Southwest metro briefs: Edina selects planning firm to review future of Braemar Park

The Edina City Council last week selected a planning and architectural firm to guide the creation of a master plan for Braemar Park, the largest recreational area in the city.

SRF, a Minneapolis-based firm, would seek community input regarding the future of the 500-acre park. It would then draft improvements and provide recommendations for certain features of the park.

The city interviewed four firms in May for the project. SRF is working with a city budget of $55,000 to create the master plan.

In addition to concept planning, the firm expects to perform an environmental evaluation and provide cost estimates for park improvements. Public meetings and workshops will be held to gather community feedback, according to city documents.

The project would be finished in six to seven months, according to the city.

The Rotary Club of Edina awarded Lauren Morse-Wendt, a diaconal minister at Edina Community Lutheran Church, with the Chrysanne Manoles Women in Leadership Award.

Morse-Wendt was chosen for her efforts in leading a church task force to develop 66 West, an apartment building for homeless youth. The task force worked with other congregations and the Beacon Interfaith Housing Collaborative to rally support for the building.

Miguel Otárola

The historic Steamboat Minnehaha, a restored early-20th-century boat that sails each year on Lake Minnetonka, has started its 22nd season.

The boat, which was built in 1906, started operating June 3. It departs from Wayzata's depot dock in the morning, does three afternoon cruises from Excelsior's city dock and one round-trip cruise taking passengers from Excelsior to Wayzata. For a full schedule or details, go to steamboatminnehaha.org.

The boat is owned by the Museum of Lake Minnetonka and was an extension of the former Twin Cities streetcar line before it was deemed obsolete in 1926 and purposely sunk near Big Island. Crews discovered and resurrected it in 1980. The restored vessel began offering cruises in 1996. It now draws nearly 10,000 visitors a year and has run longer in its second life than it did in the early 1900s.

Kelly Smith

Rock the Block, part of the city's four-day Parktacular celebration, will be held at the Recreation Outdoor Center, or ROC, located at 3700 Monterey Blvd.

The concert will feature the Dweebs, a cover band playing everything from the Beatles to Katy Perry. It is from 6:30 p.m. to 11 p.m. and is sponsored by the city and the SLP American Legion.

The recreation center opened on May 21. The facility, which features an ice rink during the winter, is covered by a fabric roof draped over an arched structure.

Parktacular is holding events in several parks and centers on Saturday and next Sunday, including activities for kids and a Father's Day waffle brunch. Check out the events list at parktacular.org/schedule.

Miguel Otárola

The library system, the state's largest, will host events from 2-4 p.m. June 11 at North Regional Library, 5-7 p.m. June 22 at Sumner Library and 1-3 p.m. June 24 at Webber Park Library. The events will include demonstrations by Voice of Culture Drum+Dance, Million Artist Movement, Black Storytellers Alliance, Never Ending Story Circle, Journey Productions, Passed Presents, Free Black Dirt and Ancestry Books. For more details, go to hclib.org.

The Hennepin County Library in Minnetonka will close July 9 for a major renovation.

The Ridgedale Library will be revamped to renovate library spaces and maintain the exterior and infrastructure. The library will close for about 12 months. It's just the latest library to get a major makeover. The library system, the state's largest, has long had a goal of updating every one of its 41 libraries every 12 years.