HomeMy WebLinkAboutEditionEdinaJune2021Edition: Edina
JUNE 2021
Volume 8, Issue 6Strong FoundationCITY GOALS:Better TogetherReliable Service Livable City
EDINA COVID-19 RESOURCE HOTLINE 952-826-0370
City of Edina EdinaMN.gov 1
Retiring Police Chief Made a Difference for 32 Years
Dave Nelson Rose Through Ranks from Patrol Officer to Chief
BY DEBBIE TOWNSEND
Edina Police Chief Dave Nelson still wears
his police uniform to work every day. He
takes time to personally answer emails
from residents. Even on the most difficult
days, Nelson has a smile.
After more than 32 years in law
enforcement, with the last 7 as Edina’s
Police Chief, Nelson will hang up his
uniform for good June 4. He had planned
to retire earlier, but put that on hold for
the coronavirus pandemic and civil unrest
of the last year.
“There was no way I was going to walk
out on people in the middle of that,”
Nelson said.
That’s classic Nelson. “He truly cares to do
right by the patrol officers, the community
and the City staff,” said Deputy Police
Chief Jeff Elasky.
Nelson’s caring and calm demeanor
have been the hallmarks of his career.
While he started as an Anoka County
Sheriff’s Deputy, he found a home in the
supportive Edina Police Department and
community when he started as a Patrol
Officer in 1991.
“Six months into the job, I knew this is
where I would be retiring from,” Nelson
said.
He was Edina’s first School Resource
Officer, specialized in fraud and forgery
cases as a detective, and rose through
the ranks as Sergeant, Lieutenant, Deputy
Police Chief and then succeeding Jeff Long
as Police Chief.
“Dave has so many qualities that I consider
similar or better than I have,” said Long,
who is now Lakeville’s Police Chief. “He
also has the right demeanor. Contentious
things come up in policing, and it’s easy to
allow your stress level to show. Dave does
a good job keeping calm, and he sets the
tone for everyone else.”
“He is somebody who takes that public
service role personally,” said City Manager
Scott Neal, who noted Nelson’s leadership
has been “invaluable.”
Over his career, Nelson has changed his
share of residents’ flat tires or settled
disputes, but he got into policing to do
more than just help people. He wanted
to make an impact on their lives. He can
still tick off the names of teens he helped
decades ago. There was the defiant,
persistent runaway who one day broke
down in tears because Nelson was the
only person in her life who told her he
cared about her. Or the man just out of
prison who made one of his first stops
a visit to the Edina Police Department
to thank Nelson for the countless talks
they had when he was a teen and how
he wished he’d heeded the advice and
guidance. Or even a few weeks ago, when
a young officer came in to thank him for
his leadership and investing in him.
“That’s what really drives me in my career,
and has driven me for 32-plus years. It’s so
rewarding,” Nelson said.
Those relationships, and making that daily
impact, is what he’ll miss most, along with
the community support he’s felt since
those early days in patrol.
“I’ve enjoyed my job the whole time I’ve
been here,” Nelson said.
Those who know him say he’ll still be
making an impact on people, even as he
spends more time at his cabin and builds
much of his own new home. He’ll be the
first guy to show up when someone needs
help with a home improvement project
(“he’s very good with a saw and hammer,”
Elasky said). He’ll be a friendly ear on
fishing trips or the golf course. And he’ll
have more time for family since he won’t
be working on a laptop or answering
phone calls every weekend from the cabin.
“We’re going to miss him,” Elasky said.
“The whole community will miss him.”
A search is underway to fill the position.
Elasky will serve as Interim Police Chief.
After more than 32 years with the City of Edina,
Police Chief Dave Nelson will retire June 4. (Photo by
Dan Reisig)
2
BY THE NUMBERS
Centennial Lakes Park
Amenities
Miles of walking path
1.4
12
– COMPILED BY KAITLIN GAULT
6 Pieces of public art
30 Farmers Market vendors
92 Summer movies and concerts
in the park planned for 2021
1,662 feet Length of putting
course
1,870 Fish stocked in Centennial
Lake since 2011
Paddle boats available to rent
City Announces New Centennial Lakes Park General Manager
A Familiar Face Will Lead Operations Starting June 14
BY KAITLIN GAULT
A new General Manager has been
selected to oversee operations of the
scenic community oasis Centennial Lakes
Park, 7499 France Ave S. Tiffany Bushland
will be in charge of the 24-acre park
with popular amenities like paddle boats,
fishing, putting courses and 10 acres of ice
skating in the winter. Her first day on the
job will be Monday, June 14.
Bushland will fill big shoes, replacing
longtime General Manager Tom Shirley,
who retired in April. As General Manager,
Bushland will be responsible for the entire
park, including operations, maintenance,
concessions, customer service, sales,
special events, staffing and marketing.
“Tiffany stood out in a very competitive
pool of applicants for the position,”
said Tracy Petersen, Assistant Director –
Recreation & Facilities. “Her past career of
working with facilities and her current role
within the City brings not only experience,
but a commitment to new ideas, a high
drive to succeed and a passion to continue
to improve our facilities in Edina.”
A New Ulm, Minnesota, native, Bushland
grew up with a very active family, playing
hockey, softball and volleyball. She initially
thought she would become a teacher, but
quickly realized her love for staying active
and helping others do the same.
Bushland earned bachelor’s and master’s
degrees in Kinesiology from the University
of Minnesota. She got her start in the
recreation field in 2010 as a University
of Minnesota Intramural Sports Program
Assistant, overseeing more than 13,000
student participants. After graduating, she
continued working for the University in
various roles supervising events, programs
and operations. In 2017, Bushland made
the transition to local government as
a Recreation Supervisor for the City of
Edina, where she has been working since.
Bushland is looking forward to the variety
of the job and continuing to exceed the
community’s expectations of the park.
“Centennial Lakes Park is one of the
coolest places in the Twin Cities, if not in
Minnesota,” she said. “To be able to be
a part of everything we have going on
there and the variety of responsibilities
of a General Manager is really exciting.
Who wouldn’t want to go to work every
day at Centennial Lakes Park? And now, I
get to!”
For more information about the position
or to connect with Bushland, email
tbushland@EdinaMN.gov.
Tiffany Bushland will step into her new role as
Centennial Lakes Park’s General Manager June 14.
She has been working for the City of Edina as a
Recreation Supervisor since 2017. (Photo by Dan Reisig)
Visitors flock to the 24 acres of Centennial Lakes Park each
summer for fun and relaxation along its water, colorful
gardens and scenic paths.
Visit CentennialLakesPark.com for more information.
3City of Edina EdinaMN.gov
UPCOMING EVENTS
June is Pride Month
Tuesday, June 1, 7 p.m.
City Council meeting, Virtual
Wednesday, June 9, 7 p.m.
Planning Commission meeting, Virtual
Thursday, June 10, 7:30 a.m.
Housing & Redevelopment Authority
meeting, Virtual
Sunday, June 13, 11 a.m.-4 p.m.
Parade of Boats, Centennial Lakes Park
The Edina Model Yacht Club will show
off radio-controlled boats of all types
and sizes during this annual event. Club
members will be on hand to display and
run boats and answer visitors’ questions.
Tuesday, June 15, 7 p.m.
City Council meeting, Virtual
Saturday, June 19
Juneteenth
Wednesday, June 23, 7 p.m.
Planning Commission meeting, Virtual
Thursday, June 24, 7:30 a.m.
Housing & Redevelopment Authority
meeting, Virtual
For a complete listing of meetings and
events, visit EdinaMN.gov.
Watch City Council, Housing &
Redevelopment Authority and Planning Commission meetings live:
• Edina TV (Comcast Channels 813 or 16)
• Facebook.com/EdinaMN
• “Watch a Meeting” web page at
EdinaMN.gov/LiveMeetings
Watch other meetings live at
youtube.com/EdinaTV.
Couple Receives Heritage Award for Preserving Mid-Century Modern Home
Olinger Boulevard Property Features Distinguishing
Courtyard
Holly Ziemer and Steven Suckow have
been recognized for preserving their Mid-
Century Modern home at 5900 Olinger
Blvd.
Ziemer and Suckow were presented
the 2021 Heritage Award at the May
18 meeting of the Edina City Council.
The Heritage Award is given for a
commitment to preserving, rehabilitating
or restoring a historical place in Edina.
The Heritage Preservation Commission
selects a recipient each year who has
“strengthened the historic fabric of
the community through protection,
improvement or use of place within
Edina that represents a piece of the
community’s heritage.”
The home was built in 1966 by the
Lundgren Company. The architecture
and details of the home follow classic
California Modern designs. Previous
owners restored interior elements of
the home, including post and beam
construction, board ceilings and slab
flooring.
In 2019, Ziemer and Suckow restored
and refined the home’s courtyard, a
distinguishing feature of Mid-Century
Modern homes that connects the interior
with the outdoors. The plantings, while
primarily native to Minnesota, emphasize
a Japanese-inspired design with dense
plantings and a variety of shapes, textures
and colors over all seasons. Blue stone
paving complements the natural setting.
“We are thrilled to present this award to
an outstanding example of Mid-Century
Modern architecture – specifically the
architecture both inside and out,” said
Annie Schilling, Chair of the Heritage
Preservation Commission, during the
presentation of the award. “The current
owners took the restoration and attention
to detail to the next level when they
turned their attention to the distinguishing
courtyard feature.”
In other business last month, the Council:
•Conducted a sketch plan review
for 4911 77th St. W., and gave the
developer non-binding feedback on
the concept. Though a hotel had
previously been planned for the
site within Pentagon Village, the
developer, Solomon Real Estate and
Rise Development, is now interested
in building a six-story, 200-unit
apartment building. Ten percent of
the units would be for affordable
housing.
•Received a report on progress the
City has made on its Racial Equity
Implementation Plan. To date, about
80 percent of the work plan items or
tasks have been completed. Many of
the initiatives were recommended by
the Race & Equity Task Force in 2018.
•Approved revisions to the City’s Bias
Event Response Plan, last updated in
2017. The latest version differentiates
between bias, bias offense, bias
crime and bias incident. The plan also
outlines how the City will respond to
each.
•Purchased three electric vehicle
charging stations to support the
City’s growing fleet of plug-in hybrid
vehicles.
•Appointed Mary Brindle to represent
Edina on the Metropolitan Airports
Commission’s Noise Oversight
Committee to address issues related
to aviation noise. Brindle’s two-year
term starts June 26.
The City Council will next meet 7 p.m.
Tuesdays June 1 and 15. For more
information, visit EdinaMN.gov.
– COMPILED BY JENNIFER BENNEROTTE
Holly Ziemer and Steven Suckow recently received
the 2021 Edina Heritage Award for preservation of
their home at 5900 Olinger Blvd. (Photo by Glenn Gray)
4
City Hall Renovations Enhance Security and Customer Service at Reception Desk
Spring Project Moves Reception Desk Closer to Front Doors
BY DAN REISIG
Receptionist Lynette Biunno’s smiling face
and cheerful disposition will still greet
residents when Edina City Hall reopens
June 21. Other than that, the space she
works in will look quite a bit different.
Early in 2021, the City completed a
remodeling and renovation project of the
reception area that improves not only
the customer service Biunno and others
provide, but also enhances the security
and safety of the employees who work at
City Hall each day.
“The construction recently completed in
our City Hall lobby is not only pleasing
to the eye, but will also be pleasing to
our residents and customers for better
customer service,” Biunno said. “The
original reception area made it difficult for
staff and residents to interact and conduct
business. The new design allows for all this
and a more secure environment for all.”
Edina City Hall, 4801 W. 50th St., opened to
tremendous fanfare in 2004, with a ribbon-
cutting and open house on July 4. When
it was designed, the goal was to create an
open, expansive facility for all those who live
and do business with the City. The two-
story lobby and unabated access to City
departments reflected that mindset.
Over the years, the way in which customer
service is provided has changed greatly.
Fewer people visit City Hall because more
services are provided online. Security
concerns also came to the forefront in
recent years.
“It’s an unfortunate reality, but it was
important for the City to take steps to
prepare for the possibility of an active
shooter or workplace violence situation
at City Hall,” said Police Lt. Brian Tholen,
referencing such acts at local government
buildings across the country, including in
nearby New Hope. “I saw a need for the
City to look at its security infrastructure
and where we could put in some obstacles
to stop a potential threat and allow more
time for law enforcement to respond.”
Unlike the previous layout, where Biunno’s
desk was underneath the main staircase,
the reception desk was enlarged and placed
prominently in the center of the atrium. The
area is surrounded by ballistic glass.
Residents will also find a new way of
doing business with City staff. In previous
years, if they missed the reception desk
or if Biunno was helping someone else,
they might have wandered down hallways
searching for the right office door and
hope the correct person was available to
help. Now, staff members will come to
them at the front desk. Appointments will
be encouraged to ensure the right staff
member is immediately available to assist.
“Unlike the original design in which each
department had service counters, we
created a space for members of each
department to meet the public and provide
them service in this reception area,” Facility
Manager Derik Otten explained.
The original architect for City Hall’s
construction, BKV Group, returned to
complete the design and select the
materials to maintain the building’s
architectural style. Otten noted that in
addition to the security and administrative
upgrades, the renovation provided the
opportunity to address some needed
accessibility improvements by adding
touch-free automatic door openers to
the building’s restrooms and new secure
entrances.
When the second-floor Community Room
reopens for public use, the doors at the
top of the stairs will be unlocked for
meetings that occur after business hours.
“The building is still welcoming but also
secure, not only for employees but for
residents and all other visitors to City
Hall,” Tholen said. “We are responding
to a society that is ever-changing and
we need to understand that government
can be a target. However, we know our
purpose is to safely serve the residents and
those who do business with the City.”
Receptionist Lynette Biunno welcomes visitors to Edina City Hall at the new front desk, completed in
early 2021. (Photo by Dan Reisig)
City of Edina Goals
Strong Foundation: Maintain
physical assets and infrastructure.
Reliable Service: Maintain service
levels that best meet the needs of
the community.
Livable City: Plan for connected
and sustainable development.
Better Together: Foster an
inclusive and engaged community.
The City of Edina has four budget goals.
Look for the goal icons throughout this
publication to read stories about how the
City is working to meet these goals.
5City of Edina EdinaMN.gov
ART PROGRAMS
Summer Camps
Ages 6-12
Summer is a great time for kids to get excited
about Edina Art programs! With our fun and
engaging weeklong camps, kids can experience
a variety of art mediums and concepts with
innovative instructors.
• Creative Cartooning
• Arty Animals – Drawing and Watercolor
• STEAM Week – Art and Science
• Explore, Design, Create – Making Art from Nature
• The Art of Stories – Create with a Professional
Puppeteer
• Minnesota Waters – Acrylic Painting
• Explore and Make Dinosaurs and Fossils
• Creating Cloth – Fiber Arts for Kids
• Art Around the Globe – Japan
9 a.m.-1 p.m. Monday-Friday
Edina Art Center
$220 ($5 discount for Edina residents)
Workshops
Teens and adults can try something new or
improve their skills with Edina Art summer
workshops. All levels are welcome in these
small-group sessions!
• Outdoors in Minnesota! Explore outdoor
landscape painting (Plein Air) over three
Tuesday afternoon sessions in June or August.
Edina’s beautiful Arneson Acres Park offers the
perfect setting with instruction by acclaimed
instructor and painter Louise Gillis. $40
• Never tried Printmaking? Be amazed with your
art piece and the fun involved in creating it! The
workshop is offered at the Edina Senior Center
Tuesday afternoons in June with a master
printmaking instructor Michael Bedard. $35
• Summer creativity! Make art with a friend or
family member through our “Make Together”
series on Wednesday evenings in the Arneson
Acres Terrace Room. Sessions are Sketch Your
Partner and State Fair Art. $35
RECREATION PROGRAMS
Music Together
Ages 8 months-5 years
Music Together is an award-winning program
for infants, toddlers and preschoolers and
the grownups who love them! Each class
is designed to be an active, engaging music
immersion experience. The rich music
environment in class, full of opportunities for
experimentation and play, will help your child
grow into a confident, life-long music maker.
Space is limited and registration required.
10:30-11:15 a.m. Tuesdays June 22-Aug. 10
10:30-11:15 a.m. Wednesdays June 23-Aug. 11
9:30-10:15 a.m. Thursdays June 24-Aug. 12
10:30-11:15 a.m. Thursdays June 24-Aug. 12
Wooddale Park
$159/session/child (additional children are $83
each)
Fab 4 & 5 Preschool Playground Program
Ages 4-5
This is the essential pre-playground program
for 4- and 5-year-olds! Each week features
a new adventure of themed crafts, games
and other age-appropriate activities. Sign up
per week. Space is limited and registration
required.
9-11:30 a.m.
$15/week
MONDAYS AND WEDNESDAYS JUNE 7-AUG. 4
Countryside Park: PR4001
TUESDAYS AND THURSDAYS JUNE 8-AUG. 5
Arden Park: PR4041
Countryside Park: PR4003
Playground Program
Ages 6-10
The Playground Program is supervised outdoor
activities aimed at keeping kids physically
active and creative. There are weekly visits
from the Craft & Activity Specialist. To be
eligible, children must have completed
kindergarten. Sign up per week. Space is
limited and registration required.
MORNING SESSIONS
8:30-11:30 a.m.
$10/week
Mondays and Wednesdays June 7-Aug. 4
Weber Park: PR4012
Tuesdays and Thursdays June 8-Aug. 5
Pamela Park: PR4015
AFTERNOON SESSIONS
1-4 p.m.
$10/week
Mondays and Wednesdays June 7-Aug. 4
Countryside Park: PR4016
Normandale Park: PR4017
Pamela Park: PR4019
Walnut Ridge Park: PR4018
Weber Park: PR4045
Tuesdays and Thursdays June 8-Aug. 5
Cornelia School Park: PR4020
Normandale Park: PR4022
Todd Park: PR4021
Weber Park: PR4024
Intro to Ultimate Frisbee with the Wind Chill
Ages 8-13
Introduce your kids to the sport of Ultimate
Frisbee with these day camps cohosted by
Wind Chill, Minnesota’s men’s professional
team. Great for young boys and girls, these
sessions will include simple and fun disc
games and skill development to help them
get comfortable and interested in disc sports!
Participants will receive a free disc.
9 a.m.-noon Monday, July 26- Friday, July 30
Pamela Park
$150
Esports Gaming
Ages 7+
The Blaze Fire Gaming and Esports Club is a
fun, safe way for gamers to play with other
age-verified competitors. Joining the club
gives players access to organized community
play where players can choose to participate
in structured leagues, tournaments or social
ladder activities. Prizes will be awarded!
Ages 7-12: PR7000.105
Ages 13-17: PR7000.108
Ages 18+: PR7000.111
July 1-Aug. 31
Online
$75
Friday Night Dance Party
All Ages
Register as a couple for an evening of dancing
fun! Bring your own partner, as we will not
rotate partners or pair people up. We will offer
a 20-minute dance instruction and then time
for music and fun. Try and learn something
new with a friend!
• June: Polka Party
• July: Swing and Two-Step Party
• August: Salsa Dance Party
7-8 p.m. Fridays June 25, July 30, Aug. 27
Centennial Lakes Park
Free
SUMMER PARKS &
RECREATION ACTIVITIES
It’s not too late to sign up for summer programs, workshops and camps!
Visit Edinamn.maxgalaxy.net and log in or create an account to sign up for the following programs and activities.
6
Centennial Lakes Park, 7499 France Ave. S.,
offers free summer concerts and movies
in the park. Concerts and movies are held
in the Maetzold Amphitheater. Patrons
are encouraged to bring blankets or
lawn chairs.
Sunday Night Concerts
7 p.m., unless otherwise noted
June 6 The Percolators
June 13 Parade of Boats (11 a.m.-4 p.m.)
Fife and Drums march from
Promenade to Amphitheater (6 p.m.)
First John Philip Sousa Memorial
Band
June 20 Mayhill Blues Band
June 27 Hopkins Westwind Concert Band
July 11 Bavarian Musik Meisters
July 18 Fife and Drums march from
Promenade to Amphitheater (6 p.m.)
First John Philip Sousa Memorial
Band
July 25 Minneapolis Police Band
Aug. 1 Prior Lake WindJammers
Aug. 8 Torchlight Concert and Lighthouse
Night (event starts at 6 p.m. and runs
through sunset)
Aug. 15 Medicine Show Music Company
Aug. 22 Celebration Brass
Aug. 29 Inver Hills Community Band
Monday Night Concerts
7 p.m.
June 7 TBD
June 14 Southside Big Band
June 21 Bend in the River Big Band
June 28 Eden Prairie Community Band
July 5 Swing Beat Big Band
July 12 Capri Big Band
July 19 Dirty Shorts Brass Band
July 26 Execs Big Band
Aug. 2 Minnesota Mandolin Orchestra
Aug. 9 Brio Brass
Aug. 16 Brooklyn Community Band
Aug. 23 River City Jazz Orchestra
Aug. 30 Wondercure
Tuesday Night Concerts
7 p.m.
The Sidewalk Café Duo or Jim Shannon and his
Vintage Piano perform each Tuesday outside
of Hughes Pavilion.
Wednesday Night
Concerts
7 p.m.
June 2 Lee Engele and Friends
June 9 Pan-handlers Steel Drum Band
June 16 Minnesota Symphonic Winds
June 23 St. Louis Park Community Band
June 30 Medalist Concert Band
July 7 Sawyer’s Dream
July 14 Terzetto String Trio
July 21 Continental Ballet
July 28 University of Minnesota Alumni Band
Aug. 4 Hunker’d Down Blues Band
Aug. 11 Encore Wind Ensemble
Aug. 18 Homeward Bound
Aug. 25 Armenian Dance Ensemble
Movies in the Park
Sunset Thursdays
June 17 “Playing with Fire”
June 24 “Trolls World Tour”
July 1 “The Secret Garden”
July 8 “Tom and Jerry”
July 15 “Barb and Star Go to Vista Del Mar”
July 22 “Lion King” (2019)
July 29 “The Goonies”
Aug. 5 DisneyNature Movie “Penguins”
Aug. 12 “DoLittle”
Tuesday and Thursday
Children’s Concerts
11 a.m.
June 1 Teddy Bear Band
June 3 The Bazillions
June 8 Will Hale and The Tadpole Parade
June 10 Bob the Beachcomber
June 15 The Big, Fun Show
June 17 Steve and Friends Puppet Show
June 22 Magic with Brian Richards
June 24 Pledge Party Team
June 29 Kid Power with Rachael
July 1 Bob the Beachcomber
July 6 Storytelling with Carol McCormick
July 8 Teddy Bear Band
July 13 Mary Hall Storytelling
July 15 Will Hale and The Tadpole Parade
July 20 Wiggle, Jiggle Jam
July 22 Pledge Party Team
July 27 Kid Power with Rachael
July 29 The Bazillions
Aug. 3 Steve and Friends Puppet Show
Aug. 5 Teddy Bear Band
Aug. 10 Wiggle, Jiggle Jam
Aug. 12 Storytelling with Carol McCormick
Aug. 17 The Big, Fun Show
Aug. 19 Magic with Brian Richards
Aug. 24 Will Hale and The Tadpole Parade
Aug. 26 AlphaBits
Aug. 31 Bob the Beachcomber
Check CentennialLakesPark.com for updates.
Get text updates by texting CENTENNIAL to
57838. Reach the Concert/Weather Hotline at
952-833-9587.
Centennial Lakes Park
ENTERTAINMENT2021SUMMER
7City of Edina EdinaMN.gov
Explore Art Indoors or Outside This Summer
Classes or Camps Available for All Ages
BY DEBBIE TOWNSEND
Whether you’re 6, 16 or 60, get creative
this summer with art classes indoors or
out in nature.
Themed art camps for ages 6-12 offer fun
and learning with experienced instructors.
Painting, sculpting, drawing, fiber
arts, arts from other cultures and even
puppeteering are available. Sign a child up
for one camp or several to keep them busy
and enjoying art all summer long.
“The best things about youth art camps
are the opportunities to explore a variety
of art forms with excellent art instructors
and the availability of Rosland Park for
an extended classroom experience!”
said Edina Art Center General Manager
Susan Tarnowski. “I love the excitement
of sharing art-making in small groups and
learning new concepts and techniques.”
Weeklong youth art camps meet 9 a.m.
to 1 p.m. Monday-Friday and Youth Tech
camps meet as morning and afternoon
sessions Monday-Thursday at the Edina
Art Center.
Teens and adults can take advantage
of small-group summer art workshops.
Explore outdoor landscape painting with
Louise Gillis or printmaking with Michael
Bedard. All skill levels welcome, even if
your skill level is absolute beginner.
Reconnect with a friend or family
member in one or more “Make Together”
Wednesdays. Together, you will explore
acrylic pour or sketching each other. Love
crop/seed art at the Minnesota State Fair?
Or Spin a Painting? Try out the Edina Art
Center’s versions in the Make Together
workshop and get ready to enter the fair
competitions.
Most teen/adult summer art classes are
held at Arneson Acres Park or the Edina
Senior Center, 5280 Grandview Square.
Weeklong summer camps cost $220,
with a $5 discount for Edina residents.
Teen and Adult class costs vary. Visit
bit.ly/EdinaArtClasses to learn more about
all available summer camps and classes
and to register.
For more information, call the Edina Art
Center front desk at 952-903-5780.
CENTENNIAL
LAKES PARK
FARMERS MARKET
TO OPEN JUNE 10
After moving the Farmers Market
to Rosland Park in 2020 to allow
for better social distancing, the
market will return to the scenic
backdrop of Centennial Lakes
Park, 7499 France Ave. S., this
year. Visitors will be able to
pick out farm-fresh fruits and
vegetables and other local goods
3 to 7 p.m. Thursdays from
June 10 to Sept. 30.
(File Photo)
Edinborough Park Provides
Year-Round Fun for Children
Indoor Park Offers Unique Play
Areas and Birthday Parties
Too hot or wet to play outside? Come to
Edinborough Park, where it’s sunny and 70
degrees all year long!
Edinborough Park, 7700 York Ave. S.,
features a PlayPark with three play areas for
children ages 1-12: Adventure Peak, Little
Peak and the Great Hall. Adventure Peak
is a Northwoods adventure for climbing,
crawling and sliding. Little Peak includes
more activities for toddlers. The Great Hall
is a multipurpose area for riding scooters,
bouncing in a moonwalk and playing with
hula hoops, balls and other equipment.
Edinborough Park is also a great place for a
child’s birthday party. Access to Adventure
Peak, Little Peak and the Great Hall are
included with birthday party reservations.
Two-hour packages are available.
Visit EdinboroughPark.com for more
information. To book a birthday party,
call the Birthday Party Coordinator at
952-833-9544.
CELEBRATE!CELEBRATE!
ENTERTAINMENT
952-927-8861 | mail@EdinaMN.gov City of Edina EdinaMN.gov8
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For Fun in Twenty-One!
Come back to the Aquatic Center
Slides
Zip line and
diving boards
50-meter lap pool
Surf simulator
Playground
Zero-depth pool
Open June 4 through Aug. 22.
bit.ly/AquaticCenter2021
Splash into Summer at the Edina Aquatic Center June 4
Visitors Can Expect a Near-Normal 2021 Season
BY KAITLIN GAULT
After a dried-up season to help slow the
spread of COVID-19, the Edina Aquatic
Center, 4300 W. 66th St., will welcome
back swimmers and surfers for the 2021
season.
The water park will open Friday, June 4
with hours from 11:30 a.m. to 8 p.m.
Monday through Friday and 10 a.m.-
8 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. The Li’l
Lagoon water playground will be open
from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday through
Sunday.
Edina Aquatic Center General Manager
Patty McGrath said visitors can anticipate
a familiar experience with a few minor
changes at the beginning of the season.
“This season should look very close to
past years,” she said. “Our two biggest
challenges were capacity and social
distancing and as of May 28, those
regulations are no longer in effect.”
Bathrooms, showers and locker rooms
will be open, as well as many fan-favorite
attractions, including the Olympic-sized lap
pool, diving boards, body and tube slides,
and The Lost Wave surf simulator. The Lil’
Lagoon zero-depth water playground for
families with children ages 8 and younger
and the Oakwood Forest dry area will also
operate as normal.
The concessions stand will offer
summertime treats and cool-down snacks,
but may begin the season with a limited
menu.
Swimmers may also notice some
improvements made to the water park.
“While we were closed, we were still
hard at work,” McGrath said. “The dry
play area received new netting and other
general aesthetic updates. The slide
tower received a structural inspection, a
fresh coat of paint and the stair treads
were resurfaced to make the climb more
comfortable on patrons’ feet.”
The 10-foot-high zip line is currently being
repaired and may not be ready for action
by June 4.
“If it is not available right away on
opening day, it should be soon after,” said
McGrath. “It’s a race against the clock.”
McGrath is thrilled to open the gates
this summer and welcome back a sea of
smiling faces.
“I am most excited about reopening the
facility and bringing back kids and families
for safe, fun outdoor family time and I’m
really excited about the young people
coming back to work for us,” she said.
“They missed out on job opportunities last
summer and the returning staff I’ve talked
to are super excited to be coming back.”
For more information, visit
EdinaAquaticCenter.com, follow the
Edina Aquatic Center on Facebook or sign
up for text notifications by texting EAC
to 57838. Season passes can be purchased
online at Edinamn.maxgalaxy.net.
Ride the good times by visiting the Edina Aquatic
Center! After being closed in 2020 to help slow the
spread of COVID-19, the water park will open its
doors once again June 4. (File Photo)
CITY OF EDINA
4801 WEST 50TH STREET
EDINA, MN 55424
***ECRWSS***POSTAL PATRONCAR-RT-WS
PRESORT STD
U.S. POSTAGEPAID
TWIN CITIES MN
Permit No. 3932