The Minnesota Recreation and Park Association (MRPA) has recognized the Hobbs Pavilion at Westwood Hills Nature Center with an award of excellence in the park and facility category. Maurice Hobbs donated $310,000 to Westwood Hills Nature Center in memory of his late wife Barbara Hobbs, to be used for the construction of an outdoor open-air shelter for youth programming at the nature center. The shelter was completed this past year and is located near the site of the previous nature center building. Westwood Hills Nature Center is located at 8300 W. Franklin Ave. in St. Louis Park.

Pictured (left to right) are Sonya Rippe, MRPA representative and member of the City of St. Louis Park Parks and Recreation Advisory Commission; Jason West, City of St. Louis Park Interim Parks and Recreation Director; Mark Oestreich, Westwood Hills Nature Center manager; and Maurice Hobbs, St. Louis Park resident and donor.