NRP Success Stories - Ward 4 - Some of the Success Stories from Ward 4

• Lowry Corridor Study – $30,000 NRP funds were used to develop a Lowry Corridor Study to inform people of the need for improvements. This study resulted in leveraging 13 million dollars in capital construction and infrastructure improvements and economic development on Lowry Ave.

• Cleveland Park Improvements – NRP funds were used to improve Cleveland Park.  Completed projects included walkways, lighting, site furniture and tot lots.

• Home Improvement Programs – The Cleveland Neighborhood Association invested over 60 percent of its NRP funds on housing.  More than $400,000 was made available for home improvements

 

• Fun Factory – The Folwell Fun Factory is a small, closed trailer packed with active game and sports equipment that is delivered by staff and a Special Projects Team to block parties within the Folwell neighborhood. The Fun Factory was designed as an icebreaker to facilitate resident communication and community building. It provides a significant opportunity for multi-generational and diverse resident interaction. Residents in the Folwell neighborhood invested NRP funds in the Folwell Fun Factory.

 

• Home Improvement Programs - Nearly $8 million in NRP funds (including program income) has been invested in Jordan’s housing stock through revolving loans, purchase / rehab loans and subsidies and major housing redevelopment efforts.  Even though home improvement programs have become commonplace in NRP, the programs in Jordan are among the best.  Jordan’s NRP funds have been used to improve over 400 properties. The program is structured so that it helps those who need it most; the annual income for recipient’s has averaged under $30,000.

• Community Garden – When crime rates recently began climbing, residents invested a small portion of their NRP crime and safety funds in improving a vacant lot bordering a troubled corridor.  The garden they established has become a neighborhood gathering spot and a symbol of hope.  

• Jordan Park Inprovements - Jordan contributed $100,000 to partner with the Park Board in making significant improvements to Jordan Park last year. 

• North Regional Library - The neighborhood also contributed some of its NRP funds to the recent renovation of North Regional Library.  

• Home Improvement Programs – Lind-Bohanon neighborhood residents invested nearly $400,000 in home improvement programs and senior housing construction. These programs helped stabilize the neighborhood’s supply of affordable housing

• Swimming Pool Improvements – NRP funds were used to completely renovate the wading pool at Lind-Bohanon Park to assure safe water for children’s play and to bring the pool up to current health standards

•GHAR Square – The Lind-Bohanon Neighborhood Association (LBNA) used $112,162of their NRP funds to clean up and plant a blighted and polluted site located at 6th Street North between North 51st and 52nd Avenues.  Numerous trees were planted to make this former eyesore a green and shady urban forest.  The square is named for George Hill, a long time resident and neighborhood leader, and Alice Rainville, a former City Council member who served North Minneapolis for more than 30 years.

•North Lyndale Business Improvements –$60,000 has been set aside for business façade improvements as a matching grant for existing businesses to improve their exteriors.  A land use and streetscape plan was also developed for North Lyndale Avenue with $28,800 in NRP Funds

• Partnerships – LBNA formed partnerships with other Camden Community neighborhoods to accomplish two other major projects: the relocation of the Camden Physicians Clinic ($12,268 in LBNA NRP funds) to the old Camden Theater site and the construction of 75 units of senior housing at Shingle Creek Commons ($50,000 in NRP funds) on the Humboldt Greenway

 

• Housing Programs – The Shingle Creek neighborhood invested more than 85 percent of its NRP plan allocation in home improvement programs and for construction of new senior housing.

• Shingle Creek Commons –The Shingle Creek Neighborhood Association (SCNA) partnered with other Camden Community neighborhoods and provided $150,000 in SCNA NRP funds for the Shingle Creek Commons senior housing apartments on the Humboldt Greenway.

• Olson Middle School Gym Floor – SCNA provided $10,000 in NRP funds to the school district for the Olson Middle School gymnasium floor repair/replacement.

• Summer Youth Programs – Summer youth programs at the park were designed and implemented using $16,400 in NRP funds to help divert youth from gang activity.

• Industrial Park Landscaping Plan – SCNA used $3,000 in NRP funds and a matching amount from the City Planning Department to develop a landscape plan for the industrial park. 

 

 

• Victory Park Improvements – Residents in the Victory neighborhood proved just how committed they are to the City by investing their time, energy, and $195,000 of NRP funds in a project to renovate their neighborhood park.  The Victory neighborhood partnered with the Park Board and the Minneapolis Schools to: purchase new playground equipment, make major field improvements and design and implement a major landscape redesign.

• Loring School Improvements – The neighborhood secured new wiring for technology at the Loring School withv$45,768 of its NRP funds and provided$9,995 for new band equipment to help the students at the school.   The residents of the neighborhood have access to both the computers and the musical instruments.

• Seniors/Youth Program – A program was created to partner neighborhood seniors and youth in the Youth Corps job program using $10,000 in NRP funds.  Neighborhood seniors often need help with yard work and snow shoveling in order to remain in their own homes.   Seniors and youth have reported new friendships between youth and seniors and greater tolerance and understanding as a result of this program.

• Camden Physicians’ Clinic – ViNA used $6,691 of its NRP funds to partner with other Camden Community neighborhoods in relocating the Camden Physicians Clinic to the old Camden Theater site on Lyndale Avenue North.  This action kept the only private clinic practice clinic serving north Minneapolis from going to the suburbs. 

• Camden Physicians – The Webber-Camden neighborhood partnered with the Victory and Lind-Bohanon neighborhoods in relocating the Camden Physicians Clinic to the old Camden Theater site on Lyndale Avenue North.  This action kept the only private clinic practice clinic serving north Minneapolis from going to the suburbs.