Wood Lake Nature Center in Richfield is about to reopen its doors in a brand-new building. The center will welcome the public back into its 17,000-square-foot facility on Wednesday, November 18, capping an 18-month closure that began in May 2025 while crews tore down and rebuilt the center's longtime home.
Wood Lake Nature Center dates to 1971 and covers 150 acres, according to MPR News. The former building was removed in 2025, about 54 years after it was built. It had grown too small for current visitor numbers, could not accommodate the desired number of educational and public events, and was not fully accessible, per Bring Me The News.
What's Inside the New Building
The replacement structure, built in partnership with HGA and Mortenson Construction according to HGA, was designed to expand education, exhibit and nature-viewing space beyond what the original building could handle. The new facility includes a nature-watching lounge and café area, a kids' nature playground, an observation deck overlooking the marsh, new exhibits and what's described as the largest event space in Richfield, per Bring Me The News.
Sustainability was also built into the design, with a green roof, bird-friendly anti-collision windows and sustainable building systems among the new features. Earlier planning coverage from the Sun Current described plans for a 3,000-square-foot multipurpose room that could be divided into smaller 1,000-foot classrooms when needed.
How the Project Was Paid For
The rebuild was funded through a mix of state and federal sources and a voter-approved local sales tax, according to Bring Me The News. The same Sun Current planning coverage reported the project at $26 million overall, with building construction estimated separately at $19 million and $700,000 set aside specifically for new exhibits inside the visitors center. That report also detailed the funding breakdown: $3 million from the federal government and $12 million from the Minnesota Legislature in 2023, with the 0.5% voter-approved sales tax covering the remaining balance of the $26 million project.
Timelines for the project shifted along the way. The Sun Current projected the facility would open by late summer 2026. The facility is now scheduled to open in November 2026.
Trails Stayed Open Through Construction
Even with the main building closed for a year and a half, trail access was expected to remain available to visitors during construction. That mattered for a park that draws heavy use: the city has reported about 72,000 visitors annually, a figure echoed by Finance & Commerce, though MPR News has separately reported more than 100,000 visitors each year. MPR News also noted an estimated 23,000 people take part in the center's educational programming annually.
Ribbon-Cutting and Open House Planned
Richfield has a pair of celebratory events lined up around the reopening. A ribbon-cutting ceremony is planned for Tuesday, November 17, just ahead of the public opening, and a special open house will follow on Saturday, November 21, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. The open house will feature live animals, light refreshments, door prizes and staff on hand to answer questions, according to Bring Me The News.
