Putting Green Park

Environmental Adventure Park, focused around a 9-hole Mini-Golf Course located next to the Minnesota River. Large Geodesic dome, shade structure/picnic tables, Growing Green mini-farm, and river trail. Have fun while learning about our natural environment!

Amenities

Growing Green Farm

MRCI and Putting Green have partnered to create a sustainable farm that employs MRCI-New Ulm clients and area youth that yields healthful products and experiences for local consumers.

Minnesota River Trail

Enjoy a walk along the Minnesota River Trail. Interpretive signage was installed in the spring of 2007. This project was developed by Springfield High School students and a professional exhibit development team sponsored by Target, DNR, Brown County, and 3M. The park is maintained with the help of the New Ulm Area Sport Fishermen.

Solar Clubhouse

In 2004 a building was donated to us by one of our student board members. He built it himself and it had one small operational solar panel. We remodeled this building to use as our Clubhouse (concession stand and ticket booth). It is solar-powered using photovoltaic panels for 1 kw of power.

In 2006, the New Ulm Public High School construction class added office space to the clubhouse using resource-efficient materials. This is an important live demonstration of renewable energy technology, and a great learning experience for our park's operators (Putting Green students) and for all our park's visitors.

Geodesic Dome

Putting Green's novel learning center is a 30 ft. heavy duty tent dome where we hold events, workshops, classes, birthday parties, and our vegetable CSA distribution.

Ecopreneurs developed the business plan for the dome and secured funding for its purchase. See www.pacificdomes.com. The dome will continue to be used at another location on the park site when the permanent Learning Center is constructed.

Native Plant Gardens

A portion of Putting Green Park, three and one half acres, was planted in native trees, shrubs, grasses, and flowers. Planting began in the fall of '04 and there is tremendous opportunity to create a beautiful and bountiful park. All of the landscaping elements of the park are educational exhibits.

Natural Environment The other six acres of the park make up the natural riverine ecosystem and though this riverside area will not be "landscaped", it will be made more accessible to people through improvements made to the interpretive river trail, including a pier, monitoring station, and picnic area.

Our Mission

"To educate and inspire people to make informed choices for a healthy planet."

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