What's Hot:  Shoreline Erosion

West Calhoun Neighborhood Council is currently discussing three projects along the western shore of Lake Calhoun with the Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board (MPRB):

1. Protecting and restoring the shoreline between approximately 32nd Street West and 38th Street West:  The shoreline along this stretch has eroded, significantly in some places, and could threaten the structural stability of the walking path along the shoreline.  We propose that the West Calhoun Neighborhood Council fund a shoreline assessment and shoreline protection workplan using our NRP money.

2. Returning a fishing pier:  A fishing pier used extend from the western shore of Lake Calhoun.  The pier was popular and it is our understanding that the MPRB removed it to save the expense of having to remove the pier each fall and reinstall it each spring.  Now that MPRB practice is to purchase floating docks and leave them to freeze in the ice each winter (thus doing away with the costs of removal and re-installation), the Council is asking the MPRB to reinvest in a fishing pier for the western shoreline.  West Calhoun Neighborhood Council may be able to assist in fundraising for a new floating pier.

3. Calming traffic along West Calhoun Parkway between Lake Street and 38th Street West:  Lake Calhoun is well known as a regional recreation center for the entire Twin Cities metropolitan area, which generates a very large amount of both foot and automobile traffic along West Calhoun Parkway.  In peak and non-peak season alike, local traffic competes with recreational traffic for space on the parkway.  Average speeds in excess of the posted limit between 32nd and 38th Streets are well documented.  Yet, unlike nearly any other stretch of lakeshore parkway in Minneapolis, there are no traffic controls on West Calhoun Parkway for the mile-long segment from Lake Street to Xerxes Avenue.  To bring the average speeds along the parkway below the posted limit and to increase the safety of the very large number of people crossing the parkway, especially at peak season, West Calhoun Neighborhood Council has asked the MPRB to provide stop signs or some other traffic-calming devices along the parkway.

The photo above is an example of shoreline erosion at Lake Calhoun.  Notice the eroded area to the right of the dirt path.

If you would like to learn more about these efforts or would like to give us your thoughts, please call the WCNC Voicemail Hotline at 612-928-3511 or contact us by email at info@westcalhoun.org.