Community for The Commons

Community for The Commons is a nonprofit park conservancy founded and run by Lake Minnetonka area citizens. Our mission is the long-term enhancement and improvement of The Commons for the enjoyment of residents, guests, and surrounding community. 

What is a park conservancy? 

​A park conservancy is a private, non-profit, non-political organization that works in partnership with a local government to help improve and/or manage one or more parks in the community. Conservancies work in collaboration with the local government entity, usually with a formal agreement or “memorandum of understanding” (MOU) in place. The MOU defines the scope and limitations of responsibilities of the conservancy as it pertains to the park property or properties, similar to the agreement Community for the Commons has in place with the City of Excelsior. Park conservancies currently operate in more than 50% of major U.S. cities, including both Minneapolis and St. Paul.

What does Community for the Commons do? 

The Commons brings a unique history and value to the area; people come great distances to enjoy the park and its events year-round. This means there is a significant need for care and improvement, one that extends beyond city funding and a relatively small tax base. Community for the Commons was founded in 2015 to partner with the City of Excelsior in creating a long-term plan to help bridge this gap by providing a pathway for philanthropic giving to the park.

Our first priority is to seek out and listen to the needs of the community and visitors through surveys, listening sessions and special events. We collaborate with the City of Excelsior on all preservation and enhancement priorities at The Commons.

We also:

• Develop a thoughtful phased approach to Master Plan projects considering priority needs of The Commons, areas of interest of the community and availability of funding

• Gain local resident support and State Legislature support for a local option sales tax that provides funding for improvements

• Assist in development and design details that respect the historical relevance and help ensure relevancy and attractiveness for generations to come

• Lead philanthropic efforts to fund initiatives that complement planned projects such as enhanced seating, fire pits, dugouts and rain gardens, tree maintenance and improvement
  

How can I be involved?

• Enjoy the many happenings at The Commons including a visit to the park, attending one of the Concerts in the Commons or a community event.

• Engage with the ongoing needs of The Commons by joining Uncommon Gardeners, attending Donation Yoga in the park, volunteering, or becoming a Friend of The Commons.

• Enhance The Commons by financially supporting The Master Plan for continued improvements to the park’s infrastructure and ongoing maintenance needs. Opportunities to contribute include making a donation, adopting a tree or seat, becoming a Friend of The Commons, or considering planned giving.