East Harriet

East Harriet is a neighborhood in the city of Minneapolis that is bordered by 46th Street to the south and 36th Street on the north. Its eastern boundary is Lyndale Avenue. Lakewood Cemetery and Lake Harriet substantially make up the western border of the neighborhood. Aside from these landmarks in the city, Rose Greens and Lyndale Park Gardens, the Thomas Sadler Roberts Bird Sanctuary is located within the neighborhood. Various houses in East Harriet are two-story homes and are setback from the streets.
Colonel Willing S. King influenced directly the tone and shape of the neighborhood. Lyndale Farmstead which is his summer estate was located on land now designated as a park that bears the same name. He was also active in setting aside vast acreage for parks which encircled Lake Harriet.
EHFNA or the East Harriet Farmstead Neighborhood Association was incorporated officially in the year 1991 as one of the first six neighborhoods participating in the NRP or Neighborhood Revitalization Program of Minneapolis. The neighbors of East Harriet have used and are using the program process to identify as well as meet the needs of the neighborhood.
The volunteer participation of committed business owners and neighbors was helpful as EHFNA planned and executed the original Neighborhood Action Plan. One of the luckiest to benefit was Lyndale Farmstead Park and for several years, its building was utilized as daycare facilities and community events and programs were almost nonexistent.
In the last decade, the park was transformed into a well known neighborhood gathering place. The EHFNA somewhat funded the park staff until the staff payroll was took over by the Minneapolis Park Board in 2000. In addition, EHFNA also funded new park tennis courts, lighting and equipment for the playground.
Over a million dollars has been invested in the housing of the neighborhood through a variety of programs. Most remarkably ninety neighborhood homeowners took advantage of affordable low interest on Home Improvement Loans. The interest which the program generated is captured and can be invested again into revolving loan fund or other projects of the neighborhood.
There are other highlights of the East Harriet. It donated $75,000 to the landscaping, front façade, outdoor lighting, irrigation system and fencing of Barton School. It has also planted over 300 boulevard trees and given $20,000 worth of matching grants to fifteen neighborhood businesses. It installed pedestrian lighting at Bryant and 46th Avenue and funded lighting down Roseway Road to Lake Harriet.
East Harriet also developed plans extending the Riverside Greenway to Lake Harriet from Kingfield Neighborhood. There were additional ongoing programs and services the EHFNA supported which include funding for office and staff person and support various events in the neighborhood like the RoseFest and Winter Kite Festival.
The Parks, Environments and School Committee is working with neighbors and the Park and Recreation Board of the Minneapolis on several programs to obtain a sustainably healthy environment as well as a safe, vital, clean and active systems of parks.

The East Harriet neighborhood of Minneapolis is a lesson in investing in community resources. Residents of East Harriet have used the Minneapolis Neighborhood Revitalization Program (NRP) to identify and address the needs of the community. Through volunteer efforts and cooperative arrangements, the Lyndale Farmstead Park has been transformed from a daycare facility with non-existent community opportunities and activities to a beneficial neighborhood gathering site, just since the 1990s. New park facilities, lighting, playground space, and athletic courts have been added as well.

Long before residents of East Harriet decided to revitalize their community, founder Colonel William S. King built his summer estate there, the Lyndale Farmstead, and he was influential in making sure that enough land was set aside for park acreage around Lake Harriet.
More than 90 homeowners have also taken advantage of the programs offered through NRP and have transformed their homes through the use of low interest home improvement loans. Typical homes in this neighborhood are two-story and have curb appeal. More than 300 trees on local boulevards have recently been planted and pedestrian lighting among certain streets has been upgraded.

The residential neighborhoods are bordered in part by Lake Harriet, the namesake of the neighborhood, and Lakewood Cemetery. The Lyndale Park Rose Garden, along with the Thomas Sadler Roberts Bird Sanctuary, are both popular places within East Harriet.