Tonight, Minneapolis Park & Recreation Board (MPRB) staff shared information on early steps the MPRB is undertaking to review and update their citizen engagement model with members of the NCEC at Waite Park in Northeast Minneapolis. In particular, the MPRB has worked to increasing its "micro" community engagement at all of its parks.
Staff described typical past citizen engagement as seeking input (via outreach or groups like Citizen Advisory Committees) on topics like selecting pieces of equipment that should be included in a new park. Today, the park seeks citizen input on whether or not there should be a playground at the park or should a park exist at all. Future engagement models need to determine how to include input on all levels of decisions. The parks "micro" engagement aims determine the needs of a park's closest neighbors and get away from one-size-fits-all programming.
The MPRB staff pointed out many demographic changes have occurred since the heavy investment park facilities in the 1950s and 60s. Minneapolis demographic homogeneity is no more and the cookie cutter approach of 1 tennis court/1 baseball diamond/1 kiddie pool for every X thousand people does not take into account the diversity of play and sports that exists today. Park use is also changing as Minneapolis' population changes how we live - today, 25% of Minneapolis households include children and 40% of households live alone. Demand for amenities like trails are increasing while demand for some kids sports facilities are dropping.
The Park Board is formulating a plan to determine how to better serve Minneapolis in an engagement model. At this time, they are looking for ideas on the following:
- Outreach to non-park users;
- Engaging people with busy schedules;
- Reporting findings (completing the engagement feedback loop)
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