The holiday season is here! Letâs spread joy and cheer!
We are putting together a Google Map of holiday lights in our neighborhood. If you would like your home or business to be included on the map, please complete the form below.
We will aim to publish the map in late November and update approximately weekly or as needed throughout December.
Questions? Contact Trice at holidaylights@waiteparkcc.org.
The Waite Park Community Council will hear informational presentations this Thursday, Sept. 26, from representatives of the Vote Yes for Mpls Kids campaign and the Minnesota Environmental Justice Table.
Abdul Abdi will share information and answer questions about the Minneapolis general election ballot âSchool District Question,â which will ask voters to repeal an existing technology levy and replace it with one that would provide an additional $20 million annually for 10 years.
Waite Park resident Christy Dolph, a volunteer with the Minnesota Environmental Justice Table, will present on the groupâs work with other organizations to close the Hennepin Energy Recovery Center and move toward a zero-waste plan in the city.
In addition to the guest speakers, the neighborhood board is set to recap the recent Waite Park Fall Festival, discuss next steps for renter engagement following its recent rental household survey, among other agenda items.
The board meets monthly, typically on the last Thursday of the month, at 7pm at the Waite Park Recreation Center (1810 34th Ave. NE). A Zoom link is also available here. Anyone is welcome to attend and participate, though only elected board members may vote on action items. Questions? Contact info@waiteparkcc.org.
What nature can we find in Deming Heights Park?
Join the Waite Park Community Council and Audubon Neighborhood Association on Saturday, Oct. 5, as we explore with a Minneapolis Park & Recreation Board naturalist.
This special âExplore with a Naturalistâ program will including searching for signs of animal activity, observing plant life, and noticing nature in the park during the fall season. There might be more happening than at first glance when we take the time to explore and get curious about the natural world around us.
Registration is required for participation in this free program.
This program will meet at 10 a.m. near the benches and informational signage located next to the intersection of Fillmore St. NE and St. Anthony Parkway
Register at MPRBâs ActiveNetwork site.
Explore with a Naturalist
What: Search for signs of animal activity and observe plant life with an MPRB naturalist
When: Saturday, Oct. 5, 10-11:30 am
Where: Deming Heights Park (meet at the benches near Fillmore St. NE and St. Anthony Parkway)
Cost: Free, but registration required
Anthony Bates, Waite Park Recreation Supervisor
Waite Park has a new face overseeing park maintenance and programming.
Anthony Bates was named recreation supervisor for Waite Park in late May. He previously held the same position at Harrison Park, just west of downtown. The role includes managing upkeep and safety for the park grounds, indoor space, and amenities such as the wading pool, as well as supervising 15 to 20 part-time and seasonal employees who run youth sports, child-care and other activities.
The Waite Park Voice recently spoke with Bates about his new role at the park.
Q: How long have you worked for the Minneapolis Park & Recreation Board and what led you to this type of work?
A: Itâll be three years in December of this year, but Iâve been working in parks and rec for a very long time â this will be my 18th year. (Previously Bates work for the City of Brooklyn Park.) What brought me to this organization was the opportunity to work with more neighborhood-based programming and facilities, along with the diversity of MPRB as an organization, and the work they were doing around upgrading facilities and making sure the community gets what they need.
Q: What's been your impression of Waite Park so far?
A: What stands out the most, I would say, is the amenities. Itâs the first thing you notice. I see the grass. I see the ball fields. I see the tennis courts. Inside, what I notice is the youth that have been here over the summer. I noticed the community involvement and community engagement from residents who care about whatâs going on here at Waite Park. I noticed the care and the impact of the adults and parents that are here.
Q: What kind of activities and programming can people expect this fall and winter?
A: We will be offering some adult opportunities in the way of fitness classes, yoga and strength classes. Youth sports will be underway. Iâm still learning what that looks like here. When going into a new organization, it takes a year just to see the seasons, to see how that community functions and learn the interests and needs. So Iâm excited to see what that looks and feels like so I can have a better idea of what the needs are.
Q: What kinds of things do you enjoy doing outside of work?
A: So I like spending time with family. I love watching sports. Iâm a big Green Bay Packers fan. I like going to movies, spending time outdoors. Winter is my favorite season. I know thatâs not everybodyâs cup of tea, but I like the snow. I just like walking in the snow, being in the snow, sledding with my kids; anything they want to do Iâm going to do when it comes to being outdoors.
Contact the Waite Park Recreation Center at 612-370-4959 or waite@minneapolisparks.org.
The Waite Park Community Council has amended its meeting calendar for the remainder of 2024 in order to avoid holiday conflicts.
The neighborhood groupâs board of directors typically meets at 7pm on the last Thursday of each month. Meetings are held at the Waite Park Recreation Center with a Zoom option for those who cannot attend in person.
The revised schedule is as follows:
Thursday, Sept. 19: Operations & Finance Committee
Thursday, Sept. 26: Regular Board Meeting
Wednesday, Oct. 30: Operation & Finance Committee
Thursday, Nov. 7: Regular Board Meeting
Thursday, Dec. 5: Operations & Finance Committee
Thursday, Dec. 12: Regular Board Meeting
Thursday, Jan. 23: Operations & Finance Committee
Thursday, Jan. 30: Regular Board Meeting
All meetings are open to the public. Please email operations@waiteparkcc.org if you require any special accommodations to attend or participate.
The Waite Park Community Council invites you to attend our annual neighborhood fall festival on Saturday, Sept. 14, from 3-7 p.m. at Waite Park.
The Waite Park Fall Festival will feature local arts and craft vendors, civic group and nonprofit tables, live music, kids games, face painting, food trucks, and free hot dogs and veggie burgers.
âWe are excited to be able to put on this fun, neighborhood event once again,â said Nick Stroozas, chair of the community councilâs fall festival committee, which partners with Minneapolis Parks and Recreation on the event.
Grilled hot dogs and veggie burgers will be available for free until they run out. Paid food options will include food trucks Chimborazo and Ben & Jerryâs. TapMPLS will provide a drinking water station. (Bring a water bottle to help us reduce waste!)
We are excited to welcome back both musical acts from last yearâs festival: the family-friendly folk of Skunk Hollow and â90s cover band 120 Minutes, both of which feature musicians who live in the Waite Park neighborhood.
The fall festival is one of the Waite Park Community Councilâs two signature events along with the annual neighborhood meeting in March.
âCreating opportunities for people to come together and develop a sense of community is one of our core priorities as an organization,â Waite Park Community Council President Dan Haugen said. âThe festival is a great way to meet and reconnect with people who live and work in your neighborhood.â
The festival is planned and run entirely by volunteers, with funding for food and entertainment from our generous sponsors, including: Eastside Food Co-op, Larsen Dental, Turbo Timâs Anything Automotive, and Cosmic Coffee.
Volunteers are still needed to help set up, serve food, oversee kids games, and clean up at the end of the event. If you are interested in getting involved, please fill out this form or contact festival@waiteparkcc.org.
For more information on the festival, see page 7-10 for a pull-out program guide, including a complete listing of confirmed vendors.
The following article was submitted by Eastside Neighborhood Services. If you would like to submit an article on behalf of a community-based organization that serves the Waite Park neighborhood, send it to website@waiteparkcc.org.
Make a difference in the lives of older adults in our community, while engaging in a volunteer opportunity that highlights your talents and utilizes your experience. Youâre just the person weâve been looking for!
Northeast Day Spot Friend Volunteer: Provide respite care support for people experiencing dementia and other chronic conditions while their caregivers receive a break. On Fridays from 9:30AM-1:30PM, you will socialize with participants, provide support during activities like art projects and games, and help with set up and clean up. No hands-on care required. You do not have to come every week.
Music Maker Volunteer: Share your musical talents with people experiencing dementia. On Fridays from 12:15-1PM, you will play music for our group to enjoy. Bring your own instrument or use our keyboard. We also love sing alongs! Most music makers volunteer once every few months.
Garden Volunteer: Help us plant, water and weed our community garden. Flexible days/times.
Phone Call Friend Volunteer: Provide a listening ear and companionship to an older adult with weekly phone calls. Days/times are flexible.
Contact: Syneva Barrett 612-787-4035 or sbarrett@esns.org
Eastside Neighborhood Services 1700 2nd St. NE Minneapolis, MN 55413
East Side Neighborhood Services is a nonprofit human services agency providing resources and social services to individuals of all ages and families in Hennepin County since 1915. The Vital Living Program serves older adults through resources, classes, events, and caregiver support.
The Waite Park Community Council will hold its annual neighborhood meeting and board election on Thursday, March 14, at Columbia Manor.
Meet and mingle with neighbors and community leaders
Get involved! Learn about neighborhood volunteer opportunities
Free snacks and beverages (including beer and wine)
The event will begin with a social hour at 6pm, followed by a brief program at 7pm that will include an annual report from WPCCâs board officers as well as brief comments from local leaders. Officials who have RSVPâd to attend include: Minneapolis City Council President Elliott Payne, School Board Treasurer Abdul Abdi, Park Commissioner Billy Menz, Hennepin County Sheriff Dawanna Witt, Hennepin County Commissioner Irene Fernando and State Rep. Sydney Jordan.
All attendees who live, work, or own property in the Waite Park neighborhood are invited to participate in the annual board election. This yearâs vote will elect up to seven board members, as well as officer roles for president and vice president.
The Waite Park Community Council is an all-volunteer-run nonprofit organization dedicated to building community, supporting civic engagement, and maintaining a high quality of life in our neighborhood.
Our 15 board members, elected to staggered, two-year terms, spend on average 3-5 hours per month attending meetings, helping to plan events such as our Fall Festival, administer neighborhood programs, and serve as liaisons with key community partners and stakeholders.
This yearâs event will also feature a community resource fair, where attendees can learn about area nonprofits and community groups serving the Waite Park neighborhood and Northeast Minneapolis. Participating organizations include the League of Women Voters, Northeast Football Club, the Northeaster newspaper, Metro Transit, Eastside Neighborhood Services, Immigrant Connection, Waite Park Elementary PTA, and Northeast Middle School.
The Waite Park Community Council would like to extend a special invitation to all of its neighbors in the Columbia Park neighborhood, who may participate in all activities except for the board election.
This is a free event. RSVP is not required but it would help us out if you can let us know in advance if you are planning to attend, so that we can ensure we have the right amount of food, beverage, and seating for a successful event.
A Zoom option (link here) will be available for the annual report and election portion of the event beginning at 7pm.
The Waite Park Community Council has contracted with the research firm Lumaris to conduct a survey and focus group to learn more about rental households in our neighborhood.
The project is funded through the City of Minneapolisâ Equitable Engagement Fund, designed to help neighborhood groups better engage with underrepresented populations within their community.
Lumaris is looking to hire one canvasser to knock on 150 doors in the Waite Park neighborhood and hand out postcards that invite residents to take an online survey. Pay is $50 an hour, plus $5 bonuses for each completed survey.
You must be:
⢠18 or older.
⢠Able to work independently and follow instructions.
⢠Respectful, courteous, and professional with residents.
⢠Able to complete canvassing on a single day.
Deadline: Finish canvassing by March 23, 2024.
Please email info@lumaris.com. Include your availability and contact information. Lumaris will contact you for a brief Zoom interview if you are selected. You will receive detailed instructions on how to do the canvassing.
The Waite Park Community Council welcomed guests from Metro Transit to its Feb. 29 board meeting to discussed planned changes to Johnson Street bus service.
The transit agency is planning several changes to improve Route 4 service. Proposed changes include:
Consolidating bus stops for up to quarter-mile spacing (see map below for specific bus stop locations)
Relocating select stops pastâŻa signalized intersection to reduce delays
Expanding the no-parking zone around select stops to ensure buses can fully pull to the curb at the bus stop
Adjusting the route alignment and schedule
Installing concrete pads to improve accessibility for customers
Installing new shelters at qualifying bus stops
Transit signal priority is being installed at select intersections along Lyndale Ave S in Minneapolis.
Bus lanes are being added along portions of Hennepin Ave and 1st Ave NE in Northeast Minneapolis as part of a Hennepin County-lead project.
View Metro Transitâs presentation to the neighborhood in the video player above. More information and a survey is available at https://www.metrotransit.org/route-4
Waite Park is located in the far northeastern corner of Minneapolis and on the eastern edge of Hennepin County. Its borders are 37th Ave NE, Stinson Boulevard, St. Anthony Parkway, and Central Avenue. The neighborhood consists of mostly owner-occupied, single-family homes, with approximately 5,600 residents. It is home to Waite Park Elementary School, Cavell Park, and Deming Heights Park.
The Waite Park Community Council (WPCC) is a non-partisan, non-profit 501(c)3 organization officially recognized by the City of Minneapolis as the neighborhood representative of Waite Park. Founded in 1954, the WPCC serves as a forum to support the interests of the Waite Park neighborhood, and to maintain a high quality of life through community engagement.
Click here to signup to receive occasional email updates from the Waite Park Community Council.
The Waite Park Community Council encourages anyone who lives, works, or owns property in the neighborhood to attend its monthly board meetings. Meetings are held at 7 p.m. on the last Thursday of the month at the Waite Park Recreation Center and Zoom.
Watch this website or contact info@waiteparkcc.org for log in info.
The Waite Park Community Council is an all-volunteer board serving staggered, two-year terms. Elections are held at an annual meeting in the first quarter of the calendar year. Contact the board by emailing board@waiteparkcc.org.
Dan Haugen, President
Casey Wahl, Vice President
Charlene Grahn, Secretary
Jared Holt, Treasurer
Gary Arntsen, board member
Nick Stroozas, board member
Joy Cattledge, board member
Kevin Horkheimer, board member
Jay Smigielski, board member
Adam Arling, board member
Latrice Daniel, board member
Manny Esguerra, board member
Madeline Harris, board member
Jamie Jackson, board member
Roni Lafky, board member
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