Cedar Lake Park Concept Master Plan Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board and the Cedar Lake Park Association June 21, 1997 Acknowledgments Minneapolis Park and Cedar Lake Park Association Citizen Advisory Committees Recreation Board Officers Phase 1: Members attending Janci Curiskis John Herman Leonard Martinetto John Richter President: Brian Willette, President Conceptual Trail at least three of five Dan Dailey Sandra Hunter Peter Mason Donna Seline Scott L. Neiman Keith Prussing, Vice President Design (1992) meetings: David Dayton Dean Kaese Beryl Miller Jeanette Sobania Dan Dailey, Treasurer Ann Barksdale Bob Ganz David Kelliher Steve Mueller Neil Trembley Neil Trembley, Secretary Dave Carlson Kathryn Glessing Doug Kline Solveig Olson Brian Willette Vice President: Will Craig Jeff Haberer David Klopp Doris Peterson Ben Wright Patricia Hillmeyer Jean Crocker Dick Hartman Cotty Lowry Jim Preston Steering Committee & Board Joe Crocker Geoffrey Hellman Laurie Lundy George Puzak Commissioners: (❧ denotes service on the Board) Thomas W. Baker Bob Andrews Wally Marx Rochelle Berry Graves Don Beimborn Jim McConkey Members attending Dan Dailey Ruth Jones Keith Prussing Neil Trembley George Puzak Darrel Brand Mary Mcgee ❧ Phase 2: at least four of nine David Dayton Doug Kline George Puzak Carol White Dan Christenson John McLaughlin Philosophy and Edward Solomon meetings: Gary Findell Laurie Lundy John Richter Brian Willette Annie Young Janci Curiskis John Moe Design Principles (1992 & 1993) Dave Carlson Martin Fowler Leonard Martinetto Martin Richmond Ben Wright Dean Zimmerman Juris Curiskis Steve Mueller Will Craig Kathryn Glessing Mary McGee Eric Roth Dan Dailey ❧ Sara Mushlitz ❧ Jean Crocker Jeff Haberer Solveig Olson Dorene Scriven Superintendent and Secretary: Bob Day Solveig Olson Joe Crocker Dick Hartman Doris Peterson Donna Seline David L. Fisher David Dayton ❧ John Perentesis ❧ Juris Curiskis Sandra Hunter Jim Preston Tim Springer Frank Dosal ❧ Gary Perrault Ron Ercolani Doris Peterson ❧ Members attending David Dayton Ruth Jones Jim Preston Tim Springer Professional Advisors Martin Fowler Jack Phillips Phase 3: Park at least four of eleven Gary Findell Doug Kline Keith Prussing Neil Trembley Bob Ganz Steve Pratt and Trail Planning (1993) meetings: Martin Fowler Laurie Lundy George Puzak Carol White Jones & Jones Kathryn Glessing Jim Preston ❧ Dave Carlson Kathryn Glessing Leonard Martinetto John Richter Brian Willette Grant Jones, Principal Dick Hartman Keith Prussing ❧ Jean Crocker Jeff Haberer Mary McGee Martin Richmond Ben Wright Steve Durant, Partner John Herman ❧ George Puzak ❧ Joe Crocker Dick Hartman Solveig Olson Dorene Scriven Mario Campos, Partner Joel Itman Henry Rauenhorst Dan Dailey Sandra Hunter Doris Peterson Donna Seline Penny Jacobs John Richter ❧ Richard Haag Associates Sol Jacobs Paula Richey Richard Haag, Principal Kevin Johnson Erik Roth Phase 4: Park Members attending Bob Day Dick Hartman Solveig Olson Carol White Ward Johnson Doreen Scriven ❧ and Trail at least seven of David Dayton Ruth Jones Keith Prussing Brian Willette ❧ seventeen meetings: Gary Findell Marissa Lasky John Richter Balmori Associates Ruth Jones Jeanette Sobania ❧ Planning (1994 - Diana Balmori, Principal Jean Crocker Martin Fowler Laurie Lundy Eric Roth Terry Klepinski Ellen Sturgis ❧ 1996) Susan Kline Joe Crocker Kathryn Glessing Leonard Martinetto Dorene Scriven Neil Trembley ❧ Dan Dailey Jeff Haberer Mary McGee Neil Trembley Brauer and Associates Doug Kline Sue Verret George Watson, Principal David Klopp Sara Rothholtz Weiner Jeff Schoenbauer, Partner Rich Lillehei Carol White Laurie Lundy ❧ Brian Willette ❧ Wirth Design Associates Dee Marx Document Writing Team Theodore Wirth II, Principal Ben Wright Dan Dailey, CLPA Laurie Lundy, CLPA Keith Prussing, CLPA Erik Roth, CLPA Al Singer, MPRB Neil Trembley, CLPA Brian Willette, CLPA Mark Simonson, Graphic Design 2 / Cedar Lake Park Concept Master Plan Introduction From its beginning, the City of Minneapolis ous attempts to establish a park system park. For nearly a century, the land north March, 1989, to discuss the future of this and other public agencies. Eventually this developed in large part because of the in Minneapolis, citizens took their cause and east of Cedar Lake had been used as large tract of land less than two miles loose knit group of citizens formed an wealth of natural resources found through- directly to the Minnesota State Legislature a major train switching yard to serve the from downtown Minneapolis. At the ini- organization, “Save Cedar Lake Park” out the region. Vast pine forests provided On February 27, 1883, the Legislature growing needs of the Minneapolis/St. tial meeting, citizens proclaimed that this (now known as the Cedar Lake Park the raw materials, the only waterfalls of established the Minneapolis Board of Park Paul region. Despite the presence of the wonderful place had to be preserved in Association), to lead the acquisition the Mississippi River generated power and Commissioners as an independent, elect- railroad, land was purchased around the the best interest of the public. efforts. They vowed to raise the neces- the numerous rivers offered a ready-made ed board with its own taxing authority. A perimeter of Cedar Lake between 1908 sary funds and create the support neces- transportation system for commerce. The city election ratifying the park act took and 1975 and the lake was eventually Within a short time, an increasing num- sary to make this idea a reality. expansion of the railroads and the farming place April 3rd, and on April 27th, the connected to the other nearby lakes to ber of interested citizens determined that of the fertile soils throughout the region City Council transferred all existing park create the well-known “Chain of Lakes.” the best use of the land would be to Through the efforts and contributions of continued fueling the growth and properties to the custody of the Board. combine it with the existing parkland those initial few and many hundreds of Minneapolis soon became a lumber and Like grain milling and other industries criti- along the lakeshore and call it “Cedar people to follow, the property was pur- grain milling center. Although the relative Spearheaded by the new Board of cal to the growth of the region, the rail Lake Park.” This would be a new kind of chased as park land in 1991. Important as importance of lumber and grain diminished Commissioners, a bold 100-year vision for industry underwent significant changes park: a wild, yet urban, nature preserve that accomplishment was, it was not the over time, Minneapolis continues to thrive parks was born. An eminent landscape during this period. Although the linked by trails to the Mississippi River end of the story. Rather, it marked the as a regional center of commerce, trans- architect, Horace W. S. Cleveland, was Burlington Northern Railroad still contin- and other portions of Chain of Lakes beginning of a long-range process portation, and culture. hired to design the park system. The con- ues to operate daily trains north of Cedar Regional Park. In the process, the group through which the lands and water cept that emerged was to preserve the nat- Lake, most of the major railroad facilities developed organizational values designed of Cedar Lake Park are being Of the city’s many attributes, its natural ural features of the city—the river, streams were closed in the mid 1980’s. Tracks were to involve the greatest number of people restored and developed. beauty has been cited by both residents and lakes —in large picturesque, country- removed, buildings razed, and the area possible while minimizing possibilities for and visitors alike. The Mississippi River, like parks and then link these parks by a slowly was reclaimed by nature. Flowers, conflict. They expressed a desire to work three creeks, and numerous lakes truly system of boulevards and parkways called grasses, shrubs, and trees had taken root in partnership with the Minneapolis Park made Minneapolis a city of water. the “Grand Rounds.” By 1905, over 1800 on the land and were beginning to trans- and Recreation Board Fortunately, most of these natural features acres of land and waters had been acquired form the area. Wildlife such as deer, foxes, have been preserved through a highly and preserved including Loring, song birds, hawks, and many other species acclaimed system of parks. Although the Powderhorn, Logan, Elliot and Farview had returned; and people were amazed to first park was established in 1857 with Parks, portions of parkland in what is now discover these creatures thriving in the the donation of an undeveloped cow pas- known as Minnehaha, Columbia and shadow of the city! ture by Edward Murphy, the early devel- Theodore Wirth Parks, along the opment of the park system would not Mississippi River, Minnehaha Creek and With this excess land no longer needed, occur for nearly 25 more years. Despite Lakes Harriet, Calhoun and Isles. the railroad began preparations to sell 28 the establishment of the great urban acres there. Survey stakes soon appeared parks such as Central Park in New York During this early history of Minneapolis, and developers began inquiring about the City and Grant Park in Chicago, Cedar Lake, located northeast of Lake of property. Concerned about the fate of Minneapolis officials were more focused the Isles, figured more prominently in the this land adjacent to Cedar Lake park on other priorities. Frustrated by numer- early history of the railroads than as a land, sixty five residents came together in Concept Master Plan The purpose of this Concept Master over the next several decades and by potential for the park are described in Plan is to express the shared vision that many others yet to come. Instead, this the first section. A description of the has emerged through an eight year concept master plan describes the current landscapes and associated process of community learning, organiz- major considerations for future park issues follow with recommendations on ing and consensus-building, and to sug- development and suggests how to access, circulation, and use within the gest direction to guide future planning approach them.