New friends group supports citizen scientists

Susan Glenn

The Minneapolis Parks and Recreation Board (MPRB) BioBlitz @ Minnehaha Park was held on Saturday, Sept. 14, 2024, and we partnered with the park board to help promote and lead the Citizen Science event using the iNaturalist app to document our observations. It was a fun and successful day, with local experts and Friends of Minnehaha Park members sharing their expertise. Sixty-two people volunteered as Citizen Scientists supported by Friends of Minnehaha Park and MPRB leads and explored and documented the biodiversity of Minnehaha Park. There will be a winter version of the BioBlitz and a spring version in 2025. Funding for this project was provided by the Minnesota Environment and Natural Resources Trust Fund as recommended by the Legislative-Citizen Commission on Minnesota Resources (LCCMR).
On National Public Lands Day, Saturday, Sept. 28, we had 27 volunteers who delivered a total of 81 hours of service, removing buckthorn and burdock and watering the newly planted native plants in the MetroBlooms pollinator garden near the Minnehaha Creek “beach” below the falls. It was a rewarding day, with Friends of Minnehaha Park and neighborhood volunteers joined by naturalists who signed up for service through our partner and program sponsor, Minnesota Master Naturalists.
Buckthorn removal events continued through September and October, and will continue on Saturdays from 1-3 p.m. through the winter, unless canceled due to weather. We are so appreciative of the many volunteers who share their time and their commitment to restoring and protecting the natural environment at Minnehaha Park! As of early October, this year we hosted a total of 30 restoration events at which 196 volunteers delivered 459 hours of service (and removed a ton of buckthorn!) It takes patience and persistence. Ecological restoration begins with awareness, and requires commitment from many.
We are in the process of working with the MPRB to finalize a Memorandum of Understanding, which will allow us to write grants to support projects related to our mission: We provide stewardship and advocacy for Minnehaha Regional Park, engage with the community to respect and learn about the environment and cultural history of the park and partner with the MPRB and community to foster public engagement in restoring and sustaining the natural environment.
Once it is finalized, we will have a nearby recreation center as our regular “home” for informational meetings.
Friends of Minnehaha Park needs your help! We’re looking for a few volunteers to serve on an events committee to plan and coordinate special informational events for the public related to the natural environment or the cultural history of the park. We’re hoping to provide a variety of informative programs monthly from November or December through March. You can expect to devote 2-4 hours on average per month on your committee assignment roles.
Contact us at FriendsofMinnehahaPark@gmail.com if interested in serving on the committee or being a presenter.
Nonprofit website development and hosting expertise consultant needed!
We are preparing to transition away from fiscal sponsorship and to our newly earned 501c3 status. So, we need to have our own website, which requires research, development and overhead. If you have some knowledge and experience in website design, tools and platforms specifically for a small non-profit operating on a shoestring, we need to hear from you!
We are looking for an inexpensive and intuitive website builder platform and host like Wix or Wordpress. Contact us at FriendsofMinnehahaPark@gmail.com.
The Friends of Minnehaha Park has no paid staff and is is completely run by volunteers from the community. Volunteers are the backbone of our organization, and allow us to do the work of restoring the environment and serving the park, the park board and community. Restoration of the natural environment, planning and promoting our events to the public and running the organization is all done by volunteers. Fundraising, administrative tasks and spreading the word about our organization and our mission relies on volunteers like you!
We do not have membership dues or charge for events but your donation and support are appreciated! Follow the link to our landing page on Parks and Trails website. https://www.parksandtrails.org/friends-groups/meet-friends/friends-of-minnehaha-park/ 
Friends of Minnehaha Park is an all volunteer 501c3 nonprofit organization dedicated to preserving, supporting and improving our beautiful and historic Minnehaha Park.