New Parks

Briarcroft Development Park

A park in the Briarcroft Development was added in fall 2022. The yet to be named park includes benches, shade trees, picnic area, soccer field, a half basketball court, a single pickleball court, a playground, and a softball field. The park is located near the Arrowood Trail and Briarcroft Lane.

The name of the park is currently under consideration by the Park Naming Committee.

Bridlewood Park

Bridlewood Park was added in the fall of 2022. The park is located southwest of the intersection of Bailey Lake Road and Chestnut Drive. 

Highcroft Park

The new park was completed in fall 2022 and includes trees for shade and screening, a playground, open/active space, and trail connections. The park is located at 9720 Iron Horse Road. 

La Lake Park - Concept Design Phase

The city is planning to increase access, enhance natural resources, and recreational opportunities to La Lake Park. Currently the city is working to provide a recommendation and framework from which future improvements will be based. Potential improvements will provide critical basic needs such as running water, permanent restroom facilities, picnicking opportunities, trail connections (paved and natural surface), wayfinding, and interpretation.

About the park

La Lake Park is located at 6655 Bailey Road. The park is 76.62 acres consisting of mostly an upland condition and the lake itself. The shoreline of La Lake contains many hardwood and deciduous trees including large oaks trees. There are two primary access points to La Lake, one located off of Bailey Road to the north and another form the south accessed via Military Road.

Despite the parks high-use, the site lacks a number of essential features such as drinking water, permanent restrooms, and sufficient parking. In addition to correcting these deficiencies, the site’s unique characteristics provide numerous opportunities to enhance the visitor experience and promote natural and cultural resource stewardship at the trailhead and along the park trail corridors. 

Community Open House

Please join us at a Community Open House to introduce the project, answer questions and gather additional feedback.

• Wednesday, Jan. 11, 5:30-6:30 p.m.
• City Hall, 8301 Valley Creek Road  

Subsequent incorporation of the feedback received during the public process and initial review by the Parks and Natural Resources Commission will result in the creation of a final concept plan. This final concept plan will then be presented to the commission for approval in March 2023. 

In advance of the meetings, email questions or comments to Josh Kinney, parks planner, or call 651-414-3435. 

Project Schedule 

Turnberry Park

The city is planning to increase access and recreational opportunities to the Turnberry neighborhood park spring of 2023. To date the City conducted a neighborhood connectivity study, site topographic survey, soil investigation, wetland delineation, and tree survey. Ideas being considered include:

• Quality tree preservation
• Wetland areas will not be considered as possible amenity areas
• Explore connection to existing dead-end trail connections to the north and east 
• Explore additional trail connections to the south
• Include amenities like benches, picnic tables, and a dog sanitation station
• Evaluate interest in additional park amenities

These elements, combined with the input received via the project public engagement opportunities, will serve as the basis for the upcoming design.

• View the Draft Turnberry Park Plan (PDF)

Incorporation of feedback received in August and initial review by the Parks and Natural Resources Commission (PNRC), will result in the creation of a final concept plan. This final concept plan will then be presented to the PNRC for approval in November or December 2022.

Project Schedule

Valley Creek Park

Valley Creek Park, located at 11500 Valley Creek Road, is a 70 acre community park in Woodbury, and is part of a larger area known as the Fish Lake Greenway Corridor. The entrance to the park is located off Valley Creek Road near the intersection of Settlers Ridge Parkway. This property is part of a larger collection of city-owned open space and park parcels that were acquired through a city open space referendum in 1998, park dedication from development, a state Metro Greenways Grant from the MNDNR, and a Land and Water Legacy Grant from Washington County.

Park improvements include a playground, trail segments in the park and connections to the neighborhoods, and preservation and stabilization of the Miller Barn. Future improvements inside the park include additional vegetation management, nature play node, benches, and signage and wayfinding.

Natural Resources Management Plan

The city recently completed a Natural Resources Management Plan for the park with support from the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR). The plan provides a road map for management and restoration activities designed to maintain and improve the natural resources at the park. The restoration and management activities will be carried out over the next 10 years as funding opportunities are identified.

• View the Natural Resources Management Plan (PDF)

Vegetation Management

The city received a grant from the Department of Natural Resources to improve the habitat of the oak woodland, oak savanna, prairie and wetlands. This project complements the park improvements made in 2021 and 2022. The vegetation establishment project will start summer 2022 and be completed by summer 2027.

Work in the winter months will be widely removal of invasive woody species, such as Buckthorn, followed by selective treatment. The spring, summer and fall months will focus on the prairie, wetlands and understory vegetation through selective removal and seeding. 

Winter Maintenance 

Due to environmental sensitivity of the area, snow melting chemicals will not be used in the park. The park may be closed periodically due to icy trail conditions. 

The Waters Edge Water Quality Park and Hasenbank Woods Restoration project incorporates three distinct aspects to improve habitat, water quality and park usability over a period of three to five years. Project components include:

• Treatment of waters entering Powers Lake through a series of Stormwater Best Management Practices integrated into naturalized park spaces along the western and northern portions of the site.
• Vegetative restoration of Hasenbank Woods that will focus on the protection of healthy oaks and other native trees, removal of buckthorn and other invasive species and the replanting of native species typical of oak savanna and oak woodlands. Practices will rely on the use of forestry mowing and goat grazing to remove invasive species in order to reduce the use of herbicides during site preparation.
• Development of plans for the vegetative restoration of wetlands and associated habitats surrounding Fish Lake, which is currently dominated by near monotypes of invasive reed canary grass and hybrid cattail.

Project planning will include consideration of features to provide access into and through restored natural areas and stormwater treatment practices as appropriate. Conversion to native plant communities will consider long term management strategies to support resilience and sustainability through periodic, but regular maintenance practices.

View the concept plan (PDF)

Project Timeline: 
Winter 2022-2026

Park at Canvas North Development (2023)

The city is working to provide park amenities for the Canvas North neighborhood. Potential improvements will provide picnicking opportunities, benches, trail connections, and a combination tennis/pickle ball court. The park improvements are planned to be completed concurrent with construction of the neighborhoods private amenities – club house and pool. 

The Park at the Canvas North Development is located at the intersection of Crestbury Dr. and Conifer Pass. The park is 0.7 acres consisting of mostly an upland condition situated next to a stormwater pond. 

• Preliminary Park Concept (PDF)