Paula Chesley, Candidate for Minneapolis Park Board, District 4

Editor's note: Via a July 2nd e-newsletter. Sharing candidate announcements does not constitute an endorsement by Mill City Times.

I’m Paula Chesley and I’m running for Park Board in District 4.

Earlier this week, I had the opportunity to connect with MPRB Police Chief Jason Ohotto. I know safety in our parks is top of mind for people – in my survey about our parks, every respondent has listed it as one of their top five priorities. Hence I’ve been proactively learning about safety in our parks and what that means for people. Chief Ohotto is a lovely person and hastened to add that he would be happy to talk with any candidate or resident. He has worked with MPRB since he was 14 and has a wealth of knowledge about the parks, not only around safety issues. If it weren’t adding to his already busy schedule, I would recommend you spend some time with him! With Chief Ohotto’s permission, here is a summary of our conversation.

Chief Ohotto offered the perspective that access to parks means not only physical proximity, but also a feeling of safety – that no matter how close a park is, people won’t go if they don’t feel safe. We talked about parks that have the most safety issues, both in District 4 and elsewhere. He mentioned that Boom Island Park and Folwell Park, the sights of recent tragic deadly shootings, had not been places with elevated safety issues. We talked about how ultimately we as a society need upstream solutions for our mental-health crisis and gun violence epidemic – that guns are too easily available, and that the police can be as responsive as possible, but that that won’t solve the problem of easy access.

Chief Ohotto also mentioned safety in terms of mobility around the parks, an issue is near and dear to many District 4 residents. One issue I’ve heard from many residents is that with e-bikes and scooters, there are many vehicles on park trails that go above the park speed limit of 10 miles per hour. I asked if posting more speed limit signs would be helpful – he said no, because what would then be needed would be enforcement, and we don’t have the resources to do that. We talked about how more people are using park trails for commuting – going to work, shopping, etc. – and how to accommodate these newer uses of parkways in a way that’s safe for everyone.

Many – but not all – of you have told me you are less interested in getting new amenities and parks than in maintaining what we have. Chief Ohotto reminded me that when we get new amenities, we need to contribute to their upkeep and servicing – and that people already feel MPRB resources are stretched thin. For example, there are 35 sworn Park Police officers, but when I asked him what the ideal number would be, he said that 50 officers would fit what the community is wanting from our Park Police.

We talked about mental health resources for the Park Police and Park staff. While a focus on mental health has improved in the Park Police, Chief Ohotto talked about the constant toll, sometimes acute, sometimes on the back burner, of being with people in moments of distress. I have many times reflected on jobs that are public-facing and how I’ve had jobs both allowing me to see people in their best light – and at their most challenging moments. I imagine being a police officer has much of both, but quite a bit of the latter.

I will be participating in a Parks Police ride-along soon as part of my commitment to fostering safety in our parks. I’ll also be out and about in District 4 parks and in the community, so please let me know if there are any events or meetings you’d like me to come to!

Finally, I have a special ask for donations as we approach the city-wide convention on July 19. The costs for this convention are quite high due to the venue – Target Center – and the added cost of security given recent political violence and the heartbreaking deaths of Melissa and Mark Hortman. Any little bit helps, so please consider donating today! We would be so grateful.