About Folwell Neighborhood
Folwell is one of seven neighborhoods in the Camden Community in northwest Minneapolis. Folwell is bordered by Lowry on the south, Dowling on the north, Dupont on the east and Penn Avenue North on the west. Most of the dwellings in the neighborhood were built at the beginning of the 20th century for families of moderate income.
Folwell remains a predominantly residential neighborhood with 2100 households and a diverse population of approximately 6300 residents. There are two elementary schools and a high school located in bordering neighborhoods, Lucy Craft Laney and City View which are K-8 and the renowned Patrick Henry High School. Beautiful Folwell Park anchors the northern edge of the neighborhood and is the second largest park in the Minneapolis park system. The park and neighborhood were named for Dr. William W. Folwell, who was the first president of the University of Minnesota and past president of the Minneapolis Park Board.
Folwell Neighborhood Association
Folwell Neighborhood Association (FNA) was organized in 1994 and has been a fully-functioning program and service-based non-profit corporation ever since and is the only recognized citizen participation organization in the neighborhood. In 2000, Folwell worked with neighborhood residents to write the vision for the neighborhood for then, and in the future. The resulting documents, the Vision, Mission and neighborhood Standards are the guides for the work of the Association.
The Mission
The mission of the Folwell Neighborhood Association is to represent resident intentions that Folwell neighborhood continues as a viable city community and expresses the values of a diverse population.
The Association will identify and utilize a wide range of resources, encourage mutually beneficial partnerships and provide opportunity for citizen participation to implement that mission.
The Association will implement programs and initiatives in the areas of housing, community development, youth and families, education and public safety to ensure that Folwell is recognized as a quality neighborhood of choice.
The Vision
The vision of Folwell as:
- A clean, safe, law abiding neighborhood where residents live and work together in an atmosphere of respect and consideration.
- A neighborhood with quality affordable housing where pride of ownership is evident in well maintained single family and rental properties.
- A Neighborhood that nurtures children, participates in their social development, encourages their academic achievement and acknowledges their accomplishments.
- A neighborhood that provides support for those who need it and searches for and diligently uses resources wisely to benefit its residents.
- A neighborhood that honors the contributions of art, music and recreation and encourages both participation and appreciation.
- A community that exhibits concern for the natural environment and exercises wisdom, if not constraint, in planning for growth and development.
- A community that defines itself as residential, proud, diverse, multigenerational, safe and sustainable.
FOLWELL NEIGHBORHOOD STANDARDS
The life-skill for residents of Folwell Neighborhood is respect – respect for people, property, personal values and cultural differences with full understanding that people have the right to live in a peaceful and safe community. Discrimination is not tolerated.
In Folwell Neighborhood, people are valued. Participation is encouraged. Personal and public achievements and contributions are acknowledged. Children are nurtured and elder voices of wisdom and experience are heard and respected.
In Folwell Neighborhood properties are maintained, streets and sidewalks are clean and loud noise is discouraged.
In Folwell Neighborhood law is respected. Violations are reported. Arrest and prosecution is encouraged. There is no tolerance for violence, neglect or abuse. Punishment to the fullest extent of the Law is sought for:
- Any incident of child abuse,
- Any incident of crime against the elderly,
- Any incident of cruelty to animals,
- The possession or sale of illegal drugs,
- The use of any weapon with criminal intent, to harm, or intimidate,
- Any incident of gang activity including recruitment or retaliation.
Folwell Neighborhood Association is an advocate for residents and is home to the 4th Precinct CARE Task Force. We sponsor community-wide events during the year and support a variety of senior and home loan programs through Neighborhood Revitalization Program (NRP) funding. Currently, there is a special emphasis on housing; issues and concerns related to foreclosures, vacant houses and illegal rentals. Folwell invested $80,000 in home ownership incentives and works closely with the Greater Metropolitan Housing Corporation to encourage home ownership and neighborhood stabilization initiatives including referrals for residents who have foreclosure issues to the appropriate agencies for help.
The FNA office is located at 1206 37th Avenue North is open Monday through Thursday, 8am to 5pm and provides free notary, fax and copying services to Folwell residents. We welcome guests at the office. We enjoy meeting new friends and helping residents with their neighborhood issues and concerns and we welcome residents’ involvement in FNA and neighborhood activities and events throughout the year.
