2025 Candidate Responses - Question 3
How will you work to ensure that the new parkland at Hiawatha honors the history of Black golfers and the course’s legacy as a social hub for Minneapolis’ Black golf community?
Jump to: At Large | District 1 | District 2 | District 3 | District 4 | District 5 | District 6
At Large
Meg Forney (At Large):
“Through our Indigenous Liaison work”"
Tom Olsen (At Large):
“This is also integrated into the current plans. The clubhouse and surrounding areas will be devoted to this history. As the plans move forward, I would support committed staff time that supports and organizes programming that specifically targets Black golfers and Black youth who have an interest in the support. We need to also continue and improve our coordination with local schools to bring kids to the course and natural areas to learn about the rich history.”
Michael Wilson (At Large):
“The golf course’s history as a site of Black excellence and resilience in the face of exclusion and discrimination is deeply important, and deserves to be preserved. This means working with black golfers, historians, and community leaders to create public art and interpretive installations that celebrate the course’s history, and ensuring that golf remains accessible and affordable, particularly for residents of color and working class Minneapolitans. It will also be essential to engage young athletes and park-goers in learning about and participating in this history with a golf course that can still host events, tournaments, and youth programs that celebrate and extend its legacy into the future.”
Amber Frederick (At Large):
“Hiawatha Golf Course holds deep cultural significance as a home for generations of Black golfers who built community there despite barriers elsewhere. I will work to ensure that legacy is preserved through physical and programmatic design—whether that’s a commemorative space, interpretive storytelling, mentorship programs, or supporting the Solomon Hughes Sr. Golf Academy. Preserving this history isn’t just about memory—it’s about continuing to make golf and park spaces accessible and welcoming for everyone.”
Mary McKelvey (At Large):
“I will work to ensure that the Solomon Hughes Clubhouse is open for Black community gatherings and Black youth golf as a priority. I will support the installment of historical markers or educational pieces to be placed in the clubhouse (or where the Black community would like to see them) regarding Solomon Hughes and how he broke the racial barriers of golf at a time when racial covenants were on most home deeds in the surrounding area. This will be a great learning opportunity for those who may at first only be looking for a great game of golf. I will support ways that the deep history of this course can encourage park participation that is anti-racist into the future.”
Averi M. Turner (At Large):
No response provided
Adam Schneider (At Large):
“I would love to include current and former golfers to provide input on the design and implementation of this project so that they can have direct say on how they and the legacy of the Hiawatha Golf Course are presented to visitors and new golfers. I am also interested in seeing if they have any events or programming ideas that can help celebrate the course’s legacy as a social hub for the local black golf community. “
Matthew Dowgwillo (At Large):
“I feel this issue is really important to our city and the message we send to all peoples that live here.
My view of the world includes the value of personal relationships, especially as a relates to business and opportunities in the future. I don’t want their community to feel like people are taking something away from them again. I think one of the best things park board could improve on is working with outside organizations to get more attendance at the parks. In this context: It means boys and girls clubs and groups from the north side being invited to come to the golf course and learn the new sport for the betterment of their futures and careers in business. I don’t want a single future leader of America to ever feel like they couldn’t get ahead and couldn’t get a promotion because they never learned the sport that their coworkers and Peers played. I think it’s important that we offer those opportunities to the black community.”
District 1
Dan Engelhart (District 1):
“Similar to the above- the legacy of Black Golf and this particular golf course is important to uphold as we move forward with this plan. “
Dan Miller (District 1):
No response provided
District 3
Kedar Deshpande (District 3):
“Golf and youth sports are important, both for recreational purposes and for honoring the history of the city. I will work to ensure the golf course remains open and used by everyone in the community, but also have a focus on Black history and youth programming. Consistency, and variety, in programming is key---it's not just about playing golf. It's about honoring the memory and history created at the course and bringing youth to the site and getting them engaged.”
District 4
Andrew Gebo (District 4):
No response provided
Jason Garcia (District 4):
“As we look at the final form the golf course will take after course reconstruction, I would encourage exhibits in both the clubhouse and on the course highlighting this history, along with the history of the lake prior to the golf course construction. I also believe we can make the course a piece of living history by featuring the stories of the early Black golfers in Minneapolis, and the way the Hiawatha course helped break down racial barriers.”
Jeanette Colby (District 4):
“In my experience, the Park Board staff has shown real strength in engaging communities and integrating a variety of perspectives. I would support their work and trust Black golfers to step forward with meaningful ideas and approaches to recognizing the important history of Hiawatha golf course for the community. My approach as a commissioner would be to work with residents and help bring varied perspectives forward.”
District 5
Steffanie Musich (District 5):
“I will work to ensure the new parkland at Hiawatha honors the legacy of Black golfers and the course’s role as a social hub by actively supporting engagement, visibility, and cultural preservation. This includes elevating the voices of Black golfers and community members throughout every stage of public engagement, and advocating for interpretive features—such as historical markers, storytelling installations, and community-led programming—that celebrate the rich history of Black golf at Hiawatha. I will also work to ensure that future park uses reflect this legacy by protecting access to golf, supporting intergenerational recreation, and continuing to accommodate Black-led golf events and gatherings. Honoring this history means embedding it into the future of the park—not just remembering it, but building on it.”
Kay Carvajal Moran (District 5):
“It is critical that the new parkland at Hiawatha honors the history of Black golfers. In collaboration with the community, I will support a memorial honoring the history of the land, acknowledging the original indigenous stewards and the Black golfers who left a lasting impact on the course. We must continue the legacy of the course being accessible to all by supporting reduced pricing and free equipment for patrons. There should be no barriers for folks wanting to access our parks and we should learn from the legacy of Black golfers like Solomon Hughes Sr. to continue that work.”
Colton Baldus (District 5):
“I will work as partners with the Black golf community to co-design the new parkland, ensuring their history is not just remembered but actively honored. This means integrating public art, storytelling, and dedicated gathering spaces that celebrate the course’s vital role as a social hub, making this legacy a central and permanent part of the park's identity.”
Justin Cermak (District 5):
“I will honor the history of Hiawatha Golf Course by KEEPING it an 18 hole championship course. Once the “Master Plan” is gone, the course will be revitalized with private funds whilst keeping it a public course.
The golf course makes money and the tee times are in short supply because the course, actually, looks amazing. Big props to the grounds crew. Real heroes!”
District 6
Cathy Abene (District 6):
“I support the adopted compromise plan for the Hiawatha site. The plan includes many strategies to honor the history of Black golf. Also underway is a golf-forward design that is being led by a team focused on a high-quality golf experience, while keeping the important history top of mind. Once the new course is built, my hope is that it will attract young people and others to the game of golf and make the sport accessible to all who would like to play.”
Ira Jourdain (District 6):
No response provided