The past year has been one of exciting growth and new opportunities for the Minneapolis Parks Foundation. With your support we raised more than $4 million to support park initiatives, forged a historic endowment agreement with the Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board, welcomed two new full-time staff members, and deepened community engagement through events and programs across the city. Here’s a look at how your support in 2024 empowered us to do even more for the parks and the communities that rely on them.
Growing support for the Parks Foundation:
Since our start over 20 years ago, the Parks Foundation has raised more than $47 million to strenghten access and equity in Minneapolis parks. The strong community support in Minneapolis is a key reason our park system is recognized as one of the best in the nation, with miles of shoreline, trails, iconic landmarks, and programs that unite us. Supporters like you are helping the Minneapolis Parks Foundation expand our reach, strengthen partnerships across the community, and enhance what’s possible within our park system. Thank you!
In 2024, nearly 800 unique donors—individuals, households, organizations, and more—supported the Parks Foundation, including 227 first-time donors (if you’re reading this, thank you!) and we counted more than 15,000 Minneapolis Parks Foundation supporters who attended events, read our monthly newsletter, volunteered their time, or donated to help improve the park system.
Additionally, we assisted donors in honoring family, friends, (and pets) through 144 gifts made in memorial of loved ones or through an engraved memorial bench or paver placed at the Lake Harriet Bandshell pavilion.
Little Free Libraries continue to spread the joy of reading with a generous 500+ book donation from the Moore family, honoring their late mother’s love of fiction, non-fiction, and sewing books.
Broadening our impact through events:
Sunrise on the Mississippi:
Over 200 park enthusiasts gathered to celebrate the 10th anniversary of Sunrise on the Mississippi, featuring an insightful talk by award-winning community engagement specialist and founder of Friends of Anacostia Park, Akiima Price. During her presentation, Akiima Price highlighted her impactful Restorative Park Engagement work in Washington D.C., sharing powerful insights about the role of community-driven conservation.
Walk & Talks:
Nearly 115 participants laced up their walking shoes to join us for four in-person Walk & Talks at North Mississippi Regional Park, North Commons Park, Eloise Butler Wildflower Garden, and Lakewood Cemetery. Along with in-person attendees, self-guided Walk & Talks garnered almost 300 individual online downloads.
Next Generation of Parks:
The Parks Foundation’s popular always-free Next Generation of Parks event returned at the Minneapolis Institute of Art. More than 100 attendees watched the captivating screening of Blackwaters, which was followed by an insightful panel discussion led by Anthony Taylor with two of the film’s creators, Dudley Edmondson and James Edward Mills, who talked about the power of BIPOC individuals in wild places, the intersectionality of race and gender, walking through struggle, and who caught the biggest fish.
Posters for Parks:
The annual Posters for Parks event in October drew over 1,000 people (and some dogs!) who mingled, celebrated, and took home limited-edition, parks-inspired posters crafted by 41 talented local artists. After the in person showcase and online sale, nearly 1,000 posters were purchased, with 10 designs completely selling out!
Enabling the future of parks:
This year, the Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board and the Minneapolis Parks Foundation joined forces to establish a new, forward-thinking endowment fund that will provide long-term support for natural resources, historic infrastructure, and the care and maintenance of regional parks and trails within the Minneapolis Park system. This historic agreement creates a pathway for the community to help secure sustainable funding, ensuring that future generations can enjoy exceptional park experiences and a thriving environment. To read more about the endowment or to make a contribution, visit the link here.
Investing in the People for Parks Fund:
The People for Parks Fund amplifies the positive impact of parks and outdoor spaces in communities and neighborhoods throughout the city. Through its grant program, the Fund connects community-driven ideas with vital funding opportunities, fostering stewardship, strengthening community bonds, and enhancing the enjoyment of Minneapolis parks. This year the grant program drew 42 applications from around the city, awarding more than $58,000 in funding for 13 different projects and programs. This was made possible by contributions to the Parks Foundation, and proceeds from the annual Posters for Parks sale. To read more about the People for Parks Fund and its upcoming 2025 grant cycle, visit the link here.
Transforming North Commons Park:
In 2024, the Parks Foundation publicly kicked off a $20 million capital campaign to help transform North Commons Park, sparking tremendous energy and excitement about the upcoming redevelopment plans for this historic park. In partnership with the Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board, the Transformation of North Commons Park will bring long overdue structural and programmatical updates to the park, with community-driven youth development programs, new spaces for creativity and culture, and an updated campus of indoor courts and outdoor pools and gathering spaces.
As part of our ongoing commitment to engage the Northside community throughout the development and planning process, the Parks Foundation helped establish the North Commons Youth Council. This group of neighborhood youth, aged 14-18, met twice a month to share their perspectives on the $45 million park renovation, ensuring that the voices of young people and their peers were central to the conversation. We also launched the 55411 Challenge Campaign to engage and invite the neighborhoods surrounding the park to actively participate. Thanks to a generous $30,000 donation, every contribution to the campaign is matched, further strengthening community involvement. The Parks Foundation was present at more than 40 community events at and around North Commons and sponsored 5 community group programs or events at the park this year. We supported 17 walking tours, presentations for, or informational meetings to further develop interest and involvement in the $20 million capital campaign.
Having raised over $15.5 million of our $20 million campaign goal, we are deeply grateful for the generous support that has brought us this far. With just under $4.5 million left to raise, we are focused and committed to reaching the finish line. To learn more about North Commons or to contribute, please visit the link here. Thank you!
Expanding our Parks Foundation team:
In addition to the many ways the Parks Foundation has expanded its outreach, we’ve also made significant internal changes. In 2024, we welcomed a new Executive Director and Communications Coordinator to our team.
Anne Hoyt Taff, our new Executive Director, brings extensive experience as a leader in Minnesota’s nonprofit sector. Most recently, she served as Vice President of Partnerships at the Saint Paul & Minnesota Foundation, where she spent over eight years driving collective impact initiatives focused on community-based grantmaking, racial healing, digital equity, economic development, and more.
Our new Communications Coordinator, Alexandria Davison, brings a wealth of experience in creativity, communication, and collaboration. With a background in administrative support, marketing, and community outreach, Alexandria’s expertise in digital communications and event coordination adds both skill, bandwidth, and energy to our team.
Looking forward:
We’re excited for an even more impactful 2025, with new programs and events, major construction kicking off at North Commons Park, and fresh opportunities to connect with new park supporters. Be sure to follow the Minneapolis Parks Foundation on Facebook, Instagram and LinkedIn for upcoming events and developments, all to benefit Minneapolis’s extraordinary park system.
We’d also like to congratulate our partner, the Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board, on winning the 2024 National Gold Medal Award for Excellence in Park and Recreation Management. This prestigious honor highlights their commitment to equity, innovation, and community service. You can watch the finalist announcement below that highlights park achievements! Cheers to our incredible parks and the talented staff who make them truly exceptional!