The Plan
Improving Our Parks, Trails and Recreation
Based on input from residents, the city has put forward a plan to invest $60 million to deliver critical updates and improvements to neighborhood parks, Highway 13 trails, Lakefront Park and Spring Lake Park over the next five years.
From family-friendly playgrounds with shaded areas to well-connected and accessible trails, this investment aims to keep our outdoor spaces safe, welcoming and a source of enjoyment for years to come.
Proposed Improvements
Neighborhood Parks
The city is working to ensure every resident in Prior Lake has access to an updated, high-quality park within half a mile of their home to support recreational programming and to meet local priorities. For many of our neighborhood parks, this will mean upgrading or replacing amenities such as aging playgrounds, fields, and park buildings.
Upgraded playground renderings:
MN Highway 13 Trail Projects
The city is working to close gaps in our trail system to improve connectivity and provide safer routes for pedestrians to reach major destinations and regional links. Under the city’s plan, the trail segments on the north side of Highway 13 would be connected between Egan Drive (County Rd 42) and extend all the way to Downtown Prior Lake.
Note: Segment 5 shown on the map is complete, Segment 1 is out for bid.
Spring Lake Park
The city acquired Spring Lake Park in the early 2000s with plans to develop it as a community park to ease demand at Lakefront Park. This would allow Lakefront Park to be redeveloped without disrupting recreational services for residents.
The city’s plan for improving this park includes:
Additional pickleball courts
High-quality soccer and football fields*
Updated hockey/skating rinks and a warming house
A safe and inclusive playground
Year-round community restrooms
*Location of new, high-quality soccer fields subject to change.
Lakefront Park
Because of its size and location near downtown, Lakefront Park is a community hub, hosting many events and recreational activities.
The city’s plan would update the park’s aging amenities and expand recreational opportunities to be enjoyed by all ages, including:
A new adventure playground and splash pad
Increased accessibility to Watzl’s Beach, including a fishing pier
New shaded areas for sitting and resting
Additional space for popular community events
A new entry/exit to the park to enhance circulation and safety
Year-round community restrooms
New and updated recreational space for activities, including:
Ice skating
Skateboarding
Picnicking
Tennis
Pickleball
Snowshoeing
