Cathy Abene District 6
Phone: 612-230-6443, Extension 6
Email: cabene@minneapolisparks.org
Take Civic Action
Demand the record MPRB owes the public.
A closure decision should not rest on undisclosed conclusions, unexplained meeting process, or a replacement plan that appears only after access is already lost. We encourage residents, permit holders, park users, and community members to take action by making their voices heard; organized civic participation is essential to transparent and accountable public decision-making.
MPRB can protect confidential cultural-resource information while still releasing the non-confidential basis for its decision. The public does not need sensitive site maps or burial locations. It does need the findings, recommendations, legal basis, meeting history, alternatives considered, permit-holder impacts, and replacement plan that justify decommissioning a major regional off-leash amenity.
Before Resolution 2026-114 is implemented, ask MPRB to suspend action until it has released the public record, explained any withheld information, held a public hearing after disclosure, and identified funded equivalent replacement access.
Please remember, this effort should remain focused on respectful, evidence-based civic engagement. Please do not denigrate Dakota communities, Indigenous stakeholders, cultural-resource protections, or the significance of Mni Owe Sni / Coldwater Spring. The demand is for transparency, lawful process, alternatives analysis, permit-holder fairness, and replacement access-not for disregard of sacred places or burial-site protections.
Key things to ask for in your correspondence
- Release the non-confidential report, appendices, findings, recommendations, and redaction log.
- Disclose the Resolution 2026-114 decision record, including staff memos, drafts, exhibits, and supporting materials.
- Account for any private, closed, or serial commissioner briefings, including dates, attendees, legal basis, and required recordings.
- Provide public portions of communications with NPS, MNHS, Dakota representatives, the Native American Advisory Council, consultants, and commissioners.
- Publish the alternatives analysis: fencing, protected zones, boundary reduction, leash-only corridors, mitigation, relocation, replacement, and system capacity.
- Publish the permit-holder analysis: fees, licenses, revenue, refunds, credits, fee adjustments, substitute access, and replacement capacity.
Park Board Commissioners
Amber Frederick At Large
Phone: 612-230-6443, Extension 9
Charles Rucker District 2
Phone: 612-230-6443, Extension 2
Email: crucker@minneapolisparks.org
Dan Engelhart District 1
Phone: 612-230-6443, Extension 1
Jason Garcia District 4
Phone: 612-230-6443, Extension 4
Email: jgarcia@minneapolisparks.org
Kay Carvajal Moran District 5
Phone: 612-230-6443, Extension 5
Email: kmoran@minneapolisparks.org
Kedar Deshpande Vice President, District 3
Phone: 612-230-6443, Extension 3
Meg Forney At Large
Phone: 612-230-6443, Extension 8
Email: mforney@minneapolisparks.org
Tom Olsen President, At Large
Phone: 612-230-6443, Extension 7
Email: tolsen@minneapolisparks.org
In addition to reaching out to MPRB, contacting other city officials is encouraged as part of a healthy civic process.
Remember, the core request from the public is straightforward: suspend implementation of Resolution 2026-114 until MPRB releases the legally disclosable record, certifies any withheld or redacted information in writing, accounts for any private or closed meetings, completes alternatives and permit-holder impact analysis, holds a public hearing after disclosure, and identifies funded equivalent replacement access before Minnehaha is lost.