Buckthorn Slayers, Saturday, July 26, 1:00-3:00pm
Regular Buckthorn Removal Events typically meet every Wednesday from 6:00PM-8:00PM and Saturday from 1:00-3:00PM at the free lower parking lot of Wabun Picnic Area (weather permitting) to head down the trailhead to the park. GPS is confusing. Just follow the signs downhill towards the Veterans Home from 46th St E and Godfrey Parkway near the Ford Parkway Bridge. Then when you get to a fork and a stone marker that says “Wabun Picnic Area” take the right fork towards the lower level picnic area parking lot. We head down to Minnehaha Park on the trail across from the brown Park Board Operations building.
Wear sturdy shoes and layers, and bring a water bottle. We supply tools, training and work gloves. Link to a google map directions to the meet up location. https://goo.gl/maps/C9u6SRAG5DUaQBTP7
Buckthorn Slayers CANCELLED, Sat. July 19, 1:00-3:00pm
Aah, the temperature is nice, but the ground is soggy, mosquitoes are ravenous, and the parking lots are busy. Are we getting soft? The buckthorn is winning right now, but we’ve decided to CANCEL Buckthorn Removal today, Saturday, July 19. I hope you can join us another day!
Nature Walk with a Naturalist CANCELLED DUE TO HEAT INDEX
Anything is fair game in this nature walk with Friends of Minnehaha Park volunteer naturalist, Dave Crawford. Plants, animals or rocks that catch your eye (or ear) all have back stories. What are they? What do they do? Why do they look like that? How do they get here? Dave will do his best to provide answers and stories.
Registration is required on Eventbrite. Link is below. The planned walk is approximately ¾ miles in length. We meet at the free lower level parking lot of Wabun Picnic Area. Follow the sign pointing to the Veteran’s Home on Godfrey Rd. downhill from 46th Ave. Then take the right fork to the lower level of Wabun Picnic Area. Parking lot is on the left by the Park Board Operations building.
FREE. — SPACE LIMITED — REGISTRATION REQUIRED
EventBrite Link: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/nature-walk-with-a-naturalist-spring-wildflowers-at-minnehaha-park-tickets-1349795347219?aff=oddtdtcreator
CANCELLED due to extremely poor air quality! Buckthorn Slayers, Sat. July 12, 1:00-3:00pm
Regular Buckthorn Removal Events typically meet every Wednesday from 6:00PM-8:00PM and Saturday from 1:00-3:00PM at the free lower parking lot of Wabun Picnic Area (weather permitting) to head down the trailhead to the park. GPS is confusing. Just follow the signs downhill towards the Veterans Home from 46th St E and Godfrey Parkway near the Ford Parkway Bridge. Then when you get to a fork and a stone marker that says “Wabun Picnic Area” take the right fork towards the lower level picnic area parking lot. We head down to Minnehaha Park on the trail across from the brown Park Board Operations building.
Wear sturdy shoes and layers, and bring a water bottle. We supply tools and work gloves. Link to a google map directions to the meet up location. https://goo.gl/maps/C9u6SRAG5DUaQBTP7
Buckthorn Slayers, Wed, July 9, 6-8:00pm
Regular Buckthorn Removal Events typically meet every Wednesday from 6:00PM-8:00PM and Saturday from 1:00-3:00PM at the free lower parking lot of Wabun Picnic Area (weather permitting) to head down the trailhead to the park. GPS is confusing. Just follow the signs downhill towards the Veterans Home from 46th St E and Godfrey Parkway near the Ford Parkway Bridge. Then when you get to a fork and a stone marker that says “Wabun Picnic Area” take the right fork towards the lower level picnic area parking lot. We head down to Minnehaha Park on the trail across from the brown Park Board Operations building.
Wear sturdy shoes and layers, and bring a water bottle. We supply tools and work gloves. Link to a google map directions to the meet up location. https://goo.gl/maps/C9u6SRAG5DUaQBTP7
Buckthorn event cancelled 7/5 due to rain
Sorry folks! We have to stay indoors again — we’re cancelling buckthorn removal due to rain. Enjoy your day, and join on Wednesday, July 9 and/or Saturday, July 12. The weather should be clear and sunny.
Saturday, June 28 Buckthorn Event, 1:00-3:00 CANCELLED due to heat, humidity and possible rain
Buckthorn Slayers meet every Wednesday from 6:00PM-8:00PM and Saturday from 1:00-3:00PM at the free lower parking lot of Wabun Picnic Area (weather permitting) to head down the trailhead to the park.
Wear sturdy shoes and long pants, and bring a water bottle. We supply tools and work gloves. Link to a google map directions to the meet up location. https://goo.gl/maps/C9u6SRAG5DUaQBTP7
Wednesday Buckthorn Removal for 6/25 CANCELLED - RAINED OUT!
Yet another soggy Wednesday!! Event CANCELLED. Time for a Creedence Clearwater song.
Yesterday and day before, Sun is cold and rain is hard. I know, been that way for all my time. Till forever, on it goes … Through the circle fast and slow. I know. Can’t stop. I wonder.
I want to know. . .Have you ever seen the rain? Have you ever seen the rain? Comin down on a sunny day.
And we really want to hear a Jimmy Cliff song:
I can see clearly now, the rain is gone. I can see all the obstacles in my way. Gone are the dark clouds that had me blind. It’s gonna be a bright (bright). bright (bright), Sun-shiny day.
Nature Walk with a Naturalist: Plants Are Smarter Than You Think
Plants are more active than many people think. They defend themselves, seek energy, leverage cooperation from animals (including humans), and spread their offspring. Join Dave Crawford, naturalist, to learn about the wisdom and ways of plants at Minnehaha Regional Park in summer.
Space is limited. Pre-registration is required on Eventbrite. More information on Eventbrite. https://www.eventbrite.com/e/1389668749639?aff=oddtdtcreator
MPRB Early Summer BioBlitz at Minnehaha Park
Registration is now OPEN for the Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board’s Early Summer BioBlitz on June 14th. This is a partnership with Friends of Minnehaha Park, and we’re proud to be able to support Citizen Science at this beautiful park. Volunteers at BioBlitz events use the iNaturalist app and hike through the park with an expert, gathering data onto a project page by way of uploading photographs onto the app. The information provides data on biodiversity, which can then be used by the Park Board, nature lovers and scientists.
This is a rare opportunity to learn from an expert about Plants, Birds, Fungi, Tree ID, Aquatic Macroinvertabrates and more. You pick the sections you want to join. Feel free to sign up for as much or as little of the day as you want. Details about meet up location will be provided after you register.
Early morning birding, 7:30am-9:00am
Morning session, 9:15am-12:15pm
Lunch, 12:15pm-1:00pm
Afternoon session, 1:00pm-4:00pm
Pre-registration is required at Minnehaha Park Early Summer 2025 BioBlitz Registration Form
Nature Walk with a Naturalist: Spring Wildflowers at Minnehaha Park
Join Friends of Minnehaha Park volunteer naturalist, Dave Crawford, for our May Nature Walk at Minnehaha Park. We may find dogwood, trillium, wild geraniums, columbine, bellwort, violets, wild ginger and many others.
The planned walk is approximately ¾ miles in length.
FREE. — SPACE LIMITED — REGISTRATION REQUIRED
EventBrite Link: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/nature-walk-with-a-naturalist-spring-wildflowers-at-minnehaha-park-tickets-1349795347219?aff=oddtdtcreator
MNI SOTA MAKOCE: Indigenous Wisdom of Minnesota Landscapes
John (Mitigonaabe) Koepke, Emeritus Professor of the U of MN Department of Landscape Architecture and current consultant with Urban Ecosystems, will draw from his extensive knowledge of Minnesota geography, plants and architecture to help us envision Minnehaha Park’s precolonial appearance and learn about native ecological principles that could be incorporated into its use today.
FREE EVENT — OPEN TO THE PUBLIC — REFRESHMENTS PROVIDED
MPRB BioBlitz: Spring Ephemerals Walk
Come out and volunteer at a spring ephemerals BioBlitz event at Minnehaha Regional Park! We’re partnering with the Minneapolis Parks and Recreation Board to engage in Citizen Science to observe and document species in the park using the iNaturalist app. The results can be viewed as a project by anyone using the app, and can also be used as a baseline study of species biodiversity.
Contact us at FriendsofMinnehahaPark@gmail.com if you’d like to be a volunteer or want to know more!
Marsh marigold can be seen at Minnehaha Park in the marshy land every spring. Photo credit: iNaturalist 4/28/24 Mary Ann Van Cura
MPRB Earth Day Clean-Up at Minnehaha Park
The Earth Day Clean-Up is the largest community service event in Minneapolis, with over 40 clean-up sites across the city.
The 2025 Earth Day Clean-Up is a drop-in volunteer activity — no need to pre-resister! Arrive at Minnehaha Regional Park by Sea Salt, where you’ll check in, receive equipment and instructions. Parking at MPRB meters and lots will not be enforced until 1:00pm on Saturday, April 19. Just ensure you’re parked at an MPRB location. View a map of MPRB parking facilities.
https://minneapolisparks.maps.arcgis.com/apps/webappviewer/index.html?id=701b549d9308482eac18ced773e5dfce
The clean-up wraps up at noon, so be sure to bring your enthusiasm and help us make a difference! Thank you for your commitment to cleaner greener parks!
Nature Walk with a Naturalist: Signs of Spring at Minnehaha Park
Many woodland flowers bloom as early as weather permits, before trees have a chance to leaf out and create too much shade. Join Dave in the park to see what's up and what's on the way. By next month it will be too late to spot these early bloomers. Besides wildflowers blossoming, birds are preparing for nesting, with new species arriving from the south every week.
The planned walk is approximately 2/3 miles in length. Free. Space limited. Registration required. Sponsored by Friends of Minnehaha Park.
Link to directions to the free lower Wabun parking lot, where the walk begins: https://goo.gl/maps/C9u6SRAG5DUaQBTP7
Don't miss out on this chance to learn about nature and explore the beauty of Minnehaha Park!
More Famous Than Niagara: Minnehaha Falls in the 1850s
How did Minnehaha Falls become a national tourist destination in the 19th century? Author and historian Karen E. Cooper will share stories of the people, politics and photos of Minnehaha Park and the period, and how this was made possible. Karen is the author of When Minnehaha Flowed with Whiskey: A Spirited History of the Falls. Her book will be available for sale at the event.
This free event is sponsored by Friends of Minnehaha Park