Ask Elizabeth Shaffer to support nine holes
Commissioner Elizabeth Shaffer is the crucial sixth vote we need for the Hiawatha Golf Course Area Master Plan. Let’s make sure she knows that the people of Minneapolis want clean water and a park for all! Here’s how you can spend 5 minutes to help us achieve it:
Email or call Commissioner Shaffer, and ask her to vote YES to pass the nine-hole plan.
Think of someone you know who lives in District 4, and ask them to reach out to Commissioner Shaffer to do the same.
How to help
Email: eshaffer@minneapolisparks.org
Phone: 612-230-6443, Extension 4
Your message can be very brief if you’d like. Here’s a sample:
Dear Commissioner Shaffer,
I’m asking you to support the Hiawatha Golf Course Area Master Plan so our community can enjoy a clean lake, a sustainable golf course, and a revitalized park. Please vote YES on the nine hole plan! It’s vital that we deal with the flooding and pollution in a responsible way, and that we pass a plan that takes all park users into account. We’ve waited many years for this plan to be put into action and it’s time to move it forward.
Thanks,
[Your name]
[Your neighborhood, or address if you are comfortable sharing]
If you live in her district, be sure to mention that!
Why should Shaffer support the plan?
The nine hole plan is the result of eight years of community engagement, and takes into account the perspectives of Black golfers, Dakota people, neighbors, park users, and environmentalists, all while responsibly addressing the flooding and pollution issues.
A nine hole golf course increases inclusivity by creating a welcoming space for new golfers, casual golfers, women, and young people.
The nine hole plan expands opportunities for youth sports by adding golf simulators and other learning facilities, and by creating improved ski trails with snowmaking capabilities.
The nine hole plan rewilds and restores natural spaces around the lake, increasing biodiversity and providing opportunities to connect city residents with nature.
The nine hole plan puts us on a path of sustainability and resilience in the face of changing demographics and a changing climate. We cannot wait any longer to start preparing our city for the future.
Want to do more?
Contact Jacob Frey
If the September 7th vote passes 5-4, the plan will go to Mayor Frey with an option to veto. Contact him and ask him not to veto the plan! Let him know that a veto would only cause more delay and more harm, and would put Public Works between a rock and a hard place, since they still have an obligation to treat stormwater pollution.
Email Frey: jacob.frey@minneapolismn.gov
Also contact policy aide Suzanne Sobotka: suzanne.sobotka@minneapolis.mn.gov or 612-673-5485
Contact the rest of the park board
Phone numbers and information on districts can be found here. Please feel free to email all commissioners at once, or write a personal message to each of them for an even greater impact. Thank the supporters for their work on the plan, and ask the opponents to reconsider their stance.
Supporters of the nine hole plan
President Meg Forney
Commissioner Tom Olsen
Commissioner Becky Alper
Commissioner Steffanie Musich
Commissioner Cathy Abene
Opponents of the nine hole plan
Vice President Alicia D. Smith
Commissioner Billy Menz
Commissioner Becka Thompson