Best Places to Run in the Twin Cities

Since 2008, Ryan Novaczyk has functioned as CFO and president of New Perspective Senior Living in Eden Prairie, Minnesota. In his free time, Ryan Novaczyk enjoys staying active by running, biking, and rollerblading. 

Minnesota is known as the land of 10,000 Lakes, which means residents and visitors to the area have many outdoor spaces to explore. As such, the state holds many great options for runners, including:

1. The Mississippi River. Running along the river is both scenic and refreshing. One of the best places to start a run is St. Anthony Main. Head east to go to Saint Paul and west to visit North Minneapolis. The river offers 13 bridges to cross, a combination of hills and flat surfaces, and multiple drinking fountains should your water bottle need a refill. 

2. The Lakes. While the locals know them as the lakes, officially they are called Lake Harriet, Lake Calhoun, Lake of the Isles, and Cedar Lake, and it is possible to run all four in one go. The entire chain results in a 13.3-mile run. To tack on more miles, consider journeying along the beautiful Minnehaha Creek Parkway. 

3. Summit Avenue. Venture over to Saint Paul's most famous residential street (where F. Scott Fitzgerald once lived) and run past all the gorgeous mansions on your way to the Saint Paul Capitol, or cut over to Grand Avenue for some ice cream at the end of the run.

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WALA Diamond Accreditation Program

One of the state’s first professional organizations devoted to assisted living and senior care, WALA has been advocating for the quality of life for senior citizens in Wisconsin and at the national level since 1994. The organization provides a range of services for its members, including educational seminars and access to low-cost commercial liability insurance. WALA also maintains a voluntary quality management program called the Diamond Accreditation Program.

WALA created the Diamond Accreditation Program to ensure that Wisconsin’s seniors have access to safe, professional, and reliable assisted living options. In exchange for developing quality improvement goals based on the needs of their community, accredited program members gain access to a host of tools and services that will help them improve care for community residents while receiving discounts on insurance and other products.

The Diamond Accreditation Program is open to all WALA members who are willing to commit to the terms of the program. Additionally, applicants must be registered with the state of Wisconsin as either an Adult Family Home (AFH), Residential Care Apartment Complex (RCAC), or Community-Based Residential Facility (CBRF).

About the Author:       

Ryan Novaczyk earned a bachelor’s degree from the University of St. Thomas in St. Paul, Minnesota, before going on to earn an advanced certificate in seniors housing from the University of Maryland, Baltimore County. In addition to guiding Minnesota-based senior housing company New Perspective Senior Living, Ryan Novaczyk holds membership in professional groups such as Argentum and the Wisconsin Assisted Living Association (WALA).         

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Ryan Novaczyk, President of New Perspective Senior Living

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Ryan Novaczyk honeymoon pic

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Ryan Novaczyk, New Perspective Senior Living