6 minute read
Go green
Pruning your trees: timing is everything
The best time to prune your trees, especially elms and oaks, is during the dormant season – November through March. DO NOT prune elms or oaks April through September. During these months, the fungus of Dutch elm disease and oak wilt disease are persistent and present within the atmosphere, potentially infecting any tree with an open wound (branch pruning location) through wind dissemination or insect transport. Visit www.stlouispark.org/trees for a list of licensed tree service providers for St. Louis Park.
Use a licensed tree contractor
If you decide to have work done to your trees, use a tree contractor licensed by the City of St. Louis Park. The city license ensures that the company has liability and workers compensation insurance to eliminate the property owner’s responsibility or liability of injury on or damage to your property from a misguided tree service. Don’t use a contractor that solicits door to door, demanding payment upfront or pressuring you to use their service. Many tree contractors will tell you they are licensed, but often they are not specifically licensed for work in St. Louis Park, which is required. Visit www.stlouispark.org/trees or call 952.924.2562 for a list of licensed tree services in St. Louis Park.
Plant a tree or perennial
Fall is a great time to plant a tree in your yard or a perennial in your garden. Not only is it a perfect time for planting due to the cool, wet weather, but also at this time of year many nurseries will want to reduce their plant inventory so they will reduce prices on many items. Native trees and plants are still abundant and available from most nurseries in the fall.
When purchasing plants for your yard, think about where the plant comes from, meaning where was the seed source from? The closer the seed source or where the plant was grown to St. Louis Park, the more likely it will survive in your yard. Often, plants purchased through nationwide retailers will be grown in milder climates and will not be hardy enough to survive our frigid winters, so buy local when it comes to plants.
For more information on recommended trees for St. Louis Park, visit www.stlouispark.org/trees. For more information on perennials, visit extension.umn.edu/yard-and-garden#plants.
Brush drop-off site available until Nov. 1
The city’s brush drop-off site is available during the hours below for St. Louis Park residents to drop off brush, branches and logs. Residents can also pick up a limited supply of compost. Last day is Sunday, Nov. 1, 2020, then the site is closed for the winter. Visit www.stlouispark.org/brush-drop-off for more information.
Brush drop-off site/compost pickup hours of operation
• Tuesdays: 8 a.m. – 4 p.m. • Saturdays: 7 a.m. – 3 p.m. • Sundays: noon – 4 p.m.
Location
2501 Edgewood Ave. S. Entrance at intersection of Cedar Lake Road and Colorado Avenue South.
Fees and ID
No charge for St. Louis Park residents. A Minnesota ID, driver’s license or utility bill is required as proof of residency.
Materials accepted
Branches, brush and logs
Materials not accepted
Grass clippings, leaves, root balls, lumber, wood scraps, fencing, trash, sod and stump grindings
About compost pickup
Fall is a great time to apply compost to your garden or lawn! Finished compost is provided each year by The Mulch Store to help build healthy soils in our city. • Limit five 5-gallon buckets worth of compost • Bring your own container, shovel and proof of residency • Compost located past the check-in gate by the operations shed
Recycling Champions online training
The Recycling Champions program was created to engage residents who are interested in improving recycling and promoting waste reduction. Residents serve as ambassadors in the community by sharing information and volunteering at events. All St. Louis Park residents are welcome to participate. DAY Tu
DATE+TIME Oct. 27, 6:30 – 8 p.m. This training will be held online. RSVP to recycling@stlouispark.org or call 952.924.2187. Include your name, email, phone number and neighborhood.
Register early! To ensure your participation, register as soon as possible. All activities have maximum enrollment limits. Activities also have minimum enrollment requirements and can be canceled if registration is insufficient. If the registration deadline has passed, you may call the recreation office or Westwood Hills Nature Center to see if any openings remain.
Instructors cannot accept registrations in class.
Resident benefits Residents pay a lower fee for many activities. A resident is someone who lives or works full time in St. Louis Park. Non-residents who register as residents will forfeit their fee and their place in the activity.
Access to fun Partial fee assistance is available to those that live or work in St. Louis Park. Those that qualify should submit a fee assistance form. For more information, call Caroline Voss at 952.924.2540 or download a form online at www.stlouispark.org/activities-programs.
How to register
Sorry, we cannot accept registration over the phone.
1. Complete the enclosed registration form.
Or, register online at stlouispark.maxgalaxy.net.
Be sure to write down the activity name and fee for each program you’re registering for. Missing information can delay your registration. Individuals with disabilities may request auxiliary aids for registration; call 952.924.2540 or email cvoss@stlouispark.org. 2. Payment must accompany registration. We accept
Visa, Mastercard, Discover, American Express, cash and checks. Make checks payable to
“City of St. Louis Park.” 3. Mail, drop off or fax your registration form and payment.
Confirmations and cancelations
We do not send enrollment confirmations.
You will be contacted only if: • The program is full. • The program is canceled. • The date, time or location has changed.
Activities may be canceled due to poor weather. Call the weather line at 952.924.2567 if weather appears questionable.
Refund policy Full refunds are given only when an activity is canceled by the parks and recreation division. When registration is withdrawn prior to the first day of the activity, a 20 percent administrative fee will be assessed. Partial credit will be considered if cancelation is due to injury or serious illness.
NEW online registration!
To better serve you, we have a new online registration site!
Visit stlouispark.maxgalaxy.net to register.
1. Create your account 2. Add family members to your account 3. Register for activities
Questions? Call 952.924.2540
Mail Send the registration form along with payment to:
The Rec Center 3700 Monterey Drive St. Louis Park, MN 55416
For Westwood Hills Nature Center programs, mail to:
Westwood Hills Nature Center 8300 W. Franklin Ave. St. Louis Park, MN 55426
Fax Fax the registration form along with your Visa, Mastercard, Discover or American Express payment to: • The Rec Center – 952.925.5663 • Westwood Hills Nature Center – 952.797.9691
Visit our office Drop off your registration form, along with payment, to either The Rec Center or Westwood Hills Nature Center. Forms can be dropped off at The Rec Center's front desk or in the secure lockbox located near the front desk.
The Rec Center’s service counter hours
September – May
Monday – Thursday 8 a.m. – 8 p.m.
Friday 8 a.m. – 9 p.m.
Saturday 9 a.m. – 6 p.m.
Sunday noon – 6 p.m.
The Rec Center will close at 4:30 p.m. on Sept. 4, and all day
Sept. 5 – 7 and Nov. 26.
Monday – Friday 8 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. Saturday and Sunday noon – 5 p.m. The interpretive center will be closed Sept. 5 – 7, Nov. 11 and 26. Westwood Hills Nature Center trails are open daily, sunrise to sunset.
