Lake of the Isles

Lake of the Isles is excellent for canoeing and allows you to access Lake Calhoun through a canal. The lake itself is
200 acres and in winter an ice rink is created on the frozen surface. Around the perimeter many active and casual
opportunities exist, including bike and walking paths.

Lake of the Isles is beginning a major improvement project that will result in improvements to Isles’ water quality,
eroding shorelines and damaged recreation facilities(see below). The Lake of the Isles Construction project will correct the impact
of the regional watershed that drains into the 93-acre Lake of the Isles and will reconstruct parkland damaged by the
disastrous 1997 flood and the devastating 1998 windstorm.

Lake of the Isles currently has over 7 acres (the equivalent of 2 city blocks) of designated wetland and also contains
wildlife, water and other areas that are enjoyed by park users for picnics, walking, jogging or Frisbee-throwing. These 7
acres of parkland have been rendered unusable by the ravages of time and weather. When completed, the project will
fill 3.5 acres of the wetland creating dry and useable parkland above the 100-year flood elevation.

Amenities:
Biking Path
Display Fountain
Fishing Dock
Hockey Rink
Ice Rink
Parkway - Cars
Soccer Field
Walking Path
Wells

Click on the link below and go to Chain of Lakes page:
www.minneapolisparks.org/grandrounds/home.htm

Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board Headquarters
2117 West River Road
Minneapolis, MN 55411
612-230-6400 tel

Biking Lake of the Isles = 2.97 miles
Walking Lake of the Isles = 2.60 miles
For more Lakes information click on the link below:
www.minneapolisparks.org/default.asp?PageID=640#around_lakes

Lake of the Isles Restoration Report

Restoration of the parkland surrounding Lake of the Isles (LOI) is nearing completion. It is important to keep in mind that this regional park area is a recognized historic landscape, and all plans for its restoration must be carried out in consultation with staff of the MN State Historic Office (SHPO), an arm of the MN Historical Society.

The Park Board’s Project Manager, Deb Boyd, says the entire 8 ft- wide, 2-1/2 inches- thick blacktopped walking path will be in place soon. This will greatly benefit walkers and bikers alike, since “share the path” conditions on the bike path this summer have not been optimal.

Also, work is underway to aerate and restore nutrients to the deficient soil in the large turf areas, with new grass seeding to occur before the end of September. These improvements should mean a smoother surface, considerably better grass in the spring of 2008, and improved conditions for the new trees to be planted in 2008.

The plan for planting trees and shrubs in the park is still in development, with the consultant group considering alternatives to their spring 2007 proposal. Stay tuned! The number of new trees will probably be fewer than the earlier proposal of more than 450, and the groupings and the important shade and view aspects of the tree cover will respect the traditional historic landscape. In addition, large installations of flowering shrubs proposed for the intersections of the walking paths have been dropped, since a ”formal garden” concept is inconsistent with the LOI historic landscape.

The overgrown east shoreline shrubs were trimmed in mid-summer, which greatly improved both views of the lake and security concerns for walkers. Periodic trimming will be a continuing necessity, since some shrub species have grown much higher and wider than expected. As long as the current planting scheme is in place, shoreline shrub trimming will be part of this park’s maintenance in perpetuity.

The picnic area proposed for the south end of the park has been eliminated from the project because the concept does not conform to the historic uses of this parkland. The south shoreline stabilization will soon be completed, and the south canoe dock will be built. A similar, new T-shaped canoe dock will be constructed adjacent to the West Bay canoe storage area, replacing the current inadequate launch facility.

Cement slabs to accommodate traditional park benches have been poured around the lake, and hopefully some benches will be installed in the 2007 construction zone before the snow flies. Residents interested in donating a bench (paying for a memorial or honorary bench and its installation, possibly on a slab that would otherwise be empty) should contact Abby Schrader of the Minneapolis Parks Foundation at 612-313-7794 for information about available locations and cost.

The KIAA Board expects to keep updated on progress toward completion of this important, historic, and beautiful regional Public Park. We appreciate all the efforts being made by concerned citizens, neighborhood activists, the Park Board Commissioners and staff, and the staff of SHPO, to assure that these final phases of the LOI Project will provide a renewed park of which all will be proud, and that will be an attraction for decades to come. And thank you, again, to our Legislators for securing the funds!

Pat Scott
KIAA Vice Chair & NRP Committee Chair
pscott01@hotmail.com