2026 Vadnais Heights Heritage Days Medallion Hunt

We kick this year’s hunt off by reminding hunters to observe park hours and to not destroy any property while searching for the medallion. We eliminate all of public land spots by telling hunters the medallion is hidden in a park. “Enjoy your visit to the park” is written on one of the park signs as you enter Westfield Park.

“Dim sum cuisine” is a hint at this year’s concealer, the medallion was hidden in a toy dumpling steamer basket. The words “steam” and “cook” is meant to suggest the warming house and temperature dial near the medallions hiding place. From the medallion’s hiding place you could hear children playing in the nearby playground. The medallion was hidden on the ground.

As you walk down the paved path at Westfield Park you will pass by a basketball court, tennis court, baseball field, and in the distance a soccer field. The last two lines are meant to suggest the Bioswale garden near the warming house. By working together with the parks Bioswale by keeping our storm drains clean, the water will drain into Lambert Creek and finally into Vadnais Lake. Resulting in a cleaner wetlands and lake.

Much of the storm waters journey to Vadnais Lake first starts in the neighborhoods network of storm drains, ditches, wetlands, bioswales, and rain gardens. On the Bioswale sign at Westfield park, it explains the route storm water takes from our neighborhood to Lambert Creek, and ultimately to Vadnais Lake. The phrase “water’s journey start close to home” is inscribed on the Bioswale sign. “Dumpling basket” gives a clear hint at this year’s concealer. The word Basket could also suggest the nearby basketball court. “Heat up” is a reference to the nearby warming house and the nearby temperature dial on the pole across the path from the treasures location. The use of the word “biome” is meant to suggest the wetland biome of Westfield park.

“Follow the flow” and “take is slow” is meant to suggest the flow of storm water from the Westfield neighborhood into Lambert Creek. Those two phrases are also inscribed on the Bioswale sign at Westfield Park. “Soak up all the water from the storm” is a reference to the functions of the Bioswale. “Soak it up” is also inscribed on the Bioswale sign. “Land now wet” is a reference to the wetland that surrounds Westfield Park. “Getting warm” a direct reference to the nearby warming house and the temperature dial nearby the treasure’s location.

The first line is meant to suggest Greenhaven Ct that borders the south side of Westfield Park. “Hot spot” is another supporting reference of the warming house and temperature dial nearby the treasures location. “West of the field” is double reference: it is a play on words for Westfield Park. The treasures location is also west of the soccer field within Westfield Park. Use of the words: wet, dry, and ideal is a reference to the temperature dial. Inscribed on the temperature dial is a smaller dial that shows “dry - ideal - and wet”. The purpose of the temperature dial is to indicate when is the proper temperature for use of the winter ice rink. This temperature dial is just across the trail from the treasure’s location. 

This year’s medallion was hidden at Westfield Park, concealed in a toy dumpling basket. It was partially sticking out of a wood chip pile, just across the trail from the temperature dial thats used for the winter ice rink.