By LINDSEY FENNER
No Open Streets this year on Franklin and East Lake: The tentatively scheduled Open Streets along Franklin Avenue and East Lake Street have been cancelled again this year because of the pandemic. Open Streets is a partnership between Our Streets Minneapolis and the City of Minneapolis that temporarily closes major streets to car traffic, and opens them up for biking, walking, and rolling.
Holy Rosary/Santo Rosario Church will remain open, possible merger with the Church of St. Stephens: The future of Holy Rosary Catholic Church at 2424 18th Avenue South had been in question when the founding Dominican Order left in 2020. Declining donations, plus an ageing historic building in need of maintenance means a parish merger with the Church of St. Stephens is likely for ongoing financial stability. The parish was fou nded in 1878, with the current church building built in 1888.Â
Minneapolis Deciding How to Spend Federal recovery funding: The City of Minneapolis has been allocated $271 million from the American Rescue Plan (ARP), broken up into two phases. In early June, Mayor Jacob Frey submitted a proposal for spending the first phase of $89 million. The mayor”™s proposal included: $28 million for housing and homelessness, $37 million economic rebuilding, $12 million public safety, $5 million climate and public health, $7 million City Capacity and Performance. The City Council held public hearings and made amendments throughout June, with an expected final vote in early July.
Somali Museum, Cultural Wellness Center Receive Sizable New Grants:
The Somali Museum of MN at 1516 East Lake St recieved a $500,000 unrestricted grant from the McKnight and Ford Foundations, as part of the “Regional Cultural Treasures” program. Founded in 2011, the Somali Museum of MN is North America”™s only museum of Somali culture. The Cultural Wellness Center at 2025 Portland Ave. S was the first recipient of ten $100,000 unsolicited grants from the McKnight Foundation made in honor of George Floyd on the one-year anniversary of his murder. The mission of the Cultural Wellness Center is “to unleash the power of people to heal themselves and to build community.” They are an ongoing partner and friend of the alley
Minneapolis Slips in Park Ranking Because of Disparities: In the annual ParkScore rankings index by the Trust for Public Lands, Minneapolis fell to third after being ranked first for six years in a row. The Trust for Public Lands added new measures looking at park equity. According to the Trust for Public Lands, residents of Minneapolis neighborhoods where most people identify as people of color have access to 58 percent less park space than residents in neighborhoods that are predominantly white. The national average disparity gap is 44 percent. Residents of low-income neighborhoods have access to 65 percent less park space than residents in high-income neighborhoods. Historically in Phillips, neighbors have had to fight for park development, investment and maintenance.
