Phyllis Wheatley Community Center has been awarded a prestigious grant of $75,000 from the National Trust for Historic Preservation's African American Cultural Heritage Action Fund. The grant will support the restoration of Camp Katharine Parsons, a historic property that Phyllis Wheatley has owned since 1956. 

For decades, Camp Parsons was used for recreational activities and restorative programs targeting African American youth from the northside of Minneapolis. Each summer, the agency bused hundreds of young people to the Carver County site where they enjoyed outdoor adventure and learned valuable life skills. The camp is remembered by generations of community members as pivotal because it allowed them to explore a world outside of their urban community – and in so doing, shift their mindset to embrace new ideas, opportunities and dreams. Camp Parsons was, for many, the first place where they could look up and see the stars sweeping across the night sky.

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In the late 1990s, Phyllis Wheatley closed the camp due to financial constraints and aging facilities that had fallen into disrepair. The organization is now working to restore and reopen the camp so it can benefit many generations to come. 

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The African American Cultural Heritage Action Fund grant will support planning activities related to one of Camp Parson’s original buildings, the Nature House - a two-story structure with a boat house on the lower level and classroom on the upper level. Designed in 1968 by architect James Block, the Arts and Crafts-style building was constructed with the help of volunteers from a local chapter of the Young Republicans. Phyllis Wheatley Community Center will utilize their $75,000 grant to fund a historical assessment and structural analysis of the facility. Preservation firm New History will be a primary partner in this work, which will inform the design scope for the entire Camp Parson restoration project.

“Losing this building would be a disappointment, considering its unique design and beautiful views out onto Oak Lake,” says Aaron Raivo-Lynch, Sr. Director of Camp Operations at Phyllis Wheatley.  “Today’s building regulations would prevent its reconstruction in the same location, perched on the edge of the lake overlooking the water. This gives us an opportunity to preserve at least one of the original structures, which is something we have been hopeful to be able to do. Paying homage to the history of the camp and the reasons why it came to be one as one of a few Black-owned youth camps in the entire country is a priority of ours, and this will be a testament to that commitment.” 

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The African American Cultural Heritage Action Fund received an overwhelming response this year, with over 350 applicants from across the United States requesting more than $42 million in funding. The selection process was highly competitive, involving a thorough review by the Action Fund team and experts in African American history and culture. Phyllis Wheatley Community Center was chosen for its exceptional dedication to preserving African American cultural heritage, standing out among numerous worthy applicants.

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“We are deeply grateful for the opportunity to support the critically important work of the Phyllis Wheatley Community Center,” said Brent Leggs, Executive Director of the African American Cultural Heritage Action Fund and Senior Vice President of the National Trust for Historic Preservation. “Their efforts to tell the full American story are both energizing and inspiring, and we look forward to partnering with them to advance their organizational goals.”

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Camp Katharine Parsons is one of America’s few Black-owned, Black-serving youth camps in existence. It is a time-honored, critical piece of Minnesota’s cultural heritage. With the restoration of the camp, Phyllis Wheatley  joins a national movement of reclaiming outdoor spaces for African American communities, and advancing outdoor equity. Once reopened, Camp Parsons will once again offer restorative and educational programs that also promote environmental justice and teach sustainability. These activities will center around the historic Nature House, which will serve as a classroom and gateway to waterfront activities. 

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Make a gift to the restoration project through Phyllis Wheatley’s Camp Katharine Parsons Community Fund at The Minneapolis Foundation here: https://tinyurl.com/Camp-Parsons-Fund.

For more information about the Phyllis Wheatley Community Center and its ongoing projects, please contact Katy Nelson, Sr. Director of Development & Communications at katyn@phylliswheatley.org or visit www.phylliswheatley.org.