Parks & Rec thanks Rotary for $7,250 donation; city posts events and a new online budget book

The St. Louis Park Parks and Recreation Department received public thanks from city staff after the Saint Louis Park Rotary provided a $7,250 donation to support the department’s summer concert series.

"On behalf of the Parks and Recreation Department, we just want to give a generous thank you to the Saint Louis Park Rotary for their continued support of our summer concert series," said Lisa Abernathy, the department’s recreation supervisor, who distributed a concert brochure and invited residents to attend kids concerts, evening concerts, open mic nights and scattered theater and Saturday night shows.

Clerk Kim outlined several upcoming community events tied to Earth Day and spring activities, including an Earth Day celebration at the library, a creek cleanup starting at the municipal service center, and the annual kite-fly at Louisiana Oaks Park with the Minnesota Kite Society. Kim also presented the municipal budget calendar: the general fund proposed budget will be presented to council on August 3, the capital plan discussion is scheduled for September 8, and preliminary levy consideration is set for September 22. Kim said the city has launched a new online budget book with clickable department pages so residents can explore accomplishments and numbers for each department.

What residents should know The $7,250 donation supports free and public summer programming at the Veterans Memorial Amphitheatre; the online budget book and calendar provide residents multiple opportunities to review and comment on budget proposals this summer and fall.