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COMMUNITY GUIDE 2014-15

Richfi eld MINNESOTA

Welcome Home

Welcome Home!

Hello! Welcome to the charming community of Richfield, Minnesota – a metropolitan community with a small-town heart. I’m Angie Schaefbauer, president of the Richfield Chamber of Commerce.

Richfield is uniquely situated as a neighboring community of three of the five largest cities in Minnesota. Residents and visitors of Richfield truly have access to everything they need in 15 minutes or less. The city’s population is around 35,000 in about 9,500 households, and fits within seven square miles.

We are home to one of the world’s largest retail electronics companies and they are the largest employer in Richfield. In addition to large employers, small business continues to be the lifeblood sustaining our community. Over 700 Richfield businesses and professional associations employ 16,000 people and pay nearly $1 billion in wages annually.

Richfield is dedicated to retaining existing business, recruiting new business, increasing employment and fostering economic growth in Richfield – we were even recently voted one of the top 10 best places for job seekers in Minnesota!

People call Richfield home because the neighborhoods are clean; the city government is responsive; the community schools are diverse, extremely safe and have high standards; and the community spirit is high.

10917 Valley View Road Eden Prairie, MN 55344 current.mnsun.com Editor ........................................Joseph Palmersheim Writer....................................................... Andrew Wig Photography ....... Andrew Wig, Joseph Palmersheim Layout & Design .......................Joseph Palmersheim Keith Anderson Cover Design .............................................Elli Martin Advertising Sales ........................... Nicole Jorgenson Advertising Director .........................Cheri O’Bannon Executive Editor ................................. Peggy Bakken Director of News................................Keith Anderson Special thanks to the city of Richfield for use of the map; to Angie Schaefbauer for writing the introduction; and to the Richfield Historical Society for the old photos.

Angie Schaefbauer Richfield Chamber of Commerce

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COMMUNITY GUIDE 2014-15

Richfi eld MINNESOTA

Welcome Home

The Good Life in ‘The Urban Hometown’ The city of Richfield bills itself as “The Urban Hometown,” with residents praising the small-town feel that perseveres as the community continues to evolve.

The first-ring suburb borders Minneapolis to the north, Edina to the west, Bloomington to the south and the Minneapolis International Airport to the east. Add that to the city’s location five minutes from the Mall of America, and it is clear Richfield is situated at the heart of Twin Cities bustle.

Points of access to the city abound. Interstate Highway 35W runs north-south through the city, with Highway 77 marking its eastern border and Interstate 494 to the south.

Within its borders, Richfield’s grid system is praised for its ease of use. Major thoroughfares include well-recognized names like Nicollet, Lyndale and Penn avenues, which cross the city north-south. Sixty-sixth Street and 77th Street traverse the city east-west.

Richfield’s seven square miles are fully developed as the face of the community continues to change. Redevelopment in the last 10 years has included the addition of the Best Buy headquarters, which serves as a landmark off Interstate 494, and the Cedar Point Commons commercial center, which borders the airport with anchor stores Target and Home Depot.

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They are among a wide variety of businesses – ranging from architectural and engineering firms to financial services, shoe repair and a bluegrass outfitter – that call Richfield home.

Residents and visitors find diversion in the city’s 23 parks, sitting on more than 450 acres. At the center of Richfield’s parks system is Veterans Memorial Park, which borders a municipal pool and the Richfield Ice Arena.

Veterans Memorial Park is home to a mini golf course and the Honoring All Veterans Memorial, which was dedicated in 2013.

Wood Lake Nature Center is another of the city’s major recreation destinations. The 150-acre nature area includes paths and boardwalks around the lake in addition to an interpretive center and 100-seat amphitheater.

When recreation leads to an appetite, the city has about 40 restaurants from which to choose. And when it’s time to rest, Richfield offers four hotels, each located conveniently off Interstate 494.

Info: www.CityofRichfield.org Richfield Municipal Center 6700 Portland Ave., Richfield 612-861-9700

COMMUNITY GUIDE 2014-15

Richfi eld MINNESOTA

Welcome Home

Chamber of Commerce champions growth Since 1955, the Richfield Chamber of Commerce has made a mission out of promoting economic prosperity in the city.

Under the guidance of a president and a 12-member board of directors, the organization champions Richfield’s business community by facilitating connections – to both institutional and informational resources, and other businesses.

Regular luncheons and special events serve as large- and small-group networking opportunities. Communication with the city of Richfield and the community’s schools engenders a cohesive business atmosphere. The Chamber’s website and marketing materials provide informative resources and advertising opportunities.

Networking options include events such as the Richfield Professional Women Breakfast, monthly member meetings and the Chamber’s Business Owners Roundtable. The Chamber also hosts an annual golf event and gala.

Chamber luncheons have attracted a range of speakers, covering general interest topics, such as stories from Arctic trekker Ann Bancroft, along with more business-focused fare such as advice from online brand strategist Anne Pryor and other business leaders.

With a strong online emphasis that bolsters its in-person networking opportunities, the Chamber’s website features helpful links for business owners. The site directs entrepreneurs to organizations such as Open to Business, a Richfield Housing and Redevelopment Authority program that offers loans to foster small business growth in the city.

Among other resources, users will find links to information on the Affordable Care Act and SCORE, an organization that provides guidance and advice to small businesses.

Email is one avenue in which the organization has placed an invigorated focus. A new email strategy has garnered a 20-25 percent “click rate” as the Chamber sends out weekly updates, opportunities to make connections and event previews.

More information comes in the form of a weekly newsletter from the Chamber that profiles local business owners, details upcoming events and features updates of business activity from Chamber President Angie Schaefbauer.

Part of the Chamber’s ongoing efforts to foster an active, cohesive business community in Richfield is a branding project that is being implemented in partnership with the city. Facilitators have been meeting with focus groups as they analyze residents’ and business owners’ perceptions of the city. Early work includes branding language and the development of a new “Visit Richfield” logo.

The cost of Chamber membership for businesses is based on their number of full-time employees. Membership provides discounts for events, targeted advertising to other Chamber members and opportunities to participate in various committees.

Info: RichfieldMNChamber.org Richfield Chamber of Commerce 6601 Lyndale Ave., Richfield 612-866-5100 5

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COMMUNITY GUIDE 2014-15

Richfi eld MINNESOTA

Welcome Home

Police department’s roots date back to 1937 Richfield has been served by its own police department since 1937, utilizing a number of various divisions to fulfill its mission of protecting the people of Richfield and their property.

A 10-person detective division conducts criminal investigations within the city, working on cases ranging from shoplifting to homicide.

A patrol division works the streets, supported by other groups including a K-9 unit. After an absence from the department, the K-9s were reintroduced in 2006, with “Kinsey” and “Rocky” using their noses to serve the city.

For extreme circumstances, Richfield has been served by a special weapons and tactics team (SWAT) since 1974. A hostage crisis – one of the largest of its time – at the Country Club Market, which sat on the corner of Penn Avenue and East 66th Street, spurred on the creation of the unit.

SWAT Team capabilities include responses to barricaded suspects, hostage crises, active shooter incidents and highrisk warrant services.

That action coincides with the work of the department’s special investigations unit, which addresses gang and drug

crime in Richfield and beyond, working with other metro units. The department is further bolstered with the presence of a member of Hennepin County’s Violent Offender Task Force. That officer is at the ready for cases requiring an added depth of analysis.

Richfield Police also work to prevent crimes in the first place. The department is a member of the Joint Community Police Partnership (JCPP), which incorporates metro entities including Hennepin County and neighboring Bloomington. The JCPP’s goal is to foster positive relationships between police and the city’s diverse population, which includes many relative newcomers to the country.

Richfield’s participation in JCPP is augmented by the work of the Police Multicultural Advisory Committee, which is made up of community members who meet twice per month to discuss their communities’ most pressing issues.

Richfield Public Safety Department 6700 Portland Ave. 612-861-9800 7

COMMUNITY GUIDE 2014-15

Richfi eld MINNESOTA

Welcome Home

Fire department boasts quick response times The Richfield Fire Department is among the few in the state exclusively serving their communities with full-time firefighters.

Fire personnel are dispatched from two stations as they respond to medical incidents and auto accidents in addition to fire emergencies.

They do so working out of gleaming facilities. Attached to the Richfield Municipal Center, the new Station No. 1 opened alongside the facility in 2011. Across town, Fire Station No. 2, located on Penn Avenue, underwent an $800,000 renovation in 2013, giving new life to the 50-year-old facility.

As Richfield firefighters work out of their posts, they boast one of the top response times in the area at under three minutes. All Richfield firefighters are emergency medical technicians, while several department members serve on the regional search-and-rescue team, Minnesota Task Force 1. The department provides further assurance to residents and property owners with its high Insurance Services Office (ISO) Class 4 rating, which helps lower insurance premiums on property within Richfield.

In keeping those who live and work in the city safe from fire and other hazards, the Richfield Fire Department asks people to adhere to the following guidelines: – Make sure your house has large visible numbers.

– Keep fire hydrants near your home clear of snow in the winter.

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– Devise a family escape plan including a meeting place.

– Regularly test your smoke detectors and change the batteries twice per year.

– Install a carbon monoxide detector and regularly check the batteries.

– Get to know your neighbors so that you can help each other in case of emergency.

Additionally, those who have senior family members should arrange for a neighbor to have keys to their residence or have an outdoor lock box at the home with a code on file, so that firefighters don’t have to break a window to gain access to the home in case of medical emergency.

To avoid unnecessary risk, Richfield has requirements for recreational fires. Fires must be contained in a fire pit or enclosure made of non-combustible materials and be no more than three feet in diameter and two feet in height.

Recreational fires must also be at least 25 feet from any structure and burn only dried wood or charcoal.

Info: CityofRichfield.org, 612-243-4500 Richfield Fire Department No. 1 6700 Portland Ave., Richfield Richfield Fire Department No. 2 6401 Penn Ave., Richfield

COMMUNITY GUIDE 2014-15

Richfi eld MINNESOTA

Welcome Home

Historical society documents Richfield’s past Richfield’s formal history dates back to 1858, when settlers gathered for their first formal meeting. Among those first settlers was Riley Bartholomew, a former general in the Ohio Militia, who settled along with his family in 1852 on a homestead at what is now the intersection of 69th Street and Lyndale Avenue, near the shores of Wood Lake.

That house, the oldest in Richfield, still stands and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

The Bartholomew House is undergoing a transformation meant to serve the Richfield Historical Society’s mission of not only preserving the past, but learning something from it. Until 2013, the house had been simply preserved, but efforts are now underway to augment its interior with a series of interpretive exhibits outlining Richfield’s history.

Tours of the house are available, facilitated by the Richfield Historical Society, which has its offices adjacent to the house. Formed in 1967, the historical society came together with the goal of preserving the structure. Now, the historical society’s mission has broadened, as the Richfield History Museum has become venue for educational exhibits and a repository for treasured artifacts representing the city’s past.

That history is rooted in farming – the city’s name references the fertile land upon which it was founded. Richfield’s collection of farmland, largely populated by market gardens, gave way to suburban development following World War II. Prior to the war, Richfield’s population was under 10,000. By 1960, the city was home to 42,500 inhabitants.

The population growth came after annexations had already shrunk Richfield geographically – what was known as Richfield once included parts of what is now St. Louis Park, Edina, Minneapolis and the Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport. Richfield’s population peaked in 1970, at 50,000, before shrinking to the its current level of about 35,000.

Well after Richfield took its current geographic form, its demographics underwent dramatic change. The city went from a largely white, middle-class community to the more diverse population seen today. According to the 2010 U.S. Census, nearly 20 percent of the city’s population is Hispanic or Latino, as the city has become home to a large immigrant population.

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COMMUNITY GUIDE 2014-15

Richfi eld MINNESOTA

Welcome Home

Lyndale Gardens development takes shape As Richfield continues to take on a new shape through redevelopment, Lyndale Gardens is at the center of that evolution on the shore of Richfield Lake.

Planned as a commercial venue, community gathering hub and living space, Lyndale Gardens began development after the 2006 closing of Lyndale Garden Center left land vacant on the 6400 block of Lyndale Avenue.

The first element of Lyndale Gardens was established in the summer of 2013, when Lakewinds Natural Foods opened its doors. Many more features are still under development.

Further plans call for a 151-unit apartment complex and a 10,000-square-foot building to house a restaurant and retail space.

Surrounding those buildings are park-like grounds consisting of pathways, fountains and gathering spaces, plans show. Amenities also include a lakeshore concert stage that is set to be built, and an urban farm that could produce food for the planned neighboring restaurant. Those garden ingredients could also end up in the outdoor pizza oven planned for Lyndale Gardens, one of several communityminded features.

The apartment complex on the site will also serve as a

gathering space, with a community room large enough to host groups such as community education classes and luncheons for various organizations.

Although still being developed, Lyndale Gardens has already proven to be a place for people to meet. The site is the venue for Richfield’s Wednesday farmers market and hosts periodic special events.

Those gatherings include the likes of the Winter Market and Solstice Festival of Lights, established in 2012. That celebration was infused with art elements, in keeping with another emphasis at Lyndale Gardens.

Plans have called for artists’ input into numerous design elements at the site. Those efforts included the hiring of an artist organizer to help coordinate the creation of murals, paths and other elements on the grounds.

At the time of the artist coordinator hire, Colleen Carey, president of Cornerstone, the firm developing the site, called the arts “one of our most important dreams for the project, to incorporate art and artists into the design, to engage the neighborhood in creation of this space and to explore new ways that we can program the spaces to provide ongoing opportunities for art to enrich lives and build community.”

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COMMUNITY GUIDE 2014-15

Richfi eld MINNESOTA

Welcome Home

Veterans memorial honors those who served The city of Richfield dedicated the Honoring All Veterans Memorial on Memorial Day in 2013, marking the completion of a site within Veterans Memorial Park that serves as a tribute to all members of the military – past and present.

At the center of the memorial site is a statue of the late Charles “Chuck” Lindberg, the longtime Richfield resident who was among the soldiers of the Third Platoon, 28th Regiment, 5th Marine Division to famously raise the American Flag on Feb. 23, 1945, atop Iwo Jima’s Mt. Suribachi during World War II. Six pillars, one representing each branch of the military, surround the Lindberg statue and accompanying American flag, bending toward the flag to symbolize how those branches bend but don’t break.

The memorial also features a series of granite tablets engraved with the names of service members. Family and friends of service members may honor their loved ones and help pay for the memorial by commissioning engravings on the tablets.

Those names are unveiled every year during ceremonies at the memorial, which has become the city’s go-to venue for remembering veterans on occasions such as Veterans

Day, the Fourth of July and Memorial Day. As more names are added to the tablets, the memorial is expected to grow in size as new slabs are placed.

Any active, retired or deceased service member may have their name engraved at the site, no matter their era of service or status as full-time or reserve. The only requirement is that retired service members were honorably discharged.

Those seeking engravings may visit CityofRichfield.org, where they will find a digital version of an application form. Engravings cost $400 per name.

The memorial also benefits from the Sponsor a Vet Program, which offers those with financial difficulty $200 grants to apply to the engraving fees.

Names are engraved on a first come, first served basis, appearing on the tablets in the order they are received.

Aside from fundraising through engraving fees, the Honoring All Veterans Memorial also seeks donations, which can be sent to the address below: Honoring All Veterans Memorial 7000 Nicollet Ave. Richfield, MN 55423 612-861-9395 13

COMMUNITY GUIDE 2014-15

Richfi eld MINNESOTA

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COMMUNITY GUIDE 2014-15

Richfi eld MINNESOTA

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COMMUNITY GUIDE 2014-15

Richfi eld MINNESOTA

Welcome Home

450 acres of parkland offers endless fun Richfield boasts more than 450 acres of parkland spread across 23 different open spaces.

At the center of it all is Veterans Memorial Park, the site of the Richfield Outdoor Pool, the Richfield Ice Arena, the city’s largest picnic pavilion, a mini-golf course and the Honoring All Veterans Memorial.

The pool complex features a double water slide, play equipment and a wading pool to go along with the 50-meter main pool and two 25-meter lap lanes.

The neighboring ice arena has two regulation ice sheets open year-round and is home to the Minnesota Magicians, a member of the North American Hockey League. The arena is also home to the hockey programs of Richfield High School and the Academy of Holy Angels.

Aiding those programs is a 1,300-seat spectator area surrounding the main ice sheet, with 200 seats at the other sheet.

The MaltTees Mini Golf and Malt Shop occupies the park’s north side, featuring 18 holes of miniature golf in a setting that includes waterfalls, streams and gardens. Before or after a round, golfers can find snacks, ice cream and refreshments in the malt shop adjacent to the course.

Veterans Park’s most recent addition is the Honoring All 16

Veterans Memorial, the centerpiece of which is a statue of Richfield’s Charles Lindberg, one of the famed Marines who planted the flag atop Iwo Jima during World War II. About a mile to the west of Veterans Park is Richfield’s other main park attraction: Wood Lake Nature Center.

The 150-acre preserve is a venue for hiking, cross-country skiing and nature education.

Spread across Richfield, outdoor ice skating rinks offer ample opportunities to lace up the skates during winter.

Eight parks in the city host pleasure rinks, two of which have warming houses. Five of those parks also host at least one hockey rink. The rinks are open in December, January and February, weather permitting.

For warmer-weather recreation, a skate park at Augsburg Park serves as an attraction for skateboarders, inline skaters and BMX riders, with a variety of ramps and rails designed to simulate a streetscape.

For less physically active recreation, Richfield makes its park shelters and buildings available to groups for rental.

Outdoor shelters may be reserved May through September. Rooms at the Richfield Community Center, Wood Lake Nature Center and Richfield Municipal Center are also available to host gatherings year-round.

COMMUNITY GUIDE 2014-15

Richfi eld MINNESOTA

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Places to worship in Richfield Richfield is home to many houses of worship offering services on Sundays and midweek: Berea Lutheran Church, 7538 Emerson Ave., 612-8617121, BereaLutheran.org – Evening Prayer, 7 p.m. Thursdays; Worship Service, 8:30 a.m. and 10:45 a.m. Sundays Church Universal & Triumphant, 6035 Nicollet Ave., 612861-3086, – Sunday Service, 10 a.m. and 11:30 a.m.

Church of the Assumption, 612-866-5019, AssumptionRichfield.org – Word and Communion Service, 8 a.m.

Mondays and Tuesdays; Daily Mass, 8 a.m. Wednesdays, Thursdays and Fridays; Anticipatory Mass, 4 p.m. Saturdays; Sunday Mass, 9 a.m.; Sunday Mass in Spanish, 11 a.m., 1 p.m. and 6 p.m.

Crowne Pointe Church, 7121 Bloomington Ave., 612-8692500 – Sunday Worship, 10 a.m.

Faith Pentecostal Church, 7440 Penn Ave., 612-869-1671 – Sunday Worship, 11:45 a.m.; Wednesday Prayer Service, 7 p.m.

Hope Presbyterian Church, 7132 Portland Ave., 612866-4055, Hope-PC.org – Traditional Worship, 8:45 a.m.

Sundays; Connection Hour (adult and youth education), 10 a.m. Sundays; Contemporary Worship (led by worship band), 11 a.m. Sundays; The Well (experiential service led by worship band), 6 p.m. Sundays House of Prayer Lutheran Church, 7625 Chicago Ave., 612-866-8471 – Traditional Worship, 9:30 a.m. Sundays; Children’s Church, 9:30 a.m. Sundays; Alternative Worship, 11 a.m. Sundays

Mt. Calvary Lutheran Church, 612-866-5405, MtCalvaryRichfield.org – Contemporary Worship, 7 p.m. Wednesdays; Traditional Worship, 8 a.m. and 10:45 a.m. Sundays; Sunday School (September through May), 9:30 a.m. Sundays Oak Grove Lutheran Church, 7525 Oliver Ave., 612-8694917, OakGroveLutheran.org – Traditional Worship, 8:30 a.m. Sundays; Contemporary Worship, 10 a.m. Sundays Redeeming Cross Community Church, 7101 Nicollet Ave., 952-703-0222, RedeemingCross.com – Sunday Service, 10 a.m.; Youth Group, 6:30 p.m. Wednesday Richfield United Methodist Church, 5835 Lyndale Ave., 612-861-6086, RichfieldUMC.org – Sunday Worship, 9 a.m. (traditional) and 11 a.m. (progressive) Richfield Church of Christ, 7314 Humboldt Ave., 612869-2677, RichfieldCofC.com – Sunday Worship, 10 a.m.

St. Peter’s Catholic Church, 6730 Nicollet Ave., 612-8665089, StPetersRichfield.org – Regular Mass, 8 a.m. Monday through Saturday, 4:30 p.m. Saturday, 9 a.m. and 11 a.m. Sunday St. Richards Catholic Church, 612-869-2426, StRichards. org – Weekend Mass, 9 a.m. and 11 a.m. Sundays, 5 p.m.

Saturdays; Daily Mass, 12:15 p.m. Wednesdays, 8 a.m.

Thursdays and Fridays; Morning Prayer and Communion, 8 a.m. Mondays and Tuesdays Woodlake Lutheran Church, 7525 Oliver Ave., 612-8668449, WoodLakeChurch.org – Chapel Service, 5 p.m. Saturdays; Worship, 9:30 a.m. and 5 p.m. Sundays 17

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COMMUNITY GUIDE 2014-15

Richfi eld MINNESOTA

Welcome Home

4,000 students attend Richfield schools Richfield Public Schools educate more than 4,000 students across six different buildings.

Opening in 1964, Richfield High School offers a breadth of opportunities in academics, extracurriculars and athletics. Academic programs aiming to prepare students for the 21st century include the likes of the Business Technology Academy, which includes introductory computer courses as well as more focused classes such as a mobile and cloud computing class.

Meanwhile the district’s English-as-a-second language program helps students from immigrant families adjust to the American classroom. Another emphasis at RHS is the College in the Schools Program, which allows students to take college-level classes in the confines of their high school while receiving college credit.

The learning continues during non-school hours with extracurricular programs such as the Richfield Octagon Club, a literary journal called “Mindsong,” and a decorated DECA program that prepares students for the world of business and marketing.

In addition to many more extracurricular programs and activities, a host of sports options round out the opportunities at RHS. The grades 9-12 high school is fed by Richfield Middle School, which serves grades 6-8. RMS takes different steps in each of those grades to help maximize learning opportunities. Sixth-graders are split up into small teams to offer a more nurturing environment in preparation for seventh and eighth grades, which offer greater personalization and

depth as students are “looped” with the same teachers for two years.

At the elementary level, the Richfield School District is home to four schools offering unique academic paths.

Richfield STEM (Science Technology Engineering and Math) School blends general district curriculum with classes and activities designed to engage students in problem-based scenarios reflecting their world.

Another elementary building, Richfield Dual Language School, immerses students in Spanish before including English in the curriculum, an approach that made RDLS the first dual language immersion program in a metro-area suburb when it opened in 2007.

Centennial and Sheridan Hills elementary schools round out the district’s selection of learning opportunities, offering a more traditional K-5 experience.

Richfield is also home to charter schools offering an alternative to a traditional public education.

Watershed High School moved to Richfield from Minneapolis in 2013, espousing an environment of inclusion for students who might not fit with the structure and culture of traditional high schools. For younger students, Partnership Academy educates children in grades K-5, with a large portion of its student body coming from Spanish-speaking families.

Richfield Public School District 7001 Harriett Ave., Richfield 612-798-6000 19

COMMUNITY GUIDE 2014-15

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Holy Angels a local landmark since 1931 The Academy of Holy Angels has offered a Catholic high school education in Richfield since 1931, operating under the mission statement to “educate and nurture a diverse student population so that each student, as a whole person, may achieve full potential to excel intellectually, to live spiritually, to lead responsibly, to act justly, and to serve selflessly.”

In promoting those values, AHA offers students a wealth of opportunity at its campus on the corner of 66th Street and Nicollet Avenue. The college preparatory school prides itself in molding well-rounded citizens who are prepared for life and further education while remaining connected to their faith.

As it prepares students for a changing world, AHA has undergone a number of its own transformations. After operating as a female-only school, AHA converted to a co-educational model in 1972. The school upgraded its facilities with the construction of the Stardome in 1996 and a 70,000-square-foot addition in 2003 that included the Convocation Center and new classrooms.

Now, AHA is in the midst of fulfilling its “Vision 2020” plan that calls for further facility upgrades as well as efforts to increase enrollment and enhance the opportunity for students from a variety of backgrounds to enroll.

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As AHA looks to the future, the school places an emphasis on technology to bolster its core curriculum. In that aim, learners benefit from a “one to one” program that puts computing devices in the hands of each student as they prepare for success in the digital world.

Students also have a unique opportunity to take that technological focus further, offering a special STEM diploma that recognizes students for their studies in the subjects of science, technology, engineering and math.

In addition to the pursuit of 21st-century knowledge, AHA students, families and staff take pride in their focus on service.

For instance, the Student Government group conducts its school-wide Christmas Basket Drive every year, providing more than 40 families with household items, food and gifts. Efforts like that will help students fulfill a service requirement that begins in 2017.

Tuition at Holy Angels was set at $13,670 for the 201415 school year, but AHA makes financial aid a priority, awarding $1.2 million in financial aid in 2014-15.

Academy of Holy Angels 660 Nicollet Ave., Richfield 952-833-9580

COMMUNITY GUIDE 2014-15

Richfi eld MINNESOTA

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Augsburg Library offers more than books In addition to the variety of media on hand, Augsburg Park Library is open seven days a week as a community meeting place for people of all ages. For large gatherings, the building features a meeting room that can accommodate up to 60 people.

The library’s facilities enable it to host a wide range of programs. Students have access to K-12 Homework Help three days per week. They are reminded, however, that reading is not just for school. With that in mind, Augsburg Library offers the “Girls Only” and “Guys Read” book clubs, for children in grades 4-6. Further, parents of young children are invited to regular storytelling sessions at the library.

Other regular programs include Conversation Circles, which recognizes Richfield’s diverse population by offering a venue for non-native speakers to practice their English and meet new friends. For those looking for a new job, the library offers classes on creating a targeted résumé and another that puts participants through their paces during 20-minute mock interviews.

Augsburg Park Library also kept children in mind during upgrades that came in 2013, and is now home to resources such as an early-learning environment called the Smart Play Spot. The play area encourages children to have enriching fun in a space that features mock-ups of bulldozers, a bus and a farmers market, items that were in-

stalled with the spirit of the Richfield community in mind.

For older children, the library features a newly remodeled teen reading area in addition to banks of public-access computers.

Augsburg Library is also an art venue, hosting various exhibitions throughout the year, including an annual teen art contest and shows featuring individual artists.

In support of all the activities and resources, the community gathering place enjoys the support of the Friends of the Augsburg Park Library, an organization that bolsters the library through book sales, other fundraising efforts and volunteering.

Hours: Monday – 9 a.m. to 8 p.m.

Tuesday – 9 a.m. to 8 p.m.

Wednesday – 9 a.m. to 8 p.m.

Thursday – 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Friday – 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Saturday – 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Sunday – Noon to 5 p.m.

Augsburg Park Library 7100 Nicollet Ave., Richfield 612-543-6200 21

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Mainstreet Village of Richfieldâ&#x20AC;Ś a housing with services community, provide both independent senior living and assisted senior living.

Mainstreet Village offers an attractive, welcoming and vibrant community where residents can choose from a mix of housing options, services and amenities that provide them with as much or as little assistance as they need.

55+ ASSISTED & INDEPENDENT LIVING APARTMENTS For a private tour call

612-869-6584 7601 Lyndale Avenue S. Richfield, MN 55423 (Enter at 76th and Garfield)

AvinitySeniorLiving.org 22

COMMUNITY GUIDE 2014-15

Richfi eld MINNESOTA

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Wood Lake Nature Center offers refuge Situated in the heart of Richfield, Wood Lake Nature Center offers a refuge from busy urban and suburban life.

The 150-acre natural marsh area serves as both a source of recreation and education for residents of Richfield and beyond, who venture to the nature center for its trails, wildlife and interpretive center. The 4,000-square-foot interpretive center greets visitors when they enter the grounds, offering educational exhibits and venues for a variety of nature-focused classes aimed at children and adults. Those classes include the likes of The Environmental Book Club, snowshoe-making classes and children’s yoga, among many others.

For a hands-on experience with nature, visitors can venture out to the preserve’s network of trails encircling the lake. Those include crushed limestone walking trails, a floating boardwalk and groomed cross-country ski trails.

Wood Lake’s outermost trail spans a 1.8-mile loop.

Along the way, visitors may stop for a breather at features such as the prairie overlook on the lake’s northwestern corner and the kids’ nature play area on the other side of the lake. Or, visitors may break out the binoculars to take a closer look at a winged population that includes mallards, Cooper’s hawks, great blue herons and more.

That vibrant selection makes Wood Lake a popular attraction for birders.

Students in Richfield’s public elementary schools begin visiting Wood Lake early. Elementary students visit the nature center three times per year as part of their science curriculum, which is supported by proceeds from the Urban Wildland Half Marathon and 5K, which passes through Wood Lake Nature Center every August.

That partnership has existed since 1971, when Wood Lake was turned into a nature preserve after much of its water was drained in the 1950s, when it was a recreational lake surrounded by homes. Now, about 72,000 people visit the preserve each year, while the Friends of Wood Lake advocacy group works to maintain and promote the resource.

Visitors are asked to follow a set of rules meant to keep Wood Lake’s natural beauty intact. They are asked to stay on the trails and refrain from picking plants, riding bikes or bringing their pets into the grounds.

The park is open from sunrise to 11 p.m. The interpretive center is open from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Saturday, and noon to 5 p.m. Sunday.

Wood Lake Nature Center 6710 Lake Shore Drive 612-861-9365 WoodLakeNatureCenter.org 23

COMMUNITY GUIDE 2014-15

Richfi eld MINNESOTA

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Fourth of July fun at annual Richfield parade Richfield celebrates the Fourth of July each year with a series of events, including an annual parade that starts at the intersection of 70th Street and Nicollet Avenue, heading north along Nicollet before turning east on 66th Street and ending at 11th Avenue.

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COMMUNITY GUIDE 2014-15

Richfi eld MINNESOTA

Welcome Home

Having fun at Open Streets at Penn Fest Open Streets at Penn Fest is Richfieldâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s largest block party.

During the event, 62nd to 76th Streets on Penn Avenue are closed to vehicle traffic and open for walking, biking, dancing, music and more each fall.

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COMMUNITY GUIDE 2014-15

Richfi eld MINNESOTA

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MIRA supports city’s Latino population MIRA, which translated from Spanish to English means “model for information resources and support,” has helped Richfield’s large Latino population for the past 10 years.

The nonprofit organization aims to build community and empower Latino families socially, educationally and economically. It does so by providing a resource clearinghouse, located in the Central Education Center, that provides information and referrals on topics such as employment, education, housing, law, insurance and domestic abuse.

MIRA also offers a selection of classes focusing on language and life skills. The organization has English classes Mondays and Wednesdays from Noon to 2 p.m. Computer classes, covering resume writing, Internet utilization and Microsoft Office, take place Tuesdays and Thursdays from 9:30-11 a.m.

While teaching specific skills, MIRA’s classes also aim to make a broader impact in clients’ lives. For instance, its sewing classes teach students to work with textiles, but also teach students financial literacy and the skills needed to start their own business. Those classes take place from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Thursdays.

People may also take advantage of MIRA’s tax-preparation services provided in conjunction with The Family Partnership, reserved for individuals earning $30,000 per year or less and for families earning up to $50,000.

Meanwhile, a program called Kitchen Connection looks 26

to foster connections between the Latino community in Richfield and the rest of the city’s residents. Kitchen Connection does so by offering a space for meal-sharing, as people from varying backgrounds cook together, eat and converse.

Further evidence of community-building can be found in MIRA initiatives such as 2013’s computer giveaway event, when the organization teamed with the Richfield Rotary Club, Hawthorne Marketing + Media, Metro Dental Richfield and the Best Buy Foundation to dispense 50 desktop computers to Latino families in Richfield. The recipients were required to complete a computer literacy course that takes place in a MIRA computer lab also outfitted with new machines.

MIRA accomplishes its mission with support from a selection of organizations that have stepped up to help.

Those include the Richfield School District, the Richfield Foundation, the city of Richfield, the Rotary Club, House of Prayer Lutheran Church, Comcast, the Minnesota Department of Revenue and individual donors.

Those wishing to donate may call 612-243-3064 or 612798-6820.

MIRA 7145 Harriett Ave., Richfield 612-243-3064 MIRAResources.org

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