Apple Valley Just Greenlit a $13.8M Community Center Makeover

The city council approved contracts to combine the community center and senior center into one building at Hayes Park—funded entirely by the 2023 parks referendum. You're getting an indoor playground, bigger senior lounge, AC in both gyms, and a heated front sidewalk. The catch: the community center closes mid-June through year-end, senior center closes January through June 2027.

Lakeville School Board Approves New Curriculum in 6-1 Vote

The board approved 10 new ELA and social studies resources that'll be used for the next decade—but not before a 45-minute debate over whether decisions affecting 12,000+ students belong on the consent agenda.

There's a park on the bluff above the Minnesota River in Shakopee called Veterans Memorial Park. Families picnic there. Kids play on the playground. Most people never notice the low, grassy rises scattered through the trees.

Those rises are burial mounds. Some are 2,000 years old.

WHAT WAS HERE

More than 12,500 burial mounds have been recorded in Minnesota, though many others were destroyed before documentation. Some date to around 800 BCE. The practice continued for nearly 3,000 years.

The mounds were sacred sites. Some held burials — wood and stone chambers containing the dead along with grave goods: copper breastplates, stone tools, shell beads. Others served ceremonial purposes we can only guess at.

Today, only a fraction remain. Agriculture plowed them under. Roads cut through them. Developers bulldozed them for houses. Looters dug into them. In St. Paul, where Theodore H. Lewis mapped the mounds around 1880, only 39 remained of dozens. Developers destroyed most of those to build Dayton's Bluff.

THE SOUTH METRO MOUNDS

Shakopee — Veterans Memorial Park sits on one of the most significant sites in the region. The mounds date between 500 and 2,000 years old. Native Americans were using this site as far back as 300 BCE. Most visitors have no idea what they're walking past.

Bloomington — An estimated 14 mound groups exist in Bloomington, with the largest assemblage at Mound Springs. As development pushes east toward the river bluffs, encounters with burial sites have been inevitable.

Pilot Knob — The Dakota call it Oheyawahi, meaning "a sacred place much visited; the place where people go for burials." French settlers called it La Butte des Morts — Knoll of the Dead. In 2002, developers planned 157 townhomes on the north slope. The outcry stopped the project. But in 1926, Acacia Cemetery had already removed the top 20 feet of the hill. Digging turned up human remains.

Indian Mounds Park — Six mounds survive in St. Paul on a bluff overlooking the Mississippi. Looters dug into at least 17 over the years. Inside, they found burial chambers, grave goods, and the remains of approximately 50 people. Some artifacts were destroyed in the 1881 state capitol fire. Others were stolen from Macalester College.

ADD AN EVENT

FEATURE AN EVENT

Big Backyard Concert Series: K-Libre (Eagan)
A free outdoor concert at 5pm featuring the 12-piece Latin band K-Libre at Viking Lakes with tacos on site. Dance it out.

Party on the Plaza (Burnsville)
A free outdoor celebration at 5pm at Nicollet Commons Park with live music, tons of food trucks, and family-friendly activities. Hit the plaza.

Gears and Beers Car Show (Rosemount)
A fast-growing weekly car show at 6pm with food, music, and a low-car limbo contest every Thursday evening. Cruise in.

FREE SHOW: GB Leighton at Bald Man Brewing (Eagan)
GB Leighton plays a free show at 6pm at Bald Man Brewing to launch their Thirsty Thursday summer series. Rock out.

Jonathan Biss Plays Schumann's Piano Concerto (Apple Valley)
Pianist Jonathan Biss performs Schumann's Piano Concerto at 7pm with the SPCO at Shepherd of the Valley. Hear it live.

Minnesota Aurora FC vs Rally Madison (Eagan)
Catch Minnesota Aurora FC taking on Rally Madison at 7pm in a high-energy home match at TCO Stadium. See the game.

L&B Animal Rescue Cookout (Apple Valley)
A patio cookout at 4:30pm at Lunds & Byerlys where you and your dog eat well, and half the proceeds benefit a local canine rescue. Eat for the pups.

Parents Night Out at Urban Air (Apple Valley)
Drop off the kids at 6pm for a supervised evening of fun at Urban Air while you enjoy a parents' night out. Free yourself.

Team Jigsaw Puzzle Contest at Trove Brewing (Burnsville)
A speed-puzzling competition at 6pm at Trove Brewing where teams of four race to finish a mystery 500-piece puzzle. Piece it together.

Friday Night Acoustics: The Jake and Josie Show (Apple Valley)
Free acoustic music at 6:30pm on Bogart's patio from The Jake and Josie Show, timeless hits and killer harmonies. Pull up a chair.

FHS Graduation Class of 2026 (Farmington)
Commencement night at 7pm for Farmington High School's Class of 2026, caps, gowns, and all the feels. Congrats, grads.

COSMIC Night (Burnsville)
A neon-lit Friday night experience at 7pm with glowing activities, music, and a totally electric vibe. Glow up.

Reuse Day City-wide (Burnsville)
Starting at 7am, Burnsville residents set out reusable items for neighbors to claim for free, one person's clutter is another's treasure. Treasure hunt.

River Hills Day 2026 (Burnsville)
A beloved annual neighborhood garage sale at 8am spanning dozens of homes, with a charitable twist that has raised over $140K for local causes. Score some deals.

Buzz & Bloom Day at the Minnesota Zoo (Apple Valley)
Free native seed packets and pollinator gardening tips from Bachman's at the Zoo's new Buzz and Bloom garden starting at 10am. Grow something.

Season of Growth: Outdoor Yoga at the Lavender Barnyard (Farmington)
A morning yoga series at 11am with Hatha, meditation, and a flow class in the lavender fields, do one or stay for all three. Find your zen.

Kolschfest at OMNI (Rosemount)
Spend the afternoon at 1pm in OMNI's Kolsch Garden with German-style brews, yard games, and good vibes. Prost.

PawPADs Fundraiser Puppy Patio Party at Barley + Vine (Lakeville)
Patio hangs at 1pm with puppies and pints at Barley + Vine, all benefiting PawPADs Assistance Dogs. Meet the pups.

Adoption Event at Trove Brewing (Burnsville)
Meet adoptable dogs and puppies at 2pm at Trove Brewing, even if you're just there for the puppy cuddles. Meet your match.

Rock For Life 10th Anniversary (Eagan)
A 10th anniversary charity bash at 3pm with live music and local craft brews benefiting childhood cancer research. Rock for a cause.

Holistic Healing & Wellness Fair (Eagan)
A huge holistic wellness fair at 10am with dozens of vendors, free workshops, and all kinds of natural healing to explore. Explore wellness.

A New Leash on Life: Dog Dash for NMDP (Burnsville)
Free family-friendly fun at 11am at Buck Hill with dachshund races, costume contests, and raffles supporting NMDP. Dash for it.

Petey's BBQ Kick Off to Summer Bingo (Lakeville)
Sunday bingo returns to Petey's at noon with great food, good company, and a chance to win big. Play to win.

Warrior Dog Rescue at North 20 Brewing (Rosemount)
Meet adoptable dogs at 2pm from Warrior Dog Rescue while enjoying drinks at North 20 Brewing. Meet the pups.

Blue Lotus Bellydance Show (Burnsville)
A bellydance cabaret at 2pm at Mediterranean Cruise Cafe with curated food and drink and door prize drawings. See the show.

Shana's Dance Studio Presents Broadway Bound (Burnsville)
A dance studio showcase at 6pm at the Ames Center celebrating Broadway-inspired performances from local dancers. See the show.