At an upcoming meeting on July 15, the Wayzata City Council is expected to consider a resolution authorizing the submission of a grant application to the Minnesota Historical Society. The grant would help fund the restoration of the historic Section Foreman House, a lakeside landmark slated for reuse as a public learning center under Phase 3 of the Panoway initiative.
City staff is recommending approval of the resolution, which would allow Wayzata to request $308,829 from the Minnesota Historical and Cultural Heritage Grants program. The project’s total estimated cost is $868,576, with the remaining funds—$559,747—committed by the Wayzata Conservancy or secured through additional grant opportunities.
The Section Foreman House, a small rail-era structure near the lakefront, has long been viewed as a key part of Wayzata’s plan to expand access to Lake Minnetonka and create new indoor-outdoor educational space. If restored, it would serve as the future home of the proposed Lakeshore Learning Center—offering programming tied to history, ecology, and lake stewardship.
According to city documents, the grant builds upon a previous Legacy Grant that funded the creation of architectural plans and construction documents. This next phase would bring the vision to life.
“This project supports our strategic priority of sustaining community character,” said Parks and Environment Planner Nick Kieser in a staff report. “It’s an opportunity to preserve an important piece of our heritage while expanding public access to the lake.”
The Minnesota Historical Society’s Legacy Grant program is funded through the Clean Water, Land, and Legacy Amendment, which supports the preservation of significant historic and cultural resources across the state.
If the council adopts the resolution, the city will submit the application ahead of the upcoming grant deadline. Award announcements are expected later this year.
