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The Kutzky Park Neighborhood Association (KPNA) is an association of home owners, businesses, landlords, renters, and other people who either live or work in Kutzky Park. Its goal is to improve livability and safety of the Kutzky Park neighborhood.
Introduction
The neighborhood of KPNA is located in the heart of Rochester, Minnesota, in the shadow of the Mayo Clinic. It is roughly bounded by Civic Center Drive to the north, West 6th Avenue to the east, South 2nd Street to the south and West 16th Ave to the west.
The only requirements of membership in the association is that you meet the residency requirements, work or own a business in Kutzky Park and you complete and submit a membership form. There is no obligation to join, no requirements (other than live or work in Kutzky Park) and no dues.
A few years back, many people had almost given up on our neighborhood when constant reports of rundown, condemned rental property, drugs, crime and violence seemed to be the defining feature of Kutzky Park. At that time, some neighborhood members banded together into neighborhood watch groups that eventually led to the formation of the KPNA in 1996. Founding president Mike Quirk was a central figure that lead this activity. Since that time, Kutzky Park has made a dramatic turnaround and credit belongs to the neighborhood association and Kutzky Park residents who struggled to drive out crime and force accountability to rental property owners who failed to maintain their properties.
The association has had a major impact on Rochester. One of its first actions was to help get the "Disorderly Use" city ordinance passed. The "Disorderly Use" ordinance provides a method for the city to deal with rental properties that are a constant source of problems in the neighborhood. Multiple violations of this ordinance could result in loss of their rental certificate, their ability to rent out property and fines.
 The impact that KPNA had on our community prompted Mayor Chuck Canfield to create the "Mayor's Council on Neighborhoods" which led to nearly 20 new neighborhood associations being formed in Rochester. Eventually this panel evolved into the Rochester Neighborhood Resource Center.
City and county officials are constantly pointing out our actions as having a significant positive effect on our community and we are held as an example of how things should be done for other neighborhood associations.
Keep up this positive impact to our neighborhood and community by getting involved with KPNA today!
Characteristics
Kutzky Park is distinguished by its beautiful older homes in a variety of styles from Victorian to Bungalow, Four Square, Craftsman, Cape Code and Colonial.
The Chardonnay, a French restaraunt located in
a restored Victorian home in Kutzky Park.
In fact, Kutzky Park has the distinction of having the oldest framed structure in Rochester (above). This private home was built in 1856! That's pre-Civil war and prior to Minnesota statehood.
A beautiful park with plenty of open space, connected to the bike path system, runs near the northern area of the neighborhood. The neighborhood is surrounded on all sides by countless shopping, dining and recreational opportunities. Downtown is only a couple of blocks to the east, Miracle Mile Shopping Center is on the western edge, Barlow Plaza and other businesses are on the northern edge and many businesses are located along 2nd St SW across from St. Mary's Hospital. The neighborhood is just off Highway 52, behind Miracle Mile Shopping Center and is accessible from the 2nd St SW or Civic Center Drive exits.
Meetings and Activities
The association holds general association meetings the 2nd Tuesday of each even month (see the Meetings and Activities page) at the Lourdes High School auditorium, 621 W. Center. Board meetings are held the 2nd Tuesday of each odd month at the United Way Building, 903 W. Center. Association events and activities include Bi-Annual Park Clean-Ups in the Spring and Fall, and National Night Out picnics in August.
Newsletter
The KPNA publishes news quarterly in the RNeighbors Newspapers, a publication of the Rochester Neighborhood Resource Center. Our goal is to keep you informed about meetings, events, activities and items of interest to our particular neighborhood. The KPNA distributes the Rneighbors paper to approximately 1200 residents and businesses within the neighborhood. Currently, the Rneighbors paper is delivered door to door by volunteers. As timely circulation of the paper is important in keeping people up to date with Kutzky Park and other city-wide neighborhood news, volunteers are very important! If you would like to be a part of our distribution team please contact us. It is a great way to make a big impact in a small amount of time!
KPNA Officers and Board Members
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