friday, March 4

Via a March 2nd e-announcement from the Minneapolis Park and Rec Board:

Starting Friday, March 4, people ages 18 and up are invited to join an MPRB naturalist for a FREE series of afternoon strolls on and near the Mississippi River. This series runs Fridays, March 4 through May 27, 1 to 2pm.

Walks begin at the Water Works Pavilion, 425 West River Parkway, at the foot of the Stone Arch Bridge. The leisurely pace includes stops to observe and discuss a different topic each week, such as:

• History of the Falls and Mills

• Winter Animal Adaptations

• Sketching in Nature

• Bird Migration on the River

• Spring Flowers and Native Plants

• Mindfulness in Nature

• Wildlife

Walk & Talk sessions are free, but registration is required: 

• Online: bit.ly/WaterWorksWalkTalk or minneapolisparks.org/register (event #132013​)
  
  
• Phone: 612-230-6400 (Mon – Fri, 8:00 am – 4:30 pm)​
  
  
• In person: visit any recreation center

The Mill City Farmers Market is Hiring Part-Time Staff & Interns

Via a recent e-announcement from the Mill City Farmers Market:

Part-time Day Staff

The MCFM is hiring part-time day staff to help operate the market. Each day staffer works 9 to 14 Saturday shifts from 6:15 a.m. to 2:45 p.m. between May and October, with additional trainings in April.

Gain customer service and problem solving skills while making connections in the local food community. Hourly compensation is $15/hour.

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Applications are due March 7.

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Nutrition Internship

Designed for nutrition and public health students seeking an opportunity to learn about our local food system. Interns work together to create nutritious recipes featuring market produce and complete a community engagement project focused on nutrition, sustainable farming or food access.

Requires a minimum of 120 hours, between May and October. Applications due March 6.

The Dayton’s Project Announces Unilever as Newest Tenant

Via a February 28 e-announcement:

The Dayton’s Project signed a new lease, welcoming Unilever to the historic redevelopment. Unilever is set to occupy 13,445 SF of the building. As the global leader in sustainable business, Unilever has a long history of supporting the communities it serves, having been ranked as sector leader in the Dow Jones Sustainability Index for the tenth consecutive year. Unilever’s lease follows Ernst & Young and Uncommon Retail, signaling momentum in downtown Minneapolis and The Dayton’s Project..

“Our team is thrilled to have Unilever as part of The Dayton’s Project,” said Jim Montez of Transwestern. “This new lease shows a great sign for downtown Minneapolis. Companies are interested in coming back, and The Dayton’s Project is the perfect space to bring your people to. The recent redevelopment has provided tenants with rare outdoor space, a luxury gym, and flexible places to work and meet within the building.”

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The Dayton’s Project was built in 1902 and originally was used as the Dayton’s Department Store, which later became Target. In 2017, ownership group 601 W. Companies bought the property with the goal of taking the 1.2 million square foot project into retail and modern office space. The Dayton’s Project now boasts exclusive amenities for tenants, including a rooftop deck, a private lounge, high-end fitness center, and library.

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Unilever is one of the world’s leading suppliers of Beauty & Personal Care, Home Care, and Foods & Refreshment products, with sales in over 190 countries. Unilever’s products are used by 2.5 billion people every day and includes iconic brands such as Dove, Hellmann’s, Shea Moisture, Seventh Generation, and Vaseline.

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Jim Montez, Erin Fitzgerald, and Alex Baron of Transwestern with Mercedes Barsh of The Telos Group represented ownership in the transaction. Emily Nicoll of CBRE represented Unilever in the deal.

Updated Recycling and Trash Info Will be Mailed to Residents in March

Excerpt from the February 25 City of Minneapolis e-newsletter:

City of Minneapolis Solid Waste & Recycling customers should watch their mailboxes in the coming weeks for their service guides. The guides include a collection schedule for the year, information on all services provided by Solid Waste & Recycling, an overview of what happens to your waste, how we’re doing and a list of accepted materials. The guide also highlights ways to reduce waste generated at home.

More resources

A searchable disposal guide is available on the City website showing the best way to dispose of household items.

Join the Minneapolis Solid Waste, Recycling and Organics Facebook group to post questions you have on how to get rid of an item.

Email notifications. Sign up to receive recycling reminders. This email will land in your inbox every other week with:

• A reminder for your recycling day.
• Holiday notices with any collection day changes.
• Seasonal notices such as the start and end of yard waste pickup for the year.
• Upcoming events to reduce waste, to reuse your stuff and to drop off household hazardous waste.
• Fun facts about recycling and composting.

Learn more about recycling and organics on the City website.

Writings by Hennepin County Jail Inmates Featured in Online Theater Performance

FreeWriters, an organization founded in the Hennepin County Jail to provide daily creative writing opportunities for county jail inmates, is featured in a new online performance by Ten Thousand Things Theater Company (TTT), which seeks to highlight the creative voices of Minnesotans living in correctional facilities and individuals within the disabilities community.

The Ten Thousand Voices reading is available to watch by visiting this page and includes pieces written by FreeWriters participants, as well as individuals from Minnesota Correctional Facility Faribault; Minnesota Correctional Facility Shakopee; and Minnesota Correctional Facility Stillwater, as well as MSS–Supporting People with Disabilities. The recording is free with donations encouraged to support this program.

Faye M. Price directs the latest Ten Thousand Voices reading, with Peter Vitale providing music direction. Artist interpreters reading the works include Cristina Florencia Castro, George Keller, Kurt Kwan, Tracey Maloney and Mikell Sapp.

“People living in correctional facilities and individuals with disabilities have been enormously impacted and challenged by the pandemic,” says TTT Artistic Director Marcela Lorca. “We are honored to share and amplify their voices.”

“I am thrilled to see pieces written by members of the FreeWriters program performed as part of the Ten Thousand Voices series,” said Nate Johnson, founder of FreeWriters. “Creative expression is an integral part of healing and has been proven to help reduce recidivism. I am grateful to the Hennepin County Sheriff’s Office for their continued support and to Ten Thousand Things Theater Company for their partnership.”

A sample of the performance featuring a reading from a FreeWriters participant can be viewed here. 

About FreeWriters
FreeWriters provides inmates in the county jail system with creative writing opportunities that improve mental health, reduce recidivism, and inspire hope about life after incarceration. The vision of FreeWriters is to help county jail inmates rediscover their existing aptitudes and aspirations for a future free of incarceration. FreeWriters was founded by Nate Johnson, a former prosecuting attorney, veteran, and lifelong lover of literature and creative writing. Nate leads FreeWriters classes for current inmate-writers, as well as community-based writing groups for former inmates and other local writers.

About Ten Thousand Things Theater Company
Ten Thousand Things awakens the creative spirit of audiences and artists by bringing essential and exceptional theater to people from all backgrounds and life experiences. The vision of Ten Thousand Things is to ignite empathy and revolutionize belonging through the power of compelling and inspiring theater. Ten Thousand Things hosts free performances at shelters for the unhoused, correctional facilities, low-income senior centers, after-school programs, women's shelters, and locations in greater/rural Minnesota — any place where people are who do not have easy access to the arts.

Event Details Announced for 2022 NCAA Women’s Final Four

With the 2022 NCAA Women’s Final Four approximately 40 days from tipoff, the NCAA, Minnesota Local Organizing Committee and ESPN announced event details that include opportunities for game tickets, numerous free events and community initiatives surrounding one of America’s marquee sporting events.

Championship week will culminate Friday, April 1, with the national semifinals at 6 and 8:30 p.m. Central. The national championship game will be played at 5 p.m. Central Sunday, April 3, with all games carried live on ESPN. Target Center in downtown Minneapolis will be the site for the games and for the crowning of the 2022 national champion.

“The 1,000 student-athletes who will be part of the 2022 championship have one goal in mind during March Madness, and that is to advance so their team is playing in Minneapolis on April 1,” said Lynn Holzman, NCAA vice president of women’s basketball. “While the basketball will be highly competitive and a champion crowned, the Women’s Final Four is more than three games. We hope as many people as possible take advantage and experience all that is being offered during the week.”

Though a national champion will be crowned inside the Target Center on April 3, interactive fan activities outside the venue throughout the week will be equally unforgettable. Click here for the full list of NCAA Women's Final Four events.

“The 2022 Women’s Final Four will be extraordinary because of the strong working relationship and cooperation between the NCAA, the Minnesota Local Organizing Committee, the City of Minneapolis, and the State of Minnesota” said Debbie Estes, co-chair of Minnesota Local Organizing Committee. “We have been working closely with the NCAA since the event was awarded several years ago, and it will truly be an honor to host the Women’s Final Four for a second time and an opportunity to provide a uniquely Minnesota hospitality experience for basketball fans from around the country.”

The Northwest Sportshow Returns to Minneapolis Convention Center March 10-13

The Midwest’s largest outdoors show, the Progressive® Insurance Northwest Sportshow®, presented by Discover Boating™, makes its return to the Minneapolis Convention Center, 1301 2nd Ave S, March 10-13, 2022. Guests are invited to find inspiration for all outdoor adventures– both big and small– and peruse their favorite travel destination or sales on the newest products and accessories for fishing, hunting, camping, boating and more. 

Returning after a pandemic hiatus with everyone’s favorite attractions and features for all ages, the Northwest Sportshow is the best place to gear up for fun outdoors.

Get an inside scoop of what the Northwest Sportshow is offering in 2022:

• A one-stop marketplace for outdoor fun– see and shop the Midwest’s largest collection of fishing tackle, electronics, outdoors products and gear.
• Explore the latest models of boats (from pontoons and fishing boats to runabouts to PWC) and ATVs, including accessories for every outdoor activity imaginable– from boating, fishing, hunting, camping and more.
• Learn from the pros! More than 20 experts will share tips, tricks and practical know-how during free on-site seminars, offering a great way for attendees to boost skills– whatever the experience level.
• Check out the Extreme Raptors Show and experience the beauty and charisma of these fierce, feathered predators up close as master falconer and wildlife rehabilitator, Jonathan Wood guides guests through the fascinating history of falconry.
• Calling all kids! Enjoy family-friendly features and educational opportunities to learn all about the outdoors. Key highlights include the Trout Pond, a catch-and-release fishing pond to introduce youngsters to the fun of fishing, and Fishing 101, covering basic skills for anglers of all ages.

Daily schedule:

• Thursday, March 10 from 1pm - 9pm 
• Friday, March 11 from 12pm - 9pm 
• Saturday, March 12 from 10am - 8pm 
• Sunday, March 13 from 10am - 5pm

Adminission is $12 for adults; children 12 and under get in FREE when accompanied by a paid adult.  For more information: www.northwestsportshow.com, Facebook and Instagram.

Sherman Associates Begins $30 Million Historic Redevelopment on its Minneapolis Headquarters, Now Known as the J. I. Case Building

Sherman Associates begins a $30 million historic redevelopment of the building that has been home to its corporate headquarters since 1999, located at 233 Park Avenue. The building has been named the J. I. Case Building and was recently listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The J. I. Case Threshing Machine Company built and occupied the building for over 50 years as a branch house, distributing and marketing its farming equipment across the Midwest and now its 63,000 sq. ft. renovation is the latest of Sherman’s noteworthy historic redevelopment projects.

Building exterior at the corner of Washington and Park

The first floor is 15,000 sq. ft. of restaurant space that will attract a large user or could be subdivided among multiple small users (formerly the location of the Old Spaghetti Factory that operated there for 25 years). The historic allure will be maintained with features like prominent floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking South Washington Avenue with 16 ft. high ceilings that are present on the first floor.

Sherman will relocate its office of over 90 employees from the second floor and basement to the third floor which boasts 14,500 sq. ft. The second floor will be 11,000 sq. ft. coworking space utilized by Sherman, with 3,700 sq. ft. space available for sublease. A new feature staircase will connect the second and third floors. Sherman’s amenities will include a fitness center, bike storage, and a new rooftop patio.

The most significant alteration of the building will be the addition of a 7,500 sq. ft. rooftop patio. The patio will be divided into three spaces: 4,500 sq. ft. for a tenant-operated rooftop bar/restaurant, 1,100 sq. ft. for Sherman headquarters, and 2,000 sq. ft. for a spa pool, sauna, and guest lounge subleased by Canopy by Hilton Minneapolis Mill District located next door.

The basement level will be completely renovated and include a 4,000 sq. ft. speakeasy concept operated by a local restauranteur.

A new elevator for handicap accessibility will be installed and run from the basement level to the rooftop level. The current elevator at the building’s main entrance will be upgraded. Existing underground parking will remain as is.

“The J. I. Case building has been the home to the Sherman corporate office for over 20 years. And it has become the epicenter of our mixed-use and mixed-income housing and hospitality investments across Minneapolis, the Twin Cities, and the Midwest over the decades. Our vision for this historic redevelopment at Washington & Park Avenue is to reposition our corporate office space for the future working environment and our long-term growth, while also adding tremendous amenities in the form of restaurants, rooftop space, and unique design features that bring people in not just locally, but nationally. We will put all 63,000 square feet to the highest and best use,” said Chris Sherman, president of Sherman Associates.

Sherman has received an allocation of federal and state historic tax credits to finance the project that is expected to be completed in the first half of 2023. Blumentals Architecture is the architect and Gardner Builders is the general contractor. During the redevelopment, Sherman’s corporate employees are working from the nearby coworking space, Fueled Collective.

The J. I. Case Building renovation is the final piece of Sherman’s redevelopment of the ‘Sherman block’ made up of three buildings that are bordered by South Washington Avenue, Park Avenue, South 3rd Street, and Chicago Avenue and includes the following, owned and operated by Sherman: East End Apartments, Starbucks, Canopy by Hilton hotel, and Umbra restaurant as well as commercial tenants, Trader Joe’s and Jimmy John’s.

Sherman has other developments under construction in the area. Moment, to be completed in late 2022, is located at 500 South 7th Street and is a 10-story mixed-use tower with 222 market-rate apartments, 15,000 sq. ft. for the Firefighters For Healing Transitional Healing Center, 17,000 sq. ft. commercial space, 90 underground parking spaces for residential, and 13 ground level parking spaces. A new Fire Station 1 for the City of Minneapolis is under construction at 275 5th Avenue South. The facility will be 20,300 sq. ft. and completed in mid-2022.

The Downtown Minneapolis Neighborhood Association (DMNA) has installed two plaques on the J. I. Case Building’s exterior to highlight its historical relevance as part of its Historic Sign Project to enhance a sense of community in the neighborhood.

Sherman is leasing the spaces available in the building and has attracted attention from a variety of potential tenants including a high-end restaurant concept. It also has a relationship with a food hall operator in Colorado that has shown interest in the space.

Betsy Ruth Byers: Scaffold: A Kolman & Pryor Gallery Project Space Exhibition, March 19 – May 7

Via a recent e-announcemcent:

Betsy Ruth Byers: Scaffold: A Kolman & Pryor Gallery Project Space Exhibition

March 19 – May 7

Artist Reception: Saturday, March 19, 7:00 – 9:00pm

Kolman & Pryor Gallery is pleased to present Project Space grantee Betsy Ruth Byers’ new exhibition, Scaffold. Kolman & Pryor Gallery’s Project Space is an initiative launched by gallery co-founders, Anita Sue Kolman and Patrick Pryor in 2021, to further support visual artists. Scaffold runs March 19 - May 7, 2022, with a public opening reception on Saturday, March 19, 7:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m., during Northrup King Building’s March Northrup King Nights. The exhibition is a multi-sensory, multi-media manifestation of Byers’ alpine and equatorial glacial experiences and the global realities related to climate change.

“Receiving the Project Space grant from Kolman & Pryor gave me the resources and funds to move from two-dimensional painting to installation-based work,” Byers says. For several years, Byers has accompanied scientists on trips to various glaciers, hiked the Aletsch Glacier in the Swiss Alps, and observed how glacier tourism now requires bridges and ladders to reach receding and melting glaciers.

“Many people’s experiences of arctic, alpine, and tropical glaciers (often located on equatorial volcanoes) are through screens, and through the speed of social media,” Byers says. “In this exhibition, through which I’ve been processing my experiences, I hope to create contemplative, sensory spaces people can step into and come to an embodied understanding of what’s happening in our world.”

The work within Scaffold, Byers says, “is visually anchored in the aesthetic of survival gear—colors like bright orange and metallic reflectives—and the language of temporary solutions and adaptations.” Elements include a survival tent, a soundscape created from heartbeats heard via a digital stethoscope, paintings, and an olfactory piece. “Smell is so connected to brain function,” she says. “My goal is to create an interactive space that engages the senses and creates physical lasting memories of the exhibition.”

Elegy for Cayambe

Byers also wants viewers to consider concepts such as time and change, the temporary, and ideas of survival. “The earth is reacting to climate change in survival mode, and we are slow to act. I hope to create a space in which people can contemplate this and let the elements of installation affect them physically.”

“We are thrilled to be providing Betsy with a space in which to create an installation that addresses one of the pressing issues of time, climate change,” says Anita Sue Kolman, “Our gallery has always focused on supporting Minnesota artists. Our Project Space initiative has allowed Betsy to create a whole world that includes her paintings and other aspects that will engage all of the senses.” 

Adds Patrick Pryor, “Betsy has used her grantee funds, time, and support to elevate her career to a new level with this exhibition. Scaffold will be a powerfully engaging and thought-provoking work that we hope will affect the hearts and minds of all who experience the exhibition.”

For a preview of the show, please contact Anita Sue Kolman at anita@kolmanpryorgallery.com or 612-385-4239 or Patrick Pryor at patrick@kolmanpryorgallery.com or 612-280-7812. 

Mill City Commons Spring 2022 Trial Membership Promotion

Via a recent e-announcement from Mill City Commons:

Spring into action and join Mill City Commons (MCC) Three-Month Trial Membership for $100 from March - May. 

If you're seeking fresh attitudes, meaningful connections and creative options to enhance your quality of life, MCC is for you! The MCC community is an inclusive, vibrant group of members 55+ who live in or have an interest in the central riverfront district. Our goal is to enhance members' quality of life and help them thrive. We offer a wide array of stimulating programs and speakers, accessible support services, active affinity groups, and engaging social opportunities. 

Not a member? Try us out! Join the trial membership online at www.millcitycommons.org or email info@millcitycommons.org for more information. 

Step Up Paid Summer Internships are Back

Excerpt from the February 18 City of Minneapolis e-newsletter:

Do you know a young person who’s looking for a paid career experience this summer? Step Up offers paid internships and online career training. Step Up is now taking applications for young people 14-21 who live in Minneapolis.

Learn more and be sure to apply by February 18. 

And if you are an employer and would like to host a Step Up intern this summer, pledge to hire a Step Up intern by March 31.

St. Patrick's Day at FINNEGANS Brew Co

FINNEGANS invites you to join them on St. Patrick's Day, March 17th, for a full day of festivities! Details

City’s Behavioral Crisis Response Teams are Now Operating 24 Hrs/day, Mon-Fri

Excerpt from the City of Minneapolis' February 16 e-newsletter:

The City’s Behavioral Crisis Response (BCR) teams are now operating 24 hours a day, Monday through Friday. The teams are part of a pilot project led by the City’s Office of Performance and Innovation with Canopy Roots serving as the provider.

The teams launched Dec. 13, 2021 as a new first response that provides crisis intervention and connection to support services. They initially operated Monday through Friday from 7:30 a.m. to midnight.

Two mobile units operate throughout Minneapolis. Each has a team of two behavioral health responders and outreach supplies, such as water, socks, snacks and toiletries. Minneapolis 911 dispatches the responders. The teams can’t be called directly by residents.

The response teams are an alternative to police response. The Minneapolis Police Department will only be on scene if dispatch determines the need to clear the scene first or the response teams request assistance to complete their work.

People having a behavioral crisis or reporting one should continue to call 911 for help. 911 dispatchers will gather information and determine if the incident is eligible for a mobile behavioral health team response. The teams will not respond to incidents involving firearms or violent behavior. MPD can request the assistance of the Behavioral Crisis Response Teams to complete their work as well. 

Learn more about the Behavioral Health Response Teams pilot project.

City Council Confirms Margaret Anderson Kelliher as Director of City’s Public Works Department

Via a recent e-newsletter from the City of Minneapolis:

The City Council has approved Mayor Jacob Frey’s nomination of Margaret Anderson Kelliher as the new director of the Public Works Department for a four-year term. Anderson Kelliher has served as the commissioner of the Minnesota Department of Transportation (MnDOT) since 2019.

Anderson Kelliher will begin her new role with Public Works on March 2, overseeing a department with approximately 1,100 employees that build, operate and maintain the City’s public infrastructure and deliver critical services, such as solid waste and recycling collection, safe drinking water, street maintenance and emergency sewer and road repairs.

In addition to serving as MnDOT commissioner, Anderson Kelliher served 12 years in the Minnesota House of Representatives, including as the Minnesota House Speaker for four years. While House Speaker, she oversaw passage of the transportation and transit funding package in 2008 – a groundbreaking investment in the state’s multimodal transportation and transit system. 

MPRB Announces Plans for New North Minneapolis Riverfront Trail Connection

Via a February 9 e-announcement from the Minneapolis Park and Rec Board:

An illustration used as an early funding tool shows a potential layout for a new trail connection on the North Minneapolis riverfront. Click or tap the image to see more illustrations.

1,000-foot trail will travel under railroad bridge along river bluff to connect Ole Olson Park and 26th Avenue North Overlook

The Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board (MPRB) is excited to announce plans for a new trail that will connect Ole Olson Park and the 26th Avenue North Overlook!

This long-anticipated 1,000-foot trail connection will extend a popular riverfront regional trail past the north terminus of West River Road and create new riverside experiences in North Minneapolis. It also will connect the 26th Avenue North Overlook, which opened last May, to the Grand Rounds National Scenic Byway, the 51-mile continuous bike/walk trail that encircles most of Minneapolis.

Ole Olson Park and the 26th Avenue North Overlook offer great views of the Mississippi River from atop the river bluff. This new trail will travel across the bluff along the river's edge and open up new park areas that are currently inaccessible. Construction is expected to start in 2022 and the new trail is expected to open in 2023.

Overhead diagram of the new trail connection between Ole Olson Park and the 26th Avenue North Overlook

New river access created by the trail project might be used for picnicking, fishing, launching a canoe or kayak, or just taking in the river and skyline views. The MRPB is asking for community feedback to help identify and prioritize potential riverfront experiences that could be developed through this project. There are several ways to get involved over the next several months.

Online Public Meeting

The first public meeting for the project is scheduled Thursday, Feb. 24, 2022, 6-7:30 pm. It's an online meeting with a presentation and time for questions and feedback. The presentation will be recorded and posted online after the meeting. Use the link below to join the meeting on Feb. 24.

Join Meeting

Public Comment Forum

An online public comment form is available to collect general feedback on the project. Use the link below to open the form.

Comment Form

Share the comment form with anyone who may be interested using the link surveymonkey.com/r/26-olson-trail.

Email Updates

Visit the project page and enter your email into the "Subscribe to Email Updates" box at the top of the page to receive regular updates on the project. There's also additional background information and documents posted on the project page. Share the project page with anyone who may be interested using the link minneapolisparks.org/26-olson-trail.

Will Steger and Rita Mae Steger to Launch New Cookbook, The Steger Homestead Kitchen, at virtual Talk of the Stacks Event February 24

Authors Will Steger and Rita Mae Steger will be in conversation with Beth Dooley in a virtual presentation for their new cookbook The Steger Homestead Kitchen: Simple Recipes for an Abundant Life as part of the Friends of the Hennepin County Library Talk of the Stacks series on Thursday, February 24, 2022 at 7:00 PM CT. Free virtual event registration at: https://www.supporthclib.org/steger-homestead-kitchen

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A formidable voice calling for the preservation of the Arctic and the Earth, Will Steger is best known for his legendary polar explorations. He has traveled tens of thousands of miles by kayak and dogsled for over 50 years, leading teams on some of the most significant polar expeditions in history, including the first confirmed unsupported journey to the North Pole and the longest unsupported dogsled expedition. Will Steger has joined the likes of Amelia Earhart and Jacques Costeau in earning the National Geographic John Oliver La Gorce Medal.

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In The Steger Homestead Kitchen: Simple Recipes for an Abundant Life, Will collaborates with his niece Rita Mae Steger, chef at the Steger Wilderness Center, and accomplished food journalist and cookbook author Beth Dooley, in a personal and heartfelt collection of family recipes and stories. Interwoven with dozens of mouth-watering recipes—for simple, hearty meals shared around home chefs’ own homestead tables—are Steger’s exhilarating stories of epic adventures exploring the Earth’s most remote regions.

Prominently featured in the book are Rita Mae’s favorite meals—from generous breakfasts like griddlecakes, to warming lunches such as wild mushroom and wild rice soup, to tried-and-true snacks like Steger Wilderness Bars. Between both the recipes and the stories, the authors open their hearts and hearths, providing the practical advice and inspiration to cook up a good life in harmony with nature.