July Minneapolis Parks & Community News

It’s another update of important information about Minneapolis and its parks. Let’s get straight to it!

Got a new boulevard tree? It’s been warm and dry and they are probably very thirsty! According to the National Weather Service, a significant part of east central Minnesota, including most of the metro area is suffering from severe drought. May was the driest month on record and June did not produce enough rainfall, so it is important to water their young trees, especially those planted on boulevards.

This spring the MPRB’s Forestry Division planted over 4,000 trees citywide to replace trees that have been lost due to storms, Dutch elm disease and other causes. Hopefully by now forestry crews have completed the first two waterings and placed wood chips at the base of each tree. After this point, watering new boulevard trees is the responsibility of the property owner. It’s best to water them once or twice a week to maintain a healthy new tree, unless it rains one inch or more. Please consult this Minneapolis Parks link for the proper way to water and care for these trees.

Next, residents would probably like to know that B.F. Nelson Park was named a winner in the 2009 Minnesota Chapter of the American Landscape Architects (MASLA) Awards Program. The park, currently under development, received the “Unbuilt Works” Award. You can read more about the award and the park here.

In 2008 Mill Ruins Park received an Honor Award in the Public Landscape Design Award from MASLA. The park showcases the excavated and stabilized ruins of mills and canals along St. Anthony Falls that made Minneapolis the world’s flour-milling capital.

Pre-registrations for the 3rd Annual Minneapolis Bike Tour set for Sunday, Sept. 20, are now being accepted online at www.minneapolisbiketour.com. Parkways and roadways along the 14- and 37-mile routes will be closed to motorized traffic. The long course spans the entire scenic Grand Rounds Byway System, showcasing several Minneapolis lakes, and traveling along the Mississippi River and Minnehaha Creek. The short course offers a circuit around Lake of the Isles, Lake Calhoun and Lake Harriet. The Minneapolis Bike Tour provides individuals and families the opportunity to enjoy Minneapolis’ spectacular park and byway systems at their own pace, unhindered by motorized traffic. Proceeds benefit the Minneapolis Parks Foundation Parks to support and enhance the Minneapolis park system. For more information, please visit this link.

Check back Monday to read about events happening in Minneapolis parks during July.