Thank you to all who contacted St. Paul City Council members, asking them to make certain any changes to the Parkland Dedication ordinance went through a comprehensive public process before approval. The item was pulled from the City Council’s November 4 agenda when it became clear that the proposed resolution had not undergone adequate review.
Speaking on behalf of parks, trails, and open space takes time and commitment. We couldn’t do this very important work without you. Please consider a membership or special donation today, during our Fall Membership Drive.
In keeping with our mission, this year:
- We worked to ensure that parks and trails are receiving land and/or money when development and redevelopment occurs, via the Parkland Dedication ordinance.
- Our Annual Tree Sale helped us add to the cumulative total of over 7,000 trees we have donated to Ramsey County.
- We sat on several advisory groups including the Dickerman Park Design Advisory Committee, Grand Round Community Advisory Committee, Victoria Park Citizen Advisory Committee, the Ford Site Planning Task Force, and Active Living Ramsey Communities.
- We spoke on behalf of Swede Hollow Park and Bruce Vento Nature Sanctuary and the importance of not using parks and trails as transit corridors. On this topic, The Friends were quoted in a recent Star Tribune article about the Rush Line transit project.
These issues are currently part of our ongoing efforts:
- To ensure the Critical Area Plan for the Mississippi River Corridor moves forward and is implemented in the best way possible to protect this valuable asset and maximize the public’s access and enjoyment of it.
- To ensure that areas such as the Ford Site, Lilydale Regional Park, the Green Line, and Rice Creek Commons, and any other areas where parks, trails, and open space need protection and advocacy, receive it.
- To respond to any issues that emerge regarding our parks, trails, and open spaces.
We also work to plant trees in our community. One way to help is by giving a Tribute Tree, to honor someone with a tree planted in a local park, not just in St. Paul and Ramsey County but in over 20 cities in the metro area. Visit our website www.FriendsoftheParks.org for more information. A Tribute Tree makes a wonderful living, environmentally-friendly gift for the Holidays, or anytime, really.
This past year, we updated our website and added Facebook and LinkedIn pages, too. We held our Annual Tree Sale last spring, another way to encourage planting trees and shrubs in our neighborhoods. Visit our website after the first of the year to see what our locally-grown offerings will be for our 2016 sale. You can buy some for your own yard, or donate trees to a park.
Thank you for your continued support.
