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Inside this guide THIS IS LIFE... Inside this guide to St. Louis Park you will discover aspects about the community that make life here so great. We’ll offer information about awardwinning schools, quality health care and a variety of community parks, community centers, trails and shopping. We’ll profile the police and fire departments, highlight the history of the area and much more. We hope you find this guide to be a helpful tool in learning more about St. Louis Park and all it has to offer, even if you’ve lived here your entire life. We’d like to thank all the organizations, schools, city officials and the mayor for being so gracious in helping us assemble this guide to the area. Thanks also to the St. Louis Park Historical Society for the historical facts contained inside this book. If you have suggestions about other topics, organizations or other listings that you’d like to see in next year’s guide, please give us a call or contact us by email at suneditor@acnpapers.com.
10917 Valley View Road Eden Prairie, MN 55344 www.minnlocal.com 952-392-6800 Editor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Seth Rowe Writers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Seth Rowe Photography . . . . . . . . . . . . Chris Dillmann, Seth Rowe Cover Design . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Elli Martin Sales . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Tracy Johnson Advertising Director . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Jeremy Bradfield Executive Editor. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Peggy Bakken Director of News/Design . . . . . . . . . . . Keith Anderson Publisher . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Jeff Coolman Special thanks to St. Louis Park Mayor Jeff Jacobs for providing the Welcome message. Our appreciation also goes to the City of St. Louis Park and the many community organizations and local businesses that supported this publication. Thanks also to the St. Louis Park Historical Society for its historical facts used in many of the pages.
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Park Nicollet based in St. Louis Park Prominent regional medical care provider Park Nicollet Health Services calls St. Louis Park home, as does the organization’s Park Nicollet Methodist Hospital. At locations throughout the metropolitan area, including St. Louis Park, Park Nicollet offers medical diagnosis and treatment, health education, self-care products and more. Park Nicollet operates 25 neighborhood clinics, six urgent care sites, Methodist Hospital, 12 pharmacies, nine optical stores, eight contact lens stores, three hearing centers and stores, four health and care stores, a sleep center and store, a boutique and a breastfeeding center. The entity also consists of Park Nicollet Foundation and Park Nicollet Institute. More than 8,100 clinical and administrative employees work for Park Nicollet, St. Louis Park’s largest employer. 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,
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the Frauenshuh Cancer Center and the Melrose Institute for eating disorders, all in St. Louis Park, and the Struthers Parkinson’s Center in
Aquila Park-3100 Xylon Avenue South Aquila Park is located on the west side of St. Louis Park. You will find lighted softball diamonds and football fields for use in the summer and fall. Basketball courts, four tennis courts, horseshoes, and a playground structure are also located inside the park. A trail system runs throughout the park. Aquila Park also has many picnic tables and sun shelters for use (shelters can be rented for use).
nearby Golden Valley. 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 millions of dollars in funding over about two decades to about 1,200 organizations. 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 school-based clinics that provide free walk-in comprehensive medical and mental health care to children from birth to 18 years in St. Louis Park and three other school districts. Park Nicollet 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 parknicollet.com.
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Welcome to beautiful St. Louis Park Welcome to St. Louis Park. Our 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 that in a little more than 115 years has grown from a village of 45 families to a community of more than 47,000 residents. We continue to redevelop and reinvent ourselves and are currently in the midst of one of our most active development periods in decades. With the expected addition of light rail transit in the near future, we expect to continue that redevelopment. St. Louis Park has a sound economic base, a healthy mix of new and traditional housing and a nationally renowned school district where every school has been named a National School of Excellence. We also have a variety of private schools in the city providing residents with an abundance of choices for their children. Residential areas comprise the
largest portion of the community and 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. The Park is also proud of the limitless trails and parks in the community. The many trails connect us to downtown Minneapolis and the Minneapolis riverfront, 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). These parks provide recreation, community and
beauty to all St. Louis Park residents in any season. We tell people to experience life in the Park, and we want you to experience it for a lifetime. St. Louis Park has been named one of the nation’s “100 Best Communities for Young People” year after year by America’s Promise – The Alliance for Youth. The Park is continually honored because of our involvement and opportunities offered to young people. But our opportunities extend to people of all ages whether they are the young professionals moving here to enjoy our trails, parks and active nightlife or the seniors who enjoy our neighborhood connectedness, our dial-a-ride program or our active community centers. All of the residents of the Park enjoy these different social and recreational activities to participate in, along with diverse religious, economic and education systems. The options are endless in the Park and we hope that’s why you choose to make St. Louis Park your community of choice for a lifetime. By Mayor Jeff Jacobs St. Louis Park
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Fire department prepares for future Disaster can strike even the best of communities, and if it does the St. Louis Park Fire Department is prepared to assist residents and visitors to the city. Full-time firefighters work with paid-on-call firefighters to provide service around the clock. The department regularly conducts training exercises with other city and regional emergency responders in order to be prepared for possible scenarios. The city is replacing the city’s two fire stations with larger, more modern stations better able to accommodate equipment and personnel needs. The new stations are replacing fire stations constructed in the 1960s that did not meet current accessibility rules for public buildings or fully accommodate staffing for both male and female firefighters. Other concerns related to deteriorating structural elements, aging mechanical systems, limited ventilation, lack of apparatus storage space, and insufficient meeting space to host all firefighters simultaneously for meetings and training. When complete, the new Fire Station One, 3750 Wooddale Ave., will stand two stories in height and contain more than 30,000 square feet of
space. The new Fire Station Two, 2262 Louisiana Ave., will be one story in height and contain nearly 17,000 square feet of space. The newly remodeled St. Louis Park Municipal Service Center, 7305 Oxford St., has served as a temporary location for
The Women's Club of St. Louis Park was organized on April 24, 1947, with Helen Sylvester as its first President. Limited to 400 members, the club's purpose is "to unify the civic and cultural interests of its members, and to further all measures for the betterment of the community." The 31 charter members were all members of the Village’s 10 garden clubs. The club was an affiliate of the Minnesota Federation of Women’s clubs.
firefighters during the construction of Fire Station One. Firefighters are available 24 hours a day. The Fire Department employs approximately 24 full-time staff members including firefighters, administrators and support staff. It also employs 30 paid-on-call firefighters who provide backup to St. Louis Park’s full-time firefighters by helping out at medical emergencies, fires, car accidents and disasters. The Fire Department is responsible for putting out fires, responding to medical emergencies and car accidents, 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 Fire Department’s administrative office is located in City Hall, 5005 Minnetonka Blvd. The fire department’s non-emergency phone number is 952-924-2595. For emergencies, always call 911 instead. Upon request firefighters will visit homes to advise you on where to place smoke and carbon monoxide detectors or how to create an evacuation plan. Call 952-924-2595 for details.
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Police offer protection and assistance Should problems arise, the St. Louis Park Police Department and city dispatchers are prepared to offer assistance. 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 952-924-2618. If you wish to remain anonymous and have information that may lead to an arrest, call 952-924-2165 or, write to Crime Prevention Fund, Box 26504, St. Louis Park, MN 55426. All calls and letters are confidential. St. Louis Park has 51 sworn police officers who are professionals with college or advanced training in all aspects of law enforcement. All officers have emergency medical training. If they are first on the scene, they will administer emergency medical treatment to stabilize the patient.
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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
Wolfe Park-3700 Monterey Drive Wolfe Park features a year-round pavilion (can be rented out by the public), walking trail, a fishing pond and picnic shelters. A playground, basketball court, and sand volleyball court. Veterans' Memorial Amphitheater connects the park to the Excelsior & Grand Town Green. It offers seating for 200 people. The amphitheater features many concerts throughout the summer months.
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, suspicious activity and noise complaints, emergency incidents, such as medical assistance and fires. 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 952924-2600. The police station houses the emergency communications and 911 center, administrative offices, the city jail and training and meeting rooms. Call 952-924-2125 for tours. St. Louis Park has four police substations. The newest is located at The Shops of West End at 1623 West End Blvd. Other 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. Substations are primarily used by officers to write reports and meet with people who called ahead. Call 952-924-2600 for more information.
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Preserving city’s deep roots of history In a little more than 115 years, St. Louis Park has grown from a village of 45 families to a community of more than 45,000 residents. The St. Louis Park Historical Society works to document the changes that have made the city what it is today. The society’s website, slphistory.org, contains an index with a plethora of information about the people, businesses, celebrations, places of worship, school, neighborhoods and many other aspects that have formed the lifeblood of the community. Since 1971, the St. Louis Park Historical Society has gathered, organized and shared pieces of St. Louis Park’s 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. 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 socalled “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 boomtown. Previously barren land, including almost the entire area north of Minnetonka Boulevard, was filled with new homes, schools, parks and churches. St. Louis Park was receptive to the Jewish families who
Oak Hill Park-3201 Rhode Island Ave. South Oak Hill Park is located on the west side of St. Louis Park. The park offers softball diamonds, basketball courts, playground, trails, picnic tables and shelters, and water playgound for kids, . In the winter, you can find a sliding area and lighted skating rink. Restrooms are available in the Pavilion during Splash Pad operating hours June 1Aug. 31. Outdoor portable toilets are available before May 31 and after Sept. 1.
strove to leave Minneapolis, and the community supported many synagogues and the Sabes Jewish Community Center. The Historical Society is here 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. The St. Louis Park Historical Society operates out of the Lenox Community Center, 6715 Minnetonka Blvd., which is staffed 10 a.m. to noon Thursdays or by appointment. It also operates the city’s Historic Milwaukee Road Depot, in which the society stores artifacts from St. Louis Park’s past. 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. 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, email history@slphistory.org.
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Sabes JCC serves as gathering place The Sabes Jewish Community Center serves as a gathering place for residents of St. Louis Park as well as the greater west metro area. The center, which has a history dating back more than 50 years, serves as a center for art, music, theater, fitness and recreation for the Jewish community in Minneapolis and its suburbs as well as the larger population. The Jewish 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 that enter and inviting members and visitors to make the community stronger. 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
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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.
Three Rivers Park District St. Louis Park is located near Three Rivers Park District. This natural resources-based park system has more than 25,000 acres of park reserves, regional parks, regional trails and special use facilities including: three nature centers, three golf courses, downhill ski area, trails for hiking, biking, horseback riding and cross-country skiing, boating, picnicking etc. For details, click on www.threeriversparkdistrict.org.
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 JCC serves a particularly important role with Jews who are not affiliated with a synagogue, which represents half of the Jewish population in the Twin Cities, according to one study. In reference to serving Jews of various religious beliefs, Wachs said 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). 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-related amenities and programming, 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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City on a deliberate path to the future St. Louis Park is a progressive city that is located just west of the Twin Cities of Minneapolis and St. Paul. Just minutes from downtown Minneapolis, residents and visitors are allowed to experience the attractions, events and excitement of a major metropolitan area, and still have the small town feel. Some 45,000 people call St. Louis Park home for this reason, and find it a great place to experience all of the Twin Cities’ amenities, with a location close to the Chain of Lakes and downtown Minneapolis attractions like theaters, major league sports and shopping. St. Louis Park also has 51 parks to enjoy. Parks make up 11.5 percent of the land in the city. Bike trails link St. Louis Park to downtown Minneapolis, the Uptown area, Hopkins and Chaska. 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 has been named one of the nation’s “100 Best Communities for Young People” mul-
tiple times by America’s Promise – The Alliance for Youth. 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 communitywide strategic plan led by the city to determine the path that St. Louis Park will take.
Oak Hill Splash Pad-3201 Rhode Island Ave. S. The water playground at Oak Hill Park lets tots activate bubbling hoses, water nozzles and sprinkler arches. Just wave your hand over the sensor bollard and get ready to splash in the sun! It’s the equivalent of running through the sprinkler on a grand scale. Parents should always accompany children. Rubber soled water shoes are strongly recommended for all participants. Call (952) 924-2540 for more details.
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 participants 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. • It is committed to being a leader in environmental stewardship. • It is committed to providing a well-maintained and diverse housing stock. • It is committed to promoting and integrating arts, culture and community aesthetics in all city initiatives, including implementation where appropriate. The city continues to review progress on Vision St. Louis Park. Visit stlouispark.org to view complete Vision St. Louis Park documents and information.
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Recreation Center offers fun for all Activities in the water or on frozen water may be found at the St. Louis Park Recreation Center. 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 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. In 2011, the city added an Aqua Obstacle Course to the attractions, which also include geysers and splash toys. 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
Rotary Northside Park-2200 Louisiana Ave. S. The Rotary Northside Park is located on Louisiana Ave between Cedar Lake Rd. and West 22nd Street and is currently being renovated. Once completed, it will include baseball diamonds, tennis courts, additional trails, a lighted parking lot and a playground. In the winter months there is a lighted skating area for the public to use, along with a sliding hill. Northside Park also has a warming house for use.
small group gatherings, team meetings and birthday parties. Audiovisual equipment can be rented for an additional fee. Ice rinks provide skating indoors while an outdoor skate park provides a different kind of skating outside The Rec Center. St. Louis Park’s Tier 1 skateboard park features two platforms with four-foot high ramps on each end of the paved skating surface as well as grinding rails and a grinding box. The ice rinks feature periodic public skating sessions. Hours may be found at stlouispark.org. 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. The Aquatic Park can be rented. 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. Call The Rec Center’s number for more information or visit the city’s website at stlouispark.org.
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Shopping options galore in Park Shopping centers in St. Louis Park vary from the historic to the cutting edge. The Shops at West End made a splash in the region starting in 2009. New shops continue to open at the popular mixed-use development. The shopping center is home to restaurants and live music as well as fashion and other retail stores. A 14screen theater offers stadium seating and the option to purchase VIP tickets allowing their holders to enjoy cocktails and food during films. Set near the intersection of Interstate 394 and Highway 100, construction on the West End began in April 2008 at a cost of about $400 million, the priciest project in St. Louis Park’s history. 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. For 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
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green roof, and creative landscaping irrigation utilizing slot drains in sidewalks. St. Louis Park has also become known in the area for its Excelsior and Grand mixed-use development, which offers a combination of upscale amenities in a pedestrianfriendly, urban-style environment.
PARKTACULAR-City celebration in June In 1995, St. Louis Park started its City Vision process, and discussions were held about holding a citywide celebration. A board was formed, and the group included the city, businesses, and many nonprofit organizations. A contest for a name was won by a local youngster. The first celebration was held in 1997. The city liaison for the event was Bridget Wynn, who served on a volunteer basis after she retired.
City officials worked on guiding the plan for the project for years, located at Excelsior Boulevard and Grand Way. The final phase of the mixed-use development opened 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 opened 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 on the ground floor, and underground and surface parking. Stores began opening 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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Parks invite all to enjoy the outdoors St. Louis Park may be located near the heart of the metro, but the city’s dozens of parks provide plenty of opportunities to connect with nature. The Park’s parks provide recreation, beauty and entertainment for residents. Many of them are located in quiet neighborhoods. Others, like Wolfe Park, draw crowds. The Veterans’ Memorial Amphitheater is terraced into the hill on the south side of Wolfe Park, 3700 Monterey Drive, and connects the park to the Excelsior & Grand Town Green. Its eight terraced tiers offer seating for 200 people. When no public events are scheduled, the amphitheater can be rented for weddings and other private events from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m., daily. Wolfe Park also features basketball and sand volleyball courts, a year-round pavilion and a walkway around Wolfe Lake. Westwood Hills Nature Center, 8300 West Franklin Ave., contains 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 rest-
rooms. Portions of this building can be rented for birthday parties and other functions. Westwood also offers environmental education programs. The parking area is open from 8 a.m. until sunset. Park admission is free. St. Louis Park’s two off-leash dog parks are located at Carlson Park,
St. Louis Park surveyed-1854 The 15-section area that includes presentday St. Louis Park was surveyed in 1854 in anticipation of opening it up to private ownership. Although settlers couldn't buy property there before this happened, they had staked their claims in anticipation of the survey. Surveyors noted that most if not all of Richfield Township had already been claimed, and some improved.
2541 Nevada Ave. S., and Dakota Park, 2643 Dakota Ave. S. To use the dog parks, residents must have a current St. Louis Park dog license, which includes access to the parks. Non-residents must purchase an annual permit at the price of $55. Permits are available at St. Louis Park City Hall, 5005 Minnetonka Blvd. City parks are generally closed 11 p.m. to 5 a.m. 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. 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’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.
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Respecting our places of worship St. Louis Park has numerous churches and synagogues providing services for people of various beliefs: Aldersgate United Methodist Church 3801 Wooddale Ave. 952-929-6725 aldersgatemn.com Beth El Synagogue 5224 West 26th St. 952-920-3512 bethelsynagogue.org Bais Yisroel Synagogue 4221 Sunset Blvd. 952-926-7867 baisyisroel.org Calvary Worship Center 9500 Minnetonka Blvd. 952-931-9870 calvaryworship.com Congregation Darchei Noam 5224 Minnetonka Blvd. 612-920-3424 darcheinoammn.org Emmaus Road Church 6719 Cedar Lake Road 952-935-4112 emmausroadchurch.com
Most Holy Trinity Catholic Church 4017 Utica Ave. S. 952-926-7516 mostholytrinity.org
Seed of Abraham Messianic Congregation 9500 Minnetonka Blvd. 952-926-6226 seedofabraham.org
Or Emet Minnesota Congregation for Humanistic Judaism 4330 Cedar Lake Road S. 651-699-6302 oremet.org
Shalom Scripture Studies 8700 W. 36th St., #228 952-925-6186 molahs.com
Park Assembly of God 1615 Texas Ave. S. 952-545-2326 parkassembly.org
Spirit of Christ Community Lutheran Church 5801 Minnetonka Blvd. 952-929-6465 spiritofchristcommunity.org
Holy Family Catholic Church 5900 West Lake St. 952-929-0113 hfcmn.org
Peace Presbyterian Church 7624 Cedar Lake Road 952-545-2586 peaceprez.com
Timothy Lutheran Church 7814 Minnetonka Blvd. 952-929-8317 timothy-wels.org
Kenesseth Israel Synagogue 4330 West 28th St. 952-920-2183 kenessethisrael.org
Prince of Peace Lutheran Church 8115 Hwy. 7 952-938-5400 popslp.org
Twin City Fellowship 2734 Rhode Island Ave. S. 952-935-3100 twincityfellowship.com
Knollwood Christian Church 3639 Quebec Ave. S. 952-938-1121 knollwoodcc.org
St. Dunstan’s Anglican Church 4241 Brookside Ave. 952-920-9122 stdunstananglican.org
Union Congregational United Church of Christ 3700 Alabama Ave. S. 952-929-8566 unionslp.com
Lutheran Church of the Reformation 2544 Hwy. 100 S. 952-929-0439 reformationslp.org
St. George’s Episcopal Church 5224 Minnetonka Blvd. 952-926-1646 stgeorgesonline.org
First Ukrainian Evangelical Baptist Church 5450 W. 41st St. Info: 952-432-3939
Macedonian Evangelical Missionary Baptist Church 3208 Xenwood Ave. S. 952-926-9787
St. Louis Park Evangelical Free Church 6805 Minnetonka Blvd. 952-929-3815 slpfree.org
Westwood Lutheran Church 9001 Cedar Lake Road 952-545-5623 westwoodlutheran.org Wooddale Lutheran Church 4003 Wooddale Ave. S. 952-926-7603 wooddalelutheran.org
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Where education makes a difference Because of nearly identical boundaries, the St. Louis Park School District is closely linked with its namesake city. The district has recently enjoyed stable enrollment in a community it has served for decades. Every one of the St. Louis Park School 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. 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
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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. St. Louis Park Senior High School, 6425 West 33rd St., has long
Pratt School-1859 The Pratt or Prattville School was built in 1859 at the northeast corner of the intersection of Excelsior Blvd. and Pleasant Ave. This is now the location of Park Village. This one room school was built by Edwin E. Edgerly of Richfield. (Frank Edwin Edgerly was the husband of Anna Grimes in nearby Edina.) In 1890 the building was discontinued as a school when Lincoln School opened.
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 program, mentoring and apprenticeship opportunities, and 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. Newsweek changed its criteria in 2011, but St. Louis Park Senior High remained on the list of Minnesota schools making the cut. 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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Summer celebration simply Parktacular St. Louis Park’s summer celebration isn’t just spectacular – it’s Parktacular. The largest civic festival in town, Parktacular welcomes summer every June during the weekend of Father’s Day. The running theme of the St. Louis Park get-together is “Splash Into Summer.” For those desiring to take that advice literally, Parktacular provides water slides, kayaking and canoe rides and a Swimmin’ to the Beat event featuring music by a deejay at the St. Louis Park Aquatic Park. 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. See their website at 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. Two farmers’ markets attract fans of locally grown products on a week-
The Sixty-Plus Club met for the first time on Sept. 6, 1949 with 25 members. The group met at the American Legion Hall and was organized by Recreation Director Dorothea Nelson. At the first meeting the new members learned to play canasta, “the new rummy craze.” Other activities included crafts and handwork, bingo, movies, card tournaments, folk and other dances, and picnics.
ly basis during a season that begins in early July and runs into October. The original market is located in the Wolfe Park area on the plaza adjacent to The Rec Center and Aquatic Park, 3700 Monterey Drive. A newer market that began in 2011 is located at The Shops at West End, 1621 West End Blvd. The original market is open Wednesdays from mid-afternoon to early evening. The market at The Shops at West End is open Wednesdays mid-morning to early afternoon. The markets feature 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. 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 to help in the healthy development of infants, children and teens. Details on Children First can be found at children-first.org.
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