Cedar Lake and Lake of the Isles Master Plan Circulation Musings: It’s been nearly three years since I was selected by the selection committee for the Cedar Lake and Lake of the Isles Master Plan to be a member of the Community Advisory Committee (CAC). In that time there have been highs and lows, and I wanted to share some final musings as the CAC’s recommendations proceed to the final stages and eventually are voted on by Park Board commissioners this winter.
Improvements to NW Cedar Lake: Going into this master planning process, my highest priority was to take what feels like a temporary path section due to its tightness and discomfort for all use at the northwest corner of Cedar Lake, and widen things out in a more planful way. What I really wanted was a final outcome where people walking could actually enjoy the beauty of NW Cedar Lake, rather than get through it as quickly as possible because of how unsafe it feels.
The final compromise on this corner of Cedar Lake will do that, to an extent. The CAC’s Circulation Subcommittee voted on a minimum of six feet for pedestrians and eight feet for a two-way bike path. Six feet for a pedestrian path is what you’ll likely find on the Minneapolis sidewalk outside of your home or nearby. It’s technically wide enough for two people using wheelchairs to pass each other, but barely. Since COVID many walkers in neighborhoods still choose to walk in the street or cross the street if people are coming, because six feet of width still isn’t ideal for two-way pedestrian traffic. However, it’s a major improvement from existing conditions, and key language is part of the resolution “keeping separate paths” is meant to have some sort of physical separation between cyclists and pedestrians.
From the biking perspective, the path will stay roughly the same width it is now at a minimum, which is wide enough for one bike traveling each direction to safely pass each other. It’s also not ideal (the ideal minimum is 10’ and for comfort should be 12 feet) but again, with that physical separation it should be much improved from existing conditions.
Other Improvements to Cedar Lake: Other improvements voted on by the CAC include creating a new parallel sidewalk option, or at least allowing for that as a solution, when considering areas near Point Beach and SW Cedar that people cross with a kayak or stand-up paddle board and have no pedestrian path to walk on – which has long created conflicts between those park users and cyclists on the path.
One interesting development that showcases just how contentious an issue this is, was a tie vote with regard to creating a bicycle connector trail between East Cedar Beach and the Cedar Lake Regional Trail. The idea was put forth because many residents who walk the East Cedar woods complain about cyclists in the woods riding anywhere/ everywhere. This trail connector would create a solution to this problem, which otherwise will likely remain for the next 20-30 years. This issue will likely be an interesting one to track as Park Board commissioners consider it.
Improvements to Lake of the Isles: One big issue for Lake of the Isles over the next 20-30 years will be the addition of a light rail station at 21st Street near East Cedar Lake Beach. That will be the closest station to many residents of some of Minneapolis’ most dense neighborhoods that line Hennepin, and many cyclists will likely bike to that station to use it. Between that and changing park uses (most park users don’t want to ride full circles around lakes anymore for leisure, but instead ride the parkway trails to get from park section to park section) it felt like creating the framework for two-way bicycle trails around Lake of the Isles was a priority – and some comments from the public supported that, despite some outcry from a vocal group of park users and park neighbors.
In the end the CAC created a two-part solution to the problem. In the short term, a temporary bike lane would be painted, keeping cyclists traveling in the same direction as existing vehicle traffic. A future committee would consider reconstructing Lake of the Isles Parkway to be narrower for vehicles and include a new two-way bike lane—all done with minimal new pavement. The parkway was last replaced in 2009 with a life span of 40 or so years.
In my mind, that resolution was reasonable enough and the existing parkway roads are wide enough that this resolution could form the framework for two-way bicycle facilities to be added at every lake on the Chain of Lakes.
Overall thoughts: Overall, I was fascinated by the process, and believe the final recommendations by the CAC—while not ground-breaking or revolutionary— respect the differences in all the lakes on Minneapolis’ beloved Chain of Lakes and will help set up the park system for a growing and changing base of future users. I urge all Minneapolis Park Board commissioners as they consider their votes to plan for the future, and not punt to a future CAC 20-30 years from now.
