Minnesota summer is almost upon us, and I know we are all taking advantage of the weather, enjoying the outdoors, and joining together in community spaces for worthwhile moments with friends and family. 

Memorial Day was celebrated this past weekend, and every year it reaffirms for me just how special the Fifth District communities of Eden Prairie, Richfield, Bloomington, and SW Minneapolis of Hennepin County are. 

I was proud to join with our veterans, local elected officials, and neighbors like you for Memorial Day events this year to recognize the men and women in our United States Armed Forces who have given their lives to protect and preserve the United States throughout its almost 250 year history.

I hope to see you all this summer in our amazing green spaces, at our farmers markets, and frequenting our local businesses in the Fifth District. Let's enjoy it. 

Get ready to soak up the sun and make the most of your summer! Go Outside with Hennepin County will return to the Government Center and Target Field Station, starting June 3! Free activities include movies, pet rescue visits, fitness classes, live music performances, tasty giveaways and more.   

Learn more and view the full calendar of events: Go Outside.  Please note: All events are subject to cancelation in the event of inclement weather. 

At the Government Center North Plaza 

Go Outside summer sessions Select Wednesdays from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. 

Take your lunch break outside this summer to listen to live music from local musicians, enjoy giveaways, treats, and take part other free activities.   

Special activations include partners from: Underdog Rescue MN, Save-A-Bull, Twin Cities Pet Rescue, Sing United Choir, Alley Creations Chalk Art, and Minneapolis Aquatennial. 

Pianos on Parade Every Thursday from noon to 1 p.m. 

Listen to live piano performances by local artists and try your hand at playing the piano. More performances available in other locations.   

At Target Field Station 

Outdoor movie nights Select Thursdays at 7 p.m. 

Enjoy family-favorite movies on the big screen and treats from local vendors for free at Target Field Station. 

Outdoor fitness classes Select Tuesdays from 6 to 7 p.m.  

Get a workout in with free outdoor classes led by CorePower.    

The Hennepin County Board of Commissioners, acting as the Housing and Redevelopment Authority (HRA), has awarded $2 million in Transit Oriented Communities (TOC) program funding to six development projects that prioritize walkable, mixed-use communities that leverage high-quality transit service. 

Transit-oriented communities have wide-ranging benefits. They are more resistant to climate change, improve connections to jobs and services, and lower combined housing and transportation costs for residents. The TOC program has been a key lever in the county’s efforts to reduce disparities by race, place, and income and promote vibrant and sustainable communities.   

Hennepin County was challenged by our downstream neighbor, Goodhue County, to participate in the Mighty Mississippi Cleanup Challenge between April 15 and May 15, and we wholeheartedly accepted! We encouraged residents to join a cleanup event, which we listed on our Earth Day web page, organize their own cleanup, or sign up to Adopt-a-Drain. 

About 50 cleanups and hundreds of drain cleanouts happened throughout the county during the challenge. We had results reported from 14 groups, including cities, staff groups, neighborhood groups, and nonprofit organizations. The groups that shared data and photos had about 2,800 participants and picked up over 20,500 pounds plus 100 bags of litter! 

See our 2025 Mighty Mississippi Cleanup Challenge results and photos (PDF). 

Thanks to everyone who contributed to keeping our lakes and rivers clean and making Hennepin County a great place to live! 

For more than a decade, Hennepin County has celebrated and supported our local businesses, we’re seeing the fruits of the ongoing partnership between local government and the business community. 

This work has been essential long before Elevate Hennepin launched, and continues to evolve. 

Read why Hennepin County sees this partnership as an essential bridge between local government and business. 

Read more: Hennepin County A long-term partner to the business community | Elevate Hennepin 

The Hennepin County Board of Commissioners has voted to approve $14.8 million for affordable housing. Together, these awards will create or preserve 1,093 affordable rental housing units and 37 affordable homeownership opportunities, opening doors to new neighbors, helping to end resident homelessness, and reducing racial disparities in homeownership. 

38% of rental units will be affordable to households at or below 30% of the area median income (AMI). 188 highly tailored supportive housing units will serve households experiencing homelessness prioritized for housing through the Hennepin County coordinated entry system. $1.5 million will create 37 new affordable homeownership opportunities through new construction, acquisition, and rehabilitation.   

Read more: County invests $14.8M in affordable housing, homeownership opportunities  

• First wage theft conviction in the state charged by Hennepin County- MPR News
• Teens in Hennepin County fighting climate change - New York Times