Wednesday, April 6, 2011
The snow is still melting, but inside and out, the Springbrook Nature Center is a great destination.
"He's friendly! Do you want to touch him?" Vi hid behind me as a garter snake wrapped itself around the nature-center worker's wrist, its tongue flickering in the air. I stroked the dry skin, then followed my daughter to the Nature Nook where she was hiding by the bookcase. Vi pulled me sleeve, gestured for me to kneel down, then whispered in my ear, "I want to feel the snake now." Within moments she poked quickly at the snake with her finger, then squealed and ran giggling back across the room to the wall of pelts. There may still be scattered piles of slush and snow on the circuit of paved trails that winds through the Springbrook Nature Center, but the signs of spring are all there otherwise. Buds are beginning to dot the branches of …
45.124096
-93.270607
Springbrook Nature Center
100 85th Ave NE, Minneapolis, MN
/articles/snakes-and-trails-and-beaver-tails-spring-at-springbrook-nature-center
1707881
/locations/3909704
Monday, March 14, 2011
The council decided not to apply for a grant to build paths on Moore Lake's west side.
A proposal to seek state money for new park trails on the west side of Moore Lake got bogged down Monday at the Fridley City Council. City staff were set to apply for a Minnesota Department of Natural Resources Outdoor Recreation grant this month, but the council voted 4-0 against a resolution supporting Fridley's application. The main sticking points: How the city would come up with $30,000 or more in matching funds for the $60,000 project, and whether it would be wise to build more paths the city can't afford to plow in winter. "What are we going to not fund because of it?" asked Ward 3 Council Member Ann Bolkcom. City Manager William Burns said he expected the city would defer some parks expenses for upkeep on playing courts, benches…
45.076705
-93.251637
West Moore Lake Park
6039 W Moore Lake Dr, Fridley, MN
/articles/fridley-council-nixes-bid-to-seek-state-funds-for-sand-dunes-paths
1799676
/locations/3687376
Monday, December 13, 2010
Paths around Moore Lake ought to be clear of snow.
We have one big lake here in Fridley, Moore Lake, but we can't walk, run or pedal around it now without risking our lives or dignity, due to official path-plowing neglect. Moore Lake is a great water feature three seasons of the year. But the beautiful asphalt path on its east side is totally snowed-in now south of the tennis courts, as it has been each winter since I became a property owner in Fridley. Occasionally, I see non-motorized people walking or pedaling on Old Central Avenue in the winter and I worry for them. Why? Because the road has too much motorized traffic and the city government has not advocated for the people of Fridley to get the path plowed. I recently learned that two of my neighbors have stepped up to become …
45.074831
-93.24225
Moore Lake Park and Beach
5890 Central Ave NE, Fridley, MN
/articles/please-plow-fridley-paths
1799663
/locations/2725376
John Haluska
10:23 am on Wednesday, March 16, 2011
This appears to be a case of the right decision being taken for the wrong reasons. There should be fewer rather than more pathways through this park simply because of its fragility and the fact that more traffic means more disturbance to this unique bit of terrain. Also, having been involved in other trail building exercises in other fragile areas, it seems that instead of asphalt or other … more ›