Core Program Areas of Groundwork Minneapolis
- Neighborhood Advocate for Large Open Space Projects :
- Neighborhoods need an advocate for large, complex community-space projects. Often, there is not enough staff or capacity at the neighborhood level to take on a large open-space project, especially if the site is contaminated. Groundwork helps neighborhoods move these projects forward, find non-profit and government partners, and raise money to pay staff and project costs.
- Community Spaces Connected to Housing:
- Minneapolis is fortunate to have an active non-profit housing development sector building affordable or mixed-rate units. Even with grants and subsidies, however, there is often little time and money devoted to the design and construction of community recreation or park space as part of the development. The developers realize that play areas for children, passive recreation areas, and bike/pedestrian paths are important, even essential, components of their development, but all of their resources are needed to design and construct the housing units in order to keep the selling prices affordable. Groundwork Minneapolis provides assistance with the community participation, design, construction, and possibly the maintenance of a park that is planned for a housing development. No other non-profit in Minneapolis is helping neighborhoods make sure that well-designed community spaces are part of housing developments.
- Park/Open Space Components of Industrial Projects :
- In most, if not all cases, the space around industrial facilities can be designed and maintained as a community open-space asset. There is often no advocate for the neighborhoods in the industrial development process, and as a result, many of these public properties do not serve the neighborhoods' needs. Groundwork can play an essential role in assessing neighborhood needs, advocating on behalf of these needs, improving the design of industrial areas, and implementing improvements.
- Open-space Connections :
- Connections between existing open spaces, parks, recreational areas, and trails can increase the use and enjoyment of each component part. The opportunity to pass from one area to another, such as from a City park to a trail or neighborhood, is important for residents and ecosystem maintenance.
- Neighborhood Pocket Parks :
- There are many vacant, blighted lots in Minneapolis neighborhoods, some currently owned by the City or State, which would make wonderful pocket parks for the surrounding community. Many are still undeveloped because of a lack of resources or capacity at the neighborhood level.
- Green Team Program :
- A Green Team program recruits and manages volunteers to clean up, maintain, and sometimes install outdoor recreation facilities on properties open to the public. Teams generally pick up trash, rake leaves, paint, or do other routine maintenance using hand tools. With adequate supervision, they install playground equipment and perform other semi-skilled tasks. Teams usually include youths from 14 - 17 years old with an adult supervisor (usually paid), but adults and seniors can participate as well. An optional "service learning" approach promotes a sustainable, long-term program that includes an educational component as well as community service. Teams are sometimes funded through long-term maintenance contracts with the public agency/landowner. Groundwork Minneapolis is working to initiate a Green Team program to help maintain Groundwork projects and other green spaces around the city.
