I am delighted that the Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board will be considering a plan to enhance the Ryan Lake shoreline. This short stretch of shoreline is a fairly recent addition to our city, and I think a bit of history is helpful for folks to understand how the property’s been managed in the past.
The Ryan Lake shoreline at 47th and Xerxes, which is the only lakeshore in the 4th Ward, was originally part of the city of Brooklyn Center. It was cut off from the rest of Brooklyn Center by the construction of the Brooklyn Boulevard bridge over the rail yards. After that point, Brooklyn Center continued to cut the grass, and it maintained the property for years – including putting out occasional grass fires.
In 1984, Brooklyn Center decided that it would be more efficient to annex this land to another city. Robbinsdale was interested in the property as the site for new townhomes. But fortunately for us, the land was eventually annexed by Minneapolis, which has allowed us to preserve our open shoreline with public access.
At that time, the Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board decided it did not want to own the newly annexed land, as it felt the new property was too small for a park. So instead, the City assumed responsibility for maintenance for many years. The Public Works Department cut the grass and contracted with the Park Board to trim trees when needed. Maintaining recreational properties is not in Public Works’ core mission, but in this case, they did a fine job of taking care of the property.
In 1999, the City and the Park Board reworked how we handled landscaping responsibilities at some properties, and since that time, the Park Board has maintained the shoreline, with occasional help from the City. Public Works has done maintenance on the bollards, conducted clean-up when needed, and done some extraordinary brush trimming at the request of neighbors, to open the view of the lake from across Xerxes.
Ryan Lake has been home to a number of projects and improvements, including an extensive water quality study by the U of M, which included piping air into the middle of the lake from the shore to increase oxygen levels. At one point, neighbors and students from Patrick Henry High School planted native plants and grass at the shoreline. The Park Board also installed a fishing pier.
Ryan Lake is a precious resource for our neighborhoods. It contains wood duck houses, is a good place for pan fishing, and is a natural place for children to explore. My own children spent many happy hours there, so I know firsthand how important an amenity like this is to our community.
The Park Board is a great steward of the properties it manages, and I am happy that it is looking to enhance opportunities to enjoy the Ryan Lake shoreline. Although this particular piece of shoreline has had a complex history, I believe the Park Board’s plans will make it a better place for the future and all the families who will continue to enjoy this great natural resource.