(established in 1965)
1620 E. 46th St. (Lake Nokomis Presbyterian Church)
Minneapolis, MN 55407
FRN Info Line: 612-721-5424 • Fax: 612-721-4539 • E-mail: frnng@mtn.org
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With the advent of the Minneapolis Neighborhood Revitalization Program, FRNNG began hiring staff in 1993 which allowed for an increased number of neighborhood improvement projects and created the capacity, in 1995, to administer a $2.7 million budget. Paid staff also accelerated the development of our volunteer fundraising capacity and other skills; improved the recruitment and retention of more volunteers; allowed for the maintenance of a computer data base; and vastly improved the quality of the bi-monthly newsletter. Working with the staff, volunteers have continued to bring together residents of all ethnicities to find common solutions to our common problems.
What are the goals of NRP?
The four primary goals of NRP are:
• Build Neighborhood Capacity;
• Redesign Public Services;
• Increase Government Collaboration; and
• Create a Sense of Community. (Robert Thompson)
NRP Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ):
What happened in Phase 1?
What's happening in Phase 2? Why is the NRP Phase 2 survey being done using a random sampling method?
In order to create the NRP Phase 2 Action Plan for our community, we as a neighborhood have created six volunteer task forces (Business, Education, Parks, Housing, Community & Safety and Communications) charged with developing neighborhood improvement projects, strategies and budgets for the next 10 to 15 years . Many of the future projects are based on the successes of NRP Phase 1 (1995 to 2002), and the creative ideas of task force members. Focus groups are also being organized to determine the needs and priorities of selected populations within the neighborhood who often are underrepresented in any neighborhood association (e.g. Latinos, renters, youth, etc.).
An additional source of information for Phase 2 planning comes from neighborhood opinion surveys. We could have sent a survey to each of 4000 homes, but experience has shown, in this neighborhood and others, that the majority of residents don't send their surveys back. Typical return is 5 to 10% if lucky. In addition, our limited volunteer base made it prohibitive to followup with the other 90 to 95%. Finally, unless a majority of surveys are returned with this neighborhood-wide survey method, those who do send them back tend to be higher income and better educated. The results would give us a skewed picture of public opinion.
Therefore, due to limited volunteer resources, the need to have an accurate picture of public opinion and the need to stay within our agreed timeline for Phase 2 planning, the October random sampling survey of the Field Regina Northrop Neighborhood was chosen. The FRNNG Board of Directors agreed with City's NRP office downtown that a properly designed random survey would not only give an accurate picture, but would be easier to implement. As of December 2002, over 40% have returned their surveys...an extremely good return. The next step will be for our volunteers to call or personally contact those who have not.
Link to NRP PlanNet
Some NRP Projects which FRNNG has funded and worked on since 1994:
• Design and installation of a playground at Northrop Elementary School.
• Redesign and installation of the McRae Park playground in collaboration with the Minneapolis Park Board.
• Demolition of blighted business structures at 46th St. and 4th Ave., and the on-going development of a Senior Green Space.
• Establishment of a Home Improvement Loan Program that has funding nearly $2 million dollars worth of loans or grants to help FRNN residents ensure a well-maintained housing stock.
• Collaboration and implementation of the 8 annual Southside Housing Fair events that draws over 3,000 people annually.
• Collaboration and implementation of 5 annual Minneapolis Teen Job & Opportunity Fair events that draws over 600 teens and over 30 Twin City businesses.
• Installation of new windows to soundproof Field School to prevent disruption from airport noise & improve energy efficiency.
• Hosting 12 successful annual neighborhood parade/festivals in collaboration with FRNN businesses and the Minneapolis Park Board.
• Establishment of the Neighborhood Tutoring Project and annual recruitment of over 50 adult mentors to tutor children in reading and math at school and church sites.
• Collaboration, funding & establishment of the Senior Helpline to connect FRNN elders with resources that promotes independent living.
• Continuation of the bi-monthly Close to Homeneighborhood newsletter serving 4000 FRN households & over 60 businesses since 1993.
• Design, production and delivery of Welcome New Neighbor Packets to 150 new FRNN residents annually since 1998.
• Development & implementation of the FRN Commercial Grants Program to provide funding and promotion for exterior improvement of over 20 FRNN businesses.
• Successful petitioning campaign to install pedestrian level lighting in the Field and Regina areas of FRNN (no NRP dollars for lighting itself).
• Recruitment and support of Neighbor to Neighbor Walking Groups to promote communications, exercise & safety awareness.
It goes without saying, that it is the residents and business people of FRN Neighborhood who are the driving force behind all of our projects and programs. In February 2002, FRN Neighborhood was organized and poised to begin the planning process for NRP Phase II.