Check out the draft Minneapolis Parks Community Garden Policy and comment online!

Draft policy aims to create new community gardens in designated areas within Minneapolis Parks

On Friday, Feb. 23, 2018, the Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board (MPRB) opened a 45-day public comment period on its draft Community Garden Policy. The draft policy outlines rules, requirements and processes for community gardening at neighborhood parks in Minneapolis.

The draft Minneapolis Parks Community Garden Policy and public comment online survey are linked below:

Draft Community Garden Policy [PDF]
Comment on Community Garden Policy 

Policy Summary

Community gardens should be created, where appropriate, within designated urban agriculture areas in neighborhood parks, as well as on tax-forfeited parcels that are acquired to support the activity, and made available to all Minneapolis residents free of charge through a garden plot application process that includes the completion of site stewardship agreements.

The draft Minneapolis Parks Community Garden Policy was developed as an implementation strategy stemming from Urban Agriculture Activity Plan goals:

  • Provide education, access to healthy foods and economic support for the local food system
  • Renew and develop park facilities to foster urban agriculture activities
  • Make food available on parkland to benefit residents, park visitors and the environment

It proposes guidelines for creating and managing community gardens on Minneapolis parkland. This includes:

  • Site selection criteria
  • Design standards
  • Application process
  • Garden management expectations
  • Insurance and maintenance agreements
  • Prohibition of chemical herbicides, pesticides or fertilizers

Next Steps

The draft Community Garden Policy was developed with input from the Urban Agriculture Activity Plan Implementation Team, community members and MPRB staff.

Public comments will be accepted until Monday, April 9, 2018. After the comment period closes, MPRB staff will review the feedback and present a revised policy to the Board of Commissioners, where it will be considered for final approval following a public hearing. The public hearing date will be announced in advance.

Stay informed on this project by visiting the Urban Agriculture Activity Plan project page and entering your email into the “Subscribe to Email Updates” box.