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.
File photo.
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.
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, State Representative Patty Acomb, and City Manager Jeffrey Dahl. Submitted photo.
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.
Image courtesy Wayzata Historical Society.
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.
On the shores of Lake Minnetonka and Wayzata Bay, the Section Foreman House stands as a quiet reminder of the town’s rich railroad history. Built in 1902, the house served as the residence for the railroad’s section foreman, whose job was to maintain the tracks that once powered Wayzata’s growth. From this humble home, the foreman and his crew would oversee inspections and repairs, ensuring that the trains connecting Wayzata to the wider world ran smoothly.
Now, this historic structure has been added to National Registry of Historic Places, and is set to be revitalized as part of Phase 3 of the Panoway Project which is a multi-year effort to enhance Wayzata’s waterfront. The upcoming renovation aims to preserve the house as a symbol of Wayzata’s industrial heritage, ensuring that future generations can appreciate its role in shaping the town. The Section Foreman House will continue to stand watch over Wayzata Bay, linking the past with the future.
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