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Lake Waconia Regional Park

1. Overview

Lake Waconia Regional Park is a 164-acre regional park on the south shore of Lake Waconia—one of the largest lakes in the Twin Cities metro. The park includes beaches, trails, a waterfront service center, and access to the historically significant Coney Island of the West, a former resort island now publicly owned and permanently protected.


Together, the mainland park and Coney Island create a regional-scale public wealth asset, blending recreation, shoreline protection, cultural history, and ecosystem preservation.


2. Origin Story: Land Assembly + Coney Island Acquisition

Long-Term Park Assembly (1970s–2010s)

  • Regional plans in the 1970s, 1995, and 2001 identified Lake Waconia as a priority shoreline for public access.

  • Over ~40 years, Carver County and the Metropolitan Council purchased multiple shoreline parcels—combining local, regional, and state funding.


Coney Island of the West (Historic Resort Island)

  • Coney Island was a major late-1800s and early-1900s resort destination, featuring grand hotels, excursion boats, and recreation for visitors from Minneapolis and St. Paul.

  • After decades of private ownership and deterioration, the island became a preservation priority due to:

    • Its historic structures and archaeological sites

    • Bald eagle habitat

    • Opportunity to restore public access to a rare metro-area island


Public Acquisition of Coney Island

  • 2016–2017: Carver County and the Metropolitan Council jointly purchased Coney Island of the West, adding it to the regional park system.

  • Much of the funding came from the Park Acquisition Opportunity Fund (PAOF)—a mix of:

    • State Parks & Trails Legacy Funds (Legacy Amendment)

    • Metropolitan Council regional park bonds

  • Additional county matching funds supported due diligence, environmental review, and stabilization work.

This transformed Coney Island into a publicly owned natural and cultural asset, ensuring long-term preservation and limited public access opportunities.


3. Funding Model

A. Land Acquisition Funding

  • Carver County Capital/Levy Funds

  • Metropolitan Council – Park Acquisition Opportunity Fund (PAOF)

    • Covers up to ~75% of each acquisition

    • Funded by state Legacy sales tax revenue + Met Council bonds

  • State conservation & shoreline grants

  • For Coney Island: PAOF + county match allowed the transfer from private to public protection.


B. Capital Development Funding (Park Improvements)

Phase 1 (2018–2019) — Utilities & Infrastructure

  • $1.5M state bonding + $1.5M county match

  • Roads, water/sewer extension, parking, grading

  • New MN DNR boat launch and access improvements

Phase 2 (2021–2024) — Paradise Commons Waterfront Center

  • $2.5M state bonding + $2.5M county funds

  • Restrooms, indoor event space, rental operations, concessions, and outdoor seating

Parks & Trails Legacy Grants

  • Trail expansion, shoreline stabilization, design work, and site amenities.

Coney Island Stabilization

  • Funded through PAOF + county resources:

    • Habitat protection

    • Shoreline restoration

    • Historic structure stabilization and planning


4. Operations & Stewardship

  • Operated by Carver County Parks, with annual support from the Metropolitan Regional Parks System.

  • Entrance fees eliminated in 2019, funded instead through:

    • County levy

    • Regional park operations formula

  • Coney Island is managed primarily as a protected natural and cultural resource, with controlled public access (boat landing, low-impact hiking).


5. What the Park Offers the Community

Mainland Park

  • Swimming beach

  • Boat launch & trailer parking

  • Multi-use lakeside trails

  • Picnic shelters & grills

  • Sledding hill (winter)

  • Paradise Commons year-round event space

  • Rental services for paddle sports

Coney Island of the West

  • Historic resort island with archaeology & former hotel sites

  • Bald eagle habitat & natural shoreline

  • Low-impact trails & viewpoints (future access may expand)

  • Regional cultural interpretation opportunities

  • Unique “public island” experience within the metro


Together, they offer one of the largest publicly accessible freshwater lakefronts in the Twin Cities.


6. Public Wealth Benefits

  • High-impact shoreline access in a region where most large lakes are privately owned

  • Cultural preservation of a historically significant island

  • Regional recreation supporting local businesses and tourism

  • Ecosystem protection for shoreline, water quality, and bird habitat

  • Equitable access, with no park entry fees

  • Long-horizon ownership, built through multi-decade public investment


Note: Content summarized with assistance from ChatGPT. ChatGPT can make mistakes-- check important information.

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