Editing Elk River, Minnesota (section)

==Attractions==
The City of Elk River has many amenities, offering a small-town feel but close enough to the [[Twin Cities]] and [[St. Cloud, Minnesota|St. Cloud]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=www.goldenshovelagency.com |first=-Golden Shovel Agency |title=Elk River MN Economic Development |url=http://www.econdev.elkrivermn.gov/elk-river |access-date=2023-10-17 |website=www.econdev.elkrivermn.gov |language=en}}</ref>

===Handke Stadium===
Also known as the Elkhi Stadium, it started its construction in 1921. It became a playing field for football and hockey rink in the winter. In 1939 workers built steps, stone retaining walls and a warming house with a fireplace. After a couple years, the Handke Stadium began to deteriorate and had to be shut down.{{Citation needed|date=April 2023}} The Elk River Rotary Club fundraised enough money that in 2000 they repaired the stadium. New warming house, wiring and the steps and stone have either been replaced or repaired. Since being newly reconstructed it had been included into the National Register of Historic Places.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Maxwell|first=Robert|title=Handke Stadium|url=https://www.elkrivermnrotary.org/stories/handke-stadium|url-status=live|website=Elk River Rotary|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160209192030/http://elkrivermnrotary.org/Stories/handke-stadium |archive-date=February 9, 2016}}</ref>

===Art===
====Downtown Murals====
In 1991, K.S. "Bud" Houlton commissioned the painting of the first downtown mural. The mural, depicting the former buildings on the south side of Main Street circa 1960, captured the spirit when downtown was the center of the business community. Mr. Houlton had a great interest in local history and created the mural as a gift to the community. Mr. Houlton's son, John, clearly remembers the businesses depicted in the painting. He stated the bakery and barber shop are still in operation today, but the business names have changed. The artist is Michael Russell.

In 2001, the Three Rivers Community Theater applied for a grant to assist in providing monies towards the painting of a mural of an artistic and historical significance on the building adjacent to the River's Edge Park, located at the intersection of Main Street and Jackson Avenue. This effort to have a mural painted was inspired by numerous community members, business owners, and public entities interested in downtown beautification and continuing to recognize the arts community of Elk River. This project enhanced the social, cultural, and leisure of downtown Elk River. The desire was to draw attention to the Mississippi River for its beauty and solace as well as its historical significance to Elk River. Local artist Frank Gosiak created and painted the mural.'

====Whimsical Windmill====
The "Whimsical Windmill" is the art piece that was chosen in the Elk River Powered by Nature Art Contest.  Artist Carl Zachmann from Fergus Falls created the piece in reminiscence of the windmills on farms that pump water.  The gears and representing colors stand for the rivers, the confluence of both rivers, forest and lumber that helped build Elk River, and a reminder of the prairie that help the area's agriculture to flourish.  The base of the windmill is designed to represent the river.  The windmill is located on the grounds of the Elk River Library.

====Art====
Elk River has always been a town energized by its local artists, showcasing talented residents. The Elk River Area Arts Alliance, founded in 1989, is a nonprofit organization that works with area businesses, government agencies, local schools, other arts organizations, and individual artists to provide quality arts experiences for area residents. The Arts Alliance is known for ArtSoup, Strings for Youth, and Arts in Harmony. They provide access to professional concerts, theater, dance, and visual arts experiences through Arts Explorations motor coach trips. The Arts Alliance also provides various workshops and have a family and arts center with attractive community gathering space, classrooms, studios, gallery. They are also able to offer professional concerts in a state-of-the-art theater at Elk River Area High School.

===Furniture and Things Community Event Center===
Completed in 2019, the Furniture and Things Community Event Center is located near the Elk River High School and offers skating to youth and adults, as well as a Spring and Fall Arts and Craft Fair, an arena walking track, and much more.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.elkrivermn.gov/307/Learn-To-Skate|title=Arena Learn To Skate {{!}} Elk River, MN - Official Website|website=www.elkrivermn.gov|access-date=June 16, 2019}}</ref>

===ERX Motor Park===
ERX Motor Park is an all-season motorsports and events facility located in Elk River, MN, off of US Highway 169. It houses Grassroots Snocross, Beatercross, cross country snowmobile and dirt bike racing, off-road, concerts, corporate events, monster trucks, rodeo and more.

===Golf courses===
The city boasts two golf courses: Pinewood Golf Course, a municipal nine-hole course, and Elk River Country Club, an 18-hole course.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Parks and Recreation {{!}} Elk River, MN - Official Website |url=https://www.elkrivermn.gov/1763/Parks-and-Recreation |access-date=2023-10-17 |website=www.elkrivermn.gov}}</ref>

===Parks===
[[File:StoneCircleBabcock.jpg|thumb|[[Babcock Memorial Park]] in Elk River]] 
The City of Elk River has 41 parks and one conservation area with a total of 1,388 maintained acres.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Parks and Facilities {{!}} Elk River, MN - Official Website |url=https://www.elkrivermn.gov/214/Parks-and-Facilities |access-date=2023-10-17 |website=www.elkrivermn.gov}}</ref>

===Public library===
The Elk River Public Library is part of the [[Great River Regional Library]] and it is a [[Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design|LEED]] Gold Certified building.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Great River Regional Library - Elk River {{!}} Great River Regional Library |url=https://griver.org/locations/elk-river |access-date=2023-10-17 |website=griver.org}}</ref>