METRO Blue Line Extension Cultural Placekeeping Design Groups |
Open Call Interest Form
Cultural placekeeping, in the context of the METRO Blue Line Extension project, refers to the intentional efforts to preserve and celebrate the unique cultural identities and histories of the communities along the Blue Line Extension corridor. This process involves engaging local residents, business owners, and cultural organizations to ensure that the development of light rail transit respects and reflects the diverse cultures and traditions of the neighborhoods impacted by the project. By prioritizing community voices and fostering a sense of belonging, cultural placekeeping aims to create a transit environment that not only enhances mobility, but also honors the rich cultural heritage of the area, ultimately contributing to a more inclusive and vibrant landscape.
The Blue Line Extension project is seeking individuals to serve in small groups to guide the cultural placekeeping design for the Blue Line Extension project in the cities of Minneapolis, Robbinsdale, Crystal, and Brooklyn Park. The Blue Line Extension is looking for people who live or work in the corridor or have direct connections to the corridor.
WHO: Individuals who live and/or work in or near the project area and/or have an ancestral tie to the land. All participants should have a desire to showcase the importance of the cultures along the corridor, have a creative mind or design experience, and have experience working in collaborative small group settings.
HOW: These cultural placekeeping design groups will be organized by city. Each city will have one representative group.
COMMITMENT: Participants should expect to attend monthly meetings over 6 months starting in spring 2025. Participants will also be expected to attend up to two public open houses within their community. The open houses will be open to all/any community members as a chance for them to see and understand the ideas and progress being made by the project office and design groups.
PROCESS: The committee and these design groups will co-create project design elements. The overall process will be guided by the Blue Line Extension’s architects and landscape architects, and organized by the Project Office.
ANTI-DISPLACEMENT: This work is a direct outcome of the community-led Blue Line Extension Anti-displacement Recommendations report and is one of the elements of Anti-displacement that is included in the LRT project scope and cost.
WHERE: Areas for cultural placekeeping design input include public open spaces, streetscape elements, and landscaping near stations, and LRT station design elements. These are all potential opportunities for engagement in cultural placekeeping design.
The Blue Line Extension project is seeking individuals to serve in small groups to guide the cultural placekeeping design for the Blue Line Extension project in the cities of Minneapolis, Robbinsdale, Crystal, and Brooklyn Park. The Blue Line Extension is looking for people who live or work in the corridor or have direct connections to the corridor.
WHO: Individuals who live and/or work in or near the project area and/or have an ancestral tie to the land. All participants should have a desire to showcase the importance of the cultures along the corridor, have a creative mind or design experience, and have experience working in collaborative small group settings.
HOW: These cultural placekeeping design groups will be organized by city. Each city will have one representative group.
COMMITMENT: Participants should expect to attend monthly meetings over 6 months starting in spring 2025. Participants will also be expected to attend up to two public open houses within their community. The open houses will be open to all/any community members as a chance for them to see and understand the ideas and progress being made by the project office and design groups.
PROCESS: The committee and these design groups will co-create project design elements. The overall process will be guided by the Blue Line Extension’s architects and landscape architects, and organized by the Project Office.
ANTI-DISPLACEMENT: This work is a direct outcome of the community-led Blue Line Extension Anti-displacement Recommendations report and is one of the elements of Anti-displacement that is included in the LRT project scope and cost.
WHERE: Areas for cultural placekeeping design input include public open spaces, streetscape elements, and landscaping near stations, and LRT station design elements. These are all potential opportunities for engagement in cultural placekeeping design.