September brings a full slate of fall programming, a neighborhood competition and several construction projects reaching key milestones. Here’s a look at what’s happening around town.
EVENTS AND ACTIVITIES
Environmental Academy Fall Sessions
The free Environmental Academy meets three Thursdays in September from 6 to 7:30 p.m.
Sept. 10: Invasive species and wood waste management at the Chanhassen Library.
Sept. 17: A Big Woods hike at Camp Fire Minnesota
Sept. 24: A household hazardous waste session and tour at the Carver County Environmental Center in Chaska. Registration is required.
View the full schedule.
Barnyard Boogie
Preschoolers and their families can enjoy petting zoo animals, crafts, refreshments, a bounce house and dancing from 5:30 to 7 p.m. Friday, Sept. 18 at the Chanhassen Recreation Center. Cost is $7 per person, free for children 1 and under.
Yard Waste Site Saturday Hours
The yard waste site at the Public Works Facility, 7901 Park Place, is open from 8 a.m. to noon Saturday, Sept. 19, with one more Saturday opening Oct. 24. The site is for Chanhassen residents, and the usual rules apply.
Fire Department Open House
The Fire Department’s annual open house begins at 5:30 p.m. Monday, Sept. 28 at the Chanhassen Fire Station, with food, kids activities, fire truck and squad car tours, a bounce house and the Minnesota State Patrol rollover simulator. A live demonstration is set for 8 p.m. Parking is at Chanhassen Elementary, and attendees are encouraged to bring donations for Southern Valley Alliance.
CITY NEWS AND SERVICES
Community Center Moves Into Construction
The City Council approved the second major bid package for the Chanhassen Community Center, authorizing the remaining construction work. Plans include a multiuse field house, an indoor walking track, an indoor playground, two ice rinks and a 4,800-square-foot community room. Site work ramps up this fall and the building is expected to open in September 2028.
New Amenities Open at City Center Park
The park’s new playground, pickleball courts and refreshed skate park are now open as work continues on the rest of the site. The splash pad is not yet open, the court lights are not yet operational and landscaping will continue.
Mid-Season Construction Update
Market Boulevard Phase 2 should wrap up the second week of September, followed by Phase 3 on the northern stretch, which includes a two-week full closure of West 78th Street to through traffic. The Great Plains and Lake Drive East project should be substantially complete by the end of September.
Grocery Anchor Announced for Avienda
The Avienda development team shared an updated site plan at a recent public meeting and announced Coborn’s Market & Table as the grocery anchor. The plan is expected to go before the Planning Commission in September and the City Council in October.
Ready Together Neighborhood Competition
The city’s new Ready Together campaign invites streets to compete for the highest participation rate in Community Connect, a program in which residents share household information to help firefighters during an emergency. Streets can earn Bloom, Grow or Flourish recognition at 50, 75 and 90 percent participation, with prizes ranging from a fire station tour to a firefighter splash party. Winners are announced at the Sept. 28 open house.
Chanhassen Leads Night to Unite Food Drive
Chanhassen residents donated more food by weight than any other community in the 2026 Night to Unite Multi-City Food Drive Challenge, contributing 2,773.5 pounds and $629.86 for Bountiful Basket Food Shelf. The four participating cities donated 6,685 pounds and $4,891.10 combined, with Chaska named the overall winner.
Pond Maintenance Program Shows Results
The Council received an update on the city’s stormwater and pond program, launched in 2020. Over six years, 40 ponds have been maintained and about 51,000 tons of sediment removed, the equivalent of roughly 3,000 truckloads.
How the City Plans, Funds and Invests
An article in the Fall 2026 Chanhassen Connection breaks down the tools behind the city budget, including the property tax levy, utility rates, special assessments, the five-year Capital Improvement Plan and the AAA credit rating that lowers borrowing costs.
Lake Ann Park Preserve Trail Progress
Recent work improved the trail connection from Greenwood Shores Park to neighborhoods on the west side of Lake Ann and Lake Lucy, part of the city’s 50-year plan to preserve the forests and wetlands between the two lakes. Restoration and vegetation management are still in progress.
See you around Chanhassen!
