Plans Forming to Improve Trail Access to Lake Elmo Park Reserve

Residents interested in the Lake Elmo Park Reserve met Wednesday night to discuss a plan to provide better access to the park from the west at an open house Wednesday night at Lake Elmo City Hall.

“We really value public opinion on the project,” said John Elholm, Parks Director for Washington County.

Wednesday night was the second public meeting for the project, which is still in the planning stages. The first meeting, June 8, was a presentation to the public about the project itself. Changes were made after gathering feedback.

The original plan included parking areas at trail head locations to help eliminate current parking problems along Inwood Avenue, said Peter Mott, Parks Manager for Washington County. People responded.

“The parking amenities would encourage more use than comfortable,” Mott said of the feedback. “So we went back and removed the amenities.”

One of the biggest goals of the project, Elholm said, is to connect the community and the park. The project proposes a trail on the east side of Inwood Avenue. The trail would run from Stillwater Boulevard, through the park and south to 10th Street.

Other possible trails are on the west side of Inwood Avenue and on 15th Street. Underpasses would be built in two spots on Inwood Avenue to connect trails.

A trail on the east side of Inwood Avenue would be Phase One, but the trail would not be ready until 2015 or 2016, Mott said.

Throughout the open house, people floated in and out, having discussions amongst themselves and with planning committee members. One concern voiced was the issue of increased vehicle traffic on 15th Street. Another concern was whether the trails would be used.

Dave Zimmerhakl, a resident of Lake Elmo for over 20 years, said he hoped to see the trails better utilized after being constructed.

Paul Eberhard is from Falcon Heights, but owns a family farm along Inwood Avenue. Trail plans concerned him becuase if a trail were to be added on the west side of Inwood Avenue, it would run through the gardens on his property.

“I realize it’s in the planning stages and things change on a month-to- month basis,” Eberhard said. “I understand the need for it, but I don’t have the same concerns as others.”

Mott said he was satisfied with the turnout as well as the feedback the meeting provided.

“For the scale of the meeting, this had pretty robust conversations with the community and it’s been pretty positive,” Mott said. “Even folks concerned with the project have been quite respectful.”