PARK AND RECREATION BOARD MEMO

MINNEAPOLIS PARK AND RECREATION BOARD
2117 West River Road North
(612) 230-6400
FAX 230-6500

M E M O R A N D U M

TO: All Commissioners
FROM: Jon Gurban, Superintendent
DATE: June 23, 2005
SUBJECT: Attached news release

This is a copy of a news release that is being sent out. It has the approval of legal counsel and the President of the Board.

June 23, 2005

Dear Park Users

The Minneapolis Park & Recreation Board has had a practice of requiring a permit for individuals or small groups to engage in the distribution of literature in our parks. The primary purpose of this practice was to reinforce the sense of parks as a place of refuge and relaxation.

The recent event at Pearl Park regarding literature distribution (of a non-commercial nature) has caused us to review this policy.

Our legal counsel has advised me that case law has evolved since 1991 when the present regulations were established. Further, that our current regulations may be overly restrictive from the sense of requiring permits for individuals or small groups to distribute non-commercial information.

Therefore, I am advising park staff today that NO PERMITS WILL BE REQUIRED OF INDIVIDUALS OR SMALL GROUPS (defined as less than 50) WISHING TO DISTRIBUTE FLYERS, LEAFLETS, PAMPHLETS OR OTHER NON COMMERCIAL LITERATURE. I will ask the Park & Recreation Board staff to review the 1991 regulations. If the regulations are flawed, I will be pleased to lead the charge to have them corrected.

I am also asking that any individual or small group who are in the Park distributing literature to use common sense! By that I mean please do not block access or egress to Park Buildings or block or impede traffic on parkways or paths. Do not litter or bother parents and guardians who may have children in wading pools or people playing on athletic fields.

Most importantly, the peaceful enjoyment and solitude of park patrons must be respected.

Thank You!

Jon R. Gurban, Superintendent