[Mpls] Missing in Minneapolis - Kids Activites

[Michael Atherton]

I approach the lack of facilities for children from a number of
roles and perspectives.  

1) I am a parent of two small children (3 & 4) and I need to
find ways to keep them learning, busy, happy, and entertained.
Hopefully, I am able to combine all of these factors.  The
Children's museum accomplishes, most of time, all of these
goals.  The Science Museum and the zoos meet fewer (for children 
as young as mine) and Art Museums even fewer.  There is tradeoff
between what I believe they should be learning and an activity
that they will partake of for hours without any prompting.  Unlike
most contemporary educators I don't think that it's always necessary
to make learning fun and entertaining, so we do lessons in the
mornings that I feel are important and we do something of their
choice in the afternoon (believe it or not, I do talk to my children).  Surprise, they don't choose Art Museums. In fact, they are
not 
interested in the Art activities offered at the children's museum
or the MN Zoo (their choices might have something to do with the 
fact that they already do many types of art projects at daycare and 
also because they are boys who seem genetically to make different
choices than girls).  We go where they choose and it's rarely in Minneapolis.

2) I also approach the lack of children's facilities as a 
taxpayer.  Given that I'm paying three times or more times what
I would be paying in property and other taxes here than what I 
would be in most suburbs I think that it's reasonable to expect
that some of my tax dollars be spent on facilities that my
children would use.  It burns me when I think that the Park
Board spent millions on a riverfront headquarters without
incorporating anything comparable to what is available in
some of the suburbs.  For example take a virtual tour of the
indoor park in Edina: http://www.ci.edina.mn.us/Pages/Edinborough%20Virtual%20Tour/eb/e.html.  Why can't Minneapolis develop
something like this with all the funds that we contribute to 
our highly touted park system?

Also as a consumer, I stand on my statement that the
community educations programs of St. Paul and Minneapolis
are not comparable and St. Paul is far far better.  You
can compare yourself.  To understand my perspective you
might try searching for classes for small children. Try
searching for gymnastics, martial arts, and science.  
It really is easier to compare the hardcopies
but this will give some idea. If you have the hardcopies
it immediately obvious by the number of pages.  Be sure 
to compare the variety, numbers of choices, and class times.

St. Paul: http://www.commed.spps.org/
Minneapolis Schools: http://mplscommunityed.com/
Minneapolis Parks: http://www.minneapolisparks.org/default.asp?PageID=15

As for the many alternatives suggested:

Skyways - Indoor sidewalks wow!  We actually walk
though these from the parking ramp to the Target
Center to see Barney, Disney on Ice, Shriner's'
Circus, and Sesame Street.  Which obviously are pretty 
good children's gigs.  I won't fault the Target Center.

Children's Theater - I guess I'm lower class than
I thought.  While I don't mind forking out the $50-$60
for a Barney show.  I can't see spending $100 for
a kids show (for comparable seats as those at the Target 
Center), besides the kids are still thrilled by
Sesame Street.  Are they going to be better educated
or entertained by live theater?  Snob appeal is 
not much of a factor for a four year old.  I guess I
have to wait until they're eight.

I'm not even going to dwell on all the Arts stuff.
Suffice it to say that I was dragged to all of those
Art things as a kid in L.A., without regard to expense.
While I don't find Art as boring as an adult, I sure did 
as a kid and I won't forget taking my own kids to the Sculpture 
Garden and them being most interested in the little green
cart that the grounds keepers drove around in; they
were nice enough to let them sit in it.

The Mill Museum - This even bored my wife and she's in
the food industry. It's just not the same as wine or
chocolate tasting and the elevator scared the heck
out of my kids.

Parks - Not that I'm on same wavelength as Ronald Regan
and trees, but if you've seen one park there's not
a whole lot of variation after that, at least in
Minneapolis.  I have to admit that Fort Snelling
is really cool, but it isn't in Minneapolis.

The Bakken Museum - Okay, I admit it! We've yet to
try it.  I've heard it's pretty cool, but I'll
be shocked (pun intended) if my kids like it as much 
as I do. ;-)

Liz Greenbaum wrote:

"And if Michael took the initiative to find out 
how much they truly enjoy looking at and doing art - 
he'd have to change his tune."

Why, why, why, is there an assumption that I haven't
taken the initiative?  Maybe my kids just like
Camp Snoopy more than they like Art, and maybe,
just maybe, Camp Snoopy *is* art.  Ever thought of
that?  Just because I place more emphasis on Math
and Science doesn't mean that I don't have an
understanding or appreciation of the arts.  Why is 
this such an obtuse concept?

I'm just irked that with all the Parks spending
and the (Ugly! What were they thinking?) Downtown 
Library (SE is a dark depressing hole.  We use 
St. Anthony Park), why the city can't build an 
indoor playground.  They could put it downtown close 
to the LRT and it would accessible to most residents.

Michael Atherton
Prospect Park