Friends of Minnetonka Parks
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FRIENDS OF MINNETONKA PARKS

​We envision a park system that honors and builds on our city’s heritage of preserving, restoring and managing our distinctive high-value natural spaces that enhance Minnetonka’s quality of life and distinguish it from other cities.
Learn More About our Mission and Values

VISIT A PARK

Big Willow
BIG WILLOW
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LAKE ROSE
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PURGATORY
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CULLEN NATURE PRESERVE
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LONE LAKE
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SHADY OAK
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HILLOWAY
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MEADOW
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TOWER HILL
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JIDANA
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MINNEHAHA CREEK
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VICTORIA EVERGREEN
Join the Friends of Minnetonka Parks for an evening of socializing, light refreshments, and a featured presentation highlighting oak ecosystems, fire, and climate change in Minnetonka by pollinator conservationist and author, Heather Holm.
Reserve a Spot
Oaks, Fire, and Climate Change in Minnetonka
Restoring Historical Oak Ecosystems for Future Climate Resiliency

Minnetonka's iconic oak trees are a symbol of the once diverse natural landscapes of the city, but activities such as Euro-American settlement, logging, invasive species, and fire suppression have drastically altered these ecosystems. Join the Friends of Minnetonka Parks to learn about Minnetonka's past, present, and future oak ecosystems and the historical role of Native Americans managing and influencing their composition through the regular use of fire. 

​We’ll explore future climate modeling, and identify the most resilient and functional landscapes and why these seemingly historical landscapes excel at carbon sequestration. Lastly, we’ll showcase how the Friends of Minnetonka Parks and city staff are collaborating on various park restoration projects to achieve these outcomes. By understanding the factors that influenced the ecological conditions of Minnetonka's oak ecosystems today and working together to restore them, we can create a more climate-resilient future for our community.
Proceeds from the event will help fund further restoration and volunteer efforts in Minnetonka Parks. 

SPRING VOLUNTEER EVENTS

Volunteer to help manage buckthorn and garlic mustard in our parks this spring. Please click on this link to register for any or all of these upcoming events.
Past Events
PARK
DATE
TIME
EVENT
Meadow Park North
Saturday, April 1st
9 am - 11:30 am
Buckthorn
Big Willow 
Saturday, April 8th
1 pm - 3:30 pm
Buckthorn
Purgatory
Wednesday, April 12th
1:30 - 3 pm
Buckthorn
Shady Oak Isthmus
Saturday, April 15th
9 - 11 am
Buckthorn
Meadow Park South
Sunday, April 16th
10 am - 12 pm
Buckthorn
Purgatory
Wednesday, April 26th
1:30 - 3 pm
Buckthorn
Lone Lake
Saturday, April 29th
12 pm - 3 pm
Buckthorn
Hilloway
Saturday, May 6th
9 am - 11:30 am
Garlic Mustard
Purgatory
Sunday, May 7th
10 am - 12:30 pm
Garlic Mustard
Victoria-Evergreen
Wednesday, May 10th
4 pm - 6 pm
Garlic Mustard
Meadow Park South
Saturday, May 13th
8:30 am - 10:30 am
Garlic Mustard
Meadow Park North
Saturday, May 20th
9 am - 11:30 am
Garlic Mustard
Lone Lake
Sunday, May 21st
12 pm - 3 pm
Garlic Mustard
Cullen Nature Preserve
Saturday, May 27th
9 am - 11 am
Garlic Mustard
Hilloway
Saturday, June 3rd
9 am - 12 pm
Garlic Mustard
Big Willow
Sunday, June 4th
9 am - 12 pm
Garlic Mustard

Our latest video features the new city forestry mower.

Thanks to the city of Minnetonka for investing in this new restoration equipment!

Find a park in your neighborhood!

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2022 by the numbers

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​We had an eventful year and produced significant results restoring high-priority areas within our parks in collaboration with the City of Minnetonka. FoMP strives to be a catalyst of positive change in the community, playing an integral role in reversing the trends of environmental degradation in our park system. We are creating a verdant and vibrant community in which ecological stewardship, and community connectedness and partnerships thrive. Read more in our 2022 Annual Report.

Invasive Plants

We're building a website resources section and just published a page on common invasive plants.
Click here to learn more about why invasive plants cause ecological harm and how to identify them.
© 2023 Friends of Minnetonka Parks.
​Friends of Minnetonka Parks is a 501c3 nonprofit organization governed by a volunteer board of directors.
  • Home
  • Friends
    • Mission
    • Who We Are
    • Volunteerism
    • Contact Us
  • VISIT A PARK
    • Big Willow
    • Cullen
    • Hilloway
    • Jidana
    • Lake Rose
    • Lone Lake
    • Meadow
    • Minnehaha Creek
    • Purgatory
    • Shady Oak
    • Tower Hill
    • Victoria Evergreen
  • Resources
    • Tree Aging App
    • Invasive Plants
    • Newsletter
    • YouTube Videos
  • Events
    • Volunteer Events
    • Education and Social Events