Beneath the Banks: Caves and Tunnels Along the Riverfront

Article by Michael Rainville, Jr.

Five hundred million years ago a giant, shallow, tropical sea covered the vast majority of what later became North America, including the central and eastern portions of Minnesota. This resulted in a very thick layer of St. Peter Sandstone developing with a thinner layer of Platteville Limestone forming on top of it. These layers made it possible for St. Anthony Falls to erode upstream to where it sits today along the downtown riverfront. However, these geological layers are also the perfect recipe for caves and tunnels to naturally form. Once European settlers established the towns of St. Paul, St. Anthony, and Minneapolis, they too took advantage of the soft sandstone and dug out cave systems for various uses. It is because of this that some say the subterranean world of the Twin Cities is comparable, if not grander, than the catacombs of Paris. These next three stories are just a small portion of what lies beneath our feet.

Chute’s Cave

Photo of a collapsed section of Chute's Cave taken in 2000 by urban explorers, Action Squad.It didn’t take a well-learned person to figure out that the exposed sandstone along the bluffs of the Mississippi can be easily manipulated. Once the riverbanks were filled with lumber and flour mills, entrepreneurs began exploring the possibility of using tunnels to power their mills. One of the first to try this out was Samuel H. Chute, namesake of Chute Square, the location of the oldest house in the city, and an agent for the St. Anthony Falls Water Power Company. He wanted to dig a tunnel underneath Main Street of over 1,100 feet. Workers digging out Chute’s Tunnel were stopped a few hundred feet in from the shoreline when they broke through into a large cavern.

Photo of the formation "Chute's Medusa" taken in 2001 by Action Squad. It measures roughly six feet wide.

Originally, Chute’s Cave was 200 feet long and 100 feet wide, and in the middle was a large geological formation, likely a stalagmite, that was dubbed the Tower of St. Anthony. In 1866, the St. Paul Daily Press reported that some explorers lifted up a slab of malachite in the cave, and underneath was a spiral staircase. After descending 123 steps, it opened up into Chute’s Cave, where they saw human-sized stalagmites rising up, and diamond-like stalactites glistening on the ceiling. The columnist then ended their report by saying that Chute’s Cave “is supposed to be the place where good St. Antonians go when they die.” It must’ve been a slow news day.

Woman entering Chute's Cave by boat, photo courtesy of Dr. Greg Brick

A resort was opened on the bluffs near the cave’s entrance and even offered torchlight boat tours of the stunning cave system. Unfortunately, the beauty of the cave changed on December 23rd, 1880 when a portion of the cave collapsed, taking some of Main Street with it. Once the area was stabilized and the street was back up and running, the cave was deemed unsafe and the resort was abandoned. Years later in the 1960s, the city pondered the idea of turning the cave into a fallout shelter, but that idea was abandoned.

The Eastman Tunnel Collapse of 1869

Before Main Street sank into Chute’s Cave, businessmen William Eastman and John Merriam purchased the majority of Nicollet Island with the intent to mill along the island’s shores. The two argued that the St. Anthony Falls Water Power Company controlled all of the water power on the east side of the falls, so they sued the company and won. The two parties agreed that Eastman and Merriam could dig a tunnel underneath the falls from Hennepin Island to Nicollet in order to take advantage of the falls fifty-foot drop to create 200 horsepower to operate their mills.

Digging started in September of 1868 and workers slowly dug their six-by-six-foot tunnel 2,500 feet to Nicollet Island. By early October 1869, the crew made it 2,000 feet in and reached the southern tip of Nicollet Island. They were almost there. Towards the end of the workday on October 4th, some workers noticed a very small leak in the tunnel. The next day when they arrived at the site, they discovered that that the river turned the small leak into a giant hole, and the river quickly carved out a seventeen-foot deep hole ninety feet wide!

Photo of the Eastman Tunnel collapse taken in 1869

Over 100 men from St. Anthony volunteered to help save St. Anthony Falls, and more important to them, the power it was capable of producing. They started throwing rocks and logs into the giant hole, but they were tossed around and swept away like toothpicks. The power of the mighty Mississippi was just too much. Eventually, the Minneapolis Fire Department came to the rescue, and with the help of even more volunteers, they constructed three cofferdams to stabilize the falls. Wood will obviously erode over time, so the dams had to be replaced every four years or so until the 1950s when the Army Corps of Engineers installed the concrete apron that makes up St. Anthony Falls today.

1940 photo of the remnants of the Eastman Tunnel

Nicollet Island’s Many Secrets

Remnants of tunnels from the Eastman tunnel collapse are still located throughout the southern tip of Nicollet Island. These are known as the Neapolitan Caves because of iron-red swirls mixed into the white and green sandstone walls. Further up the island is a tunnel dubbed the “bloody snake passage” by local explorer, historian, and author of the book Subterranean Twin Cities, Dr. Greg Brick. He gave this tunnel, which dead ends at the foundation of DeLaSalle High School, its name because of scarlet-red flowstones along the walls that resembled dripping blood.

The two most prominent caves can be found around the northern tip of the island. First, accessible from an old utility tunnel that forms a loop around the island, Satan’s Cave is aptly named because of bas-reliefs carved in the sandstone of demonic figures and a small alter with a candelabra on top. The carvings were created in such a way that when lit candles are placed in the mouths of the carvings, light glows out of their flaring nostrils. These carvings and the alter are fairly recent, appearing no earlier than the mid-1970s when a Minneapolis Star reporter explored the caves on the island and did not note anything demonic. Satan’s Cave used to have a more important use, however. When John Orth became the first brewer in Hennepin County in 1850, he would use this cool cave to keep his lager chilled. Eventually, Orth would go on to establish the Minneapolis Brewing Company. Once Orth left the cave, it was used the grow mushrooms through the 1920s.

Underground entrance to Satan's Cave

Carvings and candles inside Satan's Cave

The last notable cave on Nicollet Island is Santa’s Cave, a transposition of Satan’s Cave, done by Dr. Brick. Prior to this name, it was known as Cave X, for its cross-like shape. While more impressive than Satan’s Cave, Santa’s Cave is hard to access, so most urban explorers leave it for the two species of bats that hibernate there in the winter months.

These caves are still around today, but don’t be fooled, they are still dangerous. That early explorer who found a spiral staircase down into Chute’s Cave said the stairs were made out of polished marble with brass bannisters. Earthly gasses, like methane, can get trapped in these caves. Perhaps this explorer’s tall tale was influenced by trapped gasses and a lot of time on their hands? A French explorer claimed to have studied hieroglyphs in a vault on Nicollet Island, and he concluded that beyond the vault was a room full of treasures where an extinct race of very smart, flying humans kept their knowledge. Maybe the gasses got to him and he saw bats flying by his head? More recently, in the late 1900s, a resident of Nicollet Island was exploring one of the many tunnels and passed out from inhaling too much methane. Luckily, he was with a friend who pulled him out and he came to once they were topside. Caves are pretty neat, but they are blocked off for a reason. Hopefully one day we can safely explore Minneapolis’ subterranean world.

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About Michael Rainville, Jr.

A 6th generation Minneapolitan, Michael Rainville Jr. received his B.A. in History from the University of St. Thomas, and is currently enrolled in their M.A. in Art History and Certificate in Museum Studies programs. Michael is also a historic interpreter and guide at Historic Fort Snelling at Bdote and a lead guide at Mobile Entertainment LLC, giving Segway tours of the Minneapolis riverfront for 7+ years. Contact: mrainvillejr@comcast.net. Click here for an interactive map of Michael's past articles.

Water Works Park Proves to Be a Terrific Spot for MPRB's Movies and Music in the Park

By Doug Verdier

July 1 saw movie-goers gathering early at Water Works Park for a showing of the 1975 film Mahogany, staring Diana Ross and Billy Dee Williams. The Mezzanine Lawn overlooking the riverfront provided the perfect location for the big screen (inflatable, no less!) to enjoy a film about a poor Chicago secretary (Diana Ross) who takes the fast lane to fame as a model and fashion designer. It received an Oscar nomination for music (original song). The music throughout the film was great.

Mahogany was the second film presentation of the Twin Cities Black Film Festival at Water Works Park this summer. Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board staff handled the setup and technical aspects of the showing. Great job, MPRB!

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Movie buffs may remember that Diana Ross and Billy Dee Williams also teamed up in the 1972 film “Lady Sings the Blues” which was loosely based on the troubled life and career of the legendary jazz singer Billie Holiday. That film received five Academy Award nominations, including Best Original Song Score.

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On June 14th, MPRB’s Music in the Parks series kicked off with perfect weather for a performance by Blue Dog Blues Band next to the park pavilion building.

Many other concerts, classes and activities are programmed throughout the summer. View the complete listing online.

Weekly Events at Peavey Plaza July 3 – 9

Green Minneapolis is excited to host these events, free and open to all!

YWCA Minneapolis Yoga on the Plaza

Tuesday, July 5 from 5:30-6:30pm

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Flow into summer with FREE yoga classes at Peavey Plaza (weather permitting). Bring a water, mat and towel. Members and nonmembers are welcome to attend. Nonmembers that attend receive a FREE three-day trial fitness pass to any of our three fitness locations. Plus, join YWCA Minneapolis as a member for just $15! Registration recommended

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MNspin Musician of the Week: Dan Israel

Thursday, July 7 from 12-1pm

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Dan Israel is a longtime fixture on the Minneapolis music scene. He was the first guest on 89.3 The Current’s “Local Show” and has been called “the hardest working singer-songwriter in Minnesota.” He won Song of the Year (for “Come to Me”) in the 2005 Minnesota Music Awards and Songwriter of the Year in the 2006 MMA’s. Learn more about Dan Israel 

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Children’s Theatre Company Story Theatre 

Saturday, July 9 at 12-12:30pm & 12:30-1pm

Join Children’s Theatre Company for summertime fun at Peavey Plaza! Through imaginative play, collaborative storytelling, music, and family engagement, we’ll explore beloved children’s books together. Laugh, dance, and discover along with your family and friends.

For a complete calendar of our Peavey Plaza Performing Arts Series, visit greenminneapolis.org/events.

Mia's Dressed by Nature: Textiles of Japan - What Will You Learn?

Article by Becky Fillinger

Dr. Andreas MarksWe are blessed by a wealth of museums in the Twin Cities. You might have missed the announcement about Mia’s new exhibit, Dressed by Nature: Textiles of Japan. I had one question for Dr. Andreas Marks, who oversees Mia’s renowned collection of Japanese and Korean art, about the impressive exhibit covering textiles produced between 1750 and 1930. Check out the reasons for attending!

Close up detail of festival kimono decorated with carp ascending a waterfall made in Akita Prefecture

Q:  In many parts of the world, textiles embody the weaver’s or weaving communities’ beliefs, histories, folklore, motifs, and design sensibilities. Therefore, textile products are important representations of a given community and their material culture. What will museum-goers learn about Japan by visiting the exhibit? 

• Textiles embody the economical situation of the maker as well as the economical situation of the client. Even in preindustrial Japan, there were specialized makers whose occupation was to produce textiles, not necessarily for themselves or for their own community, but that might have been ordered for someone further away.

• The view of Japan as the land of the kimono, meaning the beautiful silk robe, is an oversimplification that is being repeated again and again. Exhibitions on Japanese textiles often follow the same concept, showcasing a few old kimonos and then examples of modern haute couture that were influenced by such kimonos. Our aim with “Dressed by Nature” is to illustrate the diversity of cultures in the Japanese archipelago. The kimono, how Westerners understand them, is not the standard clothing all over Japan. Silk was a luxury item that fell under sumptuary law and only people of a certain social status, the aristocracy, could wear it. There were social and regional differences that strongly influenced what you were allowed to wear or what you could afford to wear. Throughout Japan, the majority of people wore cotton as well as other fibers that could be harvested in their environment. Some regions developed patterning techniques that were very laborious to employ but famous all over the country, and although the garment was made of cotton, it was as expensive as silk.

• Another aspect to consider is that people often assume that Japan is ethnically homogeneous, but this exhibition gives visitors a glimpse of regional and ethnic differences, from the indigenous Ainu people to the Okinawans. In a nutshell, this exhibition is an eye-opener for the enormous variety of clothing that was produced in what is today the country of Japan.

• “Dressed by Nature” is set up to entertain and bring joy to visitors, but it is also a learning experience with a wealth of information available in the galleries. Nothing in this exhibition has ever been on view at Mia before.

Fireman's parade leather coat (kawabaori) with Ōhisa family crest

Dark blue-ground festival kimono sea creatures

Siberian salmon-skin woman’s robe

Attush robe with talismanic pendants

Northeast Park Summer Celebration on July 11 Commemorates 25 Years of Soccer, Twins Legends, New Playground and More

Big party at Northeast Park July 11, 4-11 pm! Celebrate 25 years of NE/SE Soccer, youth baseball honors Twins legends, dedicate the new playground, plus Movie in the Park, “Field of Dreams” at dusk!

There’s a big park party planned at Northeast Park on Monday, July 11 and everyone’s invited! Festivities kick off at 4 pm and will continue through the conclusion of a special Movie in the Park outdoor screening of “Field of Dreams” that begins at 9:15 pm.

Activities are planned throughout the park, centered near Northeast Recreation Center, 1530 Johnson St. NE.

25 Years of NE/SE Soccer

The Northeast Park Summer Celebration will commemorate 25 years of the NE/SE Soccer program, which was founded at Northeast Park by Sally Jones and Carol Kalberer (Green). 

This program provided opportunities for elementary- and middle school- aged youth to participate in a low-cost, high-quality soccer instruction and leagues in NE and SE Minneapolis. Past, present, and future coaches, players, refs, Board Members and park staff are welcome to celebrate alongside Northeast neighbors.

Playground Dedication

A new ‘adventure course’ playground opened behind Jim Lupient Water Park in June. Located near the new Northeast Recreation Center, this new playground will be dedicated in a short ceremony at 5:45 pm. Bring the kids to check out this super fun new park attraction!

RBI Baseball Twins Legends Tribute and “Field of Dreams” Movie in the Park

A pair of RBI youth baseball games will feature special player uniforms honoring Twins legends Rod Carew, Kirby Puckett, Tony Olivia, and Jim “Mudcat” Grant. Cheer on the teams and then stick around for a special Movie in the Park outdoor screening of “Field of Dreams” that starts at 9:15 pm.

Activities Schedule

4-8 pm: Pop-Up Park activity trailer and staff will be onsite

4-8 pm: Book Buggy gives away free books for youth and families

5:30-8 pm: Free face painting

5:45 pm: New playground dedication ceremony

6-8 pm: Balloon Artist

6-8 pm: WOW Mobile Metal Lab (Art Bus)

6:15-8:30 pm: NE/SE Soccer games

6:30-8:30 pm: RBI Baseball games: Stan Cyson Field hosts 15U Tournament game, Sid Hartman Field hosts 15U NE Mets vs 15U Red Bears

9:15-11 pm: Special Movie in the Park outdoor screening of “Field of Dreams”

Smack Shack's Crayfest Returns to the North Loop August 6th

Popular All-You-Can-Eat Crayfish Block Party Returns to the North Loop August 6th

After a two-year pause due to COVID-19, Smack Shack announced the return of Crayfest, the annual block party in the North Loop, Saturday, August 6. The party will take place on 6th Avenue N, next to the restaurant, from 12:00 – 7:00 p.m. Guests can expect live music, all-you-can-eat crayfish boil, and all-you-can-enjoy beer and hurricanes.

Crayfest began as a way for Smack Shack to further their commitment to serving sustainable seafood. When an invasive species of Rusty Crayfish was identified as a threat in Woman Lake in Northern Minnesota, Smack Shack partnered with local organizations to fish the invasive species of crayfish out of the lake and utilize them at Crayfest. After several years of Crayfest, Woman Lake had been restored and the invasive Rusty Crayfish were depleted. Now, Smack Shack is fishing the invasive species out of other Minnesota lakes, helping to keep the aquaculture clean and healthy.

Crayfest tickets are $75 in advance ($80 at the door). Purchase online at smack-shack.com.

Mayor Frey’s Community Safety Work Group Outlines Strategies for Improving Public Safety, Police Accountability

Excerpt from the City of Minneapolis' June 29 e-newsletter:

On June 27, Mayor Jacob Frey’s Community Safety Work Group outlined recommendations for improving public safety in Minneapolis. The recommendations include strategies for strengthening oversight of the Minneapolis Police Department (MPD), bolstering officer recruitment efforts and accountability systems, and expanding violence prevention and behavioral crisis response programs.

Frey convened the Community Safety Work Group on Dec. 4, 2021, which is co-chaired by Nekima Levy Armstrong, attorney and civil rights activist, and Rev. Dr. DeWayne Davis, lead minister for Plymouth Congregational Church. The 22-member volunteer work group includes community members and experts engaged on the full spectrum of community safety initiatives.

Highlights of the work group’s recommendations include:

• Improving oversight and coordination within MPD, including creating a new leadership position focused on the coordination of community safety related functions within the City enterprise.
• Strengthening MPD’s recruitment and hiring process by implementing a first-in-class police recruitment and training program focused on building a pipeline of future candidates who live in Minneapolis.
• Significantly improving the quality of MPD training with a series of action steps.
• Strengthening MPD’s disciplinary and accountability systems.
• Expanding violence prevention programs and the City’s behavioral crisis response strategy. 

Mayor Frey will consider the implementation of these recommendations in the coming weeks as he prepares to finalize and present his recommended 2023 City budget.

Watch Monday's news conference.

Gamut Gallery Presents "In Your Own Words" - July 22-August 20

In Your Own Words, July 22 – August 20

This July, Gamut Gallery is pleased to welcome nationally recognized artist, designer, independent curator, and adjunct faculty at Minneapolis College of Art and Design (MCAD) Suyao Tian for her latest interactive solo exhibition, In Your Own Words.

The intimate relationship Suyao has observed between her work and the unique experiences of her collectors is the inspiration behind the upcoming exhibit. Through the liberal use of water in her painting application, Suyao embraces the spontaneity of shapes as they organically unwind across her composition. “My inspiration comes from my childhood memories. I try to think like a child, without the constraints of space and time.” Her choice of vivid color strengthens this notion, illustrating whimsical scenes full of life and movement. In doing so, she encourages the viewer to embark on an exploration of their inner world, interpreting the path her paints take through the lens of their own childlike imaginations. 

During the exhibition, visitors are encouraged to share their favorite pieces from the collection online, along with a few comments about their individual interpretations of her art. “I don’t try to force viewers to understand my work. More importantly, I hope my work can inspire viewers' curiosity and a new understanding of themselves and the world.” Meanwhile, buyers will be offered the opportunity to name their piece upon purchase. In Your Own Words sets out to weave together a narrative echoing Suyao’s recognition that we each autonomously navigate events, demonstrating how experiences color our interpretation of the world around us.

MEMBERS ONLY PREVIEW NIGHT: Thursday, July 21, 7-9pm Meet & Greet with Suyao Tian • RSVP Required • Memberships required, become a member today!

PUBLIC OPENING NIGHT: Friday, July 22, 6-9pm  $10 day of the event, $7 pre-sale - FREE for Members • Pre-sale tickets available, order your pre-sale today! • Entry will be available at the door

ARTIST TALK: Wednesday, August 10, 6:30pm  A multifaceted conversation and a look into the mind of Artist Suyao Tian, hosted at Gamut Gallery. Moderated by Russ White of MPLSART, followed by open Q & A  $10 day of the event, $7 pre-sale • $5 for members • This is 30 person limited capacity event • Pre-sales available and recommended.

Nonprofit Leader: Rich Melzer, CEO, YouthLink

Article by Becky Fillinger

Rich MelzerSix thousand young people are currently experiencing homelessness in Minnesota. There is an organization in Minneapolis that has been serving this vulnerable population for over 45 years – YouthLink. We talked to newly installed CEO, Rich Melzer, about the challenges and dreams for this outstanding local nonprofit.

Q:  YouthLink has been in Minneapolis for over 45 years. Can you give our readers a short history of the organization and the mission? 

A:  You’re right – YouthLink has been serving tirelessly in this field of ending youth homelessness for almost half a century. During even the most challenging and difficult times for the organization, we continued to deliver at a very high clip and even more so during some of the brighter and more opportunistic phases. In recent years, YouthLink was led by Dr. Heather Huseby, whose work and experience continue to surface and we carry her legacy and life’s work forward.

Ultimately, we continue to serve young people experiencing homelessness and the accompanying challenges they face every day of the week. Whether it is basic needs like food, clothing, toddler support or simply refuge from the streets, we can provide that safe space and nourishment in a clean, visually appealing, and holistic environment every day at our drop-in center. Additionally, and perhaps even more importantly, we set young people up directly with realistic long-term housing opportunities to get them off the streets, into stable housing and have our organization and partners’ resources wrapped around each young person we serve. We’re literally feeding, protecting, nurturing, serving, and housing the most vulnerable youth in the Twin Cities every day.  Our mission and work will continue until our goal of ending youth homelessness is met.

CEO Rich Melzer and clients

Q:  You’ve been CEO for about four months now. As you’ve settled into your new role, what priorities and opportunities are on your to-do list? 

A:  The priority or to-do that has blossomed since my arrival is more of a question, “How are we dreaming for young people?” Are our dreams big enough, are they realistic and if they are not realistic, how do we accept the challenge and responsibility to make these larger dreams more so? I would say we’re among another one or two organizations in the Twin Cities recognized as a centralized location for youth homelessness. Is that enough for us as an organization? Particularly one like ours with a high-quality brick and mortar location in the center of the metro, with a downtown view (our youth housing building) connected directly next to our drop-in center and Nicollet Square (another youth housing building supported by YouthLink) just minutes from our home-base? If we are not the “mecca” for youth homelessness in the Twin Cities right now, we certainly will continue to aspire to be because we have the resources, the developing team and the partnerships in place to do so. We also know that to be successful we must tandem these efforts with other like-minded organizations like The Bridge for Youth, Avenues for Youth, Hope Street Shelter, and others like us that dream of ending this phenomenon of youth homelessness.

Q:  When your appointment was announced, I heard people comment that your outstanding reputation in the nonprofit and sports world would gather positive attention from the business community and other organizations. Are you forging new relationships, or reenergizing existing relationships, for YouthLink?   

A:  Advancing existing and new relationships will be a lifelong commitment of mine because I believe that in this work, we’re irrefutably stronger in numbers. With that said, YouthLink has been so committed to this work for so many years that fortunately for me and this team we don’t have to reinvent the wheel entirely either. As it relates to right now, we’re loving our supporters and identifying a who’s who to match their personal passions and heart-string passions with the resources we need most. We know who supports us philanthropically, who advocates for us to the community and who we need to partner with now more than ever. We’re evaluating what is going to lead that larger dream of ours to be impactful around anything involving youth homelessness. We are also building greater capacity and bandwidth around our individual supporter base by tying the mission and the evolving work of YouthLink to the people who care about young people and service most. Simply put, we’re continually connecting and reorganizing the dots (relationships and partners) that bind us to make a difference together.

YouthLink's Drop-in Center is a safe, non-judgmental place for youth 16-21 years old from all backgrounds, races and genders.

Q:  What is the biggest challenge YouthLink is facing and how are you and your team addressing it? 

A:  We’ve had three full revolutions of organizational turnover in the three years prior to my arrival. As meaningful as the work we’ve been doing is, it seems we may have missed the calling to really nurture and provide for our staff and service providers. While we obviously have an obligation to the young people experiencing homelessness, we’re pouring a ton of time and energy into our team members to ensure they feel loved, appreciated and supported by YouthLink, as not only an organization but as a place of employment they’re proud to be at and feel supported by. Our goal is to provide our team members and staff with as many resources as possible. We’ve implemented unique performance reviews and processes that probably don’t sound attractive to most but for an organization that hasn’t had a simple application like this, it’s a leap in the right direction. We’ve worked with the YMCA of the North to give our team members greatly reduced memberships so they can decompress, exercise and bring a healthy balance with them to work in hopes of continuing to promote a healthy work environment. We’ve learned that a large percentage of our team members are renting homes and apartments and by having this information we’re proud to partner with long-time supporters of ours at Old National Bank who will educate our staff with first-time homebuyers’ programs, financial literacy and educational tools, down payment assistance programs and more. Our wages at YouthLink are very fair and competitive given our industry and we want the team members to feel empowered by YouthLink to reach the goals and dreams they’ve aspired to as professionals and individuals. 

One of the first questions I asked when I got to YouthLink was, “Where does one go for therapy?” and “What other resources are there for the ones on the front lines to really decompress holistically and positively in a healthy way?” Sadly, there’s been very little historically other than what’s likely been available to our young people we serve. This is an area we incorporate into our benefits packages, YMCA memberships and resources through AVIVO, to ultimately say, “We love you…we want you well when you’re at work…we want you to feel supported and cared for.” The end goal of course is to create a culture of people who hope to be here and value being here, while also growing personally and professionally while they’re with us.  

Q:  Do you have a need for volunteers? How may we as individuals help YouthLink? 

A:  Volunteerism is at an all-time high, and we love new faces! However, our work requires confidentiality to protect the integrity of our young peoples’ information and private stories. If someone has a real passion for volunteering, contact Carley Kleinhans, our Volunteer Leader at kleinhans@youthlinkmn.org and she and I will get you squared away based on the interests and passions that drive you to give back. If you want to make a charitable donation, please reach out to Heather Haynes, our valued Director of Development at haynes@youthlinkmn.org. With all the challenges the young people we see face, we depend on philanthropy and in-kind monetary gifts. The drug epidemic, the heat, human trafficking, mental health, housing instability, broken homes, sexually exploited youth – we see and support every case we can involving young people experiencing homeless and worse. While we have partners we value immensely and remain endlessly loyal to, we as an organization and service could not offset this phenomenon without dollars and passionate supporters to assist us financially. We have some unique studies to support how we’ve helped and what the cost to love a homeless young person looks like, and we’re proud to report that this particular longitudinal study by the University of Minnesota states that every young person who enters our doors benefits unequivocally and irrefutably after coming to YouthLink. 

Q:  How may we follow your news? 

A:  We have our website and Facebook pages online. We’re also regularly featured on WCCO radio with Mike Max and other industry media outlets quite regularly. Tell your friends about the work we do. If anyone would like, they can contact our Communications Director, Sarah Johnson sjohnson@youthlinkmn.org, to get placed on an email list.

Mill City Farmers Market Welcomes New Vendors Dragonfly Bay Garlic Co and Tera Forge Knives at the June 25

Our shopping basket from the June 25th Mill City Farmers Market included garlic scapes and garlic scape powder from Dragonfly Bay Garlic Company. I used them in a pesto with hazelnuts, hazelnut oil, baby kale, cilantro, Friesago cheese, Maazah Aioli, honey and an Indian spice blend.  

Dragonfly Bay Garlic Company debuted at the June 25th Market with fresh garlic scapes and garlic scape powder, along with recipes and other items. We look forward to their garlic bulbs when they return to the Market in August. Per their very informative website, "Our garlic varieties vary in flavor from mild and nutty, to hot and spicy, to sweet and creamy." Learn about their varieties here.

Stephen Aysta of Tera Forge Knives offers “while you shop” knife sharpening during Market hours. His next MCFM date is July 9th, so if you have some dull knives in your kitchen, plan to bring them with you on that date!

First squash of the season!

Amy Britt, MCFM Development Manager (far left), and Martha Archer, MCFM Executive Director (grey t-shirt) engage with visitors.

The June 25th Community Booth was Friends of the Hennepin County Library. The beautiful and inviting Central Library at 300 Nicollet Mall offers an incredible array of services and events.

I load up on Pure Ginger For You juices every week.

Kiss My Cabbage displayed some Pride.

Op-Ed: Reflections on My Life as a Black Prosecutor

Submitted by Martha Holton Dimick. Martha Holton Dimick is a retired judge and candidate for Hennepin County Attorney. 

Martha Holton Dimick

When I was 13 years old in the late 60s there were race riots near my house in Milwaukee. Black people in my hometown and around the country were rising up against the housing discrimination and police brutality that we had been living with since we moved into cities in the early 20th Century. My family lived in fear of Milwaukee Police Chief Harold Breier. With my hair in an afro in imitation of Angela Davis, I told my father I would be going to a protest instead of going to school one day in early 1967. My dad was a stern man, a lawyer who represented poor Black people in the inner city. He took me aside and said “go to school, get an education, become part of the system, and make a difference from within. That’s how you change things.” The Holtons were some of the only Black kids in school that day.

Thirty years later in 1999, I was the only Black female attorney in the criminal division at Hennepin County. During my first few years of trials, judges and jurors frequently assumed I was the public defender. I was called a “sellout”, an “oreo” and every other synonym for race traitor that you can imagine. How can you work with police and against your own people? One time, I got a booking photo of a defendant who was being prosecuted for battery against a police officer. The officer had a scratch on his arm, the defendant was severely battered. I called the police officer into my office and told him I wouldn’t be charging his case. In retrospect, I should’ve gone further, but I was worried for my standing and job security as a young prosecutor. I weighed my father’s words against those of Thurgood Marshall: “You do what you think is right and let the law catch up.” Not charging the case was my compromise, and that was fairly progressive for the time.

In my 13 years as a prosecutor from 1999 to 2012, the paradigm shifted. The law, and especially the office, did catch up. As the crime wave of the 1990s faded out of memory, compassionate prosecution of lower-level offenses became the norm. The “public health approach” to prosecution that is so trendy now across the country has been in practice in Minnesota for quite some time. In Hennepin and Ramsey counties, we are even more progressive than the state at-large. And after George Floyd’s murder, we went further on bail reform, closed a juvenile detention facility, and further scrutinized pretextual traffic stops.

Since then, the paradigm has shifted again. In the last two years, after a sharp rise in shootings and homicides in my neighborhood in North Minneapolis, something interesting is happening. Some of the most passionate activists who I’ve known for years and used to see me as the enemy now thank me for my work as a judge and a prosecutor. Mothers who have children that have gone through the juvenile justice system tell me that there should be more consequences, not less. And less than a year and a half removed from a clear and indefensible police murder of a Black man, most of my Black neighbors voted to keep the police department. These shifts are not the result of hypnotism or campaigning, but a reaction to the real changes in the system and in our community. People who come in contact with the system know what’s happening in the real world.

I still do get called a “sellout” from time to time, though it generally comes out of the mouths of White millennials who haven’t been through the system. And I am more comfortable with my line of work than ever before. I realize that the conflict is not something to shy away from - it is my greatest gift to the profession and the community. I carry Thurgood Marshall’s words alongside those of my father. Do what you think is right, and make sure you keep your seat at the table if you intend on making real change.

Martha Holton Dimick is a retired judge and candidate for Hennepin County Attorney. 

Northeast Parade Returns After Two-Year Absence

Submitted by Michael Rainville, Sr.

If you’ve never been to the annual Celebrate Northeast Parade, it’s a great way to kick off summer with your neighbors. And it was so great to have it back this year after the COVID cancellations of the past two years.

I’ve been enjoying this parade since I was a one-year-old, looking down from my parent's apartment window overlooking Central Avenue. For 19 years, I had the privilege of doing color commentary on the cable TV broadcasts of this parade.

This year, it was a great honor to ride in the parade as a Minneapolis city council member representing Ward 3.

We put together a little highlight video for you. Many thanks to all the wonderful volunteers who make this parade possible.

Video produced by Mike Binkley

Positions Open at the Minneapolis Park and Rec Board

The MPRB Crew Needs You! The Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board is now hiring for a wide range of summer jobs. Whether you want to gain experience at your first job, or grow your skill set for a future career, they have something for you! Information and applications are online at www.minneapolisparks.org/jobs.

Recreation, coaching, events Assistant Childcare Specialist Event Attendant & Lead Attendant Outdoor Playground/Supervision Recreation Facility Supervision Recreation Program Leader Recreation Specialist - Pop-Up Park Seasonal Event Technician Referee youth and adult sports Sports Official Work outdoors Park Patrol Agent, Part-Time Seasonal Equipment Operator Seasonal Park Maintenance Worker Work at headquarters Customer Service Assistant More jobs with Minneapolis parks To view a full list of job postings and to apply for any opening at MPRB, visit www.minneapolisparks.org/jobs.

4th Street Reconstruction Project Update - June 24

4th Street Reconstruction Project Overview

The City of Minneapolis is reconstructing 4th St. between 2nd Ave. N and 4th Ave. S in downtown Minneapolis. The reconstruction will include wider sidewalks, improved crossings, a new bi-directional off-street bike path on the north side of the street, lighting, trees, and planting beds. Construction is underway and is expected to be complete by the end of 2022.

What's Happening Next Week?

Roadway reconstruction continues on 4th St. between 2nd Ave. N and Hennepin Ave. Fourth St. is currently closed to vehicle traffic between 1st Ave. N and Hennepin Ave. Local access is being maintained between 2nd Ave. N and 1st Ave. N.

• Crews continue sidewalk and planter bed work between 2nd Ave. N and Hennepin Ave.
• At the 1st Ave. N intersection, crews continue roadway work and paving.

*Please note that the construction schedules are subject to change due to weather and other unforeseen circumstances.

What to expect during construction?

• During roadway construction, 4th St. will be closed to through traffic between 2nd Ave. N and Hennepin Ave. Local access will be maintained from 2nd Ave. N to 1st Ave. N. 
• Pedestrian access will be maintained throughout construction. Be aware of your surroundings when walking or biking near the construction zone. 
• Expect additional noise, dust, and vibration as crews complete work.

Upcoming Events

4th Street Weekly Stakeholder Meeting

Weekly project newsletters are sent out weekly and virtual stakeholder meetings occur bi-weekly. Join us at the next stakeholder meeting to get project updates, talk with project staff and get your questions/concerns answered.

Upcoming Stakeholder Meetings:

July 1, 9-9:30 a.m. - CANCELLED

July 15, 9-9:30 a.m.

Teams Meeting: Click here to join the meeting

Stay connected

There are multiple ways to get information including email updates and ongoing stakeholder meetings. Visit the project website for more information and to sign up for project updates: www.minneapolismn.gov/government/projects/fourth-st-n-and-s/  

Provide questions, comments or concerns on the interactive map: https://zan.mysocialpinpoint.com/4thstreetreconstruction

Email the project team: info@4thstmpls.com

Contact the project hotline: 612-412-9774

Hennepin Avenue Downtown Reconstruction Project - June 23 Update

Hennepin Avenue Downtown Reconstruction Project

Hennepin Ave. will be reconstructed between 12th Street and Washington Avenue. The City will reconstruct the pavement from building face to building face, including improvements to public and private utility infrastructure, and improved space for pedestrians, bicycles, transit, and vehicles.

Latest Project News

Progress continues in the 6th Street intersection, which is the last remaining intersection to do on the project. 2 of the 3 lanes are paved through the intersection.

Bus station foundations were poured on the last two stations this week and more sidewalk was completed. 

What's Coming Up

6th will remain at a single lane next week but will shift to the south side of 6th and work begins on the north half.

Vehicle access to parking between 5th and 6th will change to the 5th Street end.  This will be two way access.

The 7th St intersection will be fully open for this weekend and moving forward.

See attached update for more details.  Hennepin_Update_Vol97 (002).pdf

Contact Info

For more information on this project contact: 

Project email: hennepinCM@minneapolismn.gov

Phone: 612-255-4049

Website: www.hennepindowntown.com 

City of Minneapolis Earns Gold-level ‘Walk Friendly’ Designation

The City of Minneapolis has once again earned a gold-level designation from Walk Friendly Communities – a national recognition program developed to encourage cities across the country to support safer walking environments.

Minneapolis is one of four cities in the country to earn the gold designation this cycle, an honor it also received in 2017. Overall, 23 cities and towns were recognized by the Chapel Hill, North Carolina-based organization with a Walk Friendly designation on June 21. Since 2010, 82 communities have received designations, including 15 gold-level honors. 

The Walk Friendly Communities program cited Minneapolis as a gold-level community for several initiatives, including the Transportation Action Plan, Complete Streets Policy and Vision Zero Action Plan, among many others. The plans create safer, more equitable, walkable, bikeable and transit-friendly communities, the organization noted.

The Walk Friendly Communities program is the first national program to highlight walkability initiatives and programs. At the core of the program is a comprehensive web-based assessment tool that evaluates community walkability and pedestrian safety related to engineering, education, encouragement, evaluation, and planning.

Learn more about the City’s walk-friendly policies.

Minneapolis Parks Foundation Announces Sunrise on the Mississippi 2022

Save the Date!

 THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 8, 2022
7:30am - 9:00am
Under the Big Tent at Boom Island
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The Minneapolis Parks Foundation has announced Sunrise on the Mississippi 2022 will return as an in-person celebration on Boom Island Park. This year’s featured speaker is Al Bangoura, Superintendent of the Minneapolis Parks and Recreation Board, now serving in his 4th year in this role. Superintendent Bangoura will speak about the future of Minneapolis parks and how innovative, diverse programming and partnerships will continue to make Minneapolis a city of world class parks and public space.

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Click here for more information and scenes from past events.

June 18 at the Mill City Farmers Market

The first peas and carrots of the season rounded out our June 18 shopping basket from the Mill City Farmers Market.

Tim Page of Holistic Health Farms had fresh turmeric - packed with health benefits!

Friendly staff from the downtown YMCA manned one of the community tables. If you missed them at the Market, you can learn about their classes, services, amenities, etc., via this interview with Executive Director, Andrew Hoffman by our own Becky Fillinger. It's quite an impressive facility!

Be sure to check out the new bone broth vendor, Superior Provisions. The broth is sold frozen, but they provide hot samples - I tried the Ham & Sage at the June 18th Market...YUM! I have a container of the chicken broth in the freezer, and as soon as the current hot spell passes I'll be making a batch of soup.

Shopper tip: I bring plastic bags and other containers to the market as a favor to the vendors, as their cost for containers has gone up exponentially. Please also return jars to vendors who provide honey, jams, pickles, etc., as well as egg cartons. A little effort by all of us will make a positive impact on our valued vendors who operate on very low margins. Thanks! :)

There's a lot of love to go around at the Market!

I'm embarrassed to admit I consumed an entire bag of Bliss granola over the course of the weekend. It just kind of happened...

Keeping James I. Rice Park Healthy is a Labor of Love for Neighbors, With Help from Friends of the Mississippi River

Editor's Note: This is an excerpt from Laura Domyancich-Lee's June 14 article on the Friends of the Mississippi River (FMR) website. I thought it was important to call out, as it shows why we should feel vested in our downtown neighborhoods, and how we can make a positive impact.

A community-driven restoration at James I. Rice Park provides a new stewardship model for beloved parks. Friends of the Mississippi River provides technical guidance, and neighbors take the lead.

Local love for a park turns into dedication

At 16 acres, James I. Rice Park in the North Loop neighborhood of Minneapolis is among the smaller parks in the Minneapolis Park & Recreation Board system. But its size doesn't diminish how special it is to the community of people who spend time in this stretch of woodland along the Mississippi River, or how important it is for providing habitat and water quality benefits.

From early morning until dark, people move through the park trails, finding peace and calm along the banks of the river in an often-busy part of the city. Wildlife abounds just a stone's throw from downtown Minneapolis.

However, over time, a beloved place can start to show wear. Heavy use, trash and yard waste were beginning to degrade the park's beauty and ecological function. Foot traffic across the sandy slopes had created bare areas in the park increasing erosion. Invasive plants dominated the shrub and ground layers, reducing native plant diversity and limiting the site's habitat value for birds, pollinators and other wildlife. Some areas were so shaded by invasive shrubs that the woodland ground was bare, contributing to erosion and soil movement into the river.

A few years ago, a group of neighbors and frequent park users saw these issues and jumped into action. With a modest amount of funding from their North Loop Neighborhood Association and support from the Minneapolis Park & Recreation Board, these community volunteers organized work days to collect trash, pull weeds, cut back invasive shrubs and return ecological health to a place that was important to them. Many properties in the neighborhood don't have outdoor space — these neighbors came to see the park as their shared backyard and dedicated themselves to its restoration.

A "volunteer-centric" management plan for James I. Rice Park

James I. Rice Park is managed by the Minneapolis Park & Recreation Board, and park board staff identified a need for the community volunteers to be guided by a thoughtful planning process and technical knowledge. Through a long-standing partnership between the park board and FMR, park board staff engaged FMR ecologists to assist the neighborhood association with restoration efforts.

We saw an opportunity for a connection deeper than a one-off volunteer training and immediately sought funding to write a management plan that would engage and guide the community in their restoration efforts.

In 2021, the Mississippi Watershed Management Organization awarded a planning grant to FMR, which covered FMR staff costs to document the park's historical and current conditions, hold engagement events to understand the community's goals for the park and develop a comprehensive management plan.

Typically, FMR implements management plans by hiring subcontractors who employ crews to carry out restoration tasks over several years. But because James I. Rice Park has a committed crew of volunteers with growing ecological knowledge, we wrote the park's management plan specifically for the community to implement.

The plan, completed this spring, outlines straightforward tasks that small groups of people can complete in a few hours. We also organized tasks by time of year and work units within the park.

As with other management plans, the goal is that the ecological conditions will improve over time, and the park will become more self-sustaining, needing only a small amount of yearly tending for a healthy, balanced landscape.

Final Editor's Note: There's a lot more to the article - please continue reading here!

Maintaining A Historic Structure in Water Works Park

Submitted by Doug Verdier

Earlier this month (June 9) West River Parkway was temporarily closed to vehicular traffic between 4th Avenue N and Portland Avenue for a couple of hours. The closure was necessary to allow a repair along the foundation of the former Columbia Flour Mill structure near General Mills Plaza fire pits in Water Works Park.

Built in 1882, the Columbia Flour Mill was originally six stories high with a basement. It was located between the Bassett Sawmill buildings (now the site of the Owamni restaurant and park pavilion) and the Occidental Feed Mill. The Columbia Flour Mill was destroyed by a fire and collapsed in 1941, and the area was used as a dump for many years. In more recent times, the area was filled and used as a parking lot for several years until the Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board (MPRB) together with the Minneapolis Parks Foundation, began work to create a new Downtown park, now known as Water Works Park.

During excavation in preparation for work on the new park, a 55-foot-long rail car scale was among the artifacts uncovered in the vicinity of the Columbia Mill ruins. Other artifacts and machinery from the milling era were also found in the basement of the Columbia site after the fill material was removed from inside the remaining outer walls of the mill building. These were examined by archeologists before the structure was reinforced and filled again to its current level. This area is now an outdoor terrace and lawn used for events and outdoor seating for Owamni patrons.

The repairs that were made recently were likely the result of some settling of the fill material that was placed inside the reinforced walls of the former Columbia Mill structure. Some shifting of fill likely occurred around machinery and other items that were covered with a geotextile cell fabric material that is commonly used for soil stabilization in construction projects.

Two blue Cemstone trucks delivered and pumped the fill material to the repair site.

Workers inserted a hose from a Cemstone cement truck along the foundation of the former Columbia Flour Mill building to pump “flowable fill” beneath the structure. Workers closely monitored the fill while it was being pumped.

According to Jon Duesman, Construction Project Manager for the MPRB, the repairs involved pumping what is called flowable fill beneath the corner of the structure to fill the gap caused by the settling. Flowable fill consists of water, fly ash, sand and cement, and was delivered to the site by Cemstone. The liquid mixture will find any gap and fill it and it is self-leveling. The process took less than an hour to complete and used only a few cubic yards of the flowable fill material.

There will be some finishing along the top surface of the area where the fill was inserted, but that is not a major project, according to Mr. Duesman. MPRB employees will complete the job.