Lake Street Improvements
After careful consideration in light of the COVID-19 pandemic, the City of Wayzata decided to move forward on construction of Lake Street to make vital infrastructure improvements and complete phase one of Panoway on Wayzata Bay. The project began in March and is expected to be complete by late summer 2020. Learn more about the city’s decision to move forward.
Click through the tabs below to learn more about the project and its progress.
Construction of the Lake Street improvement project is nearing substantial completion. The Broadway Plaza near COV is now open to the public, allowing access to the 600 block businesses for boaters. Additionally the bike trail and sidewalk from Barry Avenue to Ferndale Road are now open. Businesses on Lake Street are accessible to pedestrians and there is ample parking available on adjacent side streets and at the City’s Mill Street Parking Ramp. Please reference the detour maps below for current information on road closures and restrictions for one-way traffic.
The timeline
Construction began in March 2020 and as it nears substantial completion, the following updated important milestones are anticipated:
Open Lake Street completely | September 11 |
Plaza area open to the public | September 11 (some minor work in plaza to occur after, see below) |
After Lake Street opens, the construction trailer and associated equipment will be removed. Nevertheless, important but minimal work will still need to be completed. The remaining work is anticipated to be completed by the following dates:
- Complete exterior finishes on restroom building (September 25)
The interior of the restroom will be completed by September 11, however the decorative components that will finish the exterior of the building will not be available until mid-September, and will be installed as quickly as possible when they arrive. Additionally, crews will assemble chairs, tables and bike racks for the Plaza Park during this time - Complete work adjacent to the railroad crossings at Barry Avenue and Ferndale Avenue (November 4)
Construction will occur only on the south side of Lake Street. The construction zone will be clearly marked with cones, and flags may be used to direct traffic at times, but mobility should not be restricted - Install catenary lighting system (November)
This portion of the project experienced delivery delays, and the lights will be installed as soon as they arrive. In the meantime, the area surrounding the lights will be clean, with orange boxes protecting the light pole foundations.
The city will be providing ongoing updates about Lake Street construction and the continued progress of Panoway on Wayzata Bay. To stay informed, please sign up for email or text alerts.
The need: a stronger connection to Wayzata’s greatest asset – the lake
The Wayzata Conservancy in partnership with the City of Wayzata has been working for nearly a decade to evaluate the needs of the community and to develop a plan to restore, protect and enhance a treasured asset for our community and broader region: Wayzata’s downtown lakefront. The initiative, known as Panoway on Wayzata Bay, solicited input from thousands of people through years of public and private events, meetings and conversations. The previous Lake Effect work created a new vision for Wayzata’s waterfront, an experience that brings people together to relax, refresh and reconnect with each other, while preserving and protecting this resource for generations to come. The public phase of this project – called Panoway on Wayzata Bay – will launch this spring, beginning our work to make this vision a reality.
When complete, Panoway will offer the community new and restored parks and greenspace, a boardwalk along the lakefront, renovated historical landmarks, educational programming, and inspirational spaces that invite personal reflection and community connection.
The first phase of Panoway on Wayzata Bay centers around Lake Street and the surrounding area. Renovation efforts include reconstructing Lake Street from Barry Avenue to Broadway Avenue to be more pedestrian and bicycle friendly; creating a beautiful, multi-use Plaza Park near the lakefront, replacing the existing surface parking lot at Lake Street and Broadway Avenue; and extending the Dakota Rail Regional Trail safely across Ferndale Road to Broadway Avenue. These comprehensive efforts align with Panoway’s overarching mission to better connect downtown with the lake and fully realize the unique potential of our city.
With many businesses having to reduce services or close due to COVID-19, the City decided to proceed with construction to lessen the impact on businesses and allow construction crews to accelerate their work.
The City of Wayzata remains committed to supporting the business community during and after this pandemic. Once it is safe to resume normal operations, the city will offer a variety of assistance tools to help businesses recover and thrive through the duration of this construction project and beyond.
Landscaping
The landscaping along Lake Street was designed to both beautify and support the ecosystem of the lakefront. Strategically planted gardens will help capture and purify rainwater before it returns to the lake. Oak and maple trees along the street and intersections will bring welcomed shade in the summer and bright, beautiful colors in the fall. And perennial and annual plantings will add some greenery and flowers to the sidewalks.
Public Restroom
The need for public restroom facilities were identified during the 10-year public engagement process that has resulted in Panoway on Wayzata Bay. Currently, residents and visitors do not have any easily accessible restroom options and must rely on businesses and restaurants. To alleviate this burden on downtown businesses, a two-stall unisex public restroom was included in the Panoway construction plans.
Watch the video above to learn more about this work and get a look at what the public restroom facilities will look like when complete.
Renderings
Rendering of Lake Street looking East
Rendering of the public restroom at the Plaza Park
Rendering of Plaza Park and Landscaping