1. Posted by http://MillCityTimes.com
Friends of Chute Square Park  Renewing Our Neighborhood Gem
Contact: Lou Burdick
612-339-4053 LueyBird@gmail.com
East Bank Neighborhood Volunteers Seek to Update Chute Square Park
October 27, 2011 -- Continuing a century-long tradition of neighborhood support for its local park, a group
of neighbors organized as Friends of Chute Square Park have taken on the task of raising funds to
“return the sparkle to this neighborhood gem,” according to Lou Burdick, who is providing leadership
along with other local residents for the update project.
Cuningham Group Architecture donated design services for a plan approved earlier this year by the
Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board and the Historic Preservation Commission. It calls for
replacements for deteriorating benches, tables and walkways with construction slated to begin in early
spring 2012. “The plan element that has been greeted with the most enthusiasm,” Burdick said, “is the
addition of lights to illuminate the much-used walking paths in the interior of the park that are now totally
dark after sunset as neighborhood residents walk to shops, bus stops and restaurants.” In addition,
decorative uplighting will highlight some of the trees in the park.
Another design highlight will be the addition of durable red benches designed to provide an attention-
getting and attractive contrast to the snow in the wintertime and the greenery of summer.
Initial contributions to garner the funds for the $120-$135,000 renewal project have come from generous
residents in the condos nearest the park plus local businesses. These early donors have been rewarded
for their contributions with a matching grant provided by the Phillips and Lund charitable foundations.
According to Dean Phillips, CEO of Phillips Distilling Company, his family’s decision to support the project
was based on “our longstanding commitment to Northeast Minneapolis, the community our company and
charitable foundation have called home for five generations.”
“We’re deeply committed to enriching the communities we serve through creating sensational shopping
experiences in our stores and providing charitable donations to those organizations, such as Friends of
Chute Square Park, who are committed to further strengthening these neighborhoods,” said Tres Lund,
Chairman and CEO of Lund Food Holdings, Inc. (parent company to Lunds and Byerly’s).
The Friends of Chute Square Park are launching a final effort to close out the campaign during the month
of November emphasizing that “no gift is too small, no gift is too large and a $1,000 Friend of the Park gift
will earn recognition in the park in a format yet to be determined.” More information is available at:
http://www.hoffmanparkin.com/chute.pdf. All donations are tax deductible. Online contributions may be
made online at http://www.mplsparksfoundation.org by clicking on the dropdown box and checking
Donation Designation: Chute Square Park. Checks payable to Minneapolis Parks Foundation should
include Chute Square Park in the memo line and be mailed to: Friends of Chute Square Park, c/o Cobalt
Condo Association, 45 University Ave SE, Minneapolis, MN 55414.
Friends of Chute Square Park: Irene Bartram, Lou Burdick, Dewey Kell, Connie Pries, Randy Stanley, Jim & Merrie Stolpestad,
Herb Tousley, Ron Vantine and Theresa Upton.