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St. Louis Park Community Guide • 2010
St. Louis Park Community Guide • 2010
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St. Louis Park Community Guide • 2010
Serving the St. Louis Park Community for Over 40 Years Warm, Friendly Atmosphere Comprehensive Health Care for Dogs & Cats Featuring Wellness & Preventative Care Laser Surgery Dentistry In-House and Laboratory Diagnostics Oak Knoll Animal Hospital 7202 Minnetonka Blvd St. Louis Park, MN 55426 952-929-0074 www.okah.net
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St. Louis Park Community Guide • 2010
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St. Louis Park:
BY JEFF JACOBS • ST. LOUIS PARK MAYOR Once there was a place treating every kid like a real person; teaching them to understand the processes and places they’d inherit; a village raising its children, because it knew that one day, they’d raise us. It’s where people live starting out, raising families or settling in for retirement –a community of choice for a lifetime. Neighbors know each other and residents have real input into decisions affecting the community. With easy access to transportation by road and soon by rail, it’s easy to work and thrive here. It’s where business, the community and government collaborate. It’s a place about partnerships. The city, schools, public, businesses and service organizations create processes by which things that need to get done get done by engaging the stakeholders. It’s about building relationships, and that construction goes on all the time. Everyone’s invited. It’s a fun place with lots to do, located near beautiful lakes, professional sports, theaters, restaurants, museums, art galleries and the finest music anywhere. With 57 parks, people can play or just relax. There’s a rich history that is not forgotten but instead used as a foundation for the future. People of all ages are engaged, active and learn from each other.
There’s always something to do here and something to learn or teach to someone else. It’s diverse. Kids from different religious and ethnic backgrounds play and go to school together and learn each others’ ways and languages and run around in the park during the annual ice cream social while their parents talk and laugh and take pictures. It’s safe. Community policing is a way of life with a philosophy that not only enforces laws and keeps a community at ease but also attempts to get to the root cause of a problem by becoming part of the neighborhood. Officers are honored and known by their faces and not just by their badges. It’s a community experiencing a renaissance yet taking care of the infrastructure needed to carry it into the 21st century. It has a AAA bond rating because of its strength and stability in its business community, housing stock, schools, government, service organizations and residents. At the same time, the strategic vision comes from everyone, not a select few who happen to be in a position to dictate it at the moment. If you’ve wondered about such a place and longed to live, work or visit there but never knew where it was, ask us – we do. Welcome to St. Louis Park.
You’ve heard of this place!
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St. Louis Park Community Guide • 2010
SLP builds on past as it envisions the future
St. Louis Park’s convenient location as a neighbor to Minneapolis means you’re only minutes away from some of the Twin Cities’ most attractive amenities: the Chain of Lakes, the downtown theater district, shopping, universities and major league sports. The Park is an established community of 10.8 square miles. In a little more than 115 years, it’s grown from a village of 45 families to a community of more than 44,000 residents. St. Louis Park has a sound economic base, a healthy mix of new and traditional housing and a nationally renowned school district. Residential areas comprise the largest portion of the community. These residential areas are diverse in their social, religious and ethnic heritage, giving every neighborhood a distinct appearance and feel. The Park is also home to retail stores, restaurants, medical facilities, family-owned businesses, corporations and churches and synagogues. St. Louis Park also has many
trails and parks in the community. The trails connect the city to downtown Minneapolis, the Uptown area, Hopkins and Chaska. There are 51 parks throughout the city to enjoy – 11.5 percent of St. Louis Park’s land is set aside for parks. St. Louis Park has been named one of the nation’s “100 Best Communities for Young People” multiple times by America’s Promise – The Alliance for Youth. The city was honored because of involvement and opportunities it offers to young people. The city of St. Louis Park has had young people in mind as it prepares for the future of the city. The Vision St. Louis Park initiative is a community-wide strategic plan led by the city to determine the path that St. Louis Park will take. The original project, undertaken in 1994, led to the construction of the Excelsior & Grand development, which has been widely praised. In 2005 and 2006, eight vision action teams consisting of partici-
pants from throughout the community worked for six months to put together new goals, action steps, timelines and suggestions for additional partnerships. The teams also developed a one-page statement on what the community will look like in 2016 should their dreams come true. The City Council then reviewed this information and created four strategic directions to guide the city. • St. Louis Park is committed to being a connected and engaged community. • St. Louis Park is committed to being a leader in environmental stewardship. • St. Louis Park is committed to providing a well-maintained and diverse housing stock. • St. Louis Park is committed to promoting and integrating arts, culture and community aesthetics in all city initiatives, including implementation where appropriate. Visit stlouispark.org to view complete Vision St. Louis Park documents and information.
St. Louis Park Community Guide • 2010
The history of
Since 1971, the St. Louis Park Historical Society has worked to gather, organize and share pieces of Park’s unique past. Incorporated as a village in 1886, Park was styled as an industrial town when lumberman T.B. Walker bought up and replatted 2,000 acres of farmland in 1890. Foreshadowing modern zoning, Walker created industrial, commercial and residential areas. He brought in factories, built commercial buildings and even built houses for his workers. The factories are long gone, but the Walker Building, built in 1892, is still on Walker Street, and there are still upwards of 50 so-called “Walker Houses” in use today. Walker’s experiment failed with the Depression of 1893, and the village stayed small up until and during World War II. But with the return of servicemen, consumer goods and general prosperity after the war, St. Louis Park became a
SLP
boomtown. Previously barren land, including almost the entire area north of Minnetonka Boulevard, was filled with new homes, schools, parks and churches. Park was receptive to the Jewish families who strove to leave Minneapolis, and the community supported many synagogues and the Sabes Jewish Community Center. St. Louis Park has a long history of being progressive and has revitalized many areas, including Excelsior Boulevard and the West End. But as things change, the Historical Society is there to collect pieces of the past and preserve them for future generations. Holdings include photographs, directories, newspapers, yearbooks, railroad artifacts and other reminders of days gone by. The society has also published a book called “Something in the Water,” which includes memoirs of people who grew up in the Park in the 1930s.
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is unique
The St. Louis Park Historical Society operates out of the Lenox Community Center, 6715 Minnetonka Blvd., which is staffed Thursdays from 10 a.m. to noon or by appointment. It also operates the city’s Historic Milwaukee Road Depot, which is open to the public from 1-4 p.m. Saturdays during the summer or by appointment. The society publishes a quarterly newsletter, called the Re-Echo, which contains bits of history interspersed with past and future events and accounts of current artifact donations. There is also an informative website, www.slphistory.org, that provides histories of businesses, people, schools, buildings, organizations and more. The St. Louis Park Historical Society is a nonprofit organization staffed solely by volunteers and is always looking for more people to help preserve Park’s past. To contact the Society or donate materials, email history@slphistory.org.
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St. Louis Park Community Guide • 2010
St. Louis Park Community Guide • 2010
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Professional
SLP officers protect, serve residents The St. Louis Park Police Department, along with firefighters, work with dispatchers based in St. Louis Park to provide emergency aid. Residents should dial 911 – whether it’s a police, fire or medical emergency. St. Louis Park police officers and firefighters have emergency medical training. If they are first on the scene, they will administer emergency medical treatment to stabilize the patient until an ambulance arrives. If you see a crime being committed – or just see something suspicious – call 911. Calls to 911 are not restricted to life-threatening emergencies. If you have information about a crime that has been committed, call the police department at 952-9242618. If you wish to remain anonymous and have information that may lead to an arrest, call 952-9242165 or, write to Crime Prevention Fund, Box 26504, St. Louis Park, MN 55426. All calls and letters are confidential. The Police Department has 51 sworn officers and about 20 civilian personnel, including dispatchers, support staff and community service officers. Available 24 hours a day, police officers are empowered to patrol the community, arrest suspects and investigate crime. The police department’s reactive efforts – patrol, investigation and intervention – are balanced with crime prevention, community outreach and school liaison services. St. Louis Park’s officers are professionals with college or advanced training in all aspects of law enforcement, such as human relations, first aid and crime prevention. Patrol officers respond to routine calls for service, such as suspicious activity and noise complaints. Patrol officers respond to emergency incidents, such as medical assistance and fires. Police work after a crime has occurred includes
preparing cases for charging, following up on incidents and conducting search warrants. During patrols, information is collected, analyzed and disseminated to department personnel in an effort to proactively address specific issues, such as traffic complaints. Officers work to solve problems through a systematic process for identifying, analyzing, responding to and assessing an issue that may become a problem. Police services such as animal control, the dispatch center and clerical staff assist officers in their work. The Police Department is based at 3015 Raleigh Ave., adjacent to City Hall’s south parking lot. The department’s administrative number is 952-924-2600. The police sta-
tion houses the emergency communications and 911 center, administrative offices, the city jail and training and meeting rooms. Group tours may be arranged by calling 952-924-2125. St. Louis Park has three police substations, or Cop Shops. The substations are the Excelsior & Grand Cop Shop, 4717 Park Commons Drive; a substation at Texa-Tonka Shopping Center, Texas Avenue and Minnetonka Boulevard; and the Meadowbrook Cop Shop, 4072 Meadowbrook Lane. Hours vary since the substations are primarily used by officers to write reports and meet with people who have made advance arrangements. Call the administrative number for more information.
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St. Louis Park Community Guide • 2010
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St. Louis Park Community Guide • 2010
SLP
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Fire Department works around the clock
Firefighters are available 24 hours a day to fight fires, respond to medical emergencies or emergencies caused by storms, chemical spills or disasters. The Fire Department employs approximately 24 full-time staff members including firefighters, administrators and support staff. It also employs 30 paid-on-call firefighters. The Fire Department is responsible for putting out fires, responding to medical emergencies and car accidents, overseeing cleanup of hazardous material spills, providing disaster recovery services, preventing fires by inspecting apartment buildings and offices, enforcing fire code compliance and investigating causes of fires. St. Louis Park’s fire stations are Fire Station One, 3750 Wooddale Ave., and Fire Station Two, 2262 Louisiana Ave. The city has plans to replace both stations in order to accommodate modern equipment and changing personnel needs. Unless out on a call, firefighters are at the station 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Fire Station Two is staffed 365 days a year, 24 hours a day. You may visit stations in the morning for routine blood pressure checks. The Fire Department’s administrative office is located in City Hall, 5005 Minnetonka Blvd. The fire department’s non-emergency phone number is 952-9242595. For emergencies, always call 911 instead. Paid-on-call firefighters provide backup to St. Louis Park’s full-time firefighters by helping out at medical emergencies, fires, car accidents and disasters. No prior firefighting experience is required; training, equipment and uniforms are provided. Commitment is 20 hours a month. To qualify, applicants must be at least 18 years old, have a valid class “C” Minnesota driver’s license, live within 10 minutes of one of St. Louis Park’s fire stations, have a high school diploma or GED, be in
good health and pass all physical, mental, written and oral tests. Openings will be posted under job opportunities on the city’s website, stlouispark.org. City staff members inspect businesses and apartment buildings to ensure they are in sound condition and heating, mechanical and fire protection systems work properly. Upon request, firefighters also will visit homes to advise you on where to place smoke detectors, carbon
monoxide detectors or how to create an evacuation plan. Call 952924-2595 for more information. Other services the fire department provides include public education, water and ice rescue, confined space, rope, trench and collapse rescue, automobile extrication, severe weather mitigation, car seat inspections, emergency preparedness, fire protection advice, station tours and ride-along opportunities.
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St. Louis Park Community Guide • 2010
Putting the parks in St. Lo
St. Louis Park is living up to its name. Residents and visitors will find parks located throughout St. Louis Park, providing recreation, beauty and entertainment for residents. They include Wolfe Park, located in the heart of St. Louis Park – with its amphitheater, basketball and sand volleyball courts and year-round pavilion – to Westwood Hills Nature Center – a 160-acre nature preserve devoted to outdoor enjoyment, environmental education and wildlife observation. Westwood Hills Nature Center, 8300 West Franklin Ave., has a picnic area and more than three miles of wooden walkways and wood-chipped trails that wind through the hardwood forest, restored prairie, pine and spruce plantation and marsh. A paved one-quarter mile wildflower trail features labeled native flowers and an observation honeybee hive. The Interpretive Center houses exhibits and restrooms. Portions of this building can be rented for birthday parties and other functions. Westwood also offers environmental education programs. Trails are open from dawn to dusk, year-round. The parking area is open from 8 a.m. until sunset. Park admission is free. Oak Hill Park, 3356 Quebec Ave. S., and Wolfe Park, 3700 Monterey Drive, are among the cities most prominent parks. Residents and businesses can reserve picnic sites at them by calling 952-924-2540. St. Louis Park’s two off-leash dog parks offer a fun opportunity for you and your dog to get out and enjoy
the great outdoors. The city’s newest dog park is located at Carlson Park, 2541 Nevada Ave. S. The city’s original dog park is at Dakota Park, 2643 Dakota Ave. S. To use the dog parks, visitors must first purchase a permit, which is good for one year. You can purchase a permit at the inspections counter at St. Louis Park City Hall, 5005 Minnetonka Blvd., between 8 a.m. and 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday. To avoid disturbing the neighbors, daily hours for the dog parks are 7 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. City parks are generally closed 11 p.m. to 5 a.m., except for activities approved by the Parks and Recreation Department. A full list of parks is available at stlouispark.org Recreational activities are offered through the Parks and Recreation Department and Community Education. The Parks and Recreation Department, run by the city, provides programs for adults and youth throughout the year. For more information, visit stlouispark.org or call 952-924-2540. A recreation brochure is also available at City Hall and the St. Louis Park Recreation Center, located in the Wolfe Park area. St. Louis Park’s Community Education program is run through the St. Louis Park School District and offers program for preschoolers, youth, adults and seniors. Activities include swimming lessons, yoga, aerobics, kickboxing and other fitness classes. For more information, call 952-928-6000 or visit slpcommunityed.com.
Louis Park
St. Louis Park Community Guide • 2010
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St. Louis Park Community Guide • 2010
SLP
trails are ready to take you places
Trails in St. Louis Park are designed for pedestrians of any type to be able to easily and effortlessly commute around town. The numerous trails connect residents to downtown Minneapolis, the Uptown area, Hopkins, Eden Prairie and Chaska. From running to biking, St. Louis Park trails provide a great source of exercise and enjoyment for residents. A free Parks & Trail map can be picked up at The St. Louis Park Recreation Center, 3700 Monterey Drive, or City Hall, 5005 Minnetonka Blvd. The Cedar Lake Trail is a 3.6-mile trail that links St. Louis Park to downtown Minneapolis. It has separate lanes for bikers and walkers. It begins at the east frontage road of Highway 100, passes by Cedar Lake, goes near the Minneapolis Sculpture Garden and ends at 12th and Glenwood in downtown Minneapolis. At midpoint, this trail also links to the Midtown Greenway Trail via the Kennilworth Trail. There is no automobile parking at the trail entrances, which include:
• Highway 100 east frontage road near Cedar Lake Road • Ewing Avenue and Cedar Lake Road near the Penn Avenue exit off Interstate 394. The Cedar Lake Extension Trail is a 4.3-mile long paved trail that connects the Cedar Lake Trail from downtown Minneapolis to the Southwest Trail in Hopkins following the Hutchinson Spur rail line. Along the way, it passes by industrial and residential areas as well as Dakota Park, Aquila Park and Minnehaha Creek. Automobile parking is located at Dakota and Aquila parks. Trail entrances include: • Highway 100 east frontage road near Cedar Lake Road • Dakota Park, 27th Street near Georgia Avenue • Aquila Park, 31st Street near Aquila Avenue • Virginia Avenue south of Cedar Lake Road • 36th Street near Phillips Parkway The popular Southwest Trail is a paved trail that runs for five miles from the Kenilworth Trail near 31st
and Chowen Avenue to 11th Avenue in Hopkins. It follows the rail line along Highway 7 and continues west through Hopkins to Chaska. The Southwest Trail also links east to the Kenilworth and Midtown Greenway Trails in Minneapolis. The only designated automobile parking lot at a trail entrance is at the Hopkins Depot. Trail entrances include: • 31st and Chowen Avenue, Minneapolis • Beltline Boulevard south of Highway 7, • Brunswick Avenue south of Highway 7 • Louisiana Avenue south of Highway 7 • Hopkins Depot, Excelsior Blvd. and Highway 169, Hopkins Wolfe Park contains a trail of 1.36 miles in length. Other trails of less than a mile are at Aquila Park, Bass Lake Preserve, Carpenter Park, Cedar Lake Trail, Dakota Park, Oak Hill Park, Lamplighter Park, Louisiana Oaks Park, Otten Pond, Shelard Park and Westwood Hills Nature Center.
St. Louis Park Community Guide • 2010
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SLP Rec Center provides plenty of play space The St. Louis Park Recreation Center is a popular place in both summer and winter. The Rec Center, 3700 Monterey Drive, features an outdoor Aquatic Park, two indoor ice arenas – used by both St. Louis Park and Benilde-St. Margaret’s boys and girls high school hockey teams – and meeting and banquet facilities. For more information, call The Rec Center at 952-924-2540. The St. Louis Park Aquatic Park traditionally opens in June and stays open until the last week in August. It includes a four-story water slide, drop slides, a diving area, a sand and water play area, a zero-depth entry pool, water toys, a picnic area, a gazebo, a concession stand and much more. Located on the second floor of The Rec Center, the Banquet Room overlooks the Aquatic Park and Wolfe Park. The room is available for wedding receptions, birthday parties, bar and bat mitzvah parties, company events, family reunions and large meetings. The room comfortably seats 160 people and offers a caterer’s holding kitchen, dance floor, “dimmable” lighting and a sound system. Audio-visual equipment can be rented for an additional fee. Located on the first floor of The Rec Center, the gallery room can accommodate 35 to 70 people for small group gatherings, team meetings and birthday parties. Audiovisual equipment can be rented for an additional fee. During open public skating sessions, the adjacent gallery room can be rented for private parties. The indoor ice arena at The Rec Center can be rented for private parties. The gallery will be provided for one hour without an additional charge. Groups up to 24 people may reserve the Aquatic Park’s gazebo for an event. In addition to the gazebo rental fee, daily admission or a season pass is required.
The Aquatic Park can be rented for private after-hours use for company gatherings, special events, athletic teams, scout groups and birthday parties. Call The Rec Center’s number for more information or visit the city’s website at stlouispark.org. In exchange for allowing residents of Golden Valley and Minnetonka to buy Aquatic Park season passes at St. Louis Park resident rates, St. Louis Park residents may use facilities in these communities at their resident rates. St. Louis Park residents may share use of Brookview Golf Course, 200 Brookview Parkway in Golden
Valley, and the Williston Fitness Center, 14509 Minnetonka Drive in Minnetonka. St. Louis Park residents are eligible to purchase patron cards and patron 18-hole, 9-hole and par-3 golfing at the Golden Valley resident rate at Brookview Golf Course. For more information, call 763-512-2333. Williston Fitness Center offers an indoor pool, indoor tennis, indoor baseball and softball practice facilities, a party room, basketball, volleyball and other gym activities. Williston also has a full complement of cardiovascular and strength conditioning equipment. For details, call 952-939-8370.
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St. Louis Park Community Guide • 2010
Nordic Ware Factory Store Save on Specialty Bakeware & Cookware For All Occasions
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stop by for a tour today! Call 952.381.3400 or visit us online at www.sabesjcc.org.
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St. Louis Park Community Guide • 2010
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Park Nicollet provides hospital and clinic care in
SLP and beyond Park Nicollet Methodist Hospital and Park Nicollet Clinic bring internationally and nationally recognized innovative health care to the people of St. Louis Park. As generations of families have grown and built a strong community, Park Nicollet has been a constant presence. Park Nicollet has also grown with the community, providing 45 medical specialties and subspecialties along with world-class specialty care, including the International Diabetes Center at Park Nicollet, Park Nicollet Heart and Vascular Center, the Frauenshuh Cancer Center and the Melrose Institute for eating disorders, all in St. Louis Park, and the Struthers Parkinson’s Center in nearby Golden Valley. Park Nicollet’s administrative headquarters are also located in St. Louis Park. Park Nicollet Foundation takes the work of Park Nicollet Clinic, with a St. Louis Park location at 3800, 3850 and 3900 Park Nicollet Blvd., and Methodist Hospital, 6500 Excelsior Blvd., into the community. The foundation has provided more than $9 million of funding in the past 20 years to nearly 1,200 organizations and more than $1 million so far in 2010. Park Nicollet Foundation’s Healthy Community Fund supports programs that provide care to a vibrant community across the full spectrum of life, from at-home care for new babies to its Successful Aging Initiative. Park Nicollet Foundation also provides funding for schoolbased clinics that provide free walkin comprehensive medical and mental health care to children from birth to 18 years in St. Louis Park and three other school districts. Park Nicollet is a founding partner of the “No Shots, No School” program that provides barrier-free, enhanced access to students to receive immunizations with no charge to families.
Park Nicollet has a history of medical innovation and is one of only four health systems in Minnesota to be designated a “Health Care Home” by the Minnesota Department of Health. Park Nicollet was part of the original health care home pilot program that developed a unique team approach to primary care. A Park Nicollet care coordinator works with patients and families to coordinate medical care with local community resources, such as schools and social service agencies,
and to provide care for patients that follows them after they leave the clinic and into the communities where they live. Two of Park Nicollet’s health care home locations are in St. Louis Park. Park Nicollet is the largest employer in St. Louis Park. The organization has deep roots in the community and continues to grow with St. Louis Park to meet the needs of neighbors and the community. For more information, visit www.parknicollet.com.
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St. Louis Park Community Guide • 2010
Community events bring
SLP residents together Parktacular is St. Louis Park’s summer celebration. The event serves to “Splash Into Summer” every June during the weekend of Father’s Day. Events are planned for people of all ages and include a Senior Dinner with entertainment, a Street Dance on the Town Green, a Grand Day Parade, numerous kids’ activities in Wolfe Park with face painting, a petting zoo, a Kids’ Eco Fair, a faith service, and Belgian Waffle Brunch and much more. Many activities are free. A Parktacular button provides entry to select events and discounts at local businesses. Parktacular serves as a form of tourism for St. Louis Park, said Joan Fenton, president of the volunteer committee that puts on Parktacular. Surveys have found that people from a number of communities visit the city during the event. “We hope they’ll want to return to our shops, our restaurants and our parks,” Fenton said. St. Louis Park Mayor Jeff Jacobs said Parktacular does have a small, hometown feel to the celebration. “I like the fact that people feel connected to each other,” Jacobs said. He also appreciates Parktacular focusing activities around the Excelsior and Grand development and nearby Wolfe Park. “That’s what Excelsior and Grand was supposed to be – a community gathering place,” Jacobs said. See their website at www.parktacular.org for more details, to volunteer or to be one of its sponsors. Parktacular is one of several community activities that take place each year. A Summer Concert Series takes place each summer. Performances are in St. Louis Park, usually at Veterans’ Memorial Amphitheater at Wolfe Park. Concerts are typically on Wednesday evenings, with some Saturday night concerts scheduled. Information is available on the city website, stlouispark.org.
The Farmer’s Market on the Plaza attracts fans of locally grown products on a weekly basis during a season that begins in early July and runs into October. The market is located in the Wolfe Park area on the plaza adjacent to The Rec Center and Aquatic Park, 3700 Monterey Drive. No registration is required to attend. The market is open Wednesdays from mid-afternoon to early evening. The market features an assortment of fresh products direct from the farmer or grower that are locally grown and produced, as well as fresh baked goods and beautiful art pieces. Farmers Market on the Plaza is a member of Minnesota Grown.
Another highlight is the annual Children First Ice Cream Social, held each year in Wolfe Park in May and featuring complimentary ice cream cones, music and information about community organizations. Children First is a prominent nonprofit that was born out of a partnership among the education, faith, city, health and business communities. The focus of this partnership is to encourage everyone in the community to find ways that make sense to them to help in the healthy development of infants, children and teens. Details on Children First can be found at www.children-first.org.
St. Louis Park Community Guide • 2010
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schools have achieved national recognition
The St. Louis Park School District is the only district in Minnesota and possibly the nation to have every one of its traditional public schools recognized as a National School of Excellence by the U.S. Department of Education. Schools of Excellence are national models for academic performance, attendance, up-to-date and rigorous core curriculum and instruction, a positive and caring atmosphere and parent and community involvement. Each St. Louis Park school is located within the city boundaries of St. Louis Park. St. Louis Park has three traditional elementary schools serving students in kindergarten through fifth grade. They are Aquila Elementary, 8500 West 31st St.; Peter Hobart Elementary, 6500 West 26th St.; and Susan Lindgren Elementary, 4801 West 41st St. The schools are authorized participants of the International Baccalaureate Primary Years Programme. St. Louis Park also operates Park
Spanish Immersion School located at 6300 Walker St. for students in kindergarten through fifth grade. Students study the same nationally recognized curriculum as other St. Louis Park students with all classes taught in Spanish. Entrance to the program is allowed at kindergarten. As part of a reconfiguration plan, St. Louis Park Junior High, 2025 Texas Ave. S., transitioned to function as a middle school serving students in sixth through eighth grades. The district is considering adding the International Baccalaureate Middle Years Programme at the school. St. Louis Park Senior High School, 6425 West 33rd St., has long served students in ninth through 12th grades. The high school offers about 200 courses, many at both general and advanced levels, and about 100 elective courses for students to choose from. The school also offers advanced placement and honors courses, an interdisciplinary art/technology department, an International Baccalaureate pro-
gram, mentoring and apprenticeship opportunities, an extensive program for deaf and hard of hearing students and English as a Second Language students. St. Louis Park Senior High School has consistently ranked at or near the top for Minnesota schools listed in Newsweek’s annual list of the top high schools in the country. Public schools are ranked according to a ratio that takes the number of Advanced Placement, International Baccalaureate and Cambridge tests taken by all students at a school in 2007 divided by the number of graduating seniors. St. Louis Park belongs to the Classic Lake Conference, and students may choose from numerous sports available. A wide array of cocurricular activities such as drama, Science Olympiad, math team and music groups are available. The school district offices are located at St. Louis Park Senior High School. The district’s general number is 952-928-6000. The district website is slpschools.org.
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St. Louis Park Community Guide • 2010
Minneapolis Window Shade Co. “A Shade Better” Since 1914
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the sabes jcc’s early childhood center offers: The ECC provides care for children ages six weeks through pre-kindergarten.
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Tuesday - Friday: 10-4 Saturday: 10-2 Sunday & Monday: Closed 952-922-4100 minneapoliswindowshade.hdspd.com
Full and part time programs Nurturing, experienced teachers Award-winning An Ethical Start®, ethics-based curriculum Swimming lessons, art, music and gym Jewish values, celebrations, and customs infused in daily programming Lending library for families Family and parenting events Theme-based curriculum meeting the Minnesota Early Learning Standards Intergenerational experiences Full-time, on-site Inclusion Specialist
we invite you to come in for a tour! Call 952.381.3435 or visit us online at www.sabesjcc.org. 4330 S. Cedar Lake Road, Minneapolis, MN 55416
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8332 Hwy 7 / St. Louis Park
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St. Louis Park Community Guide • 2010
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Shopping destinations dot
SLP
St. Louis Park offers a wide array of options for shopping and dining. Formally unveiled to the public in September 2009, the Shops at West End development is the Twin Cities’ latest place to grab a bite, see a show, hear live music, and catch up on shopping – all in one convenient location in St. Louis Park. Set near the intersection of Interstate 394 and Highway 100, construction on the West End began in April 2008 at a cost of $400 million. The development features a 350,000square-foot “lifestyle retail center,” and nearly 30,000 square feet of office space. Strategically placed in an area with a steady flow of traffic, and easy accessibility by nearby office workers, the pedestrian-friendly site is a destination that is visited all day and well into the evening by a variety of customers of all ages. Those coming to the site won’t have to drive if they don’t wish – there are ample bicycle racks and easy access to regional bus service. With its status as a redevelopment project, the West End features a number of “green” elements including a green roof, and creative landscaping irrigation utilizing slot drains in sidewalks. The Shops at West End includes fashion boutiques, a wide variety of restaurants, a 14-screen movie theater and a grocery store. Visit theshopsatwestend.com for a list of stores and more information. St. Louis Park has become known in the area for its Excelsior and Grand
mixed-use development, which offers a combination of upscale amenities in a pedestrian-friendly, urban-style environment. City officials worked on guiding the plan for the project for years. Seven years after Excelsior and Grand’s developer got to work, St. Louis Park officials celebrated the completion of the fourth and final phase of the project in 2007. The development includes a Town Green and public art in the form of a fountain and the bronze and gold statue, Allegory of Excelsior. Not far away, another smaller scale shopping area has been in the works at the northwest corner of Excelsior Boulevard and France Avenue. The redevelopment project, called Ellipse
on Excelsior, is a five-story mixed use building with 132 residential apartments, 16,394 square feet of commercial on the ground floor and underground and surface parking. Stores are expected to open in spring 2011. For more information, go to ellipseonexcelsior.com. Other shopping areas are less new but have withstood the test of time. For example, the Miracle Mile Shopping Center at Excelsior Boulevard and near Highway 100 has served residents since 1951. It’s website is miraclemilemall.com. Knollwood Mall, at 8337 Highway 7, is nearly as venerable. The business destination opened as Knollwood Plaza Shopping Center in 1955. The mall’s website is knollwoodmall.com.
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St. Louis Park Community Guide • 2010
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St. Louis Park Community Guide • 2010
Sabes Jewish Community Center has deep roots in
The Sabes Jewish Community Center still provides many of the elements founders set in place, yet it has expanded its reach in the more than half-century since incorporation. “The JCC provides a gathering space for all in the community, whether you are here to just hang out and schmooze, for one of our exciting programs or a community-wide event, the JCC has certainly become the central address for the community,” states a book for the center’s 50th anniversary, which it celebrated in 2009. Originally, the center served a tight-knit, smaller Jewish community dealing with the effects of antiSemitism, said CEO Stuart Wachs. The Jewish Community Center movement began because many country clubs and sporting groups did not allow Jews to become members, Wachs said. The Emanuel Cohen Center, the original local Jewish community center, opened in 1924 on the North Side of Minneapolis, then the center
of the Minneapolis area’s Jewish population and home to 15,000 Jewish immigrants, according to the anniversary book. Following World War II, many Jews began moving into the suburbs, prompting leaders to look for a new community center location. The incorporation for the Jewish Community Center of Greater Minneapolis, designed to be located in St. Louis Park, took place in 1959. The Emanuel Cohen Center was sold in 1963, and a new Jewish community center initially opened at Meadowbrook School in St. Louis Park before moving to Republic Avenue. The community center purchased 16 acres of land for its current location at 4330 Cedar Lake Road S. in 1964, broke ground in 1968 and opened the new building in 1969. The Sabes JCC has been a gathering place for Jews of all religious beliefs and non-Jews as well, Wachs said. He said the JCC serves a particularly important role with Jews who are not affiliated with a synagogue,
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which represents half of the Jewish population in the Twin Cities, according to one study. “We play a pivotal role in engaging those not traditionally engaged in their Judaism and even those who have wandered far from it,” Wachs said. In reference to serving Jews of various religious beliefs, he noted the JCC makes efforts like providing kosher food at the strictest levels for Jews with traditional religious beliefs yet remains open all day Saturdays to accommodate participants who may wish to use it on Shabbat (the Sabbath). As envisioned originally, the Sabes JCC provides a community gathering place while offering ways in which to celebrate and learn about the Jewish culture. The center also provides health, arts, camps and other services for the general community. Visit sabesjcc.org or call 952-3813400 to learn more about the center’s activities.
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St. Louis Park Community Guide • 2010
Places of worship abound in
SLP St. Louis Park has many churches and synagogues providing places of worship for people of various faiths: Aldersgate United Church 3801 Wooddale Ave. 952-929-6725
Methodist
Ascension Lutheran Church 6719 Cedar Lake Road 952-545-9220 Beth El Synagogue 5224 West 26th St. 952-920-3512 B’nai Emet Synagogue 3115 Ottawa Ave. S. 952-927-7309 Bais Yisroel Synagogue 4221 Sunset Blvd. 952-926-7867
Park Assembly of God 1615 Texas Ave. S. 952-545-2326
Calvary Worship Center 9500 Minnetonka Blvd. 952-931-9870
Peace Presbyterian Church 7624 Cedar Lake Road 952-545-2586
First Lutheran Church 5801 Minnetonka Blvd. 952-929-6465
Prince of Peace Church 8115 Highway 7 952-938-5400
Holy Family Catholic Church 5900 West Lake St. 952-929-0113 Kenesseth Israel Synagogue 4330 West 28th St. 952-920-2183 Knollwood Church of Christ 3639 Quebec Ave. S. 952-938-1121 Lutheran Church Reformation 2544 Highway 100 S. 952-929-0439 Most Holy Trinity Church 3946 Wooddale Avenue 952-926-7516
of
Lutheran
St. Dunstan’s Anglican Church 4241 Brookside Ave. 952-920-9122
Sharei Chesed Synagogue 2734 Rhode Island Ave. S. 952-929-2595
St. George’s Episcopal Church 5224 Minnetonka Blvd. 952-926-1646
Timothy Lutheran Church 7814 Minnetonka Blvd. 952-929-8317
St. Louis Park Evangelical Free Church 6805 Minnetonka Blvd. the 952-929-3815
Union Congregational Church of Christ 3700 Alabama Ave. S. 952-929-8566
United
St. Luke’s Lutheran Church 5524 West 41st St. 952-929-5507
Westwood Lutheran Church 9001 Cedar Lake Road 952-545-5623
Shalom Scripture Studies 6524 Walker St. 952-925-6186
Wooddale Lutheran Church 4003 Wooddale Ave. S. 952-926-7603
Catholic
St. Louis Park Community Guide • 2010
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Transit options available in
SLP
Many residents and visitors appreciate St. Louis Park’s location next to Minneapolis, and transit is available to whisk them to the popular Uptown and downtown areas, as well as suburban locations. Metro Transit, a service of the Metropolitan Council, is the largest provider of bus service in the region, including St. Louis Park. Park-and-ride lots are located along Interstate 394 at General Mills Boulevard, just east of Highway 169, Louisiana Avenue – which serves as a transit center – and Park Place Boulevard. Further away from the interstate, a park-and-ride is located in the west lot of Westwood Lutheran Church near Cedar Lake Road and Flag Avenue. Finally, a park-and-ride is located at the northeast corner of Highway 7 and Texas Avenue. Bus service is also provided at designated bus stops along bus routes. Metro Transit’s Trip Planner service is accessible at www.metrotran-
sit.org. Simply type in your location, destination and when you would like to leave or arrive. To determine the nearest park-and-ride location or route nearest you, use the Service Finder tab on the home page. Metro Transit also helps coordinate carpools and operates the Hiawatha Light Rail Line between downtown Minneapolis and the Mall of America, with stops at Minneapolis/St. Paul International Airport. A light rail line through St. Louis Park is still in the planning stages but would eventually run between Eden Prairie, Minnetonka, Hopkins and St. Louis Park on its way to downtown Minneapolis. Metro Transit buses and trains contain bicycle racks and are wheelchair-accessible. The Metropolitan Council also operates a separate service for individuals with disabilities called Metro Mobility. The system provides door-to-door specialized service for people who meet eligibility guide-
lines. To meet the guidelines, individuals must be physically unable to get to a fixed-route bus line, unable to navigate the regular system due to a disability or unable to board or exit the bus at some locations due to a disability. To learn more or apply for service, visit www.metrocouncil.org/transportation/MetroMobility. The Metropolitan Council operates a dial-a-ride service to the general public as well, with limited hours of operation. The service must be reserved in advance. If the rider would have to walk more than a quarter mile to a stop in the winter or more than a half mile in the summer, the trip qualifies for at least a portion of the ride. Call 651-602-LINK to reserve a ride. The St. Louis Park Emergency Program, or STEP, provides limited transportation services to individuals seeking to travel to medical or school appointments. Volunteer drivers provide the service. Call 952-925-4899 for more information.
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St. Louis Park Community Guide • 2010
Scenes from
SLP
St. Louis Park Community Guide • 2010
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Easy to find, easy to work with!
Auto, Life, Home, Condo, Renters, Motorcycle, Workplace Benefits, Retirement and Savings Accounts True Insurance Agency 4708 Excelsior Blvd. St. Louis Park, MN 55416
612.455.6154 For an instant quote, please visit: www.allstateagencies.com/JayHenry
Your
Store At Excelsior and Grand
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St. Louis Park Community Guide • 2010
Experience LIFE in the Park Looking for information on city services or events happening in St. Louis Park? Visit our nationally recognized, award-winning website www.stlouispark.org, check out ParkTV on cable channels 14, 15, 16, 17 & 96 or streaming live or On Demand at www.parktv.org.
And if you want the latest information about what’s happening in the Park, don’t forget to check out our Facebook® and Twitter ® pages.
City Hall: 5005 Minnetonka Blvd. St. Louis Park, MN 55416 (952) 924-2500 www.stlouispark.org
Achieving success, one student at a time. Learning Starts Early St. Louis Park Public Schools offer Early Childhood Family Education classes that help build a great educational foundation. Parents say, “This is a great place for families to meet families,” and that their kids love coming to school. Visit www.slpcommunityed.com for details.
Nationally Recognized Schools Newsweek magazine named St. Louis Park Senior High School the number two high school in Minnesota in its list of “America’s Top Public High Schools,” (June 2010).
Lifelong Learning Through Community Education St. Louis Park Community Education, a department of St. Louis Park Public Schools, supports lifelong learning at every level, with programs for infants through seniors. Learn more at www.slpcommunityed.com.
+PZ[YPJ[ 6MÄJL! 6425 W. 33rd St. St. Louis Park, MN 55426 (952) 928-6000
Visit us online: www.slpschools.org