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Parks commission assigns commissioners to pursue grants for 2026 projects
Summary
The commission asked volunteers to research grant opportunities for specific park projects — McKnight, skateboard/BMX, ball fields, Casey Lake improvements and others — and staff provided a step‑by‑step research guide to streamline the process.
Staff urged commissioners to help research grants for projects targeted in 2026 and 2027 and provided a step‑by‑step guide and links to likely funders. "I have put together in here with Laura's help a step by step process on how to research grants," the staff member said, asking commissioners to take ownership of projects and return recommended opportunities to staff for packet inclusion.
Commissioners agreed to divide responsibilities for projects and discussed relevant funders, including professional-sports philanthropic arms and local foundations. The commission reviewed a candidate-project list that included a McKnight mini pitch, skateboard/BMX facilities, ball fields, downtown park, Casey Lake Ninja Course, and Northwood Park reutilization; volunteers began claiming projects and agreed to forward grant leads to staff about a week before meetings when possible.
Staff emphasized that commissioners do research only and that staff will prepare and submit actual grant applications. "We write them, but anybody can research the grants," the staff member said. Commissioners discussed working in pairs on larger projects and tapping local resources, such as Minneapolis Parks' skateboard initiative, for models and grant leads.
The initiative is intended to reduce staff workload, broaden the commission's reach and increase the city's competitiveness for external funding for park improvements.
