6.1.
| Park and Recreation Commission |
| Meeting Date: | 04/10/2025 |
| Primary Strategic Plan Initiative: | {ud_pd8} |
Information
Title:
Upcoming Programs and Events
Purpose/Background:
Upcoming Programs, Registration Deadlines, and New Releases:
Line Dancing
Each week features a new dance and a quick review of past ones, so no worries if you miss a class. Suitable for all ages and levels, no partner required—just bring a water bottle and get ready to dance! Led by Karen Ann Stark, an experienced instructor and former choreographer of the Bootscooters Dance Team. Classes take place at Central Park.
Puzzle Competition
Join us for a family-friendly speed puzzling competition, where teams of up to four will race to complete a 500-piece puzzle in two hours or less featuring a scene from Ramsey's 2023 Photo Contest. All teams can take their puzzle home, and the winning teams will receive a prize.
Yoga
Join Christina, our certified Yoga Teacher and Massage Therapist, at Central Park for a rejuvenating Monthly Yoga Series, where each session explores a unique theme to inspire and revitalize your body, mind, and spirit. Attend one session or all—each class stands alone, so you can join whenever it fits your schedule. No experience is necessary—this class welcomes everyone.
Egg-Paw-Looza
Get ready for a thrilling ‘Easter Egg Hunt’ designed for dogs at our second annual Egg-Paw-Looza! We will have an abundance of themed tennis balls around the park for your dog to sniff out and play. Dogs must be well-behaved and under control at all times. Any dog showing signs of aggression must be promptly removed from the park. More information on the Alpine Dog Park rules can be found here.
Walk with a Naturalist
Join naturalist Ellen for a guided spring birdwatching walk at Mississippi West and Rum River Central, where you'll observe migratory waterfowl, warblers, and other forest birds—arrive early for an optional 7 a.m. scouting walk before the main 8 a.m. group.
Parent and Me
In partnership with KidCreate, our Parent & Me classes offer children ages 12 months to 6 years a fun, sensory-rich experience to explore, create, and play alongside their caregivers at Central Park.
Pickleball Leagues
Ramsey Parks and Recreation is partnering with Minnesota Pickleball to offer structured ladder leagues where players compete individually, rotate partners each session, and move up or down based on performance, with results posted weekly. Leagues will take place at the Central Park courts.
Intro to Pickleball: Registration Now Open!
Learn the basics of pickleball with certified instructor Gwen Radel from Nitty Gritty Pickleball! This fun, two-hour beginner class covers rules, scoring, terminology, fundamentals, and court positioning—paddles and balls provided. These classes fill fast! Please only register for one Intro to Pickleball session, all classes cover the same materials. Classes take place at the Central Park courts.
Garage Sale Trail
It’s back and registration is now open! Meet your neighbors, find great bargains, and explore a variety of treasures at the third annual Garage Sale Trail. This year, we're excited to partner with Elk River for a bigger and better sale event!
5K Races
Stay on track with your 2025 fitness goals and sign up for one of Ramsey’s 5K races! Whether you’re joining the brand-new Dash and Dine 5K or the community-favorite Happy Days 5K, both events are open to all levels and feature a scenic route on a USATF-certified course at Elmcrest Park. Get a $5 off discount when you sign up for both races! The Dash and Dine 5K includes a t-shirt and $10 voucher for one of the food trucks at the event. The Happy Days 5K includes a long sleeve t-shirt.
55+ Day Trip: Holland Family Farm and Marieke Gouda Store
Discover the rich flavors and traditions of Holland’s Family Farm in Thorp, WI, where Gouda cheese is made fresh just hours after milking. This immersive visit includes a guided tour of the farm, a chance to meet the cows and calves, and an inside look at the cheese-making process—complete with a tasty sample. Enjoy a delicious meal at Café Dutchess while taking in the picturesque farm views, then explore the Marieke Gouda Store for locally made Wisconsin goods and Dutch specialties. It’s a perfect day of food, fun, and farm-fresh experiences!
55+ Day Trip: Munsinger Gardens
Experience a delightful day in St. Cloud exploring gardens, dining, and history! Begin with a visit to the Munsinger and Clemens Gardens nestled along the Mississippi River shores. These nationally renowned gardens attract visitors from all over the world. Following the garden visit, fill up with a delicious lunch at Coyote Moon Grille before heading to the Stearns County History Museum for a guided tour.
In the Works
Planning for our 2025 programs and events is in full swing! We’ve locked in dates for some popular returning events and a few exciting new ones:
Line Dancing
Each week features a new dance and a quick review of past ones, so no worries if you miss a class. Suitable for all ages and levels, no partner required—just bring a water bottle and get ready to dance! Led by Karen Ann Stark, an experienced instructor and former choreographer of the Bootscooters Dance Team. Classes take place at Central Park.
- Dates:
- Day Date Time
- Tu. April 1 5:30 – 6:30 p.m.
- Tu. April 15 5:30 – 6:30 p.m.
- Cost: $5
- Registration: Pre-register prior to arrival at the class.
Puzzle Competition
Join us for a family-friendly speed puzzling competition, where teams of up to four will race to complete a 500-piece puzzle in two hours or less featuring a scene from Ramsey's 2023 Photo Contest. All teams can take their puzzle home, and the winning teams will receive a prize.
- Date: Th., April 3, 6:30 – 8:30 p.m. at City Hall
- Cost: $40/team
- Registration: As of Monday, March 31 only two spots remain!
- Check out the winners from our last competition!
Yoga
Join Christina, our certified Yoga Teacher and Massage Therapist, at Central Park for a rejuvenating Monthly Yoga Series, where each session explores a unique theme to inspire and revitalize your body, mind, and spirit. Attend one session or all—each class stands alone, so you can join whenever it fits your schedule. No experience is necessary—this class welcomes everyone.
- Dates:
- Day Date Theme Time
- Sa. April 12 Happy Hips 9 – 10 a.m.
- Sa. May 17 Nurture Yourself 9 – 10 a.m.
- Sa. June 28 Summer Solstice 9-10 a.m.
- Cost: $5
- Registration: Pre-registration is required to secure your spot
- Note: We have plans for weekly Gentle Yoga sessions to begin again in May!
Egg-Paw-Looza
Get ready for a thrilling ‘Easter Egg Hunt’ designed for dogs at our second annual Egg-Paw-Looza! We will have an abundance of themed tennis balls around the park for your dog to sniff out and play. Dogs must be well-behaved and under control at all times. Any dog showing signs of aggression must be promptly removed from the park. More information on the Alpine Dog Park rules can be found here.
- Date: Sat., April 12, 10 a.m. – noon at Alpine Dog Park
- Cost: FREE
Walk with a Naturalist
Join naturalist Ellen for a guided spring birdwatching walk at Mississippi West and Rum River Central, where you'll observe migratory waterfowl, warblers, and other forest birds—arrive early for an optional 7 a.m. scouting walk before the main 8 a.m. group.
- Dates:
- Day Date Location Time
- Su. April 13 Mississippi West 7 a.m. or 8 a.m. – 9 a.m.
- Su. June 14 Rum River Central 7 a.m. or 8 a.m. – 9 a.m.
- Su. July 12 Rum River Central 7 a.m. or 8 a.m. – 9 a.m.
- Cost: $25/parent-child pair. Receive a $10 discount when registering a sibling for the same session.
- Registration: Pre-registration is required to secure your spot. Space is limited to 12 kids per session.
Parent and Me
In partnership with KidCreate, our Parent & Me classes offer children ages 12 months to 6 years a fun, sensory-rich experience to explore, create, and play alongside their caregivers at Central Park.
- Dates:
- Day Date Theme Time
- Sa. April 26 Creepy Crawlers 10:30 – 11:30 a.m.
- Sa. June 14 Glow Party 10:30 – 11:30 a.m.
- Sa. July 12 Summer Fun 10:30 – 11:30 a.m.
- Sa. Aug. 16 Camp Out 10:30 – 11:30 a.m.
- Cost: $25/parent-child pair. Receive a $10 discount when registering a sibling for the same session.
- Registration: Pre-registration is required to secure your spot. Space is limited to 12 kids per session.
Pickleball Leagues
Ramsey Parks and Recreation is partnering with Minnesota Pickleball to offer structured ladder leagues where players compete individually, rotate partners each session, and move up or down based on performance, with results posted weekly. Leagues will take place at the Central Park courts.
- Sessions
- Wednesday Evening Early Season
- April 30-July 2, 5:30-8:30 p.m.
- Sunday Evening
- June 15- August 31, 5:30-8:30 p.m.
- Wednesday Evening Late Season
- July 16-Sept. 17, 5:30-6:30 p.m.
- Wednesday Evening Early Season
- Cost: $65/person
- Registration: Pre-registration is required to secure your spot
Intro to Pickleball: Registration Now Open!
Learn the basics of pickleball with certified instructor Gwen Radel from Nitty Gritty Pickleball! This fun, two-hour beginner class covers rules, scoring, terminology, fundamentals, and court positioning—paddles and balls provided. These classes fill fast! Please only register for one Intro to Pickleball session, all classes cover the same materials. Classes take place at the Central Park courts.
- Dates:
- Day Date Time
- Sa. May 10 9 – 11 a.m.
- Su. June 1 1 – 3 p.m.
- Sa. June 14 9 – 11 a.m.
- Su. July 27 1 – 3 p.m.
- Cost: $15/person
- Registration: Pre-registration is required to secure your spot
Garage Sale Trail
It’s back and registration is now open! Meet your neighbors, find great bargains, and explore a variety of treasures at the third annual Garage Sale Trail. This year, we're excited to partner with Elk River for a bigger and better sale event!
- Date: Th., May 15- Sa., May 17, 8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
- Cost: FREE
- Registration: Pre-register by May 11.
5K Races
Stay on track with your 2025 fitness goals and sign up for one of Ramsey’s 5K races! Whether you’re joining the brand-new Dash and Dine 5K or the community-favorite Happy Days 5K, both events are open to all levels and feature a scenic route on a USATF-certified course at Elmcrest Park. Get a $5 off discount when you sign up for both races! The Dash and Dine 5K includes a t-shirt and $10 voucher for one of the food trucks at the event. The Happy Days 5K includes a long sleeve t-shirt.
- Dash and Dine 5K
- Race T-shirt design just released, now visible on the registration site!
- Date: Sa., May 17 | 9:30 a.m.
- Cost: Early pricing is now at $40 (valid through March 16)
- This race is scheduled the same weekend as the annual Garage Sale Trail – this year partnered with Elk River for a bigger and better sale weekend!
- Happy Days 5K
- Date: Sa., Sept. 6 | 8:00 a.m.
- Cost: Early pricing starts at $30
- Includes a long-sleeved tech-blend shirt.
- More information on Happy Days can be found here.
55+ Day Trip: Holland Family Farm and Marieke Gouda Store
Discover the rich flavors and traditions of Holland’s Family Farm in Thorp, WI, where Gouda cheese is made fresh just hours after milking. This immersive visit includes a guided tour of the farm, a chance to meet the cows and calves, and an inside look at the cheese-making process—complete with a tasty sample. Enjoy a delicious meal at Café Dutchess while taking in the picturesque farm views, then explore the Marieke Gouda Store for locally made Wisconsin goods and Dutch specialties. It’s a perfect day of food, fun, and farm-fresh experiences!
- Date: Tues., June 10
- Cost: $96/person. Includes roundtrip transportation on a coach bus, lunch, and guided tour. Bus picks up and drops off at City Hall.
- Registration: Registration is open until May 11 or until full. No refunds or registrations can be taken after this date.
55+ Day Trip: Munsinger Gardens
Experience a delightful day in St. Cloud exploring gardens, dining, and history! Begin with a visit to the Munsinger and Clemens Gardens nestled along the Mississippi River shores. These nationally renowned gardens attract visitors from all over the world. Following the garden visit, fill up with a delicious lunch at Coyote Moon Grille before heading to the Stearns County History Museum for a guided tour.
- Date: Wed., July 23
- Cost: $92/person. Includes roundtrip transportation on a coach bus, lunch, and entry to all locations. Bus picks up and drops off at City Hall.
- Registration: Registration is open until June 22 or until full. No refunds or registrations can be taken after this date.
In the Works
Planning for our 2025 programs and events is in full swing! We’ve locked in dates for some popular returning events and a few exciting new ones:
- Volunteer opportunities – want to get involved with the community? Let us know! We’re looking for volunteers to assist at a variety of our events.
- Summer Youth Programs – We’re working on a fun mix of youth programs including science camp, art in the park, parent and me classes, and more! Details will be released in the coming weeks.
- Community Art Plan – In partnership with the Ramsey Community Foundation, we’re working on the creation of a Community Art Plan. We are currently gathering resident feedback on what Ramsey means to those who live and work here. Visit our website to learn more.
- Happy Days – Registration for Happy Days events and sponsors have started to open. For more information, visit our Happy Days website here.
- Expanding Communications – At events, I often hear that people are just discovering everything we offer. I’d love to reach people where they are to share our programs and events. Right now, I have been utilizing EventBrite, Nextdoor, Facebook, this E-Newsletter, our Website, Ramsey Resident, and submitting events to local papers and other online event boards. If you have other places you receive information and think would be a great place for us to spread the word, please let me know!
- Got an idea you think Ramsey would love? Let us know!
Recommendation:
N/A
Outcome/Action:
N/A
Attachments
- Monthly Yoga
- Line Dancing
- Egg-Paw-Looza
- Intro to Pickleball
- Dash and Dine 5K
- Garage Sale Trail
- Kites and Bites
- 55+ Day Trip: Holland Family Farm
- Concert Series
- Two Rivers Art Fair
Form Review
| Inbox | Reviewed By | Date |
|---|---|---|
| Mark Riverblood | Mark Riverblood | 04/03/2025 11:39 AM |
| Brian Hagen | Mark Riverblood | 04/03/2025 11:40 AM |
| Mark Riverblood | Mark Riverblood | 04/03/2025 12:49 PM |
| Bruce Westby | Bruce Westby | 04/03/2025 01:31 PM |
| Brian Hagen | Brian Hagen | 04/04/2025 02:03 PM |
- Form Started By:
- Abby Proulx
- Started On:
- 04/03/2025 11:19 AM
- Final Approval Date:
- 04/04/2025