Community Greenspace at Hiawatha School and Hiawatha School Park

Our community began working with this shared land space in 2000 with the building of a new fully accessible play ground area. We continue the process of engagement and cooperation between the Minneapolis Public Schools, the Minneapolis Park Board, and community residents to get our Community Green Space Plan into action.

Accomplishments 2000 - 2005:
We have been working to preserve and maintain the small grove of trees through the adopt-a-park program.

Hiawatha k-5 School green programs include: outdoor classroom plantings, seed and seedling starting indoor activities, annual plant sale, and neighborhood garden tours.

Full Community Green Space Plan at Hiawatha:

1) The space design would follow the Mississippi River theme used in the new playgrounds and provide real examples of the diversity of our river ecosystem.

2) We would strive to use native plants and grasses with low to no maintainance needs.

3) The space would be intergenerational and accessible by stroller, wheelchair, and walker. Activities and workshops could be available for all generations to enjoy. We will work closely with Hiawatha School and the Park to help develop curriculum suitable for outdoor classroom.

4) We will consult professionals when necessary to verify our efforts as they unfold (such things as proper drainage, effective lighting, sensible tree and plant selections)

5) The Primary Goal of the Green Space is the process of developing community relationships. As we assess the resources available to begin this project we realize that the people in our community are our greatest resource. Our goal is to excite every one of those resources into action.

Some reasons for creating Community Green space:

1) Engaging and re-connecting with Nature - Children and adults (especially in urban areas) can be disconnected from our environment and the affect our choices have on our natural systems. Having a Green Space can help us get back in touch with the Natural world and give us intimate experience and living examples of our human imprint on the environment.

2) Green Space is integral to the physical and emotional well being of our human community. Common knowlege in health care is that connecting with Nature is one of the only two immediate remedies to relieve depression, one of the biggest concerns in our modern lives. The other remedy is crying.

3) Green Space connects us to each other. Every individual in our Community will have SOMETHING to offer, from sharing plant cuttings to sharing stories. Even area businesses will find areas to contribute something. We will get to know each other, and what each other’s gifts are. Knowing and sharing creates safe communities.

4) Act locally, think globally becomes real as we participate in the healing of our Earth’s ecosystems. The Earth is an ecosystem that supports human life. We need to understand that and give our children the understanding. Trees are the lungs of the Earth and essential for human life. Worms eat our garbage and give us rich soil in return. We need to remember this and contribute to the health of the Earth.

Desires for the space include:

Gazebo for a gathering/teaching space
Water element/play area
Honoring Neighbors - spaces or structures to honor Sally Nielsen and Bob Fernlund, two of our community members whose lives and deaths have taught us many things about community.
Composting and Sustainability - we are committed to a chemical and herbicide free environment for the safety of the children and wildlife we hope to attract. Also, by planting natives and species appropriate to the area, we will have a drought tolerant and manageable Green Space.
Library Resource Center for all of our community members to use.
Volunteerism - we have already proven the long term commitments to maintain the space through the adopt-a-park program.
Funding - We have engaged community resources, plant exchange programs, and volunteerism. There are grants and other monies available as well.

With Green Space the Process is the Goal! It’s never done, ever changing, evolving, and an organism in itself.