418kApply Now For 2008 Citizen Academy
For the fourth year in a row, the City of Hopkins is offering a free opportunity to learn more about the operations, facilities and services of the City through the Citizens Academy.
Here is your chance to:
- participate in a felony traffic stop.
- take the position of a firefighter on an engine and learn how a firefighter prepares to fight fires.
- take part in a City Council meeting where a City policy is formulated.
- discover how economic development projects are put together.
Classes are designed to be fun and informative. Past participants have said: “Very interesting—enjoyed the class,” “Great hands on program,” and “Loved the class.” Who knew learning about government could be so much fun?
Classes will be held at 6:30 pm on five Thursdays beginning February 28, each at a different location within the City.
Find out more about the Citizen Academy.
Until January 17, Public Works crews will be collecting Christmas trees for free from Hopkins
residential refuse customers. This pick up will take place the same day as your residential
refuse pick up. Residents do not need to call to schedule the free pick up.
Beginning the week of January 21, holiday tree removal will be done on Tuesdays as part of
the residential refuse customer brush pick up program. A fee will be charged and residents
must call before 2 pm on Monday to schedule a pick up.
Trees from multi-housing, commercial or industrial properties will not be collected by the
City. Arrangements for disposal should be made through their private refuse contract handlers.
- Trees must be placed on the boulevard for collection.
- Wreaths or decorations containing metal pieces will not be accepted.
- Bags and stands must be removed.
- Unacceptable waste may be discarded in your refuse container.
Residents participating in the City’s curbside recycling program may recycle old phone books by placing them in their green and yellow recycling cart.
Residents without curbside recycling may drop off phone books at the Hopkins/Minnetonka Recycling Center, 11522 Minnetonka Blvd, Minnetonka. The recycling center is open seven days a week, 24 hours a day.
If you have any questions regarding recycling your phone books please call the recycling coordinator at 952-939-1382.
Fulfill Your New Year's Resolutions At The Hopkins Activity Center
I Will Get Organized!
Scrapbooking Basics Class
Thursday, January 17, 10 am–noon
Pat Arent, Creative Memories Consultant, will show you how to use the basic tools and methods to display your photos. Bring a current pack of photos. Frequent Card holders $8; Non Card holders $10
I Will Start Exercising!
Aerobics: Focus Is You
Tuesdays & Thursdays, 9 am
Join us for group exercise with Ben Walker, certified exercise trainer. The focus is to improve your muscle strength, balance, and flexibility while incorporating aerobics to stimulate your heart rate. Bring hand weights. Try your first class free. Frequent Card holders $32/10 classes; Non Card holders $42/10 classes
I Will Be Healthier!
Blood Pressure Screenings
Tuesday, January 15, 10:15–11:15 am
Free.
I Will Travel!
Valentine Show Day Trip
Thursday, February 14, 10:45 am
Enjoy a buffet lunch at Chaska’s River City Event Center followed by a Valentine performance of Monroe Crossing, the midwest’s premier Bluegrass and Gospel Quintet. Space is limited. Register by January 21. $50.
I Will Learn Something New!
Bridge Lessons
Mondays, January 14 – 28
Beginners 9 am & Refresher 10 am
500 Lessons
Thursdays, January 17 – 31, 9 am
Frequent Card holders $19; Non
Card holders $22
The Hopkins Activity Center is located at 33 14th Ave N in Hopkins. Call 952-939-1333 with questions or to register.
Ice Rinks & Indoor Warming Houses
Depending on the weather, the City’s ice rinks will be open the following days and times. Additionally, all the sites will be open from 12–9 pm during winter break (Dec 24–29, Jan 4), on Martin Luther King Jr. Day (Jan 21), and President’s Day (Feb 18). All sites are closed on Dec 25. For weather information relating to the ice rinks call 952-939-8355.
| Burnes | Central | Harley | Interlachen | Oakes | Valley | |
| 301 2nd St N |
101 17th Ave S |
502 1st St S |
262 Homedale Rd | 900 Lake St NE |
801 7th Ave S |
|
| O | O H | O H | O H | O H | O H | |
| Sun | 12-5 pm | 12-5 pm | 12-5 pm | 12-5 pm | 12-5 pm | 12-5 pm* |
| Mon | 4:30-9 pm | 4:30-9 pm | closed | 4:30-9 pm | closed | closed |
| Tue | closed | closed | 4:30-9 pm | closed | 4:30-9 pm | 4:30-9 pm |
| Wed | 4:30-9 pm | 4:30-9 pm | closed | 4:30-9pm | closed | closed |
| Thu | closed | closed | 4:30-9 pm | closed | 4:30-9 pm | 4:30-9 pm* |
| Fri | closed | 4:30-9 pm | closed | 4:30-9pm | closed | closed |
| Sat | 12-5 pm | 12-5 pm | 12-5 pm | 12-5pm | 12-5 pm | 12-5 pm |
| O = Open Skating Rink H = Hockey Rink | ||||||
| Weather Hotline - 952-939-8355 | ||||||
*Due to Adult Broomball, only the general skating rink is available for public use at Valley Park on Thursdays from 6-9 pm and Sundays from 3-6 pm.
The Hopkins Park Board surveyed hundreds of residents over the past summer and fall to find out how they feel about their parks and how the parks might be improved. Thanks to everyone who returned their completed survey—the feedback is very valuable to the City and the Park Board.
The survey first asked what the number one way a resident’s neighborhood park could be improved. The most often mentioned improvement was to upgrade play equipment. Other suggestions included:
- more shade trees
- improve safety
- allow dogs
- improve or add picnic shelters
- add or keep restrooms open year-around
- resurface tennis courts
- add drinking fountains and benches
There was a great number of positive comments on the parks and many people expressed a strong belief in the importance of our parks for both the neighborhoods and the city as a whole.
The feedback from the surveys has been given to Park Board members. It will be used to help plan the most cost-effective way to maintain and improve Hopkins’ parks in the years ahead. View more detailed, park-by-park information.
If you have additional thoughts or comments please do not hesitate to contact a Park Board Member or the Park Board liaison, Steve Stadler, at the Public Works Department, 952-939-1382 or sstadler@hopkinsmn.com.
Recycling collection is January 7 –10 and 22–25.
Refuse collection is January 2 –4 (due to New Year's Day), 7 –10, 14–17 (due to Martin Luther King, Jr. Day), 22–25, and 28–31.