2014 ANNUAL REPORT Water Works — a RiverFirst signature project ®SCAPE FROM THE DIRECTORS August 2015 Dear Friends of the Minneapolis Parks Foundation, Tom Evers We are fortunate to live in a city that is unique in its system of parks. From one generation to the next, parks have been integral to our community’s quality of life. Whether you run or bike trails, paddle in lakes and streams, romp in pools and playgrounds, explore quiet places of regional parks, or commute along a parkway – the park system is part of your experience Sue Bennett in Minneapolis. In 2014, Minneapolis saw a 21st century renaissance in parks design and development. Community and civic leaders launched several high-profile park projects in conjunction with significant commercial and residential development, especially in the downtown area. Staff at Longfellow House As these new projects got underway, the Minneapolis Parks Foundation completed an exciting design for Water Works – an expansion of Mill Ruins Park overlooking St. Anthony Falls and the Stone Arch Bridge. We 2014 Board of Directors As of December 31, 2014 honed the Water Works concept over 18 months, in collaboration with the Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board, and with invaluable community Stuart Ackerberg Shawntera Hardy CEO, The Ackerberg Group Deputy Chief of Staff, input. The result is a vision for an amazing visitor experience – an urban State of Minnesota Mark Addicks waterfront destination resonant with history. Chief Marketing Officer, Sarah Harris, General Mills Secretary/Treasurer Water Works is one of three RiverFirst signature projects that the Parks Managing Director, University Daniel Avchen, Chair of Minnesota Foundation – Foundation is actively helping to realize, along with Hall’s Island and the Executive Director – Real Estate Advisors Strategic Growth, HGA 26th Avenue North Overlook. We are forging a creative public-private Architects and Engineers Liz Hawn* partnership with the Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board to implement Community Leader Sue Bennett, Vice Chair the RiverFirst vision and ensure that future Upper Riverfront parks and Community Leader Wendy Holmes Senior Vice President, Artspace trails are a catalyst for renewed economic and cultural health for North Dorothy Bridges and Northeast Minneapolis. Senior Vice President, Federal Mary McCarthy Reserve Bank of Minneapolis Community Leader As the leading voice for the Next Generation of Parks, the Parks Robert Bruininks Tom Paul Foundation has a dual focus on innovation and equity. Going forward, President Emeritus, Chief Consumer Officer, University of Minnesota UnitedHealthcare our work encompasses the whole Minneapolis parks system, in addition to the riverfront. We are dedicated to bringing needed attention and Ryan Burnet Thomas Pohlad Partner, Burnet & Birkeland General Manager, philanthropic investment to places that represent our highest ambitions for Real Estate Group, and Vice Carousel Motor Group President, Burnet Hospitality a vital community. To meet this demand, we augmented our expertise in Connie Remele John Crosby Community Leader project management, fundraising, and executive leadership, notably with Community Leader the October addition of Tom Evers as Executive Director. Paul Reyelts Caren Dewar Retired CFO, Valspar Corp. Executive Director, Urban Land Our entire Board of Directors remains committed to building on Institute Minnesota R.T. Rybak* Minneapolis’ rich legacy of parks and working with a breadth of partners Executive Director, Andre Fischer Generation Next to create new opportunities for improving our park system. All of this work President, BPM Show TV, LLC would not be possible without donors like you. Tene Wells Tom Fisher Principal, Tene Wells Consulting Dean, University of Minnesota – Thank you for joining us in this effort and for your support in 2014. College of Design Frank Wilkinson* Community Leader We have a lot to accomplish and we look forward to the opportunity Joseph Gibbons Senior Vice President, Boyd, to do it together. Bencini, Gibbons & Associates * Joined board in 2015 – Merrill Lynch Global Sincerely, Wealth Management Ex Officio Board Members Tom Evers Sue Bennett Liz Wielinski Jayne Miller Executive Director 2015 Chair of the Board President, Superintendent, Minneapolis Park & Recreation Minneapolis Park & Board of Commissioners Recreation Board RIVERFIRST: A CAMPAIGN FOR THE NEXT GENERATION OF PARKS RiverFirst will spark an urban park renaissance on the Mississippi Riverfront from St. Anthony Falls to the northern city limits. The Minneapolis Parks Foundation is partnering with the Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board on this visionary initiative adopted by the Park Board in 2012. Through RiverFirst, our generation establishes a continuous and robust public riverfront for future generations – truly addressing inequality in our system. This 26th Avenue North Overlook ®TLS parkland expansion continues the vision of the city’s early leaders who conceived and created the celebrated Minneapolis Grand RiverFirst Signature Projects Rounds we enjoy today. Signature Projects RiverFirst’s Signature Projects integrate natural environment, economic Upper Harbor development, active living, recreation, Terminal and regional competitiveness: ■ 26th Avenue North Overlook Transformation of a dead-end at the Mississippi River to an activated Riverfront Trails overlook and trail junction links the new 26th Avenue Greenway to downtown. ■ Scherer Site & Hall’s Island Restoration of a river island creates a protected cove and gives Northeast 26th Avenue North Overlook Minneapolis recreational access to the river and its first beach. ■ Upper Harbor Terminal Transformation of the barging terminal to a combination of redevelopment and parkland. The City and Park Board are Scherer Site & Hall’s Island currently developing the strategy for these 48 acres and more than a mile of riverfront. ■ Upper Riverfront Trail Network Completes linked biking and walking trails along 19 miles of Mississippi Riverfront and connects North and Northeast Minneapolis with a world- class regional and national network. Water Works Park ■ Water Works An unparalleled cultural and recreational experience on the downtown riverfront. Water Works is a place to arrive, celebrate and honor St. Anthony Falls and the iconic Stone Arch Bridge, which already see nearly 2.5 million visits annually. THE LAKE CREATURE Call Me Minne All About _[ (that’s me!) ■ My real name is _[. I was created by Cameron Gainer, a visual and installation artist. ■ I debuted as an Art in the Park project in Brooklyn, NY, where I was installed in the Salt Marsh Nature Preserve. (Yum!) ■ I first came to Minneapolis in 2009, on loan to the Minneapolis Parks Foundation from Gainer. ■ My “forever family” – the Parks Foundation – embraced me in 2010. ■ In 2010, my friends and fans chose my nickname, “Minne, the Lake Creature.” Minne means water in Dakota. I love it! ■ I’m made of fiberglass and aluminum and a wee bit of whimsy. ■ I’m a graceful 13' tall. I’m also 6' wide and 11' long. Just right for a lake creature! Preferred Habitat ■ Minneapolis has 17 lakes and ponds, but only nine have my kind of habitat. I consider things like depth, current, and type of lakebed when choosing possible lake homes. ■ From 2009 to 2011, I visited as many as four lakes in a season. Whew! ■ Since 2012, I make one lake my summer-long home, because of environmental factors and relocation costs. Wirth Lake My Visits to 2012 Minneapolis 35W Lakes Summer 2011 Extracurricular Activities Brownie ■ I have my own social media presence Lake with thousands of fans on Facebook Fall 2009, Fall 2011 Lake and Twitter. Connect with me of the Isles @LakeCreature. W Lake St E Lake St Spring 2010, 2014 ■ I’m surprisingly well traveled. In addition to New York, Florida, and of Lake Calhoun 2015 Powderhorn course Minnesota, I was a highlight of a winter-long art exhibition at Brigham Young University in Utah in 2013 – 14. Summer 2009, Summer 2010 Lake Hiawatha Lake Fall 2010, Summer 2011 Harriet Bring Minne Home! Contact MPF to bring home a 35W Summer 2010 limited edition 22" x 30" Lake photogravure print of Minne. Nokomis Grand Rounds Printed by Manhattan-based 2013 the Lagoon Christopher Creyts, Master Printer of Block and Copper, from Cameron Gainer’s original artwork. CONTRIBUTORS Marcia Townley Kimberly Ferguson Horace Cleveland Circle Ted Tucker Andre Fischer* Recognizing the significant contribution of donors who have Jason Usher Tom Fisher and Claudia Wielgorecki Mary Vaughan Kathleen Fluegel made cumulative gifts of $50,000 or more. Robert and Julie White Ian Friendly Sue Bennett Paul and Mary Reyelts Brad Fuller and Libby Lincoln Julia Dayton Angus and Margaret Wurtele $1 – $499 Susan Gerstner Gigi’s Café Anonymous (10) Elizabeth Redleaf Terri Gold Martha Abbott Michael and Barbara Goldner David Abel and Lora Pyka Timothy Goodman Next Generation Circle Above the Falls Sports* Peter and Mary Gove Ron and Gloria Abrahamson Recognizing generous donors who have made a three-year Jack and Susan Graber Steve and Erin Adams Tim Grady and Catherine Allan comittment of $30,000 or more. AmazonSmile Foundation Robert and Susan Greenberg Ameriprise Financial Mark Addicks and Thomas Hoch Shawntera Hardy – Corporate Match John and Diane Herman Sue and David Bennett Family Fund Michael and Margaret Anderson Richard and Carrie Higgins of The Minneapolis Foundation Becky Anderson and Richard Baker Karen Hoistad Mark and Connie Andrew David Dayton Douglas and Kerry Hoverson Frederick and