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FRIENDS OF MINNETONKA PARKSWe 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.
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Tuesday, April 26th from 8 am - 9:30 am
Minnehaha Creek Headwaters Join Dr. Dennis Yockers for an early spring birding and nature walk at Minnehaha Creek Headwaters park. We will search the wetlands, woods and open water around the headwaters of Minnehaha Creek for waterfowl and some early neotropical migrants. Bring binoculars. Address: 16501 Grays Bay Blvd, Minnetonka Note: around 7 parking spots are available |
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Thursday, May 19th from 4 - 5 pm
Big Willow Spring Ephemeral Nature Walk Join Diana Houston with the Friends of Big Willow Park for a spring wildflower walk. Learn about the wildflowers that were planted by 6th graders, the park’s ecology, and what’s in bloom. We will also look for migrating songbirds, aquatic birds on the creek, and mammals. Address: 11522 Minnetonka Blvd, Minnetonka Park either in the small parking lot off Minnetonka Boulevard or by the playground near Minnetonka Public Works and take the asphalt path to Big Willow. |
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Tuesday, May 31st from 4 - 5 pm
Lone Lake Spring Wildflower Walk Join Linda Russell with the Friends of Lone Lake for a walk on the wooded trail to find spring ephemerals and look for various aquatic birds and mammals. Binoculars recommended! Address: 5624 Shady Oak Road, Minnetonka Enter the park on Shady Oak Road and park in the lower lot by the lake. |
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Tuesday, June 7th from 4 - 5 pm
Shady Oak Park and Isthmus Your tour hosts, John and Lyn, will talk about the history of this park and isthmus, the current uses of the park, and future opportunities for restoration. Help brainstorm what a transformation could look like. Bring your binoculars to observe songbirds and waterfowl! Address: 5200 Shady Oak Road Park in the main parking lot off of Shady Oak Road (beach side). Meet at the path down the hill to the bridge. |
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Tuesday, July 19th from 4 - 5 pm
The Birds and the Bees at Purgatory Take a walk with the Friends of Purgatory Park through the prairie to see midsummer wildflowers in bloom. While on the walk, we will look for pollinators and birds that live in the prairie and oak woodlands. Address: 17315 Excelsior Blvd, Minnetonka Meet at the main parking lot, and bring your hat and binoculars. |
VISIT A PARK
BIG WILLOW
LAKE ROSE
PURGATORY
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CULLEN NATURE PRESERVE
LONE LAKE
SHADY OAK
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HILLOWAY
MEADOW
TOWER HILL
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JIDANA
MINNEHAHA CREEK
VICTORIA EVERGREEN
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SPRING FoMP GARLIC MUSTARD BLITZES!
Volunteer to help manage garlic mustard in our parks this spring. Please click on the link below to register for any or all events.
PARK |
DATE |
TIME |
REGISTRATION LINK |
Big Willow |
Rescheduled to June 4th |
9 am - 12 pm |
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Cullen Nature Preserve |
May 7th |
9 am - 12 pm |
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Victoria Evergreen |
May 11th |
4 - 7 pm |
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Hilloway |
May 14th |
9 am - 12 pm |
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Meadow |
May 21st |
9 am - 12 pm |
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Purgatory |
May 28th |
9 am - 12 pm |
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Lone Lake |
June 11th |
9 am - 12 pm |
Watch these short videos to learn how to identify and control garlic mustard
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2021 by the numbers
We have been an organization for just eleven months, but we have had a banner year (even in a pandemic). With dozens of restoration and other events, hundreds of hours of volunteer time, and nine formal proposals submitted to the Natural Resources department for 2022, we are off to a great start. The city, too, has shown their interest by beginning a formal volunteer management system and also a proposal submission process: two important parts of a successful partnership between a volunteer organization and city staff. We look forward to collaborating on the development of both. Read more in our 2021 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.
Click here to learn more about why invasive plants cause ecological harm and how to identify them.
