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Fall 2026 sustainability news

Help us plant a food forest! 

Join City of St. Louis Park natural resources staff and the St. Louis Park Environment and Sustainability Commission on Thursday, Oct. 8 from 6 – 7:30 p.m. to plant more trees in the Ainsworth Park "Food Forest."

Volunteers will help with planting a variety of fruit trees and shrubs in the northeast corner of Ainsworth Park. Please bring your own gardening or work gloves if you have them. City staff will have limited supplies on-site. Registration is not required. All ages welcome.

Questions? Contact the sustainability division at slpsustainability@stlouisparkmn.gov or 952.924.2191.

Photo spotlight: Community resiliency survey wraps up 

City staff have closed the "How Are You Experiencing Climate Change in St. Louis Park?" survey after six months of outreach and engagement. The survey, which was grant funded, asked Aquila and Texa-Tonka residents how they are being impacted by climate change and what may be needed to help navigate those impacts.

The results of this survey will guide the city's work on a Climate Action Plan update that will establish goals and action steps to address climate and public health vulnerabilities. Thank you to everyone who participated! 

Renewable energy, energy efficiency and home electrification

Discounted electric space heating rate takes effect Oct. 1

If you’re one of the many St. Louis Park residents who have made the switch from a natural gas furnace to a cold climate air source heat pump for your primary heating source, then don’t forget to sign up for Xcel’s discounted electric space heating rate!

This rate is nearly half the standard electricity rate and applies to all the electricity you use from Oct. 1 – May 31, not just electricity for heating. Don’t miss out on these savings! You can sign up by calling 800.895.4999.

Electrify Everything MN Workshop on Dec. 3 

The city, in partnership with Electrify Everything MN, will be co-hosting a free in-person home electrification workshop on Thursday, Dec. 3 from 6 – 8 p.m. at The Rec Center Banquet Room.  Join us to learn why heat pumps are rapidly replacing traditional furnaces and air conditioners, the benefits of induction stoves, what incentives are available to switch from gas to electric, and much more.  Mark your calendars and register online here.

Waste reduction

Paper shredding event – Oct. 2

Need to get rid of sensitive documents? The city will be hosting a free paper shredding event on Friday, Oct. 2 from 4 – 6 p.m. at the Municipal Service Center, 7305 Oxford St. Residents may bring up to five paper grocery bags full of paper to be shredded.  Please bring only confidential papers to the event. Non-sensitive papers, such as newspapers, junk mail, and catalogs, do not need to be shredded and can be placed in your recycling. The documents you bring will be shredded on-site and recycled. Visit www.stlouisparkmn.gov/cleanup for event guidelines.

Fall clean up – Oct. 3

It’s time for fall cleanup! Gather up your unusable electronics, appliances, scrap metal, mattresses, remodeling debris and more for the city’s fall cleanup day. The event is held on Saturday, Oct. 3 from 8 a.m. – noon at the Municipal Service Center, 7305 Oxford St. The event is for St. Louis Park residents only; no business waste. Payment by cash (exact change only), check or credit/debit card.

Visit www.stlouisparkmn.gov/cleanup for details including items that will be accepted and their associated fees, as well as options that are available year-round for those who can’t make it to the event. 

Natural resources

Let your garden be a winter haven for wildlife

As autumn fades, resist the urge to tidy up your garden. Leaving seed heads, plant stems and leaf litter creates vital shelter and food for overwintering insects and birds. Native bees nest in hollow stems, while butterflies and beetles burrow into leaf piles for insulation. These hidden guests are essential pollinators and pest controllers come spring. Birds like chickadees also rely on seeds from dried flower heads and insects tucked within bark. Even dead plants have purpose—standing stalks trap snow, insulating soil and protecting dormant roots. So, consider leaving your garden intact. You’ll be rewarded with a vibrant landscape and local habitat come spring!

It's time to think about tree pruning

Winter is a great time to prune trees. If you’re planning to hire a contractor to do tree work on your property, remember that city ordinance requires them to be licensed with the City of St. Louis Park. City-licensed tree care contractors are insured and have a certified arborist on staff.

View an up-to-date list of city-licensed tree care contractors.

Transportation

METRO Green Line Extension opening June 12 The day is almost here! Metro Transit has announced their 2027 opening date for the Green Line Extension for June 12. St. Louis Park stations are at Beltline Boulevard, Wooddale Avenue, and Louisiana Avenue.  Metro Transit is still accepting feedback for the connecting bus service lines for the Green Line Extension through Oct. 4. You can review the proposed changes and fill out this comment form to submit your feedback.  Happy riding!

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