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Craig Wilson

Craig Wilson has long been active in neighborhood and citywide community organizing, bringing people together to build a stronger, more connected Minneapolis. His background in cultural studies and comparative literature, along with landscape architecture and urban and regional planning, shapes his interest in how culture, place and community intersect. As editor of Hill & Lake Press, Craig is dedicated to highlighting local stories, championing civic engagement and nurturing the shared spirit of the Hill & Lake community — often with his two whippets by his side on neighborhood walks.

Uptown’s Worst Block Gets a Do-Over

The city admits that the 2018 redesign of Hennepin Avenue between Lake Street and 31st Street didn’t work. A quick fix with paint comes this fall, a real rebuild in 2028. I went to the open house to hear about it. So did a few dozen other people.

October 12, 2026

An Outdoor Classroom Takes Shape in the School Forest

A 16-year-old Life Scout and Kenwood parents teamed up to give the school forest by Cedar Lake a place to play and learn in nature.

October 12, 2026

Demystifying Hennepin County: What Commissioners Actually Do

Commissioner seats are on the ballot this fall. Here is how Hennepin County’s $3.15 billion government works, and why it so often pays for things it cannot control.

June 29, 2026

Leashed, Not Banished: Inside the Vote to End Off-Leash Play on a Sacred Site

The Park Board is ending a three-decade-old off-leash dog park on land sacred to the Dakota. Dogs are still welcome on a leash, and the two commissioners who represent Hill & Lake readers split over how it was done.

June 29, 2026

A Flag Worth Gathering Around?

When I wrote about the Minneapolis flag in March, I figured a few people might chuckle and move on. Instead, my inbox filled up.

June 29, 2026

Minneapolis’s Economy is Struggling. Local Government is Focused Elsewhere.

A Lowry Hill commercial property co-owner and long-time Minneapolis resident says city leaders and county commissioners need to focus on Minneapolis’s economic revival.

June 5, 2026

A Five-Decade View of How Uptown Got Here

A longtime developer walks through the rise and retreat of Uptown and argues that the commercial district will not recover quickly without new public tools.

May 2, 2026

Back to the Bathhouses: Before AIDS Closed the Doors

Through the memories of Kelly Hayes, a look back at Minneapolis’ bathhouse era, what drove it underground and the renewed debate over bringing regulated spaces back into the light.

May 2, 2026

Time for a Minneapolis Flag That Unites & Inspires

Minneapolis deserves a bold, modern city flag that reflects its creativity, diversity and civic spirit. A thoughtful redesign process could create a unifying symbol for the city’s future.

March 1, 2026