Star Tribune: Still Life At Lake Isn't Pretty Picture
»Visitors taking the 2.6-mile stroll or skate or bike ride around Lake of the Isles in Minneapolis might find the going a bit rough these days, with inaccessible paths and lots of dirt where a grassy shoreline should be.
The lakeside park is in disarray. A phased $10 million renovation came to a stop half-finished because the Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board has been unable to secure state bonding for the last $5 million to complete the work. It was not recommended by Gov. Tim Pawlenty or passed by the Legislature.
"We know that people from all over the suburbs and the state use that park," said Ron Lotz, chairman of the Kenwood Isles Area Association. "We just wish the legislators would view that as a regional park, see that as a resource for the whole state."
"It's a jewel of the park system. It really is, and I think it reflects poorly on the state if it's in bad shape. When people come from out of town, where do they take them? On a drive around Lake of the Isles," Lotz said.«