- no title specified

On which particular area or subject within the property or an experience would you like to comment?(You can make general comments on the next page.)		What ideas or concerns would you like to share about the subject you have indicated above?	Please provide your general comments below.
Response	Other (please specify)	Open-Ended Response	Open-Ended Response
Backyard Neighborhood Area		You have left this property alone up 'til now. Now you are looking at taking this little quiet park area from the neighborhood and turning it who knows what. After being across the street from that park for over 50 years, I know that with nothing there it attracts problems. Putting a picnic area there will only exacerbate the parking issues, and the noise and drawing people into a very small area that really doesn't have the ability to handle it. We already have people from the apartment building on 44th and Longfellow Ave parking on Longfellow because the building does not have adequate parking for their residents. Also, this park is already used by the kids in the neighborhood and that apartment building for their own pick-up activities. They don't need to have the park board decide what they can do there. Just leave some areas that let the imagination of the kids work for themselves for a change. Another issue with this park is that the ground is not that stable, having sinkholes off and on, with them being quite large at times. So, building something on the property is questionable, at best. One sidewalk through there might be nice, but is possibly problematic due to the swampy nature of the ground. We strongly object to adding a pump in this little park, and, absolutely, no snowmaking across from the homes. These things belong in the golf course, not in the neighborhoods. Again, leave this little park alone!!!
Backyard Neighborhood Area		Overall, I think the design is a good compromise. However, I am upset to see that the green space on 43 st between 21 ave and 19 ave, which currently also hosts two rain gardens, is slated to be eliminated. My family, and many of our neighbors, use this green space on a daily basis in the warmer months. It has been an important center of neighborhood social activities, where we have met many neighbors with children of similar age to ours and formed friendships that have been an important part of our neighborhood experience. It is a regular gathering spot for people of all ages --from toddlers to adults-- to play a variety of games and sports. It also looks like part of the green space currently between 44 and 46 on 19th Ave is going to be converted to golf course. I have similar concerns about that -- though the new play area will be very welcome, I am concerned that other activities such as informal sports games that are regularly carried out in this area may no longer be viable. I am also concerned about what the storm sewer diversion and trash collection will look like, and whether it will generate noise or be an eyesore. I didn't find a lot of detail in the plan on what this will actually look like, but I hope that more information on this will be available soon, especially to those of us living in the immediate vicinity.	One general question I have about the general layout is how the golf course will be fenced off. Even with the current set-up, I have more than once been walking along 43 St and had golf balls come off the course and fly past at head level -- and with the current set-up, the street is significantly above the level of the green. I hope that adequate barriers are put in place to protect pedestrians and cyclists both on the paths in the park itself, and also on 43 st (which is heavily used by pedestrians and cyclists as well).
Backyard Neighborhood Area		As a resident near the NW corner of the golf course, I'm very glad to see some of our unofficial neighborhood park preserved and enhanced in this plan. The addition of picnic space and a play area will be most welcome, considering the barriers of distance or busy roads (Cedar, 42nd St) between this area and other parks. I'm grateful the plan also preserves a good amount of open space for play-- the current open space along 43rd St as well as this stretch along Longfellow are both highly used for a variety of informal activities. Improving the character of this park space while shrinking its size is an acceptable compromise.	If completely implemented, this plan is a tremendous enhancement to this neighborhood and the city. The plan does a remarkable job of balancing and incorporating a variety of uses and users in the site, while also increasing ecological stewardship of the golf course area and Minnehaha Creek. I'm thrilled that such a full-featured park amenity could be coming to our corner of Minneapolis and I happily endorse the overall vision of the master plan.
Backyard Neighborhood Area		Why are you spending millions of dollars to give people more green space while you take mine? If you don’t pump water, my backyard (and basement) will flood.	Don’t flood out the Nokomis neighborhood!
Backyard Neighborhood Area		I support this nature play area and think it should be expanded by reducing the golf course size to fewer holes.	I think the golf course takes too much of the valuable park land for too few people. More trails, paved and unpacked should be included. More natural areas should be added, not just one Backyard community area, but at least 3 on different sides of the parkland. The golf course is just not a responsible use of such important parkland in this dense urban area. We all pay for this parkland so please make it useable by many more children and families who will not use the exclusive golf course. Thank you for the opportunity to comment
Backyard Neighborhood Area		Hello, I live across the street from the green field space at the corner of E43rd St. & S20th Ave. It's amazing how much a simple green grass field adds to the community and is used by dozens and dozens and sometimes hundreds of people each day. I have pictures and videos documenting this over the last few years. It would be a shame for the community to lose such a simple and inexpensive piece of nature and I would implore the parks department to not "over-engineer" the beauty and usefulness of a simple green space. Thank you	Hello, I live across the street from the green field space at the corner of E43rd St. & S20th Ave. It's amazing how much a simple green grass field adds to the community and is used by dozens and dozens and sometimes hundreds of people each day. I have pictures and videos documenting this over the last few years. It would be a shame for the community to lose such a simple and inexpensive piece of nature and I would implore the parks department to not "over-engineer" the beauty and usefulness of a simple green space. Thank you.
Backyard Neighborhood Area		I am so excited to hear that there is a plan for this area! We live directly across the street and have a 13 year old daughter - have access to this informal, large green space has been wonderful for her the past 7 years. With COVID-19 this area has been getting a lot of use from dog walkers, dancers and folks exercising, etc and that's been cool to see. I love that there will be opportunities for nature-based play and the picture of hammocks looks so cool! I like the inclusion of a picnic table as well. I think getting input from children and teens in the neighborhood would be an important step (maybe an online survey or focus group since with COVID-19 park programming is cancelled) to make sure their input is considered/valued.	Thank you so much to all the folks who have worked hard on this plan. As a resident who lives right across from the golf course it is really exciting to see this plan.
Backyard Neighborhood Area		I really like to minimize fencing as much as possible. The current fencing is very uninviting. Also, i would like to make sure the bicycle/pedestrian trails are integrating with the City of Minneapolis bicycle/pedestrian plans.
Community Gathering Area		Should create a lawn bowling area. It would be good for leagues and customers for the restaurant.
Community Gathering Area		What is the rationale for expanding parking? The entrance to this area is very car-oriented and does not present welcoming access for pedestrians and bicyclists arriving from the west. Expanding parking to the south creates a bigger parking island that pedestrians and cyclists must navigate. Need for impervious surfaces would enhance this area, as well as smaller parking and less focus on cars.	I like the idea of the new clubhouse (community gathering area) however is there a way to keep and integrate the existing building? Our city continually tears down to build new and loses all our city's history.
Community Gathering Area		NEW BUILDINGS ON THE KNOLL The MPRB proposes 3 new buildings on the knoll. A new restaurant, a small pro shop and a canoe rental. This seems to be a lot of buildings on a very small knoll. The original contracted designers, when asked about the buildings in the previous plan, had no idea if their designs had accounted for set-backs. Concerns are whether there is enough room for all of these buildings, plus adequate parking. This is not addressed in the plan. Another concern is that this restaurant will be competing with 2 restaurants, 2 coffee shops and 1 ice cream shop one block away. And, it will compete with the Park Board's own concession, Sand Castle, approximately 3 blocks away. Canoe rental building and location. This amenity is very concerning from a safety perspective. It is located in the middle of a golf course, running directly between 2 holes. High levels of water activities (canoing, etc.) in between holes 1 and 6 puts people at high risk of being hit by golf balls. If people want canoe rentals and boat access to the lake, the more appropriate place for this to occur is at the Park Building on the east side of the lake, not in the middle of a golf course where they can get hit by golf balls. It appears that the golf course patrons will be getting short shrift with a small pro shop with "informal lockers". We recommend that there only be one building which serves as the golf course clubhouse that would include a nice restaurant, with adequate parking. That is likely all that will fit on the knoll. Also, there is still no new traffic analysis for Longfellow Ave. as requested by the CAC.
Community Gathering Area		Please consider really evaluating how many people golf vs how many people would come out to hike in nature or look at birds and then have a dynamite community center with a restaurant and latest video equipment and also kid centric if the golf course were eliminated. How much money would that make available to the greater community. I think you should poll the greater community on what they would prefer - golf or nature?	Please consider really evaluating how many people golf vs how many people would come out to hike in nature or look at birds and then have a dynamite community center with a restaurant and latest video equipment and also kid centric if the golf course were eliminated. How much money would that make available to the greater community. I think you should poll the greater community on what they would prefer - golf or nature?
Community Gathering Area		I would like to express concerns over two particular elements of the Community Gather Area – 1) the restaurant enterprise and 2) the dog patio, specifically. One of your guiding principles for Community & Equity is to MINIMIZE negative impacts to the adjacent neighborhood, including consideration of impacts to traffic, parking and noise. While I am glad to see that the footprint of the parking lot will stay relatively the same and applaud you for striving for LEED certification for the new buildings, those elements do very little to limit the negative impact I will have as a NEIGHBOR who lives on Longfellow Ave. directly across the street from the current clubhouse. Specific to the new main building and the Restaurant Enterprise, I have to say how incredibly disappointed I am by the Minneapolis Park & Recreation Board’s continuing emphasis on food and beverage/alcohol service and sales. Is that a part of the mission of the organization? Live your mission and focus on the beauty and environmental aspects of your – and my – park land. I am simply not comfortable with a bar and banquet/event space opening up across from my house. This will not minimize that noise in our neighborhood, it will only make it worse. Car traffic on Longfellow is already bad and this will just increase it. And this is unprecedented for the Parks. Lake Nokomis and Minnehaha Falls are the “play land” parks in the area, and at least there is wide green space barrier between its food and bar service (Sandcastle and Tin Fish) and residential homes. There literally would be no barrier between this new main building and my home. How would YOU feel if a bar opened up across the street from you and then the people drinking getting rowdy and getting in their cars and drive down your street? Hiawatha Golf Course has always been the quiet park land – that’s what has been pleasant and unique about this park in comparison to the other two large parks in the area (Nokomis and Minnehaha Falls). Specific to the dog patio – but let’s be honest, it’s just another way to say dog park – this was my biggest concern with the redevelopment and it appears to be realized. The Hiawatha golf course and adjacent land already has a HUGE issue with citizens not obeying leash laws or picking up after their dogs. My daughter and I have been playing outdoors on the property and have had large and small dogs that are off leash rush at us in an ominous and threatening manner. When I let the owner verbally know that it makes me uncomfortable and they are not following the law, I get blown off. I strongly believe that adding a dog patio will only exacerbate this already big issue. If you are going to keep this element – which I still greatly question why there is such a huge focus on people and their dogs – then something needs to be done about the location of it. I do not want to have to look at it when eating dinner at night. As far as I am aware, all dog parks and areas dedicated to dogs are well away from residential view. Not everyone enjoys dogs. Let’s keep it away from people and let people who want to be by dogs go somewhere where they can convene in private and not disrupt others. I WANT TO SEE THIS ELEMENT MOVED TO AN AREA THAT IS FARTHER AWAY FROM RESIDENTIAL NEIGHBORS LIKE ME! Move it to the east / south central side of the structure, then neighbors on Longfellow will not have to look at it and it may lessen the dog barking we’ll now have to hear.
Community Gathering Area		I would like to express concerns over two particular elements of the Community Gather Area – 1) the restaurant enterprise and 2) the dog patio, specifically. One of your guiding principles for Community & Equity is to MINIMIZE negative impacts to the adjacent neighborhood, including consideration of impacts to traffic, parking and noise. While I am glad to see that the footprint of the parking lot will stay relatively the same and applaud you for striving for LEED certification for the new buildings, those elements do very little to limit the negative impact I will have as a NEIGHBOR who lives on Longfellow Ave. directly across the street from the current clubhouse. Specific to the new main building and the Restaurant Enterprise, I have to say how incredibly disappointed I am by the Minneapolis Park & Recreation Board’s continuing emphasis on food and beverage/alcohol service and sales. Is that a part of the mission of the organization? Live your mission and focus on the beauty and environmental aspects of your – and my – park land. I am simply not comfortable with a bar and banquet/event space opening up across from my house. This will not minimize that noise in our neighborhood, it will only make it worse. Car traffic on Longfellow is already bad and this will just increase it. And this is unprecedented for the Parks. Lake Nokomis and Minnehaha Falls are the “play land” parks in the area, and at least there is wide green space barrier between its food and bar service (Sandcastle and Tin Fish) and residential homes. There literally would be no barrier between this new main building and my home. How would YOU feel if a bar opened up across the street from you and then the people drinking getting rowdy and getting in their cars and drive down your street? Hiawatha Golf Course has always been the quiet park land – that’s what has been pleasant and unique about this park in comparison to the other two large parks in the area (Nokomis and Minnehaha Falls). Specific to the dog patio – but let’s be honest, it’s just another way to say dog park – this was my biggest concern with the redevelopment and it appears to be realized. The Hiawatha golf course and adjacent land already has a HUGE issue with citizens not obeying leash laws or picking up after their dogs. My daughter and I have been playing outdoors on the property and have had large and small dogs that are off leash rush at us in an ominous and threatening manner. When I let the owner verbally know that it makes me uncomfortable and they are not following the law, I get blown off. I strongly believe that adding a dog patio will only exacerbate this already big issue. If you are going to keep this element – which I still greatly question why there is such a huge focus on people and their dogs – then something needs to be done about the location of it. I do not want to have to look at it when eating dinner at night. As far as I am aware, all dog parks and areas dedicated to dogs are well away from residential view. Not everyone enjoys dogs. Let’s keep it away from people and let people who want to be by dogs go somewhere where they can convene in private and not disrupt others. I WANT TO SEE THIS ELEMENT MOVED TO AN AREA THAT IS FARTHER AWAY FROM RESIDENTIAL NEIGHBORS LIKE ME! Move it to the east / south central side of the structure, then neighbors on Longfellow will not have to look at it and it may lessen the dog barking we’ll now have to hear.
Community Gathering Area			Please don't flood the course and keep the golf course with its 18 holes. Hiawatha Golf course will make money with 18 holes as most golfers prefer to play a round of 18 holes at each outings. To reduce the course down to 9 holes only, it will lose money, and cost $43 million. Please leave as is for the community to play somewhere close to home !!!
Community Gathering Area		I strongly appreciate the inclusion of a fenced dog area! As a homeowner just 2 blocks away from this park, it will be fantastic to have a place to be able to walk my dog to in short order to let him off leash. I also love the idea of a small public restaurant. I hope it will be able to serve alcohol as I could definitely see frequenting it often in the summer time for happy hour after work. It would be really great if the building had a green roof similar to that at Lebanon Hills.	While I won't be utilizing the golf course, I can understand that it is a unique feature about the existing park. I think being able to use the park for other purposes as well as golfing will be a great addition for the area.
Community Gathering Area		Overall the plan is very interesting. The dog patio is a major concern for us. Please consider moving this to another area within the park that is away from the neighbors. We live right across the street from where this is proposed and this is really the worst case scenario for what we hoped from the renovation. Not all people appreciate dogs and much of this renovation was supposed to be about wildlife. Frankly, we have enough problems with dogs here and are calling animal control often. If there has to be a dog park - dog patio (this I assume is the same thing), please consider moving this to an area of the park where is is hidden away for the sake of the neighbors, not just covered by fences and trees, but out of view. If there is an opportunity to put this at the bottom of the hill, that would be better. We'd prefer there not be a dog park/dog patio included in the plan. I would appreciate consideration in changing this.	The overall project looks very interesting. The dog park dog patio idea is very disappointing and we'd like it moved to an area where its not visible for those using the park or who live across the street.
Community Gathering Area		I live in the neighborhood, and I am extremely disappointed that the community gathering area in the northwest corner is so small and fenced off. I often bring a grill and spend time with my family in the existing area on the east side by the playground and splash pad, which can get really crowded. I want additional space that is equally beautiful, near the lake, and is open to all.	I hope the golf course uses native plants as much as possible.
Community Gathering Area		Will the beach access for kayaks and canoes in the community gathering space, also include swimming? I note that the current plan for the overall Nokomis-Hiawatha park eliminates the swimming beach on the east side of the lake. If we are serious about improving water quality, then I would hope we are successful enough to allowing swimming in the lake waters. I know many of the steps taken in this Area Master Plan (for the golf course) are aimed at improving water quality. Let's be optimistic and keep the east beach in the overall plan. I know during the Summer a lot of minorities come to the park. Being right on the #22 bus line makes it even more accessible for everyone. There is not much space at the east side beach on Lake Nokomis, even though the water tends to be much better quality. The Hiawatha swimming beach was one of the big factors influencing me to purchase a home on 28th Avenue facing the Lake. To be able to jump in the lake (after working in the yard) on a hot summer day, or just carry my kayak across the park was very appealing.
Community Gathering Area		I'm really excited about all of the options in this community gathering area. Especially in light of our current situation, though, I'd encourage having some "alternative" options (or a phased plan) for the clubhouse/event space/restaurant in particular. To me the more important aspects of this park are the park itself (outdoor spaces, walking paths, skiing, golfing, etc.) and less so the physical building(s). If all can still be done with current funding situations and restauranteur availability - please do! If not, would prioritize what I've mentioned and/or pare down or phase in the community gathering spaces.
Community Gathering Area		The plan overall look really great. I would love to spend time in this park when it is done, if it lives up to all the great things mentioned in this plan. I have two related concerns. 1. I couldn't find a rational for why there would need to be expanded car parking around the community gathering building, and 2. I didn't see any description or mention of bike parking near these buildings or anywhere else in the new design. With the realities of climate change and the many negative consequences cars have on Minneapolis, we should look to a future when cars are not the preferred method of moving around the city, and not the main way Minneapolis residents will get to their parks. Personally, the only way I will arrive at this park is by bike, and I am sure this is true of many other residents of South Minneapolis who do not own cars. I use buses to for work and errands, but when I want to go to a park for recreation, I bike there. With all the interactive elements of this park plan, I will want to get off my bike, lock it to well-designed bike parking, and walk around, not just bike around the lake and leave. The experience of people arriving to the park via bus, light rail, Nice Ride bike, or walking should also be given much higher priority over those arriving by car.	I have never visited this park before because I dislike golf. But I will visit this park many times if it lives up to this plan. It will be a great recreation destination for Minneapolis residents of all ages and interests. Great job!
Costs, Revenue, and Funding		Has there been consideration of solar farm or adding to the community in ways that can still be helpful in times when we can't use the social spaces, like now, during Covid-19? Perhaps a wind power source? Can there be federal finding to go toward that? Perhaps as community readiness?	Thank you for your work. There have been so many angry voices that have stretched this out into A LONG and grueling process. Thank you for being inclusive of community comments, especially when there was so much push back about the golf course changing. I'm embarrassed by the people who made the improvements such an uphill battle, and drowned out the voices who want this park to be more environmentally focused, and socially focused in more inclusive ways. Thank you for your commitment to making this park something everyone can enjoy a little more, and will be a focal point for our community coming together and enjoying more activities only a few blocks away. I'm looking forward to seeing this plan get implemented ASAP. Again, thank you!
Costs, Revenue, and Funding		I'm being a little lazy and not providing comments under multiple categories. So I will start here. To spend $43 M to "fix" an overstated problem would seem to be a poor use of limited financial resources. The flooding that started this entire event has not recurrred. Sure it might. It might not. To think that you can predict the future is arrogant. I gave up on that a long time ago. I still believe that the entire pumping issue is somewhat contrived, Sure the amount being pumped is out of spec, but it was a workable problem.You chose not to. I will let the neighbors close to the property comment on what happens if you choose to let his area be the stormwater holding area for the Minnehaha Creek Watershed. At least I am a mile away and a little higher. So I know you don't want to hear that all of your assumptions and requirements for this project are wrong, but they are. I will close with one moderately positive comment. If the property was undeveloped (no golf course) and the park board had unlimitd funding, the design isn't too bad. But my recommendation would be to save your money, I mean my money, and leave things more or less the way they are.	I think I already vented enough
Costs, Revenue, and Funding		The MPRB should pause this discussion until the implications of the COVID-19 pandemic on our city, state, nation and global financial future are more clear. With all of our restaurants closed for dining and predictions that 40% of restaurants will not reopen, it is hard to justify planning for a Restaurant Enterprise that will be viable in the next 5 years. Additionally, with the massive investment in shoring up businesses and providing unemployment benefits, the state government will have to rebuild reserves and the federal government is going to be addressing a huge deficit. It is not fair to our younger generations to be imagining a $40,000,000 project at a park when they are trying to figure out how to get a job, pay rent, college tuition, or pay off student debt. This plan seems very insensitive to our current situation.	It is unclear how the MPRB plans to prioritize the various components of the Master Plan. What does the MPRB hope to tackle first, second, third, etc?
Costs, Revenue, and Funding		$43 million for this? Leave it as it is now, an 18-hole championship course. It deserves to stay this way.	Hiawatha golf course is sooo important. The only public course in all of South Minneapolis. Please keep it at 18 holes. The pumping is causing no environmental pollution. Don't flood the course.
Costs, Revenue, and Funding		REVENUE & CAPITAL COSTS GOLF COURSE REVENUE: The MPRB expects the new 9-hole golf course to generate $550,000 in revenue. This appears to be unrealistic. Fort Snelling has never made more than $350,000 in the past 10 years. Add in a maximum of $130,000 from the driving range (it's best years), and the most you could get is $480,000. Although, the driving range appears to be much smaller, so the expected revenue would be less that $130,000. The MPRB will now have two 9-hole golf courses within a couple of miles of each other which will compete for 9-hole customers. CAPITAL COSTS: The total price tag of $43,000,000 appears to be ridiculously low considering the massive property alterations needed to bring the golf course above 814 feet (high normal for the Lake). Much of the golf course property is at 809 feet. Or, is the MCWD going to change their water management for Minnehaha Creek to stop sending so much water down the creek so that the Lake Hiawatha water levels will be maintained at a lower level? The $62 million price tag was probably more realistic The $11.2 million for construction of the golf course portion is supposed to come from the Minneapolis golf courses. With the MPRB's mismanagement of the golf courses over the past 10 years, they have struggled to make a profit. So, how can they possibly come up with this money? And, especially when one of the highest revenue 18-hole golf courses (Hiawatha) will be gone. Is Regional Water Management the MCWD? They are ready to contribute $5 million? Wetland Banking - This is Mr. Schroeder's method to make some money - developers and other communities can pay to dump their water into Lake Hiawatha rather than mitigate it. This is the last thing this neighborhood needs, more water!!! Restaurant - The capital cost is $6.35 million to be paid for by the Restauranteur and net revenue over time. But, the annual net revenue is estimated to be $251,000.00, so it will take 25 years to pay off the capital costs. So, this restaurant will not make a profit for at least 25 years. Winter Activity Enterprise - The Park Board is suggesting that the Loppet or another organization is going to sink almost $4 million dollars into winter sports activities at Hiawatha Golf Course. And, somehow the organization will generate $130,000 in annual revenue from Hiawatha Golf Course. In the last 10 years when the Park Board ran Winter Sports in the Enterprise Fund, Winter Sports lost increasing amounts of money every year. And, a supporter of the Loppet group has told us that the Loppet is losing money. It seems very unlikely that these improvements will be paid for by the Loppet or any other organization. Lakeside building and canoes. Another partner will pay for the capital cost of $450,000. Again, this should be done on the east side of the lake, not in the middle of a golf course. Also, you need to put this project on hold until the normal public engagement can occur, as has currently been done with other controversial projects in the City of Minneapolis. There is no reason to rush this through when there will not be any money available to do this project due to economic difficulties now imposed on governments by the COVID-19 crisis. It looks like you are just trying to push this through during this crisis while using the crisis to abandon the normal process for public input. This does not make the MPRB look like they are interested in what the public wants, only what one commissioner wants!	PUT THIS PROJECT ON HOLD until normal public input processes can be done, like public meetings!!!!
Costs, Revenue, and Funding		How can you spend millions on renovating this property without having a USGS / U of M water study completed? At a minimum we know that, a.) for over a 100 years the amount of water put into Minnehaha Creek has continued to increase. b.) climate change has increased the amount of storm water in Minnehaha Creek and will continue to do so. c.) the city of Minneapolis is on a path for higher density. Triplexes with larger footprints and more people living on a city lot will cause still more storm water run off. d.) Minneapolis storm water infrastructure is incredibly old and does not accomodate todays amounts of runoff. It will be woefully incapable of handling density and climate change inputs that are coming. e.) Despite the above, you are willing to proceed with the proposed changes to the golf course property even though hydrologists have stated that no changes should be made to the golf course property without more Science. A USGS / U of M research study to research the entire Minnehaha Creek Watershed and specifically make recommendations (pro or con) on your plan needs to occur before you lock in any plan and spend the kind of money you are proposing. f.) Much of the golf course is a flood plain. The property has protected homes in the neighborhood many times in the past by taking the excess flood waters and keeping it out of the neighborhood. I think that was the original plan of the founding fathers. How can you make these changes without some real, credible Science that assures everyone that your changes do not cause harm?
Costs, Revenue, and Funding		As a resident living within eyeshot of the Hiawatha Golf Course, I am grateful for the size of the proposed capital investment in this part of the city through the Hiawatha master plan. A key strength of the plan is its balancing of many constituent and user groups, environmental concerns, and seasonal considerations-- therefore, I hope the plan is funded and implemented completely so this balance is maintained through to project completion.
Costs, Revenue, and Funding		For the amount of money being proposed to be spent, the golf course should remain an 18 hole course. Early in these procedures the Park Board said 9 holes courses are not economical and now that is what is being proposed. Really? Keeping the course an 18 hole venue with improvments will create a money making operation while the 9 hole course will be a constant drag on Park Board funds. Then the Park Board will be back at the public trough seeking more money. Has anyone at the Park Board run a successful business, ever? I am a life long resident of Mpls., I vote and I enjoy golf. Seems a change in this organization is warranted.	Add a new clubhouse which can host weddings etc. and provide year round access. Have a private company operate the food service and stay open year round. The neighborhood would love it. The water issue can be dealt with in others ways.
Costs, Revenue, and Funding		I think it's irresponsibel to move forward with a project that has an ESTIMATED price tag of $43 Milliion Dollars! We who live in Minneapolis are very fortunate to live in a city that already has the best park system in the country. It doesn't make sense to keep adding to the best system in the country, ESPECIALLY at this time in our lifes when so many people have been affected by the Covid-19 situation. Spending that kind of money is not in our best interest.	Very aggressive project at a time when our country is in one of the most sever economic downturns we have ever seen.
Costs, Revenue, and Funding
Costs, Revenue, and Funding		With all of the changes & "improvements" that are going to be done to the current space - where is all of the money going to come from? Look carefully at the current financial situation of the residents of Minneapolis during and after this pandemic.	Hiawatha lake should have been cleaned up years ago. I'm sorry to say but I think the DNR & MPBA have done a very terrible job and all they seem to do is blame each other. It would be nice if the community could just get the truth from both of them instead of getting this whole project just shoved down our throats. Look at all of the money spent at Bossen field - It stays empty 4 days a week. Another waste of money by the MPBA
Costs, Revenue, and Funding		This proposal would be rejected if in the private sector based on the numbers. I'm seeing $43MM being spent with projected annual profits of $281k. I get that the goal is to not make profits but this is way out of whack for what is being gained. Where is the comparison for dredging the lake to it's designed depth, building up low spots on the course with the dredged material, making a better more waterproof levee, and improving the inefficient pumps? You could even spend the money on the improved community center/clubhouse and still get that revenue increase. This could cost a fraction of the $32MM you're proposing for Water, Park and Golf improvements now and would keep and improve the classic 18 hole course that was intended for this land. I believe this would be a stronger bang for the buck and be less of a drain on tax payers money.	See above.
Costs, Revenue, and Funding		Your have no money to do this project, and with COVID-19 you will not get any, so why are you continuing this project?????	Leave the golf course as 18 holes and find other places to dump the water!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Costs, Revenue, and Funding		The cost is to expensive.	There should be more winter activities provide if the tax payers of Minneapolis is contributing to the approved concept.
Costs, Revenue, and Funding		I live on 43rd st. I’m not opposed to improvements. Concerned about 10 million for Design fees and how much my property taxes will go up. Forty plus million seems to be a long shot to get done.	It seems like the reason to do this is to allow more public options. All neighbors are concerned about flooding.
Costs, Revenue, and Funding		There is no way this project will pay for itself in construction costs or operation cost. Please provide more details and how you came to that conclusion.	After this project is done, we will still be pumping water and the lake will still be impaired. This is not cost-effective. It would be better to scale back the project. Perhaps create a a way to collect the trash before the storm water enters the lake and enhance natural habitat on the golf course property.
Costs, Revenue, and Funding		Consider adding a simple combined display of funding sources with approximate proportions, e.g. park, city, MET, other. I suspect there may be feedback that the $43M cost is too great and this may be based on an assumption that this amount is paid by the park board. The detailed numbers give some information about funding sources for each type of expense, but it is difficult to transfer this to the total amount and the cost to the park budget. It is very surprising to see an estimated break even for the golf course, and I assume the reason is shortfalls in golf revenue are assumed to covered by other profitable enterprises. If this is the case, it is a disappointing long-term strategy. The golf system should be transparent about the anticipated reliance on other enterprises and on the amount of funding diverted to golf. Is there a contingency for the plan if coming years see continued decline in golf rounds?
Costs, Revenue, and Funding		Spending $43,000,000 on this really. The resturant profit is totally unrealistic. It will lose money. iIt will need to be subdized if it operates at all. Drop the unrealistic expectations.	Golf is a sport that is of little interest. The master plan has to be completely re-done to address activities that are popular today. Gold courses are closing and to spend $43,000,000 on public golf course is a waste of money.
Costs, Revenue, and Funding		Why not incorporate a year round golf range. Top golf is the only facility in the state and I think another option would be huge for revenue. High schools, colleges, golfers of all skill levels would use the facility since there isn’t anything else if the weather is bad in the spring. The range would make enough revenue to help pay for the project.	It seems like it might be too busy with everything going on. It’s nice that everyone will get a piece but will that hurt the value of the property? Just make sure the golf course is memorable otherwise it will be a waste.
Costs, Revenue, and Funding		So you propose spending $43 million dollars and you still have to pump water off the property. Does the Park Board Have the money? How about we don't spend any money and keep the existing 18 holes of golf. If you're going to keep pumping, you haven't solved anything!	The park is great as is, why spend money we don't have?
Draft Preferred Design Alternative (Entire site)		I think we should set aside space or at least discuss/plan for community resiliency, especially for food and power. The Covid-19 pandemic has made it clear that we can't just think about entertainment (i.e. golf) for large areas of our city land. I would feel safer and more proud of my community if we built a larfe greenhouse for fruits/vegtables and had on-site power generation for emergencies and non emergencies.	Thanks for putting up with all the aggressive and rude people. It's a shared space and compromises need to happen. Keep up the good work.
Draft Preferred Design Alternative (Entire site)		Power resiliency. Has there been any consideration for onsite power generation (solar, wind, geothermal)?	I think this plan does a good job making a compromise with people who want a golf activities and those who don't want one (like myself). In the future, if the golf course is not profitable or not wanted by the community anymore I think we should make sure that land can be converted to more useful space in an inexpensive and thoughtful way.
Draft Preferred Design Alternative (Entire site)		I support the 9-hole golf course as a reasonable compromise, given the history and popularity of the golf course at this location. I support the vision of ecological responsibility that is respectful of the site’s natural and cultural history. Enhancing ecological function provides many benefits and it’s essential to protect existing habitat and create more varied habitat to support wildlife. Please prioritize the protection of existing wildlife habitat in this area, including owls and otters. I support the creation of “Nature First Habitat” as areas reserved for wildlife that humans can observe and enjoy from a distance. During this climate emergency, now is the time to repair ecological damage and restore continuous areas of habitat. It's important to avoid any excavation/construction in sensitive areas of the site, especially the owl habitat near the tennis courts and the delta area on the south side of the Lake. It's essential to educate the public and visitors to the site about the importance and benefits of wildlife habitat to humans and the environment as a whole. I support the rebuilding of the connectivity of the creek corridor as planned, to protect and restore habitat and improve the health of the ecosystem. Please re-route the paved trail on the southeast corner of the site, so as not to threaten existing owl habitat in that area. Rather than branch toward and around the tennis courts, the branching section of the path near the letter H should be eliminated and the path should continue straight from the west to link up with the arrowed sections shown on the diagram. Please re-route the planned natural surface trail away from the west side of Lake Hiawatha, in order to protect existing wildlife (including otters) in this area. Bringing so much foot traffic into this narrow area would likely drive out the otters. Eliminate that section of the trail or route the trail over the open water to the west of the Lake. Thank you.	https://www.birdlife.org/worldwide/news/we-are-all-connected-worse-also-better "It’s time to wake up. We humans need to stop seeing ourselves as the owners, or even the stewards, of nature. We are part of nature, and the planet is a system on whose delicate balance our own survival depends. It’s time to think less in terms of human health, and more in terms of wider planetary health."
Draft Preferred Design Alternative (Entire site)		I support the 9-hole golf course as a reasonable compromise, given the history and popularity of the golf course at this location. I support the vision of ecological responsibility that is respectful of the site’s natural and cultural history. Enhancing ecological function provides many benefits and it’s essential to protect existing habitat and create more varied habitat to support wildlife. Please prioritize the protection of existing wildlife habitat in this area, including owls and otters. I support the creation of “Nature First Habitat” as areas reserved for wildlife that humans can observe and enjoy from a distance. During this climate emergency, now is the time to repair ecological damage and restore continuous areas of habitat. It's important to avoid any excavation/construction in sensitive areas of the site, especially the owl habitat near the tennis courts and the delta area on the south side of the Lake. It's essential to educate the public and visitors to the site about the importance and benefits of wildlife habitat to humans and the environment as a whole. I support the rebuilding of the connectivity of the creek corridor as planned, to protect and restore habitat and improve the health of the ecosystem. Please re-route the paved trail on the southeast corner of the site, so as not to threaten existing owl habitat in that area. Rather than branch toward and around the tennis courts, the branching section of the path near the letter H should be eliminated and the path should continue straight from the west to link up with the arrowed sections shown on the diagram. Please re-route the planned natural surface trail away from the west side of Lake Hiawatha, in order to protect existing wildlife (including otters) in this area. Bringing so much foot traffic into this narrow area would likely drive out the otters. Eliminate that section of the trail or route the trail over the open water to the west of the Lake. Thank you.	This property should be used to demonstrate environmental restoration and to restore and protect ecological function, by undoing as much damage as possible that was done when Rice Lake was drained and the golf course was built. Please follow through on the commitment to environmentally-friendly management of the 9-hole course, with no pesticides used. Plant many more native trees and reduce turf as much as possible--plant native pollinator-friendly shrubs and plants. Recognize the importance of wildlife and restore and protect wildlife habitat. Our health and well-being depends on our commitment to valuing Nature and realizing we humans are a part of Nature, not separate from it. "It’s time to wake up. We humans need to stop seeing ourselves as the owners, or even the stewards, of nature. We are part of nature, and the planet is a system on whose delicate balance our own survival depends. It’s time to think less in terms of human health, and more in terms of wider planetary health." https://www.birdlife.org/worldwide/news/we-are-all-connected-worse-also-better Cherish and protect Nature. Cherish and protect what we have instead of constantly developing parkland for short-term sports trends or fads.
Draft Preferred Design Alternative (Entire site)		i reject your preferred plan. outrageous to spend over 40 million on this redo; something that does not need to be done. do you ever think of taxpayers? no. - your self importance (the park board & administrators who answer to no one) is over the top. if you have to do something, just let it go; keep homo sapiens out of the area and let wildlife takeover.
Draft Preferred Design Alternative (Entire site)		I think it is shameful that residents were forced to vote on one of these plans when a large majority of the community wanted to retain the 18 hole golf course. This plan was already decided on without community input. I would like to see money, not on amenities we all ready have within blocks of this area, but addressing the need to get large volumes of water out of the system faster. Holding water closer to homes and changing the water table will only be problematic to infrastructure. This was shown in the Barr report and there has not been plan that has been shown to alleviate these concerns.
Draft Preferred Design Alternative (Entire site)		Keep the golf course at 18 holes. Keep pumping at the necessary rate to protect all nearby homes. Don't over-develop this area.	Keep pumping at the rate necessary to protect all nearby homes. Keep the golf course at 18 holes. Do not over-develop this area. It is great to have quiet and peaceful space.
Draft Preferred Design Alternative (Entire site)		This plan is another example of pie-in-the-sky ideas with little ability to pay for them. Plus, after 6 months, details for many of the CAC items are still not given. THE BERM The berm between the golf course and Lake Hiawatha has been used as a main reason why the 18-hole golf course has to go. But, it is still as prominent as ever in this new plan. It was originally deemed to be so unstable that it could break and drown golfers. Then, in the MPRB's answer to the CAC about why they want to reduce pumping they talked mostly about why the berm is bad, separating the lake from the rest of the floodplain. Now the berm will serve as a walking/bike path around the north and west side of Lake Hiawatha, still separating the lake from this portion of the floodplain, and it will be surrounded on both sides by water. Huh??? It seems very unlikely that the berm will survive being saturated with water on both sides considering the volume of water that will be coming at it from both sides, thus truly being unsafe for heavy usage by pedestrians and bicyclists. This is an example of why the MPRB has so little credibility. And, in reality, the MPRB idea is to destroy the 18-hole golf course for a tiny amount of floodplain storage which will be a drop in the bucket considering the amount of water that goes through Lake Hiawatha each year. Along with the retention of the berm, it appears that the MPRB will be building more little islands in a lake that is having trouble handling all of the water that is currently entering it???? These islands seem problematic at best. MINNEHAHA CREEK The plan shows that the inlet of Minnehaha Creek to the property will now become 2 huge contained ponds with small outlets between them. This would seem to create a huge build-up of sand and debris and trash behind the "pedestrian paths" that divide the water from the lake. Plus, this seems to have the potential of backing up water behind these barriers. And, this area will need to be continually dredged and cleaned up. The MPRB has not dredged the inlet for many years; are they really going to start now? This is the opposite of what needs to be done with the inlet, which is to get the water quickly in and out of the lake considering the high volumes of water that go through Lake Hiawatha. Also, is there a plan for dealing with the trash and pollution coming from Minnehaha Creek?
Draft Preferred Design Alternative (Entire site)		Response to MPRB Hiawatha Golf Course Area Master Plan – Preferred Alternative A review of the Master Plan makes it clear that MPRB has put a lot of work into the creation of this plan. There is something in it for everyone. However, I do not support this plan for 2 basic reasons. First – increasing the amount of surface water stored in southwest Minneapolis does not help the residential water problems outside the Hiawatha Golf Course property. In fact, it will probably exacerbate the problem by contributing to a rising ground water table. Second – the golf course will be more viable and better honor the traditions and history of Hiawatha Golf Course as an 18-hole golf course. Too much water Residents of SW Minneapolis are living with the effects of too much water. Broken infrastructure pipes, sink holes and sunken streets that require replacement in addition to wet basements are all too common – all do to a high ground water table. There have been numerous pleas by residents and organized groups of residents to have USGA study the water issues in the area. The most sensible plan would use the results of such a study to develop an integrated solution for the residential area as well as the Hiawatha Golf Course property. A better solution The surface elevation of Lake Nokomis and Lake Hiawatha are too high. In 2019 Lake Nokomis was over it’s banks, and flooded large portions of the pedestrian walk ways. Both lakes should be lowered by engineering an enhanced water control system. In addition, a faster drainage system should be included in the design. If Minnehaha Creek can’t carry excess water then perhaps existing or new storm sewers could be used. Lake Hiawatha is less than 2 miles from the Mississippi river, so this should be doable for a much lower cost than the preferred alternative. MPRB Preferred Alternative Discussed If the Preferred Alternative design is implemented what will we have achieved? • We will have destroyed an 18-hole golf course that has served the community well since 1935. • We will have eliminated many trees that enhance the golf experience at Hiawatha. • We will have spent $43M. • We will have added bicycle and pedestrian access to the property. • We will have added winter activities such as ice skating and ice fishing on the new ponds. • We will have added a new restaurant to the property. • We will have added a new ground water pumping system and snow making equipment All of the added features listed below the third bullet are abundant in the park system nearby. Bicycling and walking paths are available in the Lake Nokomis and Minnehaha Creek parks. Winter activities such as cross-country skiing could (and do) exist on the present golf course. Years ago, MPRB provided and maintained a warming house and ice-skating area on the west side of Lake Nokomis (west of Cedar Avenue). This was discontinued – perhaps due to lack of public interest. Details of the MPRB preferred alternative 9-hole golf course are far too sketchy to elicit comment. Design details such as hole length, bunkers, type of grass, etc. are needed. Clearly the golf course design is incomplete at this time. The proposed location of the driving range has players hitting South-South West or into the sun during the middle part of the day - not a desirable direction. However, the proposed driving range is much better than no driving range. It is commendable that MPRB has expressed support for a continued relationship with local high schools as well as the First Tee organization. Pumping A basic reason for the redesign as originally stated by the Park Board was to reduce ground water pumping on the golf course. It is possible that the preferred alternative design will increase the pumping required to keep basements dry. Therefore, the goal of reduced pumping may not be realized. Honoring the history and tradition of Hiawatha Golf Course It does not honor the tradition nor the long time golfers at Hiawatha to take away half of the course and replace it with a few plaques and signage.	This is a very ambitious plan with a lot of thought and work put into it. However I believe the plan is not in harmony with the interest of the water logged community in SW Minneapolis. Nor is it in the best interest in the long term viability of the golf course. Instead of storing excess water we should flush it out to the river.
Draft Preferred Design Alternative (Entire site)		The plan should prioritize the ecological restoration and wellbeing of the site. No excavation or construction should be done near the tennis courts in order to protect the owls that live there. Any walking paths should be routed away from the southern delta side of the lake to protect the otters. Too much human traffic would likely drive them away. This is a great opportunity to restore the habitat in this area, something that would benefit animals and people. The wildlife that we share our city with is in desperate need of protected areas, not to mention the city continually talks about fighting climate change and our biggest ally in that would be nature itself. There are also nesting bald eagles in this area. Could you please plant cottonwood trees for future generations of eagles? They require old growth cottonwoods to nest in, otherwise we may see the eagles leaving as well.	This area should be designated as a wildlife sanctuary. The habitat should be restored and the wildlife protected. Restoring the natural aspects of our city benefits residents as well. It is time the city of Minneapolis step up and protect and restore the ecology of our parks and lakes and protect the wildlife that live there.
Draft Preferred Design Alternative (Entire site)		I believe that the Draft Preferred Design Alternative is a wonderful compromise! Kudos to all who worked so hard to come up with this plan.
Draft Preferred Design Alternative (Entire site)		We are sad to lose the green space between 19th Ave and 20th Ave. It is quite a popular area in this part of the neighborhood. However, with that said, we definitely see other positive improvements, like path access and even our own water view. Two things that concern us in particular: What will "Storm Sewer Diversion & Trash Collection" look like? Since that will be right in front of us, we hope that it won't be an eye sore. It also appears that golfers on hole two will be driving right at our house. Will over drives be mitigated with something other than a large net?	We are very impressed with the design. Thanks for all your hard work.
Draft Preferred Design Alternative (Entire site)		I heartily endorse the whole plan. I personally am excited about the wetland restoration aspect.	I have lived two blocks from Lake Hiawatha for over 26 years. I have seen how the natural processes of flooding and plant growth have altered the character of the lake basin. I am also excited about making this resource available to the wider community, while still preserving and enhancing its "wild" character.
Draft Preferred Design Alternative (Entire site)		Looks great!	I know a lot of time and effort has gone into this, and I think the final result is wonderful!
Draft Preferred Design Alternative (Entire site)		Disappointed in the that the CAC could only vote on a plan for a nine hole course per the park board. What would an 18 hole reduced pumping scenario look like? It is stated that it took over two weeks for the back nine to dry up in 2014 and that many trees were lost due to that. My son works there and as the course was drying up the they could not work back there, which could have potentially saved some. It’s possible to still have the course be a flood mitigator during extreme wet events, but as those then dry up, parts of course can function without a major loss of usability. How will safety be addressed with more people along the path when there is active golf happening? Reducing pumping to the course only to have to add pumping to keep homes dry seems counter-productive. I hope the storm water mitigation and trash removal are seriously looked at.	I’m glad they want to keep the history. Yes, first tee is an important entity for future of golf. Concerned that you want to preserve wildlife yet want pedestrians and people to be up closer to where the habitats are. Like the idea of using the course for winter activity, although this past winter they did do some grooming of the trails for cross country skiing. Really no need to add a skating rink or sledding hill. Yes, enhance the clubhouse for more use/restaurant. Just remember not every aspect of the park needs to have some kind of activity associated with it. By having green space available for sitting, walking, etc is much more ecological and cost friendly. plus an open area expands the mind and is relaxing. (this is about the areas on the north west and southwest corners of the property- just leave them open).
Draft Preferred Design Alternative (Entire site)		To my understanding the City of Minneapolis Park & Rec Board had a system of neighborhood parks and larger regional parks particularly at significant natural features - such as at the various city lakes, "creeks", Falls and the like. There was also a series of Minneapolis owned and managed golf courses. During my lifetime I have seen the Park system steadily decline due to lack of concern and maintenance. I used to golf at all of the Cities courses until about a decade ago when the lack of proper service and maintenance compounded to the point where it was not fun to golf at the City courses. The degradation of public park areas is common throughout the system. The Park Board will build a facility but not maintain it as displayed in the golf courses. The Park Board committed to an 18 hole golf course adjacent lake Hiawatha years ago but failed to design it properly. They did not adequately take the full impact of water into consideration and did a insufficient job in handling it. The only way to handle the poor management of water to get special permission from the State for the pumping. Perhaps due to the high moisture evident at the course it was a poor decision to locate a course here but the Park Board decided to proceed with it. With that commitment they should have brought in the proper hydrologists and geotechnical engineers to aid the course designers with a proper technical layout - but that hasn't been the direction. The new layout looks like they are trying to appeal to every body and nearly all outdoor recreation. Golfers at public courses don't always hit the ball straight and to have pedestrian paths adjacent to fairways is dangerous. The tee box for the first hole is too far away from the "club house" as are the practice facilities. The dog park is given more precedent than golfers. What happens to the area when it is a dry season? The man-made created ponds will dry up and not only look bad but smell. In very rainy springs or after huge rainfalls Minnehaha Creek has been known to flood, what happens to the course at that time? Will it be built above the flood plain? In my opinion golf was created to play 18 different holes not 9. I wouldn't play this 9 hole course, it is a poor substitute for the 18 that was originally intended. Why can't your designers impose more of the ground water to drain using Hiawatha Lake and the Minnehaha Creek? Isn't that the natural way to remove it?	See my previous comments
Draft Preferred Design Alternative (Entire site)		Well I better go play Hiawatha golf before you ruin the course.Golf community does not want 9 holes. Maybe you should turn the whole thing into another mosquito breeding farm. How do we go about replacing the Board of Commissioners and Met Council?	Poor planning, poor leadership, waste of tax dollars... why don't you provide 3 options and let the public vote on what should be done instead of forcing a terrible plan on us?
Draft Preferred Design Alternative (Entire site)		I remain a fan of allowing the 18 hole course continue and to determine a better way to deal with or accept the pumping. I skimmed the plan but it looks like a lot of earth is getting moved to make a deeper lake in front of the new clubhouse and to raise the level of many of the proposed golf holes. I did not see an estimate for all this posted but how does that compare to just continuing the way it is now, with better more efficient pumps perhaps? If it's a 30 year payback maybe this doesn't make sense. There are no project costs or revenue comparisons of minor improvements to the existing design vs costs and revenue projections for the proposed plan. There is a lot to be said about a golf course design and getting patrons to pay and play. If the course is poorly done, then revenue will be hurt pushing this land even further into being abandoned for good and giving it back to nature. I don't see the attention to the 9 holes you have drawn up to make me excited about playing here and it causes me to believe that minimum effort will be given to the course design most likely resulting in a not-attractive to play course. Where is the comparison to a plan to re-dredge the existing lake to its designed depth, building up the low areas of the course with the dredged material, building a better more waterproof levee, and getting in better more efficient pumps? I'm guessing this is more affordable than what is here and gives you a fairly reliable revenue projection.	I believe it should remain an 18 hole course with improvements for handling the water as mentioned above.
Draft Preferred Design Alternative (Entire site)		I think the design is a great balance of the competing interests of proposed activities. In particular, as a golfer I appreciate the attention paid to maintaining that activity as an option in a way that is better suited for the land and surrounding area. Aside from Golf, I like the expanded uses of water and winter recreation activities. These are much more accessible to all and great utilization of the space. It wasn't very clear to me, but it looked like there would be a removal of the ugly, rusty fencing around the golf course area. I think this is a great improvement of the space and will make it feel much more like a public amenity. I also appreciate the reality of the financials and it looked like they were not overstated in terms of revenue generation for certain activities. However, I am a little concerned that the financial expectations of a renovated clubhouse area as a restaurant space are overstated. I know from my experience monitoring the success of other city owned park restaurant facilities that this may not be realistic. Further, this would create competing interest between the Lake Nokomis restaurant area and I am curious if that was factored into this consideration. Overall I wanted to say kudos to the design team and working group. We appreciate all your work to balance the priorities and high passion surrounding this project.	See first comments
Draft Preferred Design Alternative (Entire site)		The premise for the entire project has changed, therefore, the proposal must be tabled at this time. It has now become apparent that water pumping is required to keep South Minneapolis dry. The golf course provides a buffer (protection) for the housing in South Minneapolis. The rationale for the entire project is questionable and the related expenses are excessive and unnecessary in this COVID 19 era.	See previous comments
Draft Preferred Design Alternative (Entire site)		I am so impressed with the follow through on the promise to design around the triple bottom line and to think wholistically about the land use in this park. I’m glad the golfers can still practice and play here. I’m even more glad that the land is being configured to drain by itself after flooding instead of the floodwaters needing to be pumped out. Pumps fail. Gravity does not. Thank you for the focus on habitat creation/restoration, as our climate continues to change increasing space for wildlife will help them retain access to food and shelter. I absolutely love the trail around the lake and am looking forward to the day I can wander through the woods without having to tromp through mud and holes in the fence. Are the fences being removed? I suppose I should ask since I don’t think I saw that detail specifically called out. I hope they are! They’re ugly and encourage use of the course as a dog park which is disrespectful and disruptive for the birds and muskrats that call this park home.
Draft Preferred Design Alternative (Entire site)		I don't have any concerns with the project that I've seen. I'm a huge fan of what is proposed and hopefully this iteration of the plan can come to fruition. Great job to the entire team that worked on putting this together. I think that South Minneapolis has a lot going for it, and this will just add on to it. Having read the entire Nokomis-Hiawatha Regional Park Master Plan after seeing this proposed Amendment, I think it does an excellent job at aligning with the vision of the parks as a whole and will provide a great space for people and animals alike. I think it's a great blend of entertainment, education, and conservation, and will be a great addition to the South Minneapolis community. I will be following this project as it moves through the approval process and I look forward to seeing the progress.	Having read the entire Nokomis-Hiawatha Regional Park Master Plan, I don't have any other concerns really. It's great to see the vision for the parks laid out and if anything, a little more communication about the projects going on and their timelines. Another thought is to potentially include more signage around environmental education, highlighting the flora and fauna of the region.
Draft Preferred Design Alternative (Entire site)		I was excited to read about the new plan for the Hiawatha Golf Course and the entire area around lake Hiawatha. I was pleasantly surprised! I believe the new plan is quite good and personally think that it provides ample space for all sorts of new activities in the park. This could really be a showplace for urban parks in the country! I like how you've been able to keep 9 holes of golf at the park, a golf learning center for new golfers, while adding canoeing and kayaking, nature areas, and planned winter activities. Congratulations! I appreciate that you took the time, heard from the citizens of our city, and created something exciting for Minneapolis.
Draft Preferred Design Alternative (Entire site)		I would like to commend the design and planning team for a job well done.	I think the design captures the best of the blend of so many competing interests and comments leading up to this point. I am a periodic Hiawatha golfer and look forward to completion of what promises to be a beautifully crafted challenging urban golf course as well as an urban park with a rural flair open for more of our population to enjoy.
Draft Preferred Design Alternative (Entire site)		I just wanted to say that I think this plan overall is excellent. Kudos to the planners, engineers, and project managers who've had to navigate all the sensitivities surrounding this project. If the preferred design alternative is implemented as is, the result would instantly become a crown jewel of the Minneapolis park system.
Draft Preferred Design Alternative (Entire site)		Hiawatha Golf Course has provided an in-city option for serious and advanced golfers since it's opening in 1934-35. Those that have played and enjoyed learning and growing older utilizing this golf course, have emotional attachments and fond memories for each of the course's 18 holes. The Preferred Design Alternative includes a 9 hole course to be shared with teaching new 'learners and non-golfers'. This solution would not be used by any serious golfer - 9 holes, congestion and long wait times at each hole. Those that played Hiawatha would not be back. The Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board should decide to have a Golf Course OR the passive active recreation, ecology and art park, not both. Resolve water management and other ecological concerns. The Preferred Design Alternative includes a large lake/water area and many recreational park features. These features replicate the extensive/existing Minneapolis parks and lakes (22) system that is already the cities most unique and outstanding quality of place.
Draft Preferred Design Alternative (Entire site)		I think you have done a wonderful job with this design. I really hope it comes to fruition in this way. Having the walking trails and more water for water trails will be really great. My only concern is about stray golf balls hitting bikers and pedestrians...but I am hoping the course layout will minimize that as much as possible.	Really great plan!
Draft Preferred Design Alternative (Entire site)		Looks great, don’t fall victim to the BS comments surely to be provided by the golf community	Looks great and I am looking forward to seeing it completed!
Draft Preferred Design Alternative (Entire site)		I am concerned that accessibility to Lake Hiawatha will be overlooked when the final project is ultimately implemented. I think lake access to residents to the west shouldn't be exclusive to those golfing only. A perimeter all accessibility path should be provided year round around the lake. Walking trails identified throughout the site should not be exclusive to golfers, and should be open to the public all all times. Is any consideration being put into a pump track for young cyclists within the backyard park area?	Overall, i love how you've been able to implement so many more recreational activities to the site than holding it exclusive to golfing. The only way to make it even better is to let go of the commitment to maintain a golfing facility...
Draft Preferred Design Alternative (Entire site)		Not bad for a compromise! (Although I suspect the golf community will not think of this as a win As one who thought the original plan (to discontinue golf altogether) was a good one considering the flood plain issues, I continue to wonder if 9 holde golf will be supported by the golfing public. That remains to be seen. If it does become an abject failure and the complete property becomes parklan, then I think you have a good start on creating a proper use of this parkland!	Good deal thanks!
Draft Preferred Design Alternative (Entire site)		I think this was mentioned in the presentation, but it's hard to tell in the design diagram if/where there will be fencing around the property. To the extent possible while still keeping safety in mind, I'd really strongly urge you to try and minimize fencing around the golf course. It's uninviting, unattractive, and impedes the multi-function use the design is shooting for. I know it's going to be necessary to some extent! Would it be possible for it to be a little more attractive, and part of the design, where it's needed? The jagged, broken-down chain-link fencing there currently is such an eyesore. Would love for any fencing to be a design asset (or neutral) to the property instead.	I can't even begin to tell you how excited I am about this new design. I think you've done a fantastic job of balancing keeping golf as an option with opening this property up to a broader multitude of users. WELL DONE. I'm a neighborhood resident and thrilled to think there might be an opportunity to walk all around the lake, expand my paddling options, walk to a neat community gathering space, and (probably most of all) cross-country ski all winter. I really appreciate all the input-gathering and thought that's gone into this and I really hope that we get to see some of these changes to the park sooner than later. Thank you!
Draft Preferred Design Alternative (Entire site)		I am so happy to see so many ideas worked together. This has been a long, complex process and I think you have created a wonderful proposal that takes in many different priorities. As a neighbor I will be most excited to see the new trails around the lake and am very interested in how you are honoring the cultural history and significance of water. I teach at the Lake Hiawatha Park building and I will be interested to see how the rec center and the new neighborhood gathering buildings relate to each other. I notice that I’m sometimes confused as a semit-outsider about which part of the park fulls under the management of which park supervisor (Nokomis or Lk Hiawatha). How will the building directors work together?	I hope you have all the resources you need to do this - it would make this park a real jewel and model to others
Draft Preferred Design Alternative (Entire site)		The new loop trail both pedestrian and water access is a improvement to the connectivity to local trails and the northern neighborhoods. I'm disappointed the Concept One (Expanding Opportunities) was eliminated, particularly the BMX/Pump track amenity given the very successful pilot park at the unused Nokomis northern tennis court. Literally 1,000's of trips have been made to this pilot and would have had a welcomed permanent home in this Master Plan and more so would have benefited from the improved trail networks proposed and increased amenities outlined in this plan. Winter activities have taken off at the park and only show signs of increasing. The unpredictable weather is a problem when offering cross country skiing or fat biking at the park. Utilizing the was pumped from the lake to augment these efforts is a win-win. Restaurant/banquet room if implemented will be well received, an opportunity to utilize wild foraged foods or increase planting to locally source food needs would be an excellent learning opportunity and will demonstrate the MPRBs commitment to sustainability. Focusing on the lake and removal of both trash and excessive phosphorus. How will maintain a 9-hole golf course impact the goals of the removal? Are there alternatives to lawn maintenance and fertilizing, could bee lawns that could be implemented in suitable golf designated areas. Also, bee habitat houses would pair perfectly with this project and a virtually maintenance free.	The price tag is quite the expendature given the viable of golf as a profitable sport and minimal park users will use these amenities, the four hole concept would have been a more suitable option as it preserves some golf facilities and opens up the park form many other activities.
Draft Preferred Design Alternative (Entire site)		Was anything other than a ball golf course considered for the site? I know equity is a big thing for Minneapolis and ball golf is about as far from that as you can go. It is a sport that caters to the few and largely is only available to the wealthy. Those are likely some of the reasons it is a dying sport. It takes up massive amounts of land which requires extensive maintenance oftentimes using lots of chemicals. It looks like you are trying to clean up the lake. Ditching the golf course would help. I am biased but I would suggest disc golf. While the Twin Cities area has many great disc golf options, it lacks urban options. Minneapolis' current offerings are not great quality. They are for pay and shared facilities, making it abundantly clear what the City thinks of the sport. Disc golf courses are considerably cheaper to construct, require far less maintenance, are are more equitable and accessible to people, you can literally buy a disc and play for $5 if you want, although many serious player choose to spend much more. A disc golf course would receive far more traffic than a ball golf course. You could likely fit 2 or 3 courses in the same 9 hole ball golf layout making the site a potentially major destination nationwide if done right. Ideally it would have an 18 basket free course, as well as 1 or 2 18 basket pay courses, hence the major destination. There is at least one course designer right here in the Cities that could check it out. This could also fit with the environmental theme or your current proposal. In addition reducing maintenance and eliminating chemical use part of creating the courses should involve the planting of a lot of trees, which have many well know benefits relating to water and air quality. Think about it.	I like the idea of reducing pumping and enlarging the watered areas of the site. See my previous comment for my thoughts on utilizing the site as a ball golf course.
Draft Preferred Design Alternative (Entire site)		I think the whole thing is great! I love that there is a connection to the park from houses to the north of the park. It will be great to be able to walk or run from our house and go right into nature, only a few blocks away. There's so many great features of the park, like the island refuge, observation tower (what a great idea!), and being able to walk/run all the way around the lake. Please make sure you are able to get funding for all these iconic features, especially the observation tower. Thanks and keep up the great work!	The general plan is great! I really love the observation tower and being able to enter from the north side of the park, where there currently is just a big long fence.
Draft Preferred Design Alternative (Entire site)		My family including two young children live in the neighborhood and we are SO excited about this design. We love the incorporation of the history- both of the African American golf community in Minneapolis and the Dakota people- and the appreciation and celebration of nature. I know we would spend time exploring the different aspects of the park each and every day. We truly hope that this design comes to fruition. Thank you so much!
Draft Preferred Design Alternative (Entire site)		Can we add an off-leash dog park? There is a ton of space devoted to golf and I think opening it up on the North side to a trail is GREAT- but surely there's space for a dog park.	Need dog park!
Draft Preferred Design Alternative (Entire site)			Thanks for all your work on this project. I think that you have done a good job of meeting the concerns and requirements of the community at large. Most if not all of my own concerns for this project have been adequately covered and I look forward to enjoying this new area.
Draft Preferred Design Alternative (Entire site)		Awesome plan mostly. Good work! Take-aways are: 1) The focus on maintaining and improving on the First Habitat is great. 2) The plans for Winter activities is also a great feature. 3) The use of pumped water is well thought-out and innovative, and 4) The creation of a 9-hole golf course and promotion is beautiful. Feedback to consider are: - inclusion of a Farmer's Market - closer integration with Hiawatha Rec Center, perhaps building a large pedestrian beach at the foot of the center - would like to see a first Habitat dirt hiking trail along west edge of water - would never like to see paddle boat rentals - would never like to see a full-size dog park - would never like to let the Park and Rec's "chain-saw" crew near the confluence of Minnehaha creek and lake - it would be cool to have a small ampitheater Lastly, in my opinion: 1) The restaurateur should be plural and periodically rotated out 2) The restaurateurs should be under profit constraints and advised of the advertising benefit of participating while keeping prices low, 3) move maintenance 4) Move holes 3 & 4 to area of maintnenace 8 & 9, or 5) Put the money-making restaurant where maintenance is.	As a whole, the increased water size and access is probable not fully realized by the public. To be able to canoe, kayak, sail and skate is long overdue.
Experiences (Please note the Experience you reference)		All of the experiences can be had across the street at Lake Nokomis. A lot of money to spend on duplicative activities.	Too costly of a project. Unfortunately belt tightening is in order due to the pandemic.
Experiences (Please note the Experience you reference)		Wonderful Tower View of the natural area and down town - Can we expand the number of white pines in the SW corner of the park because they are so beautiful year round? - Hiawatha Food forest – lets continue to maintain the excellent fruit trees that have been planted and potentially expand them Trails - I am a trail runner and appreciate smaller surfaces and being closer to nature, without disturbing the wild life Dakota Heritage - excellent conversation we had during the planning phase with the Healing Places Collaborative. Non paved trails will be great. Can the MPRB system wide explore the possibility of co-managing our natural areas of our public parks in Minneapolis in in partnership with the Dakota people - starting with the Healing Places Collaborative and expanding to include representatives from recognized and unrecognized tribes, and in the future - Dakota people returning to MN from Canada and the Dakotas after their forced exile - a good example of this is from Canada https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Comanagement_in_Canada - Friends of Lake Hiawatha would love to co-host w MPRB Healing Places Collaborative and Wisdom Dances - nature walks with Dakota naturalists/guides - Good to have longer term conversations with many Dakota and other indigenous leaders - Healing Places Collaborative, MN History Center Dakota staff, Nibi Walk, South High School all nations program, Bdote Academy bi-lingual elementary, Little Earth Community, Medawankaton Dakota (FUNDING?), Mendota Dakota, LePlant brothers and Bob Klanderud, MN Dakota Language Society, Holy Trinity Lutheran Doctrine of Discovery Team. - Expand the number traditional plants the Dakota people used and include temporary spaces for local Dakota people to harvest and process the plants – would a small filtered wetland area for Wild Rice cultivation be possible? Berries, Willow, Maple sap	Please see my previous overall comments THANKS
Experiences (Please note the Experience you reference)		I'm very excited to learn about several of the new proposed experiences that allow for better site access throughout the year including: water trails natural surface ped trails Loop around the lake respite island restaurant patio ski trails - with good snow skating loop winter walking trails water rentals I currently pull a kayak on wheels over to the lake. One comment/concern would be about number of boat rentals. The space can definitely accommodate more kayaks and canoes. I hope care will be taken with the rental numbers so that the lake is not "overrun" with them. It's a much smaller lake area than some of the other Mpls lakes.	I've already commented
Experiences (Please note the Experience you reference)		Love the idea of the observation tower creating a focal point at the southern end of the park.
Experiences (Please note the Experience you reference)		I like the observation tower because I think it will be a good space to meet and also view the lake and surrounding land, but I don't want it to be so tall that it dominates the landscape.	I like the way that the Master Plan will deal with the problem of stormwater management. It will increase the area of water to kayak/canoe and provide a lot of habitat for waterfowl and other animals.
Experiences (Please note the Experience you reference)		As a resident near the NW corner of the Hiawatha property I'm unclear about the Stormwater Terrace experience. The combination of public art, interpretive features, and trash collection is difficult to reconcile. I hope every effort will be made to ensure that the noise, smell, visual blight of trash collection from this site is minimal for neighborhood residents.
Experiences (Please note the Experience you reference)		The planned Urban Nature experience--notably the lookout tower planned for the SE corner of the site-- is distinctive and exciting. Although this is not my top priority among the planned features, I hope this amenity will be funded and built because it could be something very special for Minneapolis. The view from a high point in the middle of the expansive Nokomis-Hiawatha park area to the urban vistas beyond would be incredible, and the tower itself has the potential to become a visual icon for this part of Minneapolis.
Experiences (Please note the Experience you reference)		Experiences A-B-G: Thank you so much for including so many experiences about water; I think it is my neighbors' gross misunderstanding of this site's natural history, the way the creek has been modified/managed, and climate change that has led so many of them to resist any change to the site at all. Hopefully giving people an opportunity to interact with the water in a experiential and visual way will encourage all neighbors and visitors to understand the value of water to this community and the need to adopt best management practices in areas besides park management and design.
Experiences (Please note the Experience you reference)		I am so excited about this plan - especially the new restaurant and the restoration of the wetlands and chances for the community to use the space in new ways. I think a 9-hole golf course has a much better chance of getting my family out and giving golf a try.	This plan is awesome!!
Experiences (Please note the Experience you reference)		I'm excited about the expansion of various activities and experiences - nature walks, winter recreation, the lookout tower, trails, picnic areas, and gathering spaces.	I'm glad to see that the wetland will be restored and water management will be so much more intentional and visionary, to accomodate the increasing extreme weather and water and flooding events that affect the whole creek watershed and surrounding homes and parks so dramatically. Opportunities to connect to real, protected, wild nature, within the city is so important for our health and well being.
Experiences (Please note the Experience you reference)		Water as a Resource. I like the concept to create interactive elements using the pumped water. It is not clear how the water will discharge into the lake. I would hope this is a creative element rather than a plastic pipe sticking out of the ground. This could be a great (small) man-made waterfall which could add an element of water sounds to one of the gathering spaces. Island Respite I like the concept of using new islands for passive recreation. I would think the new island between F and H would be more of a respite because it is larger and is not bisected by a bike path. This one is partially "nature first" but I'm not sure what that means. Perhaps both islands can be a respite, but one is accessible only by walking path with a bike rack and path nearby. Urban Nature This area is currently a run down metal fence. So many opportunities for a better experience. Keeping options open for future planning makes sense.
Experiences (Please note the Experience you reference)		I live in the Standish neighborhood, immediately north of Hiawatha Park. I just watched the 30 minute video and support the plan for Hiawatha.	I like that the plan makes the space accessible for more people, manages the water problem and maintains a gold course. The people involved in the plan have done a good job of catering to the community.
Golf		I was not a fan of any golf. It is a sport that takes up too much space for too few. I am grateful that a compromise was made in order to move forward, and look forward even further to the day when more land is given back to more nature and people. Thank you.	I want to express gratitude for this moving forward. It has been a long time in the making. And though I am strongly on the side against a hold course, I'm happy to see that the project is moving forward ... FINALLY. I hope to see all of the great changes happen as soon as possible! And I'm greatly hoping the current world circumstances to not allow the progress here. Be well. Stay healthy.
Golf		I appreciate the effort. I appreciate the fence going away. However, I wish it could stay 18 and I don’t play golf.	I think my main concern as a homeowner on 43rd street is the potential increase in crime with the additional parkland
Golf		Golf at Hiawatha always has been 18 holes, and always should be 18 holes, Period! It seems the MPRB and others have coveted the land with designs for their own purposes for years. This using invalid reasoning as to why an 18 course can't exist anymore on the property because of flooding. This flooding is not just because of the increased amount of rain in a global warming world. It is because of many decisions made over the years by various entities forcing water to Lake Hiawatha and Golf course area. Until the flow from the creek and surrounding areas is changed to allow water to dissipate through and from the area there will always be serious flooding issues here, your proposal included. I feel like your plans are not going to fix the issues in the area, and at a price that could be used in a much more useful way. I also believe that most, if not all of the additional winter activities you have proposed can exist on an 18-hole golf course. It does not have to be one or the other. Let's create revenue streams that can help keep the property self-sustained like things done at other courses. For one, there will be well less than 1/2 the revenue with a 9-hole golf course. Let's create a beautiful Lawn Bowling / Bocce court, like at Brookview. You have all the golf course equipment to maintain this and it doesn't take a huge amount of land. Create a clubhouse that can be used for Weddings and other events like at Keller in St. Paul. This could also house other revenues streams like winter activities including Golf Simulators or Kids activities etc. Use your imagination; There are many ideas like this that don't have to eat too much into the golf course property. The golf course could still be 18 holes and be smaller as well, without wasted space. The bottom line is, increase the dissipation of ground/flood water in the area, and anything is possible. Build the 39th street channel that the city has proposed for years. Thank You.	See Previous Comment.
Golf		The golf course is a revenue generator for the city, spending the money to turn it into a park is a waste of taxpayer money. We have enough parks in Minneapolis and a deficit in golf courses. I would rather you stick the money into the golf course and make it nicer so it increases usage and revenues. Please do not turn it into a park or walking area and keep it a golf course. If you turn it into a nine hole I will not be playing there and neither will any of my buddies. You might as well get rid of the golf course all together.	Turn the whole thing into a park or leave the Golf Course alone. No one is going to play a nine hole course and it sure as heck won’t pay for itself.
Golf		The course should be kept 18 holes. Spending millions of tax dollars to change the course to nine holes, when the same amounts of water have been pumped for year from the site, during these difficult economic times, makes no sense.	The property is a wonderful golf course. Just played these three times this week. The holes the the plans seeks to eliminate were dry.
Golf		Need more land for golf. Consider more than 9 holes.	It is a pipe dream if you think the entire project will pay for itself -- both construction and operating. Especially in the pandemic era.
Golf		Golfing - Excellent plan to expand the number of new golfers via the 9 whole, practice areas for chipping, putting and driving and winter simulation. I golfed when I was younger and plan to start golfing again and to bring my wife, daughter and friends.	Please see my previous overall comments THANKS
Golf		Would much prefer to keep the current 18 hole golf course. I have been playing that course for many years and love it. It would be a huge loss to the community.
Golf		Concerning the Hiawatha Golf Course. It is essential that the course remain a public 18 hole golf course for the accessibly of our Twin-City residents. Reducing the course to a 9 hole venue will not be as profitable as a full size course.	Hiawatha Golf Course is a very good course but needs a little attention in the area of irrigation and course maintenance. In time the club house will need to be either replaced or remodeled.
Golf		Please DO NOT FLOOD the Hiawatha Golf Course. We must retain the current 18-hole format. An 18-hole course provides more enjoyment for golfers and is more flexible than a 9-hole course. Playing 18 holes on a 9-hole course leads to congestion. An 18-hole course provides more opportunities for beginners to learn this great life-time sport. Golf provides one of the few sports in which senior citizens like me can participate. Reducing the size of the course takes away nearby opportunities to participate. I have been informed that the 18-hole version has a chance to make a profit, while a 9-hole will lose money. Furthermore, changing the design will cost $43,000,000. My goodness, this is not a wise expenditure of taxpayers' money! Once the 9 holes are gone, they are gone forever!
Golf		Where is the 18 hole option? Point #10 said there would be. Was trading land looked at? Create walking all around Lake Hiawatha then trade for land on South East side of the lake aways from the lake. OR Cross the parkway with a bridge and use some land by Nokomis. Make the golf course a destination course where people really want to come and enjoy the sport. Money will be made. It will still be there for High School Teams to use. Property values around the course will continue to go up which means more tax revenue. Yes, expand the club house and food service but don't lose the 18 holes! Your current plan appears like a glorified swamp!	For the amount of money that is planned to be spent on the project, you could buy the houses that keep having basements that flood. Make ponds there and keep the 18 Hole golf course open. That a crazy amount of money to spend on creating a swamp with a walking path!
Golf		The reduction of the golf course will limit the chance of children in my community to play golf.	The reduction of the golf course will limit access to the game of golf for children in my community.
Golf		As a member of the Hiawatha golf course community, I would like to continue to have access to an 18 holes public golf course in South Minneapolis. Hiawatha is close to where my nieces, nephews and myself live; therefore, the reduction of the golf course will limits our access to the game of golf. Hiawatha is my support community and my chance to play the game of golf while building memories in my community. As a minority member of this community, I do not support your attempts to reduce our access to an 18 holes public golf corse. The reduction of the 18 holes golf course will limit my access to the game of golf.	The reduction of the golf course will limit my chance to practice the game of golf.
Golf		I went to a number of meetings where the vast majority of attendees preferred keeping a 18 hole course. This alternative has never seriously been considered in any proposal from MPRB. The idea that pumping had to be reduced was soundly debunked at the meetings including a presentation by the engineers hired to assess the park. I see nothing in the master plan that will make the park more flood resilient.	I like the idea of a revenue producing eating establishment. It has a chance to work and would assist with park maintenance. There used to be sliding and cross-country ski rentals at the park and it was discontinued - why? If it was not feasible we should not try to re-instate it. Recognizing the black golfer history at the park is long overdue and could be implemented a number of ways under any plan. It was also pointed out at meetings that there was already kayak, etc. rentals at Nokomis. Why introduce a competing activity at Hiawatha? I doubt we would see any increase in revenue, Gains at Hiawatha would likely just result in less rental at Nokomis. I personally don't care if there is a fence around the park or not. I can see everything just fine either way. I do think it is safer with the fence. Why are we giving in to the insatiable greed of bicyclists to keep adding trails? The best view of the lake is from the east side and that is where the bike and walking trails are. Is it necessary to disrupt the only golf course in the Minneapolis city limits, south of Hwy 94 just so people can ride on the west side of the lake and see the bushes and trees that block the view of the lake from the west side? Maybe we should just pave over the entire city? We should follow a more democratic process in planning any park changes where we actually listen to the people in the area. The MPRB should have focused more attention and placed higher priority on the neighborhood flooding that affects residents/taxpayers. Cleaning up the trash that is in the waterways should have always been a city or MPRB responsibility and should not have to be part of this master plan. Action should be initiated immediately.
Golf		It should stay as 18 holes. It is a gem in Mpls.	My family uses Hiawatha 18 holes many times per week. We are thankful for the course for our family to use. There is plenty of biking and other outdoor activity in the area but golfing is enjoyed by all generations.
Golf		I have read the reports and the proposed re-design of the Hiawatha Golf Course. Frankly, I don't think the redesign is warranted. There are clearly water issues that need to be addressed, but the redesign of Hiawatha Golf Course to make it a 9-hole course doesn't address the major concern of flooding. I'm not convinced it solves any water problem. What is more obvious is the desire of the Park Board to change how the property is used. We don't need another Park restaurant. We don't need a dog park. We don't need boating on Lake Hiawatha. We don't need more family-friendly outdoor activities at this location. The Hiawatha 18-hole course is profitable and busy. It's a reason that I moved into this neighborhood. The plan to reduce to 9-holes will make it nearly impossible to play due to demand (half as many holes for a course already in demand). It will be inaccessible to new golfers. I strongly disagree with any plan to reduce the course from 18 to 9 holes.	See previous.
Golf		The community and the CAC has been very clear on their preference-----eighteen hole golf course.	I'd be curious to hear your explanation of how the Park Board believes they are going to come up with 43 million dollars fund this "project". My understanding is our city, county, and state are going to be hard pressed to provide basic services during this health and economic crisis.
Golf		Keep the championship course format.
Golf		Don’t flood the course	Don’t flood the course
Golf		Keep as 18 hole course, best ultimate use for property and its service to its community.	Please keep as 18 hole course best use for the community involved.
Golf		Let keep Hiawatha Golf Course as 18 holes. Nobody wants to play 9 holes golf course. Thanks.	I play Hiawatha Golf course from time to time. Let keep it as 18 holes. Thanks.
Golf		keep Hiawatha Golf Course at its current 18-Hole format	9 hole golf courses do not get nearly the amount of traffic as a 18 hole course does.
Golf		I write as a 30 year member of the Hiawatha Men's Club and past board member of that golf organization which dates back to the 1930s. We are the primary organizer of weekend golf compeitions at the course and work closely with the Minnesota Public Golf Association in their team competitions. Hiawatha teams have won many year long tournaments and our members have excelled at all levels including winning the state amateur championship. In other words our association has been one of the most successful among public clubs in the state. Our current membership of more than 100 is the largest of the Minneapolis city courses and has many young members drawn from south Minneapolis. For this association to be as successful as we have been we need an 18 hole golf course, the one thing that the new plan does not allow. It is likely that most members of the Men's Club will end their Hiawatha membership and go to other clubs. I am fully aware of the challenges to maintain an 18 hole course, most marked by the 1987 and 2014 floods with many other mini-floods. I am conscious that the only way to maintain golf at the site is to grow the size of Lake Hiawatha and build a nine hole course. The design of the 9 hole course is solid and with that much water around it will make for a competitive course for high school golf, Park Board leagues, and the First Tee program but not for the Men's Club. It is not a substitute for an 18 hole course but tees should be configured in a way to allow 18 hole play from back to back nines. As a city of Minneapolis taxpayer I see it as a bold plan and applaud that it seeks capital funding from a variety of sources. For the plan to work $500,000 in golf revenue must be realized annually. That may be difficult and I would suggest that Fort Snelling be phased out and drive some of those nine hole to Hiawatha.	The overall plan is a good one and seems environmentally sound. The variety of uses for the park seems to fit the needs of the neighborhood.
Golf		Keep it an 18 hole course!!!!!	keep 18 holes
Golf		Hiawatha should remain an 18 hole golf course. The idea of making the course more resistant to flooding is important, but using the property primarily as a water storage area for the whole MCWD is not my first option. Hiawatha continuing as an 18 hole course is the best way to continue it's relevance as an important public golf course in the Twin Cities and in Southwest Minneapolis. Constantly upgrading and maintaining the golf course is the best way to honor the tradition and the African American golfers in Minneapolis. The driving range is also important.	Cross Country skiing could be encouraged on the existing 18-hole layout. Ice skating and ice fishing could be done on Lakes Hiawatha or Nokomis. Flood resilience could be achieved by lowering the surface elevation of both Lake Nokomis and Lake Hiawatha. Storing water on the golf course property does not help the neighborhood problems caused by high ground water table. Lowering the lake levels will help.
Golf		Give the historic significance as well as the fact that there are not other 18 hole golf courses in Minneapolis city limits, I would like to see a plan where the course remains 18 holes. I also purchased my home here in south Minneapolis because of the fact that Hiawatha is near by and an 18 hole golf course.	n/a
Golf		I would like Hiawatha Golf Course to remain an 18 hole course. There is a huge difference between a 9 hole and an 18 hole course. A 9 hole course will struggle to attract golfers and will eventually become a losing endeavor.	See my previous comment.
Golf		Don't flood the course, $43 million is a hefty cost for tax payers.	It's already a beautiful plot of land that doesn't need $43 million dumped into it.
Golf		With the expectations of significant rainfall in our future I worry about adding water to an already saturated community and the price tag is outrageous.	Too expensive for a propert already serving the neighborhood well and I'm not a golfer. Millions of dollars for an uncertain sustainable future. Nokomis and Hiawatha lakes have tremendous opportunities for usage by our communities already.
Golf		GOLF COURSE While there is less water in this plan than the previous plan, there is still a good amount of a water which makes the golf course less playable, especially for beginners. Of more concern is the fact that the plan says that all golf play spaces will be elevated above the normal water levels of Lake Hiawatha, with "elevating of critical features (tees, greens, etc.) above the 10% annual flood elevation." This will involve adding a massive amount of fill on this property, in some cases elevating the ground by 6-8 feet. This will no longer be a wetland restoration project as stated by Mr. Schroeder; it will be a massive redevelopment of this property. You need more than "some golf carts", but it should also be walkable. To be clear, Hiawatha Golf Course is already certified through the Audubon Cooperative Sanctuary Program for Golf. You can continue the certification and enhance the property based on the principles of the program. The new driving range would be right across the street from the homes. A driving range has a high level of constant activity unlike the current 14th and 15th holes. This would be very undesirable to the homes across the street. The redevelopment they are planning and the driving range location are on the scale of Theodore Wirth. If you look at a map, the nearest house to the Theodore Wirth clubhouse is 9 blocks away. For comparison to the HIawatha location along Longfellow Ave, that would put the new driving range well west of Bloomington Ave, near St. Mary's graveyard. The tee box for the new driving range would literally be about 40 feet from the front doors of the houses across the street. The driving range should be inside the golf course away from the homes. Questions: What is the yardage of this new golf course, and detailed yardage for each hole? In other words, is this a regulation course, an executive course or something in between? How many stations will be on the driving range compared to the current driving range? This affects projected revenue.	This golf course should be left as an 18-hole golf course. And, raising of the golf course property above the floodplain was deemed problematic by you (the MPRB). At the 2nd CAC meeting you published your answer to the following question: "Why aren't we just using fill to protect the parks?" The following was your (the Park Board's) answer: "The Hiawatha golf course is situated in a floodplain that temporarily stores flood waters during high creek flows and large rain events. Placing fill in a floodplain is not allowed without providing compensatory storage in the same area. If more fill were placed in the golf course, it would reduce the storage available to store flood waters and could exacerbate flooding in the watersheds to the north of Lake Hiawatha, as well as along Minnehaha Creek downstream of the lake. Additionally, placing fill in the golf course will add more load to the underlying materials and could increase the rate of settlement." So, now you are proposing to put massive amounts of fill onto the golf course, exactly what you said you could not or should not do!!!! What are we to believe? Every time you give a reason for destroying the 18-hole golf course, it is either proven to be false or, as in this case, you come up with a different answer.
Golf		Please keep the golf course 18 holes! The only way the property will make money is if there are 18 holes, not 9. Seems like it will cost a lot more money (43 million) to flood the course and only keep 9 holes. There is more than enough public park access around lake Nokomis, we don’t need another park right across the street. Not to mention the flooding concerns of the people who own houses near by. Hiawatha is a historic golf course and anything less than it’s current footprint is unacceptable IMHO. Keep the course as is.	Keep Hiawatha as is, we don’t need another park. The course is only self sustainable with 18 holes and the driving range.
Golf		Keep all 18 holes of golf, if not it will be a travesty......	there are enough parks & trails.......KEEP THE GOLF
Golf		love it if you could design 3 par 3s, 4s and 5s for the most variety. Want to make sure the practice facility is robust to support the local High Schools and up-and coming golfer programs	I understand the need to alter the existing layout and think you have addressed multiple constituencies well, though I wonder if you can fund it all. I would like the golf to take precedence over the other concepts because of the history of the course at this location.
Golf		It's hard to know where to begin. I`ll start with the $43 million. This project started out in the mid $20 million range, what happened? My property taxes are over $6,000 now. This is insane, people are out of work, can't pay they`re bills and your still pushing this agenda. You don't have an explanation why we need to reduce pumping, instead we've gotten a paraphrase from Mary Shelley: "Pumping bad". I understand that flow meters are now being installed on the discharge pumps. Your doing this now, to get an accurate rating on what is actually being pumped? Almost everything proposed can be had within walking distance. Some are already on site, cross-country ski trails, ice fishing, sledding. I`m not sure you know this, but there used to be a hockey rink on Lake Hiawatha. It was taken off the lake and moved onto land because the Park Board kept losing equipment trying to maintain it. The ice is not stable because of the storm drain on #2 fairway. Salt runoff is part of the problem, so a skating loop is questionable. Every meeting I have been to and the surveys I have seen, the overwhelming majority wants an 18 hole course. Your're not listening, not even to your own CAC. The closest MPRB golf course to me other than Hiawatha is 8 miles. There is no other group of park users you are subjecting to this type of travel to participate in the their favored activity. Are you telling me that when Hiawatha floods again, and it will, your not going to increase pumping to protect your $45 million investment? As I drive around the neighborhood I notice a lot of Save Hiawatha Golf Course signs, I have yet to see a sign:close 9 holes for a dog park. Please, an 18 hole golf course is what the people of Minneapolis want, not Richfield, not Bloomington but Minneapolis.	18 holes only
Golf		A 9 hole golf course is not sustainable. The area intended to hold the excess water will flood the 9 hole course and the surrounding homes. Financially the 9 hole course will not be sustainable as well. This is a water management issue, not a golf issue. please deal with the storm sewer and the capacity of water to manage.	Please keep the 18 hole golf course.
Golf		I favor keeping the 18-hole Hiawatha Golf Course. There is no other city 18-hole course for South Minneapolis area residents, unlike northern and western parts of the city. The commissioners voted on the current guidelines before fact-finding was complete. An 18-hole course is the most suitable, least expensive recreation and water solution to the current issues. Should the current plan be implemented with untested pumping and earth moving scenarios, neighborhood homes would be endangered by flooding, especially as the western suburbs continue to fail in their responsibilities toward stormwater management. If the park board truly wanted to reduce the city's phosphorous load downstream, it should do so by lawn and other regulations, not make Hiawatha carry the lion's share of the burden. The park board's financing of the new scheme is pie-in-the-sky, unattainable. If it were to commit only a tithe of that amount to improving current facilities and annually maintaining the course as it should be, it would receive a much higher -- and profitable payback in the long run.	I like the idea of getting rid of the fence and using the non-golf portions of the property for walkers and birders. Provide a naturalist to do interpretation and lead walks for the public. (See Minnesota Master Naturalists' website.) The park board should recommit to grooming trails and otherwise maintaining a winter sports presence there, as Wirth Winter Recreation Area can be a long hike. When I ran the kids' ski league program at Hiawatha several decades ago, the park board's declining support of winter sports in the neighborhood had already begun. It'd be nice to have well-backed winter sports at Hiawatha again. The golf property could become profitable again if the park board would agree to maintain the property -- all of it, not just golf -- as it should An example: Planners say the golf property is not profitable. Why? The course was closed for two weeks several years ago during high-demand spring golf season because a park-board carpenter couldn't be scheduled to fix a bridge. True story from the management. This is one of many examples of how poorly run the golf program in the city has been. The course managers' hands are tied by the golf directors -- at least they have been in the past -- who won't give them enough budget for seasonal labor to keep bunkers, tee boxes and other areas in shape.
Golf		I endorse the response from SaveHiawatha18 to the MPRB proposal and would like the 18 hole golf course be preserved.	I endorse the response from SaveHiawatha18 to the MPRB proposal and would like the 18 hole golf course be preserved.
Golf		I endorse the response from SaveHiawatha18 to the MPRB proposal and would like the 18 hole golf course be preserved.
Golf		Keep 18 holes	With covid 19, the community needs golf now more than ever, don’t have it torn up
Golf		I don't agree with using my tax dollars to turn this into a worse golf course.
Golf		We don't need more walking or 'free nature space' in our area. Golf has been there and needs to still be 18 holes. Especially important to the black community of golfers. You are taking this history and current need away from the Black community. You can disguise it as this or that but the fact is that the park board is going to spend way more money to create this new space then it would to just fix the issue. Spend millions on concert spaces on the Northside, spend millions on this and that but when it comes to the black community and something important to them you do NOT spend the millions. Mpls Parks is short sided only care about more spaces for those that are predominately white.	Terrible plan, way too expensive. Keep as golf, spend the money on that.
Golf		I've golfed at Hiawatha for over 25 years. Please keep the course at 18 holes and do not flood the course. My understanding is that the course will remain profitable as an 18 hole layout and will lose money as a 9 hole course. There is a high demand for the ability to play golf within the metro and there are not many public courses that don't require a significant drive. Hiawatha is a great local, public course with the large trees and experience only found at a private club that many residents can't afford.	Keep 18 holes at Hiawatha. Even if the majority (not all) of the holes are par 3s.
Golf		Personally, I think a disproportionate amount of space is being used for golf. Why not make it a 3- or 4-hole learning center? As to the rest, I support natural sloping meadows with walking paths, like at Eloise Butler Wildflower Garden.	I appreciate the opportunity to make this space available to more of the community. I understand golf is a part of that, but I think more walking paths and chances to be out in nature in all seasons would appeal to more people.
Golf		Keep the 18 hole course. I’m very concerned about raising the water levels in the area. Also that the CAC was dissolved without the members’ knowledge. Very suspicious that maybe they didn’t agree with the powers that be.	Save the 18 hole golf course. It’s the only golf course on the south side of Minneapolis.
Golf		No wetlands or preserve-type areas should be damaged to create a golf course.	Find a new spit, or don’t create it. We have enough gold courses.
Golf		Keep it 18 holes Bring back the leagues Promote them Promote golf lessons and 1st Tee programs This is a very nice intercity course and could be so much better and bring in $$$ There use to be 90+ women in our league playing and paying every week I have a hard time with all the money put into Meadow Brook and the park board has left out Hiawatha!! Someone had an agenda and it’s not the pumping issue Clean out the creek so water flows better Make Hiawatha are premier city golf course and you will make $$$
Golf		Please keep this an 18 hole golf course! Our community needs this course to keep golf accessible to all people, especially those who cannot afford a country club. This is the most diverse course in the state of MN. I love showing my kids how to play golf in a place with young, old, women, men, black, white. 9 holes would severely diminish the game and opportunities for golfers in south Minneapolis. Please keep pumping to protect the homes in our community who lives near the course. Please listen to what the PEOPLE want!	We have plenty of great space in this area. Keep the golf course. I’m just learning the game and also teaching my kids. I want an affordable 18 hole course to do this!
Golf		Please do not change the course to a 9-hole configuration. Why spend all of that money configuring a course into something that golfers don't want? The course must continue to make money, which I don't think will happen if it gets cut to only 9-holes. I always prefer an 18-hole course, and in fact I almost never go to 9-hole courses. My reasoning is that if I choose to play 9 on an 18-hole course, that's fine. But if I want to play 18, I won't have that option on a 9-hole course. I would posit that many golfers share my opinion, and if you change the course you will lose the business.
Golf		Nine holes will not pay for itself and the ideas shown for driving range, etc WILL NOT attract players. It will not be of interest to non-golfers. Please keep as 18 holes. The flood of a century should not be used as any measuring tool.	People forget that Minnehaha parkway and Cedar Ave were flooded, it all drains into Lake Hiawatha. Provide for better drainage FROM the lake and you will solve many water problems.
Golf		I am not sure why Minnespolis has to be the only city with issue of the amount of water. Why aren't other communities looking at ways to 'fix' the situation. Take the title 'lake' of Hiawatha, that isn't the history of that location. Turn that into a natural habitat and march, take away the beach. Let more water onto the golf course BUT keep it 18. I say make the club house a full time restaurant and patio. If the city is going to take away this course i will jump into local politics. I will bang the drum for the under used tennis courts, basketball courts and ball fields. It is a shame what this group is trying to do to the Hiawatha Golf Course.	I put it all on the previous field.
Golf		The planned 9-hole course, with driving range, learning center, and new clubhouse facilities is a tremendous investment in golf at Hiawatha and an excellent compromise between the golfing community, non-golfing community members, and the hydrological/ecological concerns for the site. The master plan will produce a new Hiawatha Golf Course that is more beautiful, distinctive, and sustainable.
Golf		In reviewing all of the proposals regarding reworking the property of Hiawatha Golf Course, there is apparently no COMMON SENSE being used. All proposals are costly with no reasonable funding and ridiculously low revenue estimates. The golf course needs 18 holes for continued used by the high school golf teams. Even though regular matches are only 9 holes due to after school playing times, all high school tournament events are 18 holes. This course is a mainstay to the high school program.	The proposed remodeling of the property does nothing to address drainage from the western suburbs all the way to the Mississippi River. This needs to be solved or mediated before any consideration of changes.
Golf		1. Don't flood the course 2. keep it at 18 holes
Golf		Remove all golf activities from the park	Such a poor use of all the space and the use of chemicals to try to maintain an un natural environment, especially around so much water.
Golf		It’s unfortunate that pd would ruin that golf course instead of fostering something that special.
Golf		Hiawatha is one of the oldest golf courses in Minnesota and I believe it needs to stay open.	Hiawatha golf course needs to stay open for all of the golfers in south Minneapolis
Golf		Don’t flood the course Keep it 18 holes There will be money made if it’s 18 holes 9 holes will lose money	I just moved back to Minneapolis and love this course. It’s the main reason I moved so close to the area. The lakes and walking and 18 holes of golf. My son and I enjoy walking and playing at Hiawatha.
Golf		Keep historical 18 and improve other areas. Clubhouse for revenue as an example.	Improve the 18 hole course to grow revenue.
Golf		The layout of the 9 holes should be reworked. There seems a natural bottleneck between holes 2 and 3 and a long return for hole 5. Perhaps reversing the placement of the holes with 5 as number 1 and 1 as number 9 would leave that longer trek deeper in the play than having it after the 2 hole. The club house should stay where it is and the new facilities built to the north of the parking lot possibly saving some construction costs and the need for a new pro shop.	This is an ambitious project that seems to require a lot of money to implement even if taken in discreet phases. The most concerning is the maintenance of open water spreading beyond the current berm and keeping it relatively clear for the activities described. The other aspect that seems difficult to maintain is the winter sports. Often there is not enough snow over the winter to maintain cross country skiing ant the partnership described has had difficulty operating at Wirth Park in a more desirable setting. As laid out the plan has something for everyone and if it can be maintained as presented would be an asset to the system. Estimates of revenues and shared funds seem overly optimistic.
Golf		The current plan of making just a 9-hole course, and flooding much of the remaining area of the now 18-hole course is NOT a good idea. Keeping an 18-hole course will make money year-over-year, as it generally has been. A 9-hole course will cost a LOT of money coming in from other sources that golf course green-fees.	Keep the current 18-hole golf course and practice facility, and either increase pumping or better yet, dredge Lake Hiawatha to closer to its original depth.
Golf		If you are consiedering to reduce the golf course from 18 holes to just 9 holes I would recommend the following: Design the 9 holes with multiple tee boxes so the course will suite all levels of ability. Don't just make it a ho hum short easy nine hole golf course that caters to the recreational player that might play 1-2 times a month, instead make in challenging where golfers who play (and pay) 15-30 times per month will enjoy the layout. All greens should be large and slop from back to front to aqccept shots. With the design of the course you should have hazard areas that would come into play only for the players who choose to play the back tees. I would limit the number of bunkers on the course but that dosent mean emliminate them altogether. Place the bunkers in strategic locations around the green but have less of them. All greens and tee boxes should be slightly elevated to be out of harms way of encroaching water.
Golf		Save Hiawatha as an 18 hole golf course.	It can provide a valuable outlet for community members.
Golf		not closing the 18 hole golf cources	One of Minneapolis treasured landmarks that generates revenue for the city that would otherwise be missed. Let alone one of Minneapolis last hold out that has a large impact on our environmental surroundings.
Golf		Don’t change the Hiawatha golf course.	Always enjoy the course. It’s a beautiful place to play golf.
Golf		Don't Flood the Golf Course Keep it 18 holes championship format Hiawatha Golf Course will make money at 18 holes At 9 holes, it will lose money and revenue because it will lose customers
Golf		Peace hiawatha 18 holes	Peace hiawatha alone
Golf		The Park Board wants to eliminate golf all over the city. You are denying people of all ages a sport that can be played at almost any age. I do not understand why. The whole pumping thing is a red herring, I do not understand why so many lies are being told by the Park Board. You have lost all credibility. Now you are canceling the CAC because they would not go along with your plan.	I hope your budget is cut and this boondoggle is dropped. You are wasting tax dollars and ruining homes in South Minneapolis.
Golf		18 holes preferred.	Master plan on improved 18 hole golf course, club house, restaurant, entertainment, lake and the nature with environmental safety, parks and recreation looks amazing.
Golf		Winter Park 9 in Florida is a recently renovated course that is an accessible, sustainable community asset and would serve as a great model for the re-designed 9 hole course on this property. I think this project has tremendous potential.	The addition of multi-use, community oriented space is a huge upgrade to the property. I’m confident the neighborhood will embrace it.
Golf		Please keep it 18-holes	Seems to add a lot of wetlands which can make it seem swampy with a lot of bugs and mosquitos
Golf		You did not tell us much about the golf course other than it was par 36 and a regulation course. You did not tell us much about what it might be like. 9 hole golf courses struggle to be economically viable. It is a very different customer than an 18 hole golf course. I hope that is considered in your revenue projection.	It seems to me like some features are duplicated that exist in the Nokomis area and actually in the Minnehaha park as well. It seems like this was planned as if those did not exist adjacent to this site. This should have been a part of the regional area not as if it was the only park that is close.
Golf		Keep the golf course as an 18-hole
Golf		In general, I do not believe that maintaining golf courses is an effective use of land, especially on publicly-owned lands in the middle of the city. Only 10% of Americans say they golfed even one time in the last year (https://www.statista.com/statistics/227420/number-of-golfers-usa/). I am glad at there is a reduction in overall space dedicated to golf, though I wish it would be eliminated completely.
Golf		Keep it 18 holes and do not flood it. It will make money as a 18 hole course with range and not as a 9 hole course.	Keep it a 18 hole championship course with range and practice facility and don't flood it.
Golf		Keep the golf course 18 holes	Plant more trees
Golf		Keep course at its current 18-hole championship format.
Golf		I would like to see this course stay as a 18 hole golf course. Golf courses that aren't a full 18 will lose a lot of appeal with golfers in the area.
Golf		I would like to see this course stay as a 18 hole golf course
Golf		Please keep the course 18 holes and do not flood it.	Love the golf course
Golf		If the golf course at Hiawatha changes to a 9 hole course I will not come to Hiawatha. There are too many other choices in the Minneapolis area. Don't change it to a 9 hole course. If the city wants to do this you would be better off just closing the whole course and doing something else positive with the land.	Leave the course a 18 hole close or close it all together. A nine hole course would not do well.
Golf		Please keep the 18 hole golf course. I have been golfing there for years, and paying taxes to Minneapolis for years. It is the only public course in Minneapolis. Why take it away? It is also one of the best forms of recreation for seniors. And you are taking away accessibility to a valuable sport and skillset for the youth of Minneapolis. It is a beautiful course. Please maintain it and solve the water problems; don't destroy it. Taking away golf does not solve the water problems. Please keep the Hiawatha golf course for us. Thank you.	It's a beautiful course and a valuable asset to the city of Minneapolis, but it has been neglected by the park board. Please give it the attention and respect it deserves, and keep it as a golf course. Why hasn't the park board been replacing the trees that have died? People who golf are respectful to the property and the neighborhood. It is a quiet, beautiful and peaceful property in the heart of the city. Please keep it and maintain it. Thank you.
Golf			Don't make Hiawatha a 9 hole golf course, keep it an 18 hole course. It will make money as an 18 hole course, will not make money as a 9 hole course.
Golf		Keep 18 holes! Don’t spend so much money on re doing this space. It’s great the way it is.	Find a way to use unused spaces. Sledding skating skiing etc. but keep golf course as is!
Golf			Keep the golf club 18 holes!!
Golf		Save Hiawatha golf game and history	Save it
Golf		The top priority needs to be keeping the 18-hole golf course. No sacrificing 18 holes to turn it into a multi-use property. No way.	Too expensive, no need for it. Keep the golf course as is.
Golf		Keep the 18 hole course open! The course is a treasure to Minneapolis, makes money to help other projects in the parks (your numbers you put out are NOT truthful) AND if you put the FEMA money into the course where you ethically should, it could bring in even more (new club house with a room large enough to host events such as a wedding)	Keep the course open as an 18 hole course. PS..I don’t personally golf but I am TIRED that closing the course is STILL being talked about with false information that suits your agenda. If the park board can live with themselves for the information they’ve put out in their efforts to close the course, God bless you.
Golf		The major problem with the plan is that the golf course needs to be 18 holes...How did you miss such a fundamental concept?	Fishing in Lake Hiawatha is silly when there is an actual lake across the street. Hiawatha is too shallow and is filled with debris from the storm sewers.
Golf		18 hole course	MPR has seemingly dedicated the last 5 years of their existence to shutting down this valuable community asset, under various ruses, chief among them, that the pumping volume exceeds the amount allowed in the MN DNR permit regarding the pumping of ground water into adjacent lake Hiawatha. While this may be technically accurate, the DNR has no qualms surrounding the volumes, and a mere application for pumping would have been sufficient. MPR has wasted untold $$ to in efforts to fulfill their "vision" to erase golf at a golf course. The plans do nothing more than rearranging the pumps to modify the swamp. Motivations here are highly suspect. Public MPR hearings, at the onset, summarily dismissed any questions regarding the preservation of golf, having already made the decision to shutter the course. MPR should concentrate their efforts in maintenance of the entire park system (e.g. can a playable, crack free tennis court be found?!), and less effort on vision quests, mission statements, virtue signalling and the like. Lake Hiawatha has sadly been long regarded (at least 40 years) and become "the toilet of South Minneapolis", and this fact has absolutely nothing to do with the pumping of golf course ground water into it. The Barr engineering report supports this. This entire subject has been infuriating, with MPR and their unaccountably being the main source. There's plenty more to say, but I've got stuff to do. I can only imagine the frustration of the principal champions of this cause, SaveHiawatha18.com, to whose efforts I am very appreciative. PS I'm not even a golfer
Golf		Please take into consideration how many people actually golf compared to what this would do for our environment as well as servicing more people. (cleaner air, flooding amelioration, pollinators and wildlife, budget considerations of how money could be employed to upgrade a community center with latest technology). I golf but not frequently and would certaining be willing to give up that small pleasure for the greater good. Thank you for considering this.	Please take into consideration how many people actually golf compared to what this would do for our environment as well as servicing more people. (cleaner air, flooding amelioration, pollinators and wildlife, budget considerations of how money could be employed to upgrade a community center with latest technology). I golf but not frequently and would certaining be willing to give up that small pleasure for the greater good. Thank you for considering this.
Golf		Keep Hiawatha golf course open! We live in the area.
Golf		closing of 18hole golf coarse do not close hiawatha golf coarse	Hiawatha golf is needed for people of mpls It is a great asset to mpls and the people of the whole metro area who lay there. As we move into a less mobile society (less Cars) local easy to get to places will be more in demand then ever,I rode my bike to the coarse as a kid.
Golf		Need to keep 18 holes, this golf course is very good for the community
Golf
Golf		There is no need to change the use of the Hiawatha golf course property. It’s financially solvent, when the money it brings in, is managed properly. It is socially viable. The MPB does not have the 48 mil to make a conversion and it is not needed. We need recreation in the city that pays for itself not a money drain as proposed by self serving outliers.	It’s historic and used with respect
Golf		Please keep 18 holes
Golf		Keep an 18 hole course. A full course provides a great deal of enjoyment for so many in the city and enhances the diversified options/opportunities the Mpls park system provides to the many different interests residents have.	Alternative uses in the winter (skiing etc) are great. There are so many other park areas near by (Nokomis, Hiawatha...) that it is unnecessary to change the main function of the property as a full 18 hole golf course.
Golf		Golf – a huge chunk of park land devoted to a small group of privileged people. I’m sorry to see it included in the plan at all.
Golf		Upset over decision overall about golf and MPRB, which does not respect the sport. Is there one member of the MPRB that actually has ever played golf?????? The answer obviously is no. I hope that there is an expert designer that is involved in the future plan for the course. There are plenty of dog parks, walking paths, within one block of this space as everyone knows. Keep distance between a golf course and public paths, dogs, etc. MPRB does not maintain the courses adequately, has not in over 20 years, and should turn over this property and its other courses to an entity that can do so (public courses such as Keller are kept up quite nicely). People do not want to pay to play at junkyard courses and clubhouses, which Mpls courses mostly are. Citizens are concerned that pumping maintains so that the course and houses surrounding do not get flooded - the presentation suggests otherwise. No one wants to recreate in an area like the overgrown mosquito/rat haven area that has become the lagoon area of Nokomis.	I have a hard time with the amount of taxpayer dollars being used for this purpose. I will be actively supporting anyone that runs against any current MPRB member. I attended meetings at first, but knew the effort was fruitless, as the agenda was set from the start on actively ruining the golf course. There will be a new pumping station...interesting....
Golf		I feel strongly that a 9-hole golf course will not succeed. This course has been an 18-hole course since the 1930s, and should remain. The draft design seems unworkable and overly expensive. The past 80 years have shown us the golf course can be successful and efforts should be put into maintaining that.	The debate over this property seems to be over golf or other recreation. It is a silly debate. The golf course has been successful for many decades and should remain. There is ample land on the property for other recreation, and that recreation can succeed in addition to the golf. Instead of spending millions to ruin the golf course, that money could be spent to enhance the golf course and enhance recreation elsewhere on the property. There is plenty of room for all of it.
Golf		Super excited for the new golf plan! Will be such a great attraction. I think it would be cool to have the tee boxes varied if possible so the course can potentially “play” differently for folks that play it regularly. I would also like to see the chain link fencing removed if that is possible to do while maintaining safety. Very excited for the whole plan though. Thanks!	Very excited for the whole plan- I think the transformation of the property will be a great attraction for the neighborhood and city at large. I think being able to navigate around the lake will be super cool. I like the new plan for the golf course and facilities. I’d like to see the chain link fencing removed if possible to do so while maintaining safety. Looks great though! Can’t wait to see the changes. I think the plan embraces the many varied interests around use of the property while answering the pumping question. Certainly not everyone will be happy but in the end I think the enhancements proposed will be well used and liked into the future. Thank you
Golf		LOVE THE IDEA OF HAVING HIAWATHA STAY OPEN FOR GOLF AND MAKING IT 9 HOLES PLUS RANGE AND PRACTICE AREAS - THANK YOU!
Golf		You are not addressing most of the CAC questions Also, where is the accounting of the FEMA money that was supposed to go to Hiawatha and Meadowbrook?	The 9 hole golf course plan will be fvery expensive, you have severely underestimated the cost. Further looks like the pracitice area that was one ofthe CAC con erns will be greatly cut back from current area. As for honoring the tradition of golf, a 2 bit 9 hole course is stupid. Even your misguided studies prove that 9 hole courses are failures. Lets call this what it is, a personal pet project of the commissioners and particularly the commissioner in District 5
Golf		Converting Hiawatha to a 9-hole course is the kiss of death for any municipal golf course. Serious golfers, those that power the revenue to maintain the course, will avoid Hiawatha and go elsewhere. The design needs to include 18 holes. If we want to open access to pedestrians to walk around Lake Hiawatha, there are better, cheaper approaches. For example, create a screened safety fence (with curved open roof screening) around the lake that blends in with the area and protects pedestrians while allowing for golf in its existing 18-hole configuration. A protected pathway along the levy of Hiawatha could done easily and will be much cheaper than $43 million. This gives access to non-golfers while maintaining the revenue of the course, all at a lower cost. In addition, the current design does a disservice to the history of the course, especially the history of black golfers in Minnesota. Putting up an exhibit is the epitome of tokenism by the Park Board. The right way to honor this incredible history and legacy is to keep 18 holes at Hiawatha golf course, ensure golf is affordable and bring in new generations of diverse golfers from every heritage that represents Minneapolis - Somalis, Indian-Americans, Native Americans, Hispanics and others. Give this new generation of immigrants the same opportunities for a real 18-hole experience that in the past was dominated by white golfers. Creating a 9-hole course kills Hiawatha's important legacy and robs future generations of diverse communities the chance to engage in a fun, global sport and a price point that's reasonable and with easy access - it's in their city!	The entire redesign should be paused or halted. The price tag - $43 million - is outrageous in a time of Covid-19 when so much of society is being affected. This is an egregious misuse of taxpayer dollars, and moving forward would be offensive to taxpayers, many of whom are now unemployed. Those dollars could be used to provide services to our population as well as improve and maintain our current parks across the system, not just in the wealthier south Minneapolis area (simply look at the embarrassing weed-filled tennis courts littering our city). What is being proposed is essentially the creation of a $43 million swamp. Since there already exist plenty of places to kayak and walk throughout our city, the proposed amenities do nothing to enhance the well-being of our community or citizens. Certainly they are not worth the price tag. Given that 100 million gallons of water will still need to be pumped annually after the redesign is complete, it makes better sense to leave the course as-is (improve as suggested e.g. safe lake walking path), redirect our tax dollars to park-wide improvements, and simply have the DNR provide a flexible water pumping permit. That permit should allow the course to pump as much as is needed on any given summer. (There have been years not long ago when Minnehaha Creek was bone-dry going through the course, with no pumping needed). Indeed, the Park Board will have to pump over the 100 million gallon threshold in rainier years anyway, breaking the permit and undermining the entire reasons put forth for the redesign. Plus, the flooding dangers to homes in the area will not go away. Pumping will always be needed. Please halt this process and reconsider the entire approach to Hiawatha Golf Course.
Golf		I understand that we are lucky to have any golf at all. It still doesn't make sense with the added storm water that was done back in early 2000's was'nt more of a contributing factor to why we are losing the course. Not to mention the fact that the man-made lake has filled with silt, has't been dredged for some time (this has been done in the past & doesn't make sense to chage what was allowed in the past for a man-made lake to not happen again) and being dredged again would assist in solving the water issue based on the numbers that are being claimed by the water analysis. With all of that said, and knowing the MPRB Council will not budge, we are probably lucky to have golf on this site at all. As far as the golf course design/layout goes, is trhere a way to make the routing a little more simple than how it is now? It would make more sense to reverse the directions of what is currently labled holes 3 & 4. Hole 3would play from east to west and 4 from west to east. Then, change the 4th hole number from 4 to 2. Add a golf only walking/cart bridge to go from the 1st green to the newly named 2nd hole. This allows a better flow to the property. There are no bunker desinged into the drawuing. Is the desing opf the course going to be different than what appears in this plan? I can ension great mounding and bunkering along with 4 or 5 sets of teeing areas. This would allow to have a challenging or easy to play golf course depending on which tee is played.
Golf		I know the idea for the golf course is to reduce the holes down to 9. I think a way for you to still get the golfers who would like to play 18 holes and not have the experience of playing the same 9 holes again would be to add 2 sets of Tees. Each hole could be played dramatically different just by add another set of tee options. That way you could play one round at one set up designed tees, and another round with the other set and have a fun and challenging round of golf! I know this is pretty late in the design phase, but just a thought. Thanks	Overall- looks like a fun use of the land that needed an overhaul due to location and drainage issues.
Golf		It seems like a small group of golfers have taken over this discussion about creating a public park. For three reasons, Minneapolis should create a public park that serves the commnunity rather than an exclusive golf-based park that only serves a limited number of citizens. 1. There is no current need for this course in Minneapolis. -Participation in Golf generally is rapidly declining. -Young people do not play golf currently. -Golf's projected decline is well-known. -Minneapolis has 5 other public-park golf courses: Columbia, Snelling, Gross, Meadowbrook, Theo Wirth) 2. Golf's price and start-up costs make it prohibitive and exclusionary. -Charging residents to use the 9-hole course makes the course exclusive by nature -Retaining the golf course at Hiawatha will retain the park's "semi-private nature" -- not all Minneapolis residents can afford to use this park. -Currently, the park is fenced, and in places, has barbed wire to keep residents out. -Clearly, it is not a fully public park open to all residents. This aspect will be retained if costly golf is kept. 3. Minneapolis (and its school district) is trying to retain a diverse young population of residents. -The city ought to create a park that continues to build on the crown-jewel corridor of Minnehaha Falls, Lake Nokomis and Lake Hiawatha. Connecting Nokomis and Hiawatha in an accessible fashion that promotes multi-use of park space and emphasizes pedestrian and bicycle safety should be the goal. -Currently there is only one corsswalk between Cedar Avenue and 28th Ave on Minnehaha Parkway--Hiawatha is essentially divorced from Nokomis. It will continue to be divorced if a golf course splits the two parks (along with the parkway). 4. Let's bring back the idea of closing the parkway, at least between Lake Hiawatha and Lake Nokomis. Public ParksAs Minneapolis (and its school district) seek to retain a diverse population of young people,	Making this a 9 hole course with additional walking spaces and park zones seems like it is "one foot in and one foot out." It's time to scrap the golf course idea altogether, and let the CAC vent their anger for a couple weeks. Then we can proceed as a community to making this a true 21st century park that invites a people of all backgrounds and classes to be there. 9 holes too many.
Golf		I'd really like for you to integrate as many of the other features of the plan that you can - including the Black history and Native American history, as well as the winter rec and gathering features - but keep it 18 holes! I believe it is important to keep an 18 hole destination in the City, especially one on the South side. 9 holes is so meh! Few people get excited to "go play 9!". I believe you'd be taking away a South Minneapolis treasure. Fix it up, make it nicer, incorporate the other aspects, but don't take away the 18 hole feature. My wife and I are born and raised in Minneapolis, and graduates of the MPLS public schools. My three kids are as well -- graduates of three different MPS high schools. Hiawatha is a treasure, largely because it offers an 18 hole opportunity IN THE CITY! I've been golfing Hiawatha forever. I know I'll be looking for other courses to play 18, because I just don't like playing 9. Thanks for the opportunity to comment.	Great property. Upgrade it, recognize and celebrate the Black history related to the course and the Native American History related to the area. But keep it 18 holes!
Golf		Glad you kept golf and the driving range	Good job
Golf		Adding disc golf alongside golf, like Wirth Par 3 and Fort Snelling, would directly enhance the following Guiding Principles: •CREATE EQUITABLE EXPERIENCES and SPACES that promotes community with multi-generational, family-friendly, fun opportunities that are interactive and respectful for all park users. •REDUCE BARRIERS AND ENCOURAGE ACCESS to a broader set of park users•DIVERSIFY RECREATION and CREATE UNIQUE EXPERIENCES on the site to meet the goals of the MPRB park system, including year-round activities•CREATE COHESIVE AND COMPLEMENTARY SOLUTIONS for site issues and design ideas.•REDUCE BARRIERS AND ENCOURAGE ACCESS to a broader set of park users
Golf		I love it! Can't wait to see the final design of the course. I look forward to playing and then being able to eat and hang out at the new restaurant afterward.	I'm so happy that we are investing in the community. There is a lot to like about everything. I look forward to a place to eat and hang out in the area that isn't overlooking a parking or street like the nearby restaurants.
Golf		More golf not less golf	Golf
Golf		I may have missed it but it was unclear to me if the original clubhouse would still be standing. It sounded like it may be a new building altogether. One of my favorite things about south Minneapolis is the 1920-30s buildings. They all have character that is so classic to the neighborhood. The current clubhouse has the look like many of the 1920-1930s craftsman houses. Is it possible to keep the current building and just add on, while trying to maintain this classic historical appearance? or keeping it for one purpose while building a separate building for other purposes, perhaps connected by a hallway, like the Swedish institute has? If its feasible I think that would be great to keep the original building. Thanks for all your hard work, I'm excited to see this plan come into fruition.	I love the plan, and all the increased outdoor recreational opportunities! I love that it will be a learning place for golf and yet have trails and winter recreation. My favorite aspects are canoe and kayak rentals to go through the wetlands, and the tower to get views of nature and downtown combined. Urban and nature combination is such a big part of Minneapolis living. Its wonderful that it will find ways to honor the history of the area in all aspects. Great job to all involved!
Golf
Golf		1) fails to preserve an 18-hole course. 2) badly designed 9-hole course -- too far between hole 4, hole 5.	Worse than leaving it alone!
Golf		Seems like limiting the use of golf carts is being made as a political decision and reflects that the persons making the decisions knows nothing about golf at Hiawatha. By eliminating carts you are eliminating the demographics that utilize the course. Get Park Board politics out of decisions and make decisions based on common sense!!!	Get politics out of the decision making, the Park Board is made up of wing nuts.
Golf		I am impressed that the golf course is a full par 36 and “challenging for experienced golfers”. Generally this means a course with about 3,200 total yards. It is important that there is no compromising or reduction from this stated golf experience.	As a golfer who will very much miss having a complete 18 hole course, I am never the less impressed with the overall design, particularly using bridges to separate the golf/winter skiing from other general public uses. The plan uses both plantings and fencing for this separation. The one big concern I have is that the general public may not honor the separate golf/winter skiing area which could significantly degrade the golf/winter skiing experience. I would prefer to use plantings along with some strategic fencing as a barrier initially. But if the general public does not honor the separation, the plan should allow for the installation of fencing around 100% of the golf/winter skiing area at a later date.
Golf		An 18 hole golf course has more capacity for number of golfers during peak times and offers both an 18 and 9 hole experience. I live in the neighborhood and find it hard to believe the Park Board can afford to maintain a new expanded facility, when they have cut the maintenance budgets to all 5 courses and use weed cutters to cut down weeds growing in the hard surface of the tennis court on 34th Avenue and the Parkway. Hiawatha's current golf experience is lacking, sand bunkers have turned to dirt, tee boxes lack ball washers, ball washers lack water, just a few small examples of why the number of rounds may be down in recent years....poor management, and what assurance do the Minneapolis tax payers have that this will change. The Park Board already has 9 hole course 10 minutes drive south of Hiawatha GC, why another one? Will the Park Board share if Fort Snelling GC is financially sustainable?
Golf		An 18 hole golf course has more capacity for number of golfers during peak times and offers both an 18 and 9 hole experience. I live in the neighborhood and find it hard to believe the Park Board can afford to maintain a new expanded facility, when they have cut the maintenance budgets to all 5 courses and use weed cutters to cut down weeds growing in the hard surface of the tennis court on 34th Avenue and the Parkway. Hiawatha's current golf experience is lacking, sand bunkers have turned to dirt, tee boxes lack ball washers, ball washers lack water, just a few small examples of why the number of rounds may be down in recent years....poor management, and what assurance do the Minneapolis tax payers have that this will change. The Park Board already has 9 hole course 10 minutes drive south of Hiawatha GC, why another one? Will the Park Board share if Fort Snelling GC is financially sustainable?	The canoeing idea seems under developed to me, mainly because there isn't enough water to provide a worthwhile canoe ride, more floating than paddling. I don't think the small beach and available water is Regional Park level of experience. I see a few canoes and kayaks on Nokomis but hardly ever on Hiawatha.
Golf		I would strongly like to see Hiawatha continue as an 18 hole golf course. It has a great history, it is a very fun course to play and was shown by the professional valuation and analysis done not too many years ago is still very viable!!	It is a beautiful place. During the golf heyday in the early 2000's the money it was bringing in was not used to properly maintain the course, and even with that it remains a viable golf property.
Golf		Thank you for keeping in touch with us interested parties AND Thank You for taking the time to address the needs of the community and the history of the facility and the role it has played. It interested this 12 year old kid in golf that has lasted a lifetime...I started golfing at Hiawatha when it cost $1 on certain days if you arrived before 6AM...and helped golfers carrying bags during the BRONZE OPEN. The thought to go from 18 holes to 9 holes is one I do not like, but I realize that with all things considered it is the only way to move forward, while retaining golf. The plan looks like a great multi-use facility that all can enjoy well into the future. For the record, I am white and I do think that honoring in special way the role of minority golfers at Hiawatha is something I will enjoy and should definitely be done. A suggestion would be, to in someway highlight how different peoples golfed together in the 50's and 60's and had fun together. Thank You!	I like everything I see. How about adding a place where sledding could take place?
Golf		Hiawatha redesign is unusually embarrassing situation. As an avid golfer, I can attest that few people will want to play only 9 holes or the same nine two times. There isn't any real value in making a great practice facility better. It's a shame the city administration is trying to save face and appease groups who provide false information to achieve its goals. In the process, they and gave up millions of dollars in recreational revenue over the past 3 years, lied to it's citizens, and now continues to throw more taxpayer dollars at an inefficient planning process. Many intelligent people believe simply removing the dam on 27th and dredging 80years of silt out lake Minnehaha would accomplish the same goal. It's pretty obvious that this will go down in history as one of the most poorly thought out and executed watershed projects in Minnesota history. The Lac Qui Parle project is still number one in my book. I will continue to encourage my friends and family to elect a new Park Board that has an appreciation for the cultural history of Hiawatha Golf Course. Sometimes it's just best just to admit that you were wrong. Putting in a 9 hole course will serve as a long time reminder that we need to be more in tune with who we elect.	I think I already provided my thoughts.
Golf		Having a high quality and approachable 9 hole golf course is a definite improvement over the current 18 hole design. From a golf standpoint, the current 18 hole setup is pretty weak, and having a 9 hole course with more variety that is also approachable to both beginners as well as experienced players that may not have 4-5 hours to dedicate to a round of golf.	Having a multi use, year-round park will be much better. As someone who golfs 2-3 times per month, I know that there are better uses for the space than being completely dedicated year round. I could definitely see myself making use to the new walking/running trails, CC-skiing in the winter, as well as options for canoeing/paddleboarding through the lake in the summer.
Golf		Sorry, my comment may see very minute and maybe even petty, but for a predominantly walking course, it seems to be a long walk from the green of hole #4 and the tee for hole #5. Anyway that can be shortened? Also, approximately how many total yards do you expect the golf course to be?	As a whole, I appreciate all of the research, engineering, creativity, and thoughtfulness put into the project up to this point in each of the focus areas. (groundwater and stormwater management, recreation, natural ecology, community experiences, etc.) Thank you.
Golf		I have followed the restructuring of Hiawatha Golf Course from the beginning in 2014, since the flood. No one seemed to pay any attention to Hiawatha Golf Course before that time. After the flood Meadow Brook was rebuilt but Hiawatha was not. Hiawatha Golf Course is the only course at this end of the city. My first point is Meadow Brook was rebuilt and Hiawatha was not. In all the discussions that point was never brought up. Why was only Meadow Brook reconstructed? Second. Lake Nokomis has been kept at an artificially higher level for a number of years contributing to all the increase in surface water in and around Lake Nokomis, Lake Hiawatha and the gold course. That has never been mentioned. I think it is hidden from the publics'eye. Third. Every piece of land in Minneapolis does not have to be a multi use site. We have some of the best hiking, biking trails in the country. We don't need to make Hiawatha Golf Course into another bike trail, multi use area. We have parks and walking trails in the area, Lake Nokomis, Minnehaha Fall, West River Road, East River Road, Green Way, Minnehaha Parkway. and more. Fourth. Water pollution in the area comes mainly from the runoff from peoples lawns, no the golf course. The first meeting I ever went to I said that the Park Board will do what they want to do with no regard for the general populations' concern. There has been so much misinformation circulated by MPRB that it is difficult to trust in anything that the do or say.	I have golfed at Hiawatha Golf course for 25 years. It needs some work and a new club house. If the Park Board would let Hiawatha do the maintenance and improvements it needs it could be a great golf course at this end of the city. For example, absolutely no trees have ever been replaced! It is a wonderful place to golf in the cities.
Golf		I believe that the reduction to nine holes was shoved down. This historic course should stay at 18 holes. It is the only public course in south Minneapolis and helps with the youth participation. The flooding issues could be reduced with the reduction of the height of the weir exiting lake Hiawatha.	I am disappointed with the Park board.
Golf		By reducing the number of holes to nine, you are effectively castrating the course. Your pathetic excuses are unacceptable. You don't like golf. You have a bias. You are not serving the citizens. You are doing a bad job. But since you work for the government, you get a pass.
Golf		To take away this historical 18 hole golf course and change it to 9 holes breaks my heart. I started playing at Hiawatha in 1955, tagging along with my Dad. I've been reading all of the reports and looking at the plans, and am certain this is not in the best interest of our residients - shameful.
Golf		This course should be left alone 18 holes	leave the course alone. I don’t want to be taxed anymore in this city for another unnecessary project. Enough is enough especially during these trying times.
Golf		Looks to be a lot of walking between green to tee and beach/recreation area intersects golf play near club house which may impact golf and/or recreational activities.
Golf		My preference would be for 18 holes of golf or anything more than 9 actually. Also, I’m open to remodeling existing clubhouse if possible. Thank you	See initial comments
Golf		In general, I have a positive reaction to the design. It is hard for me to determine the scale of everything, but it appears that the walk from hole #4 to #5 would backtrack nearly two holes unless there is a bridge over the wetlands. This would be an issue for pace of play and potentially walking the course, which should be a given. The current practice area is huge and free (minus range balls) which is as inclusive as you can get! Hopefully this area remains as large as it currently is. I think that worrying too much about gathering and recreation space is a waste of money and time, there couldn't be more space available right across the street in the Nokomis park area. The range should also be a huge generator for revenue and more controls should be put in place to regulate against employees giving tokens away to the regulars.	It looks like some great thought was put into this with knowledgeable people, nice job! My suggestions are in the my golf specific comments.
Golf		At no time did the Park Board seriously consider preserving an 18-hole design for Hiawatha Golf Course, nor have they been honest about this. This entire boondoggle is because the Park Board wants to reclaim this property for other uses. Initially, the Park Board told the public the course was "over limit" in terms of how much water could be pumped from the property, and the DNR was mandating that this practice not continue. When that was exposed as a lie-- the DNR has never set any such limits and was quick to note they don't care how much water is pumped from the property-- the Park Board had to scramble to backtrack and cover this up, and come up with new reasons why an 18-hole golf course was not viable. Moreover, homeowners in the neighborhoods surrounding the property have been vociferous in their complaints that basements will flood in the absence of such pumping. The Park Board has never addressed this completely and honestly, and still has no idea what will happen to these taxpayers' homes and foundations if they stop pumping. Many citizens of Minneapolis would like to have these questions addressed in a well-attended public forum, not in these various "community advisory committee" meetings, where the Park Board has been able to command the agenda and stack the committees with representatives supporting the Park Board's vision of taking away one of very few 18-hole golf courses for a city of this size (and even more shamefully, one that has had a long history and association with African-American golfers in this city). In such a public forum, the Park Board should be prepared to address and explain: 1. Who was hired to design the new plans for Hiawatha, what instructions were given to that designer regarding the 18-hole golf course, and what effort was put into preserving an 18-hole design. Taxpayers paid for all of this work; we would like to see the 18-hole layouts and the drawings the designer did to discover that an 18-hole course was not possible. 2. An 18-hole course is certainly possible on the site-- one exists already-- so the Park Board should be ready to refute the notion that it is only because of all of the non-golf activities the Park Board wants to cram into the space that an 18-hole course is not possible. 3. The Park Board should explain what discussions were had with the MN DNR in advance of drawing up new plans for the course, and how it was that right from the outset, they misled the public that pumping had to stop due to a DNR mandate. This misimpression still exists and is still widespread among the taxpaying public; the Park Board should vociferously correct their earlier mistake in a widely attended and reported public forum. 4. The Park Board should have answers, not theories, for homeowners concerned about their property values once pumping stops. They need to answer these homeowners' questions and clearly show them how this will work in a public forum. 5. In a public forum, the Park Board should specifically address the questions and concerns of the African American community, for whom this golf course has special importance, and explain why they are taking away a major gathering place and community asset from this regularly overlooked group. (Note: some photographs on the wall of a tremendously downsized clubhouse is not going to cut it.) At the very least, these 5 issues are something the Park Board should address in a well-attended and well-publicized citizens' forum. (And by the way, constantly sending these communications out late on Friday afternoons is even more evidence you do not want close scrutiny or widespread citizen input on this process. Every PR professional knows that if you want very little attention paid to an announcement and want to avoid any news coverage, put these out late on a Friday afternoon).	See previous comments. The plans for the "property as a whole" required a predetermined decision to eliminate the 18-hole golf course.
Golf		I spent some time in Nelson, New Zealand where they have a 9 hole regulation size golf course. One thing they did to provide variety and interest to the course was to create two completely different sets of tees on each hole. So, in effect, there were 18 different holes. I thought this was brilliant and allowed you to play 18 different holes if you chose to. The tees were in slightly different areas creating different angles and yardages. Brilliant! It was called Waahi Taakaro Golf Course. There are some youtube flyovers of each hole if you are interested in seeing. I highly recommend this concept as a relatively inexpensive way to create some diversity out of 9 holes. Thank you!	I think it's a good compromise. Thanks for all your efforts.
Golf		NOT 9 Holes! 18 HOLES!!!	The area has PLENTY of open public spaces & parks. LEAVE IT AS IS!
Golf		Course routing after playing hole 4 and traveling to hole 5 seems to be a bottleneck potentially with those teeing on hole 2	Disappointed in loosing an 18 hole golf course but if it alleviates water issues in the surrounding neighborhoods I support it.
Golf		All golfers everywhere have lost out. Congratulations. It’s obvious that from the very beginning that the members of the Park Board, elected really without any discussion at the Democratic County Convention, don’t like golf and don’t think that anybody else should be able to enjoy golf. GOLFING AT HIAWATHA IS OVER. IT’S DONE. The photo of the 3 year old girl in the red dress with a putter in her hands says it all. The PB has designed a glorified putt putt course with no concern for the actual game of golf.	Enough said. Sad.
Golf		The "All are welcome" section is seriously flawed. Yes, the African American experience is important to the history of Hiawatha. But it is only one of several stories that deserve telling. Where is the history of the Immigrant who learned to golf at the course(My grandfather). The story of the thousands of Junior and High School golfers who learned and competed at the course for their school teams? Where is the tribute to Patty Berg, the most famous golfer and, arguable, the most important sports figure to ever come out of Minnesota? She grew up in Minneapolis and played at Hiawatha (although her family belonged to Interlachen). Please change this section of the plan to more accurately, and inclusively, honor all golfers who played at Hiawatha.	It's a shame that the Park Board ruined Hiawatha by using the income from the golf courses, for years, to build and support the Nieman fields and other, non-golf projects; and that the City reconfigured the Storm Sewers to dump water into Lake Hiawatha. Those two events seriously impacted the course. It's also a shame that the "losing money" argument has been so prevalent. By default, the entire Park Board is a "money loser," as it needs hundreds of millions of tax dollars to survive. The "Grand Rounds," the baseball, soccer and football fields, the rec centers, etc. are all money losing propositions, yet the Park Board funds them.
Golf		I am sorry that your single mindedness to destroying the only true golf on this side of town has come to this. You cannot be all things to all people. After all this has been our golf course for over 70 years and now its not OK. We all know when we are being sold a bill of goods on this ground water pumping. After all this has now all of a sudden a problem after the last golf course flood. I just want be state that this is a huge money waster for all us Minneapolis tax payers. If we could just do the logical thing and keep 18 hole golf and deal with the ups and downs of the golf course as was done for the last 70 years. I am positive you are making a big historical mistake with this plan to please everyone ( it is just not possible) Keep golf on this side of town.	You can't be all things to all people.
Golf		It looks like you have public walking paths withing the golf course boundary. Who will have the right away when pedestrians are walking through the course? The golfers or walkers?
Golf		Why not 18 holes? Need a really good learning center, similar to Columbia Golf Course, supporting the youth, school programs and community.	Other park areas have concern with water - Theodore Wirth and Meadowbrook, why is Hiawatha being singled out. Lower income area - prejudice for inter-city.
Golf		Better 9 than closing the historical property - please retain the markers donated by patrons who has passed (most grew up on the course) and ensure there is photographic display showing the development over the years.
Golf		This should be an 18 hole golf course.
Golf		Ditch golf, turn off the pumps.	Give us back our park.
Golf		I don’t understand why the city would spend this much money to maintain a golf course on this property when we already lose money supporting golf there every year. Early on in the process we were told that a 9 hole configuration would lose even more money than an 18 hole configuration. We are at a point of ecological collapse as well as a questioning of our priorities given how much the realities of income inequality are on display right now with the Covid19 crisis. Why in the world would we spend this much money to create a park that still excludes people and costs the city an arm and a leg to maintain. I can not comprehend how we got here. I am beyond disappointed that the people who had the most privilege in this process—retired white golfers who shouted me down when I tried to speak at a forum—got THEIR desires met. Disgusting.	We had an opportunity here to create a new park driven by ecology and good financial sense that would have provided natural recreation opportunities for ALL south Minneapolis residents. We’re throwing it away on an expensive boondoggle that will within a few years prove unsustainable to maintain for many reasons. Golfers are not going to like all these people walking through their course on walking paths. They LIKE the fences because they like exclusivity. This is just a pointless design that wastes money and time.
Golf		You should find a way to reduce the amount of the property that is flooded so there is more room for golf. Let's see if we can get 18 holes. This has not been talked about or demonstrated in any detail in public yet--only behind closed doors of the MPRB. Make sure the greens complexes are interesting, allow for the course to play differently on different days. Big greens with undulation and fast! You have to get the greens right or people, at least not the avid golfers, will not play it. If they are small, flat and slow it will be a disaster. Add a 2 or 3 or 4 hole pitch and putt to the existing design. short 30 to 50 yard holes are perfect for kids and beginners. decrease the amount of water on the property to make this happen! Please provide the approximate yardage for each hole during the public comment period. Good to have a driving range. Create a shag area that golfers can practice for free. Create more chipping and putting greens. Golf should be top priority.	it is a shame that we will spend $40,000,000 and the lake will still be impaired for Phosphorus. It might as well be a golf course. Pumping doesn't damage the environment (lake or drinking groundwater) according the Barr study and only costs $10,000 per year. In spite of having several of the wettest years on record since the 2014 flood, the course has not flooded. Much more cost effective to keep pumping.
Golf		Where's the other 9 holes??? Last I checked, golf is 18 holes, not 9...
Golf		Great job with the smaller area of the golf course. It is a balance of those who like to golf wuth others who have different interests.	Looks great! I hope you’re able to make progress on it soon!
Golf		Since the number of non-golfers in the community is far larger than the number of golfers, I feel strongly that the Hiawatha Golf Course Property be open to the public as much as possible. Specifically, I think it would be an embarrassment if the 8 foot high aging chainlink fence (that surrounds the property) remained in place after the renovation. I also hope that it would be possible to use the pedestrian paths while golf is being played so that the property can get more use during the summer. It saddens me that the golfers won the design process with a 9 hole course but I understand that it would be very inappropriate to close a golf course that has a history of use by the African American community. Thank you for all your work and I wish the property could become a big wonderful park but I guess we will all meet in the middle this time.
Golf		Yikes. Public golf courses are an antiquated, unnecessary use of public funds and park space. You should have taken this opportunity to start fresh. Create something that everyone can use. City land is already at a premium - don't waste in on something a fraction of a fraction of the citizenry will choose to enjoy.
Golf		Remove golf completely, extend the trails completely around Hiawatha so that all of us can access the park. There are more people by a huge margin who prefer no golf course and and extension of the park.	A big disappointment to us non-golfers who want to use this part of the park. There are plenty of options in the metro for golfing which will be preferred over this proposed course anyway.
Golf		Golf is a terrible waste of precious public land in a city like Minneapolis. It can only host a select few people at any given time, requires a large amount of resources (water pumping, mowing, fertilizing) just to exist, is becoming less and less popular every year, and is not readily transformed into other uses. Please consider removing the golf course space from the proposed plan and dedicate the space to uses that can be much better utilized by all the residents of the city.	It looks to be a good step towards transforming the land/water into something more natural. I'm glad to see an increase the amount of open water, wetlands, and other natural areas in this plan.
Golf		"A good walk spoiled" is a foolish use of one of the city's most valuable resources. The proposal also seems to make a pretty rosy assumption of being revenue neutral (or positive overall, though there isn't much detail in the plan). Measured in acres per person, golf is is the McMansion of leisure activities, accessible by a small number of people, and enjoyed by even fewer. Will the course not use any chemicals or fertilizers? The last park board elections featured a number of candidates promising to remove chemicals and fertilizers from our parks, a position that drew a lot of support all over the city.	This proposal also ignores much of the community's request for expanded (more diverse) bicycle infrastructure in favor of appeasing the few golfers. As a result, this park design encourages people to drive to the park, and the neighborhood doesn't need traffic around the parks. This compromise plan is a let down because it's a copy-and-paste park with some water pumping. It's a failure of vision for the MPLS of the future. Sure, we found a way to keep a golf course around for a few years, but young people aren't into the sport. The population playing the game now has a limited number of playing years before they're physically unable to play. Then what is the course but another underutilized piece of land with a bunch of sunk costs and deferred maintenance? The winter stuff is cool, but we have to get rid of golf. This project could be a nature preserve, an example restoration project, a place for total immersion in nature that NEVER HAS TO BE REBUILT.
Golf		Please just completely close the golf course. It's a massive use of land that's used by an incredibly few number of people, and requires a huge amount of infrastructure to manage runoff. The land would be much better for Minneapolis if it was converted 100% into a park for all to use.	The general idea is great, but it would be much better without the golf course.
Golf		What kind of Driving Range is being considered? More details on the driving range are requested. Will it continue to be Grass, as it is now (which is preferred)? Or, will it be some type of grass / mat set up? There were some plans that even showed a set up where balls were hit into a water area. If it does include a mat setup, will it be a single or multiple tiers? I usually play golf 2X per week at a 18 hole facility within the MPS and I have been using Hiawatha 2X per week for practice. The driving range was the closest grass facility to my home.	I am very disappointed that an 18 hole golf course is not part of the project. I have stopped playing the course at Hiawatha since it has been in terrible shape for the last several years since this re-development project has been public. I have continued to use the Driving Range and practice areas 2X per week. Not even the basic maintenance has been kept up on the course itself. The fairways have been lined (surrounded) with weeds, bare spots in the fairways were not even attempted to be filled with seed, and even the bunkers were never maintained. Many bunkers were never raked by a tractor and often contained grass and weeds in the middle areas (not just on the edges). My hope, in the beginning, was that a "regulation" 18 hole course would replace the existing one and be kept up to the standards of the other Mpls. Park System courses. However, now that a 9 hole course seems to be settled upon, my hope is that a grass driving range will be included in the practice area so I can continue to use the facility.
Golf		Taking away 18 holes is a mistake and I do not support it. Elected officials in charge of this or that support it will be voted out.	Keep the 18 hole golf course. Redo the clubhouse and turn it into a banquet site. More revenue, less renovation, less waste of taxpayer money.
Golf		1.Looks like a long walk from 4th green to 5th tee. 2.There's no detail as to the golf holes, and no mention of who will be doing the design--hope it's a qualified golf course architect. 3. Hope we'll be able to see more detail on the golf course holes and practice area soon. 4.. A huge problem over the past 10 years or more has been the invasion, in the rough and fairway, of a particular weed which is taking over. It is extremely thick and impossible to hit out of. It has no place on a golf course, even in the rough. Some people call it Knot Weed, others call it Creeping Charlie. But it must be totally eradicated for this to be a decent golf course.
Golf		Your plan is nice except for the golf, which should be removed. Then you won't have to maintain as much lawn, which will be better for the environment.	Looks nice!
Golf		would be very interested on the intended driving range space in relation to current and the expected total yardage of the 9 hole course outside of par 36 intention.	Design is extremely exciting! Interlinking the wonderful public spaces in the Nokomis area is exciting as well as providing new opportunities for public enjoyment missing in the area and Minneapolis in general.
Golf		With Hiawatha being the only golf course in South Minneapolis and very important to the community, I would have liked to have seen an option to improve the 18 hole course and the club house. Many of the ideas were very nice in the presentation but the course is important to so many people. There must be a way to save the course and still manage the water more efficiently.
Golf		Overall for a 9 hole configuration the design is ok. I'd prefer an 18 hole course. 4 and 5 seem to have some shots in jeopardy of hitting into the trails, I'm assuming there will be nets, berms, tree placements there. If 9 hole is indeed the only option I'd suggest large greens (possible with 2 pin placements) and alternate tee boxes to make play more interesting and give it the feel of an 18 hole course. Also, if the holes are being played differently, the wear and tear on the course would be somewhat mitigated. Ideally I'd try to design a 11 or 12 hole layout where you can give the course some recovery time, as I do expect heavy usage. I've made that comment before but it doesn't seem to have traction, I think golfers are only given the bare minimum of attention and only because of political pressure. If this were left to the park board only, the course wouldn't exist. I do wish we would have more creative solutions and realize 18 holes may not be viable, but this design seems to try to please too many people at once and there are many other facilities for other uses. I bike the area but I don't see a need to have a path going straight through the course - you could set that up on the north edge of the property and decrease stress for golfers and reduce the odds of someone getting hit by a golf ball.	I'm not sure how deep the new wetland would be but it seems that ice fishing in that area would be a joke and potentially dangerous. Over time the vegetation will decompose, creating heat and making the water in that area thinner than expected I like the attempt to create a more natural environment, but some of the imagery is a little overbearing with the landscape architecture design elements and art displays The other beach on Hiawatha is usually closed, I don't think one in the wetlands would fare any better. The canoe racks would be welcome addition assuming there will be a viable path to Lake Nokomis (you need more of these elsewhere -there's a secondary market on craiglist turning a profit) It seems like some of the photos show a prairie landscape and I hope any many trees as possible remain as-is, even if that obstructs some of the golf - that can give the course some 'personality'. I do hope attention is giving to the driving range. The Topgolf style facilities seem to be more and more popular and cater towards beginners and casual players. That could connect with your stated goal of encouraging the next generation of golfers. Maybe a partnership / urban concept for that model?
Golf		Keep 18 holes for revenue and career trading opportunities.	A absolute gem of a historical community asset.
Golf		While I will miss the 18 hole layout and all the fond memories associated with it, I look forward to playing the new 9 hole course!	Wonderful work in taking all interests into consideration. This new development will become a valued asset for the city and will attract tourism yielding new revenue.
Golf		Hiawatha golf course staying open even if it's only nine holes
Golf		I, as many neighborhood residents, would like to have access to some sort of practice area whenever construction is going on. I like the ideas proposed and truly like the consideration given to all residents, including golfers. Thank you.
Golf		Keep the course 18 holes. There is no reason to do anything else. Especially in these trying times. I don’t need my taxes raised any more paper I needed construction. Thank you lifelong Minneapolis resident.
Golf		Looks like shit. I guess I play in the suburbs from now on. See you all south of the river....	What? Not enough land around the creek or two lakes to play hide and go seek???
Golf		It seems like golf is the lowest priority in this plan, which disappoints me greatly. The crude layout shown lacks any detail whatsoever, and creates a variety of concerns. For example, the distance from green to tee box hole to hole looks extremely long in some cases, specifically between 4 and 5.	I am not sure why the current park board is so biased against golf!
Golf		Ditch the golf course and turn it into a park EVERYONE can use. It’s a waste to devote land that isnt sustainable to ONE SPORT.	Return the land to its natural state and put some paths in.
Golf		How are you going to keep golf balls from flying out of the course along 43rd Ave many yards and house are hit through the summer. We will miss the 18 holes as we used the course all the time, but looking forward to the new plan.	Also glad to see the homes was made a priority and there will be a new pumping system and many uses of the pumped water instead of flooding everything!
Golf		I dont think that the design for the golf course lay put was done well. It looks like there are many long travels from green to Tees. This will discourage player for playing because if they have to rent a cart for a 9 hole course they would rather play other ones. When I played Worth after their back side redesign. Hole 12 now is horrible. That should have had 11 finish on 12's green and 12 playing down the hill to 11th green. Seems like distances between green to tees arent taken into consideration and just makes people not want to play them. To show a good redesign. Columbia golf course switching 15 to 6. Make the course more enjoyible to play because walking that big hill between 6 and 7 just makes the day better.	The golf course has always been fun. I dont believe adding more water areas and reducing the course to 9 holes will drop the level of the water table and will still cause flooding in the neighborhood basements. Hiawatha lake was design to be dredged about ever 100 years. And with the creek being up 3 feet and the lake being around 12 and was dredge to 30 amost a 100 years ago. Dont know why these are being addressed first. The golf course was build on a wetland back then and it could be made more toght and adding a lot more wet areas that would make it a harder course. I dont believe the area will be helped by the design that is be proposed. Seems like a lot of wasted money by people who dont really care about the problem or solution. Just want to make something that no one really will use.
Golf		Please remove the golf course and restore the area to nature. The cost for taxpayers to pump water for the golf course is so high, to the benefit of a few. There are other affordable golf courses in the area. I hope natural shoreline can be established for the wildlife on Lake Hiawatha. We need more wetlands to help with run-off. There's so many reasons why the golf course on Lake Hiawatha should be removed.	I would love it if Lake Hiawatha could be returned to nature as much as possible.
Golf		I am against any closings of Hiawatha or any other city owned golf courses within Minneapolis. Golf offers a unique way to enjoy the outdoors in our city and it would be outrageous to destroy them in favor of something else when there are so few options for golfers in the city.	Leave the course alone!
Golf		Golf - Hiawatha is the only 18 hole course in the entire Minneapolis proper. What are you suggesting will allow plenty of unwanted guests to the area in an uncontrolled environment. Stop the lies, tell the truth, listen to the community, and stop playing games. 18 hole golf course only.	18 holes. Simple as that.
Golf		Really need to preserve the historic, beautiful 18-hole golf course that has been - and should continue to be - a staple in the community.	Please preserve this course for the sake of history and generations to come.
Golf		This is terrible. Tremendous waste of tax payer dollars. Make improvements to the 18 hole and keep it. Reeks of gentrification.	Keep it an 18 hole golf course
Golf		Maintain the current space of golf practice facilities (ie driving range, putting green, chip/pitch green)	As a non-Minneapolis resident, I currently travel (10-30 min) to Hiawatha Golf Course for its large golf practice facility (driving range, putting green, chip/pitch greens) and reasonable price. With other such facilities within the time range of travel (10-30 min) such as Braemar, Crystal Lake and Hyland Lake, if the revised Hiawatha diminished the golf practice facility or significantly raised costs I would take my business elsewhere.
Golf		It looks like a long way from the green of Hole #4 to the tee box of Hole #5. I'm guessing approx 0.3-0.5 mile?	A microbrewery and tap room would be a nice addition.
North Shore Area		Very excited about the potential for this site. I live a few blocks east of Hiawatha and am in support of better connections and more access to the site. Thanks.	I've already commented
North Shore Area		The connection on the northeast side of the lake where the bridge is shown is a swampy area currently, that should be retained as a swamp and the connection between the GC property and the current Hiawatha park should be moved farther away from the lake. There seems to be a lot a dead space near holes 6-9 on the north section of the course. Can that be used for plantings and more canopy?
North Shore Area		I really like the stormwater terrace on the north side of the lake. Water quality and trash are issues that are important to me. I have done storm drain stenciling for the City of Minneapolis and I would like to help educate the public about the advantages of a stormwater terrace, but I also wonder who will be responsible for cleaning the trash out of it? Is that something we can get the public to help with?	I think the compromise to make the course a 9 hole course shows the results of a lot of work and effort to balance the needs of many groups. I understand that the use of herbicides have been banned. I think that in an effort to safely and effectively manage the parks that the controlled use of safe herbicides and pesticides should be allowed.
North Shore Area		There is no need for a fishing dock. This area is already busy enough, and the limited parking in the area makes 27th Ave. busy and dangerous for small children presently, especially with the softball diamonds and tennis courts adjacent.	A number of items are not clearly explained. 1. How do you intend to create the new wetlands? Will you be digging them out to provide more space for water retention? I only assume this because ice fishing is mentioned as an activity. Also, what, if any efforts will be made to deepen Lake Hiawatha? Will the weirs be removed by the walk bridge to increase drainage of the area? 2. You are very vague on the idea of pumping water to keep homes nearby from flooded basements. The water table in the area is already high, and reducing pumping will only raise it, as your wetland plan already recognizes. More homes and basements will logically be threatened during a significant rain event, and as I mentioned earlier, there seems to be no plan for better drainage, only greater storage of water, suggesting the flooding of a larger number of homes will occur during rains of 2-3 inches or greater. 3. There is talk of creating a better riparian environment. In general, that sounds like a good idea, but at this time, Lake Hiawatha is primarily populated by carp and bullheads. During high water, the carp will be happy to invade your wetlands and tear up whatever plants are there. Is this the riparian environment the public is looking for-more carp? If you are going to sell the riparian environment angle, you need to make the commitment to making Lake Hiawatha a legitimate riparian lake that supports a more diverse population of fish. Before I support any changes, I'd like to see these issues addressed.
North Shore Area		Hi-I live near the corner of 43rd and Londfellow and am concerned about them the maintenance facility will look like. Will any of the lovely green space be preserved? I would ask that planners consider the appearance of these buildings and keep nature/green in mind when designing. It would be so discouraging to look out at a sea of asphalt and ugly buildings when I now look out at nature, a big reason I purchased my home. I appreciate the thought and care that has gone into this plan, and I’m excited about many of the improvements, but I believe the choice of placement for the maintenance facility was poor. The green space is well used by the community.	I paddle board in summer on Lake Hiawatha and ski there in winter and am excited about the improved access to nature activities with the new design. I just would ask that there be an alternative placement for the maintenance facility. Perhaps further into the park and not at the edge of the park where it is in view of the residents. Thanks for considering.
North Shore Area		I think the overall plan in the North Shore is really good, but since I'm in this area every day, I wanted to note a concern about how the multi-use trails would be implemented. I am assuming that multi-use implies a trail used by both pedestrians and bicyclists (I'm both). With that in mind, it looks like the plan is to add a north/south multi-use trail (beginning at the T intersection at 27th/43rd) to replace the current pedestrian-only trail. If so, that is great. Some cyclists are not aware that that little stretch of trail is NOT for cyclists, and so I'm glad this will be converted to a multi-use trail so both peds/cyclists can share the trail. The red arrow at the south end of this north/south trail that continues clockwise around the east side of the lake and in front of the center is also not technically multi-use at the moment, so my concern here is that this project should also make that entire portion multi-use and connect back up with the existing multi-use trail just past the playground/basketball court on the east side of the lake. Otherwise cyclists are just going to bike down the sidewalk adjacent to the playground/basketball courts, which is not safe. Also, the design implies the implementation of a multi-use trail just north of the tennis courts, parallel to 43rd, and I'm just wondering if that is meant to continue on to the intersection at 26th/43rd or what the deal is with that. So I hope a future iteration on this design can include a more detailed set of plans for this northeast/east section of the park, and see how that plan mitigates some of the trail connectivity issues we're facing right now that some cyclists are currently mitigating by pretending parts of the trails are multi-use when they are not.
North Shore Area		Boat launch without nearby parking may not be too popular. Put a small lot in for boats.
North Shore Area		based on the plan, it appears the golf course and designed walkway will seem to connect with the park on the lakes north shore. Would be interested in understanding current intention of that connectivity. Master plan seemed a bit vague, focusing more on the larger features of beach, clubhouse, etc.
North Shore Area		Is there any space for a bike park here, or somewhere else in the plan?	Can you add a bike park?
Other (please specify)	A nine hole golf course instead of 18	At the very beginning of your presentation you state that you never considered a plan including an eighteen hole golf course, I did not hear that at any of the community meeting I attended. So you gathered neighborhood input with a lie. With a number of people looking at the options in connection with an 18 hole golf course, they dismissed options on the west side of the lake outside of the new club house. So as you keep making reference to public response, it is really only the response of those who wanted to reduce or eliminate golf from the park.	So as you open the option of sledding on the west side of the park, you have added trees on the east side that make it less safe to slide down the hill. I am not sure if I heard it correct but the boat rental was to be north of the recreation center, closer to 43 Street not the present "beach" area just off from 45 Street, that does not make sense. Remember the neighborhood area west of the lake is limited by Cedar Ave and so many of us who have used the lake as 'our park' over the years have been residents on the east and north side of the lake. Also the many families who come to the park taking the bus that travels through South Minneapolis and brings them directly to and from it. It almost sounds as though the design for the west side of the park was to make money for the park board and draw more car traffic to the area.
Other (please specify)	It is great that a trail is included around the lake.	I would prefer the trail around the lake to be for peds as well as bikers to provide a comparable experience to that at other Minneapolis lakes.	Happy to see all the winter activities. Also good to see the restaurant. You should invite Ted Cook’s BBQ to propose to run it.
Other (please specify)	Location of development on Longfellow Avenue	The driving range and event center is directly across the street from my house. And all my neighbors houses. There have been multiple comments on how this event center is similar to Theo Wirth. Look at a air photo of the Theo Wirth club house and you'll see it's well over 1,000 feet to the nearest residential street -that's about 8 blocks, which would put it west of Bloomington Avenue, about to 14th Ave. The tee box location for the proposed driving range is less than 50 feet from my front door? And the amount of traffic generated from the new event center is unacceptable for our residential street, which is HEAVILY used by pedestrian traffic to get to the parkway and lakes from all neighborhoods to the north -people/families don't bike and walk on Cedar, they use Longfellow. Other nearby venues such as Sea Salt, Sandcastle, and even community centers ALL are well away from residential streets. The current layout supports a park-like, low energy experience. You are proposing a large commercial development on parkland immediately across the street from houses. Maintain the layout as is, there is no reason to change it. Listen to the CAC's direction and don't pretend Mpls Parks should be some sort of cash cow; it's parkland. Put money into maintenance and upkeep.	100% waste of money -our local representatives (Patricia Torres Ray and Jean Wagenius) have said they won't fund this boondoogle so why did you push it through against the wishes of the CAC? Why did the City and MPRB engineer a stormwater outflow in 2011 in the northwest portion of the course at an elevation of 809 ft, which is at least a few feet below Lake Hiawatha if you didn't expect to pump stormwater. In the most recent flooding event, this was the deepest water on the course! Michael Schroeder is either highly incompetent or he lied when he acted surprised that MPRB was pumping above their DNR appropriations permit. The DNR permit was for the irrigation well, but he was either too clueless to understand the pumping situation, or he lied about it in the first few public meetings. When Barr issued their first report, they concluded that the stormwater pond discharge into Lake Hiawatha was also discharging near surface groundwater, as well as "recycled" water being pulled in from the lake. And in Section 10.4 of the February 2017 report, Barr concluded that the pumping had no adverse ecological impacts -this is the ONE major conclusion of the report that would affect the DNR's concerns around pumping. And, the DNR is on record saying that all they want is for MPRB to submit an application for additional pumping. Michael Schroeder instead chose to keep his head in the sand and continue with the original lie and control the narrative by making up outlandish claims such as the berm along the west side of Lake Hiawatha could breach in a catastrophic event at any minute, the course is sinking, etc -lies that are still be reiterated by the general public at these meeting that are only casual observers. Michael Schroeder has made a lot of enemies in our neighborhood by pushing through this project against the wishes of the neighborhood.
Other (please specify)	paddleboaards etc.expendtures and revnue, cac	At previous meetings thepredenters stated that the park board would have to maintain an eighteen hole golfcourse for golf to be aviable activity. I think an eighteen hole dourse should be the only option in the plan.I think that duplicating paddleboards etc in competition to those at lake nokomis will undermine the success of these activities at both locations. i think that the projecttions of revenue generated are unrealistic. This ahs to be corrected I want theparkboard to explain why they havent ffollowed the recomendation o;f t;he cac more closely..
Other (please specify)	Overall Planning	SLOW DOWN - the Minneapolis Park Board has not been consistent or transparent with the community. Please further address: Keeping surrounding homes dry. What will pumping look like for the surrounding homes and neighborhoods? Re-working the golf course and setting up a driving range no more than 40-feet from nearby homes is a recipe for DISASTER. The driving range should be inside the golf course and away from homes. We can all work together to develop the current space but, please slow down, think through things, and be more transparent. Our biggest investment, our homes, are in your hands! Make smart decisions. Would YOU want a driving range 40-feet from your front door? Think things through.	I'm VERY concerned about the impact these changes will cause on my home value. Living across the street from a golf course IS valuable and IS noted by appraisers. TAKE NOTE OF THIS.
Other (please specify)	Ideas below are multiple issues and hit a number - design, habitat -	9-hole golf course is a reasonable compromise. Need to have wildlife area respected and protected - with climate issues need to improve whatever possible to a continuous area of habitat - AND this also includes protecting the owl habitat and the otters that are on the west side of Lake Hiawatha. Connect to the watershed creek area and provide habitat protection. Use this as an opportunity to inform public - section off areas, highlight with graphics - signage - even golfers need to understand!	Protect the existing wildlife and habitat. Provide interpretation to EXPLAIN why this is important. Carbon neutrality can be enhanced by explaining the benefits of protecting the overall ecosystem. Climate is essential - so protect it and also highlight WHY we are protecting. Inform, Educate, Enlighten - and that includes golfers, too. Good for them to be outside!
Other (please specify)	Other Amenities	OTHER AMENITIES? You want to build a tower on the 12th tee right next to the crumbling tennis court that is not maintained? A fishing pier has existed on the east side of Lake Hiawatha since, at least, the 1960's. Why do we need another one on the west side of the lake. Just maintain the existing one. What is a cross-country ski stadium? How do you fat bike thru the water/swamp?
Other (please specify)	CAC Requests	NO DETAILS FOR OTHER CAC REQUESTS After 6 months, the MPRB has not provided any details on the following items (just the same old stale statements): What will happen to existing memorials for people that exist on the golf course? What will be done to honor the African-American history of the course? Where is the new parking and traffic analysis for the neighborhood, especially considering the adding of a restaurant and the addition of the Bergan's development which adds over 100 vehicles to Longfellow Avenue? Regarding honoring Hiawatha Golf Course's African-American history, the only way to honor this history is to retain a championship level 18-hole golf course, rather than giving the Black community a sub-standard 9-hole golf course which says, like always, that the Black community is not important enough to deserve a full 18-hole golf course like other communities. You say that the golf experience should be available to all people; well, a 9-hole golf course is not the full golf experience! And, a good fostering of youth golfing requires an 18-hole golf course, not a partial experience.	When will the MPRB ever respond with the information requested by the CAC, especially with the CAC being disbanded so that they and the public cannot publicly pressure you???????
Other (please specify)	Entire plan	Figure out a way to design a plan that is flood resilient while keeping the 18 hole championship course!!	Golf course needs to stay as 18 hole championship course
Other (please specify)	Wildlife protection throughout the area	Prioritize the protection of existing wildlife habitat in this area, including owls and otters, and create more diverse habitat to support all wildlife species. Areas should be set aside for wildlife that are off limits to humans except from a distance. We also need interconnected wildlife corridors so wildlife can thrive. Protect the owl habitat by the tennis courts and in the delta area on the south side of the Lake. The paved trail on the southeast corner of the site should be re-routed so as not to threaten existing owl habitat in that area. Reroute the planned natural surface trail away from the west side of Lake Hiawatha, to protect existing wildlife, including otters, in this area. Educate the public about the importance and benefits of wildlife habitat to humans and the environment as a whole.	I support the 9-hole golf course, given popularity of the golf course at this location. However do not sacrifice wildlife habitat for recreational amenities.
Other (please specify)	Focus on wildlife and habitat preservation	I am concerned that there is not enough natural habitat in this plan. Natural habitat is important for wildlife, for cleansing of water, for prevention of flooding, and for the support of pollinators. It also is an important resource for the entire community.	I am concerned that there is not enough natural habitat in this plan. Natural habitat is important for wildlife, for cleansing of water, for prevention of flooding, and for the support of pollinators. It also is an important resource for the entire community.
Other (please specify)	Golf course bridges	I would like to have the bridges taken away because I sometimes kayak in and I would like to venture farther than the bridges but I can’t because the bridges are to low.
Other (please specify)	Wildlife habitat	Please ensure strong habitat protection for birds, pollinators, and other flora and fauna.
Other (please specify)	Natural habitats	Overall, the plan looks good. I am encouraged by the multiple references to maintaining/improving habitats for animals and birds. To use native plants as much as possible and create space for birds and animals wold be my request. The current space is home to many species, and I hope to see that continue.
Other (please specify)	Save my home	I don’t want my house to flood because you stop pumping.	I work hard for my house. I hear this plan will make more ground water. Please don’t fund my house or my neighborhood. I work hard.
Other (please specify)	Water in my basement. Stop spending all this money and manage the water.	The area around this proposed development is a flood plain. You are damaging low/middle class people who sought their first home in this area. Please take care of my neighbors and me. Stop flooding my basement with water while you waste tax dollars you don’t have.	The city does or have this kind of money. Please use these funds to assist families during these tough times any way the park board can. Please keep pumping ground water before I lose my home.
Other (please specify)	storm sewer diversion and trash collection	How often will the garbage be cleaned out of the "storm sewer diversion and trash collection" feature? What exactly is the "stormwater terrace"? My neighborhood trades a beautiful green space - where kids play and neighbors hang out together - for an overlook of the tide pool of garbage... while we dodge shanked golf balls, thanks to the fairways moving closer to the street. Thanks? That aside, looks like a good upgrade.	Previous questions aside, looks like a good upgrade of the space. Personally prefer eliminating golf entirely - we already face errant golf balls from duffers as we walk our children along the 43rd.
Other (please specify)	The 25 priorities	We as residents residing, approx 3 blocks from the NE corner of lake Hiawatha, AGREE with 24 of the 25 Priorities as described. We DO NOT agree with #3... The Parks n Rec Dept should NOT just Highlight/Celebrate 2 Races, Cultures, Ethnicities !! NO !! ALL Races, Cultures, Ethnicities SHOULD BE CELEBRATED !!	Like/Love many of they planned ideas... hopefully the un-utilized activities, events that become COST prohibitive will be removed, let go to make more monies avail for use elsewhere. AGAIN, We suggest REMOVING priority #3 from list, UNLESS ALL Cultures are included.
Other (please specify)	Why limit to one area?	The fact that this plan was not approved by the CAC and the Park Board has lied to everyone involved. The lies keep spinning, you must be related to Trump. "The DNR won't let us pump." "The golf course is sinking." "We value the opinion of the CAC. " A little transparency would be nice, as in, our motivation is that we do not know how to manage anything because we are all landscapers, so we will do away with this historic jewel of Minneapolis. What is wrong with you people?	It isn't enough that you are going to flood my basement? You have to aim the golf course so I will have golf balls coming through my windows? Plus, 45 acres and you have to put a snow making machine in a residential area? How damn dumb is that? Who draws up these stupid things? Someone who does not live here, someone who has never even walked the ground.
Other (please specify)	Rentals	Concerned about having too much activity on the lake. Want to protect foliage and wildlife.	Looks good
Other (please specify)	Project Intent/Cost	While the master plan is absolutely gorgeous and exciting, I can't support the use of nearly $50m in taxpayer funds to redevelop this site without solving the main problem that the park board is concerned about: water pumping. Even with this plan, the site will still be pumping water. So it begs the question, if pumping is the reason the park board is so committed to redeveloping the site, why is it OK or worthwhile to be spending close to $50m in local residents' taxes to only partially solve a problem? And no, the state won't help you with this, just ask your esteemed/respected lobbyist counsel Brian Rice...there's no money and they'll laugh in your face. I applaud the very professional park board staff for doing their jobs so well and patiently. Tyler and your CEO (forgot his name, maybe David?) were so kind and calm even under pressures from the public. Out of my time participating in this project, I came away with a profound amount of respect for our park system's professionals. Unfortunately, I cannot say the same about the current state of the Park Board. The Park Board needs to understand that especially in the trying times of COVID and subsequent economic recession that will come of it, their use of dollars to support this project (1/2 solution) would be a slap in the face to homeowners during a time of great need. Property taxes aren't some abstract spread sheet; they are people, they are families, they are working single mothers/fathers. With reckless decisions, the Park Board will be pushing the hardest hit Minneapolitans out of their homes, expedited a land lord culture. Please reconsider your efforts to move forward with this project during these trying times. In the meantime, we can continue working on a real, permanent solution to the pumping situation--looking to broader watershed efforts and sources where polluted water are coming from.
Other (please specify)	Project Intent/Cost	While the master plan is absolutely gorgeous and exciting, I can't support the use of nearly $50m in taxpayer funds to redevelop this site without solving the main problem that the park board is concerned about: water pumping. Even with this plan, the site will still be pumping water. So it begs the question, if pumping is the reason the park board is so committed to redeveloping the site, why is it OK or worthwhile to be spending close to $50m in local residents' taxes to only partially solve a problem? And no, the state won't help you with this, just ask your esteemed/respected lobbyist counsel Brian Rice...there's no money and they'll laugh in your face. I applaud the very professional park board staff for doing their jobs so well and patiently. Tyler and your CEO (forgot his name, maybe David?) were so kind and calm even under pressures from the public. Out of my time participating in this project, I came away with a profound amount of respect for our park system's professionals. Unfortunately, I cannot say the same about the current state of the Park Board. The Park Board needs to understand that especially in the trying times of COVID and subsequent economic recession that will come of it, their use of dollars to support this project (1/2 solution) would be a slap in the face to homeowners during a time of great need. Property taxes aren't some abstract spread sheet; they are people, they are families, they are working single mothers/fathers. With reckless decisions, the Park Board will be pushing the hardest hit Minneapolitans out of their homes, expedited a land lord culture. Please reconsider your efforts to move forward with this project during these trying times. In the meantime, we can continue working on a real, permanent solution to the pumping situation--looking to broader watershed efforts and sources where polluted water are coming from.	General comments provided in previous box. Thanks.
Other (please specify)	The whole thing	I think you all are doing a fantastic job listening to the wide range of different opinions and heeding what the land itself needs. Thank you.	Great work!
Other (please specify)	Multiple topics ( See below)	Winter Rec: One of the biggest challenges in teaching kids to ski at Hiawatha is the flatness of the course. Learning hill technique is a critical part of Nordic skiing and it's nearly impossible to tech on flat ground. There are only two locations on the Hiawatha property where the geography allows for this, one near the current clubhouse, and the other in the south east corner near the tennis courts. Any ski course designs should be planned around this topography. My concern is that this will be primarily a golf course focused and sking will be an afterthought. When winter comes MPRB will say to the Loppet "just put the ski trail where ever you want" with no planning for what makes a good ski course. That's what used to be the case at Wirth and it's taken a lot of earth moving and tree removal etc to get to where it's at now. Skiing/running - larger park layout: While this may be outside the scope of the project, I'd like to see the ski course go around Lake Hiawatha on the east side. The same goes for the natural surface trail. There's a real desire for more natural surface running trail throughout the park system, as evidenced by the paths worn into the grass around all the lakes. The current plan has a natural surface trail that goes point to point. A loop trail would be preferable and one circling the lake would be best. Buildings: The new development on the south west corner of the site where Bergan's supermarket once stood will dramatically change the character of the neighborhood around Cedar and Minnehaha. The current proposal doesn't reflect this. The Hiawatha Maintenance Facility on that corner of the property is the only part of the entire parcel where there are no changes proposed. That corner could be a grand welcoming entrance to the property and instead it's sheds, shipping containers and piles of woodchips behind chain link fencing. Renovation of the historic maintenance building as a community gathering space would open up the park to the neighborhood in an area that is already a high traffic commercial node. This would better accommodate concerns about traffic, parking and noise than the current plan to place these amenities near the existing clubhouse in a single family residential area.	See number 2 - I put general comments there
Other (please specify)	Entire project	I’m excited by the whole thing.
Other (please specify)	Parking	I love this alternative overall! As a close neighbor to Lake Hiawatha, I really appreciate the considerations taken to minimize disruption to the existing neighborhood (minimal additional traffic, parking, noise). I understand there is a possibility for additional parking to be included in future phases (beyond the expanded parking in the clubhouse area shown in this draft). I would reiterate that additional parking lots on the property are concerning to our neighbors. On-street paid parking is less concerning to me and my neighbors. I live directly across from the golf course where paid parking had previously been considered earlier in the planning phases. These streets are already used for parking, especially in the summer. I don't believe creating paid street parking would cause an increase in traffic on our street, but I am concerned that additional lots would.	I love the design as a whole. I am particularly excited about the addition of the restaurant/bar and the natural walking path around the lake. I am glad the 9-hole golf course could be balanced with opportunities for passive recreation throughout the property. It feels very appropriate and realistic for meeting the needs of the surrounding community. Thank you for listening to the considerations of our neighborhood during the first design phases. Based on the meetings I attended and feedback that was given, I think this draft really speaks to the collaborative nature of the design process. Thanks for all of your work!
Other (please specify)	Biking infrastructure	I would really like to see an off-road biking course as proposed at one point.	I like the overall design except for the fact that keeping golf is short sighted. All future predictions show that golf is a sport of the past. It's a huge waste of space that could be instead developed into much better and more popular uses. It's too bad the board had to deal with the ridiculous save Hiawatha golf nut job reactionaries.
Other (please specify)	Food forest!	My neighbors and I have all been very excited about the idea of a food forest on the golf course land. So many reasons that this would be a wonderful addition to our neighborhood and I would be so proud to live near and volunteer at. We deserve a healthy lake hiawatha and step one of that is getting rid of the golf course. A food forest would be an incredible amenity to the park! Please consider this option!	Good riddance golf course! Hello healthy wetlands, a ecologically diverse and healthy park with community spaces! Also I would Loovveeee a small fenced dog park on the land too!
Other (please specify)	Food forest?	I thought a good forest was going to be part of the park, what happened to that?	I would love to have a Hiawatha food forest.
Other (please specify)	Food forest	This plan is missing the food forest! We have always needed local sustainable food systems and food justice. Now with the potential of food system collapse from covid 19 this ever present need should be crystal clear and moved on with life or death urgency. We can no longer afford the human health or ecological devastation of fossil fuel addiction, our food system and land use policy must immediately reflect this ongoing crisis. No recreation while others starve!
Other (please specify)	Paths	I appreciate the ample paths for runners and walkers -- thank you!
Other (please specify)	Estimates on visitor numbers, vehicle traffic increases, extension of bike path on E. 46th between Longfellow and Cedar, park signage	I am a resident on E. 46th St right before the entrance to the golf course. Today as the park is, cars speed down this short street to catch the light on Cedar & 46th - its constant and then a back up of traffic when busy. Having small children I am always on alert and concerned. In addition there is a bike path on E 46th that abruptly ends at Cedar and does not continue the one more block to the Golf course. 1. Will the bike path be extended this one more block so users can safely commute to the park? 2. Is there any traffic estimates for the usage, with a new restaurant/bar I foresee much more traffic and would love to see one speed bump added to E 46th between Longfellow and Cedar. Longfellow has multiple speed bumps already. 3. There used to be a Hiawatha golf course and learning center" sign and landscape in the greenway on 46th and Cedar, until a drunk driver smashed into it and took it all out last year, Will there be a new sign, landscape added to this greenway?	I like the ideas
Other (please specify)	Restaurants	First - what a great job! Makes me proud to be a Minnesotan. We love Sea Salt at Hiawatha, but so do very many patrons! It is always full. Same with the little place on Lake Calhoun. I believe there is a very high demand for restaurants with outdoor seating in beautiful places. I'd suggest you add a least a couple more restaurants. Maybe one at the boat storage facility, or a whole new location on Hiawatha Lake, maybe the east side. Connecting a restaurant with a play area is great in parks. Lets parents sit on deck and watch their kids. More restaurants, if possible!	Fantastic work. You've articulated the principles very well, and have done a great job balancing many goals. It will be a treasure for Minneapolis for a hundred years.
Project Introduction		I have previously taken issue with this project because the Commissioners have limited the scope of this design to a Minneapolis Park to address water management on the Hiawatha golf property and housing around it. Growing structures and paving in the city may be a cause for excess water that flows onto the course and lake, but it is not the only cause of the increasing water table in and around the property the design addresses. The design proposes to spend $43 million to beautify a flood plain without addressing the water management from the West (Lake Minnetonka) and South metro (airport and Mother's lake). Turning nine holes of the present golf course into a reservoir may address neighborhood runoff and reduce pumping temporarily. However, failure to address incoming flow the West and South will in-time stress the allowed pumping and cause ground water to threaten the remaining nine holes proposed and, I fear, continue the sink holes in the surrounding perimeter of the Hiawatha recreation area. I find it distressing that Minneapolis Commissioners propose spending $43 million on a temporary fix and beautification project and play the "not my job/problem" card on concern and threats to city parkland just because those threats are beyond city boundaries. What a breath of fresh air it would be if the Commissioners spoke with power of the largest city in the state to the legislature and said, "we have $43 million to support county watershed infrastructure from the West and South metro to address water management across the metro, through Minneapolis and to the Mississippi. Help us get this county, state problem addressed." I call this, Doing the right thing for the right reason.	See answer 2.
Project Introduction
Project Introduction		Strongly suggest Mpls Parks works on communication style. I'd love to see an executive summary that takes 30 seconds. If I'm interested in learning more, I can watch the video (31 minutes) or read the 15 slides which are crammed with words. It takes talent, effort, and time to communicate concisely. But it's worth it for the 400K Minneapolis residents. "I would have written a shorter letter, but I did not have the time."
Project Schedule		Delays associated with the high cost of the overall plan should not be allowed to hinder the immediate implementation of the stormwater treatment plan. Recreational amenities are the most expensive part of the plan yet are less critical than the ecological and climatological changes so critical in this time. Given the ecological impact of trash and pollution on the ecology of the Lake and downstream water bodies. This critical infrastructure work should proceed with the utmost urgency.
Project Schedule		I think we need several more years to study all this.	This park project seems to be a big waste of time and money.
Project Schedule		What is the timeline to actually implement these changes? How long will the reconstruction last? How long would the area be inaccessible to the public during the construction phases?	Generally support the plan.
Upland Habitat Preservation and Ecological Restoration		The plan makes a good attempt at balancing the multiple interests in the area, which I'll comment on next. One area in particular, which I think qualifies as "upland habitat" is the SE corner. The few undisturbed parcels in the city are important as habitat for species that have a territory larger than any park, but need a secluded area to nest and shelter. (These are exceptional species, usually predators, that are rare in cities, and it's an equity issue that chuldren and others in city neighborhoods are able to see them.) Someone, presumably on the Park Board or in partnership with you, has done a good job of protecting owls in that area, and maintaining that should be a priority. I think the way to do that is to keep any trails close the the southern border, and NOT cut into owl habitat.	First of all, I admire your solution to balance the competing interests. I am definitely not a golfer - once was enough! - but I recognize this as an equity issue for residents in the city, particularly because I gather this was raclally mixed when that was rare. A 9-hole course seems to be what this area can sustainably support, so is an acceptable comrpomise. Nonetheless, overall, I'd like to see more focus on the habitat and wildlife and the benefits for the environment: that benefits more residents than any other, but there is a limited audience that has a partisan interest like the relatively few golfers have for the course.
Upland Habitat Preservation and Ecological Restoration		- Can we expand the number of white pines in the SW corner of the park because they are so beautiful year round? - Hiawatha Food forest – lets continue to maintain the excellent fruit trees that have been planted and potentially expand them. Paved and non-paved trails – excellent - I am a trail runner and appreciate smaller surfaces and being closer to nature, without disturbing the wild life. Good to have good paved trail connectivity with other regional parks. Nature first - wetland and riparian area restoration - excellent. - Will we be able keep our family of beavers and their wonderful lodge? Would we need to plant a bunch of fast growing trees by the stream banks going up the creek toward Nokomis to keep the beavers happy? - Let's add habitat and stands/houses for owls, hawks, bats, wood ducks. - What else can be done to help turtles and frogs and to have spring peepers - Work to address invasive animal species like Carp.	Please see my previous overall comments THANKS
Upland Habitat Preservation and Ecological Restoration		Do not flood the course keep it at 18 hole and just improve the drainage. It has been there doing just fine all these years. It doesnt need to be developed into anything but a better golf course.	Just improve it .
Upland Habitat Preservation and Ecological Restoration		I am concerned that there is not enough natural habitat in this plan. Natural habitat is important for wildlife, for cleansing of water, for prevention of flooding, and for the support of pollinators. It also is an important resource for the entire community.	I am concerned that there is not enough natural habitat in this plan. Natural habitat is important for wildlife, for cleansing of water, for prevention of flooding, and for the support of pollinators. It also is an important resource for the entire community.
Upland Habitat Preservation and Ecological Restoration		Please re-route trails in Southeast area (owl habitat) and along west edge of L. Hiawatha (otter habitat) so as not to disturb the great horned owls or the otters, currently found in those areas. No construction or excavation in ecologically sensitive areas, such the owl habitat or the south side of the lake.	Glad that MPRB has compromised with a 9-hole course. Eager to see that a vision of ecological responsibility will protect both the natural and the cultural history of this park. This would include the set-aside of Nature First Habitat where visitors can observe wildlife from a distance, without disturbing it. Glad to see that creek connectivity will be restored.
Upland Habitat Preservation and Ecological Restoration		I urge you to preserve and protect as much of the wildlife of this area as possible. Community spaces for recreation and gathering are important, but with the climate changing quickly, it is becoming increasingly important to act now to create more harmony and balance with the delicate ecosystems for which we are stewards. Future generations depend on us to make wise choices today that will have beneficial, long term consequences.	See previous comments.
Upland Habitat Preservation and Ecological Restoration		Very glad to see an emphasis on expanding habitat preservation/restoration. Prior to this design the Lake Hiawatha area accommodated two ideas: golf and a play area. Neither acknowledged the richness of the natural area. It should be unified into one area with an underlying emphasize on nature. It will be nice if people can walk around (foot path) the lake and tie some of the storm sewer areas to the lake.	Glad the plan is looking at the area as a whole. Also, glad the golf course won't be the dominate feature on the west side. Many more people will be able to appreciate the habitat with the preferred design.
Upland Habitat Preservation and Ecological Restoration		I hope you will follow the recommendations of the Audubon Society Minneapolis Chapter.
Upland Habitat Preservation and Ecological Restoration		Please take into account the recommendations of the Minneapolis Chapter of the Audubon Society. Thank you.
Upland Habitat Preservation and Ecological Restoration		How many trees are you killing?	You are destroying our neighborhood.
Upland Habitat Preservation and Ecological Restoration		Please take into consideration how many people actually golf compared to what this would do for our environment as well as servicing more people. (cleaner air, flooding amelioration, pollinators and wildlife, budget considerations of how money could be employed to upgrade a community center with latest technology) if it were converted to natural habitat. I golf but not frequently and would certaining be willing to give up that small pleasure for the greater good. Thank you for considering this.
Upland Habitat Preservation and Ecological Restoration		I’d like details on how this will protect current habitat and what will happen to the local wildlife during the construction phase.	Fantastic plan! A great compromise!
Water Management		Flooding from excessive runoff into our area of the watershed. It floods Nokomis pathways, Lake Hiawatha, Hiawatha Golf Course, the homes around the lakes and golf course. It poisons the lakes, filtration ponds, closes the beaches. The filtration ponds already don’t get maintained. The new wet lands in the golf course would just immediately fill up and would no longer be helpful for spreading watershed. We are the bottom of the huge Minnehaha Watershed and the water just all lands here. More rain, Minnetonka and surrounding communities just dump it downstream and we can’t manage that much water, run off, pollution. Save our money and do it once and do it right and sustainably! We don’t want bells and whistles, just dry paths, open beaches, usable golf course, a stable water table that allows for sewer repairs and dry basements, trees that stay alive! Just save what we already have! PLEASE!	Please just keep the public 12 hole golf course, pump the excessive water that we get dumped on from upstream, there is no downside to that. Use the money you would use on all those improvements to maintain what we have and don’t soak up more water from upstream. We are saturated. Our water table needs help. We need help from the UofM and geological services to figure out solutions LONG TERM sustainably! Don’t settle for anything less!!
Water Management		$40 million project to remove 100 pounds of phosphorus. That is incredibly expensive. Furthermore, after spending $40 million we will not have a clean lake. We also will see no difference in the pollution monitoring downstream in the Mississippi River at Grey Cloud Island. See the State of the River report...http://stateoftheriver.com/state-of-the-river-report/ There is so much pollution coming from Ag lands that this project won't make a difference. This project is a poor way to spent limited environmental restoration dollars. THIS IS A FEEL GOOD PROJECT WITH NO MEANINGFUL ENVIRONMENTAL OUTCOMES AND THE COST IS TOO HIGH. It would be better to scale back the entire wetland project and just capture trash. In the big picture, phosphorus from the neighborhood is not a problem especially since the source is natural..decaying organic matter and animal fecal matter.	This is a feel good project with no substantive environmental outcomes. Ag pollution is so great, that testing downstream will not measure any difference.
Water Management		How can you fill the golf course area with water and expect to have MORE flood storage. It doesn't make sense. Currently the golf course is a flood water storage basin and it is dry. The new design will provide less flood storage capacity.	This is a lot of money to spend on a project that will provide less flood water storage than existing.
Water Management		Water quality - Great plan to mitigate the north pipe to prevent trash from flowing into the lake. Need to invest in maintaining and cleaning out the storm water BMPS. - Excellent for phosphorous reduction through the above ground filtration - Make sure the City of Minneapolis installs more BMPs upstream - How to prevent the overall amount of pollution and litter from Minnehaha Creek upstream? - Keep the trash that you pull out and give it to Sean C to make Art. - Need to educate people about litter, consumption, storm drains and the connection with Hiawatha. - Is there a way to remove the trash and plastic in the middle of the water column? Reduced and Targeted pumping - Good plan for targeted pumping to protect the adjacent houses. Wetland Restoration and Water Trails - Excellent expand flood storage capacity in the watershed to be ready for larger, multi day rain events, when storms get stuck because of changes in the jet stream. Great to have kayak and canoe storage areas and rental opportunities. THANKS	Please see my previous overall comments THANKS
Water Management		It has been a frustrating experience watching the Park Board's efforts to move this project forward without a clear mandate from the community, and despite clear and legitimate concerns brought forward by Minneapolis residents and CAC members on two fronts - destruction of a unique Park Board recreation site with a long history central to African American residents of Minneapolis, and potential property damage due to improper management of wafer. In the absence of true openness by either the Park Board or the city of Minneapolis about their real motivations for spending 40 million dollars on this site, my working assumption is that the site offers a unique opportunity to store water and offer a flood plain buffer in response to two driving factors: improper or inadequate water management practices in the areas upstream from the site along Minnehaha Creek, extending to its source, and anticipated increase in frequency of flooding as a result of global warming. While the project planning team has a limited and well-defined mandate to move this project forward, they can reflect the concerns expressed by Minneapolis residents on these larger issues by following through diligently and thoroughly on one of the team's guiding principles: "Protect Homes from groundwater intrusion to the same extent they are protected today" In a sense, this is an uninspiring standard of performance given the flooding of homes in areas adjacent to nearby Solomon Park as a result of past government projects and actions. But, if taken seriously, the guiding principle at least obligates the project team to provide a clear, detailed and public accounting of water flow rates into and out of the site before and after the project. These estimates should be based on an accurate water model of the site, something which has not been developed by any of the government entities involved in discussions of the project, nor by private firms hired as consultants such as Barr Engineering. To do less would represent a continuation of the same pattern of behavior by the Park Board: turning a deaf ear to community concerns, and pushing this initiative forward without a clear understanding of impacts on water in the area, or on the many adjacent properties owned by the taxpayers of Minneapolis.
Water Management		I hope that plans for mitigation of trash running into the lake takes priority if any funding or plans change because of COVID19. This is critical to prevent further damage to the lake and harm to the varied and abundant wildlife that lives at the lake. I also would like to see a complete moratorium on using any fungicides, pesticides or fertilizer on the golf course or any land adjacent to the lake. The natural meandering of the creek can prevent some of the sediment and flooding and hope that the health of the lake takes precedence.	I am pleased that the MPRB took time to hear from the public. As I have followed much of this process, I have been heartened by some decisions and worried about others. While we love the opportunity to observe the diverse wildlife that lives at the lake, like the beavers, otters, and much more, I do hope that they get enough space and range to create truly functional habitat. Trail placements should give as much room to wildlife as possible.
Water Management		If pumping is decreased or stoped The Minneapolis Park Board will be thoughtlessly and recklessly damning dozens of families to either spend thousands upon thousands on otherwise unnecessary home modifications or forcing them to take enormous losses by selling their once valuable homes for next to nothing, as the waterlogged, decaying structures they will become. The only reason I can think of that public servants would be so negligent of the lives they would be ruining is if they could personally profit from this action in some way, and it would not surprise me in least to find that I am correct in thinking this. Pumping causes no damage to the existing environment, there have been ecological studies done on this specific case that verify that, and reduced pumping will causes changes in the water table that will destroy the neighborhood.	The 18 hole Hiawatha golf course is a neighborhood staple, and a completely self sufficient one, at that. Nearly every other lake in the city is being exploited for profit, there is no need for the city to overrun the neighborhood in order to get a few bucks from a tiny, and often un-swimable lake. The golf course is also home to numerous animals that have been driven from their habitats, by overrunning it with additional people the park board would be forcing animals from their place of refuge.
Water Management		The MPRB, MCWD, City of Minneapolis, and DNR have not responded to continued citizen requests for a comprehensive study of the Lower Minnehaha Creek Watershed to demonstrate the interplay of ground and surface water coming from the Southeastern portion of the Watershed. Until a comprehensive study is completed that explains the interaction of ground and surface water in the broader area beyond the golf course a plan of this magnitude should not be approved. The MPRB, MCWD and City of Minneapolis are "putting the cart before the horse". Furthermore, a comprehensive study would illustrate where the water is coming from. How much of it is due to increased development in the Western suburbs? If funding for the Regional Water Management component is coming from the City of Minneapolis, I would argue that the City will be liable along with the MPRB and MCWD for any damage to homes resulting from the change in water management. As a Minneapolis tax payer, I am disappointed that our elected officials are not being transparent about the true risk to homes in the Hiawatha Golf Course area. As a City, we have an obligation to protect our neighbors who are hardworking taxpayers as well. If homeowners cannot be assured of protection, the City and MPRB should include the cost of buying out homeowners or mitigating problems created by the redesign in the Master Plan.	The 18 hole Hiawatha Golf Course is a true treasure. The absence of 18 holes in this plan is a failure on the part of the MPRB. The CAC listed an 18 hole course as a priority. The MPRB, MCWD, and City of Minneapolis have failed to be transparent about why they want to eliminate 18 holes. It has everything to do with storm water storage and filtering and very little to do with all of the amenities being presented. The Master Plan should state that: "Regional Water Management cannot be implemented without simultaneous funding and development of the Golf Course Enterprise". If these two things are not completed at the same time, it is possible that the Regional Water Management piece will be completed soon and we could wait for years for the Golf Enterprise to be completed.
Water Management		I love that you're going to expand the lake. I live a few hundred yards from the SE corner of the lake and the creek, and I can't wait for the path around the current west bank of the lake. Rock on.
Water Management		The details shared in the master plan online regarding water management are very vague. Many great sounding ideas are mentioned but they all sound expensive and challenging to execute as well as maintain. Is snowmaking for winter activities really one of the things that will be done with pumped water? Replacing the stormwater pipe on the north end with a channel sounds great - where will the channel run? How big will it be? Will that hurt neighboring homes? In the section on floodplain it states, "This design can better accommodate the complicated hydrology and anticipated flows resulting from our changing climate, including more frequent extreme rainfall events." How? What about the design does this? Is it all dependent on landscaping? Is there special equipment? Since our climate is changing how does this create a solution that will be viable in 10 years? 20 years and beyond? What if we have a series of dry, hot summers? The water management is a huge part Hiawatha Golf Course and it's disappointing there is one page with vague possibilities used to address it.	It sounds like the park board is trying to make the golf course everything for everyone. As a Minneapolis resident, neighbor of the course and taxpayer it would be nice to see more resources devoted to the quality of fewer things. Keep golf. The course is close to many impoverished areas. Create programs that involve more youth and build communities with the adults. Renovate the clubhouse so it is a beautiful event space that can be rented for weddings and large gatherings. There are many other community gathering places close at Lake Nokomis. Narrow the focus of the plan and do things better.
Water Management		The plans for water management are still very vague and ambiguous. You say that you will continue to protect homes at the same level as they are today, but with all the addition of fill, water, and nothing that shows how you will take water out of the system it is difficult to embrace this plan. Jen Koehler makes many reference to what "may" happen but there is nothing concrete. Also, she talks about potentially using the water for irrigation or snow making for cross country skiing. Again, the Loppet is bleeding and in debt, do we really believe you will recreate this disaster at Hiawatha? Dismantling the CAC is disingenuous to keeping the community involved in the planning process. It is as if you hit an impasse and no longer want community input but the ability to say that the CAC was involved. The Comprehensive Plan, Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board, 2007-2020 states the MPRB Mission, Vision, and Values. The Number 1 guiding principle: Protect People Property and the Environment. Number 2 is Maintain and Enhance infrastructure. You have yet to show a viable method to reduce pumping that will in fact attain #1. And if Nokomis is any indication of how Hiawatha will be maintained we should continue to be worried as the fluctuation of Nokomis has adversely affected infrastructure not only in the park but to residential property. Invasive cattails are out of control. Erosion continues yearly and walking paths need to be replace almost as often with the lake continually overflowing. If this is how the MPRB maintains infrastructure we should be worried about losing floodplain and a maintained golf course. The MPRB's lack of transparency manipulation of numbers has been a disappointment in this process. I am not for any of these plans at the cost of $42 million dollars as it does not show definitively how it will protect homes.	It is about time that the MPRB puts a garbage mitigation plan in place at the north pipe but I do not think a whole redesign was necessary to do so, especially at this cost. There will be an extensive amount of upheaval to the wildlife with the vast amount of movement of dirt and water. With all of the restaurants now struggling to stay in business I think it is ridiculous to add another to the community. Our community should be supporting the many businesses struggling to stay afloat versus competing with them with our tax dollars. We should not be spending money changing a course that has protected homes and would sustain itself if it were maintained better, just to be a dumping ground for the city surface sewer water that should be piped to the river instead of flooding homes down the creek. Hiawatha was never intended to drain the amount of water out of the whole watershed. This plan is a debacle.
Water Management		PUMPING Pumping has been a main theme of the MPRB's reason to get rid of the 18-hole golf course. So, let's talk a little about pumping. First of all, let us remember that the linchpin reason given for reducing pumping was that Hiawatha Golf Course was violating their pumping permits. SaveHiawatha18 proved that Hiawatha Golf Course has never violated the only 2 permits that they had which were for irrigation of the golf course. The pumping was to dewater the golf course, for which the DNR had not required a permit. The MPRB was asked to answer the questions of "Why do they want to reduce pumping?" and "Why is Pumping Bad?". They have published a response that did not answer either question. So, they haven't fulfilled this CAC request yet. Let's talk about saving money on pumping. Based on electric bills provided to SaveHiawatha18 by the MPRB for Hiawatha Golf Course, we are spending $42-62 million to save a few hundred dollars per year in pumping cost. From 2011 to 2018, the TOTAL ANNUAL electric bills for Hiawatha Golf Course ranged from $993 (2017) to $2,375 (2013) PER YEAR. The Pump House portion of that bill ranged from $174 (2012) to $252 (2016) PER YEAR. So, for $42 million dollars we can pay the whole electric bill for at least 17,684 years. For the same $42 million dollars we can pay the whole pump house bill for at least 166,666 years. Thus, the cost of pumping is not an issue! In the new plan, the pumping will be moved into the neighborhoods. But, there are few details given as to how this will work and how much water will be pumped. Thus, the CAC request for detailed engineering plans is unfulfilled at this time. There is a bit of discussion about using the pumped water for golf course irrigation and snow-making. This brings up the following questions about groundwater pumping distribution as specified in the plan: On page 9 the MPRB shows that snowmaking will be done near the current maintenance building. On page 7 you show it in the park area at 44th and Longfellow. Is it both places? Why do you need it at 44th and Longfellow????? How are you irrigating the north eastern portion of the golf course? Groundwater Pumping Distribution diagram- Does this mean that you are trying to move the water south on Longfellow Ave. through the hill at 46th St. to get it to the irrigation system? It appears that the water is also being discharged to the channel, which will just be pumping the water in a circle. What percentage of water will be drawn back and repumped? Your previous number for this system was 46%?	Moving pumping of the water into the neighborhoods is the most insane part of this plan! It is time for the MPRB to give up on this idea and start to mitigate water in a responsible way. For South Minneapolis, the City of Minneapolis and the MPRB need to change their focus to putting in something like the E. 39th St. pipe to the Mississippi River which was considered in the late 1970's. You are already doing a similar project along I-35W, pumping water north to Franklin Ave., and then through the Franklin Ave. pipe to the Mississippi River.
Water Management		PROTECTING THE HOMES FROM FLOODING This is the most important item to the CAC, and absolutely no engineering details are given as to how the neighborhoods will be protected from flooding. It is stated that the golf course will be elevated above the normal water level of Lake Hiawatha, which would be above 814.2 feet. This will put an enormous amount of fill on this property which will totally change the current flood plain. This would also appear to trap water in the neighborhoods rather than having the current downward flow into and through the golf course. Is the golf course a new berm? The statement that this new design will "better accommodate the complicated hydrology and anticipated flows resulting from our changing climate, including more frequent extreme rainfalls" is highly suspect. The tiny amount of extra water storage is unlikely to accommodate the increased water due to increased infrastructure development in both Minneapolis and the suburbs, and expected climate change. Plus, part of the plan states that it expects to get money from "watershed credits" which means that the MPRB will be selling water storage to developers and other communities to make money off of the Lake Hiawatha neighborhood, and thus, dumping more water into Lake Hiawatha. The "complicated hydrology" of the area is a concern considering that the MPRB and MCWD have not effectively solved the problems of too much water in South Minneapolis over the past 40 years. For more information see, Lake Hiawatha, the Dumping Ground" on the SaveHIawatha18.com web-site. THE 43RD STREET PIPE This plan would change the 43rd street pipe that runs under the golf course to Lake Hiawatha to an open channel starting at 43rd St. and 19th Ave. S. The statement that this new channel will include "an opportunity to reduce flooding in the watershed to the north" is concerning. This indicates that the City and Park Board will allow even more water to be dumped into Lake Hiawatha which the lake already struggles to handle. This continues the last 40 years of using Lake Hiawatha as a dumping ground for water because it is a cheap solution. This can't continue! Plus, the original Barr documents stated that no grading analysis had been done to see if this channel would even work. Has this been done? Because, if it doesn't work, the houses on 19th and 43rd will end up being the water repository. It has been stated that this will allow trash mitigation to be done, but the trash mitigation can be done on the current pipe without making this change. It is unclear how an open channel will substantially reduce pollutants to Lake Hiawatha when the whole system is really one bigger lake. To remove 100 pounds of phosphorus in the channel, you will have to dredge the channel to remove the plants that take up the phosphorus before they die in the fall. Otherwise, the plants will just die and release the phosphorus back into the water, and thus, into Lake Hiawatha. It is true that the whole system will "require long-term maintenance to be successful." The problem with this is that the Park Board has been woefully inadequate at maintaining current infrastructure (like tennis courts, Nokomis constructed wetlands, park buildings, golf courses), so why would we expect that they would maintain this complex system?	Please look into other ways to mitigate the water that comes into Lake Hiawatha by involving all contributors in solving the problem and mitigating their own water. The Hiawatha neighborhood no longer deserves to be the dumping ground for water by the whole watershed. Otherwise, you will really destroy this neighborhood, and the City of Minneapolis will be buying out and demolishing homes in South Minneapolis. This last sentence was expressed by a water expert.
Water Management		WETLAND RESTORATION The MPRB has called this project a wetland restoration project. This project will be anything but a wetland restoration project. The amount of excavation that will need to be done to get 9 holes of golf above 814.2 feet will be massive, totally reconstructing this former wetland. PHOSPHORUS MITIGATION It is totally unclear how phosphorus mitigation will be done with all of this open water. Also, the MPRB and MCWD have not been diligent in maintaining existing BMPs for phosphorus reduction, for example, at Lake Nokomis. Why would they maintain this huge one any better? The following phosphorus mitigation assessment comes from the hydrologist in the SaveHiawath18 group: We consider the described phosphorus mitigation to be a false premise for needing to do these modifications. According to the MCWD's annual reporting, total phosphorus concentrations from sample stations along Minnehaha Creek between Excelsior Blvd and Hiawatha Avenue range from approximately 69 micrograms per liter (ug/L) and 75 ug/L. Someone should ask, are these concentrations significantly elevated and do they warrant spending $42M to mitigate at the tail end of the watershed? The phosphorus concentrations in the surface waters didn't increase overnight; they are the result of 75+ years of loading within the watershed and have been steadily decreasing and will continue to decline based on current BMPs and practices that limit the use of phosphorus in the last 10 - 15 years. Since the problem developed over the last 75+ years, it'll take longer than 1 or 2 years to reduce the problem, and the concentrations can be expected to continue to decline over time regardless of any new mitigation strategies. IN ADDITION: The requirement to mitigate phosphorus is determined by the City of Minneapolis's National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permit. This is the City's agreement with the MPCA (and in turn the EPA) for the outfall of where Minnehaha Creek discharges to the Mississippi River (compliance point). The City's NPDES permit limit for total phosphorus is 100 ug/L. This is important because the total phosphorus concentration in the last sampling station at Hiawatha Avenue is 77 ug/L. As such, the City is currently meeting the permit requirements with regard to phosphorus and the MPCA would not require mitigation. If someone comes back and says, "but because Lake Nokomis and Lake Hiawatha are considered Class 2B waters and the total phosphorus limits were set at 50 ug/L" (which is actually really strange because the phosphorus limits in these lakes were only recently designated in the state statute for some reason, and the state statute only specifically calls out about 10 of the 15,000+ lakes in the state), I would argue that these are not the compliance points for the entire watershed, the compliance point is the Mississippi River outlet. If the MCWD or the MPCA want to consider these lakes to be the compliance point, then they need to mitigate the phosphorus upstream of these waters in order to meet their cleanup goal. As referenced in the Barr Report, Lake Hiawatha is just a section of the creek that has been widened, but the MPCA called it a lake because it's over 15 feet deep (or something like that). Plus, it has become clear that reducing pollution (phosphorus) is just another bogus statement made the MPRB to justify this project.
Water Management		You don’t know enough about what will happen to the homes in the area if you make any changes.	I think the whole project is a ridiculous use of tax payer money. The golf course as it is is just fine.
Water Management		Before doing anything, we need to figure out how to get water out of Minnehaha creek and residential areas. Communities upstream of Minneapolis need to take back storm water.
Water Management		1. Why would you proceed with a project this size and not have a study completed by the USGS or UM hydrologists to advise you what your changes might mean to water issues in the neighborhoods? The MPRB is going on the authority of architectural landscapers. A respectable profession; but, not exactly science. Many have requested that MPRB enlist USGS or U of M to do a study but the MPRB has not professed any interest in doing so. 2. Why would you make the changes to this property that you propose and only provide protection to neighborhood homes that result in "PROTECT HOMES FROM GROUNDWATER INTRUSION TO THE SAME DEGREE THEY ARE TODAY". First of all, when you flood my home, who is going to make the determination that you did something stupid; or, actually I was as safe as I was before and your changes had nothing to do about it. I am not going to trust your word. Are you going to take my word for it that I flooded because or your changes to the property? Secondly, why in the world would you spend millions and have a goal of only keeping the homes as safe as they were before your changes? This is an opportunity to improve flood safety in the neighborhood and the MPRB is just blowing past it. Well, I guess you ARE trying to make the Golf Course more flood resilient....just not the homes. What great neighbors the MPRB has been through this whole process and what a great neighbor you continue to be. 3. Why doesn't the MPRB, if you are so confident in your plan, bond or insure the homes, in the neighborhood surrounding the golf course, in the event your actions cause damage? 4. I am concerned that the new location for the pumps and snowmaking equipment will be unsightly and loud. If the location of this hardware has a negative impact on quality of life, quietness, or property values....who we see to have this equipment moved? For crying out loud you have acres upon acres to place this equipment. Why put it across the street from homes!	This property is a major asset to the city of Minneapolis and surrounding communities. Mayors and other city leaders are always confronted with how they appeal to business and labor to attract multiracial groups of people. Golf is one of the ways. You need to get this right (without harming the neighborhood via flooding, traffic, noise, etc) in order to grow the community. In lieu of the MPRB's recent performance, this should not be left only to them to make the decisions that will dictate the nature of this property for decades. The City, County, and Metropolitan council should be at the table on this project.
Water Management		Please keep pumping to protect the neighborhood homes and keep and maintain and 18 hole course.	Our neighbors are important and deserve to have dry basements when we can easily keep pumping. The course should remai. 18 holes and stay dry thorough pumping. It’s an important amenity to our community.
Water Management		It doesn’t make sense to flood the basin and expect to have more capacity to store floodwater. Also the amount of storage space is Adrià in the bucket compared to the total amount of water moving through Hiawatha. This is a terrible idea.	Terrible idea!
Water Management		Is the park board just making up "water management?" It seems like you're intentionally flooding South Minneapolis with your parkway and Hiawatha plans and either 1) you're incompetent or 2) in bed with developers.	It is an historic black championship public course. You should be preserving it not making a land grab.
Water Management		I know that you are convinced that the Hiawatha wetlands area is not hydroloically connected to the Nokomis/Mother lake watershed/ground water system. That just does not make sense to me as the area was a contiguous swamp prior to dredging in the 1920's. We also know that stormwater drains from Mother Lake through a culvert along 16th avenue/Nokomis Lane to Nokomis. It then drains from Nokomis into Minnehaha Creek which then goes through Hiawatha. Water from the south definitely has to pass through Hiawatha to drain to the Mississippi River. I guess that making it more flood resilient helps this issue. I just wish there would have been a willingness to consider the broader region as part of the watershed considerations.	No additional comments from previous feedback.
Water Management		Actually do water management	Restore a historic black golf course
Water Management		That you are recklessly flooding south minneapolis, you don’t have water management plan at all. Wetland and retention ponds will only bring more water in.	It is a historic black golf course and should remain that way
Water Management		I am glad you are opening up the amount fof space for paddling and offering storage on-site for watercraft.	This seems like a well balanced plan that takes into account the needs of the entire communtiy and not just the small percentage that golf.
Water Management		I think the master plan is an excellent reimagining of what water can and should be on this site. I like how it's woven throughout the plan and treated as what it should be--a precious resource with numerous uses.	I think the plan does a really good job of expanding use on this site while still including a full-length 9-hole golf course. Love the trails and water trails that weave through without disrupting the golf.
Water Management		I think the water issue could have been solved with holding ponds on the existing 18-hole course. There is plenty of room to hold the "excess" water with a pond between holes 11 and 17 and another across the fairway on 13. I assume that the decision to reduce Hiawatha golf course to 9 holes was made and the water was an excuse to make that happen. It is disappointing to see the direction the Park Board has taken across the city. I'd like to assume the motives are pure and altruistic, but I see little evidence.
Water Management		More a question, which I could not find addressed in the Master plan document or the presentation. Will the level of the water in the golf area and in Lake Hiawatha be the same? Will boaters be able to freely go back and forth between them? If not, what is the barrier like? Currently there is a berm which maintains a differential between the two. The plan maps only show the general flow of water generally eastward.	You are to be commended for a lot of hard work and for the masterplan produced. I have attended most of the meetings since before we discovered that so much water was being pumped to keep the golf course operational in 2015 September. I think we have finally reached a viable compromise. My only concern is about a swimming beach.
Water Management		I know that the change in pumping will cause the change in lake size depicted in this master plan (expanding it and causing parts of the golf course to now be part of the lake). I have a hard time wrapping my head around that fully, especially given that it seems a bit like the new "lake addition" would fluctuate in size. I'm sure that's not the case due to pumping changes - but if there's a way for you to add details about this for the lay person in the final plan (reassuring us that the lake will remain as water we can interact with) that might be helpful. With so much hinging on interacting with the lake in this new area (ice skating, paddling, boardwalks) I'd like to better understand how the hydrology works at a high level. In my head it seems like it would just be one big wetland rather than part wetland, part lake.
Water Management		The new features to filter trash from stormwater and remove excess phosphorous are really critical improvements. I am confused by how this is depicted on the map. The images of a stormwater terrace and the discussion of how much water can pass through this channel from a storm makes it seem like the area needed to treat this volume of water is larger than a little dot on the map. Is this depiction accurate? The "storm sewer with backflow prevention" marks are confusing. Does this mean that storm water from streets will discharge into the lake at multiple locations and these are separate from the new stormwater terrace? Wouldn't there be a benefit of BMPs at each location? I would hope any other BMP features would be indicated on the master plan.
Water Management		I am glad to see the discussion of neighborhood priorities. It is encouraging to see how this plan describes changes both above ground and below ground. The future plans to collect data and protect homes to the extent they are today is helpful, but if I was a CAC member or adjacent resident, it would be difficult to judge what this means. I understand that a new pumping system is capable of protecting homes while decreasing pumping, however, this plan does not detail that this is the most likely outcome. In previous reports, the planning team has stated that a freeboard of 6 inches is sufficient to protect homes to the extent they are today. I am not aware of any communication in the last several years with a similarly detailed target for the final engineering. The are multiple reasons to be concerned that 6 inches is not sufficient to protect homes. If the final engineering intends to use the same freeboard, then this master plan is not meeting the neighborhood's top priority. However, since it gives no specifics there is no way to know. The master plan could discuss any number of concrete steps that would clearly indicate how this priority could be accomplished. It could state what criteria would be used during final engineering to determine whether or not homes will be protected to the extent they are today. It is clear there is uncertainty in providing a specific value. So an alternative would be to state how this criteria will be established in the future. Next, the plan could explain who will develop these criteria and have final say in the engineering criteria. So far, it does not appear the master plan does any of these, and this is a disappointing omission for the top priority of the master plan.
Water Management		I'm glad to see that making sure keeping surrounding homes dry is being addressed. I really like the idea of using water for snowmaking! I love cross country skiing and am exciting for the fence to be removed and be able to just ski across the street and get on the trail
Water Management		I am very glad to see that the storm drain on the north end of the lake will be addressed and remedied	To walk around the entire lake is so nice! I agree with those expressing concern for the path being to close to where the otters have their homes. It shouldn't be too difficult to work around that small area.
Water Management		1. Why are we adding additional wetlands to a metro area? You did this at lake nokomis only not to maintain but also provide serious problems for homeowners with water coming into their basement. Wetlands only raise the water levels so I do not understand and you have not provided enough evidence on the science to manage. 2. I live in South Mpls and love the parks and trails available however become sad and unimpressed by the maintenance of our parks. The lawn mowing, trash and overall maintenance is extremely poor. I give it 3 out of 10. I take pride in our city and the employees trusted with the upkeep should be held accountable. Just look at lake nokomis with the addition of art, wetlands and trails the first year it was installed and then today. A drastic difference. Your track record is poor and not accountable to the community that you serve and receive tax payments to support. 3. The investment of 43 million on improvements to Hiawatha will not be enough. The actual cost will be closer to 100 million. This has been proven over and over again with various city projects. Mpls public library downtown mpls is a good example. $60,000 a year to manage the water is also very unrealistic. This will be closer to $250,000 and one of the most critical parts of this entire project. Get it right! 4. The city has allowed for residential development around Lake Hiawatha and therefore has a responsibility to protect homeowner property first. What is done is done and there is no turning back unless the city is prepared to buy out those homeowners affected and redevelop a much larger area. These homeowners have entered into a contract with the city by paying their property taxes and therefore the city must be held accountable to any actions that impact their homes. The science has not been proven that the new plan will effectively manage the water table.	The overall plan is lovely however I do not feel you are addressing the real issue here. You are messing with nature to try to return this land to its original and natural habitat however you have a real problem with the development of residential property. You must manage the water and water table levels for this area or be prepared to buy out all the residents that will be impacted. With a budget of 43 million take 1-million and get several additional opinions from other national resources that are experts in managing wetlands adjacent to residential neighborhoods. A small price to pay to get it right and build the confidence of this community.
Water Management		I really appreciate the effort to reduce pumping of water and to restore parts of the park to wetland areas (closer to what they were, long ago).	Also really love the additional walking / biking paths. This will become my go-to neighborhood park.
Water Management		Water management and flood mitigation should be the primary goal of the re-development plan, golf should be secondary (if that).	A reduction of water pumping and the restoration of natural wetland is rightly addressed, with golf only where the elevation allows. I am very happy to see an organized winter use for the park with pumped water being put to good use in snowmaking for skiing trails. This will become more important over the years as winter weather changes from it's historic normals. Lets get a little version of Theodore Wirth for Southeast Minneapolis. Well planned over-all.
Water Management		My concern regarding ground water pumping: how will you ensure that nearby homes will be protected from ground water intrusion while the project is under construction, and while the pumping equipment is being relocated? Will nearby residents have guarantees? I leave nearby and am contemplating buying flood insurance until the switchover is made.	I support the proposed plan.
Water Management		What is going to happen when the DNR takes over the new water areas and the city can do anything to the new made water areas and they fill up like lake Hiawatha? I am just seeing a problem in 50 years of the same problem we are having with thw water table being up a couple of feet because of settlement	The Hiawatha park area is a fun and wonderful area. I am worried the new design doesnt really address the problems for long term just short term solution to the problem that will cause issues later.
Water Management		What is going to happen when the DNR takes over the new water areas and the city can do anything to the new made water areas and they fill up like lake Hiawatha? I am just seeing a problem in 50 years of the same problem we are having with thw water table being up a couple of feet because of settlement
Wetland Habitat Preservation and Ecological Restoration		The presence of otters in the city is marvelous, so care should be taken not to disturb their habitat by building a path around the west side of the lake. We want people to enjoy them, but not to the point of driving them out. Restoration of the creek corridor is the right direction.	(submitted in a prior survey)
Wetland Habitat Preservation and Ecological Restoration		Decrease the amound of area that is dedicated to the wetland. See how many more golf holes you can create. Even if it is a 9 hole plus a 3 hole loop. Great for beginners. MPRB	It is disappointing that the MPRB is willing to spend so much public money in an area that is a choke point for the Minnehaha watershed. We need to move the water through this area more quickly. Most areas need to slow and store water--NOT THIS AREA. We have too much water. Let's move it through quickly. This plan will endanger homes. Created duplicative services. Too costly. Will create more burden on public coffers. Is not good timing with the pandemic. Why not delay at least?
Wetland Habitat Preservation and Ecological Restoration		I think this is the most important part of this project. The problems and controversy have all been around the water. More than ever we need to restore the beauty of our neighborhood treasures, and lake Hiawatha and the surrounding land are treasures. It shouldn’t be about serving the most vocal, or those that stand to gain the most. It should be about bringing the natural beauty back to what it can be. We only have our nearby surroundings during this pandemic, and that should be a red flag to all of us about how wobbly our world really is. Golfing is for a few, nature is for everyone. Let’s do whatever it takes to restore the wetland and allow the wildlife and plants that belong there flourish. Limit the pumping, stop the drainage problems, let nature do its thing as much as it can given the homes across the street. Why do those residents want to save the golf course?? Don’t they understand that the course is the reason why they are sitting on water?? Thank you.	I hope that we can make this an urban oasis for all to enjoy. There are many golf courses available in nearby locations..
Wetland Habitat Preservation and Ecological Restoration		I support the plan generally with these minor concerns. 1. trail placement A. in the southernmost area of the plan the trail should go on the south side of the tennis courts not the northern side. This trail if placed the way the plan shows would put the trail in the owl habitat and encroach upon important habitat with too much traffic. B. The foot trail along the western shore of Lake Hiawatha is too close to otter habitat and should be moved further west to avoid displacing otters. 2. preservation of existing habitat. no construction or work should occur within the delta habitat care should be taken to have adequate buffers between construction zones and existing wildlife residences. 3. No chemicals should be used in vegetation management near Lake Hiawatha.The balance of the ecosystem is too fragile to withstand more toxins in the water. It is important to note that cattails are a key part of the food web at Lake Hiawatha, providing food and cover for many species of wildlife. As the health of the Lake improves other species will become more prominent.	I support the plan generally. I also am hoping for the immediate implementation of stormwater treatment as quickly as possible. The water management and pollution mitigation are of immediate concern with severe ecological consequences resulting from any inaction. Other more expensive portions of the plan are less critical in this time, such as the restaurant enterprise and even golf. My concern is that the high price tag of the overall plan will result in delays in the implementation of these critical infrastructure changes that are needed given our climate emergency and the highly stressed ecology at Lake Hiawatha. If delay is a potential outcome, measures should be taken to separate out infrastructure changes from recreational amenities so that the work can be completed immediately without the delays associated with the high cost of the overall plan.
Wetland Habitat Preservation and Ecological Restoration		As a neighborhood resident, I'm very excited to learn about wetland habitat and ecological restoration as well as opportunities to access and experience the site more fully on foot or by boat. My family enjoys birding on the South end and the plan seems to only enhance/restore that habitat. Thank you.	Generally speaking, I couldn't be more excited about this plan. Kudos to the whole team. The presenters articulated each element of the design very well. The video made it easy to follow. I am a neighborhood resident with 2 boys who like to recreate in nature, bike, bird, kayak, cross-country ski, and also enjoy golfing with their grandpa. I'm excited to be able to access the park more fully—loop trail, new water and ped trails, island respite—as well as better opportunities for engaging in winter months. (Currently without snow-making, the ski conditions have been spotty.) I'm also interested in interpretive experiences honoring and acknowledging the Dakota history. Finally - I'm excited to gather family and friends at a new restaurant. Current favorite summer hangouts are Sea Salt and Sand Castle. Thank you, Minneapolis Parks!
Wetland Habitat Preservation and Ecological Restoration		Please be sure to retain the beaver and otter habitat on the southwest side of the lake. That habitat cannot be effectively reconstructed after it has been lost. Similarly, please keep the natural edge of the berm on the west side of the lake. Do not include a beach area, this should be a unique mixture of quaking bog style natural area and urban lake. Keep current trees as much as possible to retain a mature canopy.
Wetland Habitat Preservation and Ecological Restoration		Prioritize the protection of existing wildlife habitat in this area, including owls and otters. Support the creation of “Nature First Habitat” as areas reserved for wildlife that humans can observe and enjoy from a distance. During this climate emergency, now is the time to repair ecological damage and restore continuous areas of habitat. Avoid any excavation/construction in sensitive areas of the site, especially the owl habitat near the tennis courts and the delta area on the south side of the Lake. Please reroute the paved trail on the southeast corner of the site so as not to threaten existing owl habitat in that area. Rather than branch toward and around the tennis courts, the branching section of the path near the letter H should be eliminated and the path should continue straight from the west (shown in green) to link up with the arrowed sections shown on the diagram. Also please reroute the natural trail away from the west side of Hiawatha to protect otters from human encroachment.	I think preserving the 9-hole course is a very good idea, as it's an important historical and community asset. Also offering First Tee and other educational programs for kids and families is great. Water management is SO important and healthy soil, good design and proper ongoing maintenance is a key part of keeping water in the ground instead of allowing it to run off or seep into nearby homes. This neighborhood has taken such a hit from poor planning and practices in the past -- I believe their concerns should be prioritized.
Wetland Habitat Preservation and Ecological Restoration		Bogs are the most valuable resource we can have for the greatest variety of wildlife. Golf is the least. It's a dying game played by fewer and fewer people for less and less benefit. Parkour would be more entertaining for both kids and spectators, and could be framed within wildlife habitat. Pickleball courts - with quiet paddles - would be of greater benefit to more people.	Comply with DNR pumping regs. It's a disgrace that we don't. Take out that dam underneath 28th Avenue Bridge and let Hiawatha return to its more natural - and useful - state.
Wetland Habitat Preservation and Ecological Restoration		Support the 9-hole golf course Support the vision of ecological responsibility that is respectful of the site’s natural and cultural history. Enhancing ecological function provides many benefits and it’s essential to protect existing habitat and create more varied habitat to support wildlife. Prioritize the protection of existing wildlife habitat in this area, including owls and otters. Support the creation of “Nature First Habitat” as areas reserved for wildlife that humans can observe and enjoy from a distance. During this climate emergency, now is the time to repair ecological damage and restore continuous areas of habitat. Avoid any excavation/construction in sensitive areas of the site, especially the owl habitat near the tennis courts and the delta area on the south side of the Lake Support the rebuilding of the connectivity of the creek corridor as planned, to protect and restore habitat and improve the health of the ecosystem. Request that the paved trail on the southeast corner of the site be re-routed so as not to threaten existing owl habitat in that area. Rather than branch toward and around the tennis courts, the branching section of the path near the letter H should be eliminated and the path should continue straight from the west (shown in green) to link up with the arrowed sections shown on the diagram. Reroute the planned natural surface trail away from the west side of Lake Hiawatha, in order to protect existing wildlife (including otters) in this area. Bringing so much foot traffic into this narrow area would likely drive out the otters. Eliminate that section of the trail or route the trail over the open water to the west of the Lake.	See above
Wetland Habitat Preservation and Ecological Restoration		I like that the plan is going to extend the area of water because I would like to explore more in my kayaks. Please make sure that the bridges are not too low for kayaking under.	I think the plan sounds and looks good because it is incorporating two different sports: golfing and water sports like canoeing and kayaking.
Wetland Habitat Preservation and Ecological Restoration		I am concerned that there is not enough natural habitat in this plan. Natural habitat is important for wildlife, for cleansing of water, for prevention of flooding, and for the support of pollinators. It also is an important resource for the entire community.	I am concerned that there is not enough natural habitat in this plan. Natural habitat is important for wildlife, for cleansing of water, for prevention of flooding, and for the support of pollinators. It also is an important resource for the entire community.
Wetland Habitat Preservation and Ecological Restoration		I am concerned that there is not enough natural habitat in this plan. Natural habitat is important for wildlife, for cleansing of water, for prevention of flooding, and for the support of pollinators. It also is an important resource for the entire community.	I am concerned that there is not enough natural habitat in this plan. Natural habitat is important for wildlife, for cleansing of water, for prevention of flooding, and for the support of pollinators. It also is an important resource for the entire community.
Wetland Habitat Preservation and Ecological Restoration		I'd like the preservation of habitat for birds and animals to be given high priority along with the 9 hole golf course	I think a 9 hole golf course should be maintained as well as other uses for recreation while preserving what we can for habitat of other species.
Wetland Habitat Preservation and Ecological Restoration		Nature first, no bulldozing of sensitive delta, woodland, tennis court owl areas.	9 hole golf course.
Wetland Habitat Preservation and Ecological Restoration		Upland habitat and wetland habitat: Please do all you can to protect and enhance these habitats. Recreation and natural areas with wildlife can coexist. Remember that three billion birds have disappeared as well as 30 to 50% of insects. Every living thing, including us, exists within a web of connections that is vital for survival.
Wetland Habitat Preservation and Ecological Restoration		I really appreciate this aspect of the plan and how it aligns with stormwater management and water needs/uses on site (i.e. irrigation, snowmaking). I hope a natural boundary for the entire park is planned in place of the chain link fence. This would remove an ugly barrier and provide better access for neighbors. Likewise, I hope nothing intrudes upon the fox and occasional coyotes that come through here. Related experience: I love the idea of a nature island and walking paths, as long as any structures are minimal themselves. A boardwalk would be great. I prefer a clearing with simple benches on the "island" as opposed to a large built platform or structure. Related experience: I love the addition of more open water and more boating opportunities. Please ensure canoes and kayaks can get through on the creek in high water (meaning not having to portage around a low bridge).	I like a lot about this plan, as long as it's not trying to do too much. Because truthfully, just restoring the area to its near-natural state with walking paths would be interesting, educational and beautiful and still provide a lot of opportunities. But I see value to the broader community in creating the gathering space, including the restaurant. I like having boat rentals here, especially because the contours of the open water and the wetlands would be exciting to explore. I'm glad to keep the ski trails in winter. I think the observation "tower" is fine, but I wouldn't want to see it too built up or expansive or "towering above" everything else in the neighborhood. You can see the area and the downtown skyline just fine from the top of the hill in that corner. Above all, I hope it continues as a place for quiet pursuits. Thank you for all the detail and all the hard work.
Wetland Habitat Preservation and Ecological Restoration		It is imperative that we restore a natural water table balance to the Hiawatha Master Plan. Make the golf course a 9-hole course, add in skiing and frisbee golf and other mixed use recreational activities, but work them around a sustainable plan to incorporate wetlands that can absorb runoff from heavy rain events.
Wetland Habitat Preservation and Ecological Restoration		Since the whole area was originally a swamp returning some of it to natural wetlands seems sensible. I am fully in favor of getting rid of acres and acres of useless sod and replacing it with native plantings. The park board throws away so much money to just mow the grass and spray poisons over it. However, the park board has tried this a number of times already (south lake nokomis) and it's been a massive ongoing failure. The whole area is nothing but cattails due to the park board's complete inability to perform maintenance. It's been a complete waste of money and resources. And then you go and start cutting down trees along nokomis? Again, what a waste. And now you expect us to believe you can make this work on another much larger scale? What a joke.	I don't golf. But if we're going to have golf at Hiawatha, it needs to be a full 18 holes. The board has gripped about how much money it loses on golf. So what? Parks are not supposed to make money. Or break even. Shouldn't even be a consideration. They exist as a public service supported by my ever increasing taxes. That said, a nine hole course is a losing proposition. Who's going to play it? A multi-purpose clubhouse sounds like a good idea. Better to have a building that can be used year round. Nothing in the plan seems to address the big picture water issue on nokomis or south mpls in general. We're going to spend 45 million and my house, nokomis, solomon and the airport are still going to have water problems because we're not getting rid of the water. South mpls Neighborhoods will still flood and streets will be impassable during storms. And with our crumbling infrastructure, it's going to get nothing but worse. A couple acres of wetlands is not going to fix the problem, not by a longshot. The amount of mitigation being created is laughable. And it sounds like we're doing the exact opposite of reducing area water by reducing pumping. High water needs to be addressed immediately but the park board refuses to think big or entertain any engineering solution to get rid of the water and dump in the Mississippi in an efficient manner.
Wetland Habitat Preservation and Ecological Restoration		I would like to see wetland habitat restoration and development to support birds and wildlife, with limited access for the community nature lovers..	I approve of this plan. It is a travesty that the broader community has not had access to this large, beautiful green space in the middle of a populous city. Golfing, no matter what ones race, is a poor use of city land and should be restricted to subburban areas. Why should so few people, usually male, dominate the use of such a large valuable city space? In my opinion, even the 9 hole golf course should be removed.
Wetland Habitat Preservation and Ecological Restoration		Definitely like the idea of the "Nature First Habitat." The more of that, the better.	Overall, this looks like a well-balanced plan to me - retaining a 9 hole golf course, better managing water resources on the site, protecting area homes, and providing/protecting wildlife habitat. I'm looking forward to seeing this plan realized.
Wetland Habitat Preservation and Ecological Restoration		I went through the pdf, not the video, so I might be under informed. I just want to state this; the land is and wants to be a wetland, but I get that you are appeasing about 10 different interests here and I applaud your efforts. My two-cents; add as many native plantings to the site as possible and that means on the golf course as well. Be imaginative, every micro-site of habitat you create will help serve the greater good.	Wish it was all going to be wild but I get it.
Wetland Habitat Preservation and Ecological Restoration		Love the master plan. The wildlife that lives in and uses. the Lake Hiawatha, its shorelines, wetlands is incredible. The creek is also a corridor for wildlife to travel both towards the river as well as Lake Minnetonka and westward. Creation of additional new, diverse habitat can only enhance that resource.
Wetland Habitat Preservation and Ecological Restoration		Seems designed to produce a highly productive mosquito hatchery; we hardly need that.
Wetland Habitat Preservation and Ecological Restoration		I love that you are restoring habitat. I know people will be upset about the golf course, but this is more important to me...and I am a golfer also.	Sounds beautiful. It will be a great asset to our neighborhood.
Wetland Habitat Preservation and Ecological Restoration		Hoping that having "Nature First" areas for habitat restoration and safe places for wildlife, plus a water trail, plus what looks like a potentially large amount of boat rentals aren't at odds with each other?
Wetland Habitat Preservation and Ecological Restoration		I would like to make make the otter habitat are being taken into consideration. Making sure there is less trash being filtered thru will help all animals and humans.	I would like the Park, City, and County to work together on Cedar/Nokomis Parkway/Longfellow streets. This plan will increase walkers, bikers and car traffic on Longfellow Ave and Nokomis Parkway which will impact Cedar traffic also. Remember there will be more people living in the area with the new apartments. Lunds traffic will also be exiting on the Parkway from Longfellow. My ideas: -More parking by the clubhouse including bike racks to reduce people parking on the street for big events. -Crosswalk needs to be marked at Longfellow and Nokomis Parkway. The sidewalk is farther back from the street than normal and I do not think people expect a sidewalk there especially at night. -Move the garbage cans on the sidewalk near the Longfellow and Nokomis Parkway crossing away a few feet. The garbage cans make it harder to see people. -Add a left turn lane on Cedar. So much traffic that only one car can turn left at a time. You sometimes have to wait three cycles to turn. -Add an off street bike lane on the course side of Longfellow. Excited overall for this plan. I know a lot of listening went into it and drafts changed quite a bit. Lots of input from different groups to consider. Thank you to everyone who participated.
Wetland Habitat Preservation and Ecological Restoration		It would be wonderful to see the park opened up for complete walking around the lake and the shoreline restored. Better drainage would be great too.	It would be great for the new plan to go through. It looks great.
Winter Recreation		For the last 3 decades (since the golf course was re-designed and renovated in the early nineties), the golf course has erected an increasing number of obstacles and barriers in an effort to discourage off-season use of fragile turf areas in order to protect them from damage by skiers, hikers and sledding families. Previously, Hiawatha Golf Course was far more friendly to recreational use in the "off season." There were three significant hill sides which provided a varied topography for sledding and skiing. Two of those hills were cut down and terraced. And two of them now have significant hardscape including stone walls constructed across the face of the hills that destroyed their value for skiing and sliding. A significant amount of asphalt and gravel paving cuts across logical ski trails, greatly reducing the opportunity for groomed trails. Fencing is installed around sensitive turf areas and greens, greatly reducing the opportunities for trail development and prohibiting winter recreators from full use of the park. And access to the park is limited to the main parking area on the West side of the park; fencing around the golf course effectively bars neighborhood residents on the East and North from walking to the park in order to ski, snowshoe, sled, or simply enjoy the quiet and natural beauty of the park. It’s clear from the way that the golf course is designed and maintained that non-golfers are not welcome. I’m not optimistic that any kind of golf course will ‘play well’ with either the ecology or the other kinds of recreation that are envisioned by the Master Plan. I am concerned that the requirements for designing and maintaining a new 9 hole golf course on the reduced dry acreage which will be required in order to reduce pumping, will do little to promote a new commitment to creating a Park which supports both golf AND the rights of the non-golfing citizens to enjoy the park. The Master plan should make it clear that the new Hiawatha park is open to all, including golfers, rather than being defined as a golf course which may also be enjoyed by others, but only on limited terms determined solely by the needs of golfers. This implies a substantial reduction in the amount of traditional landscaping; removal of concrete, asphalt, gravel and terracing, with trails constructed of natural materials such as wood chips. And restoration of more naturalistic slopes and hillsides. Ensure that pedestrian access to the Park is possible from all parts of the surrounding neighborhood, and that it is possible to walk all the way around the Lake.	Please remove all asphalt and concrete from the golf course and replace with natural trails (wood chips or other organic materials.) Replace terraced landscape with more naturalistic/organic slopes to facilitate sledding and skiing. Remove as much fencing as possible, and replace with only enough temporary fencing to ensure safety during golf season. Allow access to the Lake and Park from all four directions when golf is not in session. (daily and seasonally).
Winter Recreation		Winter Recreation - Wonderful to have snow making for cross country ski trails and for the sliding hill! - Having out door fire pits at the restaurant can be just like the excellent experiences being created at the Wirth trail head. - Let's find ways to strengthen community funding for the Loppet foundation so they will have the volunteer and financial capacity to create excellent winter programing both for Wirth Park and Lake Hiawatha Park - I'm both a skate and classic skier. - Will the dirt walking trails be able to enable trail running in the winter?	Overall Comments Excellent overall plan! Upland Area - Wonderful Tower View of the natural area and down town Paved and non-paved trails – excellent - I am a trail runner and appreciate smaller surfaces and being closer to nature, without disturbing the wild life. Good to have good paved trail connectivity with other regional parks. Winter Recreation - Wonderful to have snow making for cross country ski trails and for the sliding hill! Water quality - Great plan to mitigate the north pipe to prevent trash from flowing into the lake. Need to invest in maintaining and cleaning out the storm water BMPS. Nature first - wetland and riparian area restoration - excellent. Wetland Restoration and Water Trails - Excellent expand flood storage capacity in the watershed to be ready for larger, multi day rain events, when storms get stuck because of changes in the jet stream. Great to have kayak and canoe storage areas and rental opportunities. Reduced and Targeted pumping - Good plan for targeted pumping to protect the adjacent houses. Golfing - Excellent plan to expand the number of new golfers via the 9 whole, practice areas for chipping, putting and driving and winter simulation. I golfed when I was younger and plan to start golfing again and to bring my wife, daughter and friends. Dakota Heritage - excellent conversation we had during the planning phase with the Healing Places Collaborative. Non paved trails will be great. THANKS
Winter Recreation		Winter Recreation Wonderful to have snow making for cross country skii trails and for the sliding hill! Having out door fire pits at the restaurant can be just like the excellent experiences being created at the Wirth trail head. Let's find ways to strengthen community funding for the Loppet foundation so they will have the volunteer and financial capacity to create excellent winter programing both for Wirth Park and Lake Hiawatha Park I'm both a skate and classic skiier. Will the dirt walking trails be able to enable trail running in the winter? THANKS	Overall Comments Excellent overall plan! Upland Area - Wonderful Tower View of the natural area and down town Paved and non-paved trails – excellent - I am a trail runner and appreciate smaller surfaces and being closer to nature, without disturbing the wild life. Good to have good paved trail connectivity with other regional parks. Water quality - Great plan to mitigate the north pipe to prevent trash from flowing into the lake. Need to invest in maintaining and cleaning out the storm water BMPS. Nature first - wetland and riparian area restoration - excellent. Wetland Restoration and Water Trails - Excellent expand flood storage capacity in the watershed to be ready for larger, multi day rain events, when storms get stuck because of changes in the jet stream. Great to have kayak and canoe storage areas and rental opportunities. Reduced and Targeted pumping - Good plan for targeted pumping to protect the adjacent houses. Golfing - Excellent plan to expand the number of new golfers via the 9 whole, practice areas for chipping, putting and driving and winter simulation. I golfed when I was younger and plan to start golfing again and to bring my wife, daughter and friends. Dakota Heritage - excellent conversation we had during the planning phase with the Healing Places Collaborative. Non paved trails will be great.
Winter Recreation		The proposed ideas for winter recreation sound amazing! I cross-country ski and live in the neighborhood but don't often go this site because of access and conditions. What's not to love about the proposed snow-making for ski trails, winter walking trails, sledding, skating loop, concessions, and fire pits?! My family and I would enjoy all of them. Thank you!	I've previously commented.
Winter Recreation		I am very excited about the opportunity to make snow for winter rec!	I would love to see some year round mountain biking incorporated into the plan.
Winter Recreation		The bridges over the creek need to be higher than the current bridges, for easier use by kayak and canoe. They are impassible during the spring or higher water, as they are now.
Winter Recreation		Please continue to allow cross country skiing in the winter. Thanks.	Be environmental. Stop dumping chemicals into hiawatha
Winter Recreation		Our family has had a great time skiing at Hiawatha in the winter. However, the lack of snow sometimes makes for pretty terrible conditions. Snow making would make a huge difference!	We are very happy that the plans include reducing the golf course and creating more of a wetland and paths for recreation. We are super happy to ski there and hope the Board looks at funding snow making options.
Winter Recreation		The plan for enhanced winter recreation options is excellent and thoughtful. I appreciate the design that easily and naturally separates walking and skiing trails-- this will help keep the ski trails in top condition while also satisfying community demand to walk the site in winter. Snowmaking capability for skiing and sledding at Hiawatha will also be a tremendous addition to Minneapolis. Reliable, quality snow will make Hiawatha a destination for skiers and a valuable resource for the city's high school nordic ski teams. Although I'm not an ice skater, the planned skating loop is a distinctive and attractive amenity that also enhances Hiawatha's winter appeal.
Winter Recreation		Thank you for thoughtfully incorporating winter recreation into the project design. As a parent coach in the Hiawatha MYSL ski program and a recreational XC skier, I'm pleased with the inclusion of designated spaces for XC skiing. Furthermore, the ice skating area (especially an ice skating loop) is very desirable.	It's my understanding that this plan will help reduce the water management concerns in this area, and if that is, in fact, the case, then I support the changes for the property as proposed. Thank you for also supporting the golf legacy tied to this area.
Winter Recreation		Dear Park & Recreation Board: I strongly support this visionary plan and its underlying principles! With respect to the winter plan, there are many residents of south Minneapolis who love cross country skiing, but have to drive to Theodore Wirth or Hyland in Bloomington for skiing when natural snow conditions are poor. Devoting resources to improving ski facilities, including snow making, at Hiawatha would be a huge benefit to this part of the city!
Winter Recreation		I love the idea of continuing the improvement in winter recreation (skiing, snowshoeing, walking). Winter recreation has improved at Hiawatha since the Loppet foundation took over grooming, and I am excited to see the possibility of snowmaking with creative use of the water capacity at Hiawatha for winter recreation. Great idea and wonderful amenity for our neighborhood!	I love the natural surface hiking trails and improved paved trails around the property - this really encourages the community to participate in this park, even those of us who are not golfers. I also love the boat launch area for kayaks/canoes, and the boardwalks. Great use of this park!
Winter Recreation		I'm really excited about the ice skating loop!	Overall, I think this is a really good park design that adequately meets a lot of differing preferences.
Winter Recreation		I love the idea of maintaining the ski loop and possibly adding in snow making. I can't tell if the loop is being made hillier (which would be great) or will be lit for after work skiing possibiliities.
Winter Recreation		I love the snow making and the ski loops! Just want to make sure that with the expected increase of walkers, that the trails are constructed such that the walkers are satisfied enough with the walking trails to NOT walk on the ski trails. They look a bit less appealing running along the fence line.
Winter Recreation		Glad to see that there will continue to be a cross-country ski course.
Winter Recreation		I am excited about snow making and stadium ideas.	More walking, biking and hiking trails in the summer would be great. All things cross country skiing and people using the space in the winter are great.
Winter Recreation		We are very excited for cross country skiing!!
Winter Recreation		We are so excited to see continued focus on this. South Minneapolis has TONS of nordic skiers and pent up demand for well groomed trails (the loppet does a great job) with snow making.
Winter Recreation		I am a cross country skier and coordinate the Minnesota Youth Ski League at Hiawatha each winter. Our club has tripled in size since we stared eight years ago. We started with 60 skiers on Sunday afternoons and we now have 130 skiers (ages 4 to 12yrs. old) Sunday afternoons and needed to start two new clubs because of demand. We now have a Sunday morning of 40 skiers and a Saturday afternoon of 40 skiers and their families. The demand and need of having winter activities at Hiawatha is great! I appreciate the Board understanding this need by incorporating the resources to make skiing continue at Hiawatha (including snow making)!! As a ski coach for Minnehaha Academy, I also appreciate having skiing so close for my skiers. Traveling to Wirth or Hyland can take an hour drive depending on traffic which takes away ski time with such a late start. Hiawatha provides an excellent solution where skiers can ski only minutes from school. Other high schools also use the course and with snow making, we could utilize the course when our snow is scarce. I am proud that the Board understands the need of snow making as it has become difficult keeping skiers interested in the sport with fewer and fewer inches of snow each year. Thank you for seeing Hiawatha as a local option for snow making!!	I enjoy Hiawatha all year round. My husband golfs at times. We walk the course when closed during the late fall and then we ski as soon as the snow falls. I think having a smaller golf course is necessary. There is no need to have 18 holes as that space should not be given to just one community-golfers. Share the space and let it go back to how its intended. Pumping out the water is not sustainable and irresponsible. The plan understands that.
Winter Recreation		We loved skiing at the golf corse this past winter. I hope to be able to continue to do so for many years to come! It was such a great way to get my family outside and active! We also love biking to the playground and splash-pad in the summer.
Winter Recreation		Infrastructure for outdoor winter activities - primarily fatbiking and cross country skiing
Winter Recreation		LOVE THE IDEA OF HAVING A WINTER CROSS COUNTRY SKIING AREA ALONG WITH A SKATING LOOP. CURRENTLY DRIVE TO BLOOMINGTON AND OTHER SUBURBS TO XC SKI IN THE WINTER, WOULD BE GREAT TO SUPPORT MPLS PARKS INSTEAD. THANK YOU!
Winter Recreation		Will there be lighting for the snowmaking loop for cross country skiing? I am personally very excited about this and knowing there is limited daylight in the winter, having lights would be a great way for longer ski open times.	Golf - like that it is 9 holes versus the 4 one of the other concepts had. Will there be a par 5 at all? Bike Trail - love the fact it goes around the entire lake. will any surrounding/connecting bike trails also improve? Community Building renovation - having a restaurant is great; will it also be enhanced for the skier community? Other comments - when is this expected to be fully complete?; would love to see race events (running/skiing/biking/triathlon) after the project is complete. Ski programs like the ones held at Hyland and Theo? Snowmaking loops are essential to skiers and love that this is most likely happening. This area is significantly more flat than Hyland/Theo which i think will entice more novice skiers to use this location (which is great). My wife, young kids, and I would definitely use this frequently (along with the golf and bike trails).
Winter Recreation		Please make sure that the trails are lit. A lot of people only have time to use the trails in the morning or at night so it is important for access that the ski trails have lights.	I like it.
Winter Recreation		Please have lighting on the 5K Cross Country Ski loop. The vast majority of skiers, ski in the early morning or later in the evening and with such short days, lighting is critical to maximize the value of the ski loop. Thanks!
Winter Recreation		Love the idea of recycling pumped water for snowmaking for skiing and sledding. The Loppet crew did a great job on the trails at Wirth and what they had to work with for natural snow this past winter. It would be great if there were consistent snow from snowmaking at Lake Hiawatha too. Like the idea of a loop ice skating area. Hope there would be some skate rental available.	I like the fact that people will be able to walk almost all the way around the shoreline of Lake Hiawatha to watch wildlife or just enjoy the various views of the water. It will be wonderful to see the ugly, rusting, broken down old fencing removed. I hope any new fencing that may need to go in will be more attractive and better maintained. Also like the fact that the southwest corner is reserved for wildlife habitat. In prairie or rain garden areas I would like to see a wide variety of native plants that provide habitat for wildlife and pollinators while simultaneously engaging people with the beauty of nature. The current rain gardens off of 43rd street don't have a lot of plant variety and are not very attractive. I love the concept picture of the storm water terrace!
Winter Recreation		Great plan! This will be an amazing amenity to the neighborhood and community. My only comment is to make sure there is adequate lighting with the cross country skiing trails. That is one of the main reasons it is not used now. Most ski in the morning or after work on weekdays when it is dark. This will increase the use tremendously! And the Loppet partnership is critical! Thanks again!	Love it!
Winter Recreation		I love the idea of active management of cross country trails on the site. The neighborhood also can use a really nice sledding hill. The existing one off Cedar and the creek has been the only choice for almost forty years. And that is dangerously close to the creek at the bottom.	I like the plan. Please provide the same level of quality in the new course that you find at Keller. The existing course is marginal.
Winter Recreation		In the winter months they should consider installing multiple golf simulator's inside the new club house.
Winter Recreation		The proposed use of pumped water for snow making to support winter recreation is one of the greatest strengths of the proposal. I am very pleased to see fat biking as a targeted recreation use. However, please clarify in the plan what trials are intended to be maintained. On the map, the fat biking callout says only biking on the ice, as weather permits. The page 11 "winter recreation" box says there will be groomed trails and biking on the ice. Please consider a clear indication of where groomed trails could be located. This is a far more important amenity than the potential to bike on the ice. There should be ample space on the width of a fairway for both biking and skiing or for narrow winter singletrack on the out of play areas.	The plan strikes a hard-earned balance of many competing interests. It is a significant improvement over the current layout and has incorporated previous feedback. I hope to see this realized for the benefit of our community.
Winter Recreation		Snowmaking equipment shed would likely be helpful or necessary for a snowmaking operation. I’d also note that the bridges and catwalks on the pedestrian trails should be made very wide, wider than a normal golf cart path. In the winter snow accumulation on bridges often means they can’t be wider than a single foot path across. A wider bridge would allow accommodation for a double width path, for fat bikes, off trail skiers, snowshoeing, etc. Gaps in fencing around the golf course. In the winter the park takes a very different character. There was a comment about limiting fencing and providing easier access to the interior of the park. I’d emphasize that any continuous fence around a golf hole presents real barriers. I’ve seen golf course / winter recreation areas where large sections of fence were removed in the winter or in the case of tall protective nets around a driving range, the net was lifted above ten feet, providing passage underneath, during the winter.	It looks awesome!! I appreciate the additional water access, accommodation for snowmaking, accommodation for year round community gathering space, and the natural surface and paved pedestrian trails though what is now fenced off golf course.
Winter Recreation		I love this plan! Using water to create snow will make Hiawatha Golf Course, the associated public spaces, restaurant and bars all a focal point for people all over the city. The groomers do a good job managing the ski trails right now, given they are at the mercy of snow conditions. Other locations that make snow, like Hyland in Bloomington and Theo Wirth in Minneapolis, are seen as a mecca for winter sports, and it would be fantastic to see Hiawatha be added to this list. I love this plan and hope we make the winter activities (and especially the snow MAKING) a key focus.	You have done a great job balancing the interested of a lot of concerned parties. Don't let the haters get you down. You have made a wonderful, balanced plan. I look forward to this being implemented ASAP.
Winter Recreation		Really like the focus on XC skiing and other winter recreation. Absolutely love the proposal to use water pumping for snowmaking. I think this is a really important and critical piece, and should be a priority to deliver. Without it, I think the plan will fall short of it's full potential for half the year. Our winters no longer deliver reliable snow to allow for consistent skiing, snowshoeing, sledding, etc. And sufficient snow is necessary to groom trails, or risk damaging the fairways and greens that are still going to be there under this plan. I live nearby and the course is really active and full of skiers/snowshoers/hikers/walkers/sledders on winter days when we have enough snow, and it's wonderful to see people out and enjoying winter. But those days seem to be only a handful throughout the winter. By supplementing with man-made snow, we can ensure people are able to use the park to its full potential for November - March. Right now there are regularly weeks to months-long stretches during the winter where the properly sits practically idle and unused, because there is not enough snow cover and because so much of the space is dedicated to golf without year-round trails and paths. So, just want to emphasize that I hope snowmaking is not just aspirational. I see one reference in the plan where the qualifier "could" is used when talking about pumping for snowmaking. I think this should be a real priority, and would be a game changer for the park. We could see Hiawatha become as active and successful of a winter recreation site as Theodore Wirth--or even more successful, given that there are more households in closer proximity and better public transit options for access. Finally, I'd like to see additional access points on the North, West, and South sides of the park, at least during the winter. I understand the nature of golf requires fences of some sort (sadly), but it would be great to open this up way more than it is right now. Folks shouldn't need to walk a half mile along a fence to get to an access point and enter the park. If fences are necessary, there should be way more openings--preferably year round, but certainly during the winter.	Wish we could just move on from golf altogether, but I understand the pressure to maintain this dying sport and see this plan as a decent compromise.
Winter Recreation		I am thrilled by the addition of more winter recreational opportunities! I’m a cross country skier and will use this amenity often. I also love the idea of a skating loop (yay!) and sledding hill.	Love it!
Winter Recreation		I love the ice skating loop! I also love the idea of turning this into a winter recreation destination.
Winter Recreation		Hi, Overall I think the master plan does a good job accommodating all the various constituents. In relation to fat biking in the winter my comments are: 1. Is the lake and creek actually going to freeze now so that you could ride on them in winter? The creek hasn't frozen in years and the lake on the SE corner also does not freeze in the winter. It would not be safe to ride on them. 2. If fat bikes have to ride on the creek and lake please groom a path like the cross country ski trail. Riding an ungroomed, rutted trail will not be very enjoyable. 3. If the plan is not to groom a path on the lake and creek let the fat bikes ride on the cross country ski trail. As an avid fat biker this would be my preference. It would be great to have something that could host fat biking events like the Loppet events in the SE metro. Thank you.
Winter Recreation		I would like to see the winter trails cross under minnehaha parkway near “I”, so that the cross county ski area could be expanded into the Lake Nokomis softball field area. Similar to Lake of the Isles. I also think the winter trails could go onto or around Lake Hiawatha in the winter, presuming the lake is frozen.
			This comment process is very clunky. The observation tower on the southeast side seems awesome. Please be sure to retain the beaver and otter habitat on the southwest side of the lake. That habitat cannot be effectively reconstructed after it has been lost. Similarly, please keep the natural edge of the berm on the west side of the lake. Do not include a beach area, this should be a unique mixture of quaking bog style natural area and urban lake. Keep current trees as much as possible to retain a mature canopy. The connection on the northeast side of the lake where the bridge is shown is a swampy area currently, that should be retained as a swamp and the connection between the GC property and the current Hiawatha park should be moved farther away from the lake. There seems to be a lot a dead space near holes 6-9 on the north section of the course. Can that be used for plantings and more canopy? The bridges over the creek need to be higher than the current bridges, for easier use by kayak and canoe. They are impassible during the spring or higher water, as they are now.
			I like the overall plan very much. I am wondering how pedestrians will stay safe from golfers while walking through the golf course.

			I love the master plan. I realize there are a lot of memories tied up in the history of the golf course, but it's time to look forward into the future. Unfortunately, that future is climate change. I'm impressed with the ways the master plan incorporated climate change into it's criteria.
			Really excited about this draft master plan. I like the new waterways, new walking paths, new gathering spaces and restaurant, everything!
			Looks great! Nice work. You guys do great work. I’m a long distance runner, bird watcher, and general outdoor enthusiast. What a great balance between different uses of our parks. Well done!