Please download, fill-out and mail back to the Ney Nature Center our Building Use Application after you have called the Ney Nature Center (507-248-3474) and confirmed the date and time.
Facilities and Education Building Rental
The Education Building was built in 1997 with Funds from the Minnesota legislature, and furnished with a generous grant from the Schmidt Foundation. The building may be rented for meetings or events for $100 per day. Members of the Ney Nature Center receive a $10.00 discount when renting the building. The Education Building is equipped with bathrooms, a drinking fountain, kitchen area, tables and chairs for up to 100 people, nature and history displays, and projector screen. To reserve the building, please call the Ney Nature Center’s Office at (507) 248-3474 or use our Contact Form.
There are parking facilities at the Education Building and the Ney Homestead site, which include handicap accessible spaces. The parking lots and park entrance have gravel surfaces.
Additional farm buildings on the site are locked and are used for storage or appropriate classes such as bird house and snowshoe construction. If you wish to arrange the use of one of these buildings, call the Ney Nature Center’s Office at (507) 248-3474.
Please see our Trails Page for information about self-guided hiking trails
Cost of Education Building Use
- Education, conservation, civic, governmental, non-profit and youth organizations will be charged $25.00 for full or half day.
- Building use for all other reasons will be charged $100.00 for Saturdays and Sundays and full days during the week, which includes evening use until 10:00pm. Weekday evenings $50.00. Members of the Ney Nature Center receive a $10.00 discount when renting the building.
- $15.00 for use of the campfire ring. Firewood is provided. Collecting firewood is not permitted.
- Large events, tents, and overnights will be handled on a case-by-case basis at the discretion of the NEEF Board of Directors.
Reservations
- Reservations for building use can be made by calling the Ney Nature Center’s Office at (507) 248-3474, ideally one week in advance.
- A Damage Deposit of $50.00 for Large Event building use is required at time of key pick-up. Deposit will be returned upon approval of building and grounds condition.
- Building rental fee must be paid at time of reservation (payable to the Ney Nature Center) to help cover utility/cleaning costs.
- Large events need to be scheduled Three (3) months in advance to allow for NEEF Board of Directors approval.
- Building is secured by an alarm system during non-park hours.
List of Conditions
- The users of the facilities will be expected to clean up after themselves and to secure the facilities.
- A checklist will be provided with the key.
- Food, with the exception of beverages, may not be prepared at the Ney Nature Center; however, food that has been prepared elsewhere may be served on-site.
- The use of alcohol or tobacco is not permitted on the premises.
- Firearms are not permitted on the premises.
- Open fires are permitted only in the fire ring that is located in front of the Education Building when scheduled with Building Use. Firewood will be provided. Collecting firewood is not permitted.
- Users of the facilities are responsible for reimbursing the Ney Nature Center for damaged or lost property and unreturned key.
- Anyone who fails to abide by the established rules, or causes damage to property, will be prohibited from future use of the facilities.
