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10917 Valley View Road Eden Prairie, MN 55344 sailor.mnsun.com Editor ...........................................................Gretchen Schlosser Writers.............................................. Seth Rowe, Will Hoverman Photography ............................................................. Seth Rowe Layout .............................................................Matthew Hankey Cover & Inside Design, .......................................Keith Anderson Sales .................................................................. Catherine Cote Advertising Director ..........................................Cheri Oâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;Bannon Executive Editor .................................................Peggy Bakken Director of News .................................................Keith Anderson General Manager .................................................... Mark Weber
Special thanks to Mayor Jake Spano; to the city for use of its map and Jeanne Anderson with the SLP Historical Society. For submitted photos and copy, special thanks to Discover SLP, St. Louis Park School District, Park Nicollet, the Pavek Museum, Sabes JCC, the city of St. Louis Park, the Parktacular, Hayden Farmer and Sharon Isbin
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St. Louis Park
COMMUNITY GUIDE 2017
Welcome to St. Louis Park St. Louis Park is an established community of nearly 11 square miles. In a little more than 115 years, it’s grown from a village of 45 families to a community of nearly 49,000 residents. St. Louis Park has a sound economic base, a healthy mix of new and traditional housing and a nationally renowned school district. Its convenient location as a neighbor to Minneapolis means you’re only minutes away some of the Twin Cities’ most attractive amenities: the Chain of Lakes, the downtown theater district, shopping, universities and major league sports – including the 2018 Super Bowl at U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis. Residential areas make up the largest portion of the community. St. Louis Park is also home to retail stores, restaurants and breweries, medical facilities, familyowned businesses, nonprofits, corporations and places of worships, including churches, synagogues and, new in 2017, a Buddhist temple. The city continues its investment in facilities that serve the community. The ROC (Recreation Outdoor Center) debuted in 2017, providing a multi-use outdoor recreational facility for the use of residents and visitors alike. Numerous trails connect St. Louis Park to Minneapolis and to suburbs west and south. If you want to experience nature, there’s no need to venture up north – instead, visit one of 52 parks that cover almost 12 percent of the land in the city. The crown jewel of these natural amenities is Westwood Hills Nature Center, a 160-acre natural area. In 2017, the city became the second city in Minnesota to pass an ordinance increasing the legal age to 21 to buy tobacco and tobacco products in the city, underscoring its commitment to youth as a Children First community and 4 | St. Louis Park Community Guide 2017
to the overall health of its residents. St. Louis Park is often on the forefront of environmental action, from offering the state’s first organized curbside organics collection program now used by more than 30 percent of residents; to developing and starting implementation of a climate action plan; to adopting a zero-waste packaging ordinance for restaurants and retail establishments in the city. St. Louis Park continues to plan for the 2021 arrival of Southwest Light Rail Transit along Highway 7, which will bring three stations to the city at Beltline Boulevard, Louisiana Avenue and Wooddale Avenue. The city has invited developers to submit ideas for redeveloping several acres of land around the Beltline Boulevard station site, with the goal of transforming the area into a vibrant place to live, work and play. City Council members and city staff are in the midst of an ongoing effort to advance racial equity, with the goal of providing more effective delivery of city services to every area of the city and to make the community a more equitable, inclusive and welcoming place for every resident. In summer 2017, the city was proud to host a Naturalization Ceremony for the first time ever, welcoming nearly 200 new citizens to the United States. In 2017, the city undertook its third visioning process, gathering input from hundreds of residents on the future they want for St. Louis Park. Those results will form the foundation of the 2040 comprehensive plan. For all of these reasons and many more, St. Louis Park is a community for every age and every background. I look forward to seeing you around town! - A message from St. Louis Park Mayor Jake Spano
St. Louis Park
COMMUNITY GUIDE 2017
City, school boundaries closely align With boundaries that closely align, leaders of the city of St. Louis Park and St. Louis Park School District often compare notes. They have met to discuss facilities, equity goals and other initiatives in full joint sessions. A smaller group of council members and school board members have also met occasionally to share their goals. The city council and school board each are composed of seven elected officials. The six council members and the mayor meet in regular meetings 7:30 p.m. the first and third Mondays of each month at St. Louis Park City Hall, 5005 Minnetonka Blvd. The council typically meets 6:30 p.m. on the second and fourth Mondays of each month at City Hall to discuss city business through in-depth discussions among members. The council members and mayor receive a stipend for their work, and a city manager oversees dayto-day operations. The city manager, in turn, oversees department directors who help reach the city’s goals. St. Louis Park voters elect the mayor and other city council members to four-year terms. Four council members represent specific areas of the city while two are at-large members of the council. The mayor serves as a council member and represents the entire city. Elections are in November of odd-numbered years. City council The city council meets in the council chambers of City Hall. When regular meeting dates would fall on a holiday, the meeting is rescheduled. To verify meeting
dates, call 952-924-2505 or check the city’s website at stlouispark.org. To speak before the council, fill out a blue card (available in the meeting room) and take it to the council table. The mayor will call on you when your agenda item is discussed. Arrangements for a sign language interpreter or other assistance can be made by calling 952-924-2531 or 952924-2518 (phone line reserved for hearing impaired individuals) one week before the meeting. Council meetings are carried live on cable TV Channel 17 and replayed frequently. They are also available on demand at parktv.org. Call 952-924-2660 for more information on viewing council meetings. City Manager Tom Harmening leads the city staff. The main city phone number is 952-924-2500. A detailed list of city staff phone numbers and email addresses is available at stlouispark.org/staff-directory.html. School board The St. Louis Park School Board, which operates independently of the city government, sets the policies for school programs. Supt. Astein Osei, working with school district staff, carries out the board’s policy decisions. The board meets 7 p.m. the second and fourth Mondays of the month in Room C350 of St. Louis Park High School, 6425 W. 33rd St. Call the district at 952-928-6000 or visit slpschools.org for more information. 5 | St. Louis Park Community Guide 2017
St. Louis Park
COMMUNITY GUIDE 2017
Department responds to emergencies Whether an emergency comes in the fire, a medical situation or a needed rescue, the St. Louis Park Fire Department remains constantly on alert. For more than 100 years, the department has worked to serve the city. Two fire stations house the firefighters who await calls for service. The stations facilitate preparation activities and living accommodations while firefighters are on duty. Fire Station One, 3750 Wooddale Ave., is a two-story building with more than 30,000 square feet of space. It also features a memorial to three St. Louis Park firefighters who lost their lives in the line of duty. Fire Station Two, 2262 Louisiana Ave., is a one-story structure and contains nearly 17,000 square feet of space. The department regularly conducts training exercises with other city and regional emergency responders in order to be prepared for possible scenarios. The department employs 27 career firefighters and 25 part-time firefighters who provide backup to the full-time firefighters at medical emergencies, fires, motor vehicle crashes and disasters. The department is responsible for extinguishing fires, responding to medical emergencies and motor vehicle crashes, overseeing clean-up 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. The department also provides free blood pressure 6 | St. Louis Park Community Guide 2017
checks 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. daily at both fire stations. The fire department’s non-emergency phone number is 952924-2595. For emergencies, always call 911. City staff members inspect businesses and apartment buildings to ensure they are in sound condition and heating, mechanical and fire protection systems work properly. 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. Fire Chief Steve Koering leads the department. During his time in St. Louis Park, Koering has made the health of firefighters a priority. The department has participated in a “Healthy Hearts for Heroes” project, including several key elements of a life safety initiative for fire departments. Correcting poor nutrition has been a key goal. Koering has also helped implement the use of PulsePoint, a smart phone app that helps citizens who have been trained in CPR respond to medical emergencies. The fire department has added information about PulsePoint to its website at stlouispark.org/government/ departments-divisions/pulsepoint. Residents who want to receive training in hands-only CPR or the use of AEDs may contact Nancy Schmelzle, the department’s community outreach coordinator, at nschmelzle@stlouispark.org or 952-300-1413.
St. Louis Park
COMMUNITY GUIDE 2017
Police dept. seeks to involve community St. Louis Park Police Chief Mike Harcey seeks to continue the community-oriented policing model that his predecessor implemented. The policing model intends to help officers build relationships with members of the community. The department has long served the community, with a history that dates to 1934. The department handles tens of thousands of calls annually through the use of city dispatchers who answer 911 calls. The department employs 55 sworn police officers and 17 additional staff members, including administrators, support staff, dispatchers, a community liaison and three community service officers. The department’s community-oriented policing philosophy is designed to build community partnership, create organizational transformation and promote a systematic approach to problem-solving. Community-oriented policing organizational strategies “support the systematic use of partnerships and problem-solving techniques, to address proactively the immediate conditions that give rise to public safety issues such as crime, social disorder and fear of crime,” according to the U.S. Department of Justice. In an emergency, residents should dial 911 – whether it’s a related to a police, fire or a medical issue. Police officers and firefighters have emergency medical training. If the officers or firefighters are first on the scene, they will administer emergency medical treatment to stabilize the patient until an ambulance arrives.
If anyone sees a crime being committed or sees something suspicious, call 911. Calls to 911 are not restricted to life-threatening emergencies. If anyone has information about a crime that has been committed, call the police department at 952-924-2618 or visit the police station at 3015 Raleigh Ave. S. The department’s crime tip line is 952-924-2165. 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. The police department’s administrative phone number is 952-924-2600. The police station, adjacent to St. Louis Park City Hall, houses the emergency communications and 911 center, administrative offices, the city jail and training and meeting rooms. St. Louis Park has three police substations, or Cop Shops. The West End Cop Shop is at 1623 West End Blvd., the Excelsior & Grand Cop Shop is at 4717 Park Commons Drive and a substation at Texa-Tonka Shopping Center is located at Texas Avenue and Minnetonka Boulevard. Hours vary because 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. 7 | St. Louis Park Community Guide 2017
St. Louis Park
COMMUNITY GUIDE 2017
Schools continue to attract families The St. Louis Park School District continues to grow, prompting leaders to seek to add classrooms at St. Louis Park High School and St. Louis Park Middle School. The district has already expanded its traditional elementary schools and is also seeking to relocate Park Spanish Immersion School. The district is seeking referendum support from voters in 2017. Enrollment in the district is about 4,600 students. Over its long history, the district has seen ebbs and flows in the number of students served. The district began with just 51 students in 1888 but burgeoned to more than 11,000 students by the mid-1960s, according to the St. Louis Park Historical Society. As St. Louis Park’s residents grew older, enrollment gradually declined but eventually stabilized before picking up more recently. Each school is located within the city boundaries of St. Louis Park. The district mainly serves St. Louis Park residents, but some students from nearby cities open enroll in its schools. Every one of the district’s traditional public schools has been 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. For the younger set, St. Louis Park has three tradition8 | St. Louis Park Community Guide 2017
al elementary schools serving students in kindergarten through fifth grade. They are Aquila Elementary, Peter Hobart Elementary and Susan Lindgren Elementary. The schools are authorized participants of the International Baccalaureate Primary Years Programme. St. Louis Park also operates Park Spanish Immersion School 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. St. Louis Park Middle School serves students in sixth through eighth grades. The school has gained International Baccalaureate authorization for the IB Middle Years Programme. St. Louis Park High School serves students in grades 9-12. The school offers advanced placement and honors courses, an International Baccalaureate program, mentoring and apprenticeship opportunities, an extensive program for deaf and hard-of-hearing students and English as a Second Language students. St. Louis Park students may choose from numerous sports available. A wide array of co-curricular activities such as drama team and music groups, are also available. The school district offices are located at the high school. The district’s general number is 952-928-6000. The district website is slpschools.org.
St. Louis Park
COMMUNITY GUIDE 2017
SLP nonprofit puts children first Helping children is at the top of the to-do list for a St. Louis Park nonprofit that is celebrating its 25th anniversary. Children First has gained national attention for its work to provide young people with a positive start to life. Many of the children the organization helped in its early days are now adults seeking to help the next generation. The efforts of Children First have served as building blocks for the young people of the city. St. Louis Park has repeatedly been named to the 100 Best Communities for Young People list, awarded annually by the America’s Promise Alliance. The national organization has cited Children First as one of the factors contributing to the city’s success. Business leaders who were members of the Rotary Club of St. Louis Park helped create Children First. The club members were convinced more needed to be done for youth in the community. The result was the launching of a community-wide initiative to build developmental assets in all young people in the community. Children First builds on the work of the Minneapolis-based Search Institute, which built a list of 40 developmental assets. The institute identified these building blocks: support, empowerment, boundaries and expectations, constructive use of time, commitment to learning, and positive values and identity. These assets
allow for development that helps young people grow up healthy, caring and responsible, according to the institute. What makes Children First different from similar organizations is that it is operated as a philosophy rather than a program. It focuses on positive character-building attributes – not negative at-risk behavior – and calls on everyone in the community to provide support for youth. This unique combination seeks to ensure that all kids in St. Louis Park receive the care and support they need to grow up happy, healthy and successful in a thriving community. Anyone from St. Louis Park may join Children First’s Asset Champions Network. Members of the group focus on building assets through their workplaces, schools or through volunteer activities. Some ideas the nonprofit provides for building assets include being available to children in your family or neighborhood and showing them you care; planning youth activities through neighborhood associations; considering impacts on children and teenagers when developing business policies; developing children’s programs through one’s congregation; volunteering in St. Louis Park schools; inviting students to join activities; and providing leadership opportunities for youth. Info: 952-928-6075, children-first.org or Children First, 6425 W. 33rd St., St. Louis Park, MN 55426. 9 | St. Louis Park Community Guide 2017
St. Louis Park
COMMUNITY GUIDE 2017
SLP has a library to call its own St. Louis Park residents have their own little library. The St. Louis Park Library is smaller than some larger regional branches of the Hennepin County Library, but patrons still have access to books, activities and multimedia materials without leaving the Park. Along with its own collections, the St. Louis Park Library provides access to the Hennepin County Library system. The county library serves 1.1 million residents in Minneapolis and its suburbs. St. Louis Park’s library became a part of the Hennepin County Library system in 1960 and moved into its current building at 3240 Library Ln. in 1968, according to the St. Louis Park Historical Society. The county library system dates back to 1922. The Minneapolis Library system merged with the county library in 2008 to create a more extensive collection. The county system offers more than 5 million books and CDs and DVDs in 40 languages. Residents may request materials from the system’s more than 40 library branches or other branches through Metropolitan Library Service Agency. The history of the St. Louis Park Library dates back to 1913 when the Village Council approved an ordinance establishing a library. The library briefly existed in a building on Walker Street before moving the next year 10 | St. Louis Park Community Guide 2017
to the local high school, which was then located on the present-day site of Central Community Center and Park Spanish Immersion School. The St. Louis Park School District eventually informed the city it needed the space used by the library, prompting the library’s designation as a Hennepin County Library branch and a move back down Walker Street until the construction of the present building. The Friends of the Saint Louis Park Library serve as an independent organization that supports the local branch library by fundraising, book sales, volunteering, promoting the library in the community and supporting activities. The Friends group is part of the Friends of the Hennepin County Library, which works to purchase books, provide programs for teenagers and children and work on outreach services for all system libraries. The library hosts monthly activities, from job preparation workshops to children’s story time activities. Featured services include adaptive technology, art, computer workstations, language collections and meeting rooms. The library’s telephone number is 612-543-6125. For more information on the Hennepin County Library system, including the St. Louis Park Library, visit hclib.org.
St. Louis Park
COMMUNITY GUIDE 2017
City has grown from its industrial roots St. Louis Park has grown from a small, industrial city in the 1800s to become a busy suburb that draws people from throughout the metro and beyond to its offices, businesses and modern amenities. Railroads still run through St. Louis Park, but the city’s industrial nature has largely transformed over the years. New developments continue to rise throughout the city, belying the city’s long history. Since 1970, the historical society has gathered, organized and shared pieces of St. Louis Park’s unique past. Incorporated as a village in 1886, Park was styled as an industrial town when lumberman T.B. Walker bought 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 of that era are long gone, but the Walker Building, built in 1892, is still on Walker Street, and there are still more than 50 so-called “Walker Houses” in use. Walker’s experiment failed with the Financial Panic of 1893, and the village stayed small up until and during World War II. But with the return of servicemen, demand for consumer goods and general prosperity after the war, St. Louis Park became a boomtown. Previously barren land, including almost the entire area north of Minnetonka Boulevard, became filled with new homes, schools, parks and churches. The city was receptive to the Jewish families who de-
sired to leave Minneapolis, and the community supported many synagogues and the Sabes Jewish Community Center. The Jewish Historical Society of the Upper Midwest has helped document the area’s history of Jewish families. St. Louis Park has revitalized many areas of the city, including Excelsior Boulevard and the West End. But as things change, the historical society is collecting pieces of the past and preserving them for future generations. The society has also published a book, “Something in the Water,” which includes memoirs of people who grew up in the Park in the ‘30s. The historical society operates at 3546 Dakota Ave., Suite C. Office hours are 1-4 p.m. Saturdays or by appointment. The historical society also operates the city’s Historic Milwaukee Road Depot, in which the society stores artifacts from St. Louis Park’s past. The depot is in Jorvig Park, 6210 W. 37th St. The society publishes a newsletter, called the Re-Echo, which contains bits of history interspersed with past and future events and accounts of current artifact donations. The historical society is a nonprofit staffed solely by volunteers and is always looking for more people to help preserve the city’s past. To contact the society or donate materials, email history@slphis.org. To learn more about the Jewish Historical Society of the Upper Midwest, visit jhsum.org or call 952-381-3360. - Jeanne Andersen of the St. Louis Park Historical Society contributed to this article. 11 | St. Louis Park Community Guide 2017
St. Louis Park
COMMUNITY GUIDE 2017
Medical facilities abound in city Whether you need to emergency care in a hospital or a routine physical, St. Louis Park medical facilities can serve you. Park Nicollet Methodist Hospital assists patients at 6500 Excelsior Blvd. while Park Nicollet operates a campus of clinics at 3800, 3850 and 3900 Park Nicollet Blvd. The HealthPartners West Clinic operates at 5100 Gamble Dr., Suite 100, in St. Louis Park. Methodist Hospital serves more than 50,000 patients annually and serves as the host site for the Park Nicollet Heart and Vascular Center and the Frauenshuh Cancer Center. The hospital has continuously updated its facilities. In 2015, an expansion project began to add nearly 59,000 square feet of space. In 2016, two new floors in a section of the hospital opened to patients as part of an effort to provide more private rooms. The hospital also expanded its surgical center. Park Nicollet offers medical diagnosis and treatment, health education, self-care products and more. Park Nicollet operates neighborhood clinics, urgent care sites, Methodist Hospital, pharmacies, optical stores, contact lens stores, hearing centers and stores, health and care stores, a sleep center and store, a boutique and a breast health center. The entity also consists of Park Nicollet Foundation and Park Nicollet Institute. Combined, the organization 12 | St. Louis Park Community Guide 2017
employs thousands in St. Louis Park and throughout the metropolitan area. The foundation, based in St. Louis Park, takes the work of Park Nicollet Clinic and Methodist Hospital into the community. The foundation provides millions of dollars in annual funding to numerous organizations. It funds grief support and education to students who have lost loved ones, services such as music therapy and support groups, immunizations for children in about two dozen area school districts and research aimed at improving patient care and treatment. Park Nicollet Foundation’s Healthy Community Collaboratives initiative supports programs that provide care to a vibrant community across the full spectrum of life, from Children First to the St. Louis Park Successful Aging Initiative. Park Nicollet Foundation also provides funding for school-based clinics that provide free walk-in comprehensive medical and mental health care to children from birth through high school in St. Louis Park, Brooklyn Center, Burnsville and Richfield. 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. For more information, visit parknicollet.com or healthpartners.com.
St. Louis Park
COMMUNITY GUIDE 2017
St. Louis Park Golden Valley
169
394
394 394
100
Interpretive Center Amos and Celia Heilicher Minneapolis Jewish Day School/ Jewish Community Center
St. Louis Park Middle School
Minneapolis Golf Club
Fire Station #2
Benilde-St. Margaret's Peter Hobart
169 Transition Plus/ Whole Learning School
Torah Academy
Minnetonka
Bais Yaakov High School
5 Timothy Luth.
5
Lenox Comm. Center
Aquila
5 City Hall Groves Academy
Police
25 Yeshiva St. Louis Park Library
100 Holy Family Acad.
St. Louis Park High School
M O p et r o en p o Sc lita ho n ol
Park Spanish Immersion
Central Comm. Center
7
17
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169 Fire Station #1
7
3
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Hopkins
Park Nicollet Methodist Hospital
Susan Lindgren
3
St. Louis Park City Map
100
City Building
Proposed Light Rail/Station
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Interstate Highway
Fire Station
US Highway
169
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State Highway
100
Library
County Highway
5
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City Street
School
Ramp
Police Station
Private Road
Post Office
Railroad
Parks
Neighborhood Boundary
Wetlands
Municipal Boundary
394
Meadowbrook Golf Course
Edina
0
0.25
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500
1,000 1,5
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14 | St. Louis Park Community Guide 2017
St. Louis Park
COMMUNITY GUIDE 2017
Out-of-towners invited to discover SLP As St. Louis Park grows, the Discover St. Louis Park convention and visitors bureau works to attract even more attention to the city. With President and CEO Becky Bakken at the helm, Discover St. Louis Park markets St. Louis Park as “Minnesota’s Sweet Spot” and has phased away from the tagline used since 2012, “Comfortably Close.” The new motto points out St. Louis Park’s proximity to stadiums, the Chain of Lakes in Minneapolis, the Walker Art Center, the Guthrie Theater and other major attractions. Discover St. Louis Park provides information about lodging, meeting spaces, dining, shopping, attractions, events, arts, culture and recreational opportunities. The group directs leisure travelers and organizers of group tours, amateur sports, meetings and special events to St. Louis Park amenities. The organization’s services are complimentary, providing resources for venue recommendations, coordination of site visits, welcome packets and much more. The nonprofit destination marketing organization credits its staff’s efforts with creating more than $6 million in direct economic impact to the St. Louis Park area. “Tourism means economic vitality for St. Louis Park,” Bakken said. “Visitor spending goes far beyond lodging. Once a visitor arrives, they spend money throughout the community on transportation, food, retail and recreation.” Bakken added, “Tourism supports existing companies
while stimulating the development of new business. We have a hardworking sales and marketing team that seeks to strengthen the awareness of the dynamic St. Louis Park community as a meeting and event destination. “We partner with others to bring visitors to the area to fill hotel rooms, meeting spaces, restaurants, theaters and help grow those visitor numbers. We focus on the latest trends in print, digital and media marketing to spread the word. All our efforts are designed to drive up the economic impact for the community.” Discover St. Louis Park’s role continues to grow as the organization also markets neighboring Golden Valley. The city councils of both communities agreed to the arrangement in 2016. Discover St. Louis Park markets Golden Valley’s hotels and amenities like the Metropolitan Ballroom and Clubroom, Brookview Golf Course and a Brookview Community Center. The organization markets both St. Louis Park and Golden Valley athletic fields. St. Louis Park Councilmember Anne Mavity said of the visitors bureau, “It has been such a smashing success. I can understand why folks want to be a part of this success.” St. Louis Park Mayor Jake Spano said Discover St. Louis Park has been so successful that St. Louis Park hotels sometimes reach their capacities. Spano said of the arrangement with Golden Valley, “I think this is a winning solution for both of us.” 15 | St. Louis Park Community Guide 2017
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St. Louis Park
COMMUNITY GUIDE 2017
Senior program provides place for vibrancy Trips, games, film screenings, social gatherings and other activities attract St. Louis Park’s senior residents to Lenox Community Center. The center, 6715 Minnetonka Blvd., is the hub of the St. Louis Park Senior Program, and also is home to St. Louis Park Community Education offerings and community plays. The school district operates the community education department, which collaborates with the city to provide the senior program. The program has a mission “to improve and enhance the lives of adults age 55 and over in St. Louis Park and the broader community.” The senior program has more than 800 members. Participants use the program to reap the benefits for their minds, bodies, spirits and community, according to the program. Members learn for enjoyment and personal growth. Anyone 55 years of age or older may join the program, regardless of residency. Activities with fees are lower for members, but nonmembers can participate in lectures, workshops and other program activities. To apply, visit slpcommunityed.com/seniors/membership or stop by Lenox Community Center 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. weekdays. For membership, registration and program information, call 952-928-6444. Members receive The Newscaster, the program’s newsletter, a discount on many activities, priority registration for programs, voting privileges and access to services like
foot care and free legal consultations. As of publication, the program offered a membership rate of $30 per year. The program is popular in St. Louis Park, with hundreds of members. Ballroom dancing with live music and a computer buddy club are among the weekly activities. All are welcome at the monthly Party in the Park, which features food, entertainment and conversations, and the country music jam. The senior program hosts classes on bridge and American mah-jongg. Driving classes are offered monthly as are various fitness classes, including Zumba, yoga and a Nordic walking club. Lectures focus on history, books, poetry, world politics and tips for healthy living. Explore your artistic side through painting, woodworking, needlecraft or the writing group. The senior program hosts movie screenings and plans trips to historic or cultural destinations in the region in addition to destinations farther afield. Tuition assistance is available to reduce the cost of classes and programs. After individuals complete an application, they will receive a phone call to determine if they meet the program guidelines. Applications are available in the Lenox Community Center’s main office of by calling 952-928-6443. 17 | St. Louis Park Community Guide 2017
St. Louis Park
COMMUNITY GUIDE 2017
Rec Center provides a place to play While the new Recreation Outdoor Center has attracted attention after opening, the St. Louis Park Recreation Center continues to provide its own space for activities next door. The Rec Center, as it is known informally, contains two indoor ice arenas along with meeting and banquet facilities. Hockey teams from both St. Louis Park High School and private school Benilde-St. Margaret’s use the facility, at 3700 Monterey Dr. The St. Louis Park Aquatic Park traditionally opens in June and stays open until the last week in August. It includes two winding water slides nearly four stories high, two drop slides, a diving area, a sand and water play area, a zero-depth entry pool, water toys, a picnic area, a gazebo and a concession stand. Attractions also include an aqua obstacle course, geysers and splash toys. The Banquet Room on the second floor of center is available for wedding receptions, birthday parties, bar and bat mitzvah parties, company events, family reunions and large meetings. The room 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. 18 | St. Louis Park Community Guide 2017
Located on the first floor, the gallery room can accommodate up to 60 people for small group gatherings, team meetings and birthday parties. Audio-visual equipment can be rented for an additional fee. To inquire about availability at the center’s meeting and banquet rooms, call 952-924-2540. The indoor ice rinks feature periodic public skating sessions. Hours may be found at stlouispark.org. During open public skating sessions, the adjacent gallery room and the Banquet Room may be rented for private parties. The indoor ice arena at The Rec Center also can be rented for private parties. The gallery room is available during ice arena rentals at no additional charge and The Banquet Room can be reserved at half the cost. The city includes up to 15 rental skates with private ice rental. The Aquatic Park can be rented for private after-hours use for company gatherings, special events, athletic teams, scout groups and birthday parties. Groups of up to 24 people may reserve the gazebo for an event. In addition to the gazebo rental fee, daily admission or a season pass is required. Call The Rec Center’s number for more information or visit the city’s website at stlouispark.org.
St. Louis Park
COMMUNITY GUIDE 2017
Proud natives have made hometown proud When longtime St. Louis Park residents discuss their hometown, they often list several of the famous people who have hailed from the city. New York Times columnist Thomas Friedman has written about the impact St. Louis Park has made on him and others. His 2016 book “Thank You for Being Late” dedicated its closing chapters to St. Louis Park’s legacy. Perhaps the preeminent products of their St. Louis Park upbringing are filmmakers Joel and Ethan Coen, who attended St. Louis Park Public Schools through 10th grade before finishing high school out of state. Their hometown memories run deep; their films are often peppered with names of former schoolmates and places they haunted. Their production company is named after Mike Zoss Drug Store, which was located in the Texa Tonka Shopping Center back in the ‘60s. The brothers made a phenomenal rise from making Super 8 movies with their friends to Academy Award-winning films with the likes of George Clooney. Another Park resident of national prominence is Sen. Al Franken. He first gained recognition as a writer and performer on “Saturday Night Live.” He demonstrated his intelligence and political beliefs through his writings, radio shows and eventually by successfully running for U.S. senator representing Minnesota in 2008. Franken attended the same St. Louis Park grade school as the Coen Brothers. He also finished his high school years at a private school. Park has also produced many creative people who have excelled in music and the arts. The Rivkin family includes “Bobby Z,” a drummer for Prince’s Revolution; brother “David Z,” producer of scores of national and interna-
tional musical performers; and brother Stephen Rivkin, a Hollywood film editor. The Hautman family includes wildlife painters James, Joe and Robert Hautman, author Pete Hautman and artist Amy Hautman. Sharon Isbin is a world-acclaimed classical guitarist and the creator of The Julliard School’s guitar department. Other notable Park musicians include Dan Israel, Dan Wilson of Semisonic and Peter Himmelman of Sussman Lawrence. Nationally recognized artists Skip Liepke, Bruce Stillman, Martin Fowler and Evelyn Raymond all lived in the Park. Important authors have also come from the community, often inspired by the same high school teacher, Hattie Steinberg. They include Friedman, Norman J. Orenstein and Alan Weisman. Local broadcasters Jeff Passolt, Mark Rosen and Stan Turner are all Park graduates. Not to be forgotten are the famous products that have emanated from creative St. Louis Parkites. The most successful is the Bundt pan, produced by Nordic Ware. The Dalquist family started the business in the 1940s, and it has grown exponentially over the years, adding hundreds of products to its catalog. Scott Olson created his Rollerblades business in the Park in 1979 after perfecting the wheels on the invention. Greg Howard created the “Sally Forth” cartoon and produced it 1982-1999. And believe it or not, it was a St. Louis Park chemist, Carl Noren, who, after 43 tries, created Burma Shave! - Jeanne Andersen of the St. Louis Park Historical Society contributed this article. 19 | St. Louis Park Community Guide 2017
St. Louis Park
COMMUNITY GUIDE 2017
Recreation Outdoor Center a new amenity St. Louis Park’s new Recreation Outdoor Center, or the ROC, has become something of a rock star since opening in late 2016. Although the facility opened for hockey games and practices before the city added a roof, the covering had arrived by the time of a grand opening for the facility during the Children First Ice Cream Social May 2017. During the winter, the structure hosts hockey activities outside the two indoor rinks at St. Louis Park Recreation Center, 3700 Monterey Dr. In the warm months, it has hosted a Parktacular concerts, folk-dancing and other activities. When the hockey rink opened, teams from throughout the metropolitan area sought to schedule scrimmages against St. Louis Park teams at the facility, said St. Louis Park Hockey Association President Blois Olson. “They treat it as an outdoor, classic opportunity,” Olson said. “We view it as a very distinctive and distinguishing asset to the city of St. Louis Park and we look forward to using it for years to come.” Olson said the built-in bleachers containing room for about 450 people, a fire feature and four new locker rooms constructed as part of the center have made it stand apart from other area outdoor ice rinks. “That’s why it’s really in a class by itself in Minnesota,” Olson said. 20 | St. Louis Park Community Guide 2017
The hockey association agreed to contribute nearly $2 million toward the cost of the center, estimated at $8.5 million when the council voted to move forward in 2016. St. Louis Park Recreation Superintendent Jason West said he believes the facility will have an economic impact for St. Louis Park. “It’s just another amenity in St. Louis Park that’s iconic and that will draw people to our community,” West said. After its initial opening, the outdoor arena closed February 2017 to allow construction of the roof. Specialized steel attached to columns around the rink supports the fabric roof. In the summer, West said the Recreation Outdoor Center can host film screenings on an inflatable movie screen as well as host weddings, concerts and shows scheduled for the amphitheater in nearby Wolfe Park in the event of rain. Spring sports like soccer, lacrosse and baseball practice will be able to move onto turf at the Recreation Outdoor Center in the spring of 2018, West said. The hockey association has a priority in renting ice time in the winter, according to its agreement with the city. When the association has not reserved time, other groups can rent the facility. When no one is renting the ice, the arena is open to the public.
St. Louis Park
COMMUNITY GUIDE 2017
Can you hear the call of history? A sound wave is heard and soon forgotten, but the Pavek Museum in St. Louis Park is dedicated to preserving the legacy of some of the most of the influential sound waves in the history of broadcasting. The museum depicts the history of the development of broadcasting, radio and television with its vast collection of equipment that displays, in an interactive way, the roots of an industry that developed with unprecedented speed. Since opening in 1988, the museum has filled more than 12,000 square-feet of space with antique equipment that shows how media once operated. The staff offers guided audio tours, video tours, live tours and workshops, all of which provide insights into the past of broadcasting. Whether a visitor is a historian, student or simply has a desire to learn, the museum provides an assortment of communication artifacts and relics. With something for everyone, the museum caters the experience to patrons of all ages, including elementary school children. Students can send encrypted messages with the telegraphone and simulate their own radio broadcast. The collection is the aggregation of multiple collectors’ treasures, the most noteworthy being the Joe Pavek collection, named after the man who began collecting in 1946. However, other collectors, like Jack Mullin, documented the history of recording technology. He was Bing Crosby’s personal recording engineer. Mullin, after serving in Europe during World War II, brought back two German
AEG Magnetophon tape recorders – an act that paved the way for the introduction of tape recording technology in the United States. Upon entering the museum, the first exhibit is the Minnesota Broadcasting Hall of Fame. Household names like Dick Bremer, the voice of the Minnesota Twins for more than 30 seasons, and Mark Rosen, a longtime sports anchor, writer and host, are among the inductees. Due to the implementation of the Broadcasting Hall of Fame, the Pavek Museum has become a location within which the talent and accomplishments of famous Minnesota broadcasters can secure their place in Minnesota’s history. A museum tour follows the chronological development of electronic communication, beginning as early as 1912 with the development of Edison’s telegraph through the advent of color television. One of the highlights is a live demonstration of a sparkgap transmitter. This machine functions in a similar way to the coded communication in a telegraph except with sparks. The museum includes a plethora of interactive features and most of the antiques are in working condition. Due to the size of the museum, visitors gain a sense of the time frame in which technological developments and discoveries happened. The museum is open Wednesdays through Saturdays at 3517 Raleigh Ave. More information can be found at pavekmuseum.org. 21 | St. Louis Park Community Guide 2017
St. Louis Park
COMMUNITY GUIDE 2017
Numerous parks green the city Wherever you go in St. Louis Park, there’s a park nearby. The city is home to more than 50 parks, ranging from small corner parks to major gathering places like Wolfe Park and Westwood Hills Nature Center. Located next to Excelsior and Grand, Wolfe Park is home to Veterans’ Memorial Amphitheater. Its eight terraced tiers offer seating for 200 people. The concrete stage at the bottom of the hill is edged with trees and shrubs. When no public events are scheduled, the amphitheater can be rented for weddings and other private events 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. daily. Wolfe Park, 3700 Monterey Dr., also features basketball and sand volleyball courts, a yearround pavilion and a walkway around Wolfe Lake. For those seeking a more remote experience, the Westwood Hills Nature Center offers a 160-acre nature preserve devoted to outdoor enjoyment, environmental education and wildlife observation. Westwood Hills Nature Center, 8300 W. Franklin Ave., contains a picnic area and more than 3 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 park interpretive center houses exhibits and restrooms. Portions of this building can be rented for birthday parties and other functions. Westwood also offers envi22 | St. Louis Park Community Guide 2017
ronmental education programs. Trails are open from sunrise to sunset, year-round. There is no admission charge for the nature center. St. Louis Park’s two off-leash dog parks offer an opportunity for residents and their dogs to get out and enjoy the outdoors. The dog parks are located at Cedar Knoll Park, 2541 Nevada Ave. S., and Dakota Park, 2643 Dakota Ave. S. Dakota Park includes an area for timid, frail and small dogs. To use the dog parks, residents must have a current St. Louis Park dog license. Hours are 7 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. Nonresidents must purchase an annual permit at the price of $55. Permits are available by visiting the inspections department weekdays 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. at St. Louis Park City Hall, 5005 Minnetonka Blvd. A full list of parks is available at stlouispark.org. Another notable park is Oak Hill Park, 3201 Rhode Island Ave. S. The park offers a splash pad late May through early September. The city annually commemorates Independence Day with a celebration at Aquila Park, 3100 Xylon Ave. S. 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.
St. Louis Park
COMMUNITY GUIDE 2017
Shopping districts serve area residents St. Louis Park residents do not have to leave their home city to purchase most of the products they need. The city has drawn residents of nearby areas to its shopping centers like Miracle Mile for years, but St. Louis Park is also home to newer, trendier stores in places like The Shops at West End. The Shoppes at Knollwood, 8337 Hwy. 7, has changed from a traditional mall with interior space into a row of storefronts. To learn more about the mall’s current stores, visit shoppesatknollwood.com. In the heart of St. Louis Park, the Excelsior and Grand development fulfilled a city vision for a downtown area with gleaming mid-rise buildings housing businesses, apartments and condominiums. The mixed-use development offers a combination of upscale amenities in a pedestrian-friendly, urban-style environment. The development includes a town green and public art in the form of a fountain and the bronze and gold statue, Allegory of Excelsior. The area near Excelsior and Grand is the subject of other development proposals that are under city consideration. Near Interstate 394 and Highway 100, just to the west of Minneapolis, The Shops at West End shopping center is home to fine restaurants as well as fashion and retail stores. A 14-screen theater offers stadium seating and the option to purchase VIP tickets, which allow patrons to enjoy cocktails and food during films.
Strategically situated in an area with a steady flow of traffic and easy accessibility by nearby office workers, the pedestrian-friendly site is a happening destination during the day and into the evening for customers of all ages. Customers coming to the site won’t have to drive if they don’t wish to – bicycle racks and regional bus service are available. Those who do drive may park free on-site in a five-level ramp or in a heated underground garage. 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. Visit theshopsatwestend.com for a list of stores and more information. Not far from Excelsior and Grand, another smaller-scale shopping area is on 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 space on the ground floor, and underground and surface parking. The Ellipse on Excelsior II, or “e2,” includes an additional 58 apartments. For more information, go to ellipseonexcelsior.com. In addition, the historic Miracle Mile Shopping Center on Excelsior Boulevard near Highway 100 has served residents since 1951. 23 | St. Louis Park Community Guide 2017
St. Louis Park
COMMUNITY GUIDE 2017
Finding faith throughout St. Louis Park St. Louis Park is home to churches of many denominations and synagogues representing movements of Judaism, along with a Buddhist temple. These congregations are based in the community: Aldersgate United Methodist Church 3801 Wooddale Ave. 952-929-6725 aldersgatemn.com Bais Yisroel Synagogue 4221 Sunset Blvd. 952-926-7867 baisyisroel.org Beth El Synagogue 5225 Barry St. W. 952-873-7300 bethelsynagogue.org Church of the Holy Family 5900 W. Lake St. 952-929-0113 hfcmn.org Congregation Darchei Noam 2950 Joppa Ave. S. Info: 952-452-8476 darcheinoammn.org First Ukrainian Evangelical Baptist Church 5450 W. 41st St. 952-492-5242 tinyurl.com/ukrainianbaptist Giving in Grace at Soul’s Harbor 9500 Minnetonka Blvd. 952-931-9870 givingingraceatsoulsharbor.com Kenesseth Israel Synagogue 4330 W. 28th St. 952-920-2183 kenessethisrael.org 24 | St. Louis Park Community Guide 2017
Knollwood Christian Church 3639 Quebec Ave. S. 952-938-1121 knollwoodcc.org
Prince of Peace Lutheran Church 8115 Hwy. 7 952-938-5400 popslp.org
The Vine Meets at Knollwood Christian Church, 3939 Quebec Ave. S. thevinecommunity.org
Or Emet Minnesota Congregation for Humanistic Judaism Meets at the Sabes JCC, 4330 Cedar Lake Road S. 612-787-7812 oremet.org
St. Dunstan’s Anglican Church 4241 Brookside Ave. 952-920-9122 stdunstananglican.org
Timothy Lutheran Church 7814 Minnetonka Blvd. 952-929-8317
Park Assembly of God 1615 Texas Ave. S. 952-545-2326 parkassembly.org Park Community Church 6805 Minnetonka Blvd. 952-929-3815 parkcommunitymn.com Peace Presbyterian Church 7624 Cedar Lake Road 952-545-2586 peaceprez.com
St. George’s Episcopal Church 5224 Minnetonka Blvd. 952-926-1646 stgeorgesonline.org Seed of Abraham Messianic Congregation Shabbat services at the DoubleTree Hotel, 1500 Park Place Blvd. 952-926-6226 seedofabraham.org Spirit of Christ Community Lutheran Church 5801 Minnetonka Blvd. 952-929-6465 spiritofchristcommunity.org
Union Congregational United Church of Christ 3700 Alabama Ave. S. 952-929-8566 unionslp.com Wat Thai of Minnesota 2544 Hwy. 100 S. 612-605-7979 watthaimn.us Westwood Lutheran Church 9001 Cedar Lake Road 952-545-5623 westwoodlutheran.org Wooddale Lutheran Church 4003 Wooddale Ave. S. 952-926-7603 wooddalelutheran.com
St. Louis Park
COMMUNITY GUIDE 2017
City offers well-traveled trails Trails connect many of the areas of St. Louis Park and offer places to stroll. St. Louis Park is adding to the system through its 10-year Connect the Park program. Some trails lead to areas outside St. Louis Park. For example, the Southwest Trail, which runs along the route of a proposed Southwest light rail transit line, passes through St. Louis Park on its way to Uptown in Minneapolis to the east and Hopkins to the west. Trail connections also lead to downtown Minneapolis and other suburbs like Eden Prairie. The Cedar Lake Trail is nearly 4 miles of trail that links to downtown Minneapolis. The trail provides access to Target Field and the riverfront of the Mississippi River. The trail 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 Kenilworth Trail. There is no automobile parking at the following trail entrances: • 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 connects the Cedar Lake Trail from downtown Minneapolis to the Southwest Trail in Hopkins following the Hutchinson Spur rail line. Along the way, the almost 4 miles of trail passes by industrial and residential areas as well as Dakota Park, Aq-
uila Park and Minnehaha Creek. Automobile parking is located at Dakota and Aquila parks. Cedar Lake Extension Trail entrances: • 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 5 miles from the Kenilworth Trail near 31st and Chowen Avenue to 11th Avenue in Hopkins. It follows the rail line route parallel to Highway 7 and continues west through Hopkins to Chaska. The 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. Southwest Trail entrances: • 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 Boulevard and Highway 169, Hopkins Trails of more than a mile in length are at Wolfe Park, Bass Lake Preserve and Louisiana Oaks Park. Other trails of less than a mile are at Aquila Park, Dakota Park, Oak Hill Park, Lamplighter Park, Park Otten Pond, Shelard Park and Westwood Hills Nature Center. 25 | St. Louis Park Community Guide 2017
St. Louis Park
COMMUNITY GUIDE 2017
Sabes JCC provides focal point in SLP The Sabes Jewish Community Center has served as a focal point for St. Louis Park and the west metro’s Jewish population for decades. The center, which has a history dating back more than a half a century, serves as a center for art, music, theater, fitness and recreation for the Jewish community, as well as the larger population, in Minneapolis and its suburbs. The community center is one of two in the metro and part of a larger, nationwide movement. The Sabes JCC has dedicated itself to providing a nurturing Jewish environment, seeking to encourage the full potential of all those who enter and inviting members and visitors to make the community stronger. 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 historical book. After 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 leaders who named it said they wanted the center to serve a community broader than only St. Louis Park, according to a Sabes JCC historical account. The Emanuel Cohen Center was sold in 1963, and a new 26 | St. Louis Park Community Guide 2017
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 Rd. S. in 1964, broke ground in 1968 and opened the new building in 1969. In 2003, the center celebrated the grand opening of a fully renovated center. At that time, the facility obtained the name of Sabes JCC in honor of donors Bob and Janet Sabes and the Sabes Family Foundation. “After 18 months, and $17.5 million worth of work, the completely remodeled center now features more than 195,000 square feet of usable space, including indoor and outdoor pools, the Tychman Shapiro Art Gallery, auditorium and Dolly and Edward Fiterman Theatre, gymnasium, fitness center and locker rooms, and a variety of meeting rooms and activities,” the website’s historical account states. “The renovation also included an addition to the building that houses the Amos and Celia Heilicher Minneapolis Jewish Day School and Talmud Torah as well as the creation of the Barry Family Campus.” As envisioned originally, the Sabes JCC continues to provide 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 952-381-3400 to learn more about the center’s activities.
St. Louis Park
COMMUNITY GUIDE 2017
Parktacular makes summers spectacular St. Louis Park’s annual festival provides a kickoff to summer in the city, with water slides, a parade, kids activities and many more events. Parktacular, as the festival is called, takes place for four days including Father’s Day, in June. The festival has long used the slogan, “Splash Into Summer.” For those desiring to take that advice literally, Parktacular provides kayaking, canoe rides and a fishing clinic, in addition to the water slides. Inflatable play structures, children’s games and food vendors appear at Wolfe Park, along with community organization booths, parade floats, crowds and a host of other icons of seasonal celebrations. Events are planned for people of all ages and include a senior dinner with entertainment, a street dance, the Grand Day Parade, numerous “Kidtacular” activities like a petting zoo and pony rides, a faith service, a Belgian waffle brunch. Many activities are free. Kidtacular may include face-painting, colorful hairdos, a dance party and music. Parktacular organizes an ambassadors program annually. The ambassadors include children, young adults and senior ambassadors who represent St. Louis Park in many Minnesota communities. St. Louis Park has hosted a festival of some kind for more than 100 years, such as Party in the Park and Robin Hood Days.
Planning for the festival takes place throughout the year. See parktacular.org for more details, to volunteer or to be a sponsor. Parktacular is one of several community activities that happen each year. There is a summer concert series each summer. Performances usually take place at Veterans’ Memorial Amphitheater at Wolfe Park, 3700 Monterey Drive. Concerts are typically Wednesdays with some Friday and Saturday night concerts also scheduled. In 2017, St. Louis Park Friends of the Arts scheduled a series of Tuesday community singalongs. Information is available at stlouispark. org. Another highlight is the annual Children First Ice Cream Social in May. The event features complimentary ice cream cones, music and information about community organizations. The event traditionally has been set at Wolfe Park or the St. Louis Park Recreation Center but moved to the new Recreation Outdoor Center in 2017. Children First is a prominent nonprofit that was born from 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 children-first.org and elsewhere in this community guide. 27 | St. Louis Park Community Guide 2017
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