Briefs - August 2024

Narcan vending machine at fire station
This month, the city launched the first Narcan vending machine at a Longfellow fire station, 3209 E. 38th St. The pilot program provides a free life-saving resource for people in need. It is located outside Fire Station 21 in an area that has seen a high amount of substance use and overdoses. So far this year, there have been 74 suspected overdoses and four suspected fatal overdoses. Between 2017 and 2021, there were 38 opioid-related deaths in the area.
It is free to community members with no barriers with 24-hour access.
Christopher Burks spent 30 years fighting addiction and is now in long-term recovery. His journey includes being saved by NARCAN six times. “Without NARCAN, I wouldn’t be here today, nor would I have had the chance at recovery. The vending machine is a long time coming. A lot of people are going to be saved and given another chance at recovery with this resource,” said Burks.

Minnehaha Falls viewing area project
The Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board (MPRB) is working on a project to repair access and viewing areas on the south side of Minnehaha Falls that are currently closed. The viewing area and staircase that is currently open on the north side of the falls is not part of this project. There are three concepts that outline how the deteriorated area south of the falls could look after repairs are complete.
A public open house events is planned for Tuesday, July 30, 5-7 p.m., Minnehaha Falls Bandshell, 4801 S Minnehaha Park Dr. to display the concepts and get feedback from people.
The MPRB plans to decide on a final design concept later this year, then it will begin detailed design and engineering work. The design and materials of the final concept will influence when construction could begin and how long it will take.
This project’s final design will set a precedent for future infrastructure repair and replacement projects in Minnehaha Regional Park. The concepts that will be on display at the open houses explore different ways materials and designs can work better with the natural environment and conditions of the area. They also aim to provide more inclusive and more convenient access for the millions of visitors to Minnehaha Falls every year.

Sibley park construction done
A ribbon cutting on the completed Sibley Park project was held on June 14, 2024. The playground includes a long zipline, the first of its type in the MPRB system, and other accessible play features. The wading pool has a ramped "zero depth" entry that makes it easier for anyone with limited mobility to get into the pool - also provides a shallow area for toddlers. Mature trees were protected and preserved. The entryway plaza was improved and resurfaced.
In 2016, community members solicited MPRB staff to change the park’s name because of the history of violence Henry Hasting Sibley perpetuated against the Dakota people. A park name-change process was initiated in 2021 in conjunction with a park improvements project, which indicated interest in a name that recognizes the Dakota people. However, in 2023, after a range of community-proposed
names in Dakota were considered, MPRB paused the name-change process to seek input from an Indigenous Advisory Council in the context of a range of projects in the Minneapolis parks system, and as part of MPRB’s Indigenous Reconciliation Action Plan.

Carp at Lake Nokomis
Park staff are working on a project that monitors common carp movement through the Lake Nokomis watershed.
Common carp are one of the most widespread and damaging aquatic invasive species. To get fish for the study, researchers conducted electrofishing on Lake Nokomis in 2023. Early this spring, a signal receiver was mounted in the stream that connects Lake Nokomis to potential spawning habitat to the south of the lake. Each antennae tag has a unique ID that the receiver will pick up if the fish passes.
This will help inform researchers if carp from Nokomis are using those spawning grounds and give information about the timing of their migrations. Then MPRB can use this data to find a potential choke point where carp could be captured and removed, or decide if a barrier is needed to keep carp from using this spawning habitat.

Seward DIY House Becoming Co-Op
What comes to mind when you think of Minneapolis art? For some it’s a gallery, or a concert at a bar or coffee shop. For many it’s also personal and DIY. Community venues run out of punk houses, arts coops, or your neighbor’s patio, are part of what makes South Minneapolis special.
One such long-running house is the Arbitrarium where a slowly-evolving group of low-income artists and musicians have lived since 2010, and the site of many performances and community gatherings.
The Arbitrarium Housing Cooperative is a non-profit with the purpose of acquiring and maintaining the property at 2200 28th Avenue South. The co-op is receiving development assistance and financing from Shared Capital, LEAF, the Kagawa Fund, and NASCO. They are also actively raising money via crowd-funding platforms and social events, and can receive tax-deductible donations through their fiscal sponsor, Community Driven.