Click here to view an interactive metrics link for the median sale price of homes in Hopkins: http://northstarmls.stats.10kresearch.com/infoserv/s-v1/jxeY-yxm
Just four square miles in size, Hopkins is known for its walkable downtown, public art, and annual Raspberry Festival. Read more to find out what Hopkins’ 17,591 residents love most about their city.
LIVELY DOWNTOWN
The lively Main Street downtown area is a place where residents grab drinks or a bite to eat after work, and stroll along discovering outdoor sculpture. Hopkins Artstreet aims to showcase original, local works of art in an accessible setting. In addition to shops and restaurants, this walkable downtown area offers apartment, condos and townhomes.
SWEET RASPBERRY FESTIVAL
Hopkins celebrates its sweet history with a Raspberry Festival held the third weekend of each July. The Hopkins Raspberry Festival was actually founded in 1935 as a way to boost business during the Great Depression of the 1930s. The dynamic community celebration includes music, sporting events, royalty coronations, craft fair, parade and a search for the Golden Raspberry. At its peak, the Hopkins area had over 800 acres planted in raspberries. If you’re looking for raspberry bushes today, check The Depot Coffee House (9451 Excelsior Boulevard) or the northeast corner of Maeztold Field, south of the LRT Regional Trail.
SOMETHING FOR EVERY AGE
There’s really something for every age in Hopkins. The Depot, a renovated train station that serves as a coffee house and trailhead for area bike trails, is run by a board of directors composed entirely of youth. This youth project provides an opportunity for younger citizens to get involved as they create their own space to relax, learn and have some fun. Profits go back to the community to provide programs for teens. At the other end of the spectrum, the city’s older residents “Experience the Upside of Aging” at the Hopkins Activity Center. This community facility that is home to the city’s senior program boosts a gym, kitchen and meeting rooms.
FOUR PATHS DIVERGE IN HOPKINS
Hopkins is the site of trailheads for four Three Rivers Park regional trails. Three Rivers Park District operates the trails for use in the spring, summer and fall. With grades that are generally 5 percent or less, these paths are ideal for biking, walking and running. Pick between the Minnesota River Bluffs LRT Regional Trail, a limestone trail that heads southwest west from Hopkins to Chanhassen on an old railroad route; the popular Cedar Lake LRT Regional Trail that heads east from Hopkins to Minneapolis along the former railroad lines of the Great Northern Railway and the Minneapolis and St. Louis Railway; the North Cedar Lake Regional Trail that runs northwest from Hopkins to Minneapolis; or the Lake Minnetonka LRT Regional Trail, a limestone path that runs west from Hopkins to the Carver Park Reserve in Victoria.
ONE OF LARGEST METRO SKATE PARKS
Overpass Skate Park, located under the Highway 169 bypass in Hopkins, spans across 18,000 square feet and is operated by Third Lair. It offers aggressive skating enthusiasts piano banks, fun boxes, kinked rails and staircases, as well as protective helmets and pads. The highway overpass bridge protects skateboarders, inline skaters and BMX bikers from light rain, but not heavy storms. The Overpass is seasonal and operates as the weather permits.
SWIM, FISH AND PICNIC
With 19 parks and nature areas, the residents of Hopkins have many options for how to spend their time outdoors. Swim, fish, or have a picnic at Shady Oak Beach, or climb aboard a kayak and head down Minnehaha Creek. Embrace Minnesota winters at one of six ice skating rinks in the city. Hopkins goes to play at the Hopkins Pavilion, an arena used year-round for a multitude of activities including ice skating, broomball, soccer, lacrosse, inline skating, rugby, baseball, softball, concerts, and more.
AFFORDABLE HOUSING
Hopkins has plenty of great housing options, including townhouses and affordable ranch and cottage style homes. Plus, housing tends to be cheaper than most west metro communities. Hopkins’ $225,200 median value is the lowest among its neighbors.
SCHOOL OPTIONS
With 5 elementary schools, 2 junior high schools, and one high school, the Hopkins School District serves most of its resident’s needs. But those looking for a more targeted education can check out the city’s two charter schools, The International Spanish Language Academy and Main Street School for Performing Arts, as well as the 5 private school options in the area.
CHILDREN’S THEATER
The third largest nonprofit theatre producer in Minnesota and one of the largest professional theatres for young audiences in the country is housed at the Hopkins Center for the Arts. Stages Theater Company was founded in 1984 in the western suburbs of Minneapolis out of a need for quality theatre programming for children. For more than 25 years, it has significantly broadened its reach and scope, involving young people in the theatre arts through opportunities on stage, backstage, in the audience and in the classroom. This is truly theater for children and by children.