What to Write About

We understand that sometimes people don’t feel confident writing a letter, or think they have nothing to say. We want to assure you that if you love Central Park and Nine Mile Creek, you definitely have something worthwhile to say! And no matter how you say it, your message is valuable because it shows the city how many people share the Restore the Nine vision for the park.

Restore the Nine believes it is important for your voice to be heard, and that it be your voice and not ours. Therefore we don’t offer you any templates to work from. However, here are some topics that might give you a jumping off point.

Safety and Bikes

Protect the safety of all pedestrians, especially older adults and children.
Dogs and bikes don’t mix.

Climate Change

The importance of mature trees in slowing climate change.
The negative impact of pavement: it covers permeable surfaces, causes run-off into the creek and increases the urban heat island effect.
The need for the city to honor its commitment to fighting climate change (see Bloomington’s 2022 Climate Change Emergency Declaration and Green Step City info).

The Environment

Safeguard a unique natural resource by preventing further development.
Protect endangered and threatened species that live there.
Protect the habitat for all wildlife in the park and for migrating birds.
Protect all the ecosystems in the park such as wetlands and remnant prairie.
Advocate against mountain bikers who often create their own trails, increasing erosion and destroying vegetation.

Human Health

Highlight the importance of the availability of a serene natural environment to human health.
Enumerate the health benefits of walking and meditation in nature.
Stress how loss of shade canopy increases temperature for trail users.

Aesthetics

The park will look and feel different if trails are widened and straightened for bicycle access.
Pedestrians will lose their current intimate access to nature because of the retaining walls that will need to be erected.

Other Thoughts

Bike trails were not on the ballot measure; many people voted yes on Question 3 because they wanted restoration.
Who will stop using the park if a shared bicycle trail is constructed? Older adults? Dog walkers? Bird watchers? You?
Is there real value to a bike trail through the park?
How much restoration will not be done if money is spent on new trails?
What will the impact of more park users be on the park, the plants and the wildlife?
How will paved and/or mountain bike trails and trail users impact your experience of the park?
Mountain bikers already have trails in Bloomington at the river bottoms, Edina just opened a new mountain bike course in Braemer Park, and Bloomington

We hope these ideas help!

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