Richardson Nature Center is a gateway to stunning natural beauty just minutes from the city. Inside, colorful clay mosaics and sculptures by artist Chris Tully engage visitors with the natural world. Visitors can also meet Richardson’s resident raptors, reptiles, and amphibians up close.
Nature Center
Richardson Nature Center
513 Google Reviews
Great place for kids. Wooded and prairie trails, nice butterfly garden, live animal exhibits inside along with other interactive and whimsical displays.
We attended the after hours special event and we had so much fun seeing all the animals, exploring the nature center (read a book, create a puppet show etc) and walking on the walking paths. Such a hidden gem.
MY GOODNESS… this nature center is FABULOUS. The inside absolutely blew my inner artist’s mind. I have never seen such a beautiful nature center.
The outside nature play area had an abundance of logs and sticks to play with and rearrange and even had a mud kitchen! Seems like the area will have a good amount of shade coverage also during the summer months!
We’ve been to quite a few nature centers and this one is our all around favorite.
Love coming to the Richardson Nature Center and going up to the second floor to the fireplace room. They have big windows to watch the wildlife (mostly birds and squirrels) going crazy. Fun, peaceful, free activity. The paths are all well maintained and easy to walk.
Pretty awesome park! Will definately back! Nice outside area for kids to play in nature with tree logs. Lots of walking trails with many options of distance. Nature center is also nice with some animals and activities inside. Saw lots of animals todays.
Quite a large nature center, with lots of cool things for kids. We saw live creatures in the building and outside. The outdoor kid kitchen playground looked like it could use some sprucing up, like new utensils and maybe a cool water pump, but it was still a fun area and the kids got an adventure!
Excellent little find! My 4yos love the activities inside, there’s three raptor birds to check out, and it’s super fun to explore around outside.
Each visit is a wonderful experience from start to finish. Upon arrival, we are warmly welcomed and thoughtfully divided into small groups, each led by a Richardson Nature Center staff member. These educators are not only highly knowledgeable and well-prepared, but also incredibly friendly and engaging.
The activities offered are always age-appropriate, hands-on, and thoughtfully planned. Whether we’re learning about bee pollinators, catching bugs in the field, or discovering pond creatures, the children are consistently fascinated and inspired. The staff at Richardson go above and beyond to make each visit memorable, bringing learning tools and real-life experiences that spark curiosity and joy.
We are so grateful for the partnership we’ve built over the years and can’t thank the team at Richardson Nature Center enough for their continued excellence, creativity, and dedication. We truly love coming here, and we look forward to many more visits to come!
With gratitude,
Eden Prairie Montessori