Summer 2021 Hometown Messenger

MESSAGE FROM THE MAYOR

CITY CALENDAR

JUNE 3 Wheelies Family Bike Event , 5-7 p.m. Huber Park 7 Night to Unite registration opens, city website 11 SandVenture Aquatic Park Opens 11 Sail Into Summer, 5-8 p.m. SandVenture Aquatic Park 25 Summer Beach Bash , 5-8 p.m. SandVenture Aquatic Park JULY 2 Happy Birthday America Parade , 11 a.m., Community Center 4 Fourth of July , Community Center closed. 5 Fourth of July observed , City offices closed. 16 Pop-Up Splash Pad , 5-7 p.m., Green Meadows Park 24 Pirate Treasure Hunt , 5-8 p.m. SandVenture Aquatic Park 30 Pop-Up Splash Pad , 5-7 p.m., Community Center AUG 3 Shakopee Night to Unite , 5:30-9 p.m. 6 Summer Carnival, 10-11:15 a.m., Lions Park 6 Friday Night Water Fights , 6 p.m., Downtown Shakopee 13 Pop-Up Splash Pad , 5-7 p.m., 17th Avenue Sports Complex 14 Big Taste of Fun , featuring the

Hello, Shakopee! It’s summer, and we have a lot to be excited for in Shakopee. One of the things I’ve been most looking forward to is unveiling our new city tagline: Innovating. Entertaining. Thriving. From world-class businesses to abundant recreational opportunities to diverse housing stock, Shakopee is a place people want to be. Just consider these great things happening in our community now. Innovating. Construction of Ridge Creek Park continues, and the new boardwalk is looking great. This project meets several of the community’s needs, including realigning the Prior Lake Outlet Channel to improve storm water flow to the Minnesota River. The park also

Mayor Bill Mars

provides the passive, natural space community members told us they wanted in the 2040 Comprehensive Plan and Parks, Trails and Recreation Master Plan, while filling gaps in our trail system. Be sure to check out our story on Shakopee Riverfront Cultural Trail (page 1), another innovative trail project that celebrates our region’s history. Entertaining. Shakopee has long drawn visitors from throughout the Midwest. But after last year’s hiatus due to COVID precautions, the reopening of Valleyfair, Canterbury Park and SandVenture Aquatic Park (page 7) and the return of special events like Rhythm on the Rails (page 16) and Summer Jam are something to celebrate. Summer in Minnesota is short; we have to take advantage of the great recreation opportunities throughout our city. Once again, Shakopee will be the place to play this summer, and we’re excited to welcome visitors back to our attractions, hotels and restaurants. Thriving. Take a look around Shakopee, and you can’t miss the ongoing development. This is a growing, thriving community and these new residential and commercial developments will have a long-term benefit to our already solid tax base. The opening of the DECO is a great redevelopment project that turned our former city hall site into a modern, downtown living option. Hentges Industrial Park will soon welcome a new 500,000-square-foot distribution center, believed to be the state’s largest speculative building (page 11). Shakopee truly is an innovating, entertaining and thriving community with so much to celebrate. Let’s make the most of this summer and enjoy a slice of life that feels oh, so normal. Bill Mars Mayor of Shakopee wmars@ShakopeeMN.gov

Minnesota Ironman Bike Ride, All Day, Huber Park and Downtown Shakopee

27 Pop-Up Splash Pad , 5-7 p.m., Community Center

Please note, events are subject to cancellation or changes due to the current public health guidelines by the CDC and Minnesota Department of Health. Find the latest city calendar at www.ShakopeeMN. gov/calendar.

MAYOR Bill Mars ...................................................... wmars@ShakopeeMN.gov COUNCIL MEMBERS JodyBrennan .......................................... jbrennan@ShakopeeMN.gov Angelica Contreras ........................... acontreras@ShakopeeMN.gov Matt Lehman ......................................... MattLehmanSr@comcast.net Jay Whiting ............................................................... jaywhtng@aol.com CITY ADMINISTRATOR William Reynolds ............................... breynolds@ShakopeeMN.gov

CITY HALL 485 Gorman St., Shakopee, MN 55379

Phone .................................................................................... 952-233-9300 TTY ......................................................................................... 952-233-3837 Email .............................................. administration@ShakopeeMN.gov Website .............................................................. www.ShakopeeMN.gov The Hometown Messenger is produced four times a year by the City of Shakopee. Comments or suggestions can be directed to the editor, Kristin Doran, at kdoran@ShakopeeMN.gov.

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