Springbrook Nature Center
STATUS: ENDANGERED
Map to Springbrook Nature Center
In June of 2003, the City Manager of Fridley proposed a 2004 budget that eliminated funding for Springbrook Nature Center. Since then, the Recreation and Natural Resource Director and the staff from Springbrook have developed a list of funding options that might serve to raise additional revenue. Subsequent budget work sessions resulted in the City Council's decision to restore $106,775 in funding. The Springbrook Foundation, a local community organization, has pledged that they will raise another $56,400 to support the Nature Center operations in 2004 with the expectation that the fees and program revenue would be raised as well. However, the City Council did stipulate that funding could be cut mid-year if the revenues were not being generated as expected.
HOW TO GET TO SPRINGBROOK
Springbrook Nature Center is located at 100 - 85th Avenue N.E. in Fridley, Minnesota. Phone: (763) 572-3588.
From South or East: Take I-94 west to I-694 east. Go north on exit #37 (MN-47/University Avenue). Turn left onto University Avenue, go to 85th Avenue N.W., and turn left. Springbrook is on your left.
From North: Take either MN- 65 or MN-47 south to 85th Avenue N.E. and turn right. Follow 85th until you reach Springbrook, which on your left.
From West: Take I-394 east to I-94 west (heading north) to I-694 east. Take I-694 east to exit #37 (MN-47/University Avenue exit) north. Turn left onto University Avenue, go to 85th Avenue N.W., and turn left. Springbrook is on your left.
WHAT YOU CAN DO AT THE NATURE CENTER
Springbrook Nature Center offers a number of enjoyable and educational opportunities for visitors. Springbrook has over three miles of hiking trails and boardwalks, which provide excellent viewing of waterfowl, wildlife, and plant life. Two gazebos offer refuge in this lush 127-acre property.
The nature center also features an interpretive center where visitors can view live animal exhibits and puppet shows and experience outdoor education programs featuring wildlife management, water quality, and outdoor skills courses such as orienteering and outdoor survival. Fridley residents also utilize the nature area for hiking, jogging, cross-country skiing, snowshoeing, bird watching, and nature study.
HISTORY
Springbrook Nature Center is currently the largest and most heavily used park in Fridley. Nature Center designation for this large park by the Fridley City Council occurred after strong public debate and a public referendum in 1974.
Springbrook has over three
miles of walking trails
Springbrook's original 124 acres were purchased by the City in 1970 and 1971 using Land and Water Conservation Funds from federal grants. An additional three acres were added on the south boundary in 1981 by Northern States Power Company to compensate for the park area that its second high power line would cover. This brought the nature center to its current size of 127 acres.
Since 1974, Springbrook Nature Center has received more than $1 million in grants and donations. These funds, along with tens of thousands of volunteer hours, have helped develop an interpretive building and exhibits, three miles of hiking trails, 1/2 mile of boardwalk over wetlands, a paved handicap-accessible trail, a 90-car parking lot, a picnic shelter, an amphitheater, bridges, wildlife overlooks, and much more.
During the late 1980s and 1990s, the land around the nature center was intensely developed for residential and commercial uses. As a result, Springbrook is a rare island of nature in an urbanized area. As a large natural park, Springbrook allows residents to develop a sense of place and a connection to the land within the community. Evidence of this is found in the guest book, which shows residents have brought visitors and relatives from all 50 states and more than 60 foreign countries.
In addition to being the most widely used leisure resource by Fridley residents, people and agencies beyond Fridley have recognized the value of this special park to the larger metropolitan community. In 1994, the Star Tribune included Springbrook in its list of "Must See" places to take visitors and relatives in the Twin Cities. In 1996, a Minnesota Parent magazine reader survey voted Springbrook the "#1 Park/Nature Center for Families" in Minnesota. In a 1997 issue of its Minnesota Conservation Volunteer, the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources recommended Springbrook as one of 13 "hot spots" in the metro area to view wildlife.
View of the Springbrook
picnic shelter
CURRENT SITUATION
The Fridley City Councils funding reductions have forced the nature center to increase revenue through a combination of fees in addition to the Springbrook Foundation's fundraising efforts. Following a presentation by city staff earlier this month, the Springbrook Nature Center Foundation proposed to raise $56,400, in quarterly payments, to help keep the nature center open.
As part of this ambitious revenue plan, the city will change the nature center to a fee use area, requiring people to pay for daily or annual passes to use the nature center. Currently Springbrook is open to the public for general use for free. The new admission fees are designed to raise at least $31,000 annually from visitors. Last year, an estimated 150,000 visits were made to the nature center. In addition, Springbrook staff will raise other fees to generate an additional $72,000. This will include rental fees and increases in the fees charged students and those attending summer day camps, special events, and other programs.
In 1994, Springbrook was listed
as a "must see" place by the
Star Tribune
The long-term future of Springbrook Nature Center remains in serious doubt. Current city funding expires after the 2004 calendar year. During the summer of 2003, the foundation and the Friends of Springbrook collected 3,000 petition signatures and asked the Fridley City Council to authorize a referendum to fund Springbrook Nature Center for the future. That levy will be written in July 2004 and placed on the November 2004 general election ballot.
"This is a very challenging time for Springbrook and open spaces in the Twin Cities," says Springbrook Nature Center Director Siah St. Clair. "This is a time when we need citizens to let their voices be heard, because that's literally what's going to make the difference."
IF YOU WANT TO GET INVOLVED
Contact:
Malcolm Mitchell
Springbrook Nature Center Foundation
763-571-2339
Siah St. Clair
Springbrook Nature Center Director
763-572-3588
The Embrace Open Space campaign has more information on Springbrook Nature Center on its other treasures page, as well as other open space treasures around the Twin Cities.