(Arnolds Park)– The future of a boat ramp, dock, and campground on city owned property on Lake Minnewashta was the subject of a public hearing at Wednesday evening’s Arnolds Park City Council meeting. Ron Walker, a spokesman for the city, tells KUOO news what it was that’s led up to possible changes at that site…
“The Parks Department of the DNR does not have any agreement with the city of Arnolds Park in writing that they have a right to put the dock and a boat ramp on city property. I’m guessing it’s probably a handshake deal from the 1930’s. It was at one time a sewage treatment plant in there and when the Sanitary District was formed the state gave up all the rights to these old treatment plants that were replaced. There’s nothing really on record they could find that gives them the right so they just would like to disavow any ownership of the boat ramp and the dock and turn that over to the city.”
City officials have expressed concern over ongoing maintenance costs associated with it. However one person who spoke at Wednesday’s hearing said he wants to see the campground, boat ramp and dock remain, instead of converting it entirely to parking…
“The thought of having more parking, I’m sure that would be great, you know, but that campground and the quaintness adds, you know, to the quality of life in Arnolds Park.”
The council Wednesday evening referred the matter to the city’s Parks Board. Walker said they’ll consider several factors and will bring a formal recommendation to the council…
“How much use it gets, we need to come up with some kind of a longer range plan on how to proceed. With camping, without camping, with a boat ramp, without a boat ramp, a combination of both, and actually do some improvements in that area.”
Walker says in the meantime the site likely will continue to be operated with the current amenities through the next year.
