Respondent ID | Collector ID | Start Date | End Date | IP Address | Email Address | First Name | Last Name | Custom Data 1 | 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. | Please check all that apply. I am... | In which ZIP code do you reside? (enter 5-digit ZIP code; for example. 00544 or 55411) | What is your age? | Do you rent or own your home? | How do you identify? | What is your race/ethnicity? | |||||||||||||
Response | Other (please specify) | Open-Ended Response | Open-Ended Response | A resident of Minneapolis | A park or golf course user | Elected official | Community Advisory Committee member | Open-Ended Response | Response | Response | Other (please specify) | Response | I prefer to answer another way: | Latino/Latinx, Hispanic, or Spanish Origin | Black or African American | White | Asian | American Indian or Alaska Native | Native Hawaiian or other Pacific Islander | I prefer to answer another way: | ||||||||||
11991671202 | 390044530 | 2020-09-15 22:46:16 | 2020-09-15 23:44:17 | Other (please specify) | Park at 44th and Longfellow | As a 24 year tax-paying homeowner, I value the park at 44th and Longfellow, which is a beautiful, important resource in the neighborhood and is well used by residents. This park, the park on 43rd and 19th Avenue, and the golf course are one of the few reasons my family decided to stay in Minneapolis and in this neighborhood at a time when we considered relocating outside of the Twin Cities about 10 years ago. We stayed because of natural amenities like these that make our neighborhood and city unique - and valuable. I understand there are plans to eliminate this park and replace it with a pumping station and snow-making equipment. Why ruin a natural community resource like this park? Why not plan to move the pumping station and snow-making equipment to the sides of the park/golf course that are non-residential such as the long stretch of land on the Minnehaha Parkway or alongside the current Minneapolis Park and Recreation facility at the corner of the Parkway and Longfellow. I recommend moving these functions to areas that are commercial and NOT residential. During this COVID pandemic, we're all learning to use and appreciate our resources more than ever. This is a trend that will continue. There are more and more young families moving into this neighborhood. Please keep these open spaces available for the children and adults who use this land everyday. Continue to shore up the city's property tax base up with neighborhood gems such as these. I understand the need to house these functional operations such as pumping stations and snow-making, but please move them to areas that are NOT populated with residents. Thank you | This isn’t about golf and yet this is about golf. My comments are about protecting one of the cities crown jewels that is used by everyone across the metro - city, suburban and elsewhere. This is also about larger regional water issues that start at Lake Minnetonka and other suburbs, and flow down into Lake Hiawatha and the golf course. This is also about preserving the values and quality of homes. What has been disturbingly absent from the city's conversation is discussions about protecting homeowners' property if and when the pumping stops and the flooding starts. It's still unclear what the impact that reducing pumping will have on homes in the area. Our property values and neighborhoods need to be protected just as the Mac, all those years ago, did the right thing by protecting and mitigating for airport noise for thousands of homes in south Minneapolis. The Hiawatha golf course is a true gem - historical (one of the first to be open to African Americans), remains diverse, is educational and affordable. It’s a unique city resource that we as taxpayers and longtime residents want to keep so that folks all over the region can enjoy it. I understand the issues at hand, and am somewhat relieved that a nine-hole golf course is part of the plans. But I still have deep reservations about the overall plans, how well researched and vetted it has been, and by efforts to change the character of neighborhoods by putting in equipment across from residences and not utilizing non-residential parts of the golf course instead. I have concerns around the Park Board's pushing this through without a budget or a solid business plan for the next iteration of the golf course. I am one of the homeowners who believe we still need to take the time for research to really understand the source of the issue at the golf course. The potential flooding problems at the golf course go beyond city limits and expand into regional issues. | A resident of Minneapolis | 55407 | 50-59 | Own | Female | Black or African American | |||||||||||||||||
11991548980 | 390044530 | 2020-09-15 21:41:23 | 2020-09-15 21:47:26 | Other (please specify) | Cultural significance | Please see this article and scroll fully. https://africanamericangolfersdigest.com/darwin-dean-hopes-to-save-hiawatha-a-historic-golf-course/ | Please preserve Hiawatha Golf in it's current 18 hole format. It's a charming course with a rich cultural history. People of south Mpls should be able to continue walking to a golf course. Hiawatha Golf is affordable; please keep the rates that way to promote its use by many. Even so, it generates quite a but of revenue, so that alone should save it. | A resident of Minneapolis | A park or golf course user | |||||||||||||||||||||
11991547408 | 390044530 | 2020-09-15 21:32:39 | 2020-09-15 21:45:44 | Draft Plan (Entire site) | While the plan documents look wonderful, it is hard to believe that you are considering spending $43M to fix what seems to be a contrived problem. There is a well functioning golf course that has stayed more or less dry since the flooding six year ago. The so-called pumping issue seems like it could be solved much less drastically. South Minneapolis has lots of lakes and the types of features you are considering adding, but no other golf courses. As I head towards retirement it would really be nice to golf in the neighborhood. But if I have to drive out of the city for recreation that is what I will do. On a more civil note, has golf course usage increased this year at Hiawatha as it has at many other courses. If so, this would be worth monitoring to see if it is persistent or just a one-time event. Finally, as a person in a demographic that seems to be despised in Minneapolis these days, it is disappointing to find fewer and fewer reasons to grow old in the city. | See p | A resident of Minneapolis | A park or golf course user | 55417 | 60 or older | Own | Male | White | |||||||||||||||||
11991520439 | 390044530 | 2020-09-15 21:23:48 | 2020-09-15 21:26:06 | Golf | Keep course as is — most beneficial recreational area to diverse groups and LGBTQ friends of mine within 30 miles of uptown. Thanks so much :) | Thank you love the golf staff Very fair and generous | A resident of Minneapolis | A park or golf course user | 55408 | 30-39 | Male | Asian | ||||||||||||||||||
11991510709 | 390044530 | 2020-09-15 21:18:39 | 2020-09-15 21:21:42 | The draft master plan should be rejected. | Keep the course in its current 18 hole format. Flooding the course is ridiculous and unwarranted. More people want it saved than destroyed. | A resident of Minneapolis | A park or golf course user | 55417 | Rent | |||||||||||||||||||||
11991509000 | 390044530 | 2020-09-15 21:17:42 | 2020-09-15 21:18:21 | The 18 hole course needs to be preserved. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
11991503948 | 390044530 | 2020-09-15 21:13:26 | 2020-09-15 21:15:13 | The draft master plan should be rejected. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
11991467247 | 390044530 | 2020-09-15 20:36:01 | 2020-09-15 20:55:39 | Draft Plan (Entire site) | A nine hole golf course at the site would not be good for the neighborhood. Again, it’s the only 18 hole course in South Minneapolis. Great care needs to be taken to have folks doing other recreational activities within the golf course. Just like being out on the ballfield, you can’t be there unless you’re playing a sport so you are aware of balls coming your way. Moving the pumps from the course itself into the neighborhoods doesn’t solve the problem of water, it just shifts it. The part board and the Minnehaha regional need to find a way to deal with the pollution/garbage as it flows into Lake Hiawatha. A nine hole course will not make the money needed to help sustain the course. The idea of adding Winter recreation is great, but there will be too much water on the course for it to be able to be utilized properly. The cost of all these grandiose ideas for the course is quite spendy. Where will that come from? First things first, take care of the pollution. The water quality of the lake/creek needs to be improved. The course has flooded in the past, and it was able to “heal itself”. A plaque to recognize black golfers is a simple gesture, but having a playable 18 hole course is better. | See prev box | A resident of Minneapolis | 55407 | 50-59 | Own | Female | White | ||||||||||||||||||
11991433918 | 390044530 | 2020-09-15 20:36:13 | 2020-09-15 20:49:00 | Golf | For the last three years the neighborhood and community have overwhelmingly told the Park Board they want to keep an 18 hole golf course. The Park Board had repeatedly ignored the input from the citizens, residents and taxpayers. From observation and conversations I have had with staff at the course, they are having a record year with tee time bookings and revenue--the course and parking lot are packed at all hours of the day. People want this 18 hole course!!!!! In conversations I have had with friends and acquaintances (who are engineers) over the last few years all of them have stated there are solutions to reduce pumping while still retaining an 18 hole course. They have also questioned why there is a need to reduce the pumping. It seems the Park Board wants to create a problem ( we have to reduce pumping) to create an enormously expensive project that the neighborhood and community don't even want. What exactly is the goal here---looking for someplace to dump water? | The plan is ridiculous. Can someone please explain to me how the Park Board plans to fund a multi million dollar project in the current financial environment. Funding from the state, county, and city will be nonexistent---all of those entities are going to be hard pressed to fund basic services. Also, looking over the "plan", I see The Park Board has basically ignored the African American History of this course. At this time of racial reckoning----the Park Board says NOTHING. It's shameful. | A resident of Minneapolis | 55406 | 60 or older | Own | Female | White | ||||||||||||||||||
11991429521 | 390044530 | 2020-09-15 20:22:14 | 2020-09-15 20:35:12 | Other (please specify) | Current green space on 43rd & 19th | Please leave this as a green space. It is already being used as a community gathering and recreation area. We have witnessed and participated in several generations of children and adults using this "field" for many community building activities and various athletic games and recreation. This is not an unused it wasted space. Please protect this valued area. Thank you for your consideration! | A resident of Minneapolis | A park or golf course user | 55407 | 60 or older | Own | Female | White | |||||||||||||||||
11991363974 | 390044530 | 2020-09-15 19:49:39 | 2020-09-15 20:01:46 | Golf | It's a golf course, the revenue of which, has been misappropriated in an effort to create an anti-golf narrative under the guise of (insert your favorite non-argument here). Well played, but anyone with half a GD brain can clearly see through mpr's BS. EVERYTHING that the $43M boondoggle vision quest purports to accomplish is already, LITERALLY within walking distance of this place. Relocation of the required pumping stations, really?! Quit bleeping around and do your jobs, namely, maintain the legacy that you've been entrusted to maintain. | A resident of Minneapolis | A park or golf course user | 55407 | 50-59 | Own | I prefer to answer another way: | Druid fluid | Plaid | |||||||||||||||||
11991313446 | 390044530 | 2020-09-15 19:33:44 | 2020-09-15 19:37:45 | Draft Plan (Entire site) | Retain the 18-hole golf course. | A resident of Minneapolis | A park or golf course user | 55417 | 60 or older | Own | Male | White | ||||||||||||||||||
11991276659 | 390044530 | 2020-09-15 19:12:42 | 2020-09-15 19:20:21 | Golf | I VERY unhappy your plan does not retain an 18 hole golf course. You aren't listening to the community, or neighbors. There is overwhelming support to keep an 18 hole course. I walk around the outside of the course all summer and it has been packed with golfers every single day. You say you have to reduce pumping, but there is no science to back that up and I am certain there could be an engineered solution to recuse pumping and keep an 18 hole Cours. Also, I think its disgusting you have totally ignored the African American history of this golf course. | keep and 18 hole golf course | A resident of Minneapolis | A park or golf course user | 55407 | 21-29 | Own | Female | White | |||||||||||||||||
11991268170 | 390044530 | 2020-09-15 19:14:44 | 2020-09-15 19:16:48 | Golf | We ask the MPRB commissioners to please stand with us in giving the community of color the right to be heard through an independent Racial Equity Impact Assessment (REIA), not an optics-driven survey that few of our members have the ability to access. We will continue to fight for the survival of this historic golf course, for our community, our youth, and the future of our culture. | We ask the MPRB commissioners to please stand with us in giving the community of color the right to be heard through an independent Racial Equity Impact Assessment (REIA), not an optics-driven survey that few of our members have the ability to access. We will continue to fight for the survival of this historic golf course, for our community, our youth, and the future of our culture. | A resident of Minneapolis | A park or golf course user | 50-59 | Own | Male | Black or African American | ||||||||||||||||||
11991250100 | 390044530 | 2020-09-15 19:03:23 | 2020-09-15 19:08:16 | Golf | GOLF IS BACK. Like all sports, golf goes through ups and downs in popularity, but it's on the upswing(!) again. Perfect COVID sport, and great sport all around. Many many park users love and use Hiawatha Golf. How dare you try to get rid of this fantastic course! You should be stewards of this wonderful amentity; help it see another 80 years. You are temporary park board commissioners; be respectful of long-term history and long-term effects. See: https://www.startribune.com/after-years-of-declines-golf-surges-in-twin-cities-during-pandemic/572319772/ | Please save Hiawatha Golf and leave it's footprint the same, preserve the clubhouse and vibe. | A resident of Minneapolis | A park or golf course user | ||||||||||||||||||||||
11991218854 | 390044530 | 2020-09-15 18:52:22 | 2020-09-15 18:54:47 | Golf | Writing on behalf of my child who learned to play at Hiawatha and now plays there with his young friends regularly: Please save Hiawatha Golf! | A resident of Minneapolis | A park or golf course user | 55401 | 17 or younger | |||||||||||||||||||||
11991210834 | 390044530 | 2020-09-15 18:44:06 | 2020-09-15 18:52:15 | Draft Plan (Entire site) | Ditto the letter below! Please preserve Hiawatha Golf! Leave 18 holes and the great character of this neighborhood and Mpls institution. Proposed master plan does not respect wishes of the people and does not respect golf on this site, which has been played there for 80+ years. Price tag is way too high, and plans for water mitigation are questionable. Things proposed for this site would be better done elsewhere. As Mr. Davis notes below, the only course actually in Mpls. And it's a gem of our park system, with a sport that is only getting more and more popular. Hiawatha is profitable and will likely only become more so with golf surging in popularity. The proposed master plan is completely out of touch now. After reading the two excellent articles by Ed Felien and Kathryn Kelly regarding the issues surrounding the planned closing of Hiawatha Golf Course, I decided to share my personal story of my experience with the course. I have used the course for over 60 years. I was a caddie at the course as a youth, and I also have played at the course the last 20 years in tournaments and in a league with many of my friends, and other African-American community players, and have maintained a very close relationship to the history with this city institution. The question is, “Why, after over 80 years of service to our inner city, did the Park Board decide to close the course because of water and pumping issues? is still a question which has not been answered by our elected officials.” There have been numerous articles written in Southside Pride regarding the course, which I will not repeat. The major issue that has been the most troubling is a lack of transparency of the decision between the Park Board and the community. Studies have been submitted to close the course, and many meetings to explain the decision, however, no one from the Park Board has listened to the community on the history and importance of keeping the course open for the benefit of the homeowners surrounding course, and also the value the course has for our inner-city youth to play a game that has been historically reserved for people with the income to enjoy the sport on a continual basis. Are you aware that Hiawatha is the only course of the five to serve our community that is in the city limits of Minneapolis? Wirth is in Golden Valley, Meadowbrook is in St. Louis Park, Gross is in St. Anthony, and Columbia borders on Columbia Heights. And you also may have heard that Hiawatha is not profitable. Hiawatha has maintained a positive revenue stream for many years. In closing, a decision to close Hiawatha is not just closing a golf course, it would close an institution of value to our city, and if that happens, the entire community that the course serves will be greatly affected. Regards, Harry W. Davis, Jr. | PLease preserve Hiawatha golf. Love the course, love the people, love the clubhouse, love the history! | A resident of Minneapolis | A park or golf course user | ||||||||||||||||||||||
11990985779 | 390044530 | 2020-09-15 17:19:25 | 2020-09-15 17:29:42 | Golf | 10625 keep the Golf course open all 18, I am 66 years old and have golfed here for years, as many other inner city and outer city residents. Put this on hold. Right now there are many other pressing issues for our community that the funds could be beneficial for. | I have played at the ball parks for years and watched high school baseball at the baseball field NW corner. It is a shame to see this field just deteriorate. I would like to see maybe a little league fenced in field so kids can play tourneys here and enjoy the lake and other wonderful amenities from this park. Then create a four field softball fenced in area for the adults. You would still have enough room for soccer, frisbee football etc towards the south end. I believe these outside teams would come and pay for tourneys etc wether it be softball,baseball,soccer to use these fields and bring back some revenue and character back to our city. | A resident of Minneapolis | 55417 | 60 or older | Own | Male | White | ||||||||||||||||||
11990897432 | 390044530 | 2020-09-15 16:45:21 | 2020-09-15 16:57:10 | Costs, Revenue, and Funding | The cost of this plan is absurd, results in a substandard, cramped golf course and will never pay for itself - like the current golf course is capable. A smarter plan would involve much less water, retaining the existing 18 hole course - along with its rich history - and upgrading the course and facilities to generate additional revenue. This plan would be FAR less costly than the boondoggle swamp plan on the table. | $43M? How many years at the rate the course "loses" (according to you) money would it take to add up to $43M? Let's see the numbers for 2020. There is no way this course has lost money in 2020, correcting for the dates the course was closed and accounting for the course independently and fairly (rather than charging off unrelated expenses to the course, as you so slyly have done, in order to make the balance sheet look worse). Maybe if you put a little money into the course, including upgrading the clubhouse modestly - and account for the income fairly - you could get the thing cash positive pretty easily. And how many of your parks in the system do you have this expectation of cash positive for anyway? Let's the see the balance sheet on your skateboard parks and beaches. Your plan to spend $43M when the country has been shut down for 6+ months is so absurdly tone deaf, it defies logic. You've got a beautiful golf course, sitting there, generating revenue EVERY SINGLE DAY. There is no need to do ANYTHING and the course will be sustainable well into the future, if we have $43M to spend. Your fantasy that a restaurant or banquet facility will be a success is wishful thinking and definitely no slam dunk. In particular, the restaurant business has been pounded here by Covid. How's the golf course doing? Good? Yeah, much to your chagrin, that place is humming. Weird isn't it, when you actually acknowledge that things are cyclical. Your plan is to charge upstream communities for water storage? Yeah, great plan. We have too much water, so let's go get some more. It's just downright criminal, what you propose. Urban water mitigation, including pumping, is TOTALLY NORMAL. Your mantra that there is something wrong with pumping water is a BLATANT LIE. You know, I know it and the DNR knows it. Just stop. | A resident of Minneapolis | 55407 | 40-49 | Own | Non-binary | Latino/Latinx, Hispanic, or Spanish Origin | ||||||||||||||||||
11990862531 | 390044530 | 2020-09-15 16:33:11 | 2020-09-15 16:45:10 | Draft Plan (Entire site) | Additional traffic and noise generated by the site. | We folks here who live on the perimeter of the course, particularly Longfellow Ave, are currently enduring a huge amount of additional traffic, noise and parking issues brought forth by the massive condo complex being built outside the parameters of normal ordinances on the 47700 block. It's no secret this site was granted a dozen+ variances. These included variances on traffic volume, setback, and parking. They claimed - with their blatant lies that defy common sense - that no additional traffic would be generated and no parking issues would arise. We are seeing just the beginning of this pack of lies we were fed. Your plan is just as horrible and full of mistruths and lies. You will be generating a huge amount of noise, traffic and parking issues for this little neck of the woods, which is already, as mentioned above, severely encroached upon. Pumps make noise, attractions without enough parking bleed out onto the local streets. Traffic increases are inevitable and I'm sure the MPRB is downplaying - a la the development team on the condos and our guy Donald Trump on Covid - the effects these changes will have. "There's plenty of parking, plenty of room and this golf course is state of the art." This whole pack of lies will be sold to us and be a distant memory as neighbors listen to the constant drone of pumps located on the perimeter of the course, traffic constantly flows and and cars disturb the peace of our neighborhood further. If you think for one second we actually believe you that the site won't generate these types of problems, you are fooling yourselves. You can lie to us, but we don't need to believe it. | A resident of Minneapolis | A park or golf course user | 55407 | 30-39 | Own | Female | Black or African American | |||||||||||||||||
11990771005 | 390044530 | 2020-09-15 15:59:24 | 2020-09-15 16:01:17 | Golf | Please keep it 18 holes. | Those pushing to close the course are obviously non-golfers. It is a difficult game and Hiawatha is a great play to play and the practice areas are fantastic. | A resident of Minneapolis | 55417 | 60 or older | Own | Male | White | ||||||||||||||||||
11990711965 | 390044530 | 2020-09-15 15:35:09 | 2020-09-15 15:39:59 | Water Management | MPRB Commission Members' misplaced desire to create a unique habitat in place of the Hiawatha Golf Course has greatly overshadowed the significant water management issues that will impact the neighborhood. Much is not known regarding the impact that the proposed plan will have on the watershed and associated residential properties in the area, including those homes immediately adjacent to the golf course and in the greater Nokomis-Hiawatha area, where significant groundwater issues are present. | A resident of Minneapolis | A park or golf course user | 55417 | 30-39 | Own | Male | White | ||||||||||||||||||
11990656912 | 390044530 | 2020-09-15 15:16:03 | 2020-09-15 15:21:49 | Water Management | A complete and thorough study of the water issues that are happening in the neighborhood MUST be done before any changes are made to this park land. People’s homes are at stake which equates to tax revenue paid by those current residents. You could lose up to 300 property tax paying homeowners if they get flooded out. Parks don’t pay taxes! | The park board has NOT done enough study of these issues to confidentiality continue with the changes they suggest for this property. | A resident of Minneapolis | A park or golf course user | 60 or older | Own | Female | White | ||||||||||||||||||
11990641121 | 390044530 | 2020-09-15 15:12:42 | 2020-09-15 15:15:59 | Golf | Minneapolis parks should leave Hiawatha golf course as it is. No other course has the history or location of this course. | More study of changing the use of this park land needs to be done. | A resident of Minneapolis | A park or golf course user | 60 or older | Own | Male | White | ||||||||||||||||||
11990621801 | 390044530 | 2020-09-15 15:05:12 | 2020-09-15 15:12:29 | Golf | I believe we need to keep the 18 hole golf course as it is the only inner city option. Also, we need to honor the black community of Minneapolis with its historic ties to this golf course. | Our area already has plenty of park land for general recreation but Hiawatha Golf course is the only inner city course easily accessible by public transportation. Not to mention any changes made to this area will have unstudied impacts to the surrounding residents home especially where water troubles are concerned. More study needs to be done before any changes are made. | A resident of Minneapolis | A park or golf course user | 55417-2650 | 60 or older | Own | Female | White | |||||||||||||||||
11990579507 | 390044530 | 2020-09-15 14:51:49 | 2020-09-15 14:56:37 | Winter Recreation | You have too much water on the property. You won't have enough room for cross country or snowshoes. How are you keeping little kids from falling through all the ice? | You need to reduce water on property and have a new golf consultant configure 18 holes. That is where your CAC was headed before you shut them down and stopped the meetings. | A resident of Minneapolis | A park or golf course user | 55407 | 60 or older | Own | Male | White | |||||||||||||||||
11990552194 | 390044530 | 2020-09-15 14:36:24 | 2020-09-15 14:44:37 | Golf | I commented to voice my disapproval with removing half of the Hiawatha golf course. One point I hope that you will consider is that removing affordable, attractive options for regular people to enjoy golf only pushes it further into the realm of the elite country club crowd. More division along socioeconomic lines is exactly what we don't need at this time of unprecedented wealth inequality. This probably doesn't matter to those that already disparage the sport of golf as "just hitting a stupid white ball" but many of us find value in the game as a unique activity that promotes physical and mental well-being, as well as building honest character as a game with self-enforced rules. (I would welcome more rules and fees promoting walking on the golf course for the able-bodied, as driving in golf carts is a large part of what fuels anti golf sentiment) The adage really is true that you can tell a lot about a person by the way they handle themselves on a golf course - those that are comfortable cheating and acting like fools generally translate to their personal lives (and the oval office). I am looking forward to teaching my young daughters many life lessons through the sport of golf, and I know I am not alone in that regard. Thank you for your consideration. | A resident of Minneapolis | A park or golf course user | |||||||||||||||||||||||
11990526846 | 390044530 | 2020-09-15 14:30:16 | 2020-09-15 14:35:44 | Water Management | You are allowing more water storage in an are closer to homes without strong modeling or actual plans that show that homes will be protected to the level they are now. Certain MPRB state it isn’t the job of the park board to protect homes. It does seem VERY irresponsible to make changes that will potentially put them in jeopardy without proper science. After MANY conversations with Barr employees, USGS, DNR, State Rep, City of Mpls public works, I do not think you are there yet. I also do not think there is money to sustain this project. And again irresponsible to start something that will not be completed or maintained. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
11990513342 | 390044530 | 2020-09-15 14:21:56 | 2020-09-15 14:31:49 | Golf | Please reconsider removing half of the golf course, as this will severely decrease the appeal of the course to golfers. I understand that golf is an easy activity to pick on, as it has a reputation for being the hobby of old rich white men, but that is not really accurate for the vast majority of golf enthusiasts. Most of the people I meet at the wonderful Minneapolis city courses are down-to-earth people from all walks of life that enjoy the outdoors and the fantastic mental and physical challenge that golf provides. Please consider the many thousands of people that use golf as a form of self-care and a boost to our physical and mental health and well-being. I know that reducing the number of holes from 18 to 9 does not sound like a big deal, but this will make it completely unattractive to myself and most golfers that want a full 18-hole experience. Furthermore, this will be a permanent move, wiping out the nearly century old legacy of Hiawatha golf course as we know it, with zero chance that it will ever be restored. Minneapolis prides itself on having a world-class parks system and the fantastic quality of its municipal golf program (a revenue generating section of the Parks system) is an important piece of that system. Furthermore, we are lucky to have so many other wonderful options, negating the need to redevelop and destroy half of Hiawatha golf course. Thank you for your consideration. | A resident of Minneapolis | A park or golf course user | 55410 | 30-39 | Own | Male | |||||||||||||||||||
11990483844 | 390044530 | 2020-09-15 10:59:22 | 2020-09-15 14:29:01 | Golf | I would like to retain 18 holes - I respect the African-American heritage of the course - I want the high school teams to have an accessible option - 18 holes are more economically feasable. I am all for green space that is useable for all and feel like the neighborhood already has that with the Lake Nokomis and Hiawatha parks and the Minnehaha Parkway. | The golf course has a long and rich history of supporting youth and African Americans. A good portion of the flooding issues are due to upstream changes and not due to the course itself. This area already has abundant parkland but only one well used golf course. Please let us keep it. | A resident of Minneapolis | 55407 | 50-59 | Own | Female | White | ||||||||||||||||||
11990335105 | 390044530 | 2020-09-15 13:26:07 | 2020-09-15 13:32:44 | Golf | Hiawatha Golf Course is a historic MPLS golf course. It has been an integral part of many MPLS and Minnesota golfers for many years. It is a classic 18 hole golf course that has survived the test of time. It has a wonderful First Tee program and has served children and minority golfers for many years. As an 18hole course that is booked solid nearly every day plus a driving range it brings revenue to the city. | Don’t change just invest more money toward maintenance | A resident of Minneapolis | A park or golf course user | 55418 | 60 or older | Own | Male | White | |||||||||||||||||
11989994356 | 390044530 | 2020-09-15 11:29:11 | 2020-09-15 11:41:06 | Golf | I am very concerned with reduction of golf to 9 holes. Please maintain 18 holes of golf, the practice facility and driving range at Hiawatha. I've used the course for years for golf in summer and winter sports in winter, as have my wife and three children. Hiawatha is a great place to golf, cross country ski and recreate. Some improvements are needed, but this plan erases much of what is good at the Park at a very high cost to recreation and to taxpayers. I am encouraged that the MPRB is investigating improvements to the club house, snow making and year round recreation, but those should be additions to Hiawatha, not come at the expense of 18 holes of golf and practice areas. I support improvements to the golf course, while maintaining 18 holes, to improve water quality, pollinator habitat, etc. Much of the water improvement costs should be borne by the City public works as the sewers and their runoff into the lake/creek are not the responsibility of the MPRB, but rather of public works. Water and pollinator/wildlife improvements make sense, and an 18 hole course can easily accommodate those improvements in summer, as can winter recreation in winter. As a Minneapolis homeowner and taxpayer, I am very concerned with the high cost of the proposed draft plan. I didn't think the city (or its taxpayers) could can afford it prior to COVID, and cannot afford it with COVID reductions in tax revenues. Thank you | I am very concerned with reduction of golf to 9 holes. Please maintain 18 holes of golf, the practice facility and driving range at Hiawatha. I've used the course for years for golf in summer and winter sports in winter, as have my wife and three children. Hiawatha is a great place to golf, cross country ski and recreate. Some improvements are needed, but this plan erases much of what is good at the Park at a very high cost to recreation and to taxpayers. I am encouraged that the MPRB is investigating improvements to the club house, snow making and year round recreation, but those should be additions to Hiawatha, not come at the expense of 18 holes of golf and practice areas. I support improvements to the golf course, while maintaining 18 holes, to improve water quality, pollinator habitat, etc. Much of the water improvement costs should be borne by the City public works as the sewers and their runoff into the lake/creek are not the responsibility of the MPRB, but rather of public works. Water and pollinator/wildlife improvements make sense, and an 18 hole course can easily accommodate those improvements in summer, as can winter recreation in winter. As a Minneapolis homeowner and taxpayer, I am very concerned with the high cost of the proposed draft plan. I didn't think the city (or its taxpayers) could can afford it prior to COVID, and cannot afford it with COVID reductions in tax revenues. Thank you | A resident of Minneapolis | A park or golf course user | 55417 | 40-49 | Own | Male | White | |||||||||||||||||
11989966537 | 390044530 | 2020-09-15 11:29:15 | 2020-09-15 11:33:18 | Golf | Property needs to remain an 18 hole golf course. I heard Michael Schroeder say that it floods every 10 years. She's is inaccurate information. If you're looking for a nature center and reception area doesn't Wirth make more sense? | leave it alone. Invest in it. | A resident of Minneapolis | A park or golf course user | 55418 | 50-59 | Own | Male | White | |||||||||||||||||
11989958754 | 390044530 | 2020-09-15 11:26:05 | 2020-09-15 11:30:00 | Golf | Leave it as an 18-hole golf course. | Leave it as an 18-hole golf course and fix the problelm. | A park or golf course user | 55423 | 50-59 | Own | Female | White | ||||||||||||||||||
11989924324 | 390044530 | 2020-09-15 11:11:14 | 2020-09-15 11:19:17 | Draft Plan (Entire site) | I suggest putting this project on hold; this isn’t the time to make changes. But either way, I fully support and hope that the Park Board decides to retain the 18 hole golf course. It is important for many reasons, one of which is the connection with the BIPOC community. Now is NOT the time for our city to take this away! | I suggest putting this project on hold; this isn’t the time to make changes. But either way, I fully support and hope that the Park Board decides to retain the 18 hole golf course. It is important for many reasons, one of which is the connection with the BIPOC community. Now is NOT the time for our city to take this away! | A resident of Minneapolis | A park or golf course user | 55407 | 40-49 | Own | Female | White | |||||||||||||||||
11989921801 | 390044530 | 2020-09-15 11:17:13 | 2020-09-15 11:17:55 | Draft Plan (Entire site) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
11989902346 | 390044530 | 2020-09-11 22:28:19 | 2020-09-15 11:12:17 | Draft Plan (Entire site) | Overall, I am very supportive of the draft plan. There's a lot to like here, and I hope nearly all of it remains in the final plan and does not get watered down due to opposition. I love the additions of a restaurant/vendor and boat launch/rental amenities. While those things are also available at Lake Nokomis (as I'm sure many negative comments point out), there is value in including them at Lake Hiawatha as well. There are a few areas where I think the final plan could use greater clarity, particularly regarding proposed trails (red lines on plan) and connections to existing trails (gray lines, generally running along the east of Lake Hiawatha and just outside of the project boundary). I'd like more clarity that there will be a continuous bike trail connecting to the existing trail system that currently dead-ends at Lake Hiawatha Community Center. Unfortunately, it won't be possible to run a bike trail between the community center building and the shoreline, due to the existing improvements there. The trail will probably have to connect around the north/east side of the building, which is no simple task either, with the wading pool and various athletic fields/courts that already take up much of the park space. Despite the likely disruption to existing activities at Lake Hiawatha Park, it will be worth it to get a continuous trail through here. If that isn't done, you'll have cyclists meandering through narrow pedestrian paths and busy activity areas with lots of kids (around the playground/pool, etc.) That new east-west trail coming off the lake should also have a direct connection out to 44th Street, since there is a signal at 44th St & 28th Ave. Please partner with the city to consider changes to these local streets adjacent to the park (44th St and 27th Ave). Options could include changing to one-way traffic, removing parking from 44th Street to make space for bikes, or even disconnecting 44th and 27th streets around the tight curve there (i.e. cul-de-sac'ing each street and only allowing bikes/peds through). Continuing on the subject of trails, could the final plan make more distinction what would be sidewalks and what would be bike or multi-use trails? Particularly those that run around the perimeter of the golf course property. Some sections have existing sidewalks (43rd St on the north perimeter) while other sections of the perimeter lack sidewalks entirely (19th Ave and Longfellow Ave on the west side of the course). Some of these won't be part of a trail system and would make more sense as standard city sidewalks, while others should have fully separated bike & ped trails. Some areas make make sense to replace existing sidewalk with a wider trail(s), such as the northern perimeter on 43rd St. Please consider partnering with the City on ROW issues, where it may make sense to narrow a roadway by removing parking, freeing up space for a trail while preserving the existing greenspace inside the park boundary. Another area to strengthen connections is in the southwest corner of the property, adjacent to the growing business district on Cedar Ave between 47th St & Minnehaha Parkway. Here, the challenge is that the park service facility may cut off connections between the new mixed-use development (under construction) and the park amenities proposed in the plan. Hopefully the trail proposed along Longfellow Ave can serve as a direct connection between the front door of that development and the "front door" of the re-imagined park, and greater trail system. Lastly, I hope the final plan can include some rough timelines & staging of when the various improvements will happen. Some of the things proposed are going to take a ton of capital (and state bonding request(s) or other regional/state grants) and won't happen for 15-20 years or more. If that is the case, I'd just urge MPRB to be upfront and honest with people about that lengthy timeline. People should be well-informed that very little of this is going to happen overnight, and for the older folks (who also probably represent some of the more hardened opposition to changes), that it may not happen in their lifetimes, or at least not before they move out of the city and/or are no longer physically active. Lastly, please specify in the plan if the current 18-hole course is still projected to close in 2022 (it was "postponed 5 years" in 2017, so the current status is unclear). | A resident of Minneapolis | A park or golf course user | 55406 | 30-39 | Own | Male | White | ||||||||||||||||||
11989878975 | 390044530 | 2020-09-15 11:03:59 | 2020-09-15 11:07:02 | Golf | I would like to retain 18 hole course and practice area. | Should continue with 18 hole course on the beautiful land with room for other activities with some modifications to course. | A resident of Minneapolis | A park or golf course user | 55417 | 30-39 | Rent | Male | White | |||||||||||||||||
11989872768 | 390044530 | 2020-09-15 11:00:59 | 2020-09-15 11:03:42 | Golf | My preference would be to see the 18 holes maintained but this design is an important step forward. The Community Links model is a good one and I think this design does miss out on some aspects. | A resident of Minneapolis | A park or golf course user | 55417 | 30-39 | Own | Male | White | ||||||||||||||||||
11989824478 | 390044530 | 2020-09-15 10:48:09 | 2020-09-15 10:50:23 | Golf | Keep it an eighteen hole course | The plan looks bad | A resident of Minneapolis | A park or golf course user | 55417 | 60 or older | Own | Female | White | |||||||||||||||||
11989679035 | 390044530 | 2020-09-15 10:04:48 | 2020-09-15 10:07:58 | Draft Plan (Entire site) | Retain the 18-hole golf course. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
11989624769 | 390044530 | 2020-09-15 09:51:08 | 2020-09-15 09:54:40 | Costs, Revenue, and Funding | In light of the current pandemic and call for social justice, this project should be put on hold or abandoned. There is NO money for it. And if the Park Board is somehow able to secure it, there are much more in need communities within Minneapolis that should be prioritized, especially considering the Park Board's focus on racial equity. | In light of the current pandemic and call for social justice, this project should be put on hold or abandoned. Pursuing this project when there are encampments and people suffering is highly offensive. There is NO money for it. And if the Park Board is somehow able to secure it, there are much more in need communities within Minneapolis that should be prioritized, especially considering the Park Board's focus on racial equity. | A resident of Minneapolis | A park or golf course user | 55407 | 40-49 | Own | Female | NA | |||||||||||||||||
11989612677 | 390044530 | 2020-09-15 09:49:38 | 2020-09-15 09:51:07 | Golf | The 18-hole golf course has been here for over 80 years, and flood plain areas are an appropriate and common places for a golf course. The Park Board's Meadowbrook Golf Course is similar, and is not being closed. | In the new plan, half of the property will be flooded and the other half (the 9-hole golf course) will be elevated by as much as 9 feet above the level of the lake. This proposed plan will dramatically eliminate flood plain storage and risk flooding the homes. This proposed plan will not provide other opportunities to more users since the property will be golf and water. Plus, it eliminates the little park and rain garden on E. 43rd St. and 19th Ave. S. which that neighborhood wants to keep. And, the 18-hole golf course provides more opportunities for winter activities than a 9-hole golf course. | A resident of Minneapolis | A park or golf course user | 55407 | 40-49 | Own | Male | NA | |||||||||||||||||
11989605421 | 390044530 | 2020-09-15 09:47:07 | 2020-09-15 09:49:36 | Water Management | The 18-hole golf course has been here for over 80 years, and flood plain areas are an appropriate and common places for a golf course. The Park Board's Meadowbrook Golf Course is similar, and is not being closed. | In the new plan, half of the property will be flooded and the other half (the 9-hole golf course) will be elevated by as much as 9 feet above the level of the lake. This proposed plan will dramatically eliminate flood plain storage and risk flooding the homes. This proposed plan will not provide other opportunities to more users since the property will be golf and water. Plus, it eliminates the little park and rain garden on E. 43rd St. and 19th Ave. S. which that neighborhood wants to keep. And, the 18-hole golf course provides more opportunities for winter activities than a 9-hole golf course. | A resident of Minneapolis | A park or golf course user | 55407 | 40-49 | Own | Female | NA | |||||||||||||||||
11989600154 | 390044530 | 2020-09-15 09:44:49 | 2020-09-15 09:47:05 | 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 RESIDENTAL 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. | 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 RESIDENTAL 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. | A resident of Minneapolis | A park or golf course user | 55407 | 40-49 | Own | Female | N/A | |||||||||||||||||
11989581934 | 390044530 | 2020-09-15 09:40:34 | 2020-09-15 09:44:47 | Golf | Retain the 18-hole golf course. | The Park Board states that it is committed to diversity and racial equity. The 18-hole Golf Course is the only way to honor and support the Black/minority community. In addition, there is no money available to pursue this project. And in light of the current pandemic and call for social justice, this project should be put on hold indefinitely or abandoned. Park Board money should be focused on those areas of the community that truly need it. | A resident of Minneapolis | A park or golf course user | 55407 | 40-49 | Own | Female | White | |||||||||||||||||
11989547777 | 390044530 | 2020-09-15 09:25:48 | 2020-09-15 09:32:42 | Draft Plan (Entire site) | The Golf Course should stay in its current format, an 18 hole championship course. | Flooding half the course is not good for cross country skiing either. Trails on ice don't last. | A resident of Minneapolis | A park or golf course user | 55417 | 50-59 | Rent | |||||||||||||||||||
11989331402 | 390044530 | 2020-09-15 08:17:08 | 2020-09-15 08:30:37 | Golf | This plan seems to be a large over reaction to the flooding. I don't see how spending $80 million to ruin the best golf service for this part of the city makes any sense. General recreation opportunities exist right across the road at Nokomis. I've been around some large pumping in industry, and it seems highly unlikely there could be a return on investment to eliminate the pumping. Hiawatha GC is also a good layout - with some better turf management, it could really be a little jewel. It seems as if investing on a smaller basis to improve some things is a much better idea. To summarize my rambling: 1) Hiawatha is really the only good golf option is this portion of the city. It should be maintained and improved with much smaller investments than the $80 million price tag stated in some reports. 2) Is it responsible to spend $80 million to get rid of a good resource the city already has? Especially with budget shortfalls and golf booming again in popularity. Word around the course was that the entire 2019 golf revenue was met by July 4th weekend in 2020. And that was with golf not allowed in the spring from the state pandemic orders. 3) The pumping seems like a small issue - especially with climate variability, we could go back to an extended dry period similar to the 2000 to 2012 or so period. Then all that money is basically wasted (see comments about city budgets). | This plan seems to be a large over reaction to the flooding. I don't see how spending $80 million to ruin the best golf service for this part of the city makes any sense. General recreation opportunities exist right across the road at Nokomis. I've been around some large pumping in industry, and it seems highly unlikely there could be a return on investment to eliminate the pumping. Hiawatha GC is also a good layout - with some better turf management, it could really be a little jewel. It seems as if investing on a smaller basis to improve some things is a much better idea. To summarize my rambling: 1) Hiawatha is really the only good golf option is this portion of the city. It should be maintained and improved with much smaller investments than the $80 million price tag stated in some reports. 2) Is it responsible to spend $80 million to get rid of a good resource the city already has? Especially with budget shortfalls and golf booming again in popularity. Word around the course was that the entire 2019 golf revenue was met by July 4th weekend in 2020. And that was with golf not allowed in the spring from the state pandemic orders. 3) The pumping seems like a small issue - especially with climate variability, we could go back to an extended dry period similar to the 2000 to 2012 or so period. Then all that money is basically wasted (see comments about city budgets). | A resident of Minneapolis | A park or golf course user | 55410 | 40-49 | Own | Male | Black or African American | |||||||||||||||||
11989178498 | 390044530 | 2020-09-15 07:42:35 | 2020-09-15 07:45:38 | Please retain the present 18 hole course. There is no need to change it. Put any project to change the current course on hold.T he 18 hole golf course is the only way to honor and support the black/minority community. | A park or golf course user | 55421 | 60 or older | Own | Male | White | ||||||||||||||||||||
11989056931 | 390044530 | 2020-09-15 06:56:41 | 2020-09-15 07:03:09 | Golf | I believe the course should remain an 18-hole golf course. If the golf course is reduced to 9-holes I will no longer play. Unfortunately, that would also mean I would not be supporting local businesses in that area since I would have no reason to travel that way. | Keep the golf course. | A park or golf course user | 55343 | 21-29 | Own | Male | White | ||||||||||||||||||
11988801188 | 390044530 | 2020-09-15 05:06:01 | 2020-09-15 05:11:24 | Draft Plan (Entire site) | leave the course alone it work the way it is | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
11988214329 | 390044530 | 2020-09-14 23:07:08 | 2020-09-14 23:07:55 | Draft Plan (Entire site) | Who came up with the statement, "Conversations with Black golfers must continue as the golf course design is developed so that these histories are baked into the design and not just added, like a topping, later." This is insulting, especially considering that the Black golfers want an 18 hole golf course, not just some pandering to their history. Memorials - So your plan is to disrespect the people who placed these memorials on the golf course by moving or removing them. Many are benches and trees placed in a specific spot for a specific reason. And, who are you going to notify, and for what purpose? If you take the time to find them, you are going to tell them that the current Park Board doesn't give a rip about their family member or friend? And 37 memorials are way more than several!!!!!! | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
11988213006 | 390044530 | 2020-09-14 23:06:30 | 2020-09-14 23:07:04 | Draft Plan (Entire site) | So, are you really going to measure basement floor elevations for all of the homes that might be affected by your pumping plan? According to your initial modeling, this should include all homes in low-lying neighborhoods all the way to Powderhorn Park, since water levels will rise as far as Powderhorn Lake. It is critical that any new traffic studies must include the effect of the new 125 unit development with grocery store on the 4700 block of Longfellow Ave. which will have all vehicles entering and exiting that building on Longfellow Ave. Wetland banking means what? The MPRB getting paid for allowing dumping of water by others onto this property? If so, this should be prohibited because this property does not need any more water, especially with climate change. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
11988212319 | 390044530 | 2020-09-14 23:05:58 | 2020-09-14 23:06:27 | Costs, Revenue, and Funding | For a project of $43,000,000, your uncertainty allowance of -25% to +50% puts the cost between $32,250,000 and $64,500,000. So, you are going to spend up to $64 million to gain an annual revenue increase of, maybe, a few hundred thousand dollars. Who in their right mind would do this?????? | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
11988211497 | 390044530 | 2020-09-14 23:05:16 | 2020-09-14 23:05:54 | Draft Plan (Entire site) | You say that "ongoing community engagement will be a critical part of the future design process." Is that why you killed the CAC before their work was finished? | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
11988210466 | 390044530 | 2020-09-14 23:04:45 | 2020-09-14 23:05:13 | Water Management | The pumping system at 44th and Longfellow will be installing drain tiles to route the water where? Underneath the new golf course? Since you are removing the pond system that currently exists? How effective will this be? And, the previous information said that the pump at 43rd and 17th would dump the water into the 43rd street pipe, which would then daylight this water at the corner of 43rd and 19th, right next to the houses with low-lying basements. This is a ludicrous plan!!! And, the DNR hydrologist has already said that it won't work! | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
11988209651 | 390044530 | 2020-09-14 23:04:03 | 2020-09-14 23:04:40 | Community Gathering Area | There is not enough on-street parking to accommodate the expansion of activities at the clubhouse location, especially considering the new apartment building/grocery store on the 4700 block between Longfellow and Cedar Avenues. This needs serious consideration. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
11988208549 | 390044530 | 2020-09-14 23:03:09 | 2020-09-14 23:04:00 | Costs, Revenue, and Funding | You really believe that you are going to make $251,000 on the new restaurant per year???? ($435,000-$184,000) This is another pipe dream. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
11988207249 | 390044530 | 2020-09-14 23:02:11 | 2020-09-14 23:03:03 | Draft Plan (Entire site) | Stewardship of the Property - This section is laughable. The Park Board doesn't adequately maintain anything in the system, but does spend thousands of dollars on "planning" with only crazy plans to show for it as we have seen with this project. You spend a lot of time on creating fancy words, but little time in maintaining the park facilities that you currently have. You say that the non-golf course areas will include prairie, meadows and savannah. I don't see any land areas in the park except golf course. The rest of the property will be flooded. So you are selling people a pig in a poke when you talk about other land areas. You don't mention anything about mosquito control. This will be critical if this area promotes stagnant water. You say that maintenance costs will increase with this plan "but those expenses will be offset by an increase in revenues due to enterprise activities." This doesn't make sense. Any maintenance outside of the golf course and restaurant would not be an Enterprise function, so it should not be covered by any revenue generated within the Enterprise Fund. The General Fund needs to cover these costs. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
11988206048 | 390044530 | 2020-09-14 23:01:26 | 2020-09-14 23:02:09 | Costs, Revenue, and Funding | Regional Water Management - Does this revenue of $60,500 come from the General Fund, thus the taxpayer? Park Features - The only revenue sources in your list appear to be picnic areas, parking and pavilions. So, the neighborhood will now have to pay to use the park areas that they now use for free? And, where will the paid parking be? At the golf course? Will golfers have to pay for parking and golfing? I don't understand how you get revenue from play areas, open fields (which there will be little or none), plantings, trails, experiences, lighting and local utilities, especially $232,500 worth. It seems that you will be soaking the taxpayers who already pay a hefty tax burden for the parks by soaking them for even more money if they actually want to use the parks. When I was a kid, we could drive over to Minnehaha Falls and park for free; not now. Golf Course and Related Enterprise Features - Making $513,500 from a 9-hole golf course and a much smaller practice facility is a stretch. Restaurant Enterprise - The sunk costs to create the restaurant will more than eat up any revenue you make, and you are competing with yourself at Lake Nokomis and several other coffee shops and restaurants 1 block away. So, this appears to be a risky proposition, at best. Winter Activity Enterprise - You have never covered your costs for Winter Activities when you ran it, and the Loppet just ran themselves into the ground this past year. So, there is no money to implement the changes much less run it. Be realistic! Other Enterprise - Canoe and Kayak rental will not be popular at this location if the people have to canoe/kayak through the golf course to get to safe water. So revenue will likely be little to nothing. This should be done on the east side of the lake near the beach that no longer exists. In total, making $1.4 million on this property is a total pipe dream and snake oil sales job. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
11988204833 | 390044530 | 2020-09-14 23:00:51 | 2020-09-14 23:01:23 | Draft Plan (Entire site) | I find it very offensive that you keep talking for the Native-American community as though it has one voice. When you asked the Native-American spokesperson what he would like to see on the Hiawatha Golf Course property, he prefaced his statement with "I am only speaking for myself. Other Native-Americans may have different ideas." And, he is correct. I have Native-American friends who love the current Hiawatha Golf Course. They grew up golfing there and when I told them that the Park Board wanted to close it they said "Why would they do that! That's stupid!" And, there are many Native-Americans that golf. In fact, the biggest golf tournament that I have ever golfed in was a Native-American tournament in Duluth. They rented both public golf courses in Duluth for 2 days, with several hundred participants, with over 95% of them being Native-American. Plus, tribes in Minnesota own and operate several golf course. So, the ideas you portray about Native-American feelings towards golf courses are not held by many, many Native-Americans. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
11988204047 | 390044530 | 2020-09-14 22:59:48 | 2020-09-14 23:00:48 | Water Management | Island Respite - You continually talk about how unsustainable the golf course is due to water situation, but you want to create an island in the middle of the golf course property? This is totally hypocritical and incredibly foolish to even attempt. A Connection to Water - Many people on the west side of Lake Hiawatha (especially the at risk homeowners) are perfectly fine with having the dry golf course in between the homes and lake as a safety buffer. They DO NOT want the water to be across the street from their homes. So, please don't speak for the people on the northwest and west side of the lake! | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
11988202598 | 390044530 | 2020-09-14 22:59:03 | 2020-09-14 22:59:45 | Draft Plan (Entire site) | Your statements about doing something for the history of Black golfers at the site and the memorials rings totally hollow! The only thing that the black golfers want is an 18-hole golf course! That was made abundantly clear by Harry Davis, Jr. And, ripping out the memorials that have been lovingly paid for and placed on the golf course by family and friends of the people who have been memorialized is totally heartless! These 2 items show how little this Park Board cares for this community and neighborhood. To foster development of the game of golf in South Minneapolis you need a full facility like exists today! | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
11988201506 | 390044530 | 2020-09-14 22:58:04 | 2020-09-14 22:59:00 | Water Management | You talk about the soil as though it is pristine. The area of Rice Lake has been subject to over 150 years of settlement. Many areas of the city were used as dumps before they were transformed into the current day usage. My father grew up on the east side of Lake Nokomis in the 1920's and 1930's. He spoke of areas in the neighborhood that served as the local dump, being used to dump everything including automobiles. He said that these areas were later built on. Plus, Lake Hiawatha has been the recipient of 150 years of flows from Minnehaha Creek and the City of Minneapolis storm sewers. There is no telling what type of pollution is in the lake and in the soils of the golf course. DIsturbing this soil without massive mitigation of the possible pollution tied up in the property is irresponsible, and could stir up who knows what pollution. It needs to be handled with great care. (Similar to asbetos removal today.) You say that you will remove more trees from the property, but replace them with more appropriate trees. But, the dry property will be half the size. So, you can never repopulate the tree canopy to the extent you can with the 18-hole golf course. This design shows the water as being, basically, one big lake, so sequestration of phosphorus is your pipe dream. Water will freely flow back and forth between the lake and new ponds, so phosphorus will flow freely back and forth. And, in northern climates, senescence will return any phosporus bound into the plants when they die in the fall. Unless you implement phosphorus mitigation like the City of Richfield through a chemical recovery process, you will not make any meaningful progress on phosphorus reduction in Lake Hiawatha. Even MIchael Schroeder admitted in a CAC meeting that you are not doing a constructed wetland (which is the term used for pollution mitigation), you are just doing wetland restoration. So, stop promoting this fictional story!! Hiawatha Golf Course is already certified through the Audubon Cooperative Sanctuary Program for Golf Courses. So, don't make it sound like your plan will be doing something new. To be certified you must already have a plan in place for Hiawatha Golf Course. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
11988200124 | 390044530 | 2020-09-14 22:57:23 | 2020-09-14 22:58:00 | Winter Recreation | How are you going to put up a cross-country ski stadium on a golf course? Most people today don't want a natural ice skating surface, and this lake has high levels of water through it, so a natural ice skating rink seems like pie-in-the-sky nowadays. I find your proposals for cross-country skiing activities to probably be very unrealistic. Cross-country skiiers don't want to pay for the privilege; they want it for free. And, both you and the Loppet have failed to make any profit on cross-country skiing, and the Loppet is now broke. So, you will not have the money to implement any of these activities. So, let's get real and admit that these improvements will never happen anytime in the next 10-20 years. You say that you will build a partnership with an organization to "program, operate and maintain the cross-country ski trail system." The Loppet is broke and you may not be able to keep the programs at Wirth going. So, this proposal for Hiawatha is a total pipe dream, especially in this time-frame of COVID-19. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
11988199147 | 390044530 | 2020-09-14 22:55:44 | 2020-09-14 22:57:20 | Draft Plan (Entire site) | You talk about "healing and restoration" is getting really sickening. There is little about this plan that is healing. As one participant said in the original meetings, it appears that you are just pitting neighbor against neighbor in this process. And, you cannot restore this property to what it was 100 years ago unless you and the City of Minneapolis are willing to buy out 100's of homes so the surrounding topography is the same. This whole plan is ludicrous. Why do you propose another fishing pier on this little lake. You don't even maintain the resources you already have. One fishing pier is enough for you to maintain! You say that you will expand parking at the clubhouse only. On what property?? That knoll is so small. Your ideas don't in any way match reality. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
11988196825 | 390044530 | 2020-09-14 22:55:07 | 2020-09-14 22:55:41 | Community Gathering Area | This knoll can only support one building servicing everyone if you are going to have adequate parking. Three buildings is ridiculous. And setting the building into the hillside seems unlikely considering how high this knoll is compared to the surrounding property, and the fact that it would be right next to a body of water (which requires adequate shore-line set-backs so that the pressure of the building doesn't cause the ground to collapse into the lake). Why would you put the golf-simulators in a separate building from the rest of the golf stuff? This is ridiculous. You need to retain the chandeliers in the clubhouse which were hand-made by golf course personnel according the Theodore Wirth. Putting a building at the level of the lake is also very concerning. Buildings directly on the shoreline are not allowed without a variance, and, again, contructing a building on a floodplain where there will be no control over the water levels is not advisable. This is why you see no buildings on most of Hiawatha Golf Course; you don't build buildings on a flood plain. Who is going to take care of this rainwater garden in the parking lot? The entrance to the golf course looks terrible this year, so why would that change in the future? So, the little park area with the picnic tables to the south of the parking lot will be turned into a parking lot? | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
11988195914 | 390044530 | 2020-09-14 22:54:14 | 2020-09-14 22:55:04 | Golf | You say that this plan "will elevate all golf play spaces above the normal water levels on Lake Hiawatha." Since the normal high water level of Lake Hiawatha is over 814 feet, and large portions of the property that will be 'golf course' are as low as 809 feet, this means that you will have to elevate the golf course to levels, probably, above 816 feet (the current level of the berm). This would require a depth of fill as large as 7 feet on half of the property, a hugely massive amount of fill. This would change the floodplain in a much more massive way than Theodore Wirth ever did when he created the original golf course! Plus, it would have unknown effects on water retention in the surrounding neighborhood. This also doesn't take into account any seepage back into the golf course that currently occurs. How will you possibly keep the golf course property dry without pumping?? You indicate that you will expect most people to walk, and not ride a cart. The distance from the 4th green to the 5th tee is almost half a mile (not walkable for many people). Plus, golf courses make a large amount of their revenue from cart rentals, so this statement seems to be made by someone who doesn't understand golf courses. You indicate that netting will likely be used to protect non-golfers from golfers in the paths that traverse through the golf course. Don't you know that you can't build nets high enough to protect people from nearby errant golf shots. I assume that this would be along holes 1, 4 and 6. This tells me the design for this 9-hole golf course is very sub-standard for safety, and the Park Board would just be looking for a lawsuit from non-golfers who get injured on the golf course because you encouraged people to come onto the property. I have seen this type of golf course that too closely mixes golfers and non-golfers. One private golf course that I belonged to was sued by a family whose kid trespassed on the golf course and was hit by a golf ball. This golf course, at least, had a defense; the kid was trespassing. On this new golf course, the Park Board would be encouraging people to intermingle with golfers, so I see no legal defense for any liability you would incur for injuries to non-golfers walking on these paths. I don't see any information about the length of this new 9-hole golf course. If it is not a regulation length course, it will not be used by the "more advanced golfer" which means it will not be financially sustainable. Again, elevating the massive amount of property necessary for a 9-hole golf course will absolutely put the homes at risk of flooding during a 2014-like storm. You will have taken away a massive amount of flood storage. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
11988194609 | 390044530 | 2020-09-14 22:53:13 | 2020-09-14 22:54:11 | Water Management | You say that the plan will understand that "the water is the force that shapes the land." Everything about this plan is counter to that statement. This plan would try to totally re-engineer the natural flow of water, and the massive filling of the floodplain for the new 9-hole golf course is totally counter to the original topography of the land. And, this total re-engineering of the property has huge risks for groundwater changes in the surrounding community all the way to Powderhorn Lake as your modeling so clearly showed. What is the likelihood that storm water can be used for the proposed uses being that it is filled with refuse and pollution? You state that this plan will preserve "the floodplain's storage function." It is totally unclear how the floodplain will be preserved when this plan will fill in large parts of the flood plain with both water and dirt. That defies common sense. Daylighting the 43rd Street pipe into a low-lying neighborhood at E. 43rd St. and 10th Ave. S. is another risky proposition. Your original documentation stated that you hadn't even done the grading analysis to determine if the water would flow towards Lake Hiawatha. If it won't this neighborhood would end up under water. Again, the solution to reducing flooding in the area to the north is not to try and dump more water into Lake Hiawatha. It should be to build a real solution to the problem like the proposed pipe in 1979-1980 that would move water directly to the Mississippi RIver. And, trash mitigation can be done without daylighting this pipe in a vulnerable neighborhood, and taking away their little park. You state that the water management system will require long-term maintenance. That is a laugh. You have not even volunteered one Park Board employee to help the group that cleans up the trash at Lake Hiawatha when they have requested assistance. Why would you take care of this more complicated mechanism? This whole new water management system is playing with fire, and sad to say, the community doesn't really understand this. They believe that you know what you are doing. This plan DOES NOT preserve the floodplain. There is much more water coming into this "lake" than when the historic plat map was drawn up due to all of the massive development in the upper watershed over 100 years. So, comparing these maps is like comparing apples and oranges. And, this plan will keep more water permanently in the floodplain along with putting massive amounts of fill on the property to elevate enough land to build a a 9-hole golf course above the level of the lake. You even said that you could not put fill on this property because it would use up the floodplain. Now, you are proposing to do exactly what you said you could and should not do! Your plan for daylighting the 43rd St. pipe will only put an open storm sewer ditch across the street from the homes, and risk flooding the homes if you do it without a grading analysis. If your grading analysis comes back and says that the flow from this corner to the lake will not work, what will you do then? Plus, continuing to use this neighborhood as the dumping ground for water from other neighborhoods is not only dangerous, it shows how little the city and Park Board care about the residents of this neighborhood. Build the 39th St. storm sewer pipe to the river as was proposed in 1979!!! Rep. Wagenius said that the State of Minnesota would help pay for a project like that. The trash mitigation can be done without doing any other aspects of this plan and should not be tied to this plan. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
11988193026 | 390044530 | 2020-09-14 22:52:31 | 2020-09-14 22:53:08 | Draft Plan (Entire site) | Snowmaking and pumping would be right across the street from homes. Would snowmaking be exempt from noise ordinances for decibels and time of day/night? Minnesota Noise Ordinance The statutory limits for a maximum noise in a residential location are L10 = 65 dBA and L50 = 60 dBA during the daytime (7:00 a.m. – 10:00 p.m.) and L10 = 55 dBA and L50 = 50 dBA during the nighttime (10:00 p.m. – 7:00 a.m.) (Minn. R. 7030.0040). Storm water has trash and particles in it. Can this water be used for snowmaking without some cleaning mechanism, or does the water need to come from a well as is done at Wirth golf course, which would likely cause an increase in the irrigation permits for the property? You show the cross-country ski trail and stadium as being south of the clubhouse around 47th and Longfellow, yet the snow-making is at 44th and Longfellow. How is this supposed to work? It would seem that the snow-making equipment would need to be where the snow is going to be used, or are you going to truck it down Longfellow Avenue? The cross country ski trail is very chopped up because of the design of the property. Is this realistic? | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
11988192095 | 390044530 | 2020-09-14 22:51:54 | 2020-09-14 22:52:28 | Backyard Neighborhood Area | Please leave this park alone. Putting picnic areas and playgrounds in to this area is unnecessary and undesirable for the residents who have to live across the street. There is not enough space to put these features far enough away from the residents to not be a nuisance. Plus, more parking requirements would likely put stress on this neighborhood. This land is also subject to sinkholes, so it is not a suitable piece of property for construction of any structures. It appears that hole number 5 will be much closer to the homes than the current day hole number 6. This will mean that this little park will be more dangerous from errant golf balls, and essentially become a part of the golf course, not a park that is well-used today by the neighborhood. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
11988191085 | 390044530 | 2020-09-14 22:50:56 | 2020-09-14 22:51:50 | Backyard Neighborhood Area | The groundwater pumping is too close to the homes with respect to noise pollution, especially if The neighborhood values the park space and rain garden at the corner 19th Ave. S. and E. 43rd St. The diagrams indicate that this park will be eliminated. It will replaced by the golf course and the open storm sewer. This is not what these neighbors want or expect. The golf path going from the 4th green and the 5th tee will have golfers going against the flow of play on hole number 2. This appears to be extremely dangerous. The only safe path for golfers to get to hole number 5 appears to be by traveling along the perimeter of the golf course on 43rd St. and 19th Ave. This will be very undesirable for the residents on these streets, and pedsestrians/bicyclists. you introduce snow-making at this location. Based on some research into the decibel levels of snow-making equipment, they will likely exceed the State of Minnesota Decibel level limits for residential areas. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
11988189777 | 390044530 | 2020-09-14 22:50:19 | 2020-09-14 22:50:52 | Community Gathering Area | You show a beach by your Boat Storage and Water Rentals. There once was a beach on the east side of the lake which is basically not maintained and is almost non-existent today due to the high water levels of Lake Hiawatha. How are you possbibly going to maintain one on the west side of the lake when you can't maintain one on the east side of the lake? What in the world is the "underpass" on the north side of the main building? This part of the property is a small knoll which limits the construction elements you can implement. A bridge and/or underpass seems to be quite a stretch. There is only room for one building on this knoll considering necessary set-backs and the fact that you want to bring water right up to the edge of the knoll, so there should be one building that houses a combined pro shop and restaurant. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
11988188915 | 390044530 | 2020-09-14 22:49:50 | 2020-09-14 22:50:17 | Draft Plan (Entire site) | With all of the water than comes into Lake Hiawatha, how are you possibly going to have Natural Surface trails where Minnehaha Creek comes into the property? The parking lot looks very small for a the proposed activities on this property. The driving range is too close to the homes. Noise pollution. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
11988188226 | 390044530 | 2020-09-14 22:49:14 | 2020-09-14 22:49:47 | Golf | Canoing and kayaking access will put these people right in the line of fire for golf balls. How many stations will there be on the golf driving range compared to the current set-up? | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
11988187309 | 390044530 | 2020-09-14 22:48:11 | 2020-09-14 22:49:10 | Backyard Neighborhood Area | It appears that you are removing the pond on the 6th hole where storm water is currently dumped. Where is this storm water going to go? Building up the property for holes 1, 2 and 5 will likely impede the natural flow of water from the neighborhood to the west which causes great concern for flooding. What is the decibel level of the new pumping system that is supposed to go in on Longfellow Avenue. Will it abide by the State of Minnesota decibel levels for residential areas? | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
11988185676 | 390044530 | 2020-09-14 22:47:15 | 2020-09-14 22:48:06 | Golf | Paved Trails - You have a paved trail for the public running right next to holes number 1 and number 4. This looks to be highly dangerous for people getting hit by golf balls. Cart paths - You show that golfers going from No. 4 green will traverse up to 43rd street and then down the east side of Hole No. 2, against the direction that people are hitting on that hole. This looks to be extremely dangerous, especially considering that the golfers are squeezed between the hole and the water. I would predict that you would have to move this path to 43rd St and down 19th Avenue for safety, which would put this traffic right across the street from the homes (which will be very annoying for both the homeowners and pedestrians). Distance from the 4th green to the 5th tee. This appears to be almost a half a mile to walk. This is ridiculous! | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
11988184472 | 390044530 | 2020-09-14 22:46:32 | 2020-09-14 22:47:12 | Golf | Nobody believes you when you say that the "issues faced by a property situated below the elevation of an adjacent lake render the opportunity to create an 18-hole golf course impracticable, if not impossible" for the following reasons: • An 18-hole golf course has been there for over 80 years. It has already been CREATED and is raking in money in 2020! • Parts of Meadowbrook Golf Course are below Meadowbrook Lake and water is pumped over a berm. • Parts of Columbia Golf Course are built on an old lake bed just like Hiawatha Golf Course. • Many golf courses are built on sub-standard land that cannot be used for other purposes. You state that a flood-resilient golf course would "consume too much floodplain volume." Your 9-hole plan would permanently flood more of this property, and also put in massive amounts of fill for the new 9-hole property, which would reduce the available capacity for flood storage dramatically. Part is permanently filled with water and part is permanently filled with dirt. How in the world is this new plan better than the current layout where that volume is unused and available for a big flood event? You state that this plan offers a "compelling golf solution." A 9-hole golf course is not a compelling destination for a huge portion of the golf community. You used to admit this, but now you are just trying to do a sleazy sales job. What level of golf course would this be: regulation, executive? Where is the yardage per hole? | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
11988183434 | 390044530 | 2020-09-14 22:45:02 | 2020-09-14 22:46:28 | Draft Plan (Entire site) | You say that this plan provides enough detail to "demonstrate plan feasibility." To me, "plan feasibility" means that the plan has sufficient engineering foundation behind it to be implemented. I have been able to poke holes in this plan from the start from an engineering perspective. And, that was becoming more and more clear to the Community Advisory Committee (CAC). Everyone, including you were seeing that the members were not likely to vote for this plan because it was too dangerous for the neighborhood, so you shut down the CAC. Alternative 1 should never have been presented since it did not conform to the constraints of the Resolution. You say that "the CAC was unable to come to a consensus on the components to be propagated in the preferred alternative. " This is untrue. The CAC was disbanded by the Park Board when it was becoming clear that the CAC had severe reservations about the proposed plans. You say "With ecology as a yardstick, choices are made that err on preservation, conservation and restoration rather than expanded disturbance and new development." This is a laughable statement considering that you propose to introduce massive amounts of fill to the property to raise the new 9-hole golf course above the normal Hiawatha lake level. This will modify this property much more than the original golf course plan ever did. You say that this plan: • "created a variety of multi-use and pedestrian trails, allowing for a complete loop around Lake Hiawatha." The path over the berm is likely not "feasible" as you claim because it has water on both sides which will probably destroy it considering all of the water that will be going through this lake. • "preserved valued open space on the northwest side of the site". NOT TRUE! You are elimiating the highly valued park at the corner of E. 43rd St. and 19th Ave. S. And, it appears that the golf course will further encroach on the park at E. 44th Street and Longfellow Ave. which already gets some golf balls in it. Putting this hole closer to the homes will only make this a dangerous park for people to use. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
11988181298 | 390044530 | 2020-09-14 22:44:10 | 2020-09-14 22:44:59 | Draft Plan (Entire site) | You say that this proposal will make "the space more accessible with a wider variety of uses." From what I see, almost all of the usable dry land will be golf course, and the rest will be water. So, people who think they are getting more parkland will be sadly mistaken. In fact, it looks like you will be turning the little park at 19th Ave. S. and E. 43rd St. into part of the golf course and an open storm sewer. Comments from neighbors stated that they didn't want to lose this park and rain garden, but that is what is going to happen. Do they have a bait and switch coming!! | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
11988179937 | 390044530 | 2020-09-14 22:43:08 | 2020-09-14 22:44:05 | Golf | You say that the MPRB consultant said that Hiawatha Golf Course was functioning at 47% capacity in 2013 (the year of the study), and therefore, has twice the holes that it needs. You fail to mention that the consultant blasted the Park Board for mismanagement and lack of investment in Hiawatha Golf Course resulting in a large decrease in the number of golfers who wanted to spend their money at Hiawatha. He stated that if the MPRB properly maintained and invested in Hiawatha Golf Course, the MPRB could again have a 18-hole golf course with positive revenue. He said that the demographics (number of golfers) surrounding Hiawatha Golf Course was the highest of all the Minneapolis Golf Courses. Also, at what percentage of capacity do other activities in the Park System operate? Like softball, skating, hockey, tennis, swimming, general park usage? This year, the only activities that are thriving are general park usage and golf! | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
11988178487 | 390044530 | 2020-09-14 22:42:33 | 2020-09-14 22:43:05 | Golf | You state that "Hiawatha Golf Course has not produced positive net revenue since 2012 due to a decline in rounds played and the course's chronic wet playing conditions, related closures, and damage due to water." You fail to mention these important reasons for why the MPRB has lost money at Hiawatha Golf Course: • Lack of proper maintenance of the golf course creating poor playing conditions which made golfers and tournaments go elsewhere - this according to your own consultant. • Having no food service for 1-2 years at the clubhouse due to not re-furbishing the kitchen in a timely manner. • Lack of capital re-investment in Hiawatha Golf Course - this according to your own consultant. • Keeping the back 9 of the golf course closed for at least a year longer than necessary after the 2014 flood. • Underpayment of pension fund contributions in prior years when golf course profits were being siphoned off for non-golf expenditures. The money needed to be repaid during this time period, thus dumping huge expenses on the golf course not related to that year of operation. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
11988177621 | 390044530 | 2020-09-14 22:41:44 | 2020-09-14 22:42:30 | Nine Experiences (Please note the Experience you reference) | Your "specific" recreational needs that you listed can all be accommodated without having to take out the 18-hole golf course. As many people in the last survey said, these recreational opportunities either exist or can be accommodated in other parts of the Nokomis-Hiawatha parkland. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
11988176473 | 390044530 | 2020-09-14 22:41:02 | 2020-09-14 22:41:42 | Draft Plan (Entire site) | You call the delta at the Minnehaha Creek inlet to Lake Hiawatha a "Wetland habitat". This is not a wetland habitat; it is an accummulation of garbage and sand and soil and junk that is likely so polluted that it should be dredged and disposed of. It comes from what State Rep. Wagenius called the "open sewer" called Minnehaha Creek. You say that the "golf course fence restricts access/connection to neighborhood." Some people say that, but in talking with the neighbors immediately across the street, most of their dislike is the fact that the fenceline is so poorly maintained (it looks terrible). Plus, the golf course will still be right across the street, so something will still be needed to restrict people from entering the property during golf season. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
11988175446 | 390044530 | 2020-09-14 22:40:20 | 2020-09-14 22:41:00 | Water Management | You continue to try and find ways to blame the golf course for the pollution in Lake Hiawatha. Stop it!! The golf course contributes less than 1% of the phosphorus coming into the lake. Best Management Practice (BMP, your favorite term) is to mitigate AT THE SOURCE. So, the problem needs to be mitigated where 99% of the pollution comes from, and there is nothing in this plan that does that!! And, quit blaming it on the geese on the golf course; there are geese at most of the lakes that feed into Minnehaha Creek which feeds into Lake Hiawatha. You say that the tree canopy covers only 20% of the golf course property. This is due to the MPRB not replanting any trees as they die off. This golf course had hundreds of trees on it in the 1970s, 1980s, and 1990s, but the Park Board has been totally remiss in replacing the tree canopy on this property. In fact, there will be even less trees on this property under the proposed plan. And, this is likely another reason why the golf course is so wet; there are less trees on the property to take up the water that is dumped on the golf course. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
11988174217 | 390044530 | 2020-09-14 22:39:03 | 2020-09-14 22:40:16 | Draft Plan (Entire site) | You say again that there is "anecdotal observation by golf course staff of settlement of peat soils." You just can't give up the story that the golf course is sinking, even though your documents admit there is no scientific evidence for this. Your planning department is so disgusting!!! You don't mention that in 2012 you and the City of Minneapolis started dumping more water on Hiawatha golf course, over 60 million gallons, that never used to go onto the property. Doesn't the 18-hole golf course get any credit for being the city's dumping ground???? You say that the golf course has "soggy conditions". Not this year!! It is in great shape due to less rain. And, this has been true over the 80 year history of the golf course; some years are wet and some years are dry. You again state incorrectly that the 262 million gallons of water being pumped for dewatering exceeded the MnDNR irrigation permits. This pumping was not irrigating the golf course, it was dewatering the golf course. The MnDNR had not required that you have a dewatering permit, so you were not in violation of ANY DNR permit, and the DNR says so. Quit lying!!!!! You say that the pumping increased to more than 400 millions gallons in 2019. What is it this year??? We know that it is way down from that number! You say that it is "irresponsible" to pump the level of water out of the golf course as you do. This water will move through this area whether or not the golf course is there. It has to be moved out to protect the neighborhood homes and businesses, whether it flows naturally or is pumped over the berm. What difference does it make??????? None!!! You again bring back your totally fake number of $4 million in repairs and lost revenue after the 2014 flood. SaveHiawatha18 estimated that the total loss in repairs and lost revenue was around $558,000. And, it could have been less if the MPRB management had allowed the golf course staff to repair the back 9 holes immediately; it remained closed for a year and a half (at least a year longer than necessary). After this was pointed out, you changed the figure to $1 million. Now, you are back to $4 million??? The fact that the $4 million lost revenue figure is bogus is born up by the fact that the $1.1 million FEMA award for repairing the golf course was never spent to repair the golf course. The golf course was brought back by pumping out of the water and applying some grass seed long before the FEMA money was ever received. Instead, the FEMA money was spent on other projects at Gross Golf Course (replacing windows), Theodore Wirth Golf Course and Hiawatha Golf Course. Another big LIE from the MPRB Planning Department! You state that "with modifications to storage in and drainage through the Hiawatha Golf Course, some of the flood-mitigation projects identified in the watershed to the north can be implemented." My research into studies done in the last 40 years on flooding in Minneapolis has shown that these small incremental projects that just dump more water into the Hiawatha neighborhood have done little or nothing to solve the problems. The solution that was proposed in 1979-1980 of buildng a large storm tunnel under 39th street (as exists north of Lake Street and along Franklin avenue, and is currently being built under 35W in South Minneapolis) is the real solution to the problem. Just sending more and more water into Lake Hiawatha to go down a tiny creek bed is insanity. It doesn't work well now, and it surely won't work any better with more water thrown into it. The poor drainage and low topography will still be there in the neighborhood, but it will be the low-lying homes and neighborhoods that will get flooded instead of the golf course! And, if overall rainfall does increase, as you predict, Lake Hiawatha and the surrounding park land will be even less able to handle the plan you and the City of Minneapolis have for dumping more water into this area. The plan for increased rainfall needs to mitigate water going into this area, not increase it. That also includes mitigating water coming in from Minnehaha Creek. South Minneapolis cannot continue to handle the amount of water being sent into it! | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
11988172338 | 390044530 | 2020-09-14 22:38:15 | 2020-09-14 22:38:59 | Golf | Under "Facility Access and Safety", you say that canoers and kayakers are at risk of being hit by poor golf shots on Minnehaha Creek. This is true of any golf course with a creek running through it, including Theodore Wirth (and Bassett Creek). This is not a reason to close the golf course. And, why don't you take a look at creating a channel that bypasses the golf course property as was proposed in the original plans for the golf course property? Also, the proposed canoe/kayak rental location would run right between two golf holes. So, it appears that safety would not be improved; the danger would only be moved. You say "an aging perimeter fence encompasses the entire course." So, FIX IT! This doesn't have anything to do with the golf course itself. You say that "a maintenance drive along the west side of the lake is used occasionally in the summer by determined walkers." I assume that you are talking about the berm. I would say that it is used by people ignorant of their own safety. Also, they are not allowed on the property without paying a fee for golf, so legally they would be trespassing. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
11988169985 | 390044530 | 2020-09-14 22:36:15 | 2020-09-14 22:38:10 | Draft Plan (Entire site) | Page 10 The history of the land as it was is only relavent today as a historical perspective. The Lake Hiawatha property cannot be returned to what it was without destroying the neighborhoods (homes and businesses) that now surround it. Page 11 You say that the renaming of Rice Lake to Lake Hiawatha "echoed the constant pushing of Indigenous people from their historic landscapes throughout the region." How do you KNOW this???? So, renaming Lake Amelia to Lake Nokomis also did this? While the renaming may not have been 'in honor' of the removed tribes, it was, most likely, a tribute to Henry Wadsworth Longfellow and his story, The Song of Hiawatha. The MPRB's constant use of vitriolic statements that have little or no basis in fact to gain their desired end is very disturbing. You make it sound like wild rice will come back if you can restore this wetland. Very unlikely. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
11988168200 | 390044530 | 2020-09-14 22:35:17 | 2020-09-14 22:36:12 | Draft Plan (Entire site) | Page 3 The MPRB states that the plan "re-utilizes pumped water for a variety of potential uses (e.g. irrigation, snowmaking, facility heating/cooling)." The current golf course set-up already provides for use of this water for irrigation; one of the 2 irrigation pumping permits is specifically for pumping of water from the ponds for irrigation. So, the MPRB cannot claim any new benefit for irrigation. Being that this is storm water with garbage and particulates in it, how feasible is it that this water is usable for endeavors like snow-making and heating/cooling. Can snow-making and/or heating/cooling equipment use untreated storm water? Also, using water for snow-making and heating/cooling will not reduce the level of pumping, and the pumping permits will still need to accommodate these levels of pumping; which may also mean the pumping permits may need to be increased for increased usage. The MPRB states that the plan provides "opportunities to address flooding in the watershed to the north." The MPRB has provided no engineering data to prove this claim. Input we have garnered from professionals in these fields counters this claim. In fact, Minneapolis and MPRB officials have told us that they want to continue to use Lake Hiawatha as a dumping ground for more water from the City of Minneapolis and developers. The MPRB states that this plan will "improve water quality in Lake Hiawatha and Minnehaha Creek." We have seen no engineering information that shows that this will be accomplished. In fact, when pressed on the subject about how the MPRB will create a constructed wetland (which is the term for this type of endeavor), Assistant Superintendent Michael Schroeder stated that this plan will not create a constructed wetland; the plan is doing wetland restoration. Again, how are they doing wetland restoration when they will massively alter this property from its original footprint? The MPRB states that they will create "a destination golf facility." A 9-hole golf course will never be a destination golf facility, especially when the MPRB already has another 9-hole golf course within 2 miles (that loses money every year). A plan for a 9-hole golf course makes absolutely no fiscal sense since it will never be self-supporting (which the MPRB has admitted). The MPRB states that this plan is "celebrating the history of Black golfers at the course and supporting and providing an introduction to golf for people of color." There is no information as to how this "celebrating" will be accomplished, and the Black community has stated that they "don't want a plaque; they want an 18-hole golf course!" Plus, where do these minority golfers go when they are past the "introduction" phase of their golf experience????? The suburbs? That is where all of the other Minneapolis golf courses are! The MPRB states that this plan will create " a South Minneapolis winter recreation destination complimentary to North Minneapolis' Theodore Wirth Park." In no way will this plan create an experience similar to Theodore Wirth Park since the Wirth ski experience is built on a massive amount of land, a 27 hole golf course plus extra property next to the golf course. With the Hiawatha Golf Course Plan, you are reducing the usable land to half its current size, which looks like it is equivalent to putting skiing on the Wirth 9-hole Par 3 golf course. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
11988166782 | 390044530 | 2020-09-14 22:31:34 | 2020-09-14 22:35:14 | Draft Plan (Entire site) | Page 2 Paragraph 1 -The MPRB is lying. - Hiawatha Golf Course was closed for "a significant period" because the MPRB refused to allow the golf course staff to make repairs to the back nine of the golf course in a timely manner, most likely to gain FEMA money that was not needed and was never used to repair the 2014 flood damage to the golf course. Also, the back nine was not re-opened the "next year" (2015) as stated; it was re-opened in 2016, again because the MPRB would not allow the golf course staff to initiate repairs on the back nine of the golf course. Paragraph 2 - There has been no proof given that moving pumping in the proposed 9-hole plan will protect homes from flooding. Concerns have been expressed by constituents and DNR personnel that the plan will likely exacerbate the likelihood of flooding of the homes. And, initial modeling by the MPRB showed that water levels under homes will go up as much as 1 foot between Lake Hiawatha and Powderhorn Lake once pumping is stopped at Lake Hiawatha. This water will all have to be pumped out to an unknown destination. Paragraph 2 - The MPRB states that "flood resiliency can be improved through the design of a 9-hole course." This is, apparently, accomplished by adding massive amounts of fill to the golf course property. How much fill will be needed when huge portions of the proposed golf course are 6 feet below the Normal High water level of Lake Hiawatha? Paragraph 3 - This paragraph talks about the increased rainfall in the future. We have had 7 years of high rainfall, but 2020 has had much less rainfall. So, this can change over time. Regardless, the water will still need to be removed from the neighborhoods. The proposed plan moves the pumping into the neighborhoods which risks flooding of the low-lying homes between Lake Hiawatha and Powderhorn Lake if the pumping is inadequate or can't keep up. The current pumping regime will temporarily flood the golf course, if pumping can't keep up. Paragraph 4 - This document indicates that the MPRB is going to break up this plan into stages that may be accomplished over a 20 years period. This is very concerning in that pumping could stop at the golf course without important components being installed in the neighborhoods to mitigate flooding. This whole plan needs comprehensive engineering analysis before proceeding on any portion of it! Paragraph 5 - The MPRB says that the 18 hole golf course is not possible. That is ridiculous. It exists today and has survived through 7 years of exceedingly high rainfall. So, how is it not sustainable? This is a bogus statement only put out to justify the destruction of an important community resource that a large number of people want to retain. Paragraph 7 - This document says that the Hiawatha Golf Course Community Advisory Committee (CAC) provided guidance for this plan, but the CAC was prematurely disbanded by the MPRB without allowing them to vote on the plan. We believe that this was done by the MPRB because the CAC was becoming more and more likely to vote against the plan, as proposed. Paragraph 8 - The MPRB states that the new plan will make choices "that err on preservation, conservation and restoration rather than expanded disturbance and new development." It "necessarily bends toward ecology in its aspirations, recognizing the restoration of natural processes." This is a ridiculous statement when referring to a plan that will massively re-develop the landscape of this property to elevate half of the current golf course property by up to 6 feet or more by adding massive amounts of fill to the property. This plan will alter this property from its original footprint far more than Theodore Wirth's plan ever did!!! | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
11988161283 | 390044530 | 2020-09-14 22:30:53 | 2020-09-14 22:31:33 | Other (please specify) | Environmental | You need to complete and publish an environmental worksheet before voting to proceed. This golf course has been here a long time and your plan will disturb a lot of possible contaminants that may be in the soil. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
11988160224 | 390044530 | 2020-09-14 22:30:16 | 2020-09-14 22:30:52 | Water Management | As an at risk homeowner, the neighborhood needs protection from these new ideas. Adding all this water will surely destroy the neighborhoods and homes that people have spent their lifetime paying for in the middle of the city. This golf course plan is totally absurd, so close to homes and people that it will produce golf balls flying at people heads. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
11988159309 | 390044530 | 2020-09-14 22:29:46 | 2020-09-14 22:30:14 | Costs, Revenue, and Funding | Minneapolis brags about its first place in the parks, but that rating does not take into account the condition of the parks. The park board cannot take care of the infrastructure that they have now, so they shouldn't be spending money on redoing the golf course. Fix the assets that you already have that are in terrible condition such as the tennis courts. Nets are not taken down in the winter, surfaces are unplayable like sandpaper. They say no one plays on them; , that's because they are not playable. The only one that is playable is taken care of by a private organization with reserved times. Is this legal based on your charter? You propose spending all of this money and you haven't taken care of the statue of Longfellow. It is missing limbs, poor guy, and severely tarnished; in need of a bath. Shine him up, as would be due to the author of the Song of Hiawatha, a famous author. Shameful. There needs to be an audit of the park board to see if they are spending money appropriately or just throwing it to the wind. Take care of the present infrastructure. The Park Board has champaigne ideas and a beer pocketbook. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
11988158528 | 390044530 | 2020-09-14 22:29:12 | 2020-09-14 22:29:44 | Winter Recreation | WIth all of the water, you will not have cross country skiing like you currently have, since a swamp does not freeze except in very low temperatures. On the 18 hole golf course cross country skiing is available for all, and people can rent skiis. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
11988157559 | 390044530 | 2020-09-14 22:28:35 | 2020-09-14 22:29:10 | Backyard Neighborhood Area | Keep the parks as they are at 44th and Longfellow & 19th and 43rd because it is a unique neighborhood atmosphere like being in the country while still being in the city. It has a low crime rate. Even though it looks like no one is there, there is quite a population of various things that people like to do there. It is quiet and people feel free to sit down on the grass and read a book. People can sit and look at the golf course and relax, and see animals of all kinds (mink, raptors, occassionally deer, ducks of all kinds, an occasional swan, and other animals). I am against putting snow-making machines across from my house. If you put in a snow-making machine that means noise at night across from our homes. We already have planes; we don't need more noise. This is incompatible with a residential neighborhood. It can be put in on the current 18-hole golf course property. The golf course is currently a bucolic place surrounded by small parks which children and adults enjoy very much. Leave the little parks alone. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
11988156218 | 390044530 | 2020-09-14 22:27:17 | 2020-09-14 22:28:28 | Golf | My family has lived here since 1924. I want to keep the 18 hole golf course. People meet there with their friends and keep coming back through the years with the friends that they met in high school with many memories. There are many memorials that are part of this pastoral 18-hole golf course in the middle of the city. Black Park Board Commissioner Ed Solomon played here and has a memorial on the golf course. That should mean something to you.The 18 hole golf course has been a golf course that welcomes EVERYONE, all races,... It needs to remain a full 18 hole golf course for this diverse community. It is also a 18-hole golf course that is used by 5 high schools to which they can walk. The 18 hole golf course has been the golf birth place of many tournament golf players including Patty Berg. Tiger woods gave a clinic at Hiawatha, and now you want to tear it apart? | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
11988104707 | 390044530 | 2020-09-14 21:50:14 | 2020-09-14 21:56:04 | Golf | I am generally very excited about this master plan. However I am disappointed that the plan calls for all new buildings to be constructed instead of reusing the clubhouse. I recognize that reusing the existing clubhouse would be challenging due to current ADA requirements, and it is not able to meet all the needs identified in the Plan. But I would still encourage MPRB to re-examine options to modify the clubhouse so that that beautiful building can help bridge between the old and new Hiawatha golf course. | A resident of Minneapolis | 55406 | 40-49 | Own | Female | White | |||||||||||||||||||
11988033770 | 390044530 | 2020-09-14 18:21:18 | 2020-09-14 21:23:06 | Golf | I live across the street from hole number 4, 32 years, lifelong Mpls. resident. Appreciate all the work people have done on the issue for keeping 18 holes and reducing the course to 9 holes plus other alternatives. The Master Plan, prepared by an engineer, architect can appear to be impressive. The clubhouse could be expanded and improved (simulators, etc.) in the ways stated in the plan. A biking/walking trail with a boardwalk could run from the southwest corner of the park, through number 3, (move the tee box north) expand the berm trail, around 3, 2, 11, 12 (with netting in some spots) and connect with the trail going down the hill by the creek. The green spaces on the west side of the course could serve as Centers of choice along with picnic area, north side of lake. Winter hiking, ice fishing, skating, cross country skiing, snowshoeing are already in place. On average there were 200-250 paid golfers and 200-250 range golfers per day this summer. Celebrating the history of Black golfers, increasing opportunities for new players with 9 holes? Based on regulations to reduce pumping groundwater, the driver of this renovation, I feel the Master Plan is the answer the city has already decided upon. Many states have golf courses on a floodplain & make it work. There is a way to keep 18 holes and offer other fitness/community opportunities without a massive, expensive, excavation of the current course!! Will property taxes stay the same? | * Keep 18 holes with noted clubhouse, community center, restaurant improvements/additions. * MCWD should be a more active participant to help with creek, water flow. * MASS excavation of existing grounds could be solved with added more water holding ponds, drain tiles, catch basins. * Bike/walk boardwalk trail around #3 tee box and expand existing berm trail. Exit on west end of #12 and connect with trail by the creek bridge. Netting provided to protect walkers/bikers. * Massive tree removal, moving of terrain, expensive project!! * Picnic area on north side of Lake Hiawatha, good idea. Winter activities already exist. | A resident of Minneapolis | 55406 | 60 or older | Own | Male | White | ||||||||||||||||||
11986834340 | 390044530 | 2020-09-14 12:47:05 | 2020-09-14 13:07:12 | Golf | My concerns are that taking 9 holes out of Hiawatha and spending millions to do it would be completely ridiculous, considering that the golf course is packed full of people everyday. This has to go down as worst proposal in history by the city council it make makes absolutely no sense. I have never talked or heard of anyone who wants this done let alone spend tax payers money to do it. | A resident of Minneapolis | A park or golf course user | 60 or older | Own | Male | White | |||||||||||||||||||
11986798318 | 390044530 | 2020-09-14 12:50:00 | 2020-09-14 12:55:43 | Water Management | Hello! Neighbors, including my family, actively play and use the Park and Rain Garden located at E. 43rd Street and 19th Avenue South. It's a special area to gather. Please, please do not change it with the renovations to the park. Additionally, we would be devastated and consider moving if the storm sewer water would be dumped into an open trench at the corner of 43rd and 19th. This is unbelievable and as a neighborhood we strongly, strongly protest this change. The current plans to the golf course look great and are exciting, but this one component, including the elimination of the Park and Rain Garden (and replacement by daylighting the storm sewer pipe?!) is unacceptable and needs to be changed. Thank you! | As I said previously, we're really excited for the changes - except for the elimination of the Park and Rain Garden at 43rd and 19th. | A resident of Minneapolis | A park or golf course user | 55407 | 30-39 | Own | Female | White | |||||||||||||||||
11986750069 | 390044530 | 2020-09-14 12:36:15 | 2020-09-14 12:42:36 | Water Management | Every hydrogeologist who has looked at this plan for us (not paid by the Park Board) has said it won't keep the homes dry. So add the cost of a lawsuit to your $43 million. | Your plan is so poorly thought out. In order to alleviate the water problem in South Minneapolis, the watershed district needs to address the problem of Minnehaha Creek. Making changes to the golf course without addressing the root problem is foolish and futile. This plan only brings the water closer to the homes. | A resident of Minneapolis | A park or golf course user | Community Advisory Committee member | 55407 | 60 or older | Own | Female | White | ||||||||||||||||
11986559507 | 390044530 | 2020-09-14 11:35:41 | 2020-09-14 11:41:14 | Draft Plan (Entire site) | Your draft plan does NOT reflect the wishes of the community, neighborhood or the CAC. How can you move forward on a project that is not needed and a waste of taxpayers money. | We need to retain the current pumping scenario to keep the homes dry and keep the 18 hole golf course as a city asset. Why would you throw this away? With better management it makes money. Perhaps the park board is unable to manage it, just hire a better manager. | A resident of Minneapolis | A park or golf course user | Community Advisory Committee member | 55407 | 60 or older | Own | Female | White | ||||||||||||||||
11986451142 | 390044530 | 2020-09-14 10:58:20 | 2020-09-14 11:07:35 | Golf | Keep the 18 hole golf course. In fact the city/state should be investing more money into modernizing the course. Especially the practice area. This facility is a perfect setup for getting low income young people involved in something that will improve their lives substantially if done right... | A resident of Minneapolis | 55408 | 40-49 | Own | Male | Human | |||||||||||||||||||
11985948262 | 390044530 | 2020-09-14 08:35:27 | 2020-09-14 08:37:56 | Draft Plan (Entire site) | Especially during this pandemic, this golf course has been a God-send. We believe the course should be left alone. The plan will cost millions. Complaints have been low revenues. This is no longer true.!!!! It should NEVER be too late to scrap the plans to cut up this 18-hole course. It is a treasure that should be preserved. | We believe the course should be left alone. This 18-hole course is a treasure that should be preserved. | A resident of Minneapolis | A park or golf course user | 55417 | 60 or older | Own | Female | White | |||||||||||||||||
11984899708 | 390044530 | 2020-09-13 23:22:14 | 2020-09-13 23:39:41 | Golf | I don't believe most of the comments and conclusions presented in the plan. I have been following the process all along for a few years and the CAC never properly represented the views of the vast majority of the meeting attendees. Why would moving the pumps reduce pumping? Why would the 9 hole arrangement enhance flood resilience? Why spend a lot of money to change a park that is already great, offers a variety of amenities and activities? The park is already quite accessible to all people. No one is being excluded. Parceling the golf course is no more reasonable than parceling a baseball field. Some people seem to think the golf course is using an inordinate amount of space. Many people use the golf course and associated activities like the driving range and putting greens. Kids as young as 4 years old take lessons and play golf there. Many high schoolers use the course. Many elderly people who can't do much else at their advanced ages, use this golf course. It is the only 18 hole course in Minneapolis south of 94. It makes sense to leave the course as is. All of the goals of the Master Plan can be achieved in various locations and without disturbing a great park. We all can save a lot of money and retain the enjoyment by making only minor changes like adding or changing plants and bushes. | It would be easy to add or modify some of the foliage in the park. It would also be easy to add some amenities in the empty spaces around the park. The fence is a little shoddy in places and perhaps could be replaced with something more attractive or less visible. Overall this is probably the most diverse park in the metro area and is a true jewel. We should not be modifying it for such trivial benefits as outlined in the Master Plan. | A resident of Minneapolis | A park or golf course user | 55406 | 40-49 | Own | |||||||||||||||||||
11984893085 | 390044530 | 2020-09-13 23:06:38 | 2020-09-13 23:30:01 | Golf | Hiawatha already has a great learning program. Lots of kids do reasonably priced week long camps there every year, and they have other learning options too. If anyone is not feeling welcomed to learning there, that is more about them than about the place. My son and a bunch of his friends have done short golf camps at Hiawatha and now many of them play regular golf there too. It is such a great place for people of all levels to play. Great seeing people of all ages, races/ethnicies, and gender out enjoying themselves, getting exercise in the fresh air, and meeting new people. We drive to Hiawatha because we love it so much, but many of his friends are quite close to the course. Nobody likes the idea of the level of change you are proposing. Hiawatha Golf holds a special place in people's hearts, and it has always been popular and way more so this season with COVID concerns. It's no suprise golf is seeing a resurgence, and its upswing in popularity is only going to continue now that more people are trying it and getting hooked or playing more than they used to. Keep 18 holes (and the revenue generated! [duh]). Reducing to 9 holes is not desired, and the 9 holes shown in your plan look awful. The way they are configured is terrible and disjoiinted. The current holes are very walkable, but your plan would greatly promote cart use - bad for course and the environment. Or maybe you're trying to make cart fees that way? Your plan really does not seem to value golfers at all, it's pushing golfers aside and putting others' desires ahead (some big busy place with another dog park??) when Hiawatha has been there for>75 years and is busy. Please recognize that everything has changed with social distancing and golf is becoming loved again. Let Hiawatha Golf be. Use the big revenue generated by golf go into taking care of the nice old clubhouse and the course itself and pumping and other ways to help with water issues when they arise. Your plan seems instantly outdated and unnecessary now. | Plan would ruin a great place and for many reasons should be scrapped at this point. | A resident of Minneapolis | A park or golf course user | 55401 | |||||||||||||||||||||
11984865269 | 390044530 | 2020-09-13 22:56:00 | 2020-09-13 23:06:26 | Community Gathering Area | Why if a community gathering area is desired does it need to go at the golf course? Because some people golf and those who don't don't like the golf course being there taking up space? Put it somewhere else. What's wrong with using the east side of Lake Hiawatha instead? If a Lakeside Bldg is desired, put it on the east side of lake Hiawatha, where there is already a lake!! Knocking down the historic clubhouse and putting the expensive and completely inappropreate structures there is a terrible idea. And even if I did like any of this plan, where is the money going to come from? You lose golf you lose a big revenue generator. 9 holes is not going to do it, and the redesign of the holes is terrrible as well, clearly not done with golfers in mind. | Toss this plan. Recognize it would ruin a great place that is already popular and well used just the way it is. Save the money for pumping as needed, and trying to make slight modiciations to help with the water issues. Hiawatha Golf has great neighborhood character and charm and is part of a world class park system just the way it is. | A resident of Minneapolis | A park or golf course user | ||||||||||||||||||||||
11984757614 | 390044530 | 2020-09-13 21:27:48 | 2020-09-13 21:32:44 | Golf | I am a frequent patron of Hiawatha Golf Course. Every time I am there I am uplifted by the diversity of golfers from different backgrounds sharing this valued park resource. This is the closest golf course to the George Floyd memorial and I feel it is important that the Park Board keep a full 18 hole course that is a valued resource to many Black members of our community. Making this course a 9 hole course would short change our community members and deprive them of a full 18 hole round that is enjoyed by all of the other less diverse park courses in the city. | A resident of Minneapolis | 55410 | 50-59 | Own | Male | White | |||||||||||||||||||
11984289316 | 390044530 | 2020-09-13 16:44:47 | 2020-09-13 16:51:23 | Golf | It is important to retain the course as an 18 hole course, integral to the vitality of South Minneapolis and in exclusion of any possible new course development. | Surely there are numerous areas to off load rain/excess water, as the current golf course is surrounded by lake and river ways. Destroying an historical, beautiful course for this supposed releavement is costly and wholely unwanted by the South Minneapolis residents. | A resident of Minneapolis | A park or golf course user | 55417 | 60 or older | Own | Female | White | |||||||||||||||||
11984281781 | 390044530 | 2020-09-13 16:41:43 | 2020-09-13 16:44:38 | Golf | The 18 hole golf course is the only way to honor and support the Black/minority community. | Keep the golf course!!! | A resident of Minneapolis | A park or golf course user | 55414 | 21-29 | Rent | Male | White | |||||||||||||||||
11984209567 | 390044530 | 2020-09-13 15:38:22 | 2020-09-13 15:45:40 | Golf | I think it is unfair for the city to spend money on making the golf course a 9 hole course. The money should be used for other things such as, rebuilding businesses that have been impacted from rioting and businesses that are struggling due to covid 19. | If anything money could be used to improve the condition of the course, however, I think it is unfair to spend money on removing 9 holes as it would be a waste of money. If the course is 9 holes you would have to make golf rates go down and it would take forever to break even on a smaller course | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
11984010137 | 390044530 | 2020-09-13 13:09:57 | 2020-09-13 13:23:19 | Water Management | Reduce pumping Restore the marshland Don’t use chemicals on the golf course Use the pumped water to make snow And if there is any chance of eliminating the golf course all together, please do so. | The golf course is used by a very small minority of the nearby residents, and also the general population. There are several other golf courses in Minneapolis park and rec system that don’t have the same level of adverse environmental impact as Hiawatha does. Why can’t we eliminate the golf course from the plan completely? | A resident of Minneapolis | A park or golf course user | 55406 | 60 or older | Own | Female | NA | |||||||||||||||||
11983673087 | 390044530 | 2020-09-13 08:30:29 | 2020-09-13 08:33:47 | Golf | Retaining 18 hole golf at Hiawatha | It is necessary to retain the full 18 holes. This is a community golf park. It is the only 18 hole golf park in the city of Minneapolis. We need to keep it. And as we found out during COVID-19, golf really was a safe activity for people. | A resident of Minneapolis | A park or golf course user | 55406 | 60 or older | Own | Female | White | |||||||||||||||||
11982583638 | 390044530 | 2020-09-12 14:14:21 | 2020-09-12 14:42:29 | Golf | I'm not sure what you/people have against golf, but the golf course has been here a long time and is popular and loved. Golfers somehow don't matter based on this plan. Golfers are a type of park user, but this plan seems dismissive of golfers (and even future golfers). Maybe golfers should even be extra appreciated park users because they are paying to maintain the course and bringing in quite a bit of money. Golfers at Hiawatha are making money for the park system, but yet it doesn't seem like the park system loves them back or listens to their wishes or concerns. This feels like a very anti-golf plan, and a let-just-tear-things-down-and-try-to-please-everyone-else plan. Just because some people out walking their dogs or whatever don't like that they have to walk around the course and they feel annoyed by this, doesn't mean that this course isn't great and shouldn't be preserved. This plan definitely seems to ocme from a place where golf and golfers are viewed as a problem and people who don't golf are being valued more highly. COVID has changed everything and your plan really has no value now. No surprise golf has gotten super popular with COVID! It is the perfect social distance sport. You don't share any equipment, you're spread out, and you're in the fresh air. Great exercise and socializing. Most people can learn quickly. In fact, I just taught a preteen in about 10 minutes there last week and he's hooked. Every sport has its ups and downs in popularity, but thank goodness this plan hasn't happened yet and golfers new and old can enjoy Hiawatha and keep enjoying it for years to come. This plan is based on false premise of golf temporarily having lost some popularity and you tried to take advantage of that based on a rare flood. All courses flood a bit now and then; big deal, do something to help alleviate that don't just scrap the course! This course is a huge asset to the park system and many park users. And of course the Black community in particular has deep roots at this course, and has spoken out about wanting to keep Hiawatha 18 holes and the history there protected. This plan shows no respect for that either Truly respect this history and what the black community is saying by saving Hiawatha Golf and the clubhouse, not by hanging a few info signs. Lots of people like to golf and lots of people are trying it and seeing how great it is. Please keep 18 holes at special Hiawatha Golf! | Love the course, love the old clubhouse, love the people. One of the assets that make the Mpls park system great. And of course cross country skiiers get to use in in winter. A win-win! There have got to be simpler things that could help with flooding that would'nt involve ruining this special place. | A resident of Minneapolis | A park or golf course user | ||||||||||||||||||||||
11982457737 | 390044530 | 2020-09-12 13:11:10 | 2020-09-12 13:24:34 | Draft Plan (Entire site) | The entire 18 hole golf course and wonderful old clubhouse should be preserved. It is a gem of the park system, that just needs help with very occasional flooding. It is not right what you are trying to do and seems like a land grab. Golfers count, and the course is popular and profitable. There is history there. Wonderful diversity and Black history too. The park and building fit perfetly with neighborhood. Golf is a great sport, especially now with COVID, and people of all ages play it and can learn. Hiawatha has always been a learning center and lots of ways for people to learn if haven't done it before. Public courses make gold affordable and open to all. Your plan creates a "solution" to problems that don't exist and does not honor the history of the park. What a shame to try to limit the use of this great course. Dog park so not needed. And there is great parkland and facilities for general use just on other side of lake, so it's not like non-golfers don't have options already. Do the right thing and leave Hiawatha Golf alone just do something creative to help with flooding. Rain gardens along fairways, etc. Why ruin a popular profitable place? 43 million and not a good plan at all. Unbelievable. | As I said, please leave it alone so people can continue to enjoy golfing there, and respect the history! There are ways to work on the water issues without completely changing this golf course. | A resident of Minneapolis | A park or golf course user | ||||||||||||||||||||||
11979404881 | 390044530 | 2020-09-11 08:58:54 | 2020-09-11 09:08:51 | Golf | This project should be put on hold as we need park funding for safety and housing homeless people. Let’s focus on immediate needs this year. | Water management will need to be addressed but this needs to be a comprehensive plan that includes the entire watershed from Gray’s Bay to Hiawatha. | A resident of Minneapolis | A park or golf course user | 55417 | 50-59 | Own | Female | White | |||||||||||||||||
11978248028 | 390044530 | 2020-09-10 22:51:08 | 2020-09-10 22:54:34 | Golf | It does not need to be a gold course. Golf courses are a terrible use of public space. | Prioritize people's access to the water. | A resident of Minneapolis | 55406 | 21-29 | Own | Male | Black or African American | ||||||||||||||||||
11978070193 | 390044530 | 2020-09-10 20:50:06 | 2020-09-10 21:02:25 | Golf | I can't comprehend the necessity of go forward with the plans for the Hiawatha golf course. 1) There isn't another municipal 18 hole course in the area. However there are an abundance, some might even use the word plethora, for the number of available parks and walking paths. 2) Do the wetlands really need to be remediated? From what I've garnered, the course is still going to flood. 3) Hiawatha has a great history with the black community. It seems like a kick in the face to change an 18 hole course into a 9 hole course. 4) I've been saying this since Frey and Walz let Minneapolis burn; There's absolutely no way that there could now be money in the budget for this. I can only imagine that the neighborhood will be fuming if money is unnecessarily spent on someone's vanity project. | A park or golf course user | 55407 | 40-49 | Own | Male | Black or African American | |||||||||||||||||||
11977546374 | 390044530 | 2020-09-10 16:49:24 | 2020-09-10 17:10:57 | Golf | I strongly urge you, and plead with you, not to change the existing golf course layout. It is a beautiful facility that I use for golf in the summer and cross country skiing in the winter. This summer I have used the practice range or the course itself almost every day. I play in a golf league and we play the front nine one week and the back nine the next week. If it is only a nine hole course it will be boring. In addition the proposed layout has too much water (four holes have major water hazards). All these water holes take the fun out of it. About the only thing I like about the proposed plan is that there is a practice area available. However, I doubt very much that it will be nearly as good as the practice area that we have now. The current set up has everything: driving range, putting green, chipping area, large pitching area with four greens, and even a sand trap practicing area. Why spend $41 million dollars for something that is not broken. If flooding is the problem why not add a few feet of soil to the top of the levies? I am not convinced that the new design will solve the pumping problem either. The flow rate in is currently too high to evacuate the water without pumping assistance. Since the flow rate is is not going to change, adding a lake will not solve the problem. The proposed plan seems to acknowledge that because it also anticipates a need for pumping. Please save our beautiful course. With the economy teetering there is a huge shortage of government money. And with COVID upon us there is a ton of demand for golfing. Since it is not broke ..... don't try to fix it! | The plan as a whole certainly has some nice features, mainly related to nature. But the nature areas take space away from the golf area. I personally think that you will have fewer people enjoying a multi use area that you currently have enjoying the golf area. With COVID and a recession increasing the demand for inexpensive golf courses, and creating a major shortage of state and local funding, please leave this beautiful golf course as it is! | A resident of Minneapolis | A park or golf course user | 55407 | 60 or older | Own | Male | White | |||||||||||||||||
11976674441 | 390044530 | 2020-09-10 12:03:30 | 2020-09-10 12:06:18 | Golf | Retain the 18 hole golf course. | An 18 hole golf course is the only way to honor and support the Black/minority community. | A resident of Minneapolis | A park or golf course user | 55406 | 60 or older | Own | Male | White | |||||||||||||||||
11976500305 | 390044530 | 2020-09-10 11:06:01 | 2020-09-10 11:12:45 | Draft Plan (Entire site) | As a resident living on the golf course, I'm opposed to eliminating the park at 44th and Longfellow Ave. South. The draft project plan indicates moving the golf course to the perimeter of the park property which will result in danger of golf balls hitting homes and residents. The community deeply values and uses this little park. | I'm in favor of keeping the golf course as-is, and not reducing to a 9-hole golf course. The majority of residents are in favor of this. I have concerns with maintaining the proposed park, and attracting the homeless population to build encampments bringing a myriad of health and crime concerns to our community. We are seeing this happen currently with many of the city parks. | A resident of Minneapolis | 55407 | 30-39 | Own | Male | White | ||||||||||||||||||
11976476015 | 390044530 | 2020-09-10 10:46:18 | 2020-09-10 11:03:38 | Golf | Golf is a game of 18 holes. Your plan is to make the course a 9 hole course. I feel that this will further Increase your revenue problem. 9 hole courses charge less money so you will have less income. Your expenses will decrease somewhat but you will still need people to mow and maintain the course. Your capital expenditure will not go down because you will have to have the same or similar equipment to maintain the course. I don't see a 9 hole course as a solution to your revenue problem. It may make it worse. Promoting the course to all of the twin city area may increase your traffic and your revenue. I live in Plymouth and rarely hear anything about the Minneapolis courses. All of the Minneapolis courses and Hennepin county courses are very well maintained and a pleasure to play. I am an intermediate player and enjoy playing at courses where I can keep the ball on the large luscious fairways and putt on large well kept greens. I don't know much about water management. There must be a way to remove the water to the Mississippi river. This would dry out the fairways and allow people to play more rounds. Reducing the number of 18 hole golf course in Minneapolis will decrease the attractiveness of Minneapolis as a place to work and play. All be it small golf is a pass time enjoyed by many. Thank you for reading my comments. Best of luck in your Project. I have been a Project Manager and it is a rewarding job when the project is complete. It can be less that enjoyable during the project especially when you are trying to please many people. Good Luck. | See previous comments. | A park or golf course user | 55447 | 60 or older | Own | Male | White | ||||||||||||||||||
11976110238 | 390044530 | 2020-09-10 09:12:39 | 2020-09-10 09:23:46 | Water Management | There was a great effort put to the rain garden and culvert amendment on the NW corner: we call it the Triangle Park. I would like to see that land retained as the spontaneous soccer field, softball practice, distance community meeting place and neighborhood winter olympics site that it is currently. The plan I’ve reviewed seems to reimagine the entire space, removing the field entirely - which is quite an asset to us as a gathering space: especially now that socializing needs space. | I don’t mind the golf course and I think that’s where we should focus - using its existing real estate, and I welcome the thoughts of the area as a multi-use space. I would even welcome an access through the Triangle Park. | A resident of Minneapolis | A park or golf course user | 55407 | 50-59 | Own | Female | White | |||||||||||||||||
11975798897 | 390044530 | 2020-09-10 07:44:30 | 2020-09-10 08:05:53 | Draft Plan (Entire site) | I have read the draft plan and have been following all of this over the past couple of years, and it all just makes no sense. I have no idea why there is this vendetta to close down the 18 hole course, it seems like the reason changes once a week. I am there everyday and it is absolutely thriving, there is a buzz of energy like I've never seen before. Any real golfer would hate to see this closed, because a 9 hole course with a reduced range is a joke to anyone that knows golf, it may be good for kids but kids don't have money. But back to the plan, here is why it makes no sense. Flood plain areas are a common part of golf courses and can be found at Meadowbrook as well, doesn't mean we just start shutting down every course, otherwise golf probably woulnd't exist. Secondly, the plan says they're going to flood the back nine and raise the front, but how would this not just create more flooding issues in the surrounding neighborhoods? You have elimanated half of the flooding ground. Thirdly, how does elimanating half of the grounds "provide more opportunities to more users"? Winter activities will be reduced as well. Lastly and most importantly, the people have spoken. Look around the city. Look at all of the yards and cars donning yellow Save Hiawatha signs. Just because the people making decisions for the city don't use the facilities, does that mean that everyone else should have to suffer? This course has been a Minneapolis landmark for 80 years and has been a place that I call work and home for the past 20. If "The Man" closes down this beautiful piece of history and "paves paradise to put up a parking lot", then my last shred of hope in this city will have been lost and I don't think that I will be able to call it my home any longer. Thank you for your considerations. | I have read the draft plan and have been following all of this over the past couple of years, and it all just makes no sense. I have no idea why there is this vendetta to close down the 18 hole course, it seems like the reason changes once a week. I am there everyday and it is absolutely thriving, there is a buzz of energy like I've never seen before. Any real golfer would hate to see this closed, because a 9 hole course with a reduced range is a joke to anyone that knows golf, it may be good for kids but kids don't have money. But back to the plan, here is why it makes no sense. Flood plain areas are a common part of golf courses and can be found at Meadowbrook as well, doesn't mean we just start shutting down every course, otherwise golf probably woulnd't exist. Secondly, the plan says they're going to flood the back nine and raise the front, but how would this not just create more flooding issues in the surrounding neighborhoods? You have elimanated half of the flooding ground. Thirdly, how does elimanating half of the grounds "provide more opportunities to more users"? Winter activities will be reduced as well. Lastly and most importantly, the people have spoken. Look around the city. Look at all of the yards and cars donning yellow Save Hiawatha signs. Just because the people making decisions for the city don't use the facilities, does that mean that everyone else should have to suffer? This course has been a Minneapolis landmark for 80 years and has been a place that I call work and home for the past 20. If "The Man" closes down this beautiful piece of history and "paves paradise to put up a parking lot", then my last shred of hope in this city will have been lost and I don't think that I will be able to call it my home any longer. Thank you for your considerations. | A resident of Minneapolis | A park or golf course user | 55423 | 30-39 | Rent | Male | White | |||||||||||||||||
11974980543 | 390044530 | 2020-09-09 23:17:19 | 2020-09-10 01:27:29 | Golf | This is clearly an attempt by Rybak to have his Loppet crowd take over Hiawatha like they took over Wirth. $40 to $60 million to turn Hiawatha into a swamp to make it more interesting for cross country skiers to go around the lake in the winter. | A resident of Minneapolis | A park or golf course user | 55407 | 60 or older | Own | Male | White | ||||||||||||||||||
11974682970 | 390044530 | 2020-09-09 22:08:37 | 2020-09-09 22:11:05 | Golf | I strongly with the Park Board policy that "Nine holes are enough for nigger golfers". This is the most historic course for black golfers in the entire state, and it should remain a full 18-hole course. | A resident of Minneapolis | A park or golf course user | 55406 | 60 or older | Own | Male | White | ||||||||||||||||||
11974663694 | 390044530 | 2020-09-09 21:51:26 | 2020-09-09 22:05:45 | Upland Habitat Preservation and Ecological Restoration | I would like to see greater access to and education around the sensitive habitat surrounding our neighborhood lake. I am deeply troubled by the water quality issues and garbage in the lake, and I think we tolerate this in part because most of us have no access to much of it and don’t see it up close. | I believe that we should be able to walk around the lake, preferably on boardwalk or other raised sidewalk that protects the shoreline and keeps the park accessible during higher water, and that much of the park needs to return to the wetland it is determined to be. | A resident of Minneapolis | A park or golf course user | 55406 | 40-49 | Own | Female | White | |||||||||||||||||
11974644761 | 390044530 | 2020-09-09 20:06:20 | 2020-09-09 21:53:04 | Draft Plan (Entire site) | I am especially concerned about the protection of natural habitat for wildlife due to the pollution as well as the foot traffic through this area. I was out in the delta one Saturday and it was like grand central station with other people trampling through the same area. This amount of foot traffic definitely does not offer a place of sanctuary for the wildlife. There must be "no traffic" zones established to safeguard this area as a sanctuary for the animals and plants. Imagine the public trampling through our homes without any regards for our home environment. Another major concern is the amount of trash floating in the lake and on the lake shore! A clean lake is good for the wildlife as well as for the dogs and children who swim in the lake, along with being important for people who fish and kayak in the lake. We need to deal with the stormwater run off that is pouring unfiltered trash into this lake! The city and MPRB needs to step up efforts to deal with trash management, whether by hiring additional clean up crew, cleaning up the streets more frequently and of utmost importance coming up with a solution to deal with the stormwater pouring trash into the lake! We all pay the price for the city's lack of concern over it's stormwater treatment. I support the idea of sustaining the ecosystem over the need to have additional amenities such as a restaurant, kayak rental facility, lake house, etc. I'm a kayaker and Lake Hiawatha is rather small to kayak in. I have seen other kayakers paddling through the delta area. This is disruptive to the wildlife! I think Lake of the Isles has islands that are protected from foot traffic. We need the delta area to also be protected. My neighbors and I go to Lake Hiawatha to get away from commercial enterprises and be in the midst of nature. We want a clean nature area, not more places to eat. We already have the recreation center. That is enough for a small lake like Lake Hiawatha. Save the money and put it towards the preservation of the natural habitats and cleaning up the area. I also like the idea of a 9 hole golf course. On such a small lake, we don't need an 18 hole course. I am also in favor of making this park and lake a no-kill zone. There is no reason for trapping and killing animals when we need them to diversify the ecosystem of this area. Allow the planting of more trees for beavers and other animals. We need as many trees as possible to clean up the air. I also support organic and chemical-free treatments for managing the golf course, lake and parkland. The use of pesticides and herbicides does impact the health of humans, animals and insects, especially our bees. To summarize: 1. Top priority is the preservation of natural habitats and sustaining the ecosystem of Lake Hiawatha. 2. To do this, fix the stormwater treatment system and implement ways to eliminate trash and chemicals that are the pollutants. 3. Establish no-kill and no traffic zones to safeguard existing natural habitats. 4. Don't waste money on commercial enterprises that are not needed on such a small lake. Thank you! | A resident of Minneapolis | A park or golf course user | 55406 | 50-59 | Own | Female | Why does this matter? | ||||||||||||||||||
11974389124 | 390044530 | 2020-09-09 19:38:00 | 2020-09-09 19:43:15 | Golf | I support removing all golf from the park. | I am very impressed with and excited about the plans. I just wish golf was entirely removed—that sport limits so many others due to it being dangerous to walk by. The park could be much more utilized if the golf holes were entirely removed. | A resident of Minneapolis | A park or golf course user | 55406 | 30-39 | Own | Female | White | |||||||||||||||||
11974365682 | 390044530 | 2020-09-09 19:20:01 | 2020-09-09 19:29:40 | Draft Plan (Entire site) | I have no comments but wonder and awe at the thorough and careful work you're doing. Thank you. | A resident of Minneapolis | 55406 | 40-49 | Own | Female | White | |||||||||||||||||||
11974147085 | 390044530 | 2020-09-09 17:50:29 | 2020-09-09 18:00:45 | Draft Plan (Entire site) | Solve the high water issues of Lake Hiawatha and Lake Nokomis by removing the excess water. Creating a place to hold more water does nothing for the high water levels in our neighborhoods. Leave the golf coarse alone. Build a dike so the Minnehaha Creek can bypass lake Hiawatha. Move the pumps to the east side of the lake and pump the water out of Lake Hiawatha and down the creek to lower the lake level. A lower lake level saves the golf course and lowers the water table of the surrounding neighborhoods. The golf course remains a vital flood plane and the lower lake level can accept water if necessary. Properly manage the dam on Lake Nokomis. This dam height should be manage on a daily basis based on the water levels of the creek. It's not rocket science. Keep the water levels as low as possible in Lake Nokomis. Consider a pump at the dam. | Don't touch it. The golf course is not the problem. Properly manage the water levels of the lakes and the creek. | A resident of Minneapolis | A park or golf course user | 55417 | 60 or older | Own | Male | White | what does it matter | ||||||||||||||||
11973743037 | 390044530 | 2020-09-09 15:23:18 | 2020-09-09 15:42:15 | Golf | 18 hole course is the only option. That is the only serious way to play golf. The water threat to South Minneapolis is real and pumping must continue to keep the region safe. The DNR will support this position. | Keep Hiawatha 18 open. Folks love the course. There is an important heritage to Hiawatha. Golf is on the upswing during this COVID era. Please, please keep the course. I have golfed Hiawatha since the early 1960’s. And golf is the perfect pastime and exercise for old folks (everyone actually). Except Jono, no other Board members have played or understand Golf. However, Kale and Londel know the importance of the 18 hole Hiawatha Course to the community. Brad realizes that we can’t afford to convert the course to 9 holes. COVID and George Floyd have changed everything - eliminating a golf course is NOT a priority!! | A resident of Minneapolis | A park or golf course user | 55415 | 60 or older | Own | Male | White | |||||||||||||||||
11973727883 | 390044530 | 2020-09-09 15:19:36 | 2020-09-09 15:53:11 | Golf | I think that the golf course should remain as 18 holes. To be fair, I am a longtime member of the Women’s League. Since the flood and lack of proper care of the course, we have lost many members. The lack of concern for the course by the park board has discouraged some women from continuing membership. Very sad. | Pumping should continue so that neighbors do not get flooded basements. The course may flood as it has in the past. It can be put back together again. Meadowbrook floods too. No word on dismantling it. I don’t think there is money to tear the course apart as planned. It is making money now since the pandemic with busy rounds and tight tee times. Perhaps those who are golfing now will continue golfing in the future. I think many people were put off of Hiawatha in the past when the grounds were not properly taken care of (ineffective groundskeeper), and when the flood occurred, that was the last straw for many participants. People left for other courses. Too bad. After that, the course was mowed, and not much else. The distance markers were never restored! That is important to golfers! I would encourage you, when money allows, to tear down the clubhouse and build an event center which could handle weddings, meetings, etc. Leave the golf course alone. Historically Hiawatha has been host to many Black golfers. They have always been welcomed at Hiawatha and they have been good advocates to the sport. What a loss to them. Who is going to read these surveys? I don’t think anyone is listening at the Park Board! Sad! | A resident of Minneapolis | A park or golf course user | 55417 | 60 or older | Own | Female | White | |||||||||||||||||
11972979514 | 390044530 | 2020-09-09 11:16:45 | 2020-09-09 11:18:51 | Draft Plan (Entire site) | We live across from Lake Hiawatha Park on the east side and are excited with the way the Plan came together. It addresses environmental stewardship by the Park Board to the land while providing many options for users. Good work. | We are excited about this Plan! Thanks for including all types of uses!!! | A resident of Minneapolis | 55406 | 40-49 | Own | Female | White | ||||||||||||||||||
11972961633 | 390044530 | 2020-09-09 10:36:42 | 2020-09-09 11:14:15 | Golf | 1. Walking the golf course. From the proposed 4th green to the 5th tee it appears that you have to walk back to a bridge in order to circle around the water to get to the 5th tee. Not only are there safety issues, but it is a lot of extra steps for walkers. 2. The range. There is no substitute for practicing on real grass. Currently the Hiawatha range is only 1 of 2 in the Minneapolis Park system that can allow for hitting off a real grass surface with all clubs including woods and drivers (Columbia is the other). The new mats are better than ever but they do not allow the same club contact as grass when practicing irons and fairway woods. After I hit off mats before a round it takes many failed shots to re-adjust to the real grass of the course. The proposed plan does not indicate if the new range will included the same set-up of grass and mats that we currently have. I believe keeping the grass option is imperative to making a first class practice facility. 3. Practice area. The current practice arears are very good since they brought back the practice bunker this year. It is also not clear if the proposed plan will keep all the same areas as is there now. These include: bunker with green, putting, chipping & short game (shag bag needed) areas. Obviously, I think all 4 types need to be included in the details of the new plan. | A park or golf course user | 55425 | 60 or older | Rent | Male | White | |||||||||||||||||||
11972886925 | 390044530 | 2020-09-09 10:50:12 | 2020-09-09 10:54:34 | Golf | Save 18 holes. It’s the last South Minneapolis golf course available to students and people of color. Only beginners will play golf there. See also Snelling. | Beautiful site. If you make it walking trails I fear it will be a dangerous area after dark that will present crimes of opportunity for citizens and surrounding communities. | A resident of Minneapolis | A park or golf course user | 55417 | 40-49 | Own | I prefer to answer another way: | Why the hell does this question exist? | See above | ||||||||||||||||
11972820400 | 390044530 | 2020-09-09 10:30:33 | 2020-09-09 10:35:30 | Winter Recreation | Thank you for making including making snow, grooming of X C Ski trails! We have paid the fee yearly, however not had the same level of services from the city like Theo Wirth! | Yes! Please make this park space useable and accessible for the neighbors! The golf course is pretty, however most of us do not golf! I like the idea of park space, boats, biking trails. I would love to see a dog park! So many of us have dogs! | A resident of Minneapolis | A park or golf course user | 55407 | 50-59 | Own | Female | White | |||||||||||||||||
11972760265 | 390044530 | 2020-09-09 09:54:48 | 2020-09-09 10:16:51 | Water Management | Please continue to prioritize water management and water quality improvement as you finalize the plan. Consolidating the golf course footprint (please shrink it) seems to be the best way to allow this occur. The education and art that connects people to water is helpful. | Please continue to expand access to this site. The current use as primarily a golf course excludes too many people. | A resident of Minneapolis | 40-49 | Own | Male | White | |||||||||||||||||||
11972714651 | 390044530 | 2020-09-09 09:44:15 | 2020-09-09 10:04:20 | Community Gathering Area | Please be very intentional about selecting a vendor for the concessions. Some factors to consider. - Full range of price points (everyone should be able to afford a $1.00 treat for their kid) - Higher end food needs to translate to fast service. - Proven ability to manage a food service space. (Sand Castle has been a flop in my opinion... terribly managed, and bad food.) Selecting a sucessful food truck is likely a good bet. - Separate beverage/treat line from food line. - | A resident of Minneapolis | 55417 | 40-49 | Own | Female | White | |||||||||||||||||||
11972667585 | 390044530 | 2020-09-09 09:45:56 | 2020-09-09 09:51:45 | Golf | We MUST keep the golf course as-is with 18 holes; there is NO evidence drainage is a concern and/or detrimental to the environment, and a 9 hole course is a total joke. It makes no sense spending millions of dollars to turn a beautiful, historic golf course that can sustain itself into a lame 9-hole course that will be shared with dogs and is guaranteed to operate at a hefty loss in perpetuity. Changing the golf course in any way is seriously the most ridiculous and idiotic concept I can imagine | Keep it as an 18 hole golf course! | A resident of Minneapolis | A park or golf course user | 55419 | 30-39 | Own | Male | White | |||||||||||||||||
11972657211 | 390044530 | 2020-09-09 09:47:50 | 2020-09-09 09:48:52 | Draft Plan (Entire site) | I like the plan. | A resident of Minneapolis | A park or golf course user | 55417 | 50-59 | Own | Male | White | ||||||||||||||||||
11972634035 | 390044530 | 2020-09-09 09:20:01 | 2020-09-09 09:44:09 | Winter Recreation | Thank you for including winter recreation. Would love it it incorporates adequate space for indoor hangout (including fireplaces, chairs, concessions), hosts the MYSL clubs, and as many km of ski trails as possible. Please also include sufficient winter walking trails, and signage to help differentiate the 2 systems. For fat bikes, be sure there is adequate access to/from that area to keep these separate from those traveling by foot. | I love the emphasis on natural spaces, kayaking, walking, acknowleging the Dakota land. Good combination of active space, and hanging out in nature space. LOVE bringing the winter warming house and kayak rental to be nearby the water. Outdoor fire pits would be awesome, and bring in one of the mobile saunas (612 sauna society). | A resident of Minneapolis | A park or golf course user | 55417 | 40-49 | Own | Female | White | |||||||||||||||||
11972633332 | 390044530 | 2020-09-09 09:38:15 | 2020-09-09 09:43:32 | Golf | Reconsider 18 hole course that the community needs. Open your eyes to the vast surrounding area of parkland for all to enjoy. Turning beautiful 18 hole course into swampland and junk 9 hole course is a mistake that will be realized too late. All things come around, read your stats on golfing. | A pumping station - thought that was the scapegoat here for turning golf course into more swampland like around lake Nokomis? | A resident of Minneapolis | A park or golf course user | 55406 | 50-59 | Own | Female | White | |||||||||||||||||
11972468777 | 390044530 | 2020-09-09 07:49:44 | 2020-09-09 09:02:50 | Golf | Given the constraints and design parameters as inputs to the process, the design looks good. Problem is that the plan takes something that was providing a public need to people who enjoy golf - and reallocating the resources to other interests. There are plenty of open park areas already. How would bikers/kayaks/boaters feel if the park decided to expand golf course development into their bike trails etc.? South Mpls. needs an 18 hole golf course that is acceptable for all people to enjoy - one it can call its own. Hiawatha has provided that for almost 100 years. Don't see a plan to create that capability in the South Mpls. area. Am concerned about the cost of this project and the time that it would take to complete the project (golf pressure would have to divert to other courses during this time frame). Furthermore, if anyone has visited Hiawatha, one knows that a 9 hole course is not sufficient for demand. Not sure pumping water is really an issue... amount varies per year (last year a lot, this year not as much). Perhaps the money would be better spent incorporating techniques / grasses (Chambers Bay example) that help improve the water quality - definitely a concern... while leaving the course much more intact -- with a lower price tag. | Hiawatha Golf Course has a rich history and is a valued treasure of the city of Mpls. It is a place where one can play a round of golf or hit shags at the range and spend a couple of hours practicing chipping/putting while enjoying the outdoors -- at a reasonable cost. Have seen Bald Eagles, Hawks, mink, fox, ducks, geese while on the premises. If it has to change, the plan is fine (at least 9 holes are retained), however, Mpls. should then be planning to add an 18 hole replacement somewhere nearby.... | A resident of Minneapolis | A park or golf course user | 55419 | 50-59 | Rent | Male | White | |||||||||||||||||
11972442007 | 390044530 | 2020-09-09 08:46:15 | 2020-09-09 08:51:45 | Golf | I am concerned about the proposed change to the course. This 18 whole golf course is an oasis in the City for urban golfers. Other cities would love to have a public course like this, and we are treating it like a burden. We have an abundance of parks and green space for the public, but for city dwellers that enjoy golf this is one of the few public offerings. Stop creating a problem where there isn't one -- and focus on issues like homeless camps and crime! | The City needs to focus on the problems, and not mess with things that are working. All people that live in the region deserve something in this plan, not just one segment of society. The Mayor and City Council are absolutely against the golf course -- that is apparent. They need political points, so they are picking the problem du jour. After moving back to Minneapolis from living in Des Moines and Kansas City, I'm so proud of the parks system we have -- it is great. It is balanced with lakes, trails, golf, and art. Repair and improve what exists, and stop trying to create a whole new plan that creates a gap for the golfers--your target. You are driving people out of the City -- and once again the flight will take place because of poor leadership at the City. | A resident of Minneapolis | 40-49 | Own | Female | ||||||||||||||||||||
11972337183 | 390044530 | 2020-09-09 08:09:18 | 2020-09-09 08:17:21 | Draft Plan (Entire site) | My priority for this park is to make it less exclusive and more inclusive and to restore the ecology and habitat. I was dismayed when I learned how much of the MPRB budget goes to pumping water in this site and maintaining the extreme conditions necessary for a golf course. That seems like a real misalignment in terms of values. I appreciate attempts in this plan to rewild and let nature take its course even if it is at the expense of the golf course. Golf is a pretty limiting sport in terms of who it attracts (race, age, gender, income) and I want to see this park be more of and for the people. Meaning we don't need to pay a fee, wear certain clothes, or have certain equipment in order to use the park. It also seems very irresponsible, especially during these times of climate catastrophe, to be altering the environment in a way that damages our current ecosystem and uses large amounts of water and chemicals to maintain a recreation area. I like the use of pollinators in the plan as well as community gathering spaces. It is exciting to think about the park as a winter destination as well. I used to have a friend who lived across the street from the park and I always thought it was so sad that there was a fence up blocking off families from being able to use the park. This is the people's park - please make it open to the community! | Please prioritize pollinators, gathering spaces, re-wilding the landscape, planting trees, growing a healthy ecosystem. | A resident of Minneapolis | 55409 | 30-39 | Own | Female | White | ||||||||||||||||||
11972329002 | 390044530 | 2020-09-09 08:13:00 | 2020-09-09 08:13:56 | Water Management | Despite the resistance I am glad you are moving forward with the master planning process and the alternatives developed to deal with the issue look good. I look forward to seeing this development. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
11972326232 | 390044530 | 2020-09-09 08:01:42 | 2020-09-09 08:15:13 | Water Management | 1. Leave the golf course just the way it is and save tax payers 40 million dollars. this whole project is totally unnecessary. 2. you are putting noisy/loud Pumping and Snow making stuff right in the long time neighborhood; how discusting and "in-your-face" bull shit. this should go in the south west area near the park maintenance building. we already get outrageous airplane noise with no relief. 3. sewer and waste management at 43rd street and 20th ave? right by our homes? your "we know better than you" attitudes are disccusting. | cancell this whole project; quit spending money where it is not needed. | A resident of Minneapolis | A park or golf course user | 60 or older | Own | ||||||||||||||||||||
11972006535 | 390044530 | 2020-09-09 06:12:42 | 2020-09-09 06:26:55 | Golf | Flooding and destroying this golf course is a terrible idea. It has existed for over 80 years SUCCESSFULLY. It has hosted many local, state and national golf tournaments and has been a valuable asset to the city of Minneapolis. If allowed to destroy this course, Minneapolis will have no golf facility in their city, while golf is on a serious increase for outdoor recreation in these difficult times. It would be a terrible disaster for the city. there are countless opportunities for all kinds of outdoor recreation, but only one for golf in Minneapolis DO NOT destroy that one by either flooding the whole thing or turning it into a nine hole fiasco, that even your own studies say is doomed to be a money pit cash drain. Hiding behind the pumping issue has been the park boards cover, however, while it has been hashed around for 3 years, there is no pumping issue, the DNR says whatever you want. You committed to honoring African Americans on this site, a cheezy nine hole course doesn't make the grade, it is in fact a slap in the face. You have no money to turn a profitable business into a massive money pit to throw away tax payer dollars KEEP THE 18 HOLE GOLF COURSE AS IT IS | LEAVE IT ALONE The next page you ask for my zip code. I have added it and yes I do not live in Minneapolis. For the first 1/2 of my life I did live on 57th and 22nd Hiawatha golf course played an important part in life for all residents. It does to this day with a very vibrant DIVERSE customer base. It is a regional treasure, so 9 chosen so called leaders of the park system should not be allowed to destroy this gem | A park or golf course user | 55316 | 60 or older | Own | Male | White | ||||||||||||||||||
11971963916 | 390044530 | 2020-09-09 06:03:17 | 2020-09-09 06:14:02 | Please take a look at the number of rounds and money made this year at Hiawatha. Compare the numbers to any other non golf facility the Park Board has. Hiawatha needs to remain an 18 hole golf course, anything else is a waste of time and money. You are not listening to what the citizens of Minneapolis want. Quit ramming this project down our throat! | A resident of Minneapolis | A park or golf course user | 55417 | Own | Male | |||||||||||||||||||||
11971691306 | 390044530 | 2020-09-09 03:46:57 | 2020-09-09 03:53:26 | Water Management | Pumping water will always be there. So why is that an excuse to change the Course. Are you asying that when the course is changed that the pumping will be less.? | It's too bad that this lovely course will only be nine hole. It's a Landmark in the midst of the City. | A park or golf course user | 55305 | 60 or older | Own | Male | White | ||||||||||||||||||
11971372269 | 390044530 | 2020-09-09 00:06:28 | 2020-09-09 00:15:53 | Golf | Don't bother with a nine-hole golf course. | Tragic loss of a golf course in South Minnepolis. Should have worked harder to effectuate an innovative solution that included an 18-hole course. What a shame. | A park or golf course user | 55345 | 40-49 | Own | Male | White | ||||||||||||||||||
11971246564 | 390044530 | 2020-09-08 22:31:00 | 2020-09-08 22:32:58 | Draft Plan (Entire site) | I think it’s racist to take away a black golf course not matter what drivel you are selling about water. Th ere are multiple alternative experts that say you aren’t telling the truth. Review your systemic racism here! | Again you are racist - this is a black golf course. Close Columbia or gross. | A resident of Minneapolis | A park or golf course user | 55417 | 50-59 | Own | Female | White | |||||||||||||||||
11971240205 | 390044530 | 2020-09-08 22:20:21 | 2020-09-08 22:30:02 | Draft Plan (Entire site) | Keep the green space as is. We don't need more development, trails, or a bigger clubhouse. Keep pumping water at current levels, it isn't hurting anything. The open space of the golf course serves a valuable role for years when there is a great deal of rain, like 2014. Protect nearby homes, don't allow water levels to ruin the homes. Spend limited funds to preserve the parks that we have. Don't waste money on unneeded development at Hiawatha golf course. The fruit farm is a ridiculous idea. Keep the golf course at 18 holes. Reducing it to 9 holes is just a sneaky way to kill it slowly. | Keep the golf course at 18 holes. Protect nearby homes by continuing to pump water at current levels. The pumping isn't hurting anything. Don't waste limited funds to develop something that is great already. Open green space should be treasured, not developed. | A resident of Minneapolis | A park or golf course user | 55406 | 50-59 | Own | Female | White | |||||||||||||||||
11971197335 | 390044530 | 2020-09-08 20:44:10 | 2020-09-08 21:59:44 | Draft Plan (Entire site) | I support the plan. It is a good balance of various needs in the park, including recreation and responsible land management. I would like to see Lake Hiawatha managed in a more ecological manner. The shift from 18 holes to 9 holes of golfing is fine with me. | A resident of Minneapolis | A park or golf course user | 55407 | 30-39 | Own | Male | White | ||||||||||||||||||
11971160100 | 390044530 | 2020-09-08 20:44:55 | 2020-09-08 21:39:39 | Draft Plan (Entire site) | I support the plan, as it will more effectively manage water and prevent flooding, thus saving costs in the long run. As climate change will likely cause more, and more intense, precipitation events, we can't continue to rely on pumping the golf course. Moreover, as a resident of the area, I would like to see more people have access to the west and north sides of the lake for activities other than golfing. | Hiawatha is a beautiful lake--I'd love to see the water quality improved and its natural form restored, as has been happening with Lake Nokomis. | A resident of Minneapolis | A park or golf course user | 55417 | 50-59 | Own | Female | White | |||||||||||||||||
11971101586 | 390044530 | 2020-09-08 21:01:46 | 2020-09-08 21:02:48 | Draft Plan (Entire site) | No notes. Do it! | A resident of Minneapolis | A park or golf course user | 55406 | 21-29 | Own | Male | White | ||||||||||||||||||
11971046357 | 390044530 | 2020-09-08 20:30:21 | 2020-09-08 20:32:16 | Winter Recreation | Thank-you for making this very valuable asset accessible year round. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
11970892675 | 390044530 | 2020-09-08 19:16:54 | 2020-09-08 19:17:31 | You’re foolish to change anything about that golf course!!!!!!!!!! | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
11970857947 | 390044530 | 2020-09-08 18:45:14 | 2020-09-08 19:03:23 | Other (please specify) | Bike access to and from north on 26th Ave. | The path south of 43rd street at 26th Avenue is currently labeled "No biking". It is the only bikable path to and from the north end of the park. 27th Avenue is one way going north and the 27th street sidewalk is very uneven and in disrepair. The alternative is to bicycle, often with children, on 28th Avenue to the community center and playground. 28th is a busy main thoroughfare and bus route with no bike lane. In most Minneapolis parks a common path is labeled a "shared path". This segment of path from 43rd street to the beach needs to be modified to accommodate a separate bike path or relabled as a shared path. | A resident of Minneapolis | A park or golf course user | 55406 | 60 or older | Own | Male | White | |||||||||||||||||
11970797747 | 390044530 | 2020-09-08 18:30:24 | 2020-09-08 18:38:46 | Golf | A decent 9 hole course to replace a soggy 18 hole course is a good idea. My hope is that the practice area remains large enough; it's the only place anywhere in the city to practice the short game. And please, schedule all of the work to minimize the time that the practice area is unavailable (close it last, and reopen it first). | A resident of Minneapolis | 55409 | 60 or older | Own | Male | White | |||||||||||||||||||
11970782188 | 390044530 | 2020-09-08 18:22:19 | 2020-09-08 18:32:35 | Draft Plan (Entire site) | This is a ridiculous amount of money to be spending on something with little return. Improve the golf course by raising it a couple of feet in the problem areas, and build the new club house. Do the revenue projections on that and I'll bet it would look good. This whole issue seems to stem from the flooding we had a few years ago and the news that the pumps were far out pumping the allotted amount. Isn't this water just basically the water that came from the creek being put back in the creek? So what? I say either up the permit so there isn't a violation or raise the low levels of the course so they don't flood. Get the fill from the lake bed since it seems like that needs dredging anyway. The activities you have listed for the new park are likely not to pan pout like you think. Why do we need another lake to go to with sand and boat rentals? Put some more money into Nikomis if needed. The golf course is tired and needs an update and golf is a great outdoor sport. Redo the clubhouse and you'll attract a lot more players and the events revenues will grow immensely. | See what I just wrote | A resident of Minneapolis | A park or golf course user | 55409 | 50-59 | Own | Male | White | |||||||||||||||||
11970672456 | 390044530 | 2020-09-08 17:40:16 | 2020-09-08 17:59:57 | Golf | I play golf 3-4 times a week and will NEVER play or practice at your new 9 hole course. I am also not going to renew my annual Mpls golf pass. The Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board has failed the citizens once again. Surprised? Not really... | I would love to see the total taxpayer cost for this entire project. How come that is not mentioned in the Executive Summary? | A resident of Minneapolis | A park or golf course user | 55406 | 30-39 | Own | Male | Black or African American | |||||||||||||||||
11970582066 | 390044530 | 2020-09-08 17:06:33 | 2020-09-08 17:14:18 | Why are the powers trying to get rid of the golf course the history is rich and with a little movement of dirt and another multi living space where the old Sa was located would bring more golfers and where would the public school students teams play at | Move in dirt make course more challenging. | A resident of Minneapolis | A park or golf course user | 55407 | 50-59 | Own | Male | Black or African American | American Indian or Alaska Native | |||||||||||||||||
11970564093 | 390044530 | 2020-09-08 16:54:13 | 2020-09-08 17:11:46 | Other (please specify) | Bigger problems | Improve the golf course, it’s self funded if you don’t steal the money. Have a special election to replace the Board with people who understand what a park board’s responsibility is to the community. There is a huge drug and health problem in the parks. Clean the parks and leave the recreation alone. | We need to get people on the BPC That understand what the of responsibility of the park board is. | A resident of Minneapolis | A park or golf course user | 55406 | 60 or older | Own | Male | Not relevant | ||||||||||||||||
11970562223 | 390044530 | 2020-09-08 16:54:19 | 2020-09-08 17:04:07 | Golf | I appreciate the hard work you all have put into this, and the compromise you've settled on. If I could make a change, it would be to eliminate the golf course entirely, but I understand why it was deemed necessary to keep it. | The draft plan looks great! | A resident of Minneapolis | A park or golf course user | 55406 | 30-39 | Own | Male | White | |||||||||||||||||
11970543829 | 390044530 | 2020-09-08 16:48:59 | 2020-09-08 16:56:57 | Draft Plan (Entire site) | Out of all of the proposals put forward this is the best. I appreciate the city keeping 9 holes - Keeping golf in the city is a viable need. it seems the allowed water overflow will be a lot greater than the actual problem - a thought or concern might be how is that maintained when it is not wet? I understand preparing for the 100 year floods that now seem to come every 10 years. That puts a lot of years where the grounds could become a dried up fire risk if not maintained or put into consideration. | Out of all of the proposals put forward this is the best. I appreciate the city keeping 9 holes - Keeping golf in the city is a viable need. it seems the allowed water overflow will be a lot greater than the actual problem - a thought or concern might be how is that maintained when it is not wet? I understand preparing for the 100 year floods that now seem to come every 10 years. That puts a lot of years where the grounds could become a dried up fire risk if not maintained or put into consideration. | A park or golf course user | 55376 | 40-49 | Own | Male | White | ||||||||||||||||||
11970542680 | 390044530 | 2020-09-08 16:52:09 | 2020-09-08 16:56:41 | Golf | Only a few people can play golf at any given time, whereas our parks are enjoyed by multiples of people, from all walks of life. This land should be opened up to the community and used in a way that benefits more people. | Any and all ideas should be considered through the lens of fairness and best-use for the land. | A resident of Minneapolis | A park or golf course user | 40-49 | Own | Male | White | ||||||||||||||||||
11970462464 | 390044530 | 2020-09-08 16:10:54 | 2020-09-08 16:32:44 | Golf | The golf course layout is horrible. The distance between the #4 green and #5 tee and #5 green and #6 tee is WAY too far. This will dissuade walking, making it less accessible, rather than your stated goal of making it more accessible. Number 2 appears to be extremely short and will result in errant shots into houses.Numbers 6, 7, 8 & 9 are going to result in danger and people playing from each other's fairways. I suspect since I can tell this is an awful design at a very high level, the details are beyond horrible. It's interesting to me that you do not have a better map showing tee grounds, green locations, hole length, etc. This is because you have not allowed enough room for the holes. Have you even had a golf course architect involved? If you have, where are those diagrams? You have taken a very nice layout, with many interesting and challenging holes and, due to the ridiculous decision to flood the grounds, crammed 9 crappy holes into a space too small already, let alone capable of expansion. The location of the driving range is particularly concerning. This location is going to result in sliced shots out onto Longfellow Ave or into the maintenance area and hooked shots out onto #9. It's clearly set in a way too tight area. Just plain stupid. It also appears to be quite short - without dimensions, it's difficult to tell - which will result in limitations or prohibitions of driver use, which will diminish the value of the range severely. Clearly no respected golf course architect was involved here. A $43M plan that includes a golf course and you go cheap or absent on an actual golf course architect? Score the MPRB for a par on this one as that is how this entire ham-handed drive to eliminate a golf course institution has proceeded from day one. | Lies. In a word, that is how I would sum up the drive to eliminate the 18 hole golf course. Lies about what the DNR says, lies about the consequences (lack thereof) of pumping water (a VERY NORMAL mode of operation for water control). Lies about possible solutions that could save the golf course. Lies about how much the golf course makes or loses (let's see the 2020 income statement - without expensing half the park system to Hiawatha golf course, that is). Lies about playgrounds, skate parks, beaches, dog parks, etc - how much net income do they bring in? Lies about accessibility - the existing extensive golf course practice facilities are FREE OF CHARGE and ANYONE can use them. There are two parks wide open to the public right nearby. In fact, one of them SHARES A BORDER with the golf course. The other is across Minnehaha Parkway. There is no shortage of publicly accessible parkland. And don't get me started about how part of the motivation here is because the golf course has had a few down years (while you were trying to kill the thing). How many down years does it take to add up to $43M? Terrible golf course layout. Terrible driving range location and size. Terrible accommodations for enough parking. Terrible decision to flood the course with water, instead of directing the water downstream. Terrible to ignore the history of the golf course. Terrible, racist move to eliminate a pillar of the African American community. Your token move to offer a plaque and table of photos is a joke. The AA community wants an 18 hole golf course. The one that has been there since 1929. You want a $43M swamp with a garbage golf course. Great plan. | A resident of Minneapolis | A park or golf course user | 55407 | 50-59 | Own | Male | Black or African American | White | ||||||||||||||||
11970446076 | 390044530 | 2020-09-08 16:15:47 | 2020-09-08 16:16:52 | Draft Plan (Entire site) | GET RID OF THE GOLF. MAKE IT A PARK AVAILABLE TO EVERYONE. | GET RID OF THE GOLF. MAKE IT A PARK AVAILABLE TO EVERYONE. | A resident of Minneapolis | A park or golf course user | 55408 | 30-39 | Own | Male | White | |||||||||||||||||
11970437738 | 390044530 | 2020-09-08 16:11:17 | 2020-09-08 16:14:40 | Winter Recreation | I'm looking forward to teaching my toddler to ice skate while having access to the fire pits to warm up. Thank you for this thoughtful year-round plan. | I'm not a fan of golf but it seems to me that the preservation of a 9-hole course will satisfy the golfers and even provide an entree to the activity for non-golfers. Expanding the possibilities for use of the park as a neighborhood gathering space is a smart and timely idea. Well done. | A resident of Minneapolis | 55407 | 40-49 | Own | Non-binary | White | ||||||||||||||||||
11970418865 | 390044530 | 2020-09-08 16:02:55 | 2020-09-08 16:07:55 | Golf | 18 hole golf course. Other options are brutal options. Flood the land - mosquitos all over. Nokomis is a place for people to walk dogs, enjoy walking around the lake and open areas. No reason why there has to be another one 4 blocks away. No one wants a 9 hole course. Preserve the history of the course. The ONLY course in Minneapolis. The research and reasoning is a joke. | Shouldn’t change. If anything use the millions you think you have to spend and upgrade the facilities. This place was a destination for travelers through the 90’s. Do some advertising at the airport and get people to the course. It’s not rocket science. But when decisions are being made by clueless people who have never even been there, spent time there, or know anything about the history and potential of the place, it’s not a good thing. | A resident of Minneapolis | A park or golf course user | 55407 | 40-49 | Own | Male | White | |||||||||||||||||
11970417000 | 390044530 | 2020-09-08 16:03:09 | 2020-09-08 16:05:08 | Draft Plan (Entire site) | You're going to do whatever you want. Seems a bit over the top to ask for public comments. | A resident of Minneapolis | 55407 | 60 or older | Own | Male | White | |||||||||||||||||||
11969724975 | 390044530 | 2020-09-08 11:52:46 | 2020-09-08 12:07:39 | Golf | It appears to me that your are willing to spend large amounts of money to close an area that could be and is a good revenue source, and place it with areas that will not produce anything close to what you are spending. With a few improvements to the course you could increase your income the course supplies. First of all add cart paths throughout the course. This would increase income when the course is too wet for carts to be used and individuals who are unable to walk could actually play. This is something that could be done on all the city courses. Second do some work on the clubhouse. It wouldn't take a lot to make it a building that the neighborhood could use for a meeting site or for just socializing. The same holds true for Meadowbrook club house that should have been rebuilt prior to their opening. Unfortunately it seems that the board doesn't understand that these golf course can bring a lot more money if you would spend some money to improve them all. Rather than pay consultants for ideas that in the long run would cost the city. | A park or golf course user | 55347 | 60 or older | Own | Male | White | |||||||||||||||||||
11969363401 | 390044530 | 2020-09-08 10:10:50 | 2020-09-08 10:24:21 | Golf | I am extremely disappointed and concerned by the Hiawatha Master Plan. This entire process has been biased against the current 18 hole course, and golf in general, since the very beginning. While there will always be a flood risk associated with this site and course, that risk has been greatly exaggerated, and reasonable, smaller scale mitigation measures in proportion to the actual risk have not been considered. For instance, there is ample room on holes 2, 10, 11, and 13 to create additional drainage areas that would be out of play at a fraction of the cost of what is being proposed. This brings me to my next point, which is that based on cost alone, the current proposal should be a non-starter. During a time where the city has a budget crisis and can't afford to rebuild after widespread riots, spending 40+ million on Hiawatha would be reprehensible and an appalling use of taxpayer dollars. Additionally, I would like to see a breakdown of pumping rates and profitability for Hiawatha this year. With golf way up, and normal amounts of rainfall, I suspect these numbers would go squarely against the narrative the parl board wants the public to believe. Sincerely, | As stated in my previous comments, there simply isn't money available to do what you are proposing. It would be an appalling use of money compared to other, more pressing needs in Minneapolis. It needs to be scrapped and replaced with a plan to nominally invest and make the current course slightly more flood resilient. | A resident of Minneapolis | A park or golf course user | 55419 | 30-39 | Own | I prefer to answer another way: | None of your business | None of your business | ||||||||||||||||
11967559606 | 390044530 | 2020-09-07 20:12:57 | 2020-09-07 20:17:01 | Golf | I'm worried about how the park board has decided that they need to change the course from an 18 hole course to a 9 hole course. I think they need to go back and re-evaluate what they've found out about the flooding and realize that other changes can be done and they can still save the 18 hole, historic course without flooding the neighborhood or the course at all. An open mind would benefit everyone involved. Please listen to the neighborhood! | An 18-hole course is much more desirable than a 9-hole course. Leaving the existing 18-hole, historic course and possibly doing updates (like St. Paul did with Highland National) would benefit the course and have more golfers playing there. | A park or golf course user | 55082 | 50-59 | Own | White | |||||||||||||||||||
11967462458 | 390044530 | 2020-09-07 19:09:31 | 2020-09-07 19:13:43 | Golf | Keeping an 18 hole golf course is the best way to honor Black/minority golfers. The gold course has been this way for 80 years. | The community wants to keep the rain garden. You'd get rid of that too if you went to a 9 hole course. | A resident of Minneapolis | A park or golf course user | 55417 | 60 or older | Own | Female | White | |||||||||||||||||
11967455788 | 390044530 | 2020-09-07 18:58:36 | 2020-09-07 19:08:50 | Water Management | After the master plan is implemented, Lake Hiawatha will still be polluted. The amount of P from the creek is still too high. Also since we are getting more and more precipitation, the amount of neighborhood stormwater will overwhelm the system and nutrient removal will fail to remove enough P to make a significant difference. We already have a residence time of 4 days. WHat will the new residence time be. 80% of the water comes from the creek and will still come from the creek. I can't imaging the residence time will change much. This whole project runs a huge risk of being oversold as an environmental benefit. It might not work as expected !!! This project is not worth the risk to spend millions of public dollars! What guarantee can you make that it will work to clean the lake (not just make it cleaner)? Will we be guaranteed to have a clean lake? Also it sounds like the new stormwater channel will be a cesspool and will not be fit for recreating. | A resident of Minneapolis | 55417 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
11967438002 | 390044530 | 2020-09-07 18:55:04 | 2020-09-07 18:58:34 | Costs, Revenue, and Funding | All of the Enterprise fund proceeds will need to be used to support this project for capital and/or operating expenses. We already have an albatross in Weber Pool and Neiman Field. It is irresponsible to add another project to the list. | A resident of Minneapolis | 55417 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
11967420959 | 390044530 | 2020-09-07 18:31:42 | 2020-09-07 18:55:02 | Golf | The master plan currently calls for a flood resilient and ecologically driven golf course. That's great because we have one right now! How much money has the MPRB spent on rebuilding Hiawatha after the 2014 flood and after minor flooding incidences? Answer $0. Also, WE HAVE HAD RECORD SETTING PRECIPITATION IN THE YEARS FOLLOWING THE 2014 FLOOD. YET HIAWATHA GC HAS NOT EXPERIENCED ANY MAJOR FLOODING EVENTS. CLIMATE CHANGE IS HAPPENING, HOWEVER IT IS ARROGANT TO STATE FOR A FACT THAT HIAWATHA IS GOING TO EXPERIENCE MAJOR FLOODING. THE WATERSHED IS ADAPTING TO CLIMATE CHANGE. FOR EXAMPLE, GREY'S BAY LETS OUT WATER WHILE MINNETONKA IS STILL FROZEN AND THE MCWD AND NWS PARTNER ON FORECASTS TO INFORM DAM DECISIONS. There could be a few minor investments in tees, greens and electrical box relocation to improve Hiawatha's resiliency. Any minor elevation change can be offset by changes to other parts of the floodplain. This alternative to the master plan is a lot more cost effective. Save taxpayers money by implementing the above. | The entire public process has been a complete sham. The MPRB or at least one commissioner, decided early on, when they had only one data point in Sept 2015 (pumping), that they were going destroy the golf course to use park land as a storm water treatment system. The public process has been an absolute embarrassment to what is considered good government. Minneapolitan's deserve better! | A resident of Minneapolis | 55417 | 50-59 | Own | ||||||||||||||||||||
11967386193 | 390044530 | 2020-09-07 18:15:23 | 2020-09-07 18:31:38 | Golf | THE BIGGEST OMISSION IN THE MASTER PLAN IS NOT INCLUDING A LARGE FREE PITCHING, CHIPPING AREA LIKE IS CURRENTLY AT HIAWATHA. IF THE MPRB IS TRULY COMMITTED TO BUILDING A FACILITY THAT WILL INTRODUCE NEW PLAYERS TO THE GAME IN AN UNINTIMIDATING WAY, THIS FEATURE MUST BE PRESENT. IN ADDITION BUILD 2 OR 3 SMALL HOLES THAT CAN BE PLAYED BY BEGINNERS. IN ADDITION THE LARGER FREE AREA IS GREAT FOR COMMUNITY MEMBERS ON A TIGHT BUDGET. THE PROPOSED DRIVING RANGE AND PUTTING GREEN IS NOT ENOUGH. CURRENTLY THE FREE AREAS ARE IN HIGH DEMAND. THE MASTER PLAN ELIMINATES THIS AREA EXCEPT ONE PUTTING GREEN AND IS NOT ENOUGH TO MEET DEMAND. IN THE END, WE WOULD HAVE A 9 HOLE, 2-3 HOLE, LARGE CHIPPING, PITCHING, SAND TRAP AREA, PUTTING GREENS AND DRIVING RANGE. | 18 HOLES OF GOLF WITH A TRASH CATCH BASIN IS THE MOST ECONOMICAL PATH FORWARD. PUMPING WOULD CONTINUE AND FORTUNATELY DOES NOT CAUSE HARM TO THE LAKE AND DRINKING WATER SUPPLIES. | A resident of Minneapolis | 55417 | 50-59 | Own | Male | White | ||||||||||||||||||
11967336712 | 390044530 | 2020-09-07 17:59:29 | 2020-09-07 18:03:35 | Need to keep it an 18 hole golf course. Making it a 9 will prevent most serious golfers from considering it amd will expedite it's profitability and ultimate demise | It has been steadily getting better since the flooding years ago. Clubhouse should be though | A resident of Minneapolis | A park or golf course user | 55419 | 40-49 | Own | Male | Black or African American | ||||||||||||||||||
11966897680 | 390044530 | 2020-09-07 12:58:45 | 2020-09-07 13:03:21 | Draft Plan (Entire site) | Now that we are living in a world rocked by coronavirus, golf is one of the very few recreational activities families can safely play together. As we look to a future where safety will continue to be paramount and outdoor recreational activities more necessary than ever, the golf course is providing a critical service and serving an essential need. Our family has benefitted immensely from access to the course this year as I'm sure many others have, and we would like to see the city shift plans to retain the course for the benefit of Minneapolis residents. | A resident of Minneapolis | A park or golf course user | 30-39 | Own | Female | White | |||||||||||||||||||
11966723143 | 390044530 | 2020-09-07 11:16:23 | 2020-09-07 11:27:51 | Water Management | I am concerned about the storm sewer water "trench" planned for the area at 43rd and 19th. I need to know what it will look like and why it cannot be underground. When I hear the words "dumping" this water into the trench" it sounds like it would not be healthy, would be a breeding ground for insects and not a safe thing in several different ways. | In a general sense, I am HOPING that the open area at 43rd and 19th, incuding the rain garden area, can be preserved as is. It has become very popular w/ people who want to gather for neighborhood meetings, etc. It has had increasing use during the past several years — A wedding was held there this summer; a lot of families play frisbee, teach their children how to bat and hit a softball, etc.; lots of owners w/ dogs play catch; and people enjoy sitting by the rain garden or walking through the little park. In the winter, neighborhood families have built snow forts; parents give x-c lessons to young skiers; people walk their dogs there, etc. I think it is important to remember that Mpls and St. Paul have gotten lots of recognition in our country because of our ratio of parks to people geographically. There are not a lot of FLAT grassy areas for families to have unstructured play time and hang out when you subtract the hard surfaces — tennis courts, BB diamonds, basketball courts, etc. | A resident of Minneapolis | A park or golf course user | 55407 | 60 or older | Own | Female | White | |||||||||||||||||
11966573802 | 390044530 | 2020-09-07 10:11:35 | 2020-09-07 10:14:15 | Golf | The 18 hole course needs to be preserved. | The 18 hole course should be preserved. | A resident of Minneapolis | 55411 | 60 or older | Own | Male | Black or African American | ||||||||||||||||||
11966198562 | 390044530 | 2020-09-07 07:17:50 | 2020-09-07 07:20:10 | Golf | I want to keep the 18 hole golf course # 10625. | A resident of Minneapolis | A park or golf course user | 55407 | 60 or older | Own | Female | White | ||||||||||||||||||
11966158904 | 390044530 | 2020-09-07 06:54:22 | 2020-09-07 06:59:32 | Golf | Keep it 18 holes. #10625 | A resident of Minneapolis | A park or golf course user | 60 or older | Own | Male | White | |||||||||||||||||||
11964712650 | 390044530 | 2020-09-06 11:48:32 | 2020-09-06 11:51:11 | Golf | All you needed to do was visit the golf course one day in the summer. You would find the course, practice areas and driving range full of people or all genders, races and abilities. Please keep it 18 holes. | Please keep it 18 holes. | A resident of Minneapolis | 55417 | 60 or older | Own | Male | White | ||||||||||||||||||
11964460030 | 390044530 | 2020-09-06 07:56:00 | 2020-09-06 07:57:05 | Golf | Keep Hiawatha 18 holes! Preserve its legacy. | A resident of Minneapolis | 55406 | 40-49 | Own | Black or African American | ||||||||||||||||||||
11964412997 | 390044530 | 2020-09-06 07:09:09 | 2020-09-06 07:09:54 | Golf | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
11964395447 | 390044530 | 2020-09-06 06:49:29 | 2020-09-06 06:59:56 | Golf | 18 holes is very important. This is the only public course in th is area that offers that and is actually affordable. Would be a huge loss to take that away from something the Park system offers. | There are numerous other park lands throughout the city which provide recreation options outside of golf, which is great! Wish there was more of a concern of keeping the golf option around since many in the city love playing there and the goal of the park system should be to provide a variety of options to residents. Converting part of this land away feat from golf takes away from that experience and the additional options are available or could be made available in other nearby park areas. | A resident of Minneapolis | 55417 | 30-39 | Own | ||||||||||||||||||||
11964382933 | 390044530 | 2020-09-06 06:37:36 | 2020-09-06 06:42:11 | Golf | You need to keep Hiawatha an 18 hole golf course! | The golf course is a great green space for the city. | A resident of Minneapolis | A park or golf course user | 55406 | 60 or older | Own | Male | White | |||||||||||||||||
11964095878 | 390044530 | 2020-09-06 01:11:02 | 2020-09-06 01:13:13 | Golf | Keep Hiawatha golf course an 18 hole course | look back in history to see how it was handled in the past...Dredge the lake!!! | A resident of Minneapolis | 55417 | 40-49 | Own | Female | White | ||||||||||||||||||
11964040778 | 390044530 | 2020-09-05 23:39:59 | 2020-09-05 23:47:25 | Golf | The 18 hole course layout as is should be maintained to support the history of the course. If conservationists concentrate on anything they should argue to add some trees back onto the course since there has been a mass cutting over the last 10 years. This household supports only an 18 hole course. I have lived in the neighborhood almost 40 years. | A resident of Minneapolis | A park or golf course user | 55406 | Own | Male | ||||||||||||||||||||
11964036696 | 390044530 | 2020-09-05 23:37:28 | 2020-09-05 23:41:31 | Golf | Historical this was the black 18 hole course. The best way to honor that history would be to maintain an 18 hole course. | The plan doesn’t address the water level apparently. | A resident of Minneapolis | A park or golf course user | 55407 | 60 or older | Own | Male | White | |||||||||||||||||
11963700209 | 390044530 | 2020-09-05 16:35:43 | 2020-09-05 16:37:49 | Draft Plan (Entire site) | I don’t know which sub category this would belong in. I would absolutely love a dog park as part of this reimagined park. Pedestrian and expanded bike trails excellent as well! I know most in the area would really appreciate a dog park! | A resident of Minneapolis | 55407 | Own | ||||||||||||||||||||||
11963459234 | 390044530 | 2020-09-05 12:50:13 | 2020-09-05 12:53:50 | Golf | The concerns about flooding/home damage seem exaggerated since significant problems have only occurred three times in the last sixty years. Those floods were the result of unprecedented events and the consequences were likely resolved with significantly less dollars that the $40-$45 million proposed for the project now under consideration. | A park or golf course user | 55122 | 60 or older | Own | Male | Black or African American | |||||||||||||||||||
11963324161 | 390044530 | 2020-09-05 11:02:19 | 2020-09-05 11:08:09 | Golf | I am opposed to modifying the park at 44th and Longfellow to turn it into part of the nine hole golf course. | That park is used everyday by people walking their dogs, playing with their kids, playing sports etc. We also use that area for national night out. I also don't want the added noise of snowmaking equipment. We already deal with noise from the airport and Cedar Avenue. | A resident of Minneapolis | 55407 | 50-59 | Own | Female | White | ||||||||||||||||||
11962616948 | 390044530 | 2020-09-05 00:25:11 | 2020-09-05 00:30:33 | Golf | Please Retain the 18-hole golf course. The 18-hole Golf Course is the only way to honor and support the Black/minority community. Please Put this project on hold; there is no money available to pursue it. | The 18-hole golf course has been there for over 80 years, and the flood plain areas are an appropriate and common place for a golf course. The Park Board's Meadowbrook Golf Course is similar, and is not being closed. Meadowbrook is not even in the city limits. In the new plan, half of the property will be flooded and the other half (the 9-hole golf course) will be elevated by as much as 9 feet above the level of the lake. This proposed plan will dramatically eliminate flood plain storage and risk flooding the homes. This proposed plan will not provide other opportunities to more users since the property will be golf and water. Plus, it eliminates the little park and rain garden on E. 43rd St. and 19th Ave. S. which that neighborhood wants to keep. And, the 18-hole golf course provides more opportunities for winter activities than a 9-hole golf course. A 9-hole golf course and a reduced driving range will not provide a "compelling golf solution." The golf course and driving range has been packed this summer. I am less likely to use the course if its only 9 holes. Most golfers will feel the same way. There is no money available to do anything anyway. Don't make changes to something that is working well as it is. | A resident of Minneapolis | A park or golf course user | 55417 | 40-49 | Own | Male | Black or African American | |||||||||||||||||
11962400742 | 390044530 | 2020-09-04 20:52:06 | 2020-09-04 21:01:19 | Costs, Revenue, and Funding | The options presented in the plan do not convince me that changing the revenue producing 18 hole golf course could be matched or even come close to the current revenue. Also I am concerned about flooding to the adjacent properties if any of the new plans are implemented. | I have lived in South Mpls for 45 years. I know this area. I know that Hiawatha Golf Course is a historically Black gathering spot. I think ignoring the history and the opinions of those who really know the area are short-cited, and racially insensitive. This is not the time, given the current political environment to make such a incendiary change. Please postpone the final decision for at least 4 years. | A resident of Minneapolis | A park or golf course user | 55419 | 60 or older | Own | Male | None of your business | |||||||||||||||||
11961671919 | 390044530 | 2020-09-04 14:38:02 | 2020-09-04 14:44:52 | Golf | Keep and improve the golf Course. If the board of park commissioners does anything else, they will again show their Ignorance and Arrogance. | Look at the history and go from there | A resident of Minneapolis | A park or golf course user | 55407 | 60 or older | Own | Male | Concerned human | |||||||||||||||||
11961022486 | 390044530 | 2020-09-04 09:36:40 | 2020-09-04 10:30:24 | Draft Plan (Entire site) | Parks and green spaces used daily by ALL the people who live in and around the neighborhood, specifically the triangle park at 43rd & 19th should not bare the brunt of the water management changes that are necessary, in order for a golf course, used by a select few and seasonally to maintain a 9 hole footprint, club house, and driving range. I understand that the golf course is being proposed as a year round space, but let's be honest, we all know how many cars are parked in the lot during the winter, very few. Secondarily, while I fully support incremental multi use paths and walking paths throughout the Hiawatha Park, a walking path in the middle of the golf course is ridiculous. Anyone who lives along 43rd street can attest to how dangerous errant flying golf balls can be and that is with a large berm and significant tree cover bisecting the sidewalk and street from the golf course. As one of many who walks 43rd multiple times a day, I can attest to seeing several people struck by errant golf balls, not to mention the many errant balls I find on the ground on a daily basis. The recommendation of a large net spanning the space would be not only an eyesore but counter the very idea idea of peaceful nature walk. Imagine pedestrians ducking for cover every time they hear a golfer slice their shot. | While I appreciate and support the necessity of remedying the current water management system at Lake Hiawatha and the surrounding area, this plan on the whole seems to be designed to please few and barely appease the mass. Despite what the mission statement claims, there is very little balance when green space disappears to make way for the golf course to simply move northwards on the lot. Why sacrifice so much for a golf course used by a select portion of the population seasonally? I understand the historic value of the golf course but the space is too small for water management, 9 full holes of golf PLUS a driving range, and multi use community space. Why does being a golf 'destination' take precedence over the people who already live here and use the surrounding space? Obviously, the water management is a priority but shouldn't the multi use community space, which seems apparent just by the name (Multi-use. Community.) receive the second priority instead of coming in dead last? | A resident of Minneapolis | A park or golf course user | 55407 | 40-49 | Own | Female | ||||||||||||||||||
11960952817 | 390044530 | 2020-09-04 10:04:26 | 2020-09-04 10:06:50 | Golf | Retain the 18-hole golf The 18-hole Golf Course is the only way to honor and support the Black/minority community. If hiawatha is removed there is no golf available in south Minneapolis. Put this project on hold; there is no money available to pursue it. | I love Hiawatha golf course and don't want to see a historic course removed from south minneapolis | A resident of Minneapolis | A park or golf course user | 55417 | 30-39 | Own | Male | White | |||||||||||||||||
11960520909 | 390044530 | 2020-09-04 07:30:12 | 2020-09-04 07:37:22 | Golf | As a South Minneapolis resident and taxpayer, I want Hiawatha golf course to remain an 18 hole course. I have no children, yet I support good schools and the parks they play in. I don't use a lot of the other parks/recreational areas, but want them funded for others to enjoy. It is important that the city continue to support and maintain a variety of offerings. Hiawatha golf has historically been a place for lower income and people of diverse backgrounds to learn the sport of golf. Keep it open as an 18 hole course! | As a South Minneapolis resident and taxpayer, I want Hiawatha golf course to remain an 18 hole course. I have no children, yet I support good schools and the parks they play in. I don't use a lot of the other parks/recreational areas, but want them funded for others to enjoy. It is important that the city continue to support and maintain a variety of offerings. Hiawatha golf has historically been a place for lower income and people of diverse backgrounds to learn the sport of golf. Keep it open as an 18 hole course! | A resident of Minneapolis | A park or golf course user | 55417 | 40-49 | Own | Female | White | |||||||||||||||||
11959501475 | 390044530 | 2020-09-03 20:59:06 | 2020-09-03 21:08:22 | Water Management | I'm super excited about the new opportunities for water recreation on Lake Hiawatha. I currently have my own kayak and get out on Hiawatha and its sister Lake Nokomis and the difference in pollution is pretty astounding. There is so much trash on every inch of shoreline of Lake Hiawatha. I have to assume that if there will be efforts to rent kayaks and such on Lake Hiawatha that efforts will be made to abate the trash that flows into the lake. I mean what's the point otherwise? My neighbors in the Standish neighborhood are quick to point out that Lake Hiawatha was never intended to be a "Lake" but was previously a swampy area where garbage would collect. My elderly neighbor laughed at my daughter's efforts to street clean to keep the creek and lake clean. She is probably smarter than we are. She knows more. Please do come up with a waste abatement system to clean up the Lake and the shorelines. | I'm really, really excited about the proposed changes. I think it is absolutely brilliant. I am excited by the cross county skiing in the winter, the path around the entire lake, the picnic island, the fun new water ways to kayak. It all sounds dreamy. Now if Lake Hiawatha wasn't such of a garbage bin... Good luck! Oh one more thing and I think I saw this in the plan, dedicated bike lanes around the lake as well. Currently there is a dedicated bike lane that starts about half way into the park. This is a challenge for anyone living/arriving from North of the park and you often find us bike riders on pedestrian trails as a result. | A resident of Minneapolis | 55407 | 40-49 | Own | Female | White | ||||||||||||||||||
11959334604 | 390044530 | 2020-09-03 19:31:42 | 2020-09-03 19:34:00 | Golf | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
11959209495 | 390044530 | 2020-09-03 18:35:37 | 2020-09-03 18:40:19 | Other (please specify) | Keeping the houses dry and 18 holes! | The course has been there 80 years. The houses should be dry and how can you do anything else because the BPC has no money just pipe dreams | It's a community golf course keep it that way | A resident of Minneapolis | A park or golf course user | 55419 | 60 or older | Own | Male | White | ||||||||||||||||
11959116266 | 390044530 | 2020-09-03 17:49:30 | 2020-09-03 18:05:40 | Water Management | Seems like the elevating part of the area in the 9 hole plan is just moving dirt but the risk to flooding homes would increase. I think you are spending a bunch of money to just eliminate 9 holes of golf with not adding a lot. This would increase the cost of maintaining the land and reduce the revenue potential. Please invest in the 18 course, and add a year round neighborhood gathering spot. You could expand the clubhouse to have a year round restaurant pub that could be open for both golf and winter activities. The property has potential to break even as is with the set up and be a huge revenue generator if you invested in clubhouse. Spending money to eliminate 9 holes does you nothing but eliminating revenue and increasing the risk tomsurounding homes | Rebuild the clubhouse with a small pub still restaurant/ burger place and a deck. you could heat the deck in the winter. With changes to the dining experience with covid you could be one to capture that market. | A resident of Minneapolis | A park or golf course user | 55417 | 40-49 | Own | Male | White | |||||||||||||||||
11958675839 | 390044530 | 2020-09-03 15:09:55 | 2020-09-03 15:14:34 | Golf | I want you to keep 18 hole golf course. Please find alternative ways to address the flooding issues. I don’t believe that the current plans to eliminate the 18 holes truly will address the flooding issues. This is a historical course that is important to our black community and finding another way to suppress their History is not the way our south minneapolis neighborhood should be showing support. | Please respect our black neighbors and keep the 18 hole course | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
11958544041 | 390044530 | 2020-09-03 14:25:33 | 2020-09-03 14:29:50 | Golf | I would like to see a plan that retains the 18-hole golf course. The 18-hole Golf Course is the only way to honor and support the Black/minority community and having an 18-hole golf course near my house is why I choose to move to South Minneapolis. I also think the Board should consider putting this project on hold as there is likely no funds to pursue it considering the current economy. | A resident of Minneapolis | A park or golf course user | 55417 | 30-39 | Own | Male | White | ||||||||||||||||||
11958367699 | 390044530 | 2020-09-03 13:20:38 | 2020-09-03 13:31:58 | Winter Recreation | I'm very excited that cross-country skiing will remain a feature at this park, and that there will be snowmaking. Personally, as long as there is still a groomed ski loop similar to what is there now, I will be happy. Snowmaking and a more interesting landscape are icing on the cake. | One thing that I am curious about, both for summer and winter usage, is the extent to which this park will connect with the existing Lake Hiawatha Park. This seems like an opportunity to create a Wirth-style "megapark" on the southside, with organic connections between the golf course, Lake Hiawatha Park, Lake Nokomis, and Minnehaha Creek. It would be amazing to have interconnected biking, walking, and groomed ski trials going through that entire area of parkland. It looks like there will be "multi-use" paved trails between the two parks? Will these have bike lanes? Ski tracks? Also, will the fencing currently separating the golf course from the main park be taken down? | A resident of Minneapolis | 55408 | 30-39 | Own | Male | White | ||||||||||||||||||
11958252205 | 390044530 | 2020-09-03 12:41:36 | 2020-09-03 12:51:42 | Golf | I am 22 years old and I live by Keewaydin. I have been going to Hiawatha golf course since I was 9 starting with the First tee. Hiawatha is my home course I go there probably 20 times a summer to golf. I first feel in love with golf at Hiawatha and I want to continue golfing at hiawatha into my later life. Golfers do not go to a 9 hole course because it is too short of a game. Another 9 hole course in the area is located at Fort Snelling and I never go there because I don’t want to play the same holes twice. If Hiawatha is made a 9 hole course I will probably never go there again which is very depressing for me because like I stated above I grew up going there and a lot of my favorite good memories were made here With friends and family. I believe I saw something from the meetings that the driving range would be reduced which is also a bad idea. Right now from the mats it isn’t that hard to hit the ball over the fence. Making it shorter would Cayuse it to be dangerous for the golfers on the other side of the fence. This is the only course on this side of Minneapolis and it would really suck if I would lose the course that is closest to me. | The course is wet every once in awhile after a heavy rainfall or when Minnetonka opens up the lake and causes it to flood the course. I love the course and I hope it stays | A resident of Minneapolis | A park or golf course user | 55417 | 21-29 | Other (please specify) | Live with parents | Male | White | American Indian or Alaska Native | |||||||||||||||
11958245435 | 390044530 | 2020-09-03 12:42:50 | 2020-09-03 12:48:05 | Other (please specify) | Hiawatha golf course | Keep the golf course the way it is. Manage the minnehaha watershed from lake Minnetonka along the creek. There is more water in the creek than ever before. | A resident of Minneapolis | A park or golf course user | 60 or older | Own | Male | White | ||||||||||||||||||
11958231362 | 390044530 | 2020-09-02 12:25:34 | 2020-09-03 12:46:12 | Golf | The entire proposal should be reconsidered and revised to retain 18 holes of golf. This past summer has proven that the existing course is a major money generator for the board, with packed tee times and full community engagement from across the city, with people from all walks of life and races enjoying the amenity. Moving from an 18 to 9 hole course is the kiss of death for any golf course. No serious golfers will play there; the men's club will fold and/or move courses, sapping tens of thousands of dollars of ongoing revenue. Black golfers will not play there. On any given day this summer and in past years, you will find serious Black golfers who grew up on the course and learned the game there, being ongoing avid participants in the course. Placing a plaque to commemorate the history of Black golf (as proposed in the new design) is the height of tokenism and racism by this Park Board. This course should be maintained as an 18 hole course for generations of Black, Somali, Latino, immigrant and multiracial children to learn the game, appreciate it and pass that value on to new generations. A 9-hole course cannot and will not ever do that. Also, the water problem the new design is meant to address is a phantom. This summer has proven that since there has been limited pumping required because of how dry it has been. Minnehaha creek is low. Like all years in Minnesota, there will be wet and dry years. Using the flooding of 2014 as a reason to change the course is false logic. The best solution is to maintain the 18 hole course and have the state provide an "as-needed" pumping permit to keep the course and surrounding houses dry. The new design already acknowledges that 100 million gallons or more would still need to be pumped. Let's solve the state permit problem and allow the management of water based on the amount of rain we receive on any given year. The golf course's "water problem" is a red herring. The price tag for the proposed design is also breathtaking. In an environment of the Covid 19 pandemic, when people have lost jobs and the tax base is declining, it would be the height of irresponsibility for the Park Board to spend $43 million of taxpayer money to fix a "problem" that doesn't exist. Creating a $43 million swamp with kayak launches and an elevated costly 9 hole course should not be undertaken at this time. We already have so many other lakes for such water activities. Kayaking in a new swamp will not be an attractive option and certainly not worth $43 million. The Park Board has an interest in trying to find more ways for non-golfers to utilize the space. This is an understandable impulse but is not one that justifies the tax expenditure. In the interest of meeting both goals - keeping and 18-hole course and allowing more access to Lake Hiawatha - a cheaper and better solution is available. By moving the tee boxes at holes #2, #3, #11 and #12 slightly away from the lake, a pedestrian and biking pathway could be created with protective and attractive fencing that allows bikers and walkers to safely circle the lake while allowing golfers to still enjoy a world-class 18-hole golf course. This would create a solution that unifies everyone in the city -- golfers will back it for keeping the 18-hole course, Black golfers will support it, non-golfers will appreciate new access to the lake, homeowners around the course will be thankful pumping as-needed will continue so their basements will be dry, and winter sports lovers will support it so they can continue cross-country skiing in its current form at the course. This feels like a win-win-win-win-win solution that will allow the Board to hold it's head high, truly honor the Black history of the course, continue to manage water well and effectively from the course, and allow residents to embrace some new options and all at a cost that would be a fraction of the existing $43 million plan. | See previous statement. | A resident of Minneapolis | 55419 | 50-59 | Own | Male | Ethnically inclusive | ||||||||||||||||||
11957611907 | 390044530 | 2020-09-03 09:32:45 | 2020-09-03 09:37:52 | Golf | Keep the 18 hole course. Do not flood my home. Page 18 makes no sense. All the reasons for not turning the course into 9 holes as stated in the response are valid. | A resident of Minneapolis | A park or golf course user | 55407 | 60 or older | Own | Female | White | ||||||||||||||||||
11957523649 | 390044530 | 2020-09-03 09:09:57 | 2020-09-03 09:12:58 | Golf | Keep Hiawatha Golf course 18 holes! | years ago they would dredge the lakes... why did we stop doing that? | A resident of Minneapolis | A park or golf course user | 55417 | 40-49 | Own | Female | White | |||||||||||||||||
11957146154 | 390044530 | 2020-09-03 06:50:02 | 2020-09-03 07:06:53 | Draft Plan (Entire site) | I am going to copy a few statements that have been made previously because they are absolutely correct and concisely written. In addition to those it has been explained to the community groups that there is NO MONEY for any of this project. AND at this point in time our community has much more pressing issues than this. Homelessness, covid-19, rebuilding trust in our governing agencies - which you are one!, civic unrest, rebuilding Lake Street businesses and healthcare sites. I know that resources for the above are not the same as the Park Board. This project should be a the BOTTOM of the list for our city right now. The only part of this project that might be useful is the drainage area releasing all the trash into the lake. This is a health issue for those that use the lake. Many of us in the neighborhood continually pick up on our walks but much off the shore line is not easily accessible. I know that Tyler has received a number of emails from the community regarding this issue. Also, the history of this course compares to none of the others in our city. It is still used by many youth groups such as First Tee and Youth on Course in addition to high school teams in normal times. Copied items: o The 18-hole golf course has been there for over 80 years, and flood plain areas are an appropriate and common place for a golf course. The Park Board's Meadowbrook Golf Course is similar, and is not being closed. o In the new plan, half of the property will be flooded and the other half (the 9-hole golf course) will be elevated by as much as 9 feet above the level of the lake. This proposed plan will dramatically eliminate flood plain storage and risk flooding the homes. o This proposed plan will not provide other opportunities to more users since the property will be golf and water. Plus, it eliminates the little park and rain garden on E. 43rd St. and 19th Ave. S. which that neighborhood wants to keep. And, the 18-hole golf course provides more opportunities for winter activities than a 9-hole golf course. o A 9-hole golf course and a reduced driving range will not provide a "compelling golf solution." | See previous section. | A resident of Minneapolis | A park or golf course user | 55407 | 60 or older | Own | Female | White | |||||||||||||||||
11957025097 | 390044530 | 2020-09-03 06:11:09 | 2020-09-03 06:14:55 | Golf | They are acting as if the course floods a couple times every year and costs millions to reclaim. Face the facts that the creek is the problem, not the course. Keep it 18 holes. | Keep it 18 holes. | A resident of Minneapolis | A park or golf course user | 55417 | 60 or older | Own | Male | White | |||||||||||||||||
11956455886 | 390044530 | 2020-09-03 00:33:12 | 2020-09-03 00:34:58 | Golf | Keep the 18 hole course | Keep the 18 hole golf course. | A resident of Minneapolis | A park or golf course user | 65417 | 40-49 | Own | I prefer to answer another way: | Doesn’t mattwr | Doesn’t matter | ||||||||||||||||
11956394781 | 390044530 | 2020-09-02 23:24:48 | 2020-09-02 23:44:21 | Golf | Please keep the 18 hole course at Hiawatha. | A resident of Minneapolis | A park or golf course user | 55417 | 40-49 | Own | Male | |||||||||||||||||||
11956348341 | 390044530 | 2020-09-02 23:04:50 | 2020-09-02 23:06:31 | Golf | What a stupid idea. Keep it 18 holes and save the money. | It’s good the way it is | A resident of Minneapolis | A park or golf course user | 55409 | 30-39 | Own | Male | White | |||||||||||||||||
11956322196 | 390044530 | 2020-09-02 22:45:42 | 2020-09-02 22:50:12 | Golf | I think it’s ridiculous that you guys would make any changes to the golf course. None of those plan will work. | A resident of Minneapolis | A park or golf course user | 55406 | 30-39 | Rent | Male | White | ||||||||||||||||||
11955267372 | 390044530 | 2020-09-02 14:19:49 | 2020-09-02 14:39:36 | Draft Plan (Entire site) | The Park Board discussed in the beginning that the golf course didn't make enough money. None of the options add more to the revenue than the golf course. Many options will require expenditures without bring in any money. They has not been a report to show how the new activities will influence the traffic and parking around the site with all of the projected people that will come to the site to experience the new activities. Let the neighborhood see the full impact from the plans. The Park Board said in the beginning that the course could not be altered in any way. They said that dirt could had even be brought in to raise some of the fairways. Now surprisingly they can raise the ground levels and even dig in certain areas. Reducing the course from 18 to 9 will not change the amount of water that will flow thorough the watershed district. The course has very little influence on the flooding in the area. Many agencies need to be involved in this area. Where in the city will the people go who are currently using the 18 hole course. The nine hole will not accommodate the number of people nor will the new design provide the same challenges. Looks like the Park Board, like City Council and School Board want the Minneapolis residence to go to the suburbs for the services and enjoyment that they want. Typical. The people have spoken and the board does their own things. | A resident of Minneapolis | A park or golf course user | 55417 | 60 or older | Own | Male | White | ||||||||||||||||||
11955109084 | 390044530 | 2020-09-02 13:39:19 | 2020-09-02 14:02:23 | Golf | Keep an 18-hole golf course at this location. Since the early days of golf in the United States, golf has been an 18-hole experience. The proposed 9-hole course and change in driving range does not meet the golf needs of the Minneapolis community or the surrounding region. | What is the level of confidence in the projected revenue on page 34? Researching on Hiawatha golf course revenue, the following link relates a $1.9 million dollar audited loss for the 18-hole course. How can a new 9-hole course make money? The watershed problems cover the entire Minnehaha Creek Watershed. How can it be a good investment in taxpayer dollars to go ahead with the Master Plan without concurrently addressing issues across the entire watershed? Is the projected $43 million dollar cost a good use of taxpayer monies at this time? Given that the estimate states it could be off by 50%, this makes it a very risky undertaking at this time. An that is before construction inflation is taken into account. Has the Minnehaha Creek Watershed District committed to fund any parts of the Master Plan? | A park or golf course user | 55417 | 60 or older | Own | Male | White | ||||||||||||||||||
11954211249 | 390044530 | 2020-09-02 08:36:08 | 2020-09-02 09:14:14 | Golf | The 18 hole golf course should remain. If the permitted amount of pumping ground and surface water into lake Hiawatha exceeds the permit from the DNR why not get a permit that justifieds the amount being pumped. Hiawatha golf course is a holding pond to prevent the flooding of homes in the surrounding neighborhoods, the storm water is being directed from city storm sewers. | The property should remain a 18 hole golf course in the warmer months and used for winter activites like cross conuntry sking in the winter months. This will create revenue. | A resident of Minneapolis | A park or golf course user | 55407 | 60 or older | Own | Male | Black or African American | |||||||||||||||||
11954022564 | 390044530 | 2020-09-02 08:16:51 | 2020-09-02 08:17:46 | Other (please specify) | Trash via storm pipe | Garbage being dumped by the storm pipe. Need a filtration system | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
11952806110 | 390044530 | 2020-09-01 21:58:34 | 2020-09-01 22:04:03 | Golf | Please keep the Hiawatha 18 hole golf course as it is | You should be more specific about your intentions in dismantling a community golf course that had been around for 70 years. Is this something related to a family member that wants to be a developer? | A park or golf course user | 55038 | 60 or older | Own | Male | White | ||||||||||||||||||
11952442800 | 390044530 | 2020-09-01 18:40:59 | 2020-09-01 18:56:04 | Water Management | Review the history of this recreational property and you will find that a marsh was dredged to form the lake and tailings were pumped into the area of the golf course. Currently (some 80 yrs later) the lake is now 30-40% filled with silt and the golf course has settled to near lake level. A major re dredge is needed to restore the property to its original design including both the lake and golf course. Also the damn at the lake outlet needs to be removed in order to insure no flooding of the golf course. We lived on 26th ave with in 200 ft of the park and golf course in the 40’s, 50’s, 60’s & 70’s. Our basement had the lowest elevation in the area and never flooded. | This historic golf course needs to be maintained as an 18 hole property. I witnessed the 1956 Women’s USGA Open being played there. | A park or golf course user | 60 or older | Own | Male | Unidentified | |||||||||||||||||||
11952188760 | 390044530 | 2020-09-01 17:10:33 | 2020-09-01 17:13:44 | Golf | Personally, I don’t think there is room in the budget to change the golf course at this time. Public funds need to go to more important things like education and uplifting marginalized communities. Also, COVID awareness/prevention and testing. | I love south Minneapolis. Just do whatever is the best for EVERYONE. Don’t throw dollars at something just because you have them, please. | A resident of Minneapolis | A park or golf course user | 55406 | 30-39 | Own | Female | White | |||||||||||||||||
11951990759 | 390044530 | 2020-09-01 15:50:30 | 2020-09-01 15:55:27 | Draft Plan (Entire site) | - The 18-hole golf course has been there for over 80 years, and flood plain areas are an appropriate and common places for a golf course. The Park Board's Meadowbrook Golf Course is similar, and is not being closed. - In the new plan, half of the property will be flooded and the other half (the 9-hole golf course) will be elevated by as much as 9 feet above the level of the lake. This proposed plan will dramatically eliminate flood plain storage and risk flooding the homes. - This proposed plan will not provide other opportunities to more users since the property will be golf and water. Plus, it eliminates the little park and rain garden on E. 43rd St. and 19th Ave. S. which that neighborhood wants to keep. And, the 18-hole golf course provides more opportunities for winter activities than a 9-hole golf course. - A 9-hole golf course and a reduced driving range will not provide a "compelling golf solution." | The plans to reduce Hiawatha Golf Course to 9 holes or less is completely unacceptable for the following reasons: It is one of only two public 18 hole golf courses completely within Minneapolis city limits (the other being Columbia GC). The pointless renovation of the site would cost taxpayers 30-60 million dollars.This money would be much better spent improving/maintaining existing parks in South Minneapolis. Many other parks and facilities around the area need improvement/renovation (see tennis courts, playgrounds, trails, etc.) There is no proven environmental advantage to Lake Hiawatha if the space is not an 18 hole golf course. There will likely be flooding of many houses north and north east of Hiawatha GC if the space is changed. It is an affront and insult to the African-American community that has had a historical connection to Hiawatha GC. The so called 'plans' for the space are completely unrealistic and service an extremely small section of the community. The First Tee program services underprivileged youth from across the city in order to foster community development. Hiawatha Golf Course provides young people in the community a place to work and be part of the community. Hiawatha Golf Course provides several High School teams a place to practice and play that is also close to school. The property values of houses around the area are tied to the aspect that they are blocks or less from an 18 hole public golf course. Hiawatha Golf Course has been a cornerstone of the community for over 80 years, to take it away would be a brutal hit to the community and it's history. These are only some of the reasons Hiawatha Golf Course should remain 18 holes. The plans to change it are not only misguided, but irresponsible. Being a resident, taxpayer, and voter in South Minneapolis, myself and many like me, will not support those who want to change Hiawatha GC from 18 holes. | A resident of Minneapolis | A park or golf course user | 55406 | 30-39 | Own | Male | White | |||||||||||||||||
11951965884 | 390044530 | 2020-09-01 15:20:41 | 2020-09-01 15:47:31 | Draft Plan (Entire site) | - Will any houses flood due to the new plan? Particularly the northwest side of the golf course. - Is this the best way to spend taxpayer money? - Are the voices of a small minority of people controlling the narrative here? - There are many parks around the area, why take away the only 18 hole golf course in South Minneapolis? - The amount of money spent on this plan is absurd. Surely the city can spend 10's of millions of dollars towards much better things than changing the golf course. | The only option should be to keep the 18 hole golf course. The only way to truly honor the African-American community of South Minneapolis and Minneapolis as a whole is to retain all 18 holes. Wasting 10's of millions of dollars of taxpayer money to alter Hiawatha Golf Course from 18 holes is not only financially irresponsible, it is immoral. With all of the tragic events that have happened in our city these past few months, Minneapolis has much larger issues than changing Hiawatha Golf Course. If this is how the city government and Park Board chooses to spend taxpayer dollars, I, and many others will be outraged. As a Minneapolis citizen, myself and others will vote out every member of the Park Board involved in this decision. The fact that altering Hiawatha is even being discussed is absurd. You should be ashamed of yourself if you think this is the best way to spend taxpayer dollars after what has occurred in our city the past few years and particularly the past few months. This would be yet another example of the city of Minneapolis marginalizing the Black community for the benefits of others. The proposed amount of money that would be needed to enact this plan can be spent on MANY other areas of the city - community building, mental health support, youth programs, homelessness, and countless others. If these issues are ignored and the focus of the Park Board is put on Hiawatha, add it to the list of immoral, blind, and discriminatory decisions made by the city of Minneapolis. Shameful. | A resident of Minneapolis | A park or golf course user | 55406 | 30-39 | Own | Male | White | |||||||||||||||||
11951827171 | 390044530 | 2020-09-01 14:53:50 | 2020-09-01 14:55:20 | Golf | It's vital to the community and it's residents that the course remain open. | A resident of Minneapolis | A park or golf course user | 55417 | 40-49 | Own | Male | White | ||||||||||||||||||
11951513181 | 390044530 | 2020-09-01 13:04:57 | 2020-09-01 13:10:56 | Draft Plan (Entire site) | My main concern is the large amount of trash being dumped into the lake via storm sewers. Please install some sort of trash mitigation system. My kids and I frequent the lake but are often side tracked picking up garbage from around the lake because there is so much. There also seem to be a lot of lawn areas that are rarely used that could be converted to more habitat, ie expanding the woods area on the SE side of the lake. | Love the addition of more habitat areas. Would like to see less lawn and more woods and paths through future forests. | A park or golf course user | 55116 | 30-39 | Own | Female | White | ||||||||||||||||||
11951384376 | 390044530 | 2020-09-01 12:28:28 | 2020-09-01 12:31:13 | Winter Recreation | Keep the golf course as it is with 18 holes. This makes for a wonderful winter recreation area. Do not cause water issues for nearby homes. Do not waste money wrecking this wonderful park area, keep it as is. | Keep the park as it is. Do not waste money wrecking it. Do not cause water issues for nearby homes. The park is great as it is. Keep the golf course at 18 holes. | A resident of Minneapolis | A park or golf course user | 55406 | 50-59 | Own | Female | White | |||||||||||||||||
11951377318 | 390044530 | 2020-09-01 12:23:12 | 2020-09-01 12:27:47 | Golf | Keep the golf course at 18 holes. Do not cause water issues for nearby homes. Honor the black community by keeping the golf course at 18 holes. Spend money on true priorities, not ruining a great park and golf course and wonderful neighborhood amenity. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
11951146171 | 390044530 | 2020-09-01 10:28:14 | 2020-09-01 11:24:30 | Golf | We in Minneapolis are fortunate to have one of the best parks systems in the country. The word "parkland" is viewed differently by many people. I generally don't view the miles and miles of bike paths in our city as "parkland" but it indeed is. Just because I don't use the bike trails doesn't mean we should reduce or eliminate that type of parkland. The bike trails provide many people with exercise and enjoyment. Bike trails unfortunately do not generate revenue that helps to pay for updates and maintenance of the trails. On an annual basis the existing 18-hole Hiawatha golf course provides tens of thousands of people with exercise and enjoyment. I drive by Hiawatha Golf Course 5-6 times a week and it's packed with people of all ages and all ethnic backgrounds. It doesn't seem logical and necessary to eliminate a piece of parkland that provides so many people with enjoyment AND generates revenue! | I find it unconscionable that the MPRB would even consider spending upwards of $43 million dollars to renovate this piece of parkland. I will continue to call my local representatives and voice my concern over what I feel is an irresponsible use of tax payer dollars. | A resident of Minneapolis | 55407 | 40-49 | Own | Female | Black or African American | ||||||||||||||||||
11951137959 | 390044530 | 2020-09-01 11:11:35 | 2020-09-01 11:13:17 | Golf | Put the project on hold as there is no money to pursue this and it buys time to vote all the Park Board out of office. | A resident of Minneapolis | 55419 | 40-49 | Own | I prefer to answer another way: | n/a | n/a | ||||||||||||||||||
11951058784 | 390044530 | 2020-09-01 10:48:53 | 2020-09-01 10:49:48 | Golf | ⦁Retain the 18-hole golf course. | A park or golf course user | 55431 | 30-39 | Own | Male | White | |||||||||||||||||||
11951040840 | 390044530 | 2020-09-01 10:42:21 | 2020-09-01 10:46:51 | Golf | Retain the 18-hole golf course. The 18-hole Golf Course is the only way to honor and support the Black/minority community. Put this project on hold; there is no money available to pursue it. | On page 18 the Park Board gives their statement as to why they won't keep the 18-hole golf course. It says: "Water management alternatives that address fully the range of issues faced by a property situated below the elevation of an adjacent lake render the opportunity to create an 18-hole golf course impracticable, if not impossible. A flood-resilient and ecologically driven 18-hole course, including relocation and reduction of pumping, would consume too much floodplain volume. Consuming too much flood plain volume raises the flood elevation of the lake and pushes further into the neighborhoods, causing a greater risk for flooding homes. In addition, the opportunity to address other water management goals and introduce activities that draw more users relies upon a configuration that better balances golf, environmental features, and other opportunities to engage people. Most important, the alternatives explored each offer a compelling golf solution intended to perpetuate the sport at this site." This statement makes little or no sense for the following reasons: The 18-hole golf course has been there for over 80 years, and flood plain areas are an appropriate and common places for a golf course. The Park Board's Meadowbrook Golf Course is similar, and is not being closed. In the new plan, half of the property will be flooded and the other half (the 9-hole golf course) will be elevated by as much as 9 feet above the level of the lake. This proposed plan will dramatically eliminate flood plain storage and risk flooding the homes. This proposed plan will not provide other opportunities to more users since the property will be golf and water. Plus, it eliminates the little park and rain garden on E. 43rd St. and 19th Ave. S. which that neighborhood wants to keep. And, the 18-hole golf course provides more opportunities for winter activities than a 9-hole golf course. A 9-hole golf course and a reduced driving range will not provide a "compelling golf solution." | A resident of Minneapolis | A park or golf course user | 55409 | 50-59 | Own | Male | White | |||||||||||||||||
11950950925 | 390044530 | 2020-09-01 10:12:39 | 2020-09-01 10:28:11 | Water Management | I'm concerned that the proposed plan for the golf course area will actually increase the chances of homes being affected by water. It appears the proposed plan will dramatically eliminate flood plain storage and increase the risk of flooding the homes. | This location has been an 18 hole golf course for more than 80 years. It also is one of the only courses in Minneapolis and surrounding areas that welcomed the African American community. Our local channel 9 news affiliate recently did a story on the African American history at Hiawatha golf course. Don't turn a blind eye to this! | A resident of Minneapolis | A park or golf course user | 55417 | 60 or older | Own | Male | White | |||||||||||||||||
11950943927 | 390044530 | 2020-09-01 10:09:42 | 2020-09-01 10:17:26 | Golf | Please retain the existing golf course set up. It is far less expensive than any of the alternatives. | Please see my previous comments. Good stewardship of public funds argues for maintenance of the existing use. | A resident of Minneapolis | A park or golf course user | 55419 | 60 or older | Own | Male | White | |||||||||||||||||
11950933074 | 390044530 | 2020-09-01 10:11:39 | 2020-09-01 10:14:10 | Golf | Please KEEP ALL EIGHTEEN HOLES at Hiawatha Golf Course! It's an important way to honor the legacy of the oldest and only 18 hole course in Minneapolis proper AND, the history of it being one of the first golf courses in MN to allow Black golfers to play-and probably women and youth too! | The club house, especially the women's bathroom can use UPDATING! Otherwise, the course is in the best shape it's ever been in since I have been playing there over the last 10 years. | A resident of Minneapolis | 60 or older | Own | Female | White | |||||||||||||||||||
11950801151 | 390044530 | 2020-09-01 09:16:24 | 2020-09-01 09:37:39 | Golf | Good morning, I live across Minnehaha Creek at 5101 14th Ave S. I am very strongly opposed to this plan for a variety of reasons. The reasons for building a 9-hole course as opposed to keeping a historic 18 hole course are unfounded and completely unacceptable. In your statement you claim that an "18-hole course is impracticable, if not impossible", however raising the ground for a 9-hole course will cause even more flooding to homes than the current layout. The 18-hole course has been there for 80 years and the flood plain areas are appropriate and common place compared to other 18-hole courses (see Meadowbrook). The utter lack of sense in this proposal makes it seem like it is written and derived from someone who simply dislikes golf and wants to use the park for other personal reasons. This would be an absolute disgraceful use of funds, of which are already lacking. A 9-hole golf course dramatically reduces appeal to the vast majority of golfers and will reduce park visitors by a huge amount. The 18-hole layout also makes for a much better use of space for winter activities in the park. There are literally only a couple holes on the 18-hole course that even have water issues, which could be easily resolved on their own with far less funding. Rain happens. It rained a lot in 2014. Stop wasting our time and money. Sincerely, | A resident of Minneapolis | A park or golf course user | 55417 | 30-39 | Own | Male | White | ||||||||||||||||||
11950797559 | 390044530 | 2020-09-01 09:27:14 | 2020-09-01 09:35:53 | Golf | I would like to comment on keeping Hiawatha an 18 hole golf course for the following reasons: The 18-hole golf course has been there for over 80 years, and flood plain areas are an appropriate and common places for a golf course. The Park Board's Meadowbrook Golf Course is similar, and is not being closed. In the new plan, half of the property will be flooded and the other half (the 9-hole golf course) will be elevated by as much as 9 feet above the level of the lake. This proposed plan will dramatically eliminate flood plain storage and risk flooding the homes. This proposed plan will not provide other opportunities to more users since the property will be golf and water. Plus, it eliminates the little park and rain garden on E. 43rd St. and 19th Ave. S. which that neighborhood wants to keep. And, the 18-hole golf course provides more opportunities for winter activities than a 9-hole golf course. A 9-hole golf course and a reduced driving range will not provide a "compelling golf solution." | A resident of Minneapolis | A park or golf course user | 55419 | 50-59 | Own | Male | Latino/Latinx, Hispanic, or Spanish Origin | ||||||||||||||||||
11950632866 | 390044530 | 2020-09-01 08:40:44 | 2020-09-01 08:47:57 | Draft Plan (Entire site) | Accessible public golf is part of the our parks legacy. I can't understand why MPRB keeps drafting plans for Hiawatha that don't preserve this 18 hole course, especially when it's driving revenue. Additionally, we know from the Barr Engineer report that if the pumps are not replaced, the surrounding area will be flooded. It almost seems like MPRB is in cahoots with real estate developers who wish to gentrify the area. It's alarming how MPRB keeps pushing forward with these plans and the plans for Minnehaha, despite the watershed issues in South Minneapolis. Our parks are precious assets to the whole community and they are flooding due to a lack of competent land management by your entity. | Why do you want to hear when you don't listen? | A resident of Minneapolis | A park or golf course user | 55419 | 40-49 | Own | Female | White | |||||||||||||||||
11950588552 | 390044530 | 2020-09-01 08:08:15 | 2020-09-01 09:08:53 | Golf | A nine hole course maintained by the MPRB will not thrive in my opinion for a couple of reasons. The main reason is that the MPRB does not maintain their facilities adequately, and the current Hiawatha 18 hole course is a prime example. Also, a nine hole course is not a destination for a large number of golfers, they want to play 18. I have played (7) 18 hole courses this summer, two of which are MPRB courses and their level of maintenance is noticeably lower standards than the other 5 courses. Other examples of poor maintenance is the parkway roads, MPRB has specified their roads to have a red seal coating, this is not maintained, also, the roadways are full of pot holes. The tennis court on 34th Avenue at the E Minnehaha Parkway is maintained with weed whips, weeds are growing up through the cracks in the court pavement, why would anyone play tennis there? | I think the overall plan for the golf course property is very underwhelming, small course, practice range, club house and boating beach. Ponds appear to be overwhelming, and standing water has been brought closer to the neighborhood. I grew up in the neighborhood west and a little north of the golf course, low areas extend westward along 44st Street to 16th Avenue and extend as far north as 41st Street, before the City of Minneapolis developed this low area it was a swamp, (according to my father who grew up in this neighborhood back in the 1920s). At 41st and 16th Avenue where Bethlehem Lutheran is, due to poor soil conditions that church is sitting on screw jacks to keep the building level. A MPRB published report showed that the house on the corner of 16th Avenue and 42nd Street had settling problems, this is across the street the the church, I know of others that had foundation and basement slab repairs over the years due to soil conditions. When driving down 17th and 16th Avenues from 42nd to 44th, notice the sunken curbs and sidewalks, (they have been previously replaced). Over the years who is to say that dewatering Hiawatha Golf Course has not aided reducing ground water in this area stretching from the church to 19th Ave and 44th St in the area of the former swamp. Reducing pumping and placing additional standing water in this area of the city may not be the best think to do, and seeing the level of general maintenance MPRB can afford, I doubt they can afford a program similar to MAC's Sound Abatement Program and dewater basements, fix sinking buildings or use eminent domain to move a neighborhood. | A resident of Minneapolis | A park or golf course user | 60 or older | Own | Male | White | ||||||||||||||||||
11950438789 | 390044530 | 2020-09-01 07:37:56 | 2020-09-01 07:48:13 | Golf | As I understand it, the golf course as is could be preserved by pumping water at the rates at which water has been pumped for many years. That seems to be the simplest, least expensive, and least disruptive alternative. Making dramatic use and water management changes to an established urban area with many older and treasured homes at risk invites disaster in unintended consequences that simply pumping at a higher rate would not. Spend the money elsewhere, pump the water, and preserve this historic and heavily played golf course for the diverse community that enjoys it. Also, I would be more significant adult interracial interactions take place at this golf course than would at any other asset in the proposed plan. | A resident of Minneapolis | 55417 | 50-59 | Own | Male | White | |||||||||||||||||||
11950417154 | 390044530 | 2020-09-01 07:30:04 | 2020-09-01 07:44:26 | Golf | We need to keep Hiawatha golf course a 18 hole golf course I grew up in the neighborhood and still come back today after 50 years of living outside the area to support the golf course spend my money in Minneapolis. I do notice the black contingency that frequents the course, every time I play the course, I see the love for their course the same way I do, it is a very special place. I do appreciate the beauty and the heritage the golf course brings to the city of Minneapolis The same way it did over 50 years ago when I was a kid growing up in the area instead of tearing it down let’s improve it let’s beautify it and invest in it as a true treasure of the city of Minneapolis thank you | There has been a lot of talk about the floodplain in the neighborhood surrounding Hiawatha golf course I have lived in the area for 62 years and frequented all the time in that amount of time I have always seen that area be inundated with rain a few times that could’ve affected the surrounding properties But it is something that can be managed if done correctly, Talk to the neighbors talk to the people that play the course I am certain you would get a lot of community support to keeping the golf course the way it is or upgrading it. Think about the high school golf teams think about all the other good things you can do with a beautiful piece of property such as that don’t be so one sided in your thought process that something can’t be worked out to keep this an 18 hole golf course. Thank you | A park or golf course user | 55044 | 60 or older | Own | Male | White | ||||||||||||||||||
11950374115 | 390044530 | 2020-09-01 07:04:33 | 2020-09-01 07:25:23 | Costs, Revenue, and Funding | Golf interest is rising again and money could be used to introduce golf to youth in Minneapolis. Funds should be used to improve existing park and lake areas. Lake Hiawatha should have a shoreline restoration and dredging project. | A park or golf course user | 55123 | 60 or older | Own | Male | White | |||||||||||||||||||
11950282741 | 390044530 | 2020-09-01 06:41:52 | 2020-09-01 06:51:05 | Golf | Hiawatha should remain an 18 hole golf course. The money involved in turning this into something else is insane. If the park board would lease the course to an outside company it would greatly improve the course and be profitable for that company. The course shouldn’t have to provide funds to the park board. It’s also a great source of recreation for both inner city youth and seniors with a tremendous history of black golf in Minneapolis. | A resident of Minneapolis | A park or golf course user | 55419 | 60 or older | Own | Male | White | ||||||||||||||||||
11950190441 | 390044530 | 2020-09-01 06:07:49 | 2020-09-01 06:15:18 | Golf | I would like to see the property to remain a 18 hole golf course. | The 18 hole golf course is an essential part of the neighborhood and keeps the property in constant use and beautifully kept up for all seasons. The space is used as a cross country skiing area in the winter. Plus, due to its rich history in our community, retaining the 18 hole course is the only way to honor and support the black/minority community. Put this project on hold: there is no money available to pursue it. | A resident of Minneapolis | A park or golf course user | 55417 | 50-59 | Own | Female | ||||||||||||||||||
11950189156 | 390044530 | 2020-09-01 06:04:14 | 2020-09-01 06:11:09 | Golf | Retain the 18 hole golf course. The 18-hole golf course has been there for over 80 years, and flood plain areas are an appropriate and common places for a golf course. The Park Board's Meadowbrook Golf Course is similar, and is not being closed. In the new plan, half of the property will be flooded and the other half (the 9-hole golf course) will be elevated by as much as 9 feet above the level of the lake. This proposed plan will dramatically eliminate flood plain storage and risk flooding the homes. This proposed plan will not provide other opportunities to more users since the property will be golf and water. Plus, it eliminates the little park and rain garden on E. 43rd St. and 19th Ave. S. which that neighborhood wants to keep. And, the 18-hole golf course provides more opportunities for winter activities than a 9-hole golf course. | The 18-hole golf course has been there for over 80 years, and flood plain areas are an appropriate and common places for a golf course. The Park Board's Meadowbrook Golf Course is similar, and is not being closed. In the new plan, half of the property will be flooded and the other half (the 9-hole golf course) will be elevated by as much as 9 feet above the level of the lake. This proposed plan will dramatically eliminate flood plain storage and risk flooding the homes. This proposed plan will not provide other opportunities to more users since the property will be golf and water. Plus, it eliminates the little park and rain garden on E. 43rd St. and 19th Ave. S. which that neighborhood wants to keep. And, the 18-hole golf course provides more opportunities for winter activities than a 9-hole golf course. | A park or golf course user | 52033 | 30-39 | Own | Male | White | ||||||||||||||||||
11950154021 | 390044530 | 2020-09-01 05:52:45 | 2020-09-01 05:55:35 | Golf | We should maintain the 18 hole golf course to honor the only city public course. | Again we need to maintain and up grade the 18 hole golf course. | A resident of Minneapolis | A park or golf course user | 55407 | 60 or older | Own | Female | White | |||||||||||||||||
11949565318 | 390044530 | 2020-08-31 23:38:06 | 2020-08-31 23:40:39 | Golf | Keep Hiawatha an 18 hole golf course! | It’s very well maintained and great for the community. | A resident of Minneapolis | A park or golf course user | 55410 | 30-39 | Own | Male | White | |||||||||||||||||
11949067619 | 390044530 | 2020-08-31 18:58:04 | 2020-08-31 18:58:33 | Golf | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
11949054208 | 390044530 | 2020-08-31 18:50:06 | 2020-08-31 18:53:51 | Water Management | The water quality in Hiawatha is a tragedy and an embarrassment to Minneapolis when there are simple solutions. As a resident of Minneapolis and the Ericsson neighborhood, I consider this a top priority. | Please prioritize mitigating the absurd amounts of trash from the streets pouring directly into Lake Hiawatha. | A resident of Minneapolis | A park or golf course user | 55406 | 40-49 | Own | Female | White | |||||||||||||||||
11949021806 | 390044530 | 2020-08-31 18:34:46 | 2020-08-31 18:45:11 | Wetland Habitat Preservation and Ecological Restoration | Why is it taking so long to do something about the trash and filth in Lake Hiawatha? I understand the water goes in unfiltered. Why can't that be resolved. It's a blight on the city. It's sick and I wonder how many frogs, turtles, birds, etc. are impacted as well. I won't even let my dog wade in. | For the record: No to pesticides in the parks. Use volunteers people power instead and let them know they are being used in lieu of using pesticides. | A resident of Minneapolis | 55406 | 50-59 | Own | Female | White | ||||||||||||||||||
11948965975 | 390044530 | 2020-08-31 18:13:23 | 2020-08-31 18:18:37 | Water Management | There is a great deal of trash pouring into Lake Hiawatha, much of it from the 43rd street or the north pipe. Is there anything in the plan that addresses a temporary and then long term solution for catching the trash and then disposing of before it enters the lake? | I personally enjoy the golf course and surrounding area for many reasons, specifically during the winter when it is open to the public for walking/skiing. | A resident of Minneapolis | A park or golf course user | 55406 | 30-39 | Own | Female | White | |||||||||||||||||
11948314724 | 390044530 | 2020-08-31 14:56:03 | 2020-08-31 15:09:11 | Wetland Habitat Preservation and Ecological Restoration | Before any additional facilities and amenities are added to the Lake, trash management must be priority! Whether it means hiring staff to deal with this, or having a temporary and long-term solution to the 43rd street stormwater pipe concern, both needs to happen. An effective long-term solution to trap the trash before it dumps into Lake Hiawatha is the ideal, but a temporary solution must occur as soon as possible to prevent the further threat to the declining ecosystem. | Downsizing the golf course to a 9 hole from 18 holes is a good idea. That will open up the area more to natural areas for wildlife and for the public to enjoy the parkland and nature areas. The lake is tiny and doesn't need amenities such as a restaurant, kayak facilities (I am a kayaker.), etc. It should be left as pure as possible. We already have bigger lakes with amenities. Money needs to be invested in what resources we already have, not with expanding commercial enterprises at the expense of preservation of natural areas and resources. | A resident of Minneapolis | A park or golf course user | 55406 | Own | I prefer to answer another way: | It's not relevant. | It's not relevant. | |||||||||||||||||
11947247455 | 390044530 | 2020-08-31 08:58:42 | 2020-08-31 09:06:09 | Costs, Revenue, and Funding | I am just worried that in doing this you are setting yourself up for failure. Will you allow the revenue to be taken away from your project to pay for other things that are deficient in the city. A smaller investment would be to better what you already have. | I would keep it as an 18 hole golf course. I would add fruit trees around the perimeter, if that is what some people want. I love the idea of adding pollinator flowers throughout the course, and maybe even hives. I would give the kitchen over to a local food truck, and make the patio area much larger. Get people that that just want to enjoy the afternoon and look out over the green space. Basically make the club house a supper club and move the golf check in over to the garage area. How cool would that place be in the winter with the fire going and enjoying a game with neighborhood friends. | A resident of Minneapolis | A park or golf course user | 55407 | 40-49 | Own | Male | Scandinavian American ;) | |||||||||||||||||
11947072244 | 390044530 | 2020-08-31 07:55:07 | 2020-08-31 08:03:05 | Golf | The golf course should stay. | Continue using as a golf course. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
11946101023 | 390044530 | 2020-08-30 21:06:52 | 2020-08-30 21:09:29 | Golf | I fully support keeping the 18 hole golf course. It is an important asset for the community and especially of historical significance to the minority and Black community. | A resident of Minneapolis | A park or golf course user | 55417 | 60 or older | Own | Male | White | ||||||||||||||||||
11946080365 | 390044530 | 2020-08-30 20:47:00 | 2020-08-30 20:51:14 | Draft Plan (Entire site) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
11945997852 | 390044530 | 2020-08-30 19:26:59 | 2020-08-30 19:56:44 | Golf | Where is the funding for the proposed project going to come from. The numbers do not come close to adding up. The current plan will cost enormous funds to fill in for the proposed 9 hole course. Not to mention, allocation of these funds are to a 9 hole course which would not provide the revenue stream that the 18 hole course currently does. Look at the balance sheets of 9 hole facilities vs. 18 hole operations. No comparison in revenues / profitability! Cost vs. benefit is very much in favor of the current set up .... Hands Down! 18 hole golf will preserve a storied history and resource to the south MPLS. community. Current watershed that the 18 hole golf course provides is needed to maintain the integrity of the surrounding neighborhood. Without this the houses will be at a minimum wet, or even flood at times. Meadowbrook is also part of the Minnehaha creek watershed and that course has not been considered nor even mentioned for closure to create increased wetlands capacity for this watershed. Why? | Funding to maintain the current 18 hole facility with limited additional funds for modest improvements would serve the community and its tax payers significantly. This is monetarily feasible and sustainable over time. The economics of the current plan is not. The 18 hole golf course has been there for over 80 years. Why not invest in the current 18 holes, with resources to improve the course and thus its value to Minneapolis and it's golfers. This cost vs. benefit does make sense! Golf is on the rise. This trend alone is a predictor of the need for 18 holes at Hiawatha. | A park or golf course user | 55122 | 60 or older | Own | Male | White | ||||||||||||||||||
11945736835 | 390044530 | 2020-08-30 16:15:46 | 2020-08-30 16:18:00 | Costs, Revenue, and Funding | Please put this project on hold as there currently isn’t funding. Slow down. If this plan is going to happen, do it the right way - from start to finish. If there is not currently funding for the entire project, then it shouldn’t even start. | A resident of Minneapolis | A park or golf course user | 55407 | 30-39 | Own | Female | White | ||||||||||||||||||
11945713620 | 390044530 | 2020-08-30 15:52:18 | 2020-08-30 15:56:41 | Golf | Retain the 18 hole golf course. | A park or golf course user | 55406 | 60 or older | Rent | Male | White | |||||||||||||||||||
11945706494 | 390044530 | 2020-08-30 15:44:55 | 2020-08-30 16:01:29 | Costs, Revenue, and Funding | $43 M project with $10M going to permit, design fees??? Hiawatha Golf Course averages 200 - 250 paid golfers a day. This does not count the amount of people using the driving, practice range/area. | It's imperative to keep the existing 18 holes in order to continue honoring Black golfing history, getting new golfers involved. A boat dock can still be developed on the north side with a bike/walking path starting by the dock, current hole number 3 around number 2, 10, 11 - there is a small path now, ( netting can be put up in areas where golfers are hitting) and out the southeast side of Lake Hiawatha, connecting with the bike/walk trail down the creek hill. Clubhouse extensions, remodeling with gathering places, simulators would be welcomed on the west end of the current facility. The enormous amount of trees, excavation, can be saved. I live on East 43 rd st. ( 50 yard slice on number 4) and you're right in my front yard. | A resident of Minneapolis | A park or golf course user | 55406 | 60 or older | Own | Male | White | |||||||||||||||||
11945695834 | 390044530 | 2020-08-30 15:34:42 | 2020-08-30 15:38:25 | Golf | Nine hole golf courses are almost never economically successful. Hiawatha has been extremely busy this summer. Many days we came for league and there was not where to park. In the light of the covid-19 economic and state budget challenges, there is going to be no where for you to find the money that is required to do this plan. It is perfectly fine the way that it is. For spending no money on improvements, the course has been in excellent shape this summer. The superintendent is doing an excellent job. | Do not really have any new comments. | A resident of Minneapolis | 55417 | 60 or older | Own | Male | White | ||||||||||||||||||
11945683795 | 390044530 | 2020-08-30 15:21:56 | 2020-08-30 15:26:52 | Golf | Keep the 18 hole golf course. It's the only public city golf course on the south side of the city. It has a long African American history. Given what's going on about racial inequality these days, I think it would be a mistake to not take African Americans into account. Also, there is no funding available given our current economy because of Covid. Let Hiawatha Golf Course remain as it is. | I think the property should remain an 18 hole golf course. I belong to the women's league and whenever I go to Hiawatha to play or use the driving range, it is packed. Many people love the golf course and use it regularly. There are many parks in Minneapolis and one right next door at Lake Nokomis. Please leave the golf course as it is. | A resident of Minneapolis | A park or golf course user | 55407 | 60 or older | Own | Female | White | |||||||||||||||||
11945625608 | 390044530 | 2020-08-30 14:21:29 | 2020-08-30 14:26:33 | Golf | The golf course is way too important to the community and if you transform the course to 9 holes, it will no longer have the same interest as it does as an 18 hole course. If the golf course is destroyed, it will never be built again as it costs way too much to do that - I feel strongly that the course should stay an 18 hole course. We have enough parks, picnic areas and playgrounds in that area which include Nokomis, Hiawatha, and Minnehaha Falls. Maintaining the course is the best option. Thanks for your consideration! | The use of the golf course on off seasons sounds like a terrific plan to continue to bring in revenue for the park board. | A resident of Minneapolis | A park or golf course user | 55417 | 50-59 | Own | Female | White | |||||||||||||||||
11945581753 | 390044530 | 2020-08-30 13:34:47 | 2020-08-30 13:43:39 | Golf | Maintain the 18 hole Golf course. This course has been there for a long time. It has served the african American community very well. Where would the money come from to do all the changes. Ground water will still be a problem no matter what is done. | Keep it as it is | A park or golf course user | 55431 | 60 or older | Own | Male | White | ||||||||||||||||||
11945515429 | 390044530 | 2020-08-30 12:35:19 | 2020-08-30 12:39:44 | Golf | Keep the 18-hole Hiawatha golf course. This is a cornerstone for the neighborhood. I want to be able to teach my kids how to golf at this course. | Please keep the course as it is. The course has never been in better shape. | A resident of Minneapolis | A park or golf course user | 55417 | 30-39 | Own | Male | American | |||||||||||||||||
11928199685 | 390044530 | 2020-08-24 09:54:07 | 2020-08-24 09:55:47 | Golf | 9 holes will only make it more difficult to be able to play. There are too many golfers already with 18 holes. We need to keep the golf course as 18 holes. | A resident of Minneapolis | A park or golf course user | 55419 | 50-59 | Own | Male | Latino/Latinx, Hispanic, or Spanish Origin | ||||||||||||||||||
11926313509 | 390044530 | 2020-08-23 14:22:19 | 2020-08-23 14:26:01 | Draft Plan (Entire site) | I hope the entire plan works to restore the ecosystem while protecting the area homes from flooding. Pollution mitigation is my number one issue. The lake receives tons of trash each year. I'd like to see more nature left to be wild, but still have walking trails and XC ski trails. I'm neither for nor against golf as long as the nature areas can be restored. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
11926307789 | 390044530 | 2020-08-23 14:15:56 | 2020-08-23 14:22:13 | Wetland Habitat Preservation and Ecological Restoration | My primary concerns are about the ecology of the area. Trash and other pollutants need to be mitigated in order for the lake to be used safely for swimming, fishing, etc. I would like to see much greater emphasis on restoration of nature areas and wildlife habitat, including wetlands and also hope that there can be more walking trails (unpaved). | I hope that the master plan first and foremost will address the trash and pollution flowing into the lake as well as restore wetlands and nature areas. | A resident of Minneapolis | 55407 | 50-59 | Own | Male | White | ||||||||||||||||||
11920757388 | 390044530 | 2020-08-20 19:08:47 | 2020-08-20 19:11:37 | Golf | As someone who lives in the area and is new to playing golf this summer I’ve enjoyed having a full 18 hole golf course in close proximity. It’s fully packed every day and I’ve never seen so many black and brown people at a golf course. It’s great for city residents to have access to this facility and it would be a shame to see it go. | A resident of Minneapolis | A park or golf course user | 40-49 | Own | Male | White | |||||||||||||||||||
11919392351 | 390044530 | 2020-08-20 10:41:45 | 2020-08-20 10:43:38 | Draft Plan (Entire site) | My concern is that the Board should not listen to the lies and histrionics of the Save Hiawatha 18 people. Just cause you're loud doesn't mean you're right - or represent a majority of people. I for one am sick of them ignoring the parameters of the project and making false claims to "prove" their points. | A resident of Minneapolis | 55406 | 40-49 | Rent | Male | White | |||||||||||||||||||
11916085292 | 390044530 | 2020-08-19 10:36:50 | 2020-08-19 10:41:59 | Draft Plan (Entire site) | This is not passing the sniff test. This proposal feels like a complete power grab, and un-thoughtful use of a historic golf course by the mpls. Park board. | The property as a whole needs to remain whole. It takes care of itself financially. | A resident of Minneapolis | 55407 | 50-59 | Own | Female | human | ||||||||||||||||||
11915419577 | 390044530 | 2020-08-19 07:03:04 | 2020-08-19 07:31:26 | Draft Plan (Entire site) | ⦁ Retain the 18-hole golf course. ⦁ The 18-hole Golf Course is the only way to honor and support the Black/minority community. ⦁ Put this project on hold; there is no money available to pursue it. Keeping the 18 hole golf course is the only real plan. There is no money for the park board to be making changes, moreover, this is another White Washing of Minneapolis's Black History. Taking away the black golf history of a once great park system. As a black golfer that grew up on this course, my son will be denied the opportunity to know the history, and make his own. As a white board of directors sit in their ivory tower and once again command what black history can be told, or made. When we talk about systemic racism, this is a prime example. City golf is not elitism, Hiawatha is a true example of 'a peoples course'. Built by the people for the people, everyone is welcome, and it is a place where everyone meets. | Systemic racism is at play here, and once again black voice are being ignored for a white park board agenda. One that caters to the white people of this once great city, and the white park board. Only two golf courses in the Minneapolis proper, and the white park board wants to close the one with black history. Think about that. | A resident of Minneapolis | A park or golf course user | 55410 | 50-59 | Own | Male | Black or African American | |||||||||||||||||
11913331885 | 390044530 | 2020-08-18 14:36:15 | 2020-08-18 14:41:00 | Draft Plan (Entire site) | Keep the eighteen hole golf course! Your plan still involves pumping. That very fact means pumping is ok. Pumping was the excuse you used to proceed with this plan. The city has bigger needs than spending money it doesn't have on re-configuring a successful golf course. To be clear do not spend money you don't have. Keep the golf course 18 holes! | Keep the 18 hole golf course. | A resident of Minneapolis | A park or golf course user | 50-59 | Own | Male | |||||||||||||||||||
11913309098 | 390044530 | 2020-08-18 14:17:16 | 2020-08-18 14:31:48 | Draft Plan (Entire site) | With the limited budgets why would the park board spend a large amount money to remove an asset from the city and replace it with trails and other park that are already in abundance in the Nokomis/Hiawatha area. The new chances would be a ongoing cost to the city and the upkeep would not have a good revenue source for funding the upkeep. The historical golf course should be retained at 18 holes so my children and their children can enjoy it as my grandfathers and uncles and I have. The golf course if properly managed should break even and by doing some upgrades to the club house maybe adding a bar/restaurant to off set the improvements you should be able to provide make a self sufficient park facility. And not risk the property values in the area with water damage or more homeless encampments | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
11913156895 | 390044530 | 2020-08-18 13:38:50 | 2020-08-18 13:40:05 | Golf | Keep 18 holes. This area will be in a golf black hole without it. Thanks Ted | A resident of Minneapolis | 40-49 | Own | Male | White | ||||||||||||||||||||
11912625937 | 390044530 | 2020-08-18 10:52:07 | 2020-08-18 10:55:12 | Golf | The Park Board is again lying about the water management. I am a civil engineer and I have reviewed the reports from Barr. In no way do they conclude that an 18 hole golf course is inconsistent with water management goals. The board is using a flooding event to advance their personal interests against the overwhelming support for the 18 hole course in the neighborhood. This nonsense has gone on for far to long. | A resident of Minneapolis | 55417 | 40-49 | Own | Male | White | |||||||||||||||||||
11912213343 | 390044530 | 2020-08-18 08:57:44 | 2020-08-18 08:59:59 | Draft Plan (Entire site) | The course needs to stay at 18 holes. Please keep the current configuration as is. Re-imagining the course is too expensive and unnecessary. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
11912134615 | 390044530 | 2020-08-18 08:35:35 | 2020-08-18 08:37:26 | Golf | Keep 18 holes of golf! | Keep 18 holes of golf, and the practice ranges! | A park or golf course user | 55425 | 40-49 | Rent | Male | White | ||||||||||||||||||
11911762901 | 390044530 | 2020-08-18 06:26:45 | 2020-08-18 06:32:29 | Golf | Please keep 18 holes at Hiawatha. The practice area and driving range are vital and are extremely busy. Keep it as it is. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
11911729315 | 390044530 | 2020-08-18 06:16:49 | 2020-08-18 06:20:04 | Golf | Keep it as an 18 holes. The course has been packed all season and it’s a nice place to meet people from different background. | That does not make any sense to spend all that money for so little added value compare to the current 18 holes golf course. | A resident of Minneapolis | 55419 | 50-59 | Own | Male | White | ||||||||||||||||||
11911726122 | 390044530 | 2020-08-18 05:52:09 | 2020-08-18 06:19:23 | Golf | I'm frustrated by the changing to a 9 hole course. There are many facilities in the metro that provide a learning facility. So I wouldn't be coming to hiawatha for that. The layout of the 9 hole course isn't appealing. A 9 hole course in general isn't appealing. This would move the majority of my rounds to different courses outside of mpls. And as a former mpls (now richfield) resident, that means our money is moving toward the suburbs. My family brought me to Hiawatha golf as a child. In high school, I joined the golf team and continued to play at Hiawatha (riding my bike there to do so). I've now been bringing my own children to the practice area. They wont have an option to do that. The sport becomes even less accessible. I've come to know many of the regulars and some of the long time staff. I'm just so disappointed in this plan. My heart breaks for this community. I'm sure it's too late for reconsideration. It seems this decision was made long ago... the golf course never really stood a chance. And quite frankly, that feels really truly awful. | Generally disheartening. | A park or golf course user | 55423 | 30-39 | Own | Female | White | ||||||||||||||||||
11911657962 | 390044530 | 2020-08-18 05:42:52 | 2020-08-18 05:50:18 | Golf | Hiawatha golf course should remain an 18 hole golf course. | The golf course provides great recreation for the community. | A resident of Minneapolis | A park or golf course user | 55406 | 60 or older | Own | Male | White | |||||||||||||||||
11911155599 | 390044530 | 2020-08-18 00:35:57 | 2020-08-18 00:44:29 | Golf | While I appreciate the thought and effort to try and address the water issues that impact the course and surrounding area, I believe it will severely impact the area by reducing the number of holes available. I feel that this would eventually drive golfers away and lead to losing one of the best and few south Minneapolis courses. Fort Snelling already exists as a nine hole course and it shows. | A resident of Minneapolis | A park or golf course user | 55417 | 40-49 | Own | Male | White | ||||||||||||||||||
11910014184 | 390044530 | 2020-08-17 14:48:33 | 2020-08-17 14:58:52 | Save the golf course,and range | A resident of Minneapolis | A park or golf course user | 55409 | 60 or older | Own | Male | Black or African American | |||||||||||||||||||
11907424630 | 390044530 | 2020-08-16 15:45:02 | 2020-08-16 16:24:52 | Golf | Overall I understand the need for the change in layout around Lake Hiawatha. Even when the course is fairly dry the lower elevation parts of the course our too soggy and reduce the play-ability of some the holes near the lake. A change is definitely needed and I support the need for addressing the water problem. That said, I have concerns of the continued viability of a 9-hole golf course. I fear that such a layout will result in the deterioration of the course condition to the point where it will no longer be financially feasible to keep a 9-hole course active. I also fear that this may result in parts of the land in the area being turned over to commercial or residential development should the 9-hole course no longer become viable. My understanding is the current course is used as the "home course" for several high school golf teams. It concerns me reducing the course to 9 holes will eliminate Hiawatha GC as an option for high school golf...this strikes a blow against the entire purpose for offering golf in an urban area. I also believe that a 9-hole course would be less attractive an option to bring in youth golfers and minority golfers again striking another blow against the purpose of an urban golf course in Minneapolis. While the environmental challenges are real I am wondering if an 18-hole course IS possible. Could this be done by: - Reducing the yardage on holes to accommodate increased water (course could be a Par 70/68/66 instead 73) - Eliminating or considerably reducing the presence of a driving range altogether - Shortening the holes on holes 1, 9, 12, 16, 18 (possibly others) - Eliminating the area most/all of the area used by hole 11 - Use some of the practice areas as space for new holes I admit this looks very difficult but I am wondering if some sacrifices in the area of practice facilities would allow for a full sized 18 hole course to exist/thrive. Despite the shorter yardages I am wondering if the additional water would make this an even nicer layout with some extra water hazard challenges. | I think the general concept is good. This change needs to happen to some degree because the current layout has issues. Still want to see 18 hole course at the current location. | A resident of Minneapolis | A park or golf course user | 50-59 | Own | Male | Not answering this to prevent bias to my opinion | ||||||||||||||||||
11906032480 | 390044530 | 2020-08-15 17:19:11 | 2020-08-15 19:04:10 | Golf | Hiawatha Golf Course is a very nice city course that should remain an 18 hole course. It has a lot of history and should be preserved. | A park or golf course user | 55347 | 60 or older | Own | Male | Black or African American | |||||||||||||||||||
11903821747 | 390044530 | 2020-08-14 15:15:35 | 2020-08-14 15:20:53 | Golf | If pumping the water is the concern, and reducing the number of hole from 18 to 9 is the proposal. it is my understanding that the same amount of water pumping will remain about the same. I then think the course should remain 18 holes. | I think the course is in the best shape that it has been in years. The maintenance staff has done a wonderful job. | A park or golf course user | 55347 | 60 or older | Own | Male | Black or African American | ||||||||||||||||||
11900418983 | 390044530 | 2020-08-13 13:49:04 | 2020-08-13 14:12:16 | Golf | The great history of the course is a testament of how important this course has impacted lives. In the history of golf in the Twin Cities and beyond, Blacks and other people of color have not always have access to play the game. Golf has the same history as swimming pools when blacks where not allowed to play due to discrimination tactics. This is new opportunity and vision for 2021 and beyond in rebuilding the pride of eh City of Minneapolis. The history of redlining and serving the privileged on the South side has deep roots that has never been forgotten. However, there is an opportunity to re imagine the community that will need to learn to live together and golf for our short summers in Minnesota is the great equalizer. I see Hiawatha as a resource for the greater good of friends, community partners, retirees and most importantly our youth. Our youth need a safe place where they can connect with seniors who love the game and are willing to share with them the skills that can positively impact their lives. Our youth need this space as a safe place to grow and learn to become positive contributing citizens. They need jobs!! I am sensitive to the issues for home owners and the problems with the water seepage issues. I recommend that the resources of local colleges and universities be accessed to help with exploring actions that could help address the issues creatively without disrupting the beauty of this amazing venue. I live in Golden Valley and see the creativity with Brookview of serving the changing needs of the community with a renovated pro shop, restaurant and meeting space for the community. This has become a special place for the whole family and very well supported. In closing, converting to a 9 hole course will totally adjust the beauty of this course and will force golfers to go to other courses for a decent outing. The draw of having a welcoming inner city facility for all POC (people of color) will is a plus as the staff are very welcoming. There might also be opportunities to host major golf events for increased revenue that are currently going to other courses like Bunker Hills, Chaska, Brookview and Braemar. It would be nice to not have to travel out of the city and give other municipalities our money and jobs. | A park or golf course user | 55422 | 60 or older | Own | Male | Black or African American | |||||||||||||||||||
11900296822 | 390044530 | 2020-08-13 13:27:22 | 2020-08-13 13:28:55 | Water Management | Love the idea of expanding the lake and having a walking path proximate to the current west bank of the lake. | A resident of Minneapolis | A park or golf course user | 55417 | 50-59 | Own | Male | White | ||||||||||||||||||
11899397382 | 390044530 | 2020-08-13 06:33:45 | 2020-08-13 10:16:31 | Water Management | We support the plan as it relates to habitat protection, ecological restoration, stormwater treatment and the continuation of Hiawatha Golf Course in an ecologically driven 9 hole configuration. Many of the additional recreational amenities included in the plan, beyond golf, drive the cost of the plan up, even though the costs of the primary and essential work of stormwater treatment and ecological restoration are reasonable. Essential infrastructure changes (stormwater treatment) should be prioritized and implemented with concerted alacrity at Lake Hiawatha. Whether or not they are able to raise the sums asked for in the plan in its entirety. The high cost of the project must not result in further delays in stormwater treatment. Can the essential stormwater treatment be funded separately and thus be safe from further delay? The City of Minneapolis has declared a climate emergency. Climate change impacts locally are exacerbated by lost flood resilience, habitat fragmentation and pollution. The MPRB bears a large portion of responsibility for this condition. This is exemplified on this property in the destruction of the Rice Lake wetland complex and the failure to address the pollution of Lake Hiawatha and subsequent downstream waters. Friends of Lake Hiawatha has removed 7,500 lbs of mostly plastic and styrofoam trash from the Lake. Despite this volunteer effort the Lake remains littered with tons of trash. The shattered remnants of decades of unaddressed trash accumulation has resulted in permanent ecological damage in the form of microplastics in the soils which often outnumber organic matter on the shoreline. The City of Minneapolis and the MPRB removed 4 lbs. of trash in 2015. This is the only instance I am aware of in which these agencies removed any trash from Lake Hiawatha. This despite the MPRB's charge to keep the parkland free of trash. The MPRB and the City need to step up and hire new staff to pick up trash at our Lakes and on our streets. Volunteer efforts are not able to keep up with the trash that arrives with every rainfall. Further delays in stormwater treatment and trash mitigation are unacceptable. The CAC (community advisory committee) concurs with this assessment that addressing pollution is the number one priority for this property. Our agencies need to acknowledge this problem and prioritize this work in the implementation of the project plan. | I am excited about the idea of the stormwater terrace as a public art opportunity. I would like to invite the MPRB to use the 2019 Lake Hiawatha trash survey as a document in the masterplan as well as the exhibition summary. this could be used as a link. It would be great if the data and community engagement work we did could be recognized by the MPRB and used as the public resource it was intended as. Lake Hiawatha trash survey 2019: http://forums.e-democracy.org/groups/mpls-staneric/files/f/ocyQEnQ1FB98iyXYZlGcIO49TX6-1LUxT-2Mi2tr8/PICTURES%20LAKE%20HIAWATHA%20COMPREHENSIVE%20TRASH%20%20SURVEY%202019%20.pdf Exhibition summary: http://forums.e-democracy.org/groups/mpls-staneric/files/f/kXqPcUAL9IOHZMaHlP1CQylLz4U-1gDTl-2MR6jCg/ANTHROPOCENIC%20MIDDEN%20SURVEY-%20FINAL%20REPORT%20-%20%20WHITE%20PAGE%20GALLERY%202019.pdf I would like the MPRB to consider that environmental justice, climate concerns, habitat and wildlife protection, and pollution mitigation are all necessary parts of addressing climate change. | A resident of Minneapolis | A park or golf course user | Community Advisory Committee member | 50-59 | Own | Male | White | |||||||||||||||||
11899057713 | 390044530 | 2020-08-12 06:28:38 | 2020-08-13 06:33:43 | Costs, Revenue, and Funding | The high cost of the project threatens the viability of its implementation. I'm afraid the high cost of the project might result in further delays in implementing critical infrastructure changes. Infrastructure changes are desperately needed to address egregious pollution which has been ignored for too long and has worsened without attention. Stormwater treatment work should begin immediately, regardless of the status of fundraising for the other elements of the project. Essential priorities in order importance: 1. Pollution - stormwater treatment, new wetland establishment, 2. Climate - new wetland establishment, reduced pumping, wildlife - existing wildlife population protection and new habitat creation. 3. Recreation/Social- golf course and park access, social engagement, public art. Some costs could be cut by lessening the scope the project to include only essential features. I consider these items to be non-essential: Lake House Kayak rental enterprise Restaurant enterprise Winter Activities enterprise | Please prioritize and expedite the implementation of stormwater treatment for the North Pipe- stormwater system. The City of Minneapolis Public Works needs to be ready to implement these stormwater changes immediately. Hopefully they are currently developing their plans to implement work on failed stormwater infrastructures impacting Lake Hiawatha. preparing feasibility studies and fund allocations. Given that the City has declared a climate emergency this project is a critical piece needed for climate preparedness. | A resident of Minneapolis | A park or golf course user | Community Advisory Committee member | 50-59 | Own | Male | White | |||||||||||||||||
11895599315 | 390044530 | 2020-08-11 09:12:51 | 2020-08-12 06:28:34 | Wetland Habitat Preservation and Ecological Restoration | I am hugely supportive in general of the approach on this topic and the way it has been stated. However myself and Friends of Lake Hiawatha have a few concerns 2.2 Existing Site Conditions "....areas are home to nesting birds, beavers, otters, and many reptiles and amphibians. They are also attractive to humans for fishing, hanging out, or observing wildlife." please change to: - "....areas are home to nesting birds, beavers, otters, and many reptiles and amphibians. They are also attractive to humans for fishing, or observing wildlife. - or: "....areas are home to nesting birds, beavers, otters, and many reptiles and amphibians." leaving off the sentence. reasoning: we (Friends of Lake Hiawatha) are working very hard to limit foot traffic and resulting damage in key habitat areas that are home to wildlife and we don't want to encourage people hanging out in the Lake Hiawatha Delta Habitat area. We hope that the new plan will implement measures to limit foot and water craft traffic in key designated areas - defined as the "Nature First" areas in the draft. These measures could include creating protected "no go zones" and also by using topography, plantings and water to discourage intrusion and maximize biodiversity and ecological function in these critical habitat zones. It is so important that the project does not diminish biodiversity and habitat viability that already exists nor displace the animals who have survived the devastation of colonization. MORE COMMENTS: I am concerned about the language in 4.3.7 Restoration Opportunities Abound Habitat Preservation and Ecological Restoration "The site will be hydraulically connected to Minnehaha Creek and Lake Hiawatha; therefore, aquatic invasive species (AIS) management and measures for common carp and other AIS should be included in the project design." reasoning: I am concerned about this statement. we would like to see a statement accompanying this one that promises not to trap or kill animals. We would also like to see a statement that commits to organic only, chemical free treatment approaches in order to preserve pollinators, water quality, and ecological function. Manual management of invasive plant species is succeeding as we work on the ongoing restoration work in the Lake Hiawatha Delta Habitat. Lake Hiawatha is home to very diverse and successful population of fish and this has occurred largely without intervention. The current population of fish at Lake Hiawatha does include some non native species such as carp. It does not have a population of grass carp or silver carp which are of greater concern. I fear that interventions in removing carp or treatments for zebra mussels or milfoil etc will only disrupt the balance. concerning zebra mussels- It has been known since 2010 that zebra mussels are in our Lakes. Lake Hiawatha also has a population of freshwater clams. the primary place where I find zebra mussels is attached to trash. they are attached to cans, bags, plastic bottles, gloves wrappers, etc. Addressing the trash problem may very well reduce dramatically the presence of zebra mussels in Lake Hiawatha. | regarding habitat restoration. Supportive of the general outlay in approaches to existing habitat protection. Current winter time foot traffic in recent years has had a deleterious effect on wildlife at Lake Hiawatha. People walking along the western shore have displaced some mammals from the Lake shore. especially problematic has been off leash dogs allowed to perform hunting behavior in habitat areas. particularly the delta and western shore. the current plan to place a walking path along the western shore of the Lake will increase traffic in this area where otters and beavers have resided. Making a small adjustment to the course of the path to avoid critical areas is recommended. also in the meantime it would be great if there was education and enforcement of rules regarding off leash dogs. As much as I love dogs as a dog owner myself the increase in traffic needs to be addressed if we are to preserve the biodiversity of Lake Hiawatha. new Island spaces without trails or access would be a wonderful way to provide safe habitat for wildlife. Please provide definitive language in the master plan that states: key existing wildlife habitat zones will be protected and will remain unchanged. | A resident of Minneapolis | A park or golf course user | Community Advisory Committee member | 55407 | 50-59 | Own | Male | White | ||||||||||||||||
11893430231 | 390044530 | 2020-08-11 12:02:39 | 2020-08-11 12:10:12 | Costs, Revenue, and Funding | We are in the middle of a pandemic that is likely to go on for several years. The economic losses are staggering and are resulting in homelessness, food insecurity, job losses, etc. Tax revenues are way down and will need to be allocated carefully. In light of the lack of tax revenue, and the emerging human tragedy, spending 43 million dollars to convert an 18 hole golf course to a 9 hole golf course seems tone-deaf at best. The park board will need to allocate resources to provide additional sanitation to the homeless encampments. More park police will also be needed to patrol 24 hours (currently they only patrol during park hours) and provide security to the encampments and park users. Given the increased costs to maintain the parks combined with decreasing revenues, this project should be shelved at this time. | A resident of Minneapolis | A park or golf course user | 55406 | 30-39 | Own | Female | N/A | ||||||||||||||||||
11890128081 | 390044530 | 2020-08-10 12:37:13 | 2020-08-10 12:39:18 | Draft Plan (Entire site) | This is a faux. | This will not help the future and the slush fund MPLS has wont pay for course upkeep. Commissioner Musich is trying to pull one over on the residents of South Minneapolis. | A resident of Minneapolis | 55417 | 30-39 | Own | Male | White | ||||||||||||||||||
11887856762 | 390044530 | 2020-08-09 16:44:54 | 2020-08-11 09:12:46 | Other (please specify) | Land Acknowledgement | Hello, This is Sean Connaughty from Friends of Lake Hiawatha, I have some suggestions for the writing contained in the draft master plan. I plan to submit several comments over time. This comment concerns the land acknowledgment. I am glad that the MPRB chose to include a land acknowledgement in the plan. I liked that you included the part about Bdote. Making a land acknowledgement is a difficult and uncomfortable process. in order to make a genuine acknowledgement, I think it is necessary to state the difficult truth. We are on Dakota Land and the Dakota were forcibly removed from the state of Minnesota and the land was stolen from them. Also, I think it is also important to clearly state that Dakota and Indigenous peoples still live here today. A link for for suggestions on writing a land acknowledgement: https://nativegov.org/a-guide-to-indigenous-land-acknowledgment/ Also in the "other contributing organizations/individuals" section: Healing Place Collaborative is not "Healing Places Collaborative" Here is one possible edit: Dakota Land The MPRB acknowledges the land subject to this master plan amendment is on the Dakota peoples' sacred homeland and birthplace, Bdote, from which they were forcibly removed. This land was richly inhabited by the Dakota and other Indigenous peoples who still live here today.... | 2.1.1 Pre-settlement Landscape and Indigenous History Historic Natural Environment these responses were made with/by Healing Place Collaborative: “...as did the lives of the Dakota. Indigenous people were forced to adapt or leave.”. comment: The Dakota were forcibly removed, there was no choice. Period. “American Indians in what is now south-central Minnesota demonstrated resiliency and a complex understanding of the ecological and social environments in which they lived.” comment: This is misleading because Dakota/ancestors are not only in south central MN, they were (FORCE)relocated to ND, SD, NB, and others fled to Canada. | A resident of Minneapolis | A park or golf course user | Community Advisory Committee member | 55407 | 50-59 | Own | Male | White | |||||||||||||||
11885523381 | 390044530 | 2020-08-08 19:37:10 | 2020-08-08 19:43:13 | Golf | Are golfers really going to be OK with paths going right through the course? How will we ensure people aren't getting smacked on the head with a golf ball when they're trying to bike or walk through? Are the fences coming down? Or are new fences being put up around the golf holes? | The statement about restoring Bdote at the beginning of the draft seems like a cruel joke when looking at the plan, which includes, what, about 2% of the area actually being restored? I do not support continuing to try and have golf on land that does not want to be a golf course, at great cost to our natural environment and our city. This entire area should be restored to a wetland habitat with paths for walking, similar to Wood Lake in Richfield. We can have something that nice, and that beneficial to wildlife, right here in Minneapolis. There are plenty of other opportunities for golf around here. | A resident of Minneapolis | 55407 | 40-49 | Own | Female | White | ||||||||||||||||||
11882624903 | 390044530 | 2020-08-07 17:56:29 | 2020-08-07 18:02:27 | Community Gathering Area | Leave it as an 18-hole golf course. The MPRB has bigger fish to fry than dumping millions of dollars into a "nice to have" project. | The MPRB has their hands full with temporary encampments in its city parks. Take those dollars you want to spend on this project and address that issue with housing and safe gathering space for people who are less fortunate than you or me. | A resident of Minneapolis | A park or golf course user | 55417 | 21-29 | Male | Latino/Latinx, Hispanic, or Spanish Origin | ||||||||||||||||||
11882611019 | 390044530 | 2020-08-07 17:45:42 | 2020-08-07 17:55:43 | Costs, Revenue, and Funding | What makes you believe spending that kind of money at this time a good idea? Get you heads out of the bunkers and leave the golf course alone. I run or bike around the golf course 4-5 evenings a week and the golf course parking lot is packed! I have to believe this place makes money! That's more than you can say for the majority of your other initiatives. And the bike & running paths around the golf course work just fine, I don't see a need for new ones within the existing space of the golf course. | Get some business acumen!!!!!! | A resident of Minneapolis | 55417 | 40-49 | Own | Trans | Latino/Latinx, Hispanic, or Spanish Origin | ||||||||||||||||||
11882585846 | 390044530 | 2020-08-07 17:43:43 | 2020-08-07 17:45:05 | Costs, Revenue, and Funding | Totally irresponsible to think that a $44 Million Dollar project is a good decision while we are experiencing a pandemic and a financial crisis. Who is in charge there anyway? | Upgrade the current Hiawatha Golf Course facility you have and allow it to keep generating revenue. | A resident of Minneapolis | 55417 | 40-49 | Female | Black or African American | |||||||||||||||||||
11882583081 | 390044530 | 2020-08-07 17:40:06 | 2020-08-07 17:43:34 | Costs, Revenue, and Funding | Totally irresponsible to think that a $44 Million Dollar project is a good decision while we are experiencing a pandemic and a financial crisis. Who is in charge there anyway? | Upgrade the facility you have and allow it to operate and generate revenue. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
11882570681 | 390044530 | 2020-08-07 17:03:05 | 2020-08-07 17:39:57 | Golf | I've attended several of meetings over the past six years where it has been discussed to close Hiawatha Golf Course as we know it today. During this time hundreds and hundreds of people have voiced their opinions on why they would like to see Hiawatha Golf Course remain as is (an 18-hole golf course). As a Minneapolis resident I like the fact that I have an 18-hole course that is less than 10 minutes from my home. I respect the opinions of those that would like to see more bike paths, flower gardens, wetlands, etc., etc., etc., but is one 18-hole golf course too much to ask for for the thousands of people who pay to use it? All those things I mentioned (bike paths, flower gardens, etc., etc.) already exist in multiples in our great city park system. I have heard the planning committee talk about how Hiawatha Golf Course loses money but when asked to see financial numbers they just say "yes, we can get that information and we'll share it with you". To make a long story short, they have not shared that information with us. So again, I would like to ask that you provide the gross income for Hiawatha Golf Course for this calendar year. Someone at the MPRB has those numbers. I believe the residents of Minneapolis deserve to see those figures. I also believe that this 43 million dollar project you propose is a total waste of taxpayer money and sends the wrong message to our community when unemployment is hovering around 15%. Why spend money you don't have when you already have something in place that makes money! | respect the views of the golfing community and keep one 18-hole golf course in the city of Minneapolis. | A resident of Minneapolis | A park or golf course user | 55417 | 60 or older | Own | Male | Asian | |||||||||||||||||
11882355781 | 390044530 | 2020-08-07 16:14:15 | 2020-08-07 16:18:30 | Draft Plan (Entire site) | I'm concerned about the cost of the project which is essentially upgrading the golf course but not serving other demographics. I don't forsee us benefiting or using this updated master plan and seems like it's still primarily for golfers. Is the plan saving money versus how much is spent pumping water? If not, then leave it how it is because why waste $43,000,000 just to upgrade a golf course? There were some great designs involved in draft plans and this one is garbage. The community isn't going to use the restaurant and picnic area if it's just a glorified golf course space. Save the money, use it on housing, unless you are going to really make changes to this project. | A resident of Minneapolis | 55406 | 30-39 | Rent | Female | White | |||||||||||||||||||
11881152500 | 390044530 | 2020-08-07 10:03:28 | 2020-08-07 10:06:13 | Draft Plan (Entire site) | The plan is not perfect - but most compromises are not perfect as well. With all the different parties and viewpoints involved in this project - a final plan will never be loved by everyone. This plan gives everyone, something. All while following the guidelines set forth by the MRB and the pumping reduction they established. The MPRB should approve this plan and move forward in the process. | A resident of Minneapolis | A park or golf course user | Community Advisory Committee member | 55407 | 40-49 | Own | Male | White | |||||||||||||||||
11880612633 | 390044530 | 2020-08-07 07:33:39 | 2020-08-07 07:38:54 | Golf | I just wanted to lodge my comment, as a neighbor within a block of the golf course, that I really like the plan. I wish, actually, there wasn't as much golfing, but think there are a lot of great ideas while still keeping golfing for those who want it. | I think you've done a great job of envisioning winter rec activities, primarily. I was a bit disappointed to see so much golf preserved, at the expense of other rec areas which could have served more people. However, I understand there was a strong push for keeping golf. The trails will be really nice and I'm happy the water and west side of Lake Hiawatha will be reopened to more of the public. I thought there would be a couple more features that weren't golf related, but am excited about all of the trails, water access and winter rec. Thanks for your hard work. | A resident of Minneapolis | 55407 | 30-39 | Own | Male | White | ||||||||||||||||||
11877940061 | 390044530 | 2020-08-06 15:40:36 | 2020-08-06 15:53:23 | Golf | Golf is fundamentally inhospitable to clean water and shared site uses. The plan should account for the nationwide decline in popularity of golf and contain provisions for repurposing the land for better uses once golf falls out of public interest, which appears to be the likely outcome based on existing trends. Park board money should not be lavished on expensive new golf utilities that are unlikely to pay for themselves, and should be instead focused on promoting activities that are truly compatible with healthy ecological design. | A resident of Minneapolis | A park or golf course user | 55406 | 30-39 | Own | Male | White | ||||||||||||||||||
11871009741 | 390044530 | 2020-08-05 06:54:35 | 2020-08-05 06:58:18 | Golf | MPLS has very few golf courses within the city. I played this course last weekend and the layout is great, but the course was in rough shape. I don't think a 9 hole course will get much play. This is a great course that should be updated and kept for future generations. MPLS already has enough park space. | The golf course layout is great, especially the back nine. My comments were listed on question 2. | A park or golf course user | 55116 | 60 or older | Own | Male | White | ||||||||||||||||||
11868325281 | 390044530 | 2020-08-04 13:02:05 | 2020-08-04 13:16:05 | Golf | I play a lot, and Hiawatha is the only course in the state where I am routinely paired with non-white people. I do a lot of twilight rounds, and as often as not, I'm paired with a non-white player. This just doesn't happen anywhere else. It would be a shame to place an asterisk on this course by making it 9 holes. It would marginalize what is literally the only course I've ever played that has significant representation from marginalized communities. It would be a true loss to the community. | Minneapolis has a ton of parks already. I love them, but there are plenty. There are only a few 18 hole courses that are accessible to the community the way this one is. Hiawatha, Columbia, and Gross. That's it. Please keep this an 18 hole course. | A resident of Minneapolis | A park or golf course user | 55409 | 40-49 | Own | Male | White | |||||||||||||||||
11864122763 | 390044530 | 2020-08-03 17:32:29 | 2020-08-03 17:37:24 | Golf | The area is already saturated in 9 hole courses with Fort Snelling and Highland close by. This will be an epic failure and more money wasted when has to be closed. But maybe that's the Park Board's goal in all this. | A resident of Minneapolis | 55419 | 40-49 | Own | Male | n/a | |||||||||||||||||||
11864100644 | 390044530 | 2020-08-03 17:28:32 | 2020-08-03 17:32:28 | Draft Plan (Entire site) | What an atrocious waste of money - do you think if all grows on trees? Keep it as it is, actually keep it in decent shape and stop wasting taxpayer's money!!! | A big waste of taxpayer's money. Please don't ask for more because it's not something you have any idea of what you're doing. | A resident of Minneapolis | 55419 | 40-49 | Own | Male | n/a | ||||||||||||||||||
11863631591 | 390044530 | 2020-08-03 15:17:59 | 2020-08-03 15:20:17 | So impressed with the overall plan-- all aspects are agreeable to me! Three cheers for all the planners! | A resident of Minneapolis | A park or golf course user | 55406 | 40-49 | Own | Male | White | |||||||||||||||||||
11863608050 | 390044530 | 2020-08-03 15:12:30 | 2020-08-03 15:16:35 | Golf | I'm concerned about golf balls flying into the neighborhood. | Currently our blocks (between 25th and 23rd Aves on 43rd St.; where hole 3 is in the plan) gets dozens of golf balls flying onto properties and onto the walking path every week. I've also seen golf balls hit pedestrians on Longfellow Ave (I think; where hole 2 is located). What precautions will be put into place to protect neighbors' properties and pedestrians outside the course? | A resident of Minneapolis | A park or golf course user | 55406 | 50-59 | Own | Female | White | |||||||||||||||||
11863603040 | 390044530 | 2020-08-03 15:10:14 | 2020-08-03 15:12:27 | Wetland Habitat Preservation and Ecological Restoration | Thank you for your focus on ecology. I'm glad to know the park board is prioritizing care for the land above its recreational use. | I'm excited to hear that cleaning up the water is a priority. | A resident of Minneapolis | A park or golf course user | 55406 | 50-59 | Own | Female | White | |||||||||||||||||
11863442925 | 390044530 | 2020-08-03 14:31:00 | 2020-08-03 14:31:46 | Golf | If you don't pump the same amount of water into Lake Hiawatha as is currently being done, the whole area, golf course, park and near by homes will experience flooding. Not only that you are going to increase spending by 3 or 4 times to build and maintain what will turn into a swamp if all the water is not pumped out. Hiawatha is the only municipal golf course in South Minneapolis. Lake Hiawatha is closed every year because of e coli. This is not caused by pumping. The pollution comes through the creek and through drainage. This will not change with your new plan. It will remain unusable by the public you claim to serve. | If you don't pump the same amount of water into Lake Hiawatha as is currently being done, the whole area, golf course, park and near by homes will experience flooding. Not only that you are going to increase spending by 3 or 4 times to build and maintain what will turn into a swamp if all the water is not pumped out. Hiawatha is the only municipal golf course in South Minneapolis. Lake Hiawatha is closed every year because of e coli. This is not caused by pumping. The pollution comes through the creek and through drainage. This will not change with your new plan. It will remain unusable by the public you claim to serve. | A resident of Minneapolis | A park or golf course user | 55408 | 60 or older | Own | Male | White | |||||||||||||||||
11863441209 | 390044530 | 2020-08-03 14:20:43 | 2020-08-03 14:30:38 | Golf | If you don't pump the same amount of water into Lake Hiawatha as is currently being done, the whole area, golf course, park and near by homes will experience flooding. Not only that you are going to increase spending by 3 or 4 times to build and maintain what will turn into a swamp if all the water is not pumped out. Hiawatha is the only municipal golf course in South Minneapolis. Lake Hiawatha is closed every year because of e coli. This is not caused by pumping. The pollution comes through the creek and through drainage. This will not change with your new plan. It will remain unusable by the public you claim to serve. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
11863352244 | 390044530 | 2020-08-03 14:04:47 | 2020-08-03 14:09:11 | Golf | The golf layout looks strange and dangerous, crossing from holes 4 to 5? | Where is the money coming for it. Hopefully it will not include a homeless camp? | A resident of Minneapolis | 55406 | 30-39 | Own | Female | Why does it matter????? | ||||||||||||||||||
11863321847 | 390044530 | 2020-08-03 13:56:22 | 2020-08-03 13:58:37 | Golf | Keep 18 holes, make it work. It's one of the only place black golfers have a place. don't take away for more nature walk areas, have plenty of those already. | You have plenty of $ to keep it 18 holes, spend the money to dredge Hiawatha and get it right | A resident of Minneapolis | 55407 | 50-59 | Own | Male | Black or African American | ||||||||||||||||||
11863138554 | 390044530 | 2020-08-03 13:08:47 | 2020-08-03 13:17:10 | Enjoy playing Hiawatha Golf Course and would miss it if you decide to go with this project. Course is busy and would imagine it is generating revenue for the City of Minneapolis. Looking at the cost of this project that will only result in less revenue seems like a very foolish plan. Especially now that there is a resurgence of golf activity in Minneapolis. | A park or golf course user | 55347 | 60 or older | Own | Male | White | ||||||||||||||||||||
11862968522 | 390044530 | 2020-08-03 12:39:24 | 2020-08-03 12:51:27 | Golf | I live in the area of the golf course and one of the reasons I moved here is because of the golf course. This is the only 18 hole course in South Minneapolis and it should remain 18 holes. Not everyone can afford a private country club membership and this provides the one course for miles around that is affordable and accessible to folks that don't have unlimited funds or the time to travel miles to find an 18 hole course. This course was provided to the city by Theodore Wirth and should absolutely remain 18 holes. The other ideas on the plan are terrific- water management so that basements in the area don't flood, an updated clubhouse that would be a destination for all- golfers and non golfers, and a winter wonderland with upgraded ski trails. These are all items that should be considered and that are not impacted one bit by keeping the 18 hole course. Improvements to the course and the facilities are long overdue and would cost a lot less than changing everything. Also there are plenty of places for the people of Minneapolis to walk, run and bike. But only one 18 hold golf course! | Some of the ideas are great! Especially improving the winter experience- skiing and skating should both be considered. To have an ice rink that encircles Lake Hiawatha would be amazing and a tourist draw. Nothing like that exists in Minneapolis. | A resident of Minneapolis | A park or golf course user | 55417 | 60 or older | Own | Female | White | |||||||||||||||||
11858537857 | 390044530 | 2020-08-02 14:46:09 | 2020-08-02 15:11:51 | Golf | The new design of the 9 hole course is chopped up without a very good connection between holes 4 a nd 5. It also will have a lot of pedestrian traffic going through the course which will be a hazard for pedestrians and/or slow down play considerably. I also still do not understand why not keep the existing 18 hole course. You can reuse the pumping water, add a snowmaking machine and remodel the clubhouse with the existing course. If you cared about the golf course, you could find a way to make it work. | The natural path between the course will be flooded when it rains. How much will you have to keep redoing the surface of the path and how much of the time will it even be available for walking? It looks like it will be submerged much of the time. Users of the multi use path that goes through the course as well as the natural path are going to be at risk of getting hit by golf balls and will slow down play of the course for golfers who wait to hit. We already have occasional canoers and kayakers that cause us to wait on the back 9, but it is not that often. Now with the paved, natural and water paths all going through the course, it will be both slower play for golf and more dangerous for other users of the property. Furthermore, if you can reuse the pumping water, add a snowmaking machine, and remodel the clubhouse for more community use, all of that can be done and still keep the 18 hole course. We have seldom been flooded to the point of not being able to use the course. Why not keep the golf course as is and add these features to the existing course? This course is a gem in the heart of South Minneapolis. It is a draw for visitors to our city who come for conventions or for travel. Why not improve it and promote it as part of our tourism attraction? It's not far from Mall of America or from the Vikings or Twins stadium or the downtown theater district. Make it a part of the whole tourism package while we residents of Minneapolis, who are also taxpayers, can also enjoy using it. This will bring in more tourism revenue to South Minneapolis that will benefit restaurants and small businesses in our city. An enhanced golf course will also improve the property values and our tax base. I think investing in the 18 hole golf course while improving the water issues will be a win win for our city. | A resident of Minneapolis | A park or golf course user | 55406 | 60 or older | Own | Female | White | |||||||||||||||||
11858509982 | 390044530 | 2020-08-02 14:27:17 | 2020-08-02 14:37:41 | Draft Plan (Entire site) | I don't think the 9 hole golf course is a very good design. Did you involve a golf course architect or designer in your process? The placement of hole 4 and 5 makes it very difficult to get from one to the next. I am still wondering why you don't leave the current 18 hole course as is, and reuse the pumping water and add snow making and remodel the clubhouse while still keeping the 18 hole course. It also doesn't seem like the new design is any improvement in the walking path or other mixed use for the community. In fact, it now looks as if the walking path will be submerged under water when it rains. This makes it seem that you just want to take away from the golfers without any real improvement for the community. I personally think the existing golf course is a real asset to the community and to the city and worth preserving. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
11857951766 | 390044530 | 2020-08-02 10:15:22 | 2020-08-02 10:31:55 | Golf | These costs to re-develop this land are exorbitant. For a fraction of this cost we should invest in re-dredging Lake Hiawatha to it's intended depth and modernize the pumping stations. The water being pumped off the golf course is nothing more than ground water that has leaked into the low lying area of a few of the holes. It poses no greater risk to the water shed then the water flowing down the creek. Yes we had 3 bad years of rain patterns and flooding but that is no reason to throw away the long history of the golf course. More time and money should be spent on educating the public on what these pumps actually are moving instead of scare tactics that anything not left to natures own doing is somehow bad for us and society. I'll reference much of the Netherlands exists because of pumping ground water. I am not in favor of this massive expenditure. I'd rather see a fraction of this money go to improving the pumps, the lake, the course itself, and the clubhouse where the projected gains in revenue can still be achieved if done well. The new golf course as designed will likely fail. It's initial layout lacks thorough review and input from any kind of course designer so left up to the park board will likely be of poor design and construction. | Improve what you have and leave the space as an 18 hole golf course. | A resident of Minneapolis | 55410 | 60 or older | Own | Male | White | ||||||||||||||||||
11856083096 | 390044530 | 2020-08-01 19:07:48 | 2020-08-01 19:16:54 | Winter Recreation | I love the idea of snowmaking. I am thrilled that this has been brought into the plan. We use Hiawatha 2-5 times a week for the cross country ski trails and it looks like this plan incorporates the joy of winter! As our winters are changing the need to make snow is so important and I love that we are being smart in developing a plan that uses the resource of water that we have too much of! The Minnesota Youth Ski League is expanding moving from one session to three sessions to accomodate the number of families who want to be a part of the organization. We have changed our mission to bring diversity to the club and hope to pull more families from the surrounding schools as well. I am so proud of this Hiawatha plan! | The winter component is a must and I am excited that the plan highlights winter recreation. | A resident of Minneapolis | 55417 | 40-49 | Own | Female | White | ||||||||||||||||||
11855367597 | 390044530 | 2020-08-01 13:40:48 | 2020-08-01 13:49:03 | Golf | This golf course is a true asset to the community. Please you are making a big mistake to think to can turn this into a 9 hole course. Like so much of what go on in planning a project you are trying to please everyone. This will fall flat a few years after completion and we will be left wondering who was responsible for this disaster. Please lets just live with the 18 hole golf course and make improvements around it. | A resident of Minneapolis | A park or golf course user | 55419 | 60 or older | Own | Male | White | ||||||||||||||||||
11855300407 | 390044530 | 2020-08-01 13:15:14 | 2020-08-01 13:18:23 | Draft Plan (Entire site) | The plan looks great, I like the variety of ideas incorporated into the plan. The practice facilities and 9 hole course look appropriate for the space. | A resident of Minneapolis | A park or golf course user | 55417 | 50-59 | Own | Male | White | ||||||||||||||||||
11855292981 | 390044530 | 2020-08-01 13:10:46 | 2020-08-01 13:15:10 | Golf | There is NO reason to spend all that money to change what is already there. There is Lake Nokomis a block away. People can Kayak there.People can walk there, run there, bike there. However, people cant hit golf balls there. | A resident of Minneapolis | A park or golf course user | 55406 | 60 or older | Own | Male | White | ||||||||||||||||||
11855073981 | 390044530 | 2020-08-01 11:34:17 | 2020-08-01 11:39:05 | Costs, Revenue, and Funding | Is the right time to be spending this huge amount of money on something that is a "want" when we have people living in tents? | A resident of Minneapolis | A park or golf course user | 55416 | 60 or older | Own | Female | White | ||||||||||||||||||
11854826470 | 390044530 | 2020-08-01 09:38:15 | 2020-08-01 09:53:40 | Draft Plan (Entire site) | Keeping an 18 hole golf course in the city should be priority #1, especially if the plan is to still pump water. The plan on the table is a huge investment and will likely result in decreased revenue and I’m not sure there is a real benefit. There is an unlimited amount of park space right next door at Nokomis. Put some improvements in to course and address drainage, run more youth programs, and call it a day. This course has so much free practice space, only charges $2.50 for a bucket of range balls, and is used for sledding and cross country skiing in the winter. All of those things address the misperception of the property not being inclusive or accessible. | A resident of Minneapolis | A park or golf course user | 55407 | 30-39 | Own | Male | Black or African American | ||||||||||||||||||
11854798112 | 390044530 | 2020-08-01 09:17:30 | 2020-08-01 09:44:02 | Other (please specify) | The funding should have been used to make the necessary improvements so it remains an 18 hole golf course! | The Park Board Commission members should be ashamed of what they are doing by destroying this historical site for political purposes. Heartbreaking! There are other locations suited for the imrovements presented in this plan! | This land is priceless. | A resident of Minneapolis | A park or golf course user | 5540 | 60 or older | Rent | Male | White | ||||||||||||||||
11854614472 | 390044530 | 2020-08-01 08:01:26 | 2020-08-01 08:15:47 | Golf | Hiawatha golf course is a special place to south Minneapolis and has been a cornerstone of our communities for generations. I have been bringing my two sons to play golf there for many years, just as the generations before me have. A friend and I were paired with a father/son duo yesterday who were golfing together for the first time. The golf course is usually packed with all shapes and sizes of people, all colors, genders, ethnicities etc. To me, Hiawatha golf course is a place that brings people together and creates a true sense of community like no other. The course has been packed during this Covid outbreak. Many golfers have found Hiawatha to be a retreat for them, allowing an activity to bring them joy and togetherness. By turning this into a 9 hole course, it will completely disrupt all of this. No longer will people be as interested in showing their children how to golf there as thousands of families have. Generations of people have called Hiawatha their “city country club”. Apparently now, residents of south Minneapolis will have to relocate their golf to Edina or other suburbs. It is so sad to imagine. I have a special place for Hiawatha in my heart. The decision to turn it into a 9 hole course is absolutely the wrong decision and will tear apart the one true community golf course of our fine city. | A resident of Minneapolis | A park or golf course user | 55419 | 40-49 | Own | Male | White | ||||||||||||||||||
11854578888 | 390044530 | 2020-08-01 07:55:18 | 2020-08-01 08:01:26 | Golf | Several areas of concern 1) This is a historic golf course in Minneapolis, the only Golf Course in Minneapolis. to destroy this into unneeded park ground is ridiculous. Keep the course as is 2) Minneapolis has a lot of bigger needs and problems to fix and this is not one of them You have no money to build this project, why take a park that makes money, spend $50 000 000 to make it a park that will lose money and has no chance at break even | I object to the where do you live question The Hiawatha Golf Course that you are about to destroy is a regional treasure, where I live should have nothing to do with your considering my comments | A park or golf course user | 55316 | 60 or older | Own | Male | White | ||||||||||||||||||
11854507982 | 390044530 | 2020-08-01 07:19:16 | 2020-08-01 07:27:26 | Draft Plan (Entire site) | Better to save land resources to fight to land/housing crisis we are in. Would it be worth investing in if this space needs to be allocated for housing in tens years time? A place like this has no future. | This plan sounds like you are just upgrading a dumb golf course. How does this help change the socio economical dynamic of living in this city? Does this help shelter the homeless? Help people pay their rent and essentials? Investing in something that does not have universal usefulness for future peoples will only slow the world down | A resident of Minneapolis | A park or golf course user | 55417 | 30-39 | Rent | Non-binary | White | |||||||||||||||||
11854378704 | 390044530 | 2020-08-01 05:59:37 | 2020-08-01 06:16:43 | Golf | You need to keep the golf course as an 18 hole golf course, that's what the majority of the neighbor hood wants, what happens when the 9 hole course floods, after you spend all of that money on your plan will you close that too. we don't need all of the other recreational things there because we already have that in the community. | Keep the 18 hole course and spend the money on improvements. | A resident of Minneapolis | A park or golf course user | 55406 | 60 or older | Own | Male | White | |||||||||||||||||
11853602668 | 390044530 | 2020-07-31 22:20:17 | 2020-07-31 22:24:01 | Draft Plan (Entire site) | The full plan seems to work with the space well, and accomidate the great variety of user groups that live in the area. This seems like it will maximize the park space for the supported neighborhoods, and be vibrant every day with use. When I say every day, I mean every day, good weather bad weather, and all seasons. The current space is not as welcoming for everyone and not supportive of all season utilization. | The other part of the plan that is great is it appears to eliminate the void of traveling from once side of the park to the other. It feels like you can now wander through the space, rather then having to travel around the space. | A resident of Minneapolis | 55407 | 30-39 | Own | ||||||||||||||||||||
11853029697 | 390044530 | 2020-07-31 18:30:04 | 2020-07-31 18:34:46 | Wetland Habitat Preservation and Ecological Restoration | Are there plans for bringing wild rice to the area? I think that it is important to have information and learning here about the Native populations that lived here before and when the land was purchased and how they may have used the space in the past. There are some amazing Ojibwe (and very likely Dakota) land management and water quality programs going on, could a partnership be made with local tribes to show their use of traditional and modern sciences to create healthy ecosystems? | I think that recognition of the local tribal use of this land needs to be a very visual part of this plan. Also, brining in education programs/signage that teaches the moder use of traditional knowledge and science by local tribes in their work in land management. We can't just talk about the local tribes in the past tense, but also the present. | A resident of Minneapolis | A park or golf course user | 55407 | 40-49 | Own | Female | White | |||||||||||||||||
11853025017 | 390044530 | 2020-07-31 18:12:43 | 2020-07-31 18:30:02 | Draft Plan (Entire site) | I live right next to this park, and I have felt that there was limited use for non-golfers and families. Also, without designated boat launches, it was difficult to tell where people should enter Lake Hiawatha, etc. It seemed like you just had to be in the know. I like how this plan keep spaces for golfers, this is important for community access, but also addresses the realities that this was a wetland space and that nature keeps trying to get back to that. I think more and more people are looking for ways to use bodies of water within the city for recreation and this would provide more opportunities. Also the trails through this space will allow more residents and visitors natural spaces to relax and enjoy the beauty of this area. | A resident of Minneapolis | A park or golf course user | 55407 | 40-49 | Own | Female | White | ||||||||||||||||||
11852847053 | 390044530 | 2020-07-31 17:26:16 | 2020-07-31 17:28:29 | Golf | I’m very disappointed to lose the 18 hole course. It’s already very hard to get a reservation and it’s always crowded, so I expect it will get even worse. It will be interesting to see how this all plays out. | A resident of Minneapolis | A park or golf course user | 55419 | 50-59 | Own | Female | White | ||||||||||||||||||
11852740535 | 390044530 | 2020-07-31 16:45:24 | 2020-07-31 16:52:29 | Golf | I’m super excited about a 9 hole course and beginner options | Think it’s a great variety of a plan and appreciate focus on golf newcomers | A resident of Minneapolis | A park or golf course user | 55417 | 30-39 | Own | Female | White | |||||||||||||||||
11852722637 | 390044530 | 2020-07-31 16:43:11 | 2020-07-31 16:45:24 | Draft Plan (Entire site) | I LOVE most of the plan. Great work! I will absolutely utilize the new waterways. One thing I HATE - the continued presence of golf. Terrible sport, waste of space, racist history, disgusting waste of time and money. PLEASE - make the whole thing a park and ditch the elitist portion of this plan | I LOVE most of the plan. Great work! I will absolutely utilize the new waterways. One thing I HATE - the continued presence of golf. Terrible sport, waste of space, racist history, disgusting waste of time and money. PLEASE - make the whole thing a park and ditch the elitist portion of this plan | A resident of Minneapolis | A park or golf course user | 55405 | 21-29 | Own | Male | White | |||||||||||||||||