Cedar-Isles Master Plan Document will be published for 45-day public comment period in January

Posted on 22 November, 2022

After comment period, plan and comment summary will be presented to Park Commissioners before a formal public hearing and vote

The Cedar Lake-Lake of the Isles Master Plan is a 20-30-year plan dedicated to Cedar Lake, Lake of the Isles, Dean Parkway and a portion of Cedar Lake Regional Trail. The Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board (MPRB) spent the last three years having discussions with park users, park employees and stakeholder organizations about the future of the two lakes and considering feedback on two prior draft concept plans.

A Community Advisory Committee (CAC) comprised of people appointed by MPRB staff and commissioners met 13 times to vet and refine ideas to be incorporated in the master plan. The project team has been working hard to put together a draft plan document based on final CAC recommendations.

The draft plan document is expected to be published for a 45-day public comment period in January. After the public comment period, the plan and public comment summary will be presented to MPRB Commissioners before a formal public hearing and vote on the final plan.

Have a happy holiday season and look for another email with information on the updated plan in January!

About the Plan

The Cedar-Isles Master Plan is a 20-30-year plan that outlines long-term strategies to maintain and improve Cedar Lake, Lake of the Isles, Dean Parkway and a portion of Cedar Lake Regional Trail. These park spaces are part of Minneapolis Chain of Lakes Regional Park, the most popular park in Minnesota, with 7.5 million visits in 2021. It draws people from across Minneapolis, the metro area, and the entire state.

A major benefit, and primary reason, for completing a park master plan is that it allows the MPRB to seek or capitalize on opportunities to improve parkland. When volunteers, philanthropic organizations, or regional, state or federal funding agencies express interest in supporting the regional park system, the MPRB will have a community-vetted plan for potential partners to follow.

No immediate major changes or projects based on the Cedar-Isles Master Plan are scheduled following plan approval. Smaller scale projects that can be completed by MPRB or City of Minneapolis staff could be implemented within a year; these could include safety upgrades at critical intersections, new or repaired paths, or adding seasonal bathrooms.

Development of the Cedar-Isles Master Plan is the final part of a decade-long process by the MPRB to create and approve master plans for every park in the Minneapolis park system. Areas included in the Cedar-Isles Master Plan are the only areas in the park system that do not have a current master plan.

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