Horizons of the St. Croix by Mark Granlund, located in Lookout Ridge, captures the elements of the neighboring St. Croix Valley. Photos: Chris Emeott
Explore Minnesota’s bountiful landscapes at the newly renovated Central Park.
Upon walking through the doors of the newly renovated Central Park, guests are greeted by a green wall and striking waterwall, multiple gathering spaces, native plants, several art installations by Minnesota artists and an updated amphitheater. The remodel is reminiscent of Central Park’s beloved past and features details inspired by the surrounding natural environment. “It wasn’t really a question. We tried to maintain as much of the spirit of [Central Park’s] original vision,” says Michelle Okada, Parks & Recreation director. “The expansion lent to what people loved about it.”
Although the planning of the $42.3 million project began over a decade ago, construction didn’t start until spring 2024, and Central Park celebrated its grand reopening in November. “The process allowed for really thoughtful implementations,” Okada says.
“The park is designed as an extension of the natural environment,” says Parks & Recreation parks planner Joshua Kinney, who oversaw the art installations. “For much of the year in Minnesota, getting outside can be a challenge, so we wanted to create an indoor experience that still feels connected to nature. It’s really about blending the indoors and outdoors in a way people can enjoy year-round.”
Take a Deep Breath
One of Central Park’s dearest elements was the water feature—a component that Okada knew had to be reinvisioned. “It was very difficult to maintain it, but that was something that we did hear was, ‘We don’t want to lose the water feature,’” she says. In its place is the new slate waterwall, which gives the impression of flowing water, alongside the bountiful green wall.
The slate waterwall modernizes one of Central Park’s treasured elements, and it is surrounded by hundreds of plants.
Visitors also “loved coming to the indoor garden,” Okada says. “They wanted more of it.” Removing the waterfall allowed the space to be reimagined. Hundreds of plants, such as bamboo, Norfolk pine and pothos, surround the space. Benches, a fireplace area, seated booths and tables, and a walkway connect the open area to create a space designed for community. “Our hope is that people feel the spirit of the original meandering trail through the park,” Okada says.
Explore the Bluffs
Mark Granlund of Red Wing has been a professional painter since 1988 and launched the arts and education programming at Como Zoo & Conservatory, served as an arts and gardens coordinator for the City of St. Paul, and is currently a public arts administrator for Metro Transit. “I am an artist [doing, showing and selling] my work, and doing administrative stuff around arts,” he says.
Most of Granlund’s work includes still life and landscapes, as seen in Horizons of the St. Croix, a large-scale mural at Lookout Ridge. The art encompasses the indoor play spot from top to bottom and brings the St. Croix Valley to life. “I started with one wall. Eventually, people liked it so much that it kept expanding into the playground area and into the vertical area,” Granlund says.
For over two years, Granlund began with small, watercolor sketches and worked with the playground designers to incorporate the play space’s colors into the painting. Next, he did studies with oil paint, refining the color palette, composition and lighting, and built the organic cotton canvases from sustainably harvested lumber. Finally, he painted—for nearly eight months.
“I’ve become attuned to Minnesota’s unique combination of sky and rock, water and woods, and how they relate to each other,” Granlund says, noting he has painted the St. Croix Valley region before. “I created designs that would fit the space that are reminiscent but not exact places … I tried to have a consistent sense of the sky and the lighting on the bluffs so that it feels like a real space.”
Of the Lookout Ridge project, Okada says, “Part of the project really was trying to keep what was appreciated and enjoyed in the old facility. There was a synergy; we wanted to keep Lookout Ridge, Lookout Ridge … Keeping it, refreshing it and expanding it.”
For the children who will be climbing up and down the playground, Granlund dreams that they feel the story he created. “I hope it feels like a cozy, natural space down below, like the murals along the riverbed. That it feels cozy and nice, sort of wooded; then, as they climb up the structure, they start getting up into the sky and things start changing,” he says. “When they get to the top, they’re looking out at something … and can see the painted sky.”
Feel Inspired
During the two year period, architectural artist Heather Novak-Peterson partnered with the City of Woodbury team to create two murals, which were then turned into mosaics by the women-led team at Mercury Mosaics in Minneapolis. Novak-Peterson describes herself as a “big tree fan,” she says, and appreciates exploring the artistic boundaries of the surrounding landscapes. “I was inspired by oak trees and birch trees throughout the trails and parks in the area,” she says.
Incorporating ideas from the City of Woodbury into her creative process, Novak-Peterson spent months sketching, painting and working with the murals’ large scale. Over a period of seven months, Mercedes Austin, founder and CEO of Mercury Mosaics, and her team coordinated with Kinney and Novak-Peterson to bring the pieces to life. Created with 16 to 20 different colors, each hand-cut, hand-glazed tile is uniquely crafted to capture the essence of Novak-Peterson’s artwork.
Artist Heather Novak-Peterson was inspired by Minnesota’s birch trees while creating The Watchful Grove, a mosaic mural brought to life by Mercury Mosaics.
Found near the entrance, The Language of Branches captures the rich green, blue and rust tones of the oak savannahs of Minnesota; in contrast, The Watchful Grove, located by the connecting entrance to Stonecrest, celebrates the birch tree and its resilience, and features the distinctively white trees brought to life with their inviting eyes. “When I see tile like this … It has that otherworldly feel,” Austin says. “That’s what [Novak-Peterson] got across. I remember saying, ‘This artwork being in a civic building has a museum quality to it.’ It’s something that will put the city of Woodbury on the map.”
Both pieces serve as a love letter to Minnesota, Novak-Peterson says. “[Minnesota’s natural landscape] is something I so deeply appreciate,” she says. For Novak-Peterson, she hopes her pieces serve as a link. “I think I would love for [visitors] to feel a connection,” she says. “It’s nice to celebrate an awesome community and get a great feeling when you’re there … Watching different generations, hanging out together and enjoying a beautiful day, is really fun to see.”
Central Park
Facebook: Woodbury Parks & Recreation
Heather Novak-Peterson
Instagram: @hnp_hjnovak
HGA
Instagram: @hgaarchitects
Kraus-Anderson
LinkedIn: Kraus-Anderson
Mercury Mosaics
Instagram: @mercurymosaics
