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Community Guide 2014

Plymouth

Intr Introduction t od duction

Welcome to Plymouth, a great place to live An excellent quality of life is the reason about 73,000 residents – and growing – have chosen Plymouth to call home. And as the city looks to the future, we are taking steps to expand and enhance Plymouth’s reputation as an exceptional place to live.

Through careful planning in residential, commercial and infrastructure development, Plymouth is poised to not only maintain its high level of quality, but to further it with projects like the Northwest Greenway, Plymouth Ice Center expansion and Hilde Performance Center improvements.

Plymouth is served by four school districts that produce talented students and state-leading academics, and contribute greatly to the city’s positive growth. In the western and southern portion of town is Wayzata Public Schools, Plymouth’s largest school district. Robbinsdale Schools serves the east-central area of the city. Also serving Plymouth is the Osseo School District in the northeast and Hopkins Schools in the southeast corner.

When the school and work days are over, residents can take the opportunity to enjoy more than 120 miles of trails and 1,200 acres of park land in Plymouth. Plymouth Parks and Recreation also offers year-round programs, classes, concerts, special events, trips, team sports and sport instruction for youth, adults and families. To keep up with city-sponsored recreation opportunities, take advantage of plymouthmn.gov – an up-to-date resource for all city functions and information.

For those who like to be further connected, Plymouth maintains active Facebook and Twitter accounts with reminders for fun events, news notifications and general city information. Visit facebook.com/plymouthmn and twitter.com/PlymouthMN_gov to learn more. Also be sure to check out the city’s YouTube channel (youtube.com/user/ PlymouthMNgov), for community spotlights and programming from the Plymouth Police Department.

I also encourage residents to utilize the eNotification option at plymouthmn.gov. At the city’s homepage, click the

“eNotify Sign Up” link on the left side of the page to receive email alerts on topics of your choice. Categories such as road construction projects, City Council updates, events and police alerts allow the user to customize the information he or she receives.

To promote transparency in local government, City Council and Planning Commission meetings are available for on-demand streaming via plymouthmn.gov. Meetings are also televised live on Channel 16 in Plymouth.

With a growing community, abundant resources for residents and increasing options to connect with City Hall, we constantly strive to offer the best and we’re always looking for new ways to continue “Adding Quality to Life.”

Kelli Slavik Mayor

10917 Valley View Road Eden Prairie, MN 55344 sailor.mnsun.com Editor................................................................................... Paul Wahl Writers .............................................. Grace Pastoor, Matthew Hankey Joe Bowen, Derek Bartos Photography ..................................................................Grace Pastoor Layout & Design .........................Joseph Palmersheim, Keith Anderson Cover Design ...................................................................... Elli Martin Advertising Sales ............................................................. Linda Banks Advertising Director ................................................... Cheri O’Bannon Executive Editor ............................................................ Peggy Bakken Director of News .......................................................... Keith Anderson Special thanks to Three Rivers Park District for photo use, and to the city of Plymouth for use of the map.

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Plymouth

Community Guide 2014

Government

City government leads a growing city On a sunny day in July 2014, Plymouth City Council members, city staff, representatives from Maple Grove and various state officials grabbed shovels and threw some ceremonial dirt to officially kick off a long-awaited highway construction project.

After more than 15 years of discussion, and years of pressure from Plymouth officials, the Minnesota Department of Transportation began adding a third lane to Interstate 494, from Hwy. 55 north to the Fish Lake interchange.

Pushing that project to the top of the state priority list is an example of how Plymouth’s municipal government serves the city’s 73,000 residents.

Plymouth is governed by a seven-member city council, which is made up of a mayor, two at-large council members and representatives from the northeast, northwest, southeast and southwest portions of the city.

The council is responsible for looking at the short- and long-term policy and direction of the city, including land use issues and city ordinances. Generally, the council meets monthly at 7 p.m. on the second and fourth Tuesdays at Plymouth City Hall, 3400 Plymouth Blvd.

Several citizen boards and committees advise the council. When vacancies on those boards and committees arise, the City Council interviews and appoints residents to the 4

boards and committees.

• Environmental Quality Committee – The EQC meets at 7 p.m. on the second Wednesday of each month and makes recommendations to the council on environmental issues within the city.

• Housing and Redevelopment Authority – The HRA meets at 7 p.m. on the fourth Thursday of each month and works with the city’s housing and community development programs to administer grants for housing programs. It also manages a senior citizens apartment building.

• Parks and Recreation Advisory Commission – The PRAC meets at 7 p.m. on the second Thursday of each month. It oversees plans and proposals for the city’s parks and its recreation programs.

• Planning Commission – The Planning Commission meets at 7 p.m. on the first and third Wednesdays of each month. The commission reviews land use and development applications to make sure they meet the city’s planning and zoning ordinances, and makes recommendations to the council on how to proceed with those applications.

• Plymouth Advisory Committee on Transit – The PACT meets quarterly at 7 p.m. on selected Wednesdays.

It advises the council on the city operated Metrolink bus system, which takes riders to and from downtown Minneapolis, and a shared curb-to-curb service.

Community Guide 2014

Plymouth

F sttivals Fe Festivals

Music, entertainment, arts all year long Plymouth hosts a number of community events throughout the year, attended by thousands of the city’s residents and visitors.

Music in Plymouth The city’s premiere event is Music in Plymouth, a free evening of music, fireworks and community engagement, which recently marked its 42nd year in Plymouth. For more than four decades – in June or July, depending on the year – the Plymouth Civic League and the city of Plymouth team up to present the massive event.

The Minnesota Orchestra returned to the stage in 2014, after a year’s hiatus because of the musicians’ strike. Attendees are encouraged to make an evening of the concert – picnics are encouraged and food is sold around the Hilde Performance Center. Music in Plymouth is the city’s largest event and is open for all to attend.

Entertainment in the Parks Summer is when things really heat up for the city and its parks and recreation department.

A beefed-up summer schedule includes “Kids Koncerts,” concerts for adults, movies in the park, a summer carnival and many other events. During summer, it’s virtually impossible to not find something to do.

Plymouth on Parade Early each fall, an old-fashioned parade makes its way through City Center.

Plymouth on Parade is then followed by activities at the Plymouth Ice Center, Life Time Fitness and Hilde Performance Center.

Fire and Ice Parkers Lake Park becomes a snowy wonderland every winter – both on land and the frozen lake. Events at the annual winter celebration, “Fire and Ice,” include hayrides, horse rides and sled dog rides, recycle bin races, miniature golf on the ice, snow bowling, youth ice fishing contest, recreational skating, a goofy hat contest and food vendors.

The day is capped off with fireworks.

Primavera art show Primavera, a juried art show, takes place every spring.

The event also includes musical, literary and dramatic entertainment. The Plymouth Arts Council sponsors the event. The PAC works closely with the Plymouth Parks and Recreation Department to further promote the arts throughout the community by facilitating juried art shows every month at city hall and Plymouth Creek Center.

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Community Guide 2014

Plymouth

H i Housing

Population could exceed 82,000 by 2040 Plymouth has undergone many changes during its lifetime, growing from a rural area to a booming city, with even more expansion to come.

Plymouth’s Planning Division recently released a population projection that takes the housing boom into account. Plymouth Community Development Director Steve Juetten estimated that the city’s population would reach 82,085 by 2040 – up from nearly 73,000 in 2012.

The northwestern part of Plymouth experienced a significant housing boom as applications for 400 single-family homes were processed. Large multi-home developments such as Cedar Hollow, Brynwood, Creekside Hills and Creek Ridge are nearing completion.

The once-rural area between Vicksburg and Dunkirk Lane north of Schmidt Lake Road previously consisted of family farm plots and multi-acre spreads of land. Today, housing frames, dump truck traffic and moving boxes dominate the area.

As a result of the increased population in Plymouth, and other nearby developing neighborhoods in Maple Grove, Corcoran and Medina, Wayzata Public Schools is expanding its high school and elementary facilities.

To keep pace with the boom in housing development, street improvement projects throughout the city have also increased.

Plymouth has begun work on two major street improvement projects – the $19.4 million Vicksburg Lane extension and the $11.3 million Peony Lane project.

Additionally, the previously gravel-paved Dunkirk Lane through the area will be upgraded to a proper city street.

Meanwhile, the Minnesota Department of Transportation has begun adding a third lane to Interstate 494, from Hwy. 55 north to the Fish Lake interchange.

The development increase is in line with the greater vision of city planners and the City Council.

With the growth trajectory in Plymouth and the influx of development, city staff has stated confidence in the pace and method in which the city builds out toward the future.

“All of these things make for a situation that’s not the best, but they will improve as we make improvements to the street system,” Planning Manager Barbara Thomson said specifically regarding the situation between Vicksburg and Dunkirk Lane. “And those improvements are coming.”

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Community Guide 2014

Plymouth

Hi t History

A village in 1955, a statutory city by 1974 Today, Plymouth continues to grow and develop, with a bright future ahead. But the city also has a very rich history.

Plymouth can trace its birth as a town to 1855, on what is now Parkers Lake. A gristmill and other structures were built in the area. In the spring of 1857, when Parkers Lake flooded, the mill was taken down.

By 1880, Plymouth’s population was 1,074. Today, Metro Council and U.S. Census estimates the population to be over 73,000.

The city’s original inhabitants were the Dakota Native American tribes. Their encampment was at the north end of Medicine Lake. A French guide and explorer, Antoine LeCounte, was the first white settler in the area. He arrived in 1848 but did not settle until 1852.

In 1855, Plymouth became a town on the northwest shores of what is now known as Parkers Lake. As new settlers arrived in the area, they decided to organize. The Hennepin County Board of Commissioners named the new settlement Plymouth. On April 19, 1858, a group of townspeople met at the home of Francis Day to open elections for town offices.

The settlers of Plymouth formed a militia in 1862, during the conflict between white settlers and the Dakota at Fort Ridgeley, near New Ulm. When the Civil War start-

ed, Plymouth paid its volunteers $25 to enlist. Parkers Lake Cemetery is the final resting place of many of those Civil War veterans.

In the 1860s and 1870s, Plymouth began to look like a town. Schools and churches were built and a post office was located in Plymouth. By 1863, hotels were being built. By the 1880s, roads were being built across town, and Medicine Lake was becoming a major tourist attraction. Medicine Inn opened around that time, and operated until the 1960s as a resort, store, blacksmith shop, jail, Legion Club and last as the Flying Tiger Bar. The Plymouth Historical Society operates a historical museum (Old Town Hall) at 3605 Fernbrook Lane. The organization welcomes new members to help preserve the city’s history and artifacts.

Information: plymouthhistoricalsociety.com

The City of Plymouth timeline • 1855 — Plymouth is born as a town • 1858 — First town officers elected • 1955 – Plymouth was incorporated as a village • 1968 – The city adopted the council-manager form of government • 1974 – Plymouth became a statutory city • 1993 – The Plymouth City Charter goes into effect 9

Plymouth

Community Guide 2014

Fire Department

Fire Department has grown along with city The city of Plymouth is protected by an impressive fire department, consisting of highly trained professional firefighters and state-of-the-art equipment.

The fire department has grown along with the city.

Plymouth’s first fire station and fire truck came to the city in 1960. At that time, 15 volunteer firefighters and several officers were part of the department.

In 2014, the department has 69 paid-on-call firefighters and three stations dotted across the city. The department hired six probationary firefighters in the last year – bringing an authorized strength of 75 paid-on-call firefighters.

Today’s fire department responds to an average of 1,400 calls every year.

The department has added a duty station, which is staffed by a four-person duty crew, 6 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday through Saturday, was added in recent years. The hours of the duty station are meant to coincide with the busiest times for calls, which has helped shorten the response time. During staffed hours, the average response time was 6 minutes and 30 seconds during duty-crew hours and between 10 and 12 minutes during non-duty crew hours.

Every year, Plymouth firefighters spend thousands of man-hours training and promoting education throughout the community. In 2013, paid on-call firefighters logged a total of 34,231 hours. Collectively, the department increased its total training hours to 8,230 in 2012.

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The department marks Fire Prevention Month each October with an open house, which allows residents to connect with firefighters, police officers and paramedics.

The open house includes hands-on activities, displays and demonstrations, including how to use fire extinguishers, fire hoses and the technological advances in firefighting equipment.

The fire department is active and present at many community events, such as Night to Unite, where firefighters promote education and fire prevention to children and families through an open house at Plymouth Creek Center and at neighborhood parties throughout the community.

Mission Statement The mission of the Plymouth Fire Department – making a difference through emergency response, customer service and community education – is accomplished through our professionally delivered response, customer service and community outreach programs.

Administrative Offices Public Safety Building 3400 Plymouth Blvd.

763-509-5120 Open 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday

Community Guide 2014

Plymouth

Police P li Department D

Plymouth Police: To protect and serve The Plymouth Police Department serves residents of Plymouth with more than 90 full-time employees, including sworn police officers and a civilian support staff.

The department consists of three areas: professional standards, which includes hiring and promotions, policies and procedures, internal affairs and training and administrative services; patrol operations, which also includes community service officers; and support services, which includes investigations, schools and crime prevention and community standards.

The most recognizable of those is the patrol division, which includes 46 officers – 33 patrol officers, eight patrol sergeants, three canine officers and two traffic officers. The patrol division accounts for more than half of the roughly 71 sworn officers within the department.

Statistics for the first half of 2014 indicate that the number of serious crimes within the city has been decreasing.

Through the first half of 2013, the department had responded to 528 Part I Crimes. In 2014, 516 responses were reported, which represents an 2.3 percent decrease. Part I Crimes are considered to be more serious crimes including arson, robbery and theft.

The department also engages the community through outreach and educational programs including a 36-hour, 12-week citizens academy, Night to Unite, a bike helmet program and a DARE program for multiple schools throughout the city.

Mission Statement The mission of the Plymouth Police Department is to provide superior protection and service by reducing crime and enhancing the quality of life expected by our community. We will accomplish this through innovative strategies and collaboration, along with a commitment to our core values: integrity, accountability, professionalism, respect and excellence.

Vision Statement To offer the community extraordinary protection and superior service through proactive strategies and advanced technology. We will treat one another and all whom we serve with care and respect. We will maintain the public trust through fair, civil and just actions based on irrefutable principles. And, we will hold the responsibility given to us as law enforcement personnel in the highest regard.

Plymouth police chiefs • Claude Lien – 1959 to 1969 • Calvin Hawkinson – 1969 to 1979 • Richard Carlquist – 1979 to 1991 • Craig Gerdes – 1992 to 2004 • Michael Goldstein – 2004 to present

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Community Guide 2014

Plymouth

Business

TCF Bank, Polaris bring jobs to Plymouth Plymouth’s economic and job outlook has seen another boost over the past year after multiple companies, including TCF Bank and Polaris Industries Inc., announced they would be expanding into the city, bringing hundreds of jobs with them.

Plymouth is currently home to 7,500 businesses, which generate 50,000 jobs. The largest percentage of those jobs is in manufacturing — about 19 percent.

TCF Financial Corp. announced in April that it would begin moving more than 1,500 employees to the 290,000-square-foot multi-tenant space at 1405 Xenium Lane in the southwestern part of town. Throughout the next two years, the company will vacate spaces in Wayzata, Brooklyn Center, Fridley, Minnetonka, St. Paul and downtown Minneapolis.

The first group to move will include about 200 employees from the customer contact center in Brooklyn Center, followed by 100 consumer loan employees from St. Paul.

TCF will also move employees from a 26,000-squarefoot warehouse facility (the new location features 40,000 square feet of warehousing space).

The lion’s share of the relocation will take place mid2015, when some 1,100 employees will relocate from the TCF Tower and Bank Building in downtown Minneapolis.

TCF has not owned the building downtown for a decade, and began looking for a new home several years

ago. Plymouth was chosen for many reasons, according to Corporate Communications Director Mark Goldman.

He cited the abundance of dining and entertainment options in the area, the proximity to shopping hubs, the location near two major interstates, access to public transit and ample free parking as major influences on the decision.

The new TCF center will house an on-site daycare center, a full-service cafeteria and a fitness center with showers. TCF’s corporate headquarters will remain at 200 Lake Street East in Wayzata.

Polaris Industries Inc., a leader in the powersports industry, will also be moving into a new Plymouth location starting this October. The space in Plymouth will serve as company’s “second headquarters” — corporate headquarters will remain just down the road in Medina.

Polaris purchased an existing 120,000-square-foot building at 9955 59th Ave. N. in May. Improvements to the building will include reconstruction of the common spaces, redoing the interior and the addition of a cafeteria.

Some 250 employees will come from the company’s Medina headquarters. Another 175 employees will be transferred from another location. The company foresees being able to accommodate another 200 employees when needed.

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Plymouth

Community Guide 2014

Wayzata Schools

Wayzata Schools: Ready for the growth With a student population of 10,570 and growing, Wayzata Public Schools is getting ready for the future. A new elementary school and a major addition to Wayzata High School are now under construction.

District residents said yes to $109 million in bond funding for a 172,000-square-foot expansion to the high school, building of an eighth elementary school plus infrastructure improvements throughout the district. The high school expansion and new elementary school are projected to be open to students in fall 2016. The new elementary school will be located near Lawndale Lane and County Rd. 47.

School officials had studied the population growth trends, and were aware that multiple housing developments were being planned for the northwest part of Plymouth, as well as in neighboring Medina and Corcoran.

The Wayzata School Board developed a multilayered plan to ensure the districtâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s ongoing success. Starting at the elementary level, the district changed some of its boundaries to shift students from overcrowded schools to those with extra space. The same was done at some of the middle schools.

Finally, the school board decided that additional facili14

ties were needed, and prepared the bond referendum that ultimately was approved by the voters.

The district is led by its seven-member school board and Supt. Chace Anderson. School board members are elected to four-year terms on an at-large basis, which helps provide equal representation from throughout the district.

Students from Corcoran, Maple Grove, Medicine Lake, Medina, Minnetonka, Orono, Plymouth and Wayzata, are spread out across 11 schools in the district â&#x20AC;&#x201C; seven elementary schools, three middle schools and one high school.

The district also offers a wide range of community education classes, which range from cooking to GED preparation to social networking.

Athletics are also a highlight in the district. High school sports fans can cheer the Wayzata Trojans as they compete on 30 boys and girls athletics teams. Some 1,900 students compete for the Wayzata Trojans each school year.

Wayzata Public Schools District Office 210 County Road 101, Plymouth 763-745-5000 wayzata.k12.mn.us

Community Guide 2014

Plymouth

Robbinsdale R bbi d l A Area SSchools h l

Robbinsdale Area Schools serve seven cities Some 12,000 students from seven cities study the basic educational curriculum plus a wide range of specialized and accelerated programs in Robbinsdale Area Schools.

Students from Crystal, Golden Valley, New Hope, Robbinsdale, Brooklyn Park, Brooklyn Center and Plymouth attend the district’s two high schools, two middle schools, 10 elementary schools, and five learning and service centers.

The district also has an alternative high school and alternative high school program. It offers a Spanish Immersion program to its elementary and middle school students, International Baccalaureate to elementary, middle school and high school students, and Advanced Placement offerings at both the middle and high school level.

District students, staff and administrators have won several awards in the past year.

Armstrong High School was recently named one of “America’s Most Challenging High Schools” by the Washington Post, and the School of Engineering and Art’s Principal Kim Hiel was named 2014 Science and Mathematics Elementary and Middle Level Principal of the Year.

Cara Rieckenberg, a science teacher at Hiel’s school, was awarded the 2014 Medtronic Foundation Science Teaching

Award by the Minnesota Science Teachers’ Association.

Supt. Aldo Sicoli received the Leadership Award for Promoting Equity and Social Justice from the National Urban Alliance for Effective Education.

A full complement of 24 athletic extracurricular girls and boys sports is offered in the two high schools, in addition to a host of non-athletic extracurricular activities including DECA, chess club, Speech and Debate, yearbook, economics competitions and Lego League. Offerings at the elementary and middle levels include Lego League, Destination ImagiNation, National History Day, Spelling Bee and more.

The district, which is one of the largest in Minnesota, has a $151 million general fund budget and employs approximately 1,900 people. It has a seven-member school board, elected at large, which meets on the first and third Monday nights of each month.

Education Service Center 4148 Winnetka Ave. N., New Hope 763-504-8000 rdale.org 15

Plymouth

Community Guide 2014

Osseo Area Schools

Osseo Schools: Award-winning programs Osseo Area Schools equips more than 20,000 students with a range of award-winning programs and services to supplement its advanced classroom education. It will be rolling out new technological tools for enhanced learning and it is changing its grade structure to better align with other schools in the state.

The district currently runs 17 elementary schools, four junior highs and three senior highs. Beginning in 2015-16 school year, the district will shift to a middle school grade configuration, making its three high schools grades 9-12 rather than 10-12. The district also has an area learning center, two early childhood centers, two special program sites and an adult education/enrollment center. Community education classes serve lifelong learners from infants to senior citizens.

Magnet schools allow students to deepen their learning in special focus areas. Elementary magnet schools include Birch Grove Elementary School for the Arts, and Weaver Lake Elementary: A Science, Math and Technology School. Junior high magnet schools are Brooklyn Junior High (STEM) and North View Junior High (International Baccalaureate). Senior high magnets are Park Center Senior High (International Baccalaureate) and Osseo Senior High (health sciences).

International Baccalaureate (IB) Middle Years and Diploma Programmes are offered at North View Junior High and Park Center Senior High. The programs are globally recognized for their thorough assessments, which are based 16

on international educational curriculum. Brooklyn Junior High offers a full-school STEAM – which is Science, Engineering, Art and Mathematics. Osseo Senior High offers a full health science magnet program and courses that continue the STEM emphasis.

Co-curricular opportunities enhance students’ lives outside of the classroom by building character, minds and bodies. Students have been state champions in a range of sports and have received Minnesota State High School League Academic Excellence awards. Student athletes have been state qualifiers in multiple sports, and have performed as All-Conference musicians or have been honored with the Hennepin Theater Trust SpotLight Award, to only name a few examples of the district’s co-curricular recognition.

The school district is a global community that encompasses homes that, in total, represent 80 dialects or languages other than English. Such diversity leads to rich educational experiences and surroundings that prepare students for the technology-based, global and constantly changing workplaces of the future.

District 279 serves all or parts of Brooklyn Center, Brooklyn Park, Corcoran, Dayton, Maple Grove, Osseo, Plymouth and Rogers.

Educational Service Center 11200 93rd Ave. N., Maple Grove 763-391-7000 district279.org

Community Guide 2014

Plymouth

Hopkins H ki SSchools h l

Hopkins Schools: A tradition of excellence Language immersion in Chinese and Spanish, challenging science programs and International Baccalaureate: Hopkins Schools has an impressive educational reach that delivers a high level of innovation and performance in teaching its diverse student enrollment.

XinXing Academy, Hopkins’ Chinese immersion program, is housed at Eisenhower Elementary. It currently offers Chinese immersion in grades 1-6 and recently expanded to junior high with the XinXing@West program.

Hopkins Public Schools added Spanish instruction in all six Hopkins elementary schools during the last school year, with the implementation of the Foreign Language in the Elementary Schools model. Spanish Level II is the anticipated level of language proficiency for elementary students entering the junior high program.

North Junior High and West Junior High are International Baccalaureate World Schools. Providing a framework for learning that encourages students to become creative, critical, and reflective thinkers, the IB program allows all students to participate in a rigorous program and curriculum.

The Hopkins School District has been honored with numerous national recognitions and its students and staff have received many awards as well.

U.S. News & World Report named Hopkins High School a Silver Medalist School due to its high performance on state assessment tests and its college readiness scores. Hopkins High School was ranked the 15th best

high school in Minnesota and received a nationwide ranking of 628 out of more than 22,000 public high schools.

Glen Lake Elementary has been designated a STEM Magnified school. Glen Lake, like all Hopkins district elementary schools, already has STEM facets in its core curriculum. The magnified school designation means its students will have additional STEM opportunities and experiences.

The Hopkins School District serves the entire city of Hopkins, the majority of Minnetonka, about half of Golden Valley and portions of Eden Prairie, Edina, Plymouth and St. Louis Park.

The district’s K-12 population includes more than 7,000 students. Its secondary facilities – Hopkins High School, Hopkins North Junior High and Hopkins West Junior High – are all located in Minnetonka.

The district’s primary-level facilities include Alice Smith and Eisenhower elementary schools in Hopkins, Gatewood, Glen Lake and L.H. Tanglen elementary schools in Minnetonka, and Meadowbrook elementary in Golden Valley.

Hopkins Public Schools 1001 Highway 7, Hopkins 952-988-4000 hopkinsschools.org

17

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Community Guide 2014

Plymouth

Private P i t SSchools h l

Private schools teach more than academics Providence Academy One of the many educational options for Plymouth residents, Providence Academy provides a Catholic, collegepreparatory education to a wide range of students from pre-kindergarten through 12th grade.

The academy, which opened in 2000, boasts a “structured, sequenced, no-nonsense college-prep curriculum,” and instructs its 846 students on world cultures, Western civilization and other traditional subjects. Providences’ motto, “Faith, Knowledge, Virtue,” emphasizes the school’s focus on helping students develop into good citizens and good people.

Providence Academy does not only focus on academics, however. The school prepares students for the real world by educating them in values such as honesty, generosity, courage and perseverance in a Catholic environment.

While Providence students are consistently admitted to their best-fit colleges – including some of the most selective – the school’s 110 educators remain even more dedicated to the human qualities of its graduates than the colleges they choose to attend.

For more information about Providence Academy, visit providenceacademy.org.

West Lutheran High School A Minnesota accredited high school with numerous PSEO and AP offerings, the curriculum at West Lutheran High School is rich in academic preparation for a graduate’s college of choice and ultimate entrance into the best jobs of this decade.

It leads in percentages of students who score above average in college entrance tests and in students who pursue post-secondary education.

Every student’s education plan is customized for optimal learning and success in reaching targeted goals. The smaller staff-to-student class size ratio enhances individualized attention, and the safe, Christian environment allows students to blossom and realize friendships for life. Participation in its full menu of athletics, extra-curricular, and fine arts options is open to all ability levels.

West Lutheran’s enrollment of 146 students continues to grow and is up 9 percent over last year. Many live locally in Plymouth, but some students commute from as far away as 30 miles. Its International Student Program boasts 8 percent of its enrollment, attracting students from five foreign countries.

For more information, go to www.wlhs.net.

19

Plymouth

Community Guide 2014

Map

20

Community Guide 2014

Plymouth

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Community Guide 2014

Plymouth

Parks P k &T Trails il

Park and trail options abound in Plymouth Plymouth’s strong Parks and Recreation Department offers extensive outdoor entertainment options and frequent programming for both children and adults. Even in the city’s growing suburban setting, Plymouth residents have plenty of opportunities to be active outdoors.

Plymouth has 53 developed parks, which cover more than 1,200 acres throughout the city. That total includes five city parks, 35 neighborhood and school parks, nine city playfields and eight special use facilities. Parks and Recreation also maintains a 136-mile network of city, state and regional trails that connect most neighborhoods to parks, schools and commercial areas.

A park dedication program and sensitivity to the balance of nature and development, the city strives to offer residents more than enough to meet their outdoor needs.

Park Hours • City parks – 7 a.m. to 11 p.m.

• Playfields – 7 a.m. to 10:30 p.m.

• Neighborhood parks – 7 a.m. to 10 p.m.

Alcohol and Tobacco Restrictions Alcohol and tobacco are not allowed in any city park or facility.

Pet Policies Pets are allowed in all of the city’s park. They must, however, be on a leash, and the owner is responsible for picking up after their animals. The one exception is the Plymouth Dog Park, which provides an off-leash area for dogs and their owners.

Information The city offers maps of its parks and trail system, as well as information about the amenities of all of its parks on the Parks and Recreation Department section of the city website, by calling 763-509-5200 or emailing recreation@ plymouthmn.gov.

Plymouth Creek 3625 Fernbrook Lane Amenities: off-street parking, disc golf, trails, picnic shelter, play structure Timber Shores 53rd Avenue North and Zachary Lane North Amenities: off-street parking, softball/baseball, trails, boat launch, fishing, picnic shelter, play structure

Special use facilities

Plymouth City Parks

Plymouth Dog Park County Road 47 (west of Dunkirk Lane)

East Medicine Lake 1740 E. Medicine Lake Blvd.

Amenities: picnic tables, off-street parking, trails, boat launch, fishing, swimming area, canoe storage, play structure, restrooms

Hilde Performance Center 3450 Plymouth Blvd.

West Medicine Lake 1920 W. Medicine Lake Drive Amenities: basketball, off-street parking, trails, volleyball, boat launch, fishing, swimming area, canoe storage, picnic shelter, play structure, portable toilet

Millennium Garden 14800 34th Ave.

Parkers Lake County Road 6 and Niagara Lane Amenities: restrooms, off-street parking, trails, volleyball, boat launch, fishing, swimming area, canoe storage, amphitheater, warming house, concessions, picnic shelter, meeting rooms, play structure, portable toilet, general skating

Ice Center 3650 Plymouth Blvd.

Nature Canyon Fernbrook Lane and 44th Place Plymouth Creek Center 14800 34th Ave. Skate Park 14900 23rd Ave.

23

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Community Guide 2014

Plymouth

Feativals Faiith Faith

Celebrating faith throughout Plymouth Apostolic Lutheran Church 11015 Old County Road 15 763-544-7248 plymouthapostolic.org Ascension Lutheran Church 15870 46th Ave. N. 763-559-0579 ascensionplymouth.com Association of Free Lutherans 3110 E. Medicine Lake Blvd.

763-545-5631 aflc.org Beautiful Savior Lutheran Church 5005 Northwest Blvd.

763-550-1000 beautifulsaviorlc.org Christ Memorial Lutheran Church 13501 Sunset Trail 763-544-3632 cmlc-tlc.org Church of the Epiphany Episcopal 4900 Nathan Lane N. 763-559-3144 epiphany-episcopal.org Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints 330 Vicksburg Lane N. 763-475-2304 Fourth Baptist Church 900 Forestview Lane N. 763-417-8200 fourthbaptist.org Glory of Christ Lutheran Church 4040 Highway 101 N.

763-478-6031 gloryofchrist.org

763-544-0287 p-bc.org

Minneapolis Laestadian Lutheran 13030 47th Ave. N. 763-553-1601 mllchurch.org

Plymouth Covenant Church 4300 Vicksburg Lane N. 763-559-4300 plymouthcovenant.org

Messiah United Methodist Church 17805 County Road 6 763-473-6968 messiahchurchmn.org

Plymouth Creek Christian Church 16000 41st Ave. N. 763-559-1469 plymouthcreek.org

Mt. Olivet Lutheran Church 12235 Old Rockford Road 763-559-2775 moply.org

Plymouth Presbyterian Church 3755 Dunkirk Lane N. 763-559-2946 plymouthpc.org

Northwest Islamic Community Center 3300 Plymouth Blvd.

612-756-9422 nwicc-mn.org

Slavic Church Tolgota 12300 18th Ave. N. 763-559-7770

Parkers Lake Baptist Church 14720 County Road 6 763-473-3552 plbc.org Peace Lutheran Church of Plymouth 3695 County Road 101 N. 763-478-9406 peaceofplymouth.org Pilgrim United Methodist Church 4325 Zachary Lane N. 763-559-5451 pilgrimumc.org Plymouth Bible Chapel 10605 36th Avenue N.

St. Barnabas Lutheran Church 15600 Old Rockford Road 763-553-1239 stbarnabaslutheran.org St. Mary of the Lake 105 Forestview Lane N. 763-545-1443 stmaryofthelakeply.org St. Philip the Deacon Lutheran Church 17205 County Road 6 763-475-7100 spdlc.org Vision of Glory Lutheran 13200 Highway 55 763-559-4222 vogchurch.com 25

City of Medicine Lakeâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s roots go back to 1855 survey

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Today, the city of Medicine Lake is a small but successful community located on the large peninsula within the lake that gave it its name - the second largest lake in the Twin Cities.

But while the city now has its own fire department, city council and planning commission, it was not always the independent city it is today.

The United States government surveyed the peninsula that is now home to Medicine Lake in 1855 and in 1858 it was purchased from the government by a Mr. Weyandt. The peninsula changed hands again in 1887 after the land was bought by Jacob Barge, who plotted it into lots and opened it to the public that July.

While the city of Medicine Lake is now connected to surrounding cities, including Plymouth, it was somewhat isolated in its early days. The main road leading to the peninsula was wooded on both sides and flooded in the spring. Central Avenue, now called Peninsula Road, ran down the middle of the peninsula and was rutted and muddy. Farmers who lived near the lake were responsible for road repairs.

Though most residents of the peninsula only lived there during the summer, the area did continue to develop. Some residents purchased telephones around 1910 and electricity became available to the town in 1926.

The town began to change in earnest in the spring of 1944 when peninsula residentsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; desire for a self-governing village structure came to a head. Charles Brudigan, Ernest Ertl and Les Johantgen were among the people who headed the effort to separate from Plymouth Township. The first referendum on the separation was recorded on April 24, 1944, and the city of Medicine Lake became independent.

The most recent population estimate says 379 people live in 160 Medicine Lake homes.

Medicine Lake City Hall 10609 South Shore Drive 763-542-9701 medicinelake.govoffice.com

26

Community Guide 2014

Plymouth

Lib i Libraries

Plymouth Library is worth ‘checking out’ In the four years since the new Plymouth Library opened, the community has embraced the modern, 30,000 square foot facility as a center of learning and resources.

The library, at 15700 36th Ave. N., opened in 2010 and serves the diverse Plymouth area with 72 public computers with Internet access. Visitors will find free, buildingwide wireless access. An attractive lounge, study and gathering spaces exist throughout the library.

The library was built with environmentally friendly features that reduce operational costs. They include a green roof, geothermal heating and cooling, daylight harvesting, energy efficient glass, light-sensitive light fixtures, durable and recycled fabrics and building materials, a biofiltration area and a storm water pond.

A used book sale, art instruction, talks with local authors, music programs and more are featured regularly.

The library has areas for all ages. The teen area features a sunny lounge with retro carpet and furniture – plus spacious computer desks for collaboration on school projects. The children’s area has space for families to read together, use computers and explore an interactive early literacy zone.

Comfortable seating with a living room type feel anchors the adult area. There’s also a large print lounge with display case, and a community information alcove with photocopier, study tables and free community newspapers. A variety of study rooms are available on a firstcome, first-served basis. Rooms that seat 2-60 may be reserved online at hclib.org.

The facility houses a large collection of books, DVDs and CDs; Chinese and Russian language materials, Four self-checkout stations, an all-hours drive-up book return and a large parking lot are also available for patron use.

The library system has also launched an eBook service.

The Friends of the Plymouth Library, a group of devoted volunteers, enhance the community experience through a number of different programs, including meet the author events, family storytimes and involvement in World Book Night, where Friends distributed free novels to residents of Plymouth.

Sculptures purchased by the Friends of the Plymouth Library welcome visitors. “The Dream Machine,” a colorful, stained-glass mandala by artist Phil Daniels, sits on the windows on the west side of the library. “Elements of Harmony,” a fabric mural by Joan Solomon, uses ecofriendly recycled fabric and links and brings the natural world indoors.

Plymouth is part of the Hennepin County Library system, which consists of 41 libraries located in Minneapolis and suburban Hennepin County, and is recognized as one of the top library systems in the United States.

Library cards are free and are available at any Hennepin County library.

Plymouth Library 15700 36th Ave. N., Plymouth 612-543-5825 hclib.org 27

Plymouth

Community Guide 2014

WestHealth

Interlude, Penny George: cutting-edge care The Abbott Northwestern-WestHealth campus in Plymouth continues to expand to serve the area’s fast-growing population.

WestHealth is home to a growing number of Allina Health specialty services and programs, including cardiovascular services, pharmacy, primary care, orthopedic services and physical therapy. Last year, a full emergency room was opened to supplement the Urgent Care services.

This year, the Penny George Institute opened; a 56-suite care center is under construction, set to open early in 2015.

The Penny George Institute for Health and Healing opened in August on the WestHealth campus. The Institute, which focuses on the mind, body and spirit, uses a holistic approach to patient care.

The new clinic has nine treatment rooms and one group space. Among the services that will be offered in the newly renovated 4,000-square-foot space are acupuncture, nutrition consultations, integrative medicine consultations and health coaching.

“It’s a gorgeous space. We have made this a space you want to be in rather than a sterile, cold environment we traditionally see in health care,” said Dr. Courtney Baechler, vice president and leader of The Institute. “I’ve had numerous patients with chest pain and palpitations who still had symptoms after going through all of our protocols.

But once we incorporated things like acupuncture, reflexol28

ogy, biofeedback and mind, body spirit medicine into their care, we would see vast improvement.”

Visible from Highway 55, crews are currently building a $17 million transitional care center, set to open early next year.

The facility, called Interlude Restorative Suites, is a collaboration between Allina and Presbyterian Homes and Services, a nonprofit, faith-based organization affiliated with 40 senior living communities throughout Wisconsin, Minnesota and Iowa.

The center at WestHealth will include 56 private suites and an underground parking garage to serve patients who may require continuing care post-surgery or in light of certain medical circumstances. Its focus will be hospitality, wellness and service delivered in a resort-like setting.

The center will “specialize in customized, high-quality, technologically advanced rehabilitation and recovery programs designed to reach optimal levels of individual health and ability.”

A not-for-profit health care system, Allina Health cares for patients from beginning to end-of-life through its 90plus clinics, 11 hospitals, 15 pharmacies, specialty care centers and specialty medical services that provide home care, senior transitions, hospice care, home oxygen and medical equipment, and emergency medical transportation services. Information: westhealth.com

Community Guide 2014

Plymouth

Vol nteerin Volunteering

Two hardworking volunteer organizations Interfaith Outreach and Community Partners Interfaith Outreach and Community Partners, a multiaspect community service organization, helps families in need in a variety of ways.

Each year, IOCP assists more than 1,700 families and individuals in Plymouth, Wayzata, Hamel, Long Lake, Medicine Lake, Medina, Minnetonka Beach and Orono with housing, employment, child care, transportation and community connections. Assistance could be emergency or long-term solutions.

The organization can cite many accomplishments of the past year: The Caring for Kids initiative helped 152 children receive preschool educational scholarships, 218 children participated in Homework Clubs, 178 adults received employment services.

The food shelf distributed 693,720 pound of food, to 4,250 individuals (40% of which were children). Some 459 families received emergency housing assistance.

IOCP is now in its third year in its new 40,000 square foot Plymouth facility. Located at 1605 County Rd. 101, the building has ample space for case managers, the food shelf, additional meeting rooms, a resale shop – Resale 101 – and a large community meeting space. Donations of $5.5

million to the capital campaign a few years ago made this facility a reality. Hennepin County, Wayzata Community Education, Peppermint Fence West and Minnesota Fathers and Family Network have also leased space in the building.

Information: 763-489-7500; iocp.org

People Responding In Social Ministry The community-funded social service agency PRISM (People Responding In Social Ministry) also provides for families in need in the Plymouth area.

More than 5,500 families annually are helped, through a food shelf, clothing closet, financial assistance, financial literacy classes, dial-a-ride transportation, school supplies, auto repair for low-income families, vehicle purchase or repair loans, and donated vehicles for working families.

PRISM partners with 19 churches in Plymouth, Crystal, Golden Valley and New Hope.

PRISM connects with clients through Hennepin County social services, United Way’s 211, crisis help lines, churches, employers, other agencies, landlords and individuals who have received help through its programs.

Information: 763-529-1350; prismmpls.org

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Plymouth

Community Guide 2014

Outdoors

Outdoor recreation for all ages and seasons The regional Three Rivers Parks system has a huge presence in the city.

The park’s 27,000 acres of parks and trails are managed at administrative offices located at 3000 Xenium Lane N., Plymouth.

Established as an independent, special park district by the Minnesota State Legislature in 1957, Three Rivers maintains park reserves, regional parks and regional trails in the western Twin Cities metro area. The name Three Rivers comes from the parks’ location within the watershed flowing into the Mississippi, Minnesota and Crow Rivers.

Two major Three Rivers Parks are also located in Plymouth.

French Regional Park, 12605 Rockford Road, is home to a swimming beach, fishing pier, lighted trails and an expansive play area. In the summer, boats line up to launch at Medicine Lake. In winter, the park is a popular destination for sledding, cross-country skiing and snowshoeing.

French Regional Park’s visitor center has GPS receivers available to check out with picture identification, which are available only for use within the park. Other parks throughout the district host classes and provide group opportunities to learn about the popular outdoor recreation.

Renovations to the boat launch began early in September. Dredging will increase the water depth, and the boat ramp will be replaced. The launch will be closed from September through November.

30

Eagle Lake Park, 11000 Bass Lake Road, encompasses 230 acres on the border of Plymouth and Maple Grove, and includes the Eagle Lake Youth Golf Center.

Situated on the site of two old farmsteads, the youthoriented golf course features the Eagle Course, a 9-hole par-31 course, and the Birdie Course, a 9-hole lighted par27 pitch-and-putt course. There’s also a 40-station lighted, natural-turf practice range and an area for golf instruction and practice. The park’s visitor center doubles as the course clubhouse. Lockers and concessions are available in the clubhouse, and carts and clubs are available to rent.

The course is also home to The First Tee of Three Rivers Park District, a program dedicated to providing affordable and accessible golf opportunities for youth.

Tee times may be booked online through the park district’s website, and Eagle Lake is also home to a mini-golf course.

Regional bike trails connect both parks, as well as connect to many other communities throughout Hennepin County.

All Three Rivers Parks provide picnic areas, dog trails, canoe and kayak accessibility, and are open to geocaching, a high-tech game of hide and seek using Global Positioning System receivers. Outdoor recreation classes and activities are offered throughout the year at all parks.

Information: threeriversparks.org, 763-559-9000.

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