Proven leadership in parks, schools, and nature

My name is Mary McKelvey.

I’m running to be your next At-Large Minneapolis Park Board commissioner. I am a public school teacher, a coach, a mother, and a tireless advocate for our parks.

Whether it’s getting kids active outdoors, helping immigrants in our city, or serving on public committees to keep our parks and environment resilient, I’ve been there and will keep doing the work.

Park Board at-large candidate Mary McKelvey walking in the woods

Background & Focus

  • Candidate Mary McKelvey holding a sign announcing her candidacy

    A Proven Leader for Minneapolis Parks

    I have spent years serving on critical citizen advisory committees, including the Parks for All committee, the Minnehaha Creek Watershed committee, and currently the Pedestrian Advisory Committee. Through this work, I have focused on making our parks more welcoming to all and smarter about protecting water quality. I have the expertise and have built the relationships needed to get things done.

  • Image of kids of different races posing on a ski slope in winter

    Focus on kids, nature, racial & social justice

    Throughout my career, I have dedicated myself to kids and their well-being. I’m one of only two At Large Park Board candidates who has kids, so I know the needs of parents, too. As a coach with the Loppet Foundation, I connect kids to Theodore Wirth Park & outdoor sports. As a licensed English Learner teacher, I have taught immigrants in Minneapolis Public Schools. As the president of the PTA of a Minneapolis public school, and as a board member of the advocacy group Parents United for Public Schools, I fought for public education. And lastly as a volunteer and advocate, I have reduced barriers to getting kids physically active. I will implement effective strategies in Minneapolis parks to make sure our youth are engaged.

  • Photo of a lake with trees in full fall bloom

    Amplify parks with smart partnerships

    For fourteen years, I've coached cross-country skiing, mountain biking, and led outdoor adventures at Theodore Wirth Park through the Loppet Foundation. Over the last few winters, my team taught thousands of beginning skiers who never would have tried it without these resources. The Park Board can do even more, and even better, with smart partnerships to expand our youth programming, and improve our environment with a focus on invasive species removal and habitat restoration. We must complement and extend park resiliency with schools, neighborhood groups, and environmental agencies. I also stand with MPRB’s workers and making sure they have good wages, benefits and on-the-job safety.

About Mary

I'm a coach, an English language teacher, and a proud mom who has spent countless hours in Minneapolis parks with my own two daughters and coached hundreds of other kids.

Whether skiing, biking, running, or hiking, our parks are where I recharge. They are places where neighbors become friends and communities come together.

You'll find me outdoors every day, even during the coldest months. My dog, Mojo, makes sure I never miss a day, as do the people of all ages I teach to cross-country ski.

I've stepped foot in almost all 185 parks in Minneapolis, always appreciating the workers who maintain these spaces. I will step up for them, because they step up for what we all love.

Being a mom makes me fiercely protective - some would say a Mama Bear - not only of my own children, but also of the parks system as a whole, and of every child who deserves a safe, welcoming place to grow.

Vision

  • Putting kids & community first, always

    Every day, I have the privilege of sharing my passion with kids as a coach for cross-country skiing, mountain biking, and outdoor adventures at Theodore Wirth Park in North Minneapolis. As a licensed English Learner teacher, I am dedicated to ensuring every kid feels seen, heard, and supported.

    My experience teaching in Minneapolis Public Schools has given me valuable insights into the genuine challenges facing our kids and families. It has strengthened my resolve to advocate for initiatives like all-day kindergarten.

    My guiding principle is simple:

    When our kids thrive, Minneapolis thrives. 

  • Everyone belongs in our parks, our Third Spaces

    If something's happening in our parks, every family should know about it and feel welcome to join. Too many kids face barriers when they want to get outside and be active.

    Many people think of sports like basketball, soccer, hockey and softball when it comes to youth recreation, but our parks offer so much more — hiking, birdwatching, gardening, orienteering, skiing, art, and music. When kids hear "sorry, we're full," that's not okay with me. Instead, let's build a grassroots, intergenerational movement that brings more families into our parks community and expands quality programming for everyone who wants it. 

    I want our parks to be the safe "third space" where people can enjoy the outdoors and community centers on their own terms, too. Too many places to gather are private and segregated by age, class, ability, and race. I want to ensure that our parks and rec centers are places for all of us in our communities again.

  • Smart partnerships benefit everyone

    I believe that when organizations work together with the best interests of the greater community in mind, amazing things can happen. I’ve witnessed this in my work with the Loppet Foundation. This success needs to happen in more places in a variety of ways, while we balance environmental, equity, and financial concerns. With your help, we can get more Minneapolis residents off their screens and into the outdoors. 

    Also, we're facing a climate emergency, and as our city grows, we must use environmental best practices to maintain green spaces and habitat. Intergovernmental partnerships can help advance that mission.