Towards a more sustainable future

Bruce Stahlberg points out the various types of solar cookers available during a class sponsored byTransition Longfellow on Saturday, May 19, 2012. The solar cooker in the front is made by the Solar Oven Society, which is owned by Mike and Martha Port of the Longfellow neighborhood. (Photo by Tesha M. Christensen)

Transition Longfellow members focus on their own habits and homes. From there, a community changes.

by Tesha M. Christensen

Longfellow resident Annette Rondano knows that it is easy to get overwhelmed by big environmental issues such as the rising cost of fuel and oil depletion.

But that’s why she and the other members of Transition Longfellow are focusing on changes they can make at home and in their community, rather than on big policy changes.

“What’s important is for people not to get overwhelmed by sustainability options, to take them one step at a time, and to ask for help,” Rondano said. “Between local businesses helping with sustainability goals like solar installations, gardens, rain water capture, and composting, and the expertise of your neighbors, there is ample opportunity to start somewhere and to get help.

“Drop by drop the bucket fills even in a rainstorm.”

MEETINGS, MOVIES, CHALLENGES

Transition Longfellow meets on the first Saturday of each month, 10:30 a.m. to noon at Riverview Wine Bar. During these monthly meetings, attendees share tips and help for urban gardening and household chores, among other things.

“We really are simply making an offer of community in an otherwise do-it-yourself kind of world,” said Rondano.

They also challenge each other. In April, the challenge focus was on food/seed. Some people worked on getting their gardens ready. Others researched CSAs (community support agriculture). Some learned about the Monsanto stranglehood on seeds. When the group gathered back together, members shared what they did, problems they encountered and resources they found.

“We don’t tell people what they should do,” said Leslie MacKenzie, one of the group’s co-organizers. “Everyone has different resources, abilities, income and interest. We try to create a time and space where people can think about what they can do in their own lives around a particular issue.”

 The group also hosts movie nights on the third Friday of each month at Bethany Lutheran Church. The event starts with a potluck at 6:30 p.m. and the movie begins at 7:15 p.m. A speaker concludes the evening.

June’s movie will be the last for the spring. On June 15 view “Blue Gold: World Water Wars,” an award-winning documentary that examines environmental and political implications of the planet's dwindling water supply, and posits that wars in the future will be fought over water. The film also highlights some success stories of water activists around the world and makes a strong case for community action.

On July 20 at 6:30 p.m., the group is hosting a Little Free Library Building and Design event. This event aims to establish a dozen or more Little Free Libraries throughout Longfellow. Little Free Libraries are blooming all around the United States as a way for neighbors to interact and get to know one another. A community potluck and campfire will happen throughout the evening, and pre-reservations are encouraged. Find out more about Little Free Libraries at www.littlefreelibrary.org.

A Community Picnic is set for Aug. 17, 6:30 p.m., in Longfellow Park. Relax, meet your neighbors, and find out more about Transition Longfellow at the picnic.

“Every time I come to a movie night, I learn a host of things that were not on my radar before,” observed Rondano, a woman who has been environmentally and politically active for her entire adult life. “I think everyone is in a different place about sustainability. I learn something new about it every day.”

What has drawn her to the Transition movement is its focus on local control.

“Creating a resilient community, the focus of the Transition Movement internationally, looks so much more doable to me than trying to affect change on the national, or even state, level,” Rondano stated.

“It turns out that the groundswell of people joining in on the Transition Movement has already alerted local units of government to focus more of our tax dollars on resiliency issues like food, energy, and alternative transportation.”

Transition Longfellow is looking towards the future.

“Our group is concerned about the impact that climate change and peak oil will have on our economy, our community, and our households,” said MacKenzie. “Climate change and peak oil will affect every area of life: food production and distribution, transportation, heating and cooling, the water supply (droughts as well as flooding), and transportation. Although political will is lacking at many levels of government, we are not hopeless to address these issues and to create a more sustainable, resilient future.

“And we do not have to do it alone.”

LEARN MORE

Learn more about Transition Longfellow by joining the Facebook group (Longfellow Sustainability/Transition Group), or signing up for the newsletter.

Feel free to speak with steering committee members, including: Annette Rondano (612-221-0131), Rebecca Cramer, Aggie Hoeger, Bruce Gregg, Elizabeth Blair, Brooke Dirkhiesing, Leslie MacKenzie and Peter Foster.

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ABOUT TRANSITION LONGFELLOW

• The group formed after the November 2010 Transition Town conference at South High School, which featured guest speaker Richard Heinberg of the Post Carbon Institute talking about the challenge of peak oil, climate change and economic instability.

• Transition Longfellow is interested in steps “we can take as individuals and as a community to smooth the inevitable transition from fossil fuels, which will effect how we work, travel, heat our homes and grow our food,” according to its Facebook page.

Goals of the group:

• Educate people about the challenges of global warming and the end of cheap fossil fuels.

• Facilitate the creation of a positive vision of the future, one that values and protects our natural resources as well as all people in our community, regardless of age, ability or income.

• Support individual, business and community change efforts through teaching and learning, sharing and role modeling, support and encouragement.

• Promote available resources to help individuals and businesses reduce their carbon footprint while meeting their needs for food, heat, energy, transportation, etc.

• Gather additional resources to share with the community in order to increase resilience.

Activities:

• Helping Jacob’s Well church with its hard-to-recycle plastics collection effort in the summer when the church was not in session.

• Touring Minnesota’s first green cemetery

• Touring neighborhood fruit and vegetable gardens

• Conducting a presentation at Bethany Lutheran Church about the transition movement. Group members are available to do more of these presentations for churches and other groups.

• Staffing a table at neighborhood events and at the Seward Sustainability Fair

• Holding classes on solar cookers

• Co-facilitating a discussion on transition towns at the Alliance for Sustainability Community Conference

• Petitioning the Minneapolis City Council to develop an energy descent action plan. An energy descent action plan looks at how city services will be impacted by rising fossil fuel prices and then plans for how those services can be delivered in a way that minimizes use of fossil fuel. 

This story printed in the June edition of the Longfellow/Nokomis Messenger.

Attend Keewaydin School groundbreaking June 4

Pool, part of playground to remain where they are now

by Tesha M. Christensen

The community is invited to celebrate the groundbreaking of the Keewaydin School expansion on Monday, June 4, 2012 at 6:30 p.m.

With this $16 million addition, Keewaydin, the upper campus of Lake Nokomis Community School, will double its space.

The program will last about an hour. Following several speakers, Keewaydin and Weenonah students will present their time capsule project, and the seventh and eighth graders will unveil their legacy program.

POOL AND PART OF PLAYGROUND TO REMAIN

The addition will be placed to the south of the existing building, but it will not go as far south as it was initially presented in January. This means that the K-5 playground structure on the west side and the wading pool will remain in place for the foreseeable future.

Given the remaining 20-year lifespan of the pool and the $500,000 tab of replacing it, the steering committee worked hard to reduce the foot plan of the building in order to save it, said Doug Walter, who represented the Nokomis East Neighborhood Association (NENA) on the construction steering committee.

However, it is not yet known whether the pool can be used during the construction project this summer. The pool’s location is about 30 feet from the south edge of the new addition, and will be very close to the construction staging area, stated Walter. A six-to-eight-foot-high fence would need to be erected around it during construction, and to provide a pathway to the pool. Because of its close proximity to the construction area, the pool will need frequent cleaning. The cost to do this work is not yet known, but estimates range from $40,000 to $230,000 to save the pool.

“It is the district’s intent to enable the playground and pool to remain open during construction,” said MPS Capital Planning and Project Development Manager David Richards.

“This will likely be relatively easy with the playground, as it is closer to the street and probably less affected by adjacent construction activities,” Richards added. “A greater tolerance for uncertainty may be necessary regarding keeping the pool open, as Park Board staff will need to evaluate the cumulative effect of construction activities on pool ambiance, pool use, pool maintenance and other operational factors.”

The swings, tot lot and basketball court will be removed, but leaving the K-5 playground equipment and wading pool in place will give the park department time to obtain funds for moving the pool and playground to its own property on the east side of the school.

The parks department has been working with the community to create a new master plan for Keewaydin Park. Following public comment in March, the plan was modified. This updated plan will be presented to the public sometime in July, and then go to the Park Board for approval.

“Prior to school being out for the summer, we will also be conducting a parking capacity analysis to address concerns raised by a few residents about how the change in the park may impact parking in the neighborhood,” said Minneapolis Park Board Planner Jennifer Ringold.

Park staff also plan to solicit input prior to the larger community meeting regarding the types of playground equipment community members would like to see at the park.

One of the ballfields will likely serve as a staging area during the construction project. It will need to be rebuilt afterwards.

DETAILS ON NEW BUILDING

The 42,000-square-foot addition will contain eight new classrooms, a music room, two computer labs, lunch room, kitchen, media center and a full-size gymnasium with 100 seats, pointed out Keewaydin Principal Jane Ellis. The new auditorium will seat over 300 adults in tiered seats.

The entire project is on schedule, noted Ellis.

Bids on the foundation package were due May 31, and will be reviewed by the school board on June 12. Construction will begin 10 days later.

Instead of drilling 90 feet into the ground, the school district has decided to use a Geopier foundation system, according to MSP employee Donald Bielinski. Geopier is a ground improvement method using soil replacement technology to strengthen soft soil with stiff rock columns constructed by heavy equipment crowd and vertical impact ramming that prestrains and prestresses the soil.

The second bid phase will include the rest of the building. Those bids will be approved by the school board in late July/early August.

Richards believes this is a desirable time to solicit bids for a construction project because the construction market has been depressed for so long. “We’re hoping that will enhance competition and interest,” he said.

One of the exciting things about this new addition is that it will not only be great for students, but the community will be able to use it, as well, pointed out Walter. The auditorium, gym, and kitchenette can be accessed by the public from the south side of the building. While there is a community building at Keewaydin Park, it has only a multi-use space and not the full-size gym the addition will include.

At its final meeting in May, the Keewaydin steering committee discussed whether to widen the lobby area between the old and the new sections of the building by two feet in order to create a larger gathering space, noted Walter. In the current plan 18 feet is allocated for the lobby. The desire to widen it has been discussed since the school plan was first unveiled. However, because bids have already been solicited for the foundation part of the construction project, the group decided to leave things are they are, said Walter.

Members also considered whether to erect a motorized partition in the gymnasium now or later. Because the school currently has only one gym teacher, the group decided to hold off spending money on the folding partition now.

The committee also prioritized items it would like to add back onto the plan if bids come in favorably later this summer. Among the items on the list are display cases, signs, benches and floor materials.

“The original goals we started with were the goals we ended with,” Keewaydin Principal Jane Ellis said, adding that the steering committee was a cohesive group throughout the entire planning process.

“It’s been a pleasure to be part of such an amazing group of dedicated parents, MPS staff, and community members,” said steering committee member Jean Hutchinson Legler. “RSP was great to work with. Kudos also to NENA for their support. As a parent and community member, it is awesome to see MPS invest in Lake Nokomis Community School - Keewaydin Campus.”

Walter pointed out that with this project, Minneapolis Public Schools is investing in the first new facility in south Minneapolis in decades. When the project is complete next year, “This area will have one of the nicest middle schools anywhere in south Minneapolis,” said Walter.

The effort of staff and community members was recognized by NENA during its annual meeting in May. It presented the Best of Nokomis Award to Lake Nokomis parents and staff.

“It was very nice to have our parents and staff recognized,” said Ellis.

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Construction steering committee members:

• Tom Davidson, lead engineer,

• Sarah Dutton, Keewaydin Family Liaison, parent

• Jane Ellis, Keewaydin Campus Principal

• Stephen Flisk, Area B Superintendent

• Heather Hall, Keewaydin teacher

• Jean Hutchinson-Legler, parent

• George Jelatis, community member

• Jay Larson, parent

• Matt Lee, parent

• Lorna Wickham-Lewis, Wenonah teacher

• Elizabeth Ness, Wenonah Campus Principal

• Andrew Pritchard, Keewaydin teacher

• David Richards, MPS Facilities

• Jennifer Ringold, Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board

• Gina Rysdon, parent

• Doug Walter, Nokomis East Neighborhood Association

This story printed in the June 2012 edition of the Longfellow/Nokomis Messenger.

Sabo bridge to reopen June 4

by Tesha M. Christensen

Minneapolis hopes to reopen the Martin Olav Sabo Bridge on June 4, 2012, three months after a pair of cables fell onto the bridge deck forcing its closure.

A permanent fix has not yet been identified for the five-year-old bridge, but city officials and engineers believe that with some additional shoring the bridge will be safe for pedestrians and bicyclists.

“It’s really great news,” said Midtown Greenway Executive Director Soren Jensen.

The bridge should be reopen in time for the Greenway Glow, Northern Spark Festival and Urban Assault Ride during the weekend of June 9 to 10. “It’s wonderful timing,” stated Jensen.

Jensen commutes via bicycle from his Longfellow home to the Midtown Greenway office each day. Bike traffic has been picking up, he noted, and the more bicyclists there are at the Hiawatha and 28th Street crossing the more dangerous it becomes. “It’s a challenge as a driver,” he noted. “You have to really crane your neck to look back for bikers [when making a turn].

“The sooner we can get traffic back up on the Sabo Bridge the safer it will be for everyone.”

According to Minneapolis Public Works deputy director Heidi Hamilton, there are several items that need to be done before the bridge can be reopened. First, the temporary shoring now in place needs to be adjusted. Then the tension on the cables attached to the pylon off the backside need to be adjusted. The cables that fell are still lying on the bridge and will need to be removed and secured. Part of this work will be done by city staff and part by contractors.

The measuring devices installed in mid-April to track wind speed, duration of wind and temperature during wind events, as well as stress range movement, amplitude and frequency of cable vibrations experienced by the bridge during wind events have been removed. The city has not yet received either the results of these tests or the metalurgical analysis of the broken plates being done by Lehigh University in Pennsylvania. The information from these two studies will become the basis for the permanent repair plan, which may force a closure of the bridge again in the future.

The city of Minneapolis has spent $420,000 to deal with the bridge failure. Of that, $110,000 has been paid to outside vendors for items such as steel, fencing and shoring; $60,000 to engineering consultants; and $250,000 for internal staff and equipment costs. On top of that, the city and Hennepin County are splitting the $150,000 fee charged by Chicago-based firm Wiss, Janney and Elstner (WJE), which is investigating why the anchor plates holding the cables fractured.

Hamilton pointed out that the city’s attorneys are reviewing what sort of recourse Minneapolis can take, if any, to recoup the costs of dealing with the bridge failure.

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Upcoming bicycle events planned for Bike Walk Week

The Sabo Bridge will reopen just in time for the major events of Bike Walk Week, June 2 to 10, 2012.  For more, see bikewalkweek.org. Weekend highlights include:

GREENWAY GLOW

• Saturday, June 9, 9 p.m. to midnight, Midtown Greenway, Minneapolis

• Registration: $25 before May25/$30 after; raise $75 or more in pledges

This illuminated biking extravaganza will take participants on a brief tour of Northern Spark art installations in the corridor, including a rest stop at the Vine Arts Center and a post-ride party at Intermedia Arts. Glow riders will enjoy free food from Bryant Lake Bowl, and complimentary New Belgium beer. This money will help support the projects and programs of the Midtown Greenway Coalition, which include the Trail Watch safety patrol, Greenspace and Artspace committees, outreach to communities surrounding the Greenway, and working with developers to encourage Greenway-friendly buildings. The ride starts from the area in front of the Midtown Freewheel Bike Center. For more information and to sign up, visit http://www.midtowngreenway.org/GreenwayGlow2012.html

NORTHERN SPARK FESTIVAL

• Dusk on Saturday, June 9 until dawn on Sunday, June 10

• Free to the public

The Northern Spark festival brings artists of all genres together for an entire-night celebration. Masters of interactive media, film, music, performance, comedy, public sculpture, light, DIY technology and more will display their work and engage visitors throughout the city of Minneapolis. See more at http://2012.northernspark.org/

URBAN ASSAULT RIDE

• June 10, 9 a.m., meet at Peace Coffee, 2801 21st Ave. South, Minneapolis

• Register: $30 -60/person; online registration closes June 8 at 4pm

The Urban Assault Ride™ is the biggest Bicycle Obstacle Event series in the nation! Here’s how it works: You and your teammate will set out on a city-wide quest for ‘checkpoints’ on your favorite two-wheeled steeds. At each checkpoint, you’ll drop your bikes and complete a funky/adventurous obstacle course, then remount your bikes and hit the streets for more. For more information and to sign up, visit www.urbanassaultride.com/minneapolis.


This story printed in the June 2012 edition of the Longfellow/Nokomis Messenger.

Cedar Towing on track to move into Longfellow

Settlement reached between Minneapolis and Cedar

by Tesha M. Christensen

It looks like Cedar Towing will be moving in Longfellow after all.

Although the city considered revoking the company’s license to operate earlier this year, an agreement was reached in mid-April that will not only allow Cedar to remain in business but also facilitate its move to 3527 Dight Ave. S.

Cedar Towing co-owner Tom Rodrigue expected to move to the Dight Ave. building at the end of April from the present location at 359 Hoover Street in the University neighborhood. The company had initially planned to move in to the building that formerly housed John’s Welding Service last fall.

“Everything is resolved,” Rodrigue said. “I’m originally from South Minneapolis and I’m glad to be back. I plan to bring a lot to the neighborhood.”

Minneapolis has announced its intention in January 2012 to deny the company’s license to operate because of numerous code violations, including overcharging customers and allowing its own employee to authorize tows from private property.

In the settlement reached between the city and Cedar Towing, Cedar does not admit to any guilt. However, Cedar will pay a $10,000 fine in two installments. If there are any further violations within a two-year period, the city may fine Cedar another $10,000.

The Class A towing license held by Cedar will also be suspended for 30 days sometime before the end of 2012. There are only six towing companies in Minneapolis to hold a Class A towing license, which allows towing companies to tow a car without the owner’s consent as long as the property owner has asked that it be done. Cedar will maintain its Class B towing license, which allows the company to handle tows for people whose vehicles have broken down.

“I think this is a very fair settlement and it adverted a very lengthy hearing process for both sides,” said Minneapolis Licenses Division Manager Grant Wilson.

Cedar Towing is the city’s largest towing company. In 2008, Cedar Towing agreed to pay $1,341 in fines for various violations, some of the same ones the company is accused of repeating in 2011.

Cedar Towing’s business operations include service tows, motor club towing/services, impound towing, jump starts, lock-outs, winching, tire changes and gas fills. Cedar Towing also provides snow plowing services, lot sweeping and a striping service. The business holds an Auto Lien Auction most Tuesdays at 11 a.m. 

This story printed in the May 2012 edition of the Longfellow/Nokomis Messenger.

New bike trail to link Lake Nokomis with Minnesota River

Fat Lorenzo’s owner concerned about safety along Cedar

by Tesha M. Christensen

In a few years, bicyclists will be able to hop on a trail and ride from Lake Nokomis to the Minnesota River.

Portions of the 7-mile Intercity Regional Trail are slated for construction in 2014. Right now, planners are accepting comments on the design.

“The Intercity Regional Trail will expand opportunities for safe recreation and commuting. It will provide convenient, off-street trail connections to the Three Rivers Park District regional trail system via the Nine Mile Creek Regional Trail (which is nearing completion), as well as to the future state trail in the Minnesota River Valley. Trail users also will be able to connect to the Mall of America,” said Jason McGrew-King of the Three Rivers Park District.

The Intercity Regional Trail will begin on the south side of Lake Nokomis, connecting the Minneapolis Ground Rounds trail system to the Minnesota River in Dakota County through the cities of Minneapolis, Richfield, and Bloomington.

Like the other regional trails operated by the Three Rivers Park District, the Intercity Regional Trail will be a paved, multi-use trail surface with mowed grass shoulders, according to McGrew-King. The majority of the 10-foot-wide, asphalt trail parallel existing city streets.

“In Minneapolis, trail users will have good vantage points of Lake Nokomis. Also in Minneapolis, Edward Solomon Park offers natural areas and opportunities for passive recreation,” McGrew-King pointed out. “Taft Park in Richfield offers a great deal of recreational opportunities, and Taft Lake will be undergoing significant water quality improvements. In Bloomington, the trail also will travel near Wright’s Lake Park. Further south, the trail will provide views of the Minnesota River Valley.”

In some areas, the trail will travel through an urban environment and will provide access to employment centers, shopping and restaurants, and will offer connections to mass transit, McGrew-King added.

There will be rest stops every mile.

FEDERAL FUNDS WILL HELP PAY FOR CONSTRUCTION

Most of the trail is not yet constructed, although there are a few pieces already in place. Work will begin on 3.8 miles between Lake Nokomis and the Mall of America in 2014, courtesy of a Federal Surface Transportation Program grant in the amount of $5.5 million.

The trail segment between the Mall of America and Minnesota River will be constructed as resources are available and when the Minnesota Valley State Trail or a feasible and acceptable crossing of Long Meadow Pond is complete.

It will cost $348,000 for the portion of the trail in Minneapolis, which includes not only the cost of the trail but also that of modifying Old Cedar and Edgewater Blvd. The total project will cost an estimated $8,994,000, of which $630,000 is for right-of-way; the majority of this tab will be paid by federal funds. The annual cost of maintenance for the new section of trail will be about $817, and will come out of the Minneapolis Parks and Recreation budget.

The bill did look larger for Minneapolis in the initial planning process, when it was proposed to replace the pedestrian bridge on Cedar to minimize vehicular conflicts and limit right-of-way. That option is no longer on the table.

CHANGES AT EDGEWATER AND OLD CEDAR

Changes in the area will affect how traffic moves. To make the trail crossing shorter, Edgewater Blvd. will be narrowed at the Cedar Ave. intersection to minimize the distance trail users will need to cross the street and better define the roadway intersection for motorists.

 The entrance to Old Cedar Avenue from Cedar Avenue southbound will be reconfigured and will include a longer deceleration lane. Old Cedar Avenue will remain one-way southbound until 58th Street E. Old Cedar will be narrowed and one lane of parking removed. This will create separate walking and trail facilities, and include a 4-foot grass boulevard between the trail and sidewalk, adequate space for snow storage and space for loading/unloading of parked vehicles on Cedar Avenue.

NEIGHBORHOOD CONCERNS

Fat Lorenzo’s owner Scott Siegel is skeptical that these changes will make the area safe enough for bicyclists. “I don’t know why you’d want to put a bike on Cedar,” he said. “I look at Cedar as a freeway. People drive fast around here.”

Instead, Siegel thinks the trail should go down 16th Ave. S.

Siegel pointed out that Edgewater is a busy, uncontrolled intersection, one at which he already sees bicyclists injured at on a regular basis. ‘The reality is they’re not going to stop the cars,” Siegel said. He has advocated for turning Edgewater into a cul-de-sac to help solve some of the traffic woes. Siegel wishes that the parks department will convert the open space between Edgewater and the Lake Nokomis Parkway into a parking lot.

He noted that people use Old Cedar and Edgewater more than the parkway, both for travel and parking. Siegel is concerned about removing one lane of parking on Old Cedar, pointing out it will not only affect his customers and attendees at Hope Lutheran Church, but also those who use the existing trails around Lake Nokomis.

As proposed, the trail will mean that half the sidewalk in front of his door will be taken away. Access into his business and space for outdoor seating is a major concern for Siegel.

He’s hoping for another neighborhood meeting at which to address his concerns, and those he’s heard from other residents. “I don’t think there’s a lot of neighborhood support,” Siegel stated.

COMMENT ON THE PLAN

The public has the opportunity to provide comments from April 2 through May 1; written comments may be submitted by e-mail to ICRT@ThreeRiversParkDistrict.org, by fax to 763-557-5248, or by mail to: Three Rivers Park District, Intercity Regional Trail, 3000 Xenium Lane N., Plymouth, MN 55441. Final trail design is expected to begin in late fall or early winter.

This story printed in the May 2012 edition of the Longfellow/Nokomis Messenger.

Trail Watch riders keep Greenway safe

Volunteers report suspicious behavior, help fix flat tires, and provide a friendly presence on the trail

by Tesha M. Christensen

Trail Watch riders help keep the Midtown Greenway safe every night of the week.

Traveling in groups of three or more, the riders act as extra eyes and ears for law enforcement by observing and reporting suspicious behavior or unsafe conditions. Trail Watchers do not intervene in incidents they come across in the Greenway; rather they’re a friendly presence on the trail and report criminal or intimidating behaviors that are noticed during the shift to police.

The program began as an offshoot of the Minneapolis bicycle forum mplsbikelove.com in response the number of assaults and robberies on the Greenway that had happened in the fall of 2008. People talking together on the forum organized a citizen’s patrol. In 2009, the Midtown Greenway Coalition took over the program and formalized it. There are similar programs in cities such as New York, Portland and Anchorage.

FIGHTING PERCEPTION THE TRENCH ISN’T SAFE

Andrew Paule is a single dad with a daughter who uses the Greenway as a basic route from Uptown to the River Road. He joined the bike-mounted safety patrol because he thought it would make her safer, as well as other riders.

“The goal of the program has always been to make the riders on the Greenway feel safer,” said Paule, who leads rides on Fridays and Saturdays. “A perception existed that the Greenway was unsafe at night, and even though it is much safer to ride it than city streets, many people avoided it. Plus, the ‘trench’ (between 28th St. and Hennepin) is down, away from others, and can be eerie at night alone for some.”

“It’s important to know that crime against bikers and others is rare in the Greenway,” pointed out Midtown Greenway Coalition Executive Director and Longfellow resident Soren Jensen. “In fact, the Greenway is one of the safest places to ride a bike.” 

But like other places in the city, crime does exist, and Trail Watch riders help prevent it by their presence.

“I think we have had an impact,” Paule noted. “Crime is down on the Greenway significantly. We had zero incidents between 6 a.m. and 11 p.m. for two years.”

There was a small crime wave this winter of two to three incidents near the 12th Ave. bridge. Trail Watch riders responded by patrolling that area more frequently, particularly during the time the incidents were occurring.

Gabriel Hoffman, the Seward representative on the coalition board, heads up the Midtown Greenway Coalition’s Trail Watch program and is the Thursday night ride leader. “I have come across the aftermath of several situations,“ he said. “We provide what help we can, and call 911, but most nights it is pretty quiet out there.  I keep my eyes open when I’m down there, but I’ve never had a problem, nor been in an uncomfortable situation.”

The Midtown Greenway Coalition encourages people to ride in pairs after dark when possible, and is launching a “buddy up” program this year.

“While Trail Watch will always be our #1 crime prevention program, the coalition has also recently started a Crime Prevention Task Force to look at more things we can do to help prevent crime, from working on more lighting and cameras, to hiring private security patrols,” said Jensen.

WHAT IS A RIDE LIKE?

Trail Watch riders set off nightly at around dusk from the Midtown building entry on 10th Ave., acknowledging that people using the Greenway tend to get uneasy around that time of day. They put on their vests and notify police dispatch that they’re heading out. Then they begin traversing the trail between Lake Calhoun and the Metrodome.

“For the first couple of hours after dark there are still a lot of riders out and we believe that many know who we are and feel safer because of it,” said Paule. “The police also know who we are now, and respond better. The dispatchers in particular know where we are now, and get cars out quickly.”

All rides carry a basic mechanical kit (fixing flats, broken chains, etc.) and will help people who are not able to fix their bikes. Trail Watch riders also sweep glass and pick up trash (especially glass bottles) to help out.

Each night the rides strike a different pace and tone.

“Friday night ride is a fast ride and we tend to do a lot of ‘up top’ riding,” said Paule. “We have had problems with people tossing rocks off of bridges, and problems with people hanging out on the Greenway. Being at street level allows us to peer down and see what is going on. The people who cause the problem spots know that we are out and looking for them and not simply riding along the Greenway.”  

Saturday tends to be the “pass out lights” ride. Paule and another rider buy lights and distribute them to people riding without. “It helps keep all of us safer,” he said.

Wednesdays used to be the WOW (Women Ride on Wednesdays) ride. In the winter, there’s hot cocoa on Sundays.

“The riders tend to know each other pretty well,” pointed out Paule, and each ride is a social event for those involved.

Just as there are more riders out on the Greenway during nice weather, so there are more Trail Watch volunteers during those months. “Biking is very seasonal for many people,” observed Paule. “They ride a lot during the spring, some in the summer (it’s hot) and basically stop for the fall and winter.  It’s like gyms - you can’t find a parking spot in early January, but you can use any weight station or machine you want in late summer at any time.  

“But, 30 years ago there were maybe a dozen people who rode in the winter. Now there are thousands, and every year more people are doing it. So we are getting more people out year round for Trail Watch.”

Some Trail Watch volunteers come out for several rides a week; others show up once a year. “It’s a volunteer thing and we view showing up even for an hour as a good thing,” noted Paule.

There is an incentive program for Trail Watch riders courtesy of local businesses. Bryant-Lane Bowl, Common Roots Cafe, Galactic Pizza, Pizza Luce provide free food once a month. Additionally, riders who participate in six or more rides in a quarter get a 10% discount on in-stock parts and accessories and a 5% discount on bikes at Free Wheel Bike, as well as maintenance and tune-ups from Bikes and Pieces. Wells Fargo donated $1,000 to continue development of the program.

Learn more at http://www.midtowngreenway.org. Or, email trailwatch@midtowngreenway.org.

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Q & A With Trail Watch Organizer Gabriel Hoffman

• What is the goal of the program? 

    “To keep the Midtown Greenway safe.  The trail is, in fact, a lot safer than the surrounding streets, and we want to keep it that way.”

• What's a typical night like on the Greenway?

“On a good night, where there are no incidents, it's just a fun ride with a bunch of friends.  And fortunately, most nights are good nights.”

• What sort of situations have you come across?

“Most nights, it is pretty quiet.  We sometimes get rocks being thrown off of bridges, and with some frequency we have to deal with people passed out drunk under one or another of the bridges.  On very rare occasions, we come upon the victim of a mugging (personally, I've only seen this once).  Then there are the occasional odd ones -- we had a person fall off one of the bridges and break his leg.  Most of the time, if we see anything, it is groups of young men who seem to be setting up for an attack, at which point we call it in and wait for the police from a safe distance away.” 

• What does a ride with the Trail Watchers look like?

“Rides last about two hours, and the mileage depends a lot on who shows up, and what happens while we are on the ride.  The most I've ever done in one night was about 25 miles, and the least (on a night with multiple events) was about 10.” 

This story printed in the May 2012 edition of the Longfellow/Nokomis Messenger.

Sabo Bridge may reopen soon

Minneapolis considers opening the bridge back up before a permanent repair is completed.

by Tesha M. Christensen

The Martin Olav Sabo Bridge may soon open back up to pedestrian and bike traffic.

Experts are investigating whether Minnesota’s only cable-stayed suspension  bridge could be opened to users before a permanent fix is made, according to Minneapolis Public Works deputy director Heidi Hamilton.

The five-year-old bridge has been closed since Feb. 19, 2012 when a pair of cables was found lying on the bridge deck. The Chicago-based firm Wiss, Janney and Elstner (WJE) is currently investigating why the anchor plates holding the cables fractured. Minneapolis and Hennepin County are splitting the $150,000 fee.

In order to reopen the Sabo Bridge, one major question needs to be answered. “We need to know if the shoring in place is adequate to support a live load of bicyclists and pedestrians,” said Hamilton. The original design engineering firm, URS, will answer that question in early May.

Meanwhile, the search for answers as to why the anchor plates fractured continues. Several instruments were installed by city workers and WJE staff the week of April 16 that will provide experts with important data about how the bridge handles weather and wind conditions.

According to Minneapolis Bridge Engineer Jack Yunza, anemometers were installed to track wind speed, duration of wind and temperature during wind events. Strain gauges, displacement transducers and accelerometers will provide actual stress range movement, amplitude and frequency of cable vibrations experienced by the bridge during wind events. These instruments will be monitored 24 hours a day.

Together, these two pieces of data will be correlated to provide a complete picture of what’s happening to the bridge in all kinds of weather, explained Yunza.

The data from these instruments will then be reviewed alongside the report of why the plates broke. The metalurgical analysis of the broken plates is being done by Lehigh University in Pennsylvania.

Yunza stated, “The the information gathered will become the basis for the repair plan.”

This story printed in the May edition of the Longfellow/Nokomis Messenger.

Safe pedestrian crossings goal of Hiawatha Avenue project

Minnehaha-Hiawatha Community Works focuses on pedestrian/bicyclist safety at 32nd St., 38th St. and 46th St.

by Tesha M. Christensen

Frustrated crossing Hiawatha Avenue either on foot or on bike? You’re not alone.

After learning this is a safety concern of local residents, Minneahaha-Hiawatha Community Works (MHCW) began working to do something about it.

The plan is to target three intersections: 32nd St., 38th St., and 46th St. A number of changes will be made, according to Robb Luckow of Community Works.

The timing of lights will be adjusted so that people have more time to cross the wide street. Federal standards have recently changed, and these new recommendations will be followed. This project will tie into the traffic signal changes that will be done this year to help traffic flow better.

The area between the north and south lane will be widened so that those who haven’t had time to cross will have enough space to safely wait for the next opportunity.

Bump-outs will be added to not only make motorists more visibly aware of pedestrians and bicyclists, but also to narrow the width of the crossings so that it doesn’t take as long.

Several of the crosswalks are crooked; these will be straightened out and widened. The intersections will also be upgraded to meet standards set by the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).

Luckow acknowledged that often people aren’t using the intersections to get to the light rail transit stations, particularly at the 46th Street station where the station is located north of the intersection. The hope is that when the intersection is improved, people will walk down there to cross because it will be much safer and more convenient.

“Biking on Hiawatha is not a pleasant experience not only from the high speed traffic, but the way cars stop and enter from the side streets,” observed DeWayne Townsend, co-chair of the Longfellow Community Council Environment and Transportation Committee.  “Cars block bike lanes by pulling out to far and turn without looking for bikes.” He added that all the intersections are dangerous because of the high traffic on Hiawatha but he thinks the higher bike and pedestrian usage at the LRT stops make 38th and 46th the most likely to have an accident.

“Anything that improves pedestrian use and safety is a good thing,” observed Longfellow Community Council (LCC) Executive Director Melanie Majors. She noted that the biggest complaint she hears from residents is the traffic timing at the lights on Hiawatha.

Townsend believes that when the timing on the lights is changed, it will cut down on folks crossing against the light because they are tired of waiting.

“If the changes bring about the improvements that are expected it will significantly improve transportation in and out of the community,” Townsend stated.

The success of commercial and residential development is closely tied to whether people can get around by bike, car or foot, Majors pointed out. If people can’t access an area, they won’t go there. She applauded the county for pre-planning rather than treating pedestrian improvements as an afterthought, especially in light of the pedestrian safety concerns that will come this year with the new commercial/residential development on the southeast side of the 38th/Hiawatha intersection.

“Hennepin County is essentially heading those off by moving on the pedestrian improvements,” Majors said.

In mid-March, Hennepin County, Longfellow Community Council, the Corcoran Neighborhood Organization, and Standish-Ericsson Neighborhood Association hosted three open houses to talk about recommendations to improve pedestrian crossings along Hiawatha Avenue.

The next step for Community Works is to identify potential funding sources to implement this project. According to Luckow, the total cost will be $500,000.

Once the funds are obtained, the work will begin.

WHAT IS COMMUNITY WORKS?

A project of Hennepin County, Minnehaha-Hiawatha Community Works collaborates closely with the city of Minneapolis, Met Transit and the Minnesota Department of Transportation -- all the entities that have jurisdiction along Hiawatha. “It’s a nice partnership between these four organizations,” Luckow stated.

The pedestrian improvement project is one of 16 projects laid out in the MHCW Strategic Investment Framework that was recently adopted by the Hennepin County Board of Commissioners. These infrastructure investments aim to:

•  Improve the ability to walk, bike, drive, and travel to and through the corridor;

• Support business vitality and job creation;

• Create a diverse set of housing, commercial, and employment opportunities to serve the community;

• Enhance the sense of community while honoring its history; and,

• Promote environmental sustainability.

There are several positions open on the steering committee, which will oversee implementation of these projects. For more information, contact Robb Luckow at 612.348.9344 or Robb.luckow@co.hennepin.mn.us.

The project area includes 28th Street south to Minneahaha Creek. The three intersections where changes will be made to improve pedestrian safety were identified as the top priority by residents at a variety of meetings over several years. Input was gathered at the Midtown Farmer’s Market, LCC annual meeting, Longfellow corn feed, light rail stations, door-to-door, and via the web site.

“People are looking forward to the opportunity to make changes in the area,” stated Luckow.

 This story printed in the April edition of the Longfellow/Nokomis Messenger.

Keewaydin playground location set

New equipment and pool will go to the southeast of park building

by Tesha M. Christensen

Although the parks department doesn’t yet know when the playground will be replaced at Keewaydin Park, it does know where it will be located.

After a community meeting in March, the decision was made to position the playground and pool to the east of the park building, on land that once housed tennis courts.

The playground equipment will be displaced by the expansion of Keewaydin School. The groundbreaking on a $16 million addition that will double the size of Keewaydin School will be held in June; work is expected to be underway by the third week of June and continue for one year. At that time, part of the existing playground will be off limits.

“The K-12 play structure and wading pool will be open for use throughout and after construction,” noted Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board Project Manager Deborah Bartels.  “The pre-K structure, the swings, and the Galaxy spinners will be removed to facilitate construction.”

Since a design of the school expansion was first released to the public in January, the school district has continued to modify the footprint. “There has been a concentrated effort to compact the building so there would be more play space to the southern end,” observed Doug Walters of the Nokomis East Neighborhood Association who serves on the school construction steering committee.

This not only lowers the construction cost of the school building, but also may allow the pool to remain where it is until the parks department is able to set aside funds for its replacement, he said.

In the first expansion design, the addition was located on top of the existing playground and pool. It will no longer extend that far south.

TWO CONCEPTS PRESENTED

At the March community park meeting, attendees evaluated two concept plans. Concept one included one ball field, two soccer fields, two tennis court, and a playground/pool area where on ball field is currently located on the southwest side of the park property.

While this would position the playground close to the school, some residents were concerned about policing as the area would be difficult to see from the street, noted Bartels.

This would place the playground and pool near the school loading dock and garbage area, as well as next to a large gymnasium wall without windows, pointed out Walters. Additionally, the soil in this area is peat, and in order to put a playground there better soil would need to be hauled in, upping the cost of the project. In the past, this area was a swamp and a dump. The school will need to drive pilings in 90 feet in order to construct its addition in the area.

A representative from the Minnehaha Falls Athletic Club (MFAC) told attendees that their biggest need is for ball fields for youth games. “There are no other baseball diamonds in our area,” said Walters. “They are all booked.” The diamonds at Bossen Field are heavily used by adult leagues that pay rental for the fields.

With that knowledge, participants favored concept two, which retains two under-12 ball fields and two soccer fields.

The other big difference between concept one and two was the inclusion of tennis courts in concept one. However, given that there are new courts at 15th Avenue and Minnehaha Parkway, as well as at Lake Hiawatha Park and Lake Nokomis Park, the tennis courts were given a lower priority, according to Walters.

The concept favored by attendees locates the playground and pool in the southeast corner of the park land, in an area that has been open space since the tennis courts were removed in 2007 because they were in poor condition.

However, community members thought that the playground/pool concept number two as presented was too “formal” and instead preferred the “ambiguous” and “organic” design of concept one, stated Walters.

Bartels is currently working to revise concept two. It will be presented to neighborhood residents at another community meeting; a date has not yet been set for this meeting. “The full extent of the improvements that will be presented in the plan will be determined at the next meeting,” stated Bartels. “We know that a wading pool and playgrounds will be included in the plan.”

The parks department hopes to present the revised plan for Keewaydin Park to the Parks and Recreation Board in May for approval.

COST AND TIMING

After the final design has been approved, the parks department will solicit cost estimates. Then it will begin looking for funding sources. Because the school project was approved last November, the parks department was not able to work these changes into its budget. A new wading pool/splash pad will cost about $500,000, and a new playground about $300,000. It could cost $200,000 to fix the drainage issues on the athletic fields. The parks department has budgeted $500,000 total to split between the service area of Morris, McRea, and Pearl in 2013.

Once funding is identified, the parks department will determine when the equipment will be installed. “There is a push to get the playground open by fall,” said Walters.

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Concept 1 – Central playground with SE tennis courts

PROS

• Playgrounds located closer to school for use by students.

• Parents can easily observe three play containers from a single vantage point.

•Wading pool is near rec center for bathrooms and supervision.

• Tennis courts fill void in geographic distribution in SE metro.

• Tennis courts provide recreational activity for a different age group.

CONS

• Loss of one additional ball field.

• No buffer between fields and playground – possible safety issues.

• Possible expensive and extensive soil corrections required for pool and playgrounds.

• Policing: centrally located playgrounds behind buildings are less visible from the street.

• Retaining walls needed – athletic field grades are three feet lower than rec center.

Concept 2 – SE playground with athletic field

PROS

• Playground buffered from athletic fields by trees and topography

• No fields lost – 2 ballfields and 2 soccer fields

• Policing: area is very visible from the street

• Soils are good; construction less expensive.

CONS

• Distance of playground from school

• Distance between Pre-K structure and K-12 structure will make parental observation more difficult.

•  Wading pool distance from building; supervision more difficult

• No tennis courts

• Close to street:  fencing needed at perimeter of playground to meet current playground safety standards.

This story printed in the April 2012 edition of the Longfellow/Nokomis Messenger.