The Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board (MPRB) awarded the bid for improvements to the beach area at Theodore Wirth Park at its October 21 meeting. Construction will begin in early November, continue until the ground freezes, and begin again as soon as weather permits in the spring. The volley ball courts will be ready for play in the spring, and the additional improvements are anticipated to be complete by early summer, but progress will depend on weather conditions.
The beach and the area around the beach house will be closed during the project, and a section of the parking lot may be used for staging. The old playground will stay open until the new playground is ready for use. Access to trails will remain open, and the ski trails will not be affected this winter.
In addition to the volleyball courts and playground, improvements include a concrete terrace overlooking the beach, shade structures on the beach and near the playground, a half basketball court, realigned trails and walkways, and landscaping. Additional elements of the master plan may be implemented as soon as next year, including a floating boardwalk, parking lot reconstruction, and a group picnic shelter.
The concept plan for the area, originally approved in 2003, was updated to reflect current and new uses of the site and the influence of the 2007 MPRB Comprehensive Plan. The updated beach area plan was presented to the public at an informational open house July 6, 2009.
“We received great input from the public on what they want to see at the beach,” said Jon Gurban, MPRB Superintendent. “When sand volleyball was a hit at the Olympics, we changed the original plan to reflect increased usage of the courts.”
The MPRB developed a master plan for improvements at Theodore Wirth Park in 1980. In 2002, the MPRB convened an appointed Citizen Advisory Committee (CAC) to further refine improvement plans for the beach area of the park. That schematic plan was approved by the Board in 2003.
The playground design for the older children is inspired by the Aqua Follies, an Aquatennial synchronized swimming event staged at Wirth Lake annually from the 1940s to 1964. The play area for the younger children will have a boat-themed structure. The playground will be located where the four volleyball courts currently sit.
The existing volleyball courts will be moved to the west side of the beach house building, preserving the current four sand courts. The volleyball courts represent the most significant change to the schematic plan, which would have reduced the number of sand volleyball courts to two. This plan change reflects the strong usage of the sand volleyball courts, which have gained in popularity as a result of the 2008 Summer Olympics.
A concrete terrace will overlook the beach on the volleyball side of the building. The building edges will be softened by removing some of the attached walkways and replacing them with lawn and planting beds. A new half basketball court will offer variety for family gatherings on the east edge of the site. Picnic areas and re-aligned trails are also planned.
In a future construction phase, the trail submerged by an expanding wetland will be brought closer to the lake and cross the wetland outlet via a bridge. A 400-foot long floating boardwalk will circle the swimming area. It will allow strolling as well as access to the water, like the floating platforms of years past.
Funding for the improvements has been provided by Metropolitan Council Regional Park Funding (a combination of state and Met Council bonds) and by the Parks and Trails Fund which was established by the people of Minnesota by vote on November 4, 2008.
