Westwood Hills Nature Center — Attraction in Saint Louis Park

We had our wedding at Westwood Hills Nature Center on 6/21/2025. We LOVED this venue! We were looking for a venue in or close to the city, that had both modern touches but was also close to nature, and we got everything we were looking for.

When we found Westwood Hills we had looked at what seemed like every single option within the Twin Cities and first-ring suburbs for a park venue that would meet our needs. Westwood Hills had it all! The ceremony was held at the upper picnic area. It looks like a run of the mill picnic pavilion from the outside, but the bright wood of the ceiling and the way the ceiling vaults is very romantic and elevated.

Although the park is literally right next to highway 394, you can not hear traffic sounds (although this may be different in non-summer months). And, there is a beautiful water feature/gazebo right next to the upper picnic area that is great for taking photos- this is where we signed our marriage license.

Speaking of photos, the park has endless beautiful spaces in which to take pictures. We took our engagement photos here, which turned out wonderful, and there were so many amazing photo spots on the day of the wedding. I will add some of these to the review when we have them.

In terms of the reception venue, all of our wants and needs were met. We were able to rent out all three "conference" rooms to make one large space; as well as rent the patio and the lobby which was a fun space for guests to wander around and check out the different natural elements. It was about 100 degrees on our wedding day, so I was so happy that we decided on renting the extra indoor space- although the guests were able to enjoy the patio once the sun went down a little!

The reception space was definitely enough room for our guest count of 120, including seated dinner and a dance floor. The bar was in the small hallway area between the multipurpose room and the lobby and there was a good flow of the lines for the bar, etc. no one was cramped.

In terms of the planning process, Heidi Batistich (the venue coordinator) was amazing to work with. She was extremely proactive about reaching out to me to set up a call to talk about what we were looking for in a venue space, and then closer to the date she was super helpful in setting up a walk through and a final call. Heidi was seriously an amazing resource throughout the planning process- you can tell that she enjoys her job and enjoys helping people get the most out of the park and the space :)

One important thing that set Westwood apart from other venues, even other park/community center venues, was the open catering/bartending policy- you can use any licensed caterer/bartending service. We saved a ton of money this way and we were also able to have exactly the catering/bartending experience that we were looking for- instead of being hemmed in by a venue's preferred catering/bartending.

All in all, I am so happy we found this venue for our wedding, I would recommend it to anyone looking for a wedding space (ceremony and reception) for 120 people, and I can't wait to visit this special place for...

This place is a diamond in the rough of standard city affair.

There are a variety of available functions, including:

Live animal care enclosures for several reptilian, amphibian, and aquatic species. Mews for several species of raptor. Conference rooms Lounge space Nature-inspired artwork Showrooms Outdoor playground Ample parking +Spacious pollinator gardens +Robust, well-maintained trail network.

This is a place that's mainly dedicated to educating school children, and oh boy, do I wish I had the opportunity that these kids have to view the place. However, the other aforementioned functions such as trail networks, lounge space, gardens and conference rooms make this location ideal for mature visitors as well, with reservations available for grad parties, weddings, lunch meetings, etc. With the amount of money the City of Saint Louis Park poured into the construction of this place, and the love that went into its design, there's no wonder that it does so well.

This place serves the feeling of a miniature Zoo walk, while being located in a quaint neighborhood setting, with trails that network to other areas of the neighborhood, making this an ideal location to visit for a...

One of the hidden gems to walk at. My family loves walking here. They're is so much to see and take in while enjoying a stroll or a run. Wildflowers, cattails, and animals are abundant. We see swans, hawks, ducks, humming birds, deer, turtles, and frogs to name just a few of the wildlife we see. The paths are up kept well and maintained. The walking path consists of a wooden boardwalk, rock, and wood chip areas depending on where you're walking. Around the marsh is pretty flat but there are wood chip paths that are more of an incline. The nature center is beautiful. There is a bird sanctuary with a hawk and owl that educates the community about raptors. Overall this area is very peaceful, quiet, and serene. You feel as if you are out hiking in the woods rather than in an urban neighborhood. People on the trails are respectful of what is going on in the world and social distance and wear masks when walking past others. The parking lot is well maintained with lots of parking and easy access to the trails. Try it out yourself and enjoy...