The City of Wayzata formally presented its request to the Minnesota House Capital Investment Committee this week, seeking nearly $15 million in state bonding support to complete the final phase of its transformative Panoway project along Lake Minnetonka’s shoreline.
Council Member Ken Sorensen, City Manager Jeffrey Dahl, and Wayzata’s State Representative Patty Acomb testified before the Minnesota House Capital Investment Committee at the State Capitol, advocating for the city’s $15 million bonding request to fund future park improvements and the design of a new public safety facility.
Wide Range of Lakefront Improvements
House File 1064, authored by Rep. Patty Acomb (DFL–Minnetonka), outlines the appropriation of $14,915,000 in bond proceeds to fund a wide range of lakefront improvements. These include the construction of a new eco park, the restoration and preservation of the historic Section Foreman House and Wayzata Depot, shoreline stabilization, upgrades to Wayzata Beach and Klapprich Park, and the design of a future public safety facility.
Wayzata City Manager Jeffrey Dahl testified at the hearing and emphasized the regional impact of the project, noting that much of the foot traffic and recreational use in Wayzata’s parks and trails comes from visitors outside city limits.
Regional Need According to City
“We were asking the state for funds because a significant majority of the folks that are using our parks and community spaces are from outside the city,” said Dahl in an interview via telephone the day after. “We think it really meets the test of being a regional need.”
The Panoway on Wayzata Bay—a multi-phase initiative to reclaim and enhance the city’s historic lakefront—has already transformed how residents and visitors interact with the shoreline. The initial phases of the project included the reimagining of Lake Street into a pedestrian-friendly promenade, improved parkland access, and ecological restoration efforts. This final phase, officials say, is essential for completing the city’s long-term vision for public access, sustainability, and safety.
“The city summarized its bonding request of $15 million to enhance the lakefront—essentially the remaining phases of the Panoway and Wayzata Bay park improvements,” Dahl added. “That includes funding for parking, improvements at Klapprich Park and Shaver Park, which are all projects within our capital improvement plan.”
James J. Hill vs Wayzata
The city’s efforts to restore public access to its shoreline are rooted in a century-old conflict. In the 1890s, railroad magnate James J. Hill rerouted his Great Northern Railway tracks along Wayzata’s lakefront, severing the town’s connection to the water and igniting a decades-long battle over public access.
At one point, Hill moved the town’s depot a mile east, famously saying, “Let them walk a mile for the next twenty years.” Generations later, the completion of the Panoway—including the recently finished lakewalk—has reversed that legacy. Wayzata’s lakefront is now a welcoming public space once again, where residents and visitors can stroll the shoreline, connect with the water, and reflect on how far the town has come.
Public Safety Building Future Needs
While the future public safety facility is still years away, the city is seeking support for design costs now, hoping to remain proactive as infrastructure demands evolve.
If approved by the Legislature, the funds would be granted through the Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED) and used to complete the city’s downtown lakefront restoration effort.
The bonding request builds upon a prior allocation received during the 2020 Special Session, further cementing the Panoway project as one of the state’s most significant small-town lakefront redevelopments.
A decision on whether the project will be included in this year’s bonding bill is expected later this session.
