Explore Deming Heights Park with an MPRB parks naturalist

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 “Explore with a Naturalist” 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 MPRB’s 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

It’s time for the 2024 Waite Park Fall Festival! Saturday, Sept. 14

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.

“We are excited to be able to put on this fun, neighborhood event once again,” said Nick Stroozas, chair of the community council’s 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 & Jerry’s. 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 year’s festival: the family-friendly folk of Skunk Hollow and ‘90s 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 Council’s two signature events along with the annual neighborhood meeting in March.

“Creating opportunities for people to come together and develop a sense of community is one of our core priorities as an organization,” Waite Park Community Council President Dan Haugen said. “The festival is a great way to meet and reconnect with people who live and work in your neighborhood.”

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 Tim’s 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.

RSVP for Waite Park 2024 annual neighborhood meeting & election

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 WPCC’s board officers as well as brief comments from local leaders. Officials who have RSVP’d 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.

*** RSVP here ***

All attendees who live, work, or own property in the Waite Park neighborhood are invited to participate in the annual board election. This year’s 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 year’s 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.