Kingfield Dogpark & MPRB Community Advisory Committee
Kingfield Dogpark on Facebook
Kingfield Dogpark
What did they need?:
Kingfield Dogpark is a volunteer grass-roots organization of residents preparing to approach the Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board with a proposal to create an off-leash area in their local park district. The group had done some public opinion surveys and determined that there was public support and demand for the project, and that next steps required research, additional outreach, community building, document preparation, and communication with local leaders and business owners before approaching the Board with their case.
What did I do?:
I joined a core group of about 12 volunteers willing to put in considerable hours to this proposal. I quickly took on tasks such as creating vector graphics of the park footprint, writing updates and mass messages for our Facebook profile to encourage participation by interested neighbors, drafting language adopted by the neighborhood association board as a statement of support, presenting to the local business association, and communicating with Minneapolis Park & Recreation Board (MPRB) representatives and city council members. I also helped organize outreach events at local parks, and designed fliers & greeted people on the streets to inform others of our plans.
When the MPRB convened a Community Advisory Committee of members nominated by various stakeholder organizations and public officials, I was selected to serve as the representative for the Central, Bryant, and Field/Regina/Northrop neighborhoods.
Who did I work with?:
The group of volunteers, since formally adopted by the neighborhood association board as an official task force, is made up of a diverse set of local residents with a wide variety of talents and interests. The neighborhood also provides part-time paid staff time to help with logistics and resources.
The controversial nature of proposing an off-leash area in a densely residential area with few undeveloped spaces necessitated close communication and cooperation with business, neighborhood, ethnic, and conservation groups with varying degrees of support for, or opposition to, the project.
What did I learn?:
This project gave me a chance to play a bit more in depth with a vector graphics editing program than I had before. I also got a chance to work on my communication skills by presenting to the business association and the neighborhood board of directors, tabling at local events and talking with residents, approaching other dog owners to inform them of our group and its goals, being interviewed by local media, writing letters to Park Commissioners, and other communications with city council members as a representative of the task force.
What did they say?:
He is unfailingly fair, with a high level of emotional intelligence, which serves him well when dealing with people who may be at odds over a contentious issue.
- Tangletown neighborhood stakeholderWith his exceptional communication skills and broad technical skills, Ben provides great value as a consultant. He's also a generous soul and a real pleasure to work with!
- Community Advisory Committee representativeHe quickly established himself as a leader within our group, and became the go-to resource for all things technical. In this leadership position he has maintained a positive and productive attitude, even in the face of some pretty frustrating obstacles.
- Kingfield Dogpark Task Force memberBen has the innate ability to focus in on a need or task at hand and tenaciously see it through to its completion. His research and communication skills during any process I've ever been involved with him on is impressive enough, but most importantly...he stays positive, easy to work with and pleasant throughout the process, no matter how tough or challenging things get.
- Bryant neighborhood stakeholder