City: New Brighton, MN

Category: Education

Telephone: (651) 633-4311

Address: 3000 Fifth St. NW

Description: United Theological Seminary (UTS) is the Twin Cities’ ecumenical theological school. Although chartered by the United Church of Christ, more than 20 denominations are represented at UTS—just about everything from Unitarian Universalist to Muslim. The school focuses on tolerance, empathy, and diversity in its educational program. Also of paramount importance to UTS is supporting students of diverse racial, ethnic, sexual orientation, and denominational traditions.UTS’s history is fairly brief in the Twin Cities, but its antecedents are rooted in the Evangelical and Reformed Church Seminary of Plymouth, Wisconsin (founded in 1862), and the Yankton School of Theology, which began serving the German Congregational churches in South Dakota in 1869. Not until 1960 did the seminaries merge and form UTS. A progressive theological education is provided at UTS. Instruction reflects recent developments in curriculum, and the educational experience at UTS includes both field learning and classroom study. UTS offers programs in ordained ministry, lay ministry, and some academic vocations, as well as continuing education programs. Degrees include conferred master’s degrees in divinity, arts in religion and theology, religious leadership, and women’s studies. Doctorate in ministry is also offered. There are specialized programs, which are available at few other seminaries, including Indian ministries, rural ministries, and religion and arts.

City: New Brighton, MN

Category: Parks & Recreation

Telephone: (651) 748-2500

Address: 1500 Old Hwy. 8

Description: The 218 acres of Long Lake Regional Park include frontage on Long Lake and cattail marshes, oak woods, and restored prairie around Rush Lake. The park features a 3-mile hiking and biking trail, a beautiful swimming beach, and a large picnic area near the swimming beach. After a dip in Long Lake, make tracks to the beach house for snacks, restrooms, changing rooms, and showers. A large picnic pavilion is complete with kitchen and public restrooms, and the group picnic area features a game field, a volleyball court, hiking/biking trails, and a wheelchair-accessible play area. On the south end of Long Lake, you can launch your boat and park your trailer—or just fish off the pier. The pier has a parking area, restrooms, a clean water source, and seated angler stations.