Improvements Coming to Lake Calhoun?

Finding money to maintain and improve Minneapolis parks has changed with the economy. It's harder to find the cash for the big projects. Thursday night, Lake Calhoun was center stage at a neighborhood park and recreation meeting where funding and the lakes future were discussed.

The last time any comprehensive planning for Lake Calhoun was done was back in 1997. Park commissioners wanted to know if this plan is still a good one and what else should be planned for the future.

Water quality has been a concern in the past and will continue to be in the future, along with protecting the shoreline from erosion.

Park and Recreation Commissioner Tracy Nordstrom says more than five million visitors come to Lake Calhoun each year, protecting what they've got is a priority but people also want improvements.

Gone are the days of piles of money to improve parks and maintain them in the city, now most will be done like this parking lot in pieces.

Planners will follow the old master 1997 plan for Lake Calhoun but they want some help to update it. And there is good chance they will also be looking for help to pay for it from the private sector even if it is one project at a time.