The North River Hills Neighborhood Organization
The North River Hills Neighborhood Organization (NRHNO) exists to strengthen connections among residents, foster meaningful community engagement, and support informed participation in matters that shape the future of our neighborhood.
Through collaborative initiatives, volunteerism, and community-building activities, NRHNO works to cultivate a welcoming, resilient, and family-friendly environment where neighbors feel connected, supported, and invested in the well-being of the area.
The organization seeks to be a constructive community convener — helping residents access reliable information, understand local processes, and engage thoughtfully with opportunities and changes affecting the neighborhood.
NRHNO supports neighborhood-healthy initiatives, encourages responsible stewardship of shared spaces, and promotes conditions that contribute to long-term community vitality.
Our commitment is to help ensure that North River Hills remains a desirable place to live, grow, and build lasting roots for generations to come.
Alignment with the City of Burnsville
NRHNO shares the City of Burnsville’s commitment to fostering a safe, welcoming, and engaged community. The organization supports efforts that encourage resident involvement, environmental responsibility, and thoughtful community development.
By promoting constructive dialogue, volunteer participation, and neighborhood stewardship, NRHNO complements the city’s vision of a vibrant and livable environment where residents are connected and empowered to contribute positively to community life.
As a resident-led organization, NRHNO seeks to serve as a collaborative partner — supporting shared goals that enhance quality of life while strengthening the social fabric of the neighborhood.
Why an Organized Neighborhood Matters
Now, more than ever, healthy, connected neighborhoods are essential to a high quality of life. A thoughtful neighborhood organization creates a foundation for stronger relationships, increased civic participation, and long-term community resilience.
Key benefits include:
Stronger Community Connection
Organized neighborhoods create opportunities for residents to meet, build friendships, and foster a sense of belonging. Community events and volunteer activities strengthen relationships across generations and help cultivate a welcoming environment.
Constructive Community Voice
A coordinated organization helps residents share perspectives, engage productively in local processes, and contribute to conversations that affect the neighborhood. An organized neighborhood can advocate more effectively for local improvements, such as infrastructure upgrades, traffic control, or crime prevention. Neighborhood groups can engage with city councils, zoning boards, and other officials to influence decisions that impact their community.
Enhanced Safety Awareness, Preparedness and Mutual Support
Neighborhood collaboration encourages attentiveness, communication, and shared responsibility for community well-being. Strong neighborhood networks improve resilience during unexpected challenges by fostering awareness and neighbor-to-neighbor support. Neighborhood organizations can facilitate crime watch programs, work with local law enforcement, and encourage neighbors to look out for one another. An organized neighborhood can develop plans for natural disasters, ensuring that residents have a support network during emergencies.
Access to Resources
Organized neighborhoods are better positioned to pursue grants, partnerships, and initiatives that support community improvement. Neighborhood organizations can connect neighbors with other neighbors to share skills, knowledge, tools, and more. Many cities offer grants and other financial support for organized neighborhoods to fund beautification projects, community events, or safety initiatives.
Effective Communication
An organization with formal structure and a consistent schedule of meetings, activities and events, enables neighbors to share information, encourage thoughtful dialogue around topics of community interest, and collaborate on solutions.
Stewardship of Shared Spaces
Neighborhood organizations help residents work together in support of beautification projects, environmental care, and the responsible use of neighborhood assets. In addition, a well-maintained and engaged neighborhood can be more attractive to buyers, leading to higher property values over time.
Coordinated Initiatives
An effective organization helps neighbors to collaborate efficiently on projects that enhance neighborhood life. Community cleanups, block parties, and other activities become easier to plan and execute with an organized group. Organized neighborhoods can create shared tools, childcare networks, or carpooling arrangements, making life more convenient for residents.
Long-Term Neighborhood Vitality
Engaged communities tend to experience greater stability, sustained civic participation, and enduring appeal as places to live and raise families.
Your neighborhood needs you, no experience necessary. Time commitments vary.
Boundaries of North River Hills Neighborhood Organization
The North River Hills neighborhood encompasses residences in the area of Burnsville that is north of Cliff Road and west of Highway 13. This well-established community is known for its beautiful tree-lined streets, spacious yards, and proximity to natural amenities.
The North River Hills Neighborhood Organization includes the 15 Additions that make up North River Hills, single family homes bounded by: Cliff Road to the South, Highway 13 to the East, and 12th Avenue/Minnesota River to the North.
Plat Maps of neighborhood additions available online at:
https://www.co.dakota.mn.us/HomeProperty/PropertyMaps/Pages/property-information-search.aspx
● River Hills Additions: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 8
● River Hills Park Additions: 1, 2, 3, 4
● River Knolls Additions: 1, 2
● Rio Loma Additions: 1, 2
Mission, History and Values
North River Hills Neighborhood Organization 2026
Why We Organized
To strengthen connections among residents, and to foster a welcoming, resilient, and family-friendly neighborhood where residents are connected, informed, and invested in the long-term vitality of the community.
At least, try to do our best to make it so.
History
The neighborhood originally rallied together to address an issue of imminent concern to the residents North River Hills. The loss of treasured greenspace that for years, (while linked to the Sioux Trail Elementary school), has been a neighborhood gathering spot for decades. A purchase agreement signed by a Twin Cities developer to demolish the school building and construct 119 townhomes would permanently alter the heart and soul of the North River Hills neighborhood. Due to the immediate and overwhelming response from the community, the City of Burnsville declined the zoning request and developer withdrew from the purchase agreement with ISD 191. With the catalyzing issue currently on hold, but energy still high, neighbors channeled that energy into positive work. For the first 4 weeks, 20 - 30 neighbors gathered at the River Hills United Methodist Church (thank you for your generousity) to discuss ideas, concerns, and goals for a fledgling neighborhood organization. We represented our neighborhood at a local townhall meeting with state legislators seeking to pass laws that would remove local zoning authority and web published a neighborhood organization website: northriverhills.com
Coincidentally, the City of Burnsville was introducing their newly-formed Neighborhood Organization Initiative. To participate with the full program offered by the City of Burnsville it was necessary for our neighborhood group to receive formal recognition from the city. In May, we held our planned outdoor event in the North River Hills Warming House due to major rain intrusion. Nonetheless, over 100 neighbors showed up to celebrate neighbors coming together. During that event we held a Neighborhood Logo contest. We had 8 entries and the their was unanimous consent for the submission by our very own City Councilmember, Mr. Vince Workman.
With our next big event still over two months away we took to promoting the Organization. We sent our emails, we maintained a social media site, we created signs and brochures, we went door-to-door with the good news. Then in August we held the biggest Night to Unite events in years. Over 200 people attended. With smiles, good conversations, ultimate frisbee, and 1919 Root Beer floats for everyone. Plus a visit from the Burnsville PD and their "Batmobile". One month later, the North River Hills Neighborhood Organization participated in the Burnsville Fire Muster parade. With Danny Bronson on the uni-cycle, and Jon Kemp on the hoverboard, we passed out candy to hundreds of happy kids along the parade route.
Next, the Organization applied for, and was awarded by the City of Burnsville, a $10,000 grant for neighborhood projects. That grant money will cover costs in 2026 associated with several planned events like River Hills Days, Night to Unite, and the Fire Muster Parade. It can also be used for neighborhood improvement projects, like installing new slab-caps for the North River Hills neighborhood entry monuments. The Neighborhood Organization Initiative administers the grant program, qualifies the reimbursable expenses, distributes the approved dollars and keeps track of it all.
As the Organization has grown, unreimbursable expenses have arisen, thus encouraging donations to cover those costs, and necessitating a bank account. To build an organization that has some influence and staying power, NRHNO has applied for, and fully expects to receive soon, a non-profit 501(c) 3 status from the State of Minnesota and US Treasury.
Year 2026 looks to be a very fun year.
Core Values Guiding How We Do Our Work
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Connection – Healthy, safe neighborhoods are built through relationships.
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Stewardship – Responsible care of shared spaces and neighborhood assets
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Constructive Engagement – With thoughtful, respectful, solution-oriented dialogue.
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Partnership – Collaborative relationships that enhance quality of life.
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Volunteerism – Valuing resident contributions of time and talent.
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Transparency – Clear, reliable and accessible communication.
Looking forward to working with you.
Leadership Board
North River Hills Neighborhood Organization 2026
Neighbors on the Board
Chris Sturman, Events Chair
Jon Kemp, Communications Chair
Bathsheba Kemp, Communication Co-Chair
Mickey Sheu, Treasurer
Cati Gomez, Scribe
John Doll, Board Chair
Robyn Sackett, Facebook Co-chair
Cathi Gunn, Vice Chair - Facebook Co-chair
Theresa Gomez, Civic Services - Schools, Chair
Paddy Griffin, Civic Services - Safety and Community Engagement
Peggy Nelson, NRH Entrance Monument Caretaker Master Gardener
Danny Bronson, Family and Youth Events Chair
Theo Bronson, Webmaster
Marianna Schunk, Logo Merchandise Manager
Deb Schmidt, Event Facilitator
Partnerships
North River Hills Neighborhood Organization 2026
North River Hills Neighborhood Organization is proud of its neighborhood partnerships, including:
River Hills United Methodist Church,
South River Hills Neighborhood Organization,
Cedarbridge Neighborhood Organization,
and the City of Burnsville.
With more to come soon.