Jordan NEXT - 2022

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JORDAN TOWNBALLTAKEJORDANINDEPENDENT.COMMEOUTTOTHEBALLGAMEGREATVENUESGET YOUR WALK ON 30 MILES OF TRAILS S UM ME R 202 2 NEXT!NEXT!

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4 NEXT! | SUMMER 2022 | swnewsmedia.com Contents NEXT THING TO TRY 5 NEXT DEVELOPMENT 6 NEXT TRAIL TO TAKE 7 NEXT PLACE TO TAKE A PHOTO 8 NEXT UP IN TOWNBALL 9 NEXT EVENT 10 NEXT UP IN PICKLEBALL 11 NEXT PARK TO CHECK OUT 13 NEXT IN YOUR COMMUTE 14 Summer 2022 on the cover Cover Photo by Laurie Hartmann Jordan residents Alex Shapoval, left, and Nace Oswald at Action Packed, a new kind of paintball business south of Jordan. General Manager: Laurie Hartmann \ Editor in Chief: Mark Olson \ Editor: Gregg Aamot Editorial Content: Lydia Christianson, Jacqueline Devine, Alyssa Huglen, Eric Kraushar, Brendan O’Brien, Tom Schardin, Christine Schuster, Mark Wasson Cover Design: Carrie Rood \ Advertising: Samuel Schmitt and Erin Troxel Published by Southwest News Media. Copyright 2022-2023. Printed in the USA. For additional information or to submit corrections, call 952-445-3333 or visit www.swnewsmedia.com. 2022-2023 NEXT!

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Players can experience eight different playing fields during their time at Action Packed. THING TO TRY

BY BRENDAN O’BRIEN

Action Packed Paintball welcomes people of all ages and experience levels in the activity.

Action

Action Packed provides all the gear needed to play paintball and does not allow people to bring their own equipment. The facility includes eight outdoor playing fields for groups to enjoy. Some are fields in wooded areas like the “Jungle” or “Woodsball” while others like “Tombstone” and “Crates” involve battling in different bases. “Groups will bounce in between fields throughout the day. They might start in our crates one then move to a wooded area and a lot of times people will want to come back to the crates. It’s definitely one of our most popular ones,” Kotchman said.

used to be an activity that would leave participants with splotches on their clothes and welts on their body, but Action Packed Paintball is changing that.Located near Jordan off U.S. Highway 169, Action Packed wants to get new people interested in paintball by providing them with a low-impact game. The goal of the paintball facility is to get new people of all ages to come and enjoy a round of paintball for the day with friends, family or even coworkers and “take the pain out of paintball.”“Wearealmost like a bucketlist operation. It’s all about having your outing at the facility and we’re all geared up for new players to make it fun and fast for it to be enjoyable,” operations manager Brent Kotchman said. Years ago, players would be hit with .68 caliber paintballs, which could inflict a lot of pain on a player. Kotchman said players would sit out of games from the pain, lose interest and would not come back to play.

‘Taking

Action Packed provides all players with .50 caliber paintballs, which completely changes the playing“Withexperience.asmaller ball, it lets everyone play, but there’s a fraction of the pain from a larger ball. It translates to any person of any age because now a birthday boy or girl won’t get hit hard and want to sit out during their own party and adults are more willing to play, too,” Kotchman said.

Paintball

The company’s busiest times come on the weekends, but they also offer private reservations during the week. Mixed play is offered on weekends from 12-5 p.m. A minimum of two players in a party is required for a mixed-play reservation, and players will be matched up among others who reserved a spot. Private parties are available seven days a week with a reservation.“It’sjust fun to see other people enjoying their time playing paintball. That’s what we’re there to do is make sure everyone has a safe, fun time,” Kotchman said. Packed Paintball offers low-impact game Taking pain out ofpain out of paintball’paintball’

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PHOTOS COURTESY OF ACTION PACKED PAINTBALL

Youth birthday parties are just one of the types of groups Action Packed will host. They also see a number of bachelor or bachelorette parties as well as company outings.

The housing development is likely to include twin homes, villas and single family units, along with a park and pond space.

IMAGE COURTESY OF CITY OF JORDAN

A view looking north of the planned upgrade to the U.S. Highway 169/State Highway 282 interchange in Jordan.

The planned site of Beaumont Bluffs in Jordan.

The proposed development will offer different price points for various lifestyles and phases of people’s lives, according to Voight.Thetype of housing in the project is sorely needed, City Administrator Tom Nikunen said. Combined with other recent developments, it will help to provide a full spectrum of housing needs — from singlefamily homes to assisted living — in the city, whose population has grown by more than 1,000 people in the past decade, to about“The6,600.most important thing for us is this offers another type of housing that we drastically need as an option for professionals and single families or just people starting out,” Nikunen said. “We think that this apartment and its location is going to help this development area a lot.”

“This is a really gigantic complicated application,” Jordan Economic Specialist Barrett Voight said. “This is actually probably one of the most complicated applications I’ve ever worked on.”

New housinginterchange,onhorizon

A design of the planned Beaumont Bluffs development in Jordan.

HOUSING DEVELOPMENT These changes will benefit several new housing developments, including a 74-unit complex with 7,500 square-feet of commercial space and plans to develop 232 acres of land into 387 homes — both on the western edge of town

BY MARK WASSON Jordan will undertake several development projects over the next fewTheyears.most expansive is a $40 million construction project that will remake the busy interchange of U.S. Highway 169, state Highway 282 and County Road 9. The interchange is part of a project that seeks to remove signalized intersections along Highway 169 and build supporting roadway networks from Hennepin County to Mankato. The Highway 282 intersection in Jordan has the last signal lights until St. Peter for motorists heading south out of the metro area. Following a MnDOT design approval, community feedback and possible right of way acquisitions, construction is expected to begin in 2025 or 2026. “It’s great to have this project moving forward,” Scott County Transportation Services Director Lisa Freese said. Construction on the overpass is expected to start in 2023 with work on the Highway 59 interchange expected to start in 2024. Mayor Mike Franklin said that while the interchange project is about safety, economic efficiency and creating a smoother corridor for commercial transportation, it’s also about economic growth. “That highway corridor is our primary area where we can expect to reasonably grow and add businesses and we’re not going to get that growth without figuring out this intersection first,” Franklin said. “So it’s in our interest to figure it out and if it can be done safely and in a way that accommodates our existing businesses and serves our existing businesses then I think we should all be excited about it.”

Plans that McGlynn Partners submitted to the council late last year included rental costs at $995 for a studio to $2,427 for a three-bedroom apartment, though unit rental prices have not been finalized.

IMAGE COURTESY OF CITY OF JORDAN

PHOTO BY MARK WASSON

Ne w d e ve l opm e n t sew developments t too J or d a Jordannc o m i n comingg

NEXT DEVELOPMENT

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City Engineer Mike Waltman said the park and trail system is a priority for the city.

One of Jordan’s park gems is Grassmann Park, which features workout equipment from Ninja Warrior that allows residents a different option for working out besides weights in a gym. That park features a trail loop with mile markers so people know how far they’ve traveled. “I love the opportunity to make improvements for priorities that the locals have here and trying to help people get out and be a little more active and just enjoy the outdoors more,” Waltman said.

Waltman said he finds it rewarding to help make a community a better place for families and to have safe facilities, something the trails and park system in Jordan provides.

a Jordannhasoverhasovermilesofwalkwa y smiles of walkways3030 NEXT TRAIL TO TAKE

BBY MAARKRKR J or

PHOTOS BY MARK WASSON Minnesota Valley Trail south of Jordan. Sand Creek River waterfall next to Lagoon Park in Jordan.

Most of the trails in Jordan are paved, like the walkways near Lagoon Park, which feature a waterfall along Sand Creek, but the city would like to add to its woodchip trails.

“There’s a lot of work to think about how to improve the trail network,” he said, “where we can make connections and particularly in the context of the community as new developments come in, trying to make sure that the people have recreational opportunities that loop throughout the whole community and to keep everyone connected.” At this point, the city plans to close the gaps and connect all of its trails and walkways. There’s a project slated for 2023 at the intersection of County Road 66 and Highway 21 that will connect trails and sidewalks that already exist, according to Waltman, who said the northeast and northwest corners of the intersection will get new trails, including one along Highway 21. Waltman said the city envisions a loop in partnership with St. Lawrence Township that would extend to the Scott County fairgrounds to Delaware Avenue and back to Highway 66, where much of the residential growth in Jordan is taking place.

BY MARK WASSON

Jordan boasts more than 30 miles of trails and sidewalks that connect most of the city’s 13 parks — and more are on the way.

“There’s a lot of benefits to a trail network, even beyond the recreational aspects in that area,” he said. “It’s just another transportation method people

Grassmann Park in Jordan features an American Ninja Warrior challenge course. d

“Since 2013, the local sidewalk and trail network has had over $1 million invested in it,” he said. “Over half of that investment has been made by the city of Jordan, with other investment coming from partnerships the city’s facilitated investment from developers and (the Minnesota Department of Transportation).”

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Carasim Coffee is not the only location around Jordan where Sharikov enjoys taking photos. During the summer, especially, he has found the bridge leading into Lagoon Park to be a great location. Sharikov hopes other photographers continue to make their way around the city to discover their own favorite spots.

“Ask yourself, ‘What do I want to shoot?’ and then make the decision accordingly,” Sharikov said. With summer approaching, the white walls of the coffee shop are perfect for rising seniors at local high schools as well as newly engaged couples excited to commemorate their next phase in life, according to Sharikov. It can even be a great place for aspiring photographers to get some practice. Before people go out and begin taking photos, Sharikov recommends people understand a few basics and allow those rules to help become more creative.

NEXT PLACE TO TAKE A PHOTO

“Beauty is in the eye of the beholder,” he said. “Jordan is a very adorable town that shines in different ways with each and every season. Go explore and don’t stop creating beautiful art in our city.”

The white walls of Carasim Coffee offer opportunity

“Look with your lens and not your eyes. Understand that a picture needs to tell a story within the boundaries of your lens. Create your story and tell it proudly with the images you create,” he said.

BY BRENDAN O’BRIEN

On hiatus from medical school, Sharikov serves people around various Twin Cities communities with his business, “Steffen Studios,” which is located on Second Street in Jordan. While he has been around the metro for different projects, Sharikov appreciates plenty of locations for photos in Jordan, especially one building in particular on Broadway street. “I use the white wall of Carasim Coffee for anything from engagements to senior portraits,” he said. “I love the unique buildings and aesthetics in CarasimJordan.”Coffee is one of the locations Sharikov uses in his own work. He has clients around the area and offers couples or family photos as well as senior portraits. He also has experience in editorial and fashion photography and music and wedding videography. He recommends that other photographers give it a try, too, no matter their experience level. He said cameras made by companies like Canon or Nikon each have different qualities that set them apart from others, but smart phones with cameras work just as well for self-use and photos on social media.

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The Carasim Coffee walls are great for photos in the summer with yourwith your ‘Look‘Look Lens’Lens’

a great

for different portraits.

PHOTO BY BRENDAN O’BRIEN

Steffen Sharikov believes photography is something everyone can enjoy, no matter what experience a person might have.

A

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POPPITZ FIELD “The changes made by the late Mike Poppitz were instrumental in the improved playing field and surrounding environment at the facility,” Beckman said of Poppitz Field in Victoria. “The surface has been immensely improved in the last decade, and the wooden fence and scoreboard are on par with their competitorBeckmanfields.”likeshow standing down the lines in right and left field puts you near the“It’saction.agreat way to view a game at Poppitz,” he said.

MINI MET “Many ballparks are proud of their unique characteristics, as they should be,” Beckman said. “The Jordan baseball park just seems to have many of them.” Beckman said as you drive into the park along the left field fence, you can see the viewing area that fans enjoy. The field sits below “like a stage.”

River

BY TOM SCHARDIN s president of the River Valley League, Ron Beckman has seen many town ball games at a lot of different parks.There are 16 teams in the RVL, including the Chaska Cubs, the Chanhassen Red Birds, the Prior Lake Jays and Mudcats, the Jordan Brewers, Shakopee Indians and Coyotes and the Victoria Vics. And those teams facilities are all top-notch.TheMinnesota Baseball Association has 265 teams from Class A, B and C, so business seems to be booming, while the ballparks are bustling.“TheRVL is fortunate to have so many beautiful local ballparks that are all worth seeing a game at during the summer,” Beckman said.

FILE PHOTO

There’s the wooden grandstand that dates back multiple decades and actual dugouts that players step down into. Beckman loves the church steeple and clock in the distance over the right field fence, the manual scoreboard, the bluff of trees beyond the first base foul line and the train tracks that are parallel to the drive into the“Thepark.train looks to be riding on top of the left field fence from certain angles,” Beckman said. “This park is worth a visit whether your are a baseball fan or not.”

Beckman said Athletic Park in Chaska consistently draws large crowns and it’s easy to see“Theywhy. put a good product on the field,” Beckman said. “They have a wonderful surface to play on, and the fans hover over the field down both foul lines and in the grandstand to create a lot of energy for players to play in front of.”

Plenty of pristine, historic local ballparks Valley League is home to some of the best venues UP IN TOWNBALL

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Athletic Park, while Chanhassen, winners of the last four Class B state titles, is home to Storm/ Red Bird Stadium and Victoria plays at Poppitz Field. Beckman said all six of these parks are unique in their own way. Here’s his take on each of them:

JOE SCHLEPER STADIUM

Beckman enjoys the many viewing experiences at Joe Schleper Stadium in Shakopee. including the decks down both foul lines and the deck near the backstop on the first base side that’s shielded by netting. Behind home plate is the large stadium seated grandstand.“They have a giant press box that has been home to some great announcing over the years by legendary announcer Dick Jonckowski and Bill Schleper,” Beckman said.

VETERANS FIELD

ATHLETIC PARK

The finished concrete areas surround Veterans Field in Prior Lake. There’s quality seating down the right field line where spectators can watch the game from lawn chairs.“They typically have one of the more enthusiastic announcers at their games as well,” Beckman said.

Beckman believes the grandstand at Storm/Red Bird Stadium in Chanhassen is one of the more impressive viewing spots“Thearound.grandstand is beautiful and gives an elevated view for fans to see the action,” he said. “They have spacious dugouts. There is almost a minor league feel to the grandstand that matches their extremely talented team.”

The Mini Met is home to the Jordan Brewers. The park is located near the train tracks that run through downtown Jordan, and if you’re there in the evening, you’ll hear the 6 o’clock train horn as it runs through town.

Jordan has the Mini Met, while Prior Lake is home to Veterans Field at Memorial Park and Shakopee plays at Joe SchleperChaskaStadium.hashistoric

STORM/RED BIRD STADIUM

Jordan Mini Met FILE PHOTO

The new backstop is planned this fall once teams are done playing games for the season. The patio deck should be put in by the time high school state tournament games are played at the Mini Met next spring, according to Chalupsky. For Chalupsky, the field is a big part of who he is.

IMAGE COURTESY OF JASON CHALUPSKY

The board that operates the so-called “Mini Met” is planning to make several upgrades to the iconic baseball park in Jordan in anticipation of the 2024 Amateur Baseball Tournament. A fundraising campaign that will pay for the improvements will add a new fan experience at the historic stadium, Mini Met Board President Jason Chalupsky said. The City of Jordan has provided $100,000 for the improvements and a silent donor has put $150,000 toward the $400,000“Fromproject.acommunity standpoint, this thing has been around for ages and is one of the, if not the, highlight of this town that most people talk about outside of the town,” Chalupsky said. Official fundraising began the week of April 18 and the board hopes to meet its goal by August in order to install a new LED lighting system by winter. The improvements are planned for the right side of the field. Along with new lighting, the board plans to put in a three-level terraced seating deck, new fencing, an elevated party deck, a new concrete backstop wall and a new netting system, as well as make press box improvements. The backstop will be torn down and redone with new poles and a concrete kneehigh wall. The press box will receive more of a facelift, as opposed to any structural changes, and seating will be placed in an empty spot along the right side field line. “The big one will be the party deck right behind the first base dugout,” said Chalupsky, speaking of the upgrades. The deck will provide fans a place to “have a beer and watch baseball right on top of the field,” he said.

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Mini MetBig plans forBig plans for NEXT EVENT BY MARK WASSON

“It’s like a church to me. It’s like my daily sacrificial place that I can go and just be at home and be at peace,” he said.

Illustrations of planned improvements at the Mini Met in Jordan.

MEGA PICKLE & PONG Mega Pickle & Pong, an indoor pickleball and ping pong club, opened its doors March 1 and is going strong. The club, located at 2929 Water Tower Place in Chanhassen, includes six indoor pickleball courts and nine ping pong tables. Rick Gray, owner of Mega Pickle & Pong, said the surrounding communities have been extremely supportive of the new “They’vebusiness.really come together and build up a lot of our business and it’s about them getting all their friends together. They’ve been extremely passionate about pickleball,” said Gray. “It’s so fun to see the big smiles on their faces when they come in and we have a large portion of our visitors come in three to five times a week which has beenGraywonderful.”saidtheidea to build an indoor pickleball and ping pong club started as a passion project that has since evolved into a thriving business. “It was really a passion project. My business partner and I were big table tennis fans and it kind of started as we love to play table tennis so let’s open up a little ping pong club,” said Gray. “My mother-in-law introduced me to pickleball and I immediately thought this is so fun and saw there wasn’t really much in dedicated indoor sports with an outdoor surface that everyone was looking for.” Gray also said that the new business has extended what it currently offers. “We have been extending what we offer as far as different play for different skill levels. We now have three instructors that teach classes all the way from beginner to advanced. We also have multiple tournaments going on over the summer and 100% of those fees go to charities. So, we’re really trying to give back to the community,” said Gray. “In addition to that, we are looking to be the largest pickleball retailer in Minnesota. We have a substantially sized pro shop where you can come in and we carry a demo of every single paddle that we that you can try.” Pickleball players can reserve a court online ahead of time by using the app CourtReserve. The club also offers open play time, when participants can show up and play with others. Ping pong is open play only. To play ping pong, it costs $5. Open play pickleball costs $8 and it costs $25 to reserve a court by the hour. Mega Pickle & Pong is open 9 a.m. to 9:30 p.m., Monday through Saturday and 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Sundays. Those interested in learning more can visit megapickleandpong.com.

BY JACQUELINE DEVINE

There’s

PICKLEBALL AND RIDE In Chaska, residents can play pickleball in a unique setting at the top of a SouthWest Transit parking ramp. The courts are located at East Creek Transit Station, on the southwest corner of highways 41 and 212. The courts evolved as part of an agreement between the city and SouthWest Transit. According to previous reports, the idea to create pickleball courts on top of the parking ramp came during the COVID-19 pandemic. A portion of the ramp was not being utilized so SouthWest Transit partnered with the City of Chaska to create much needed pickleball courts in the community. Zac Johnson, recreation supervisor for the city of Chaska, said if the courts become popular, there is a possibility for pickleball programs in the future. “At this time we haven’t planned anything new at the courts. For now, the courts will offer open play,” said Johnson. “Depending on the number of players utilizing the courts and the popularity, we could look to start some programming there in the future. This will be the first summer where the courts will be available through the summer and the fall — weather permitting. We’re hoping for a great turnout at the courts.” The lighted courts are available from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m., with access to restrooms. Parking is free and available a short distance from the courts. Equipment is stored at the site. The city is handling any necessary scheduling. There are no fees.

Southern metro embraces sport

NEXT UP IN PICKLEBALL Pickleball popularity soars

FILE PHOTO

Pickleball players gathered at Lakefront Park in Prior Lake.

a sport that’s exploding in the southwest metro. If you haven’t heard about pickleball by now, it won’t be long before a friend recruits you to play a Enthusiastsgame. say the sport is popular for its fun, social and friendly nature. Plus the fact that it’s good exercise doesn’t hurtPickleballeither. is a racket or paddle sport that was created by combining elements of several other racket sports. Two or four players use solid paddles to hit a perforated polymer ball over a net. The ball is much like a wiffleball. A pickleball court is similar to badminton, with a net similar to tennis, and the paddles are similar to those in table tennis. According to the official pickleball website, pickleball was invented in 1965 on Bainbridge Island, a short ferry ride from Seattle, Washington. Three dads — Joel Pritchard, Bill Bell, and Barney McCallum — whose kids were bored with their usual summertime activities — are credited for creating the Pickleballgame.hasevolved from original handmade equipment and simple rules into a popular sport throughout the U.S. and Canada. The game is growing internationally as well, with many European and Asian countries adding courts. Over the years, the sport spread like wildfire and became popular in community centers, public parks, YMCA facilities, retirement homes and the southern Twin Cities metro where it’s home to several pickleball courts and clubs.

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parks running unique youth and family activities this summer NEXT PARK TO CHECK OUT

PHOTO COURTESY OF CARVER COUNTY PARKS

Parks in Carver and Scott counties are putting together unique activities and camps for children and their families this summer. Events range from immersive, historical summer camps at The Landing in Minnesota River Heritage Park to family mud runs at Lake Minnewashta Regional Park. Micah Ostergard, recreation and volunteer specialist for Carver County Parks, said putting on activities like these highlights recreational opportunities in an outdoor setting. “I think it’s important that we are supplying opportunities for people to outdoor recreation for their own health, to be connected to the world around us and not get insulated indoors all the time,” he said.

Serving up some outdoor fun

PHOTOCOURTESYOFCARVER COUNTYPARKS

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Murray said kids attending the BioBlitz day will participate in multiple activities that center around the environment of the Minnesota River and how it impacts the land. The schoolhouse also has historical ties in town, as the building once served as a oneroom school located in downtown Shakopee for St. John’s LutheranBeyondChurch.Builda Camp, The Landing has other programs and activities that can appeal to people of different ages and interests. Murray said this includes learning about oldfashioned chores and taking adult-themed bike rides that teach guests about the making of bricks and beer in the Minnesota Valley. “We have some unique experiences talking about Scott County history … so there’s experiences for all the family — from the young ones all the way up,” he said.

“Our focus is on this outdoor recreation like canoeing, kayaking, paddleboarding, archery, fishing — things that are maybe less often offered by cities or school districts,” Ostergard said. “Carver County Parks is offering so much more than people realize … we’ve got something for everyone.”

Carver, Scott County

THE LANDING In Scott County, The Landing in Minnesota River Heritage Park is putting on another year of its “Build a Camp” summer camp. The camp takes place on location at The Landing, 2187 County Road 101 in Shakopee.Builda Camp is a three-day camp that is put on in June, July and August. Families can choose for their children to attend one, two or all three days in their respective round of Build a Camp. This year’s camp consists of three themes: “BioBlitz,” “Oneroom Schoolhouse” and “Day on the BioBlitzFarm.”centers around teaching kids all about different plant and animal species living in their community. Oneroom Schoolhouse gives kids the experience of learning in a traditional schoolhouse and participating in lessons from around 150 years ago. Kids will get to use a slate board and participate in recess games and with toys dating back to the 19thThecentury.final day, Day on the Farm, allows kids to meet some farm animals, work in the gardens and try out traditional farmThreechores.Rivers Park District historic interpreter Mike Murray said the Build a Camp activities offer a unique, immersive experience for kids to learn about life in the 19th century.

BY ALYSSA HUGLEN

Se r v i n g u p so m e o u t d oor f u n

The mud run has features that can appeal to family members of all ages.

“It’s a lot more fun to learn about history or some of the aspects that we teach at our camps than having to read about it in a book,” he said. “It makes history more real, and you get a better connection with people in the past.” Build a Camp also heavily focuses on appreciating the history specific to Scott County.

MUD RUN One standout event this summer is the Minnewashta Mud Run. The mud run takes place from 8 a.m.-noon Saturday, July 9, at Lake Minnewashta Regional Park, 6900 Hazeltine Boulevard in brought2020Run.oncethementsrangedsaidfreshbalesmaze,”includes1.7-milelometerParticipantsChanhassen.runona5.4-ki-course,goingaroundalooptwice.Thecourseobstacleslikea“crazylimbo,waterslideandhaytoclimb.Tokeeptheeventandexciting,Ostergardthecoursehasbeenrear-alittlebitwithenhance-toexistingobstacles.ThisistheninthyearofMinnewashtaMudRun,knownastheTonkaMudTherunwascanceledinduetothepandemicandbackin2021.

While many mud runs tend to be tailored to adults, the Minnewashta Mud Run has made the event accessible to all. Children are welcome to participate in the run, and a quarter-mile mini-mud run takes place right before the full-length run for youngerAccordingkids. to Ostergard, this extra feature in the mud run is part of Carver County Park’s work in offering activities engaging for families and people of all ages. “We wanted to be able to have an activity that doesn’t separate the family … something the whole family can participate in,” he said. In recent years, Ostergard said the mud run has seen around 300-350 participants. This year, he is hoping for numbers to reach closer to 500 participants.Onabroader scale, he added that this event is just one of many that can appeal to residents wanting to get outside this summer and take advantage of the local parks and trails.

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Scott County travelers are facing thisroadslow-downsmultipleduringimprovementssummer.

hitsConstructiontheroad

PHOTO BY MARK W. OLSON Cars travel along Highway 13 in Savage. The road is down to one lane in each direction for construction of an interchange.

BY MARK WASSON

“Some of these projects, especially in Scott County, have some safety improvements.” Also during this time period, motorists should expect road closures and detours between Highway 19 and Highway 282 for a resurfacing project and the construction of left turn lanes and paved shoulders; as well as at Highway 13 and County Road 8 for the construction of a roundabout. Both of these projects will cost over $12 million total. Years of planning goes into many projects to figure out what needs to be done and what funding will be needed, KleinShouldersaid. and possible lane closures will take place August through October on Highway 169 and 166th Street in Sand Creek Township to extend a frontage road from Berkshire Lane to Bluff Drive and to construct an acceleration lane on Highway 169 to Bluff Drive. “Safety is always the No. 1 priority when you’re driving on the road at anytime because traffic conditions can change, whether it starts to rain and traffic slows down in front of you or if there’s construction on the road,” Klein said. “We want you to come as well as we want all of our construction people to be able to go home as well. So follow those signs, pay attention, make sure you don’t have other distractions in your car with you while you’re driving through those construction zones,” KleinForstated.upto date road conditions, travelers can check 511mn.org.

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Projects ramp up

The biggest disruption is between exits 901B and Quentin Avenue on Highway 13 in Savage as construction of an interchange takes place through November, according to the Minnesota Department of Transportation.At$33million, the interchange aims to improve safety, reduce congestion and create better access to the city’s bustling shipping ports on the Minnesota River. The highway is one lane in either direction during the first phase of construction.“Wealways like to maintain the road,” said Kirsten Klein, a spokeswoman for MnDOT.

D Fongs Chinese Cuisine 4321 Egan Dr., Savage (952) www.dfongs.com894-0800

Canterbury Park 1100 Canterbury Rd., Shakopee (952) www.canterburypark.com445-7223

Anchor Iron Company 12358 Boone Ave., Savage (952) www.anchoriron.com445-3030

Michael King Orthodontics 2687 W. 78th St., Chanhassen (952) www.michaelkingortho.com470-2627

Lunds & Byerlys / Prior Lake 16731 State Hwy. 13, Prior Lake (952) www.lundsandbyerlys.com440-3900

Morgan Family Dental 16670 Franklin Trail SE, Prior Lake (952) www.mypriorlakedentist.com447-4611

BUSINESS DIRECTORY

Haugen Insurance & Financial Solutions

Edina Realty/Prior Lake - Savage 14198 Commerce Ave. NE, Prior Lake (952) www.edinarealty.com/office/prior-lakesavage447-4700

Edina Realty / Shakopee 4121 Dean Lake Blvd., Shakopee (952) www.edinarealty.com/office/shakopee445-6400

Premiere Dance Academy 4616 Colorado St. SE, Prior Lake (952) www.premieredanceacademy.com447-5788

RETAIL Cal’s Market & Garden Center 6403 Egan Dr., Savage (952) www.calsmarket.com447-5215

SCHOOLS / EDUCATION

Chaska Parks & Recreation 1661 Park Ridge Dr., Chaska (952) www.chaskamn.com448-5633

Saint Michael Catholic School 16280 Duluth Ave. SE, Prior Lake (952) www.saintmpl.org447-2124 Shakopee Public Schools 917 Dakota St. S., Shakopee (952) www.shakopee.k12.mn.us496-5862

MEDICAL / DENTAL

Lakeview Clinic / Chaska 110105 Pioneer Tr., Chaska (952) www.lakeviewclinic.com556-0120

Mandinec Group Landscaping, Inc Prior Lake (952) www.mandinecgroup.com226-1813 Mediacom Communications 1670 Lake Dr. W., Chanhassen (855) www.mediacomcable.com633-4226

INSURANCE / FINANCIAL

FOOD & DRINK

PERSONAL SERVICES CBeauty Salon 16154 Main Ave. SE, Prior Lake (952) www.cbeautyalon.com440-1010

ENTERTAINMENT

14093 Commerce Ave. NE, Prior Lake (952) www.haugensolutions.com440-8200

Insurance Brokers / Jordan 223 First St. E., #100, Jordan (952) www.ibjordan.com492-2300

Edina Realty / Chad & Sara Huebener 14198 Commerce Ave. NE, Prior Lake (952) huebener-realtorwww.edinarealty.com/chad-and-sara-212-3597

REAL ESTATE Edina Realty / Chanhassen 2655 W. 78th St., Chanhassen (952) www.edinarealty.com/office/chanhassen934-5000

WORSHIP Friendship Church 17741 Fairlawn Ave., Prior Lake (952) www.friendshipmn.org447-8282

American Legion / Chanhassen 290 Lake Dr. E., Chanhassen (952) www.alpost580-chanhassenmn.org934-6677

Friendship Church 12800 Marystown Road, Shakopee (952) www.friendshipmn.org447-8282

Haferman Water 12142 12th Ave. S., Burnsville (952) www.hafermanwater.com894-4040

Parish Of Saints Joachim And Anne 2700 17th Ave. E., Shakopee (952) www.ssjacs.org445-1319

HOME IMPROVEMENT/SERVICES

Saint Michael Catholic Church 16400 Duluth Ave. SE, Prior Lake (952) www.stmichael-pl.org447-2491

DerekNelson&BethHajekNelson 952-492-2300 www.ibjordan.com InsuranceBrokersofMN,Inc. DowntownJordan DerekNelson&BethHajekNelson 952-492-2300 www.ibjordan.com InsuranceBrokersofMN,Inc. DowntownJordan

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