City Of St. Louis Park: Westwood Hills Nature Center Celebrates 40 Years Sept. 26

Press release from the City of St. Louis Park:

October 06, 2021 12:31 p.m.

Hundreds of visitors and dignitaries, including Minnesota Lt. Governor Peggy Flanagan, marked the 40th anniversary of Westwood Hills Nature Center Sept. 26. Activities included puppet shows, tours, a silent auction sponsored by St. Louis Park Rotary and St. Louis Park Sunrise Rotary and an art show sponsored by St. Louis Park Friends of the Arts.

Also on Sept. 26, a new open-air shelter constructed on the site of the previous interpretive center was dedicated. This open-air shelter was built to accommodate youth programming, thanks to a generous donation from Maurice Hobbs in honor of his late wife Barbara. Barbara Hobbs was a longtime St. Louis Park resident and dedicated Westwood Hills Nature Center visitor. It was her hope that the open-air pavilion would help teach children to find as much joy in nature as she did. Westwood Hills Nature Center and City of St. Louis Park city staff, along with elected officials, were on hand to officially open the Hobbs Pavilion and to thank Maurice Hobbs and the Hobbs family for their generous donation.

riAlso dedicated at the event were two bronze sculptures at the entrance to Westwood Hills Nature Center, donated by St. Louis Park Rotary and St. Louis Park Sunrise Rotary. Mayor Jake Spano and Lt. Gov. Peggy Flanagan spoke at the dedication, before inviting Rotary members and children in the audience to join in the ribbon cutting.

This press release was produced by the City of St. Louis Park. The views expressed here are the author’s own.