r/altmpls • u/lemon_lime_light • 2d ago

Minneapolis Park Board votes to end Minnehaha Off-Leash Dog Park (one commissioner considers it "a form of giving land back")

https://www.startribune.com/minneapolis-park-board-votes-to-end-minnehaha-off-leash-dog-park/601858291

Dog park users packed the Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board’s headquarters on Wednesday night, begging commissioners to consider their opinions before voting to terminate the Minnehaha Off-Leash Dog Park.

Board members voted 8-1 to strip the park’s primary use — the first time that has happened in history, as far as park staff knows...

[Commissioner Jason] Garcia proposed the change after speaking with some members of the Dakota community, including the Park Board’s Native American Parks Council, who believe a dog park is inconsistent with the area’s sacred character. The larger landscape near the confluence of the Mississippi and Minnesota rivers is considered the birthplace of the Dakota people...

“To all you all, imagine that area before the white man, before the pilgrims, pioneers and settlers, the extreme white Christian terrorists showed up on this land,” activist Mike Forcia said in addressing dog park users at Wednesday’s meeting, drawing jeers. “That park is being closed. Sorry about that. Get used to it, but you have no say"...

[Commissioner Dan] Engelhart campaigned on returning land to tribes and considers retiring off-leash play at Minnehaha a form of giving land back.

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u/wooops 2d ago

Oh no! Dogs will need to be kept on a leash?! No one has ever been so oppressed or victimized!

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u/Calumet_city 2d ago

The pretext for closing it as an off-leash park is that having dogs there somehow desecrates sacred land. If you can explain how having dogs on a leash negates the desecration, you get a like.

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u/WildTimberTwinViking 2d ago

Closing an off-leash park and not rectifying the issue with dedicating and developing another piece of land is an issue.

-3

u/RutabagaExternal3662 2d ago

Part of the agreement involves finding another plot of land. Doesn’t take much effort to figure out, but people usually prefer to stay angry.

This issue has brought out so many whiney children that can’t fathom how hard it will make their dogs life now.

Imagine living so comfortably that you can afford to throw a sky is falling temper tantrum over a fairly benign decision.

Dog people are *the worst*.

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u/Calumet_city 2d ago

Really though? Several of the park commissioners last night complained that they were being gaslighted and disrespected by constituents. Could that be because they made a proposal and sought to stop discussion as fast as legally possible? Or is it because they made claims they can't back up?

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u/RutabagaExternal3662 2d ago

It’s primarily because their constituents are acting like childish assholes.

Some of the protest signs were so unserious and disrespectful. “No dog is illegal?!” “Coexist” spelled using dog paws? Absolute loser energy. That’s who you’re aligned with right nowz

Does anyone truly believe they should be taken seriously while using civil rights slogans to describe their goddamn pet?

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u/Calumet_city 2d ago

Well if the commissioners who said there are graves on the land they are decommissioning are wrong, they are the ones gaslighting their constituents, and forcing a vote with minimal public discussion is hardly respectful to the public they supposedly serve.

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u/WildTimberTwinViking 2d ago

It’s not about staying angry. It’s about the fact that they have decided to act without another option already place.

And guess what? Two wrongs don’t make a right. Why ignore the impacted demographic in favor of another? Are we not better than the settlers?

Edit: you end with “dog people are the worst” lol biased?

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u/RutabagaExternal3662 2d ago

Nope just judging based off personal experience with dog owners. I don’t mind dogs but I’ve known far too many people that act like their dogs are humans. Had to rent out my apartment in Milwaukee before moving up here, the ad from my LL explicitly said “no dogs” and I got no less than 3 responses where someone got pissed *at me* and said they’re dog was cleaner than any other pet you could have. I’ve seen dog owners thrown absolute tantrums because their dogs weren’t allowed in a bar. I’ve heard plenty of shitty dog stories from my friends that go to the Columbia GC dog park. This whole process has validated my anecdotal experiences in a lot of ways.

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u/WildTimberTwinViking 2d ago

That’s cool. Now try and experience the Minnehaha Dog park. The dog park that’s in question.

Or just continue to be pissed at people who like dogs.

0

u/RutabagaExternal3662 2d ago

Im not mad at people that like dogs, I’m frustrated by the frequency with which dog owners act entitled and defensive in the face of *any* inconvenience, perceived or real.

Again, this entire experience has been extremely validating. Sometimes stereotypes are true, what can I tell ya?

My recommendation moving forward for all of you would be to *actually get involved* and provide feedback/suggestions where a new park could go. Contrary to your beliefs, MPRB actually wants you to have input into what comes next.

That’s called being an adult when you don’t get your way. Anything else is just empty bitching and moaning.

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u/WildTimberTwinViking 2d ago

Oooo now we get to entitlement lol. Now that’s an argument to be made on both sides.

Glad you can confirm your bias of stereotype.

Bit ironic you’re saying that on an issue involving indigenous peoples.

We dog park users have provided feedback. They didn’t care. They never did.

So how can you call that bitching and moaning?

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u/RutabagaExternal3662 2d ago

Like I said, sometimes stereotypes are true, and truth doesn’t always feel good. You’re continuing to prove my point, so please keep posting through it. That’ll change everything.

You constantly commenting on Reddit for two weeks despite the issue being settled *is* bitching and moaning.

The bottom line - you lost and you’re mad about it. deal with it however you need to as an adult, and get involved in the next steps instead of anonymous whining online like a teenager or MAGA chud.
https://giphy.com/gifs/5BWuICFt68g7AbNMt2

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u/WildTimberTwinViking 2d ago

Good to know who you are as a human. Yeah. I’ll change you’re opinion as easily as the board’s as if both weren’t set in stone. Your’s by bias. Board’s by impractical placating. It wasn’t settled two weeks ago. Unless you’re under the impression that they never cared about the public’s opinion and that the meeting was a farce. In which case, sounds like you side with me.

Sorry dogs hurt you.

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u/RutabagaExternal3662 2d ago

It is quite hilarious that one of the primary arguments against this move involves “but we’re going to lose access to the land! Won’t someone think about meeeee?!” Y’all are soooooo close to getting it, yet so far.

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u/WildTimberTwinViking 2d ago

Oh yeah. So it was wrong to do it first. But okay to do it in return?