Jono Cowgill for Minneapolis Park Board
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A Park System for Everybody

Who is Jono?

Hi, my name is Jono!  I am an urban planner, proud South High graduate, and a product of our parks.  I do community-based engagement, planning, and research work for a wide array of public, private, and non-profit organizations in the Twin Cities. I am also an active community member! Here I am painting a mural with my neighbors:
 I am currently chair of the Lowry Hill East Neighborhood Open Spaces Committee. I spearheaded the development of one of Minneapolis' first parklets in the CARAG neighborhood. I have a degree in English from Pacific Lutheran University and a masters degree in Urban and Regional Planning from the Humphrey School of Public Affairs. 

Why is Jono running

​for Park Board?

"I'm running for Park Board to advocate for a park system that works for everybody. Today and for generations to come."
I am running for Park Board to make our parks friendlier for everybody. I have the experience, the passion, and the ideas to be an effective, responsive steward of our beloved parks.
As Park Board Commissioner for District 4, I am passionate about working on these key areas.

  • Parks for and by the people. Let’s empower local stewardship of our parks, by allowing more local, active participation in bettering our parks, moving towards participatory budgeting, and creating meaningful partnerships with community groups.
  • Safe parks are active parks. We should be spending more money on youth programming than we do on police enforcement, not the other way around.
  • Be bold stewards of our environment to combat climate change. Let’s invest in rain gardens, carbon sequestration, and end the use of pesticides in the parks.
  • Weave an equity framework through all park decisions. I am well-versed in performing equity and policy analyses. I wrote a transformative equity-based study on capital budget spending in Saint Paul that spurred an overhaul of the entire spending process. I will bring this perspective to evaluating all our park spending.
Some of the neighbors and leaders who support Jono include: 
Grace Fleming, Wedge Neighbor | Allen Young, Whittier Neighbor | Hunter Johnson, Filmmaker and Stevens Square Neighbor | Minneapolis City Council Member Lisa Bender | Binky and Win Rockwell, CIDNA Neighbors | John Daniels, Ward 7 neighbor | Faye Jorgensen, Environmental Researcher | Ben Pichler, Burch Steakhouse | Shariena "Shazzy" Chandler, Whittier Neighbor | Neil Reardon, Loring Park Neighbor | Jessie Backer, Prisoners Rights Advocate | OurRevolution TC and OurRevolution MN  | Jen Kader, Water and Climate Change Professional | Justin Kader, Whittier Neighbor | Bonnie Morris and Dean Holzman, ECCO Residents | Myles Peterson and Jordan, Wedge Neighbors | Michael Friedman, Wedge Neighbor | Alicia Valenti, Loring Park Neighbor | Caroline Olstad, Lowry Hill Neighbor Kadence Hampton, Active Transportation Advocate | Jake Knight, Neighbor and Transportation Planner | Hannah Gary, Whittier Neighbor | Katie Jones Schmitt and Peter Schmitt, Wedge Neighbors | Michael Lupu, Lowry Hill Neighbor | Mariah Weitzenkamp, Wedge Neighbor | Linda Moncada, Local Artist | Patrick Connerton, Whittier Neighbor | ​Ryann Freeman, Whittier Neighbor | Laura Hudson, Wedge Neighbor | Zach Mohles, Lowry Hill East Neighbor | Rebecca Smith, Kenwood Isles Neighbor Andy Velez and Emma Cutler, Lowry Hill Residents | Joe Moran, Wedge Neighbor | Mike Sevilla and Gillian Jones, Loring Park Residents | Max Musicant, Whittier Neighbor | Shane Morin, Wedge Neighbor | Daniela Lorenz, Planner | Amyanne Alderete, Designer | Sam Baker and Lauren Brady | Nick Chrastil, Filmmaker and Writer | James Gleckner, Education Policy Expert | Darin Newmann, Whitter Resident | Kari Johnson, Wedge Neighbor