How to help

How you can help

We’re happy you want to do what you can to protect the park. We understand not everyone has a lot of time. Hopefully you’ll see things you can fit into your schedule in this long list of options.

Contact decision-makers

NOT SURE WHAT TO SAY? Visit this page for ideas!

The Nine Mile Creek Corridor renewal design process has begun. It is important to have our voices heard to influence the project plan. Write to decision-makers to share how you think the $20 million revenue from the sales tax increase should be used.

The more people who participate, the greater our influence will be. You do not need to be a Bloomington resident to write in!

Write to these people:

Parks and Rec: forward@bloomingtonmn.gov

Mayor Tim Busse: tbusse@BloomingtonMN.gov

…

The City Council

At-large Council members

Jenna Carter: jcarter@BloomingtonMN.gov and

Chao Moua: cmoua@BloomingtonMN.gov

…

Your council person (see map)

District I: Dwayne Lowman: dlowman@BloomingtonMN.gov; NOTE: Dwayne prefers phone calls and has been known to not return emails. His number is: 952-270-2377.

District II: Shawn Nelson: snelson@BloomingtonMN.gov

District III: Lona Dallessandro: LDallessandro@BloomingtonMN.gov

District IV: Victor Rivas: vrivas@bloomingtonmn.gov

…

Be sure to cc the following people:

City Manager Jamie Verbrugge: citymanager@bloomingtonmn.gov

The Council Secretary
councilsecretary@bloomingtonmn.gov

(we’ve been informed that emails sent directly to the council members are not added to the public record, but messages sent to the secretary are)

Subscribe to our newsletter

We’ll keep track of upcoming community engagement events so you don’t have to, and notify you of other ways you can help protect the park. The newsletter typically comes out once or twice a month depending on what’s happening.

Participate in Community Engagement events

The Parks and Recreation department will have Community Engagement events to find out how residents want the sales tax dollars to be spent. It is very important to participate in these. If you subscribe to our newsletter, we’ll keep you informed of upcoming events. Or you can keep an eye out for them on your own. See this page.

Put up a yard sign

If you want a yard sign, let us know at team@restorethenine.org and we will get one to you at no cost.

Tell us if you want delivery (and give us your address) or if you want to pick it up.

Wear Restore the Nine apparel

Show your love of the park, and get people talking!

You can order a t-shirt for $19 (free shipping) here:

https://www.stickermule.com/u/0aaf35dbe109a10/item/14646651

For pins, hats, window clings, and other gear, please contact us at team@restorethenine.org to find out what we have available.

Donate

Flyers and yard signs and t-shirts cost money. Anything you can donate will help us spread the word. Our Go Fund Me page is here:

https://gofund.me/511de607

If you prefer to write a check, please email us at team@restorethenine.org and we will tell you where to send it. Checks should be made out to Restore the Nine. We are not a registered charity, so donations are not tax deductible.

Join us on social media

We get info out more quickly on social media than via the newsletter, so if you want to be more involved, consider joining one of our groups.

Nextdoor: https://nextdoor.com/g/4mixwhz6e

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/775823121229076

You can also increase awareness of Restore the Nine and our vision for Central Park & Nine Mile Creek by posting about the park. Tag your posts with #restorethenine, #ninemilecreek, and #naturefirst.

Volunteer

Here are just a few of the tasks we need members to help with:

Handing out flyers
Emailing or calling organizations and individuals
Door-knocking
Research
Specialized skills such as CAD, legal and engineering
Admin assistance
Social media management
Taking photos or making videos
And more

If you have time and want to help, contact us at team@restorethenine.org and we’ll give you something to do!

Come to our meetings

Restore the Nine meets every month, typically in the last week of the month. Join us to meet other supporters, ask questions, pick up a yard sign, and find out more about what is going on.

Meetings

Attend City meetings

Join other Restore the Nine members at the Parks, Arts, and Recreation Commission (PARC) meetings on the second Wednesday of each month.

Or attend the biweekly City Council Listening Sessions, where Restore the Nine members will be speaking.

See our public calendar for dates, times, and locations or search on the Bloomington website for details.

Contact the media

Write a letter to the editor or try to get a reporter interested in our story.

Learn More

Tell your friends and neighbors

Last, but definitely not least, talk to your friends and neighbors about why protecting the park is important to you, and pass on information about Restore the Nine. If you need flyers, email us at team@restorethenine.org.