Wood Lake Nature Center
Building Project
Building a new nature center building to serve the region for generations to come.
See below for project updates, architectural renderings, project timeline, financial information, and more.
Work begins Spring 2025!
During construction, Wood Lake’s trails will still be open to the public and many of Wood Lake’s spring/summer camps and programs will still take place, both at the nature center and at various parks in Richfield. See this year’s 2025 Spring/Summer Program Guide for a details. Registration for summer programs is now open. The new building is expected to open Fall 2026.
See Wood Lake’s web page for links to their program guide, online registration, and more.
Project Updates:
JUNE 2025
Expected construction start (first week)
APRIL 2025
Wood Lake staff moves to their temporary office location at the Community Center. Most summer programs (including all-age weekend specials) will still be held at Wood Lake. Preschool/Kindergarten camps to be held at Augsburg Park/Community Center. See brochure for details.
MARCH 2025
Phase 1 of tree removal: March 24-28
Phase 2 of tree removal: March 31-April 1
FEBRUARY 2025
City Council approves guaranteed maximum price for project.
JANUARY 2025
Wood Lake building open house and building farewell with project updates.
DECEMBER 2024
Staff continues to tour other nature centers and meets with HGA Architects to discuss final design options and plan layout and use of space.
Council is presented with a project update (design development phase) at work session.
NOVEMBER 2024
Richfield voters approved all three questions of the local sales tax referendum (a question for each proposed project: a Community Center, improvements to the Veterans Park recreation facilities, and the construction of a new building at Wood Lake Nature Center.
SEPTEMBER 2024
Wood Lake Building Design Open House - Schematic Design Presentation.
AUGUST 2024
City Council approved the ballot wording for the three questions of the local sales tax referendum (one for each proposed project).
City Council approved a contract with Mortenson Construction to serve as the Construction Manager at Risk for the Wood Lake Building Project.
City Council approved a contract with the Science Museum of MN to design and install the educational nature exhibits for the Wood Lake Building Project.
JULY 2024
City Council is presented with a project update (schematic design phase) at work session.
DECEMBER 2023
City Council approved a contract with HGA Architects for planning and design services for the Wood Lake Building Project.
FAQs about tree removal
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Approximately 68 trees will be removed from the site. Landscape architects have designed the site thoughtfully and were able to save 10 larger trees from removal. Additionally, 14 maple trees in the impacted area will transplanted to an on-site nursery and later reincorporated into the new landscaping plan.
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The decision around which trees need to be removed has been very difficult and involved much discussion. The factors that were taken into consideration in determining if a tree needed to be removed were;
1) Will changes to the site impact the long-term survivability of the tree?
2) If the tree were to fall, would it damage the new building?
3) Will the tree be impacted by utility work?
4) Is the tree invasive or in poor health?
Generally, we erred on the side of keeping trees when possible. With the building floor being raised 6 feet for runoff management, the overwhelming majority of trees are being removed due to re-grading of soil that would impact the long-term health of the trees. Trees impacted by the regrading would survive at most two years, more likely only 6 months to a year.
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Tree removal will begin on March 24 and is planned to conclude by April 15. It will occur in two phases. Phase 1 will be located north of the existing Nature Center, and Phase 2 will south of the existing Nature Center.
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The project is beginning this month and will conclude before April 15 in order to avoid disturbing nesting birds. Squirrels often use multiple nests and will move to an alternative location if their nests are disturbed. WLNC Naturalists will be monitoring the site and will be on hand to help advise on a case-by-case basis.
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Fifteen new trees and 270 new shrubs will be planted on the site of the new nature center building. These trees and shrubs will all be native species, with over 20 varieties represented. The biodiversity of the site will be greatly enhanced following the project.
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We are still planning and looking into options. We have determined that some large sections of the historic trees will remain on site and be used as benches or as elements in the nature play area. Some logs will also be put into the woods to increase structural diversity and provide nutrients to the soil.
FAQs about the project
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Yes! The trails will remain open throughout construction and, as always, everyone is welcome!
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Some of the animals will come to the Community Center and others will be staying in the homes of our naturalists throughout the duration of construction.
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Yes, programs will still happen during construction. Some programs will happen outside at Wood Lake and others will take place at the Community Center and other parks throughout the city.
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Wood Lake Nature Center staff will office at the Community Center throughout the duration of construction – make sure to stop in and say hi! Staff will hold many programs at the Community Center and Augsburg Park, as well as back at Wood Lake.
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Due to the logistics of the move, tapping maple trees will not be possible this year.
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As of early March, an official date has not yet been set. We anticipate staff will be programming out of the current nature center building until early April.
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Much of the wildlife at Wood Lake is accustomed to the commotion that comes along with living in urban natural spaces. We don’t expect that the construction will have an impact on the wildlife, but will reassess if we see otherwise.
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Yes! Everything will be saved and moved to the new building!
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The new building is expected to be complete and open to the public by Fall 2026.
Project Cost: $26,225,000
The project will be financed with funds from four sources:
Local Sales Tax ($11 million): A 0.5% additional sales tax will be added in Richfield for approximately 20 years. $10 million of general obligation bonds were issued in January 2025 and the remaining $1 million will be issued later in the year.
State of MN Grant ($12 million): Allocated in the 2023 Minnesota Omnibus/Appropriations Bill, primarily used to fund infrastructure projects around the state.
Federal Grant ($3 million): Through a Community Project Funding Grant, administered by the US Department of Housing and Urban Development.
Liquor Store Proceeds ($225,000): The City of Richfield’s capital improvement plan has allocated $225,000 for use on the project, sourced from liquor store proceeds.
