Community Projects Committee

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About the Bryn Mawr Community Projects Committee

The Community Projects program has been in place since 2008. Each year we ask neighbors to suggest projects that improve livability and safety in Bryn Mawr. These projects are mainly supported with sweat equity and donations, with a small contribution from association dollars.

Meetings

The Community Projects Committee meets once a year in the spring to review applications. Check the Events calendar to stay caught up on the latest.

Get Involved!

Community Projects: Program Description and Process

The goal of the Community Projects Program is to give an opportunity for neighbors and businesses to creatively address challenges and problems in the neighborhood with ideas that will improve the livability in Bryn Mawr. The program provides financial assistance to bring the idea to fruition. Project categories include, environmental   (e.g. Ash Tree identification), energy (e.g. Energy Challenge project), downtown (e.g. Banner project), transportation, and community building.

Project ideas are solicited from November - February each year. The Community Projects Committee meets in March to identify workable projects and determine funding. They present their recommendations to the BMNA Board at their April board meeting.

How to Propose A Project:

  • Respond to the Request for Ideas distributed in the Bugle and e-newsletter from November - February .

  • Submit a brief summary of the idea to jessica.wiley@bmna.org from November - February.

  • Complete an electronic form sent to each proposer to articulate specifics of the project by February 28.

    What’s in the final proposal?

  • Description of the project

  • Who will lead the project?

  • Who will benefit from the project?

  • How much funding is needed?

    How are proposals evaluated?

  • Is there leadership (an identified neighbor) to get the project done? Is it possible (politically, physically)?

  • Does it meet the budget ($0 - $3000)?

  • Is it sustainable long term?

  • Does it have neighborhood wide impact?

    Proposals chosen for funding are notified following the March BMNA board meeting

Past Projects:

  • Redesign of the Upton community garden. Completed a remake of the Upton garden in Area 4 in 2008, and created a plan for ongoing maintenance.  

  • Energy Challenge. Over 80 neighbors joined the challenge and received statistics about their energy use. Leveraged our relationship with SEE to receive two cash awards that benefited other BMNA initiatives. 

  • Ash Bore identification project. Teams identified more than 800 ash trees in Bryn Mawr and presented neighbors with a variety of options for maintaining or replacing ash trees.  

  • Downtown banner project. Part of a joint City of Minneapolis/BMNA NRP project, four banners identifying Bryn Mawr displayed from light posts in downtown Bryn Mawr.  

  • Pedal to Petal garden bike ride. A group bike ride through the neighborhood highlighting our community gardens and culminating in a renewal of our garden tour program.  

  • Little Library. Built on Penn Avenue near Cedar Lake Road with the sweat equity of neighbors. 

  • Buckthorn removal in Chestnut Park/Fruen Mill. A continuing effort over 6 years to eradicate buckthorn by neighbors in Area 7 working with the Park Board.  

  • Park bench. Installed by the Park Board at Brownie Lake near the canoe rack.  

  • Bee hotel. Built in J.D. Rivers Children’s Garden by a Bryn Mawr Eagle Scout candidate.  

  • Nature Pre-School Childrens’ Scholarships for nature pre-school camp and teacher stipends. The camp was designed for 4-7 year olds, held at Anwatin in summer 2017. This and the teacher stipends were part of the effort to support the Minneapolis Nature Pre-School.  

  • Traffic speed indication sign. Purchased to provide speed information; moved as needed.

  • Creating Monarch Friendly Gardens – workshops and  plant purchases in collaboration with Bryn Mawr Elementary plant sale

  • Anwatin Community Sign Plantings

  • Skin A Utility Box

  • Mosaic by Stacia Goodman

  • La Mesa Patio Improvement - matching dollars with La Mesa

  • Hanging Flower Baskets at The Villa. In collaboration with the Harrison Neighborhood Association.

  • Doggy Waste Stations

  • Greenhouse Awning in collaboration with the BMNA Racial Justice Committee

  • Doggy Waste Station Installation

  • Doggy Waste Stations

  • Utility Box Wrap

  • Mosaic 2018

  • Mosaic Dedication 2018

  • La Mesa Patio

  • Downtown Banners

  • Installing Baskets at The Villa

  • Hanging Baskets at The Villa

  • Creating Monarch Friendly Gardens Workshop