Below is a contribution from GMPT Member Wright County. For more information, please visit www.co.wright.mn.us/132/Parks-Recreation. We…
Member Highlight: Lake Byllesby Park
Below is a contribution from GMPT Member Lake Byllesby Park. For more information, please visit goodhuecountymn.gov/parks/byllesby_park/.
Byllesby Regional Park is located along the southern shores of Lake Byllesby in Goodhue County. Lake Byllesby boasts a scenic combination of lake, river, mud flats, sandstone cliffs, woodlands, and prairie. The park is connected to Dakota County Lake Byllesby Regional Park via the Mill Towns State Trail’s bridge over the Cannon River and to the Cannon Valley Trail via the Mill Towns State Trail and City of Cannon Falls trail connections.
While small for a regionally designated park at only 64 acres, its connections to other parks and trails create unique opportunities for collaboration between Greater Minnesota, the Metropolitan Council, and the Department of Natural Resources (DNR). Goodhue County began collaborating with Dakota County in 2016 to update both park master plans. With the goal of creating the appearance of one cohesive regional park, the counties evaluated the needs and features of both parks, analyzed the outdoor and indoor spaces, and gathered feedback from the wide variety of park users at both facilities as well as the surrounding communities.
The Goodhue County Park Board had the foresight to acknowledge the changing demands of park users and prioritized one of the projects from the long-term goals in the updated master plan as the first grant funding priority. In 2019, a project to construct a new 150-person pavilion, add modern restrooms, and install fundamental utilities such as electrical outlets and drinking water was submitted to and recommended by the Greater Minnesota Regional Parks & Trails Commission (GMRPTC) for grant funding. The project received $1,350,236 in Legacy funds, and construction by Lift Bridge Builders began in the spring of 2022.
This was Goodhue County’s first major park improvement in almost 20 years and their very first Legacy grant project. A Public Works Department that normally builds and maintains roads and bridges took on the task of overseeing the construction of the new structure and utility improvements. As Locus Architecture began putting their creative vision to paper, a beautiful structure emerged that blends seamlessly with the surrounding landscape and surprises visitors with its stunning details, such as a mural of the Cannon River on the ceiling.
The new pavilion was recently dedicated to former County Commissioner and park advocate Richard Samuelson at a ribbon-cutting ceremony on June 8th. Goodhue County is currently finalizing an agreement with Dakota County and once again partnering to provide cleaning and reservation services. This will be the first time that Goodhue County will have reservations for any of their park facilities available, and they are excited to add this new feature.
The County wants to encourage and challenge you to reach out and form new partnerships in your communities. You never know what could happen—a new trail connection, new support of local communities and businesses, new partnerships with other agencies and organizations, collaboration on a new event, or even the formation of a new friends group at your facility!
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