(Updated June 25)

Due to high flows in Minnehaha Creek, we are advising people to avoid paddling Minnehaha Creek at this time. Any flows above 150 cubic feet per second (cfs) are considered dangerous for paddling, and discharge of water from the Gray's Bay Dam is currently over 150 cfs. Additionally, please note the stretch of Minnehaha Creek through Arden Park in the City of Edina will be closed on Friday, June 28 from 10:00am through 12:00pm.

While the Minnehaha Creek Watershed District (MCWD) does not regulate recreation on Minnehaha Creek, we provide guidance for safe paddling. Ideal creek flows for paddling are between 75 and 150 cfs. Flows above 150 cfs can make it difficult to react to obstacles (downed trees, branches, etc) in the creek and to pass under some bridges. Individuals have reported trees down in the creek (details on our paddling page). City crews are not able to remove the trees at this time due to high flows.

Conditions can change rapidly, especially after rainfall. You can view real-time creek flows at Hiawatha Avenue on the USGS website. This is a good gauge of how the eastern half of the creek is flowing. The discharge rate from Gray's Bay Dam is a good gauge of how the western half of the creek is flowing.

Learn more about paddling the creek.

Current Status

Construction is continuing to move forward as the contractor works to complete major park improvements. As a reminder, the park will remain closed until work is completed this fall, even the perimeter of the park without fencing. Continuing trail construction in these areas will make it unsafe for visitors.

The two new pedestrian bridges over Minnehaha Creek will be placed on Friday, June 28. A crane will be lifting the bridges into place between 10am and 12pm, and no paddling will be allowed in the creek through Arden Park while the bridges are being placed. Upstream paddlers must take out east of Browndale Dam. Paddlers will not be allowed to portage through Arden Park as the park is closed to the public during construction. Paddlers can put in south of Arden Park at 54th Street.

Work done to date:

Stormwater management
Floodplain areas, the new streambank, and open spaces are being given their final shape in preparation for planting with native flowers, grasses, trees, and shrubs. Large diameter trees were recently planted and an additional 1,300 smaller trees will be planted later this summer. The stormwater swales have been dug and new drain tile pipe is going in. The new stormwater treatment pipes and filters are being placed in the north end of the park.

Boardwalk and trails:
Boardwalk connecting the floodplain forest on the west side of the creek to the park space east of the creek has been completed, and connecting trails throughout the park are under construction.

Park shelter and playground:
The construction of the new park shelter building is underway. The building pad for the building and the base for the new playground are finished, and the concrete for these areas will be poured soon. The exterior wall framing of the shelter building should begin in early July.

The site has been extremely wet with this spring’s rain, but the new streambanks have held up very well during high flows and the newly connected floodplain provided storage when the creek was outside of its banks. The new plantings will further anchor the streambanks and take up water in the floodplain.

Upcoming work:

Late June

• Two new bridges will be placed over Minnehaha Creek: one connecting the floodplain boardwalk to the playground area across the creek and one crossing the creek from the hockey rink area to the area near the new shelter building
• New trails and paths on the perimeter of the park will be constructed and new sets of stairs from Brookview Avenue to both the hockey rink and the new floodplain boardwalk will be completed
• Stormwater features will be finished
• Creek accesses will be built as high water recedes
• Construction of the new shelter building is underway. Concrete foundation work has begun and exterior wall framing should begin the first week of July

July

• New trees, shrubs, flowers, and grasses will be planted in the stormwater swales, floodplain areas, streambanks, and along trails
• Open spaces will be seeded with turf grasses or low-mow grasses
• Shelter building construction will continue through September

August - September

• Shelter building construction will continue
• The new playground will be completed

October

• Shelter building terrace and landscaping will be completed
• Remaining interior trails will be finished

For safety reasons, the park will remain closed until the project is completed later this fall. Park conditions are not safe for visitors, and access to the park is strictly forbidden. Playgrounds can be found at most city parks, including Garden, Highlands, Pamela, Todd, and Wooddale.

For questions regarding the park shelter or playground, please contact Tom Swenson at the City of Edina at tswenson@edinamn.gov or 952-826-0317.

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About this Project

The City of Edina and Minnehaha Creek Watershed District are partnering to improve the creek, habitat and the public use experience in Arden Park. The project design is based on the concept plan that was developed with community input over the course of 2017 and refined with additional feedback throughout 2018. The Arden Park project combines park improvements with natural resource improvements within the Minnehaha Creek corridor, including more access to Minnehaha Creek for fishing and recreation, a drier green space, stormwater management, and an upgraded playground and park shelter building.