Connect the Community event, Youth Mental Health Forum, new snack shop, and more

Greetings! Here’s city-related news for residents of Ward 1 and beyond. 
   
When will regional trails reopen? Many walkers and bikers, including me, are feeling the pain from extended closures of some of our most popular regional trails, tied to construction of the Metro Green Line Extension. With Green Line Extension service (formerly called SWLRT) now delayed to 2027, many trail users are wondering if reopening can happen before then. Met Council representatives recently shared that they expect most of the trails will reopen in 2025, with the exception of the South Cedar Lake Trail from Hopkins Depot to France Ave. which is projected to reopen in 2024. These dates are subject to change, with the goal to reopen trails sooner than projected. Here’s a recording of last week’s committee meeting where trail reopening was discussed. 
 
"Connect the Community" next weekend! Music, ice cream, interactive activities, public art unveiling, bike tours, the Mayor’s state of the community address, ribbon cutting for the Dakota-Edgewood Bridge, and more await SLP residents at this family-friendly event on Sunday, May 15, 1-4 pm at Dakota Park. I’ll be there and hope to see many of you too! Info and to register (encouraged but not required) here.
 
Proposed development at 2625 Louisiana: Web Development LLC is proposing a 57-unit, four-story mixed-use building at 2625 Louisiana Ave. S., currently the site of the H&H TV building on the southwest edge of the Bronx Park neighborhood. The developer is hosting a virtual community meeting on Thursday, May 12 from 6:30-7:30 pm to introduce the proposal to the community, with a public hearing set for June 1 at City Hall. 
 
Beltline Boulevard area construction: Heads up that the area near the future Beltline Boulevard Station will be very active with construction over the next few months, with many different agencies and developers working in the area. Here’s a construction map  of the work and the expected duration of closures. 
 
Catalytic converter theft: The frustrating experience of having this expensive car part stolen, often in broad daylight, is becoming more common – it happened in our family too. The City has hosted a handful of catalytic converter marking events over the past year with registration filling up within minutes of opening; the next City-hosted event is planned for late summer or early fall. The City’s website has tips on how to reduce the likelihood of catalytic converter theft and includes a list of local businesses that can provide marking services. The state is also piloting a free catalytic converter marking program for owners of the 15 most frequently targeted vehicles (find them here) or people whose catalytic converters have been stolen. Find info on the program here.

New shop in town: It’s always exciting to share news of a new business opening up in SLP.  This time it’s Tii Cup Boba Tea, family-owned business located at the Shoppes at Knollwood (next to Leeann Chin) offering bubble tea, coffee, shaved snow and smoothies.

Public comment opportunities: The City has experienced some unfortunate glitches over the past several months during call-in times for the public regarding items on the agenda. Staff are currently working on a reliable long-term fix. In the interim, residents and others who wish to comment on an agenda item have multiple options, including leaving a voice mail that will be transcribed and presented to council prior to the meeting. Starting next week meeting agendas, posted here, will include information on how to share comments on agenda items with the full council for now, until the new technology is in place. 

Here’s a short list of upcoming events:
 
Bike to Work Day, Friday, May 20. The City is hosting a commuter “pit stop” from 6:30 am-9 am at Aquila Park, on the North Cedar Lake Regional Trail near Minnetonka Blvd. This event is part of Bike to Work Week May 16-20. 
 
Youth Mental Health Forum, Tuesday, May 24, 6 pm, Council Chambers, St. Louis Park City Hall. The goal of this event is to acknowledge mental health issues faced by St. Louis Park students within the last few years and provide resources to students and their families. A panel of mental health experts will discuss issues specific to St. Louis Park. The event will be recorded and can be watched on the City's YouTube channel. 
 
Birchwood Neighborhood Food Truck Night: Thursday, June 2, 6pm, Birchwood Park. Enjoy food from Yummy Tummy and Chili Lime at this fun neighborhood event!
 
First Annual SLP Senior Resource Event, 1-4 pm, June 14, Lenox Community Center Gym. Hosted by SLP Community Ed, this event is for seniors, caregivers, family and friends. Find information and resources on topics like transportation, safety, health and housing. More than 30 organizations will be in attendance including the SLP Fire Department, Hennepin County, Park Nicollet and Metro Transit. More info here.
 
Thanks for reading and please stay in touch!
Margaret