Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board announces new project to create long-term plan for Cedar Lake and Lake of the Isles

Posted on 25 November, 2019

Park staff, partner organizations and community will work together over next two years to develop master plan for Cedar Lake, Lake of the Isles and neighboring parkland

The Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board (MPRB) is pleased to announce a new project that will create a plan to guide improvements and stewardship at Cedar Lake, Lake of the Isles and surrounding parkland, parkways and trails for the next 20+ years.

The Cedar Lake-Lake of the Isles Master Plan (Cedar-Isles Master Plan) will be developed over the next two years through a collaboration between the project team, advisory committees, community groups and park users.

Cedar Lake and Lake of the Isles are part of Minneapolis Chain of Lakes Regional Park, the most-visited park in Minnesota with an estimated 7.3 million visitors in 2018. The MPRB is seeking people from across Minneapolis and the Twin Cities region, as well as the surrounding neighborhoods, to serve on the project Community Advisory Committee and help plan the future of this popular regional destination. Read the “Community Advisory Committee” section of the news release for more information.

The Cedar-Isles Master Plan encompasses most park features associated with the two lakes. This includes:

  • Cedar Lake Parkway, Lake of the Isles Parkway and bike/pedestrian trails next to those parkways
  • Cedar Lake East Beach, Point Beach and South Beach
  • Kenilworth Channel and the channel between Lake of the Isles and Bde Maka Ska
  • A portion of Cedar Lake Regional Trail, but not Kenilworth Regional Trail

Project Map

Master Plans

In addition to the Cedar Lake and Lake of the Isles, Chain of Lakes Regional Park also contains Bde Maka Ska, Brownie Lake, Lake Harriet, and parkland, parkways and trails surrounding those lakes. Those areas have previously approved plans: Bde Maka Ska-Harriet Master Plan (2017) and Brownie Lake Plan (2012). The MPRB uses master plans to guide care, programming and development at all its parks and trails. Park master plans accomplish the following:

  • Set a vision to guide long-term development and improvements to a park or group of parks
  • Guide stewardship and help ensure that park features and amenities reflect the needs of the communities they serve
  • Help ensure long-term financial and ecological sustainability
  • Involve extensive engagement with individual and group stakeholders, other community partners and governmental entities
  • Subject to review and comment by the public, as well as public hearings and approval by the Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board of Commissioners

Community Advisory Committee

The Cedar-Isles Master Plan will be guided by a Community Advisory Committee (CAC) made up of people who will participate in regularly scheduled meetings and collectively make recommendations about the plan’s content. The total time commitment for CAC members is estimated at 35-45 hours total over the course of 18+ months. CAC applications are due Friday, Jan. 31, 2020.

The Cedar-Isles CAC will be comprised of up to 17 people. Each of the nine MPRB Commissioners may appointment one member. After Commissioner appointments, the CAC Selection Committee will conduct a two-hour meeting in Spring 2020 to review the CAC composition and recommend candidates for the remaining eight seats based on demographics or perspectives that are still needed.

Any organization can RSVP for a spot on the Selection Committee and there is no cap on the amount of organizations that may participate in the meeting. Use the links below to learn more and apply.

CAC Overview / CAC Application

Selection Committee Overview / Selection Committee RSVP

Get Involved

Anyone interested in the project can get started by filling out a short, open-ended online survey asking about values, concerns and visions for the entire plan area or specific park features within the area. Additional online community surveys will be made available as the planning process progresses and specific topics emerge.

Cedar-Isles Community Survey

Please visit the Cedar-Isles Master Plan project page and sign up for email updates. Email updates are the best way to stay informed about meeting and event dates. It also may be helpful to bookmark the project page, (and share it with this easy-to-remember link: www.minneapolisparks.org/cedar-isles) which is where all information regarding the project will be posted.