DNR sessions on Upper Sioux Agency State Park/outdoor recreation in the Minnesota River Valley

The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources invites the public to upcoming sessions to learn about recent legislation to transfer Upper Sioux Agency State Park lands to the Upper Sioux Community and share their feedback on outdoor recreation opportunities in the Minnesota River Valley in western Minnesota. Two sessions will be held at the Kilowatt Community Center, 600 Kilowatt Drive, Granite Falls, MN 56241, on Thursday, June 29. One session will be held from 2-4 p.m. and one from 5:30-7:30 p.m.

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Each engagement session will begin with information about legislation enacted this year regarding the transfer of Upper Sioux Agency State Park (USASP) lands to the Upper Sioux Community. A critical component of this process will be to enhance and/or create new outdoor recreational opportunities in the Minnesota River Valley, so the engagement sessions will focus on gathering ideas from attendees for achieving this outcome. The DNR under-

stands the importance of outdoor recreation in this region and will use this feedback to help guide next steps.

Representatives from the DNR will be on hand to provide information, answer questions and listen to feedback.

To learn more about the land transfer process and efforts to enhance outdoor recreation in the Minnesota River Valley, visit the DNR website (mndnr.gov/usasp-transfer).

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HENNEPIN COUNTY

News: Go Outside with Hennepin County: outdoor movies, music and more. Go Outside with Hennepin County outdoor movies, music and more. Currently in progress at Government Center Target Field Station summer lineup of events. Go Outside with Hennepin County for no-cost fun all week long! Outdoor movie nights. Enjoy the fresh air and a movie on the big screen.

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• Select Thursdays at 7 p.m.:   

  • June 8: Little Shop of Horrors

  • June 29: Space Jam

  • July 6: Puss In Boots: The Last Wish

  • July 20: Legally Blonde

  • August 3: Black Panther: Wakanda Forever

  • August 17: Encanto

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• ​Outdoor fitness classes. Take your workout outside this summer with free fitness and yoga classes. 

  • Fitness classes with Alchemy 365: 6 p.m. July 11, and Aug. 1

  • Yoga with Erika Lee: 6 p.m. June 26, July 27, Aug. 21

  • Family Fun Day

  • Bring the whole family to enjoy family-friendly games, activities, and giveaways. 

  • Saturday, August 19, 11 a.m. – 1 p.m. 

  • August 31: Top Gun: Maverick

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Contact: Nicole Leon, Communications, 612-543-4325. Hennepin County <hennepin@public.govdelivery.com>​

mplsdowntown.com/gooutside

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MINNETONKA

Natural Resources 101, June 2023. A student volunteer shares her experience with the Natural Resources division

Natural Resources 101. This month, we’ve invited a guest writer to share their experience with Minnetonka Natural Resources. Meet Sarah Johnsen, a graduating senior from Minnetonka High School. This fall, she’ll go on to study environmental science at the University of Vermont.

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Hi! I’ve always been interested in the environment, so last summer I volunteered at city buckthorn busts and learned about bluebird monitoring. I wanted to continue my relationship with the city into the school year, so I started the Minnetonka Natural Resources Club (MNR) at [Minnetonka] high school. Throughout the year we worked with NR (Natural Resources) staff on all kinds of projects.

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As part of my school’s Capstone program, I chose to spend the last two weeks of school with Minnetonka’s Natural Resources staff. It was a ton of fun! I learned a lot about our city and the things NR does to promote healthy and diverse natural systems.

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Here's what I learned!

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Did you know that Minnetonka has one of the largest natural resource teams of any city in Minnesota? That includes nine full-time staff experts and seasonal staff who work in these areas:

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• Forestry – The forestry team is in charge of all things trees. They remove risk trees (in danger of falling onto streets or public spaces), meet with residents with tree concerns, and manage diseases and pests such as emerald ash borer, oak wilt and Dutch elm disease. After spending time with them I have a new appreciation for every tree I see!

• Habitat restoration – This part of natural resources focuses on removing invasive species to return plant diversity that supports lots of pollinators and wildlife. This is a HUGE effort! You can help our community by volunteering and by adding diversity in your own yard.

• Water and wetlands – Wetlands are far more important than you might think. They filter and absorb stormwater runoff, capture a lot of carbon, and support all kinds of wildlife and plants. Minnetonka has more than 800 wetlands and I was wowed by how strongly they are protected.

• Development and compliance – Oh my goodness, development is crazy! There are so many layers of ordinances and inspections for each project. I thought it was super interesting how the city navigates different community goals for land use.

• Policy and planning – These staff anticipate and strategize for the future needs of the community and the natural environment. I was impressed by the amount of assesments and community meetings they have to ensure the best outcome for each project.

• Community engagement – This is probably my favorite area of NR’s work. It focuses on bringing awareness and excitement to residents about how they can make a difference. This has been our focus in the Minnetonka Natural Resources Club, which will continue next year with new student leaders!

 

I’ll keep my enthusiasm for natural resources going into my college journey, and I hope you learned a little more about what the NR team does for our community! Check out my project site if you’d like to know more about my capstone experience! To learn more about Minnetonka Natural Resources, visit their webpage.

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Volunteer with us! Visit our website to find upcoming events in June, and anytime through the year. Natural Resources at the Farmers Market, Tuesday, June 13, 3-7 p.m.

 

Come with your tree questions and Ask an Arborist! The new Farmers Market location is Ridgedale Commons (12590 Ridgedale Drive). Planting for Pollinators workshop, Tuesday, July 11, 6:30 - 8 p.m. at Ridgedale Library. Are you ready to add diversity and resilience to your home landscape? Join Minnetonka Natural Resources staff to learn about pollinators and their habitat needs, how to choose and install native and resilient plants, and more. Advance registration required.

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ST. LOUIS PARK

Skateapalooza. Wednesday, July 12, 5-8 p.m., Carpenter Park, 4900 Hwy. 7. Professional skaters from 3rd Lair will be handing out free skate items, showing off their skills and offering free skate lessons! There will be food vendors, giveaways and a festive atmosphere. The event is for all ages. Free, no registration required

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