MASLA and MNLA Collaborative Project

Thank you to all contributors to the Lao Cultural Center project!

MASLA is pleased to announce that the first phase of construction work was successfully completed at the Lao Cultural Center in north Minneapolis.  This project created an outdoor community space that demonstrated sustainable design and construction, which came together as a result of the vision, planning, and contributions of many different organizations and people.

 On September 26th and 27th, 2008, volunteers from MNLA (Minnesota Nursery and Landscape Association) and MASLA installed a pervious paver patio and a retaining wall/seat wall for the community center that serves the Lao population in the area.

Volunteers used salvaged paving and block materials and also created a rain garden that will hopefully be planted next spring as part of a second phase.  MNLA was a great organization to partner with and made installation of this vision possible by reaching out to their membership for volunteers, equipment and other resources.

MASLA would also like to thank the following companies in particular for their contributions:  

• Hedberg Masonry and Landscape Supply stored many pallets of pavers for two years and delivered them to the site.  Hedberg also donated the base aggregate, sand setting bed, geotextile fabric, and edge restraint for the patio and wall. 

• Landscape Renovations supplied the equipment necessary to sawcut out the existing asphalt, prepare the subgrade and base, trucks to deliver materials and remove the broken asphalt, and tools to lay the pavers.  Many volunteers from Landscape Renovations also donated their time for coordination and installation. 

• Rush Lake Gardens sent over a bobcat and other equipment for excavation, and donated time to help prepare the subgrade and base. 

• Savanna Designs delivered and donated rain garden soil to the site, and Jim Hagstrom was instrumental to the coordination of the project. 

• Windsor Companies coordinated pick up and delivery of hardwood mulch and rain garden soil and offered the use of their company truck.

MASLA would also like to thank the work day volunteers for all of their heavy lifting and planning:

• MASLA members – Rich Koechlein, Jim Hagstrom, Kate Lamers, Kathryn Ryan, Chris Ochs, Jordan Lock, Stephen Streng. 

• MNLA members – Scott Frampton and family, Jeff Greeney, Matt Mallas, Nick Fitch, Rob Morse, Arturo Hernandez, Misael Hernandez, Lolo Juaregui, Vince Rother, Tim Oberg, Dan Heiland, Patrick Warden and family. 

• University of Minnesota students – Johnnie Workman, Wade and Tyler Johnson, Natalie Ross and Andy Donovan.

Click here for more information on the Lao Cultural Center Project.

We hope to be able to continue work with the Lao community and the site next year.  Watch for announcements of more activities!