A ribbon cutting ceremony, educational sessions, activities, a petting zoo and games for children are all part of a special event Saturday, June 13 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Cedar Lake Farm, located northeast of New Prague.

The day’s activities are sponsored by Scott County, Embrace Open Space, and Lancer Hospitality.

The schedule includes:

+ 10:30 a.m.: Ribbon Cutting and Opening Celebration

+ 11 a.m.-3 p.m.: Activities include learn-to-fish, build-a-squirrel feeder, meet the Scott County Mounted Reserves, Scott Watershed Management Organization’s booth, which includes water quality, aquatic plants and lake weed; Soil and Water Conservation District’s booth, which includes conservation games; cost-share programs native plants and shore land restoration information and watercraft/boating safety information; New Prague Farmers Market (noon to 3 p.m.), games, pony rides and petting zoo (Schoenbauer's Country Corral), inflatable park including carousel, slide and obstacle course, face painting, crazy hair, tattoos.

Scott County Parks and Trails acquired the site as part of a new regional park. Scott County selected Lancer Hospitality -- a Twin Cities-based catering and food service company -- to operate the park for limited public use and privately catered events. The site, formerly known as Cedar Lake Farm and Day Resort, is located on the south end of Cedar Lake and was privately owned and operated as an event destination for groups, picnics, and field trips for 40 years.

Cedar Lake Farm can accommodate groups up to 2,500 people and Lancer Catering will offer complete catering services from casual picnic fare to wedding buffets for all of the events. Under the partnership, Scott County -- a Twin Cities Regional Park System implementing agency -- will introduce general public use of the former day resort site for the first time.

General public use hours will be 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. on weekends and holidays from June 13 through Labor Day 2009. (Public use hours are anticipated to be extended in 2010.)

“We appreciate the beautiful lakeshore setting and affinity the residents of Scott County and the metro area have for Cedar Lake Farm,” said Glenn Baron, President of Lancer Hospitality.

“We look forward to working with Scott County Parks and Trails to open this great venue to the residents.” Scott County Board Chairman Jon Ulrich said, “The advantage of the Scott County Parks/Lancer partnership is that it truly benefits the public. We are able to open the park and the use of the amenities -- including the ball fields, picnic areas, and lakefront facilities -- to the public at little operational cost to the County.”

Scott County’s long term plans for the site will depend on the future availability of funding to develop the park; however, in the meantime, revenue generated from the park will be reinvested in the park and used for maintenance and repairs.

Information on Cedar Lake Farm will be available at www.cedarlakefarm.com or by (952) 758-5253 beginning Friday, June 12. For additional information about picnics or catered events at Cedar Lake Farm, contact Lancer Hospitality at (952) 758-8640 or via the Web at www.lancercatering.com. For general information about Cedar Lake Farm Regional Park, contact Scott County Parks and Trails at (952) 496-8783 or visit the Web site at www.co.scott.mn.us.