All current and aspiring Waite Park block club leaders are invited to attend a neighborhood-wide 2023 Block Club Kick-Off event on Wednesday, May 17, from 6:30-8:00pm at the Waite Park Recreation Center.
Meet and share ideas with fellow block club leaders, get a free Waite Park neighborhood T-shirt, and learn how to apply for the Waite Park Community Council’s $100 block club rebate program.
Guests will include Minneapolis 2nd Precinct Crime Prevention Specialist Rashid Ali. Knowing your neighbors and having a block map to quickly contact them helps deter crime and improve the quality of life on your block or in your building.
This year’s National Night Out will take place on Tuesday, August 1. Block clubs may apply for a free street closure permit by contacting Rashid Ali at Abdirashid.ali@minneapolismn.gov. The deadline for applying is July 7. Block clubs may also request a fire truck or canine unit visit.
Block clubs encourage neighbors to know one another, watch out for each other, and report suspicious activity. The annual National Night Out is just one social event the neighbors may host. Other block club activities may include trash pick-ups, garage sales, or gardening projects.
WPCC Block Club Rebate Program
The Waite Park Community Council offers $100 annual rebates to block clubs to cover the cost of events such as National Night Out gatherings. Note: City rules related to our funding prevent us from paying for any food or beverage expenses. Plates, silverware, table clothes, and other serving materials are eligible.
Who is eligible: The rebate program is open to Waite Park residents who are part of a block club recognized by the MPD Second Precinct. Block clubs that are not affiliated with the police department may also apply if they host at least 1 gathering a year to which all block residents are invited and two members verify the application.
How to apply: Complete this online form, including a photograph of any receipts. You may also download and print a copy here and mail it to the Waite Park Community Council at P.O. Box 18476, Minneapolis, MN 55418. We are an all-volunteer organization and we appreciate your patience as we process applications, ideally within 1-2 months. Questions? Contact rebates@waiteparkcc.org.
Fine print: Rebates totaling $100 will be awarded until the program expires ($100 per block, per year). Rebates are provided only for projects in the Waite Park neighborhood. Receipts must be provided in order to verify and process your grant. No food or beverage expenses are eligible. Educational programming expenses are eligible. Rebates are for supplies and products only, no reimbursement for labor.
