Welcome to the Citizens for a Loring Park Community!
Mission; To cultivate continuing leadership and help a diverse neighborhood realize a more harmonious, thriving, and beautiful community.
CLPC Events & Updates
Business Passport: Support businesses in Loring Park and Stevens Square
Support local restaurants in Stevens Square and Loring Park by picking up a restaurant passport and visiting businesses in our neighborhoods!
How It Works:
- Pick up a passport for FREE from Boiler Room Coffee, Lulu’s Ethiovegan, Franklin Pizza, Sonora Grill, or Muffin Top Cafe!
- Loring Park Residents ~ Pick up your Business Passport at Sonora Grill on the 1400 block of Nicollet &/or at Muffin Top Cafe!
- Show your passport at a participating restaurant to take advantage of the listed deal in the booklet at your next visit.
- Get your passport stamped at a participating restaurant!
- Collect 6 stamps (at least 2 from each neighborhood) and you will be entered to win a prize!
This project was funded by a city grant which allowed SSCO & CLPC to promote our businesses by developing this Passport and to restart the Franklin/Nicollet Farmers’ Market.
Update on Berger Fountain Restoration
The Berger Fountain Restoration Projecr and new Plaza passed thru Minneapolis Plan Review the week of August 17th. We are moving into Construction!
The Project Budget is $2.95M and we have secured $2.8M. On Monday, August 17th Commissioner Jason Garcia and MPRB Planning Director Michael Schroeder met with the Berger Funding Workgroup. They approved that we could move ahead while we continue to raise the remaining amount of funds needed.
Fall 2027 – MPRB staff will finalize Construction Documents and Finalize Bid Packet
Mid January 2027 – Bids packets will be released
March 2027 – A winning bid will be selected, reviewed by the Civil Rights Department, and then forwarded to Minneapolis Parks & Recreation Board for approval.
Contracting will follow. We are projecting a Spring 2027 Groundbreaking, followed by Construction.
This Fall and during the restoration the Berger Fountain Task Force will start up discussions on an Artistic Winter Cover and our past project with Dunwoody students.
Check out the incredible submissions from our design competition below! These submissions were from a Project that the Berger Task Force had with Dunwoody College a few years ago.
Learn about our Berger Fountain Restoration Project!
In 2021, Friends of Loring Park and Citizens for a Loring Park Community, as part of the Berger Fountain Committee, contracted with premier landscape architectural firm Damon-Farber to do a pre-design study to rehabilitate Berger (Dandelion) Fountain. This Minneapolis icon needs help.
Learn more about the project and how to help here.
Look for updates about Berger Fountain here..
Text BERGER. to 53-555 to donate.
Don't forget to ask your employer if they offer an employee match to double your donation!
Hennepin Lyndale Corridor Plantings
You will notice that maintenance on the Corridor Landscaping has begun! Green Minneapolis who has taken on Project Management of this corridor change their organizational focus to one of advocacy at the end of 2023. Coalition members are discussing the need for a permanent Project Management replacement but in the interim CLPC has signed the contract with the Landscape Company and resident John Van Heel/co-chair of the project is volunteering oversight of the contract.
Contributors to the contract are: The Basilica of Saint Mary, Lowry Hill Neighborhood, Individuals supporting the Douglas Urn, Loring Corners, Inc, St Mark’s Cathedral, Hennepin Ave United Methodist Church, Walker Art Center, and 510 Groveland.
We will also be partnering with the Minneapolis Solid Waste & Recycling Department to establish some Trash Containers on the corridor through the Fall.
Upcoming Community Events & Engagement
CENTER FOR PEOPLE AND CRAFT gathers people across cultures and generations to share and practice living folk traditions—nurturing belonging and sustaining rich, connected lives in the city. The Center celebrates the cultural diversity of our city and the many traditions that thrive here—from craft, ritual, and music to dance, storytelling, and foraging.
In celebration of their first birthday, the Center is hosting a MONEY HONEY Fundraiser on Sept. 12 and a FREE public birthday party on Sept 13.
Upcoming classes include Urban Forage + Lunch, Hex Weave Basketry, Spooncarving for All, and Natural Cordage. In addition to classes, the Center hosts Open Craft Nights, Old Time Music Jams, and Artist Residencies. This Arts & Culture Vibrant Storefront is funded, in part, by the City of Minneapolis Arts & Cultural Affairs Department.
More info on thier current classes and free monthly events at peopleandcraft.org.
MODE Festival Coming to Loring Park
MODE Festival is a three-day photography festival produced by Flickr. The event includes photography workshops, keynote speakers, exhibitions, photo walks, demonstrations, screenings, networking opportunities, live music performances, concerts, and outdoor activations throughout downtown Minneapolis. The festival is designed as a multi-venue indoor/outdoor experience for photographers and creators. The Loring Park venue would involve classes during the day with musical performances in the evening.
Around 10,000 participants per day is the expected capacity of the event.
Dates and Times: September 18–20, 2026. Preliminary setup would begin September 12th with actual infrastructure arriving onsite days before the event. Teardown could be completed within a couple days of the event concluding.
Will a percentage of fees come back to the Park for repairs needed following the event?
A walk through prior to setup and post event will take place to review any potential damage that may have occurred in the park. Damage fees would be billed directly to the organizer post event.
Will streets be closed?
No streets will be closed for the event, however, parking meters may be utilized and posted “no parking”.
What permits are needed?
The event organizers are working with the MPRB and City of Minneapolis on Special Event Permits and additional approvals related to amplified sound, alcohol service, temporary structures, food vendors, and street impacts. There will be a fenced area that will remain open to pathways users until the evening when the shows begin.
Will there be alcohol?
Yes. There will be beer and wine onsite and a VIP experience that include complimentary drinks. Alcohol service will only be allowed in designated festival areas.
What will the Park process be for this?
Loring Park is proposed as an event venue, the standard Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board event permitting and review process applies. This would include review and approval of site plans, operations, safety measures, impacts to park users, and post-event restoration plans.
How are you notifying people living adjacent to the park?
Neighborhood notifications and community outreach plans are being developed. All residents within an impacted area will be notified directly.
Additional Notes:
- MODE Festival is a downtown Minneapolis event utilizing multiple venues rather than a single location.
- The event includes concerts and live music performances.
- Artists and final details are still being finalized.
Watch Past CLPC Events
Community Meetings & Updates:
CLPC Board of Directors Meeting
The CLPC Board will meet on Monday, September 14 at 6:30 PM at Loring Park. Topics include:
- Data Center Discussion
- Fall Tree Tours at Loring Park
- Berger Fountain Updates
The CLPC Board will be proposing to reprogram unused NRP Phase 2 funds at its September Board Meeting. Here is the language on the agenda:
“Reallocate $25,000 to the following strategies: (1) $20,000 to Phase II strategy, CLPC Staff, and (2) $5,000 to Phase II strategy, CLPC Outreach. The funds are reallocated from: (1) $25,000 from Phase II strategy, Residential Property 2% Loan Program.”
This program was proposed to be a 2:1 match to city funds; the amount was not used. There are no longer nonprofit vendors doing these programs for neighborhoods with the city for a program for residential housing.
Nicollet Safety Coalition
Join us on the 2nd Thursday of the month from 10:30 a.m. – 12:00 p.m., online. We are looking for one representative per building; email CLPC if interested.
Berger Fountain Task Force Meeting
Join us on the third Monday of the month at 5:30 p.m. Task Force meetings are held in person at the Loring Park Community Center. Find our Berger Fountain Facebook page and tell us why you love this Dandelion Fountain; share a story with us.
Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board Budget Update
“At the heart of this budget is a simple responsibility: We are stewards of something that belongs to the people of Minneapolis,” said Bangoura. “We have inherited a remarkable park and recreation system, and the decisions we make today will determine the strength, quality, and accessibility of that system for generations to come.”
The Superintendent’s Recommended 2027-28 Budget is the second developed under MPRB’s new two-year budget process, the first was 2026-27. When adopted in December, the MPRB’s 2027 Annual Budget will be appropriated and the 2028 budget plan will be established, with time for further analysis and refinement during 2027.
The recommended 2027 budget includes a 5.86 percent tax levy increase, which amounts to about 1.02 percent of the overall Minneapolis property
“These are difficult decisions,” said Bangoura. “Our responsibility is to be honest about what it costs to provide the level of service our residents expect, while at the same time being disciplined and responsible with public resources.”
MPRB continues to rely heavily on property tax revenue to maintain park and recreation services, care for park assets and natural areas, invest in youth and employees, and support equitable access to Minneapolis parks. Over the last 10 years we have gone up 63% with the city going up 104.%
The Superintendent’s Recommended 2027-28 Budget continues implementation of revenue opportunities identified in 2026 while introducing additional strategies to strengthen MPRB’s long-term financial sustainability. These include a credit-card fee pass-through beginning in 2027, expanded sponsorship efforts planned for 2028 and continued exploration of opportunities such as mobile taphouse and billboard advertising. This is part of an ongoing initiative to reduce reliance on property tax revenue. The recommended budget also evaluates vacant positions to determine whether they continue to meet critical organizational needs, can be repurposed or should be eliminated.
The Superintendent’s Recommended 2027-28 Budget marks the 11th year of the 20-Year Neighborhood Park Plan, or NPP20. Established in 2016, NPP20 uses a criteria-based system to guide capital and rehabilitation investments in neighborhood parks. The recommended budget includes $4.8 million in General Fund property tax levy support for NPP20 operating, maintenance and repairs funding costs and $13.6 million in 2027 for neighborhood park rehabilitation and capital investments.
The 2027-28 budget supports increased public use and activation of North Commons and Upper Harbor parks and additional service needs associated with new and improved amenities, athletic fields and the Southwest Light Rail station. Investments are proposed across park maintenance, recreation, safety, environmental stewardship and
The recommended budget funds initiatives that begin the implementation of the 2027-2030 Strategic Directions, Performance Goals and Priority Comprehensive Plan Strategies adopted by the Board in July 2026. These priorities guide annual budgets, budget actions and work plans and support implementation of the Parks for All Comprehensive Plan. The budget emphasizes caring for park amenities and infrastructure, protecting natural resources and investing in the employees who provide park and recreation services.
Strategic Direction A – Leading through Climate Action
The Board is committed to leading through climate action by integrating climate into planning, policy, and capital decisions; creating a climate-forward approach to land management; and positioning parks as community climate solutions through partnerships. This budget supports these goals through department budget actions that include identifying and developing evaluative standards to be developed for measuring climate resiliency in decision making; it will also initiate and finalize research around climate-forward land management; and research and analyze MPRB program offerings and geographical access.
Strategic Direction B – Creating Pathways for Youth Employment, Skills and Safety
The Board recognizes that investing in youth is an investment in the future of Minneapolis. It supports continued investment in parks, programs, and opportunities that help young people thrive, build strong communities, and contribute to a vibrant and healthy city. The Board is committed to creating pathways for youth employment, skills, and safety through strengthening youth employment and workforce programs, connecting these pathways for youth from elementary to employment age, and enhancing safety through staff collaboration. This budget supports these goals through the department budget actions.
The 2027 budget also includes funding for a youth garden crew at Upper Harbor Park, part-time recreation and aquatics staff at North Commons Park, and part-time concessions staff at the golf courses. The 2028 budget plan includes funding for a stormwater Best Management Practice (BMP) young adult crew at Upper Harbor Park. These positions are largely filled by youth and young adults. To enhance safety through staff collaboration, the 2027 budget not only includes the increase in staff at North Commons Park, but also the addition of two Park Police Officers, a conversion of part-time Park Patrol Agent hours to two full-time Park Patrol Agents, and an increase in part-time Park Patrol Agent and Street Reach Attendant hours.
Strategic Direction C – Enhancing Stewardship of Natural Areas
One of the most consistent messages received from all Commissioners is the desire to enhance stewardship of natural areas. The Board is committed to increasing the quality of natural areas through focused management and protection,
Strategic Direction D – Sharing our Impact, Funding our Future
Commissioners recognize the significant impact property taxes have on Minneapolis residents and the need to pursue responsible revenue diversification strategies that reduce reliance on property taxes, strengthen financial sustainability, and protect MPRB’s long-term ability to provide the world-class parks and services our residents deserve. The Board is committed to sharing our impact and funding our future through establishing and implementing an organization-wide revenue strategy and elevating MPRB’s approach to telling its story. This budget supports these goals through the department budget actions. The 2027 budget builds on the work of the staff-led Revenue Team and includes non-property tax revenue increases of $908,862 in the General Fund and $1,238,836 million in the Enterprise Fund. The budget also supports a comprehensive website redesign and strategic brand refresh.
The proposed budget and related documents are available for viewing at www.minneapolisparks.org/
- September 2 at 5 pm — MPRB Board meeting: Public comment on the superintendent’s recommended 2027-28 budget, followed by commissioner review and input. (check webpage for open comment exact time).
- September 9 at 5:05 pm — Board of Estimate and Taxation public hearing: Public comment on the maximum 2027 property tax levies, including MPRB’s levy, at the Public Service Center, Room 350.
- September 16 – MPRB Board meeting: Public comment on the recommended budget and commissioner review/input.
- September 23 — The BET will set the maximum levy. Once established, MPRB cannot collect more than that amount through property taxes.
- October 21 — MPRB Board meeting: Public comment on the recommended budget and commissioner review/input.
- November 18 — MPRB Board meeting: Public comment on the recommended budget and commissioner review/input.
- December 2 — MPRB Board meeting: Public comment on the recommended budget before the Administration and Finance Committee considers approval of the levy and budget.
- December 8 at 6:05 pm — Formal public hearing on the 2027 tax levy and 2027-28 budget: City Hall.
Mayor Frey Delivers 2027 Budget Address
From the City of Minneapolis: On August 12th, Mayor Frey delivered his 2027 Budget Address, calling on the City Council and City leaders to work together to stabilize Minneapolis’
The Mayor’s proposed $2.3
The proposed levy is an effort to address a more than $60 million budget gap while reducing spending by more than $20 million. Without changes to City spending and tough choices about right-sizing imbalanced budgets, the gap would have required a property tax levy increase of more than 19%.
The gap reflects the growing cost of running the City: about $33 million to fully fund existing services and more than $30 million in additional cost pressures across City departments. Those costs have been compounded by inflation, higher labor and operating costs, the end of one-time federal pandemic relief funding, and lower downtown commercial property values.
“The circumstances that required us to respond in crisis are not the same circumstances that should define how we govern this city long-term,” said Mayor Frey. “For the long term, we need responsible stewardship. That means making difficult decisions, painful choices, and telling the truth about what it actually costs to run a city.”
The proposed budget reduces spending through program and contract reductions, the elimination of around 100 full-time positions, the consolidation of City operations, and other efficiencies. The elimination of these positions does not necessarily equate to lay-offs; the city will explore a broad range of options including leveraging vacancies, departures, and planned retirements to offset the impact of these reductions to current employees.
At the same time, the budget protects key investments in the future of Minneapolis, including:
- Rightsizing the Minneapolis Police Department’s overtime budget by $13.1 million, and external contracts by $3.1 million; $4.3 million to continue recruiting and rebuilding the department
- Funding for 15 floating firefighters expected to save up to $2 million annually in overtime
- $2.3 million for 23 Community Safety ambassadors
- $4 million for Settlement Agreement and police reform contracts
- $1.4 million for opioid response and treatment and
- An embedded social worker in 911 dispatch
- $7.3 million for the Affordable Housing Trust Fund, bringing total funding for this program to $15.5 million in 2027
- $1.5 million for Minneapolis HOMES to expand affordable homeownership and
- Continued funding for Stable Homes Stable Schools
- Maintains $25 million in investments in downtown vitality, small businesses and cultural and commercial districts while making it easier to invest and do business in Minneapolis
The budget also focuses on making City government more efficient by reducing duplication, streamlining operations, and ensuring ongoing expenses are supported by ongoing revenues rather than one-time resources.
The Mayor’s proposed budget will now go before the Minneapolis City Council for review and consideration.
Mayor Frey’s full 2027 Budget Address is available on the City of Minneapolis’ website, as well as the full proposed Mayor’s Recommended 2027-28 Budget.
Oak Grove St. Traffic Calming
For a decade or more, many on Oak Grove Street between 15th St. and La Salle have pleaded with the City of Minneapolis to install traffic calming speed bumps. In the early fall of 2025 the City invited residents across the city to apply for traffic calming interventions to provide more safety on City streets.
So, I sent in a request, emphasizing that on our quarter mile or so there are 13+ high rise apartment and condominium buildings from three to twenty stories high with hundreds and hundreds of residents, one of the most densely populated areas in the City, with closely packed parking on the south side of the street and only two tight lanes of traffic passing each other opposite directions, and often with delivery drivers of various types double parking along the stretch leaving only one lane for cars going in opposite directions to negotiate. The parking situation makes visibility very, very difficulty for cars existing building driveways especially on the south side of the street, with far too many cars traveling on Oak Grove at 40+ miles per hour in a 20 mph corridor. Not only do we have hundreds of residents who walk the streets every day but many are children, with school buses in both the mornings and the afternoons; many walkers are senior citizens, and many folks traversing the street are disabled in various ways. The potential for dangerous situations is high, far too high.
Traffic calming in our Loring Park neighborhood is long, long over due. And, we on Oak Grove Street couldn’t be more joyous and thankful that Minneapolis is addressing this situation with five traffic calming speed bumps over this quarter mile residential street.
Gary Simpson
Board of Directors, 301 Oak Grove St. Condominium Association President Emeritus, Citizens for a Loring Park Community
Emergency Rental Assistance
Minneapolis residents are now able to apply for rental assistance funded by the City of Minneapolis. On February 5 and March 26, the Minneapolis City Council approved funding to support renter households after the continued impact of Operation Metro Surge.
This allowed the city to enter into a Joint Powers Agreement with Hennepin County for $2 million to allow their existing contracted community-based providers to support this rent assistance effort. Currently, three of their providers—CLUES, Isuroon, and Minnesota Indian Women’s Resource Center—are helping eligible applicants navigate the program. The County expects to add additional organizations from its provider network over the next several weeks.
Community Safety & Know Your Rights
Minneapolis is committed to being a Welcoming City where everyone feels safe, respected, and included, regardless of immigration status. If you or someone you know is affected by these developments, there are resources available:
- Free Legal Clinics: Immigration attorneys are available through Community Clinics, Mid-Minnesota Legal Aid, and Volunteer Lawyers Network.
- Office of Immigrant and Refugee Affairs: Drop-in hours are held every Wednesday, and Friday from 2-4 p.m. at 777 E. Lake St.
For more details on your rights in interactions with ICE, as well as how to prepare in case of an immigration encounter, visit this website.
- You have the right to remain silent.
- You can refuse to sign any documents until you speak with a lawyer.
- You can refuse entry to ICE officers unless they have a warrant.
- Stay calm, and don’t run away.
- Carry a “Know-Your-Rights” card and always have your immigration papers with you.
Learn about the impact of current federal actions and how the City is responding.
Know your rights if ICE comes to your home
The Immigrant Law Center of Minnesota suggests the following if federal immigration agents come to your home.
City resources for residents, workplaces and landlords
Visit the City of Minneapolis Federal Actions page for the latest updates and resources.
Residents
Know Your Rights materials
Monarca also has some signs available: https://monarcamn.org/resources
Businesses
The city has created signs that businesses (and any private property owners) can use to identify non-public areas in which they wish to lawfully restrict activities related to staging for civil immigration enforcement.
Learn more here.
The city also has a good Q&A online for business owners. Find it here.
Landlords
You can put up signs that mark private or non-public areas. The City provides digital copies of these signs. People without permission can’t enter. This applies to federal law enforcement unless a narrow exception exists, including having a judicial warrant. Learn more here.
There are Volunteer patrollers out in the neighborhood, residents who have been trained and they may reach out to your businesses, churches, and organizations.