Park Board to hold meeting on Minnehaha Park improvements

The Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board is holding a public open house to share plans and answer questions about proposed park improvements for the Wabun Picnic Area at Minnehaha Regional Park. The Open House will be held from 6:30-8:30 p.m., Thursday, October 5 in the Park Board’s multipurpose room of Hiawatha Park School, 4305 East 42nd Street, Minneapolis.

Proposed improvements to the Wabun and adjacent Omemee group picnic areas include new shelters, restroom renovation, bicycle and pedestrian paths, recreation facilities, parking and service drive, lighting, playgrounds, landscaping and scenic overlooks with enhanced views of the Mississippi River Valley. Improvements focus on greatly improving the convenience and recreation experience for park visitors.

To date, available funding from the Metropolitan Council is $925,000. Additional improvement funds are being sought through partnerships with other agencies.
The proposed timeline for construction is May to October 2007, during which time the Wabun and Omemee picnic areas will be closed to the public. The remainder of the park, including the non-reservation general picnic areas and pavilion, will be open.

The proposed improvements are reflective of the 1992 master plan for the Minnehaha Park and incorporate current funding limitations, usage patterns and new trends. As part of the 1991-92 planning process, public input opportunities included an appointed Citizens Advisory Committee and numerous public meetings.

The Wabun picnic area shelter and restroom were built in 1956 and remain largely unchanged since their original construction. The Wabun picnic area is one of the most popular reservation sites within the Minneapolis park system, serving approximately 15,000 park visitors through family, group and corporate reservations. Information about the park system and its picnic facilities is available at www.minneapolisparks.org.