Food insecurity is a growing issue in our community. Through my work with individuals facing eating disorders, I’ve seen firsthand how limited access to nutritious food can have devastating impacts.

While waiting in line at Urban Tails, I spoke with a neighbor who shared how much they relied on their community garden plot at Loring Park — growing nearly half their food during the summer and significantly reducing grocery costs while gaining access to fresh, healthy produce.

The Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board has expanded community gardens citywide, and the response has been overwhelmingly positive. As commissioner, I will actively support the creation of more community gardens in our parks and champion programming that teaches gardening skills to both children and adults — helping grow food, knowledge, and resilience across District 4 and the whole city.

My top priority is to be accessible and responsive to your concerns. If you reach out to me, you’ll get a response.

I’ll work with the community to advance the issues that matter most. I plan to attend neighborhood association and key stakeholder meetings regularly, host engagement sessions when appropriate, and conduct proactive outreach to ensure every voice in District 4 is heard. I’ll also be present at park events — celebrating with you and helping build a stronger, more connected community.

District 4 neighbors like Henry LaBounta, Tom Hoch, and Jody Wynen have been vocal and proactive about the litter problem in our neighborhoods — and how it inevitably makes its way into our parks and waterways. I’ve participated in several clean-up events in District 4 parks, and if elected, I will actively plan and promote more. Minneapolis is long overdue for a citywide public service campaign on litter, and I’ll be a strong advocate for launching one through the Park Board.

Downtown residents deserve more walkable access to parks and green spaces for recreation, relaxation, and daily life. Tourists need more vibrant destinations, and we must reimagine the use of vacant downtown buildings — now available at historically low prices.

While the riverfront is a treasured regional asset, it alone isn’t enough. We need more neighborhood parks downtown — places for children to play, dogs to walk, and families to gather. I will work to ensure the promises of the Downtown Service Area Plan are fulfilled.

I also support bold, year-round solutions like a Downtown Conservatory — an indoor park space modeled after the Como Conservatory in St. Paul, which is operated by that city’s Park and Recreation department. As Park Board Commissioner, I will champion the creation of a Downtown Conservatory in Minneapolis. It would provide a much-needed, all-season green space for residents and a new destination to draw people back downtown.

I support bike lanes in our parks where appropriate — where space allows and where they won’t harm tree canopy or narrow green spaces, such as around Lake of the Isles. I will also advocate for adding bike infrastructure where it’s needed to improve connectivity and access.

Many community members rely on park bike lanes for daily commuting. A frequent concern I’ve heard is about the one-way bike lanes in our parks. This design often forces riders to take unnecessarily long routes or ride against traffic — both of which can discourage cycling and create safety issues. I will work with the community and MPRB staff to find solutions that improve bike access without compromising our parkland.

Many parks in District 4 benefit from active stewardship groups — such as Friends of Loring Park and Friends of Thomas Lowry Park — that care for and advocate on behalf of their public spaces. These groups foster community engagement and are vital partners, especially in an era of limited public resources. If elected, I will work with District 4 neighborhoods to help establish new stewardship groups where needed, while ensuring Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board resources are distributed equitably across all communities.

The Lake of the Isles skating rink — the only lake-based rink in Minneapolis — is a beloved winter tradition in Park District 4. Like other rinks citywide, it faces growing threats from climate change and ongoing funding cuts.

Community members from across Minneapolis treasure our outdoor skating rinks and want to see them preserved. To help ensure their long-term viability, I support strategies that promote self-sufficiency. One practical solution is to allow the sale of warm beverages and snacks at rinks, with proceeds reinvested directly into their upkeep.

With creative, community-supported solutions like this, we can protect these cherished Minnesota winter experiences for generations to come.

Safety is essential to people’s enjoyment and use of our parks. We must ensure adequate lighting, address areas of concern, and work to reduce violent incidents in District 4 parks.

As commissioner, I will advocate for justice for victims of crime. I will take an active role in understanding public safety challenges. I plan to participate in a Park Police ride-along to gain firsthand insight into park safety issues and, with community stakeholders, I will explore proactive strategies for crime prevention.

I also support crime prevention through environmental design — using thoughtful planning, visibility, and activation of public spaces to make our parks safer and more welcoming for everyone.

Budgets may not be the most exciting topic — but they’re the foundation of everything we do. Without stable funding, we can’t maintain or grow the park system we all rely on.

With projected budget shortfalls at MPRB, I will be a strong advocate at both the state and local levels to ensure your hard-earned tax dollars are invested wisely and transparently. I’ll also seek out partnerships with nonprofits and philanthropic organizations to support long-term park vitality.

In addition, I support creative revenue strategies — such as food and beverage sales at skating rinks and popular park sites — to help offset operational costs. We must continue to explore innovative funding solutions to secure a thriving, equitable park system for the future.

I am proudly pro-labor and will consider the needs and voices of Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board workers in every vote I take. I believe our parks thrive when the people who care for them are respected, supported, and heard. With me, there will always be an open line of communication with every stakeholder group — especially the dedicated staff who keep our parks running every day.

Expanding our tree canopy is one of the most effective ways Minneapolis can fight climate change, manage stormwater, and reduce pollution in our lakes. Street boulevards, maintained by MPRB, offer critical opportunities to grow this green infrastructure.

Unfortunately, many neighborhoods — particularly those with histories of underinvestment — still lack adequate tree cover. If elected, I will make expanding our urban tree canopy a top priority, with a focus on equity, climate resilience, and long-term environmental health.

Clean lakes and rivers are a top concern for many in District 4 — and for good reason. During my time on the East Isles Neighborhood Association board, I worked with the Green Team and learned how everyday actions, like salting sidewalks, can have lasting impacts. As the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency notes, just one teaspoon of salt can permanently pollute five gallons of water — and that salt ultimately flows into our lakes and rivers through storm drains.

But it’s not just salt. Leaves contribute phosphorus, and pet waste adds nitrogen — both of which can fuel algae blooms and degrade water quality.

As commissioner, I will champion both proactive and responsive strategies — including public education, smarter maintenance practices, and green infrastructure — to protect and restore the health of our lakes and rivers.

I wholeheartedly support MPRB youth programming initiatives. These programs are a vital investment in our future — providing safe spaces for play, growth, and community. For many families, they also offer essential support in the form of childcare and nutrition.

Recreation centers and neighborhood parks are where we can make the greatest strides toward equity — by investing in children’s recreation, wellbeing, and sense of belonging in their own communities. If elected, I will partner with Minneapolis Public Schools to see how the Park Board can offer services that most meet community needs.