Lake of the Isles is part of the Chain of Lakes Regional Park


Lake of the Isles is part of the Chain of Lakes Regional Park in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The park averages 5.5 million visitors per year. Visitors to the lake can participate in walking, running or bike riding on trails; enjoy a picnic, canoe in the summer or ice skate in the winter. Dogs are welcome at the lake with an off-leash dog park located in the park. There are 2.86 miles of shoreline, which is publicly owned and available for anyone to visit.

The lake is an engineered lake that was created in the early 20th century. It was originally a shallow lake and marsh complex, which was dredged by the Park Board; the materials that were dredged from the lake and marsh were used to create the parklands, which became a picturesque park. The area of the lake is 109 acres, which includes 2.86 miles of shorelines and a maximum depth of 31 feet.

Construction to improve the water quality, eroding shorelines and damaged recreational areas began in 2001. These projects lessened the impact of the watershed that drains into the 120-acre Lake, preventing any further damage to the park such as the 1997 food or the 1998 windstorm.

Part of the renovation plan for the lake included creating a sustainable and usable area in the park space. The shoreline was stabilized, enhancements were made to the wetland areas, paths were reconstructed, upland plants restored and many recreational areas were improved to balance aesthetics and the park's history along with the recreational needs of the park visitors and the sustainability on a fragile environment.

The lake is connected to Cedar Lake and Lake Calhoun, the park hosts New Year's Eve celebrations, which include roasting marshmallows and drinking hot chocolate. The lake is known for the two wooded islands, the north arm and the stately houses of the Kenwood, Lowry Hill and East Isles neighborhoods. The islands protect wildlife and contain virgin woods. Exploring these islands is prohibits and marked by signs.

There are fish in the lake, which include Black Bullhead, Bluegill, Common Carp, Largemouth Bass, Northern Pike, Pumpkinseed sunfish, yellow Bullhead and Yellow Perch.

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