Park News

PARK NEWS
Sibley and Phelps Parks’ new Recreation Supervisor is John Dahl. John takes over for Jotika Weitz-Handy, who is now at the Nokomis Community Center. Dahl is a south Minneapolis native and grew up frequenting Pearl Park. After graduating from college, Dahl worked in another field for a few years before committing to a career in recreation. Since joining the Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board, Dahl has worked in Aquatics, Ice Arenas, and as a Youth Program Specialist. Dahl grew up in Minneapolis parks and always loved any chance to be outside. He said he feels very lucky to begin his career as a recreation supervisor.
Nokomis Park’s new Recreation Supervisor Jotika Weitz-Handy took over from Maggie Mercil in mid-January after Mercil accepted a position as a recreation program lead. Weitz-Handy began working at the Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board in 2001 as a lifeguard at North Commons Waterpark. In 2008, Weitz-Handy moved to a Youthline mentor role at Whittier, Armatage and Bryant Square parks. She has worked as a Recreation Leader/Recreation Supervisor at Morris Park and most recently at Sibley Park. Weitz-Handy said she is excited to be at Nokomis to continue the work that has been there, and hopefully add her own touch to the programming and to the community.
Corcoran Park’s new Recreation Supervisor is Joy Fogg. Originally from Saint Louis, Mo., Fogg moved to Minneapolis in 1987 where she was introduced to the Minneapolis Park system and a great Youthline mentor. Fogg’s mentor inspired her to work in parks and recreation. Fogg said she is excited and honored to be working for Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board, as she has always had a deep passion for youth and community.
Brackett Park’s new Recreation Supervisor is Jackie Travis. Travis has worked as a program manager for a local non-profit, tennis instructor, small business owner and art director. Travis has worked with the Park Board since 2008 in roles including youth coach, program lead and childcare specialist. Travis said she is excited to be working for the Park Board because she said she understands the benefit of the MPRB’s parks, programs, activities, sports, recreation and what they can do for a community, youth and those that visit.
Hiawatha School Park has a new Recreation Supervisor, Elise Mohn. Mohn’s first site as a Childcare Specialist was Hiawatha School Park, and she is excited to be back working at the same park again. Mohn took over from Aaron Flanders in mid-January. Flanders is now working at Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Park. Before joining Hiawatha School Park, Mohnworked at Audubon Recreation Center as a Recreation Specialist. Prior to Audubon, Mohn worked at the Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board as a Childcare Specialist.
Recreation Supervisor Brittney Walsh has moved from Keewaydin/Morris Recreation Center to another park location; the new Recreation Supervisor is Scott Erazmus. Erazmus is a Minneapolis native who played sports in Minneapolis parks as a child and has worked at multiple Minneapolis parks throughout his 20+ year career with the Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board. Prior to becoming the recreation supervisor at Keewaydin and Morris parks, Erazmus was most recently at Loring Park. Prior to that he was at Linden Hills for more than five years. Erazmus enjoys programming for all ages and especially trying new programs.
A public hearing on a proposal to name the overlook at West River Parkway and East 44th Street the “Horace W. S. Cleveland Overlook” is scheduled Wednesday, March 15, 2023 at 5:45 pm in the Board Room at Mary Merrill Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board (MPRB) Headquarters, 2117 West River Road. Cleveland was a landscape architect hired in April 1883 to advise the newly created Minneapolis Park Board on the development of a park system for Minneapolis. On June 2, 1883, Cleveland read a document to the Board of Commissioners that would provide the framework for today’s Minneapolis park and recreation system. That document was called “Suggestions for a System of Parks and Parkways for The City of Minneapolis.”