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Park System Master Plan
In 2025, the Parks & Recreation Department, led by the Shorewood Park Commission, developed a Park System Master Plan to guide the City for the next 10+ years. The plan is centered on resident feedback and input. The final plan was approved and adopted by the City Council during the February 23, 2026 City Council Regular Meeting.
The Shorewood Park System Master Plan takes a look at the current state of our parks system, summarizes input received from the community, and creates a roadmap for Shorewood’s Parks & Recreation department, Parks Commission, and City Council on how to meet the needs of the community moving forward. The Plan will ensure our park system continues to grow and evolve with the community.
Plan Documents
The plan contains a number of documents that will be utilized to assist in the planning process for parks moving forward. The complete final plan, along with relevant documents included in the plan, can be found below.
- Park System Final Plan
- Shorewood Parks & Trails Map
- Parks 10-Year Capital Improvement Plan (2026-2035)
- South Shore Park Concept Plan
- Park System Plan Mapping Packet
Engagement Materials & Project Documents
The City held engagement events to seek community input during our Concert in the Park, Movie in the Park, and Oktoberfest events. The City also conducted a survey to start the project, and held an open house on preliminary recommendations. Materials that were provided at these events, along with the survey results, are included in the links below.
February 23, 2026: The Park System Plan was presented to the City Council during the regular meeting. The City Council voted unanimously to approve and adopt the plan.
January 27, 2026: The Park Commission voted unanimously to recommend approval of the final Park System Plan to the City Council, with minor administrative edits to be made.
November 14, 2025: An update on the Parks Master Plan will be provided to the City Council during the December 8 Work Session. The Park Commission will have discussion to incorporate City Council feedback during the December 9 Park Commission meeting.
October 29, 2025: Staff provided an update to the City Council during the Work Session on October 27 and discussed the preliminary capital improvement plan (CIP) recommendations and South Shore Park concept plan. The Council recommended having additional discussion and prioritizing projects prior to developing a draft of the plan.
The Park Commission held an Open House on October 28 and discussed the preliminary CIP during the Park Commission meeting after the Open House. Information gathered from Open House attendees helped guide the discussion, and each item on the preliminary CIP was assigned a priority level. Staff will compile the feedback received for discussion at a future City Council Work Session.
September 3, 2025: The Park Commission will be holding an Open House for the public to view preliminary recommendations for our parks system, as well as a concept plan for South Shore Park. The Open House is scheduled to take place on Tuesday, October 28 from 6pm - 6:45pm in the City Hall Council Chambers, prior to the regularly scheduled Park Commission Meeting.
September 1, 2025: The survey is now closed! A summary of the survey results will be shared in the final plan. Full results will also be included in the plan appendix.
August 27, 2025: The commission decided to host an additional engagement opportunity for residents to provide feedback in the format of an open house. The open house will take place on Tuesday, October 28 at 6pm, prior to the regularly scheduled Park Commission meeting. Registration is not required, but encouraged. You can sign up by visiting this webpage.
August 18, 2025: The survey deadline has been extended! Please be sure to share with your family, friends, and neighbors of ALL ages. Any and all input is extremely valuable in helping to shape the future of our park system!
June 23, 2025: Shorewood Parks Maser Plan Community Survey is now live! This short survey (less than 10 minutes) is one way we’re gathering community feedback. Your responses are greatly appreciated and will play a key role in creating a park system that meets the needs of Shorewood residents.
The Shorewood Park Commission discusses capital projects throughout the park system on an annual basis. During discussions regarding upcoming capital projects at the July 9, 2024 Park Commission Meeting (PDF), the Commission discussed the need to update our Parks Master Plan (PDF) and develop a conceptual master plan for South Shore Park. The City last developed a Parks Master Plan in 2002 with an update completed in 2009. Many of the components of this Master Plan were successfully implemented, leaving six of the seven parks well developed with athletic fields, picnic shelters, playgrounds, natural areas, and a trail system. However, South Shore Park was identified as a location for potential new amenities.
The Park Commission recommended to the City Council that funds be allocated to conducting a new Park System Master Plan to provide an updated plan for all City parks, with a conceptual master plan for South Shore Park. This will allow for a strategic roadmap to be created that is centered on the needs and desires of Shorewood residents. To complete this project, the City issued a Request for Proposal to solicit bids from qualified consultants. Eight proposals were received from consultants that were interested in working with the City on the project. City staff, along with members of the Park Commission, conducted interviews with the top 3 candidates and selected Bolton & Menk as the firm to lead the project.
Join the Parks & Recreation email list
Future Engagement
With an approved plan, the Park Commission now has a roadmap to navigate projects in the future. There will be a variety of engagement opportunities for the public as the Commission works through the various project phases. The best way to stay informed and provide input is by joining the email list included above.
Winter - Spring 2025
- Request For Proposals & Bids for contracting firm to create master plan
Summer – Fall 2025
- Community survey & public engagement opportunities
- Development of draft document
- Park Commission approval and public comment period
Winter 2025
- Development of Park System Plan Draft
January 2026
- Review of draft Park System Plan
January 27, 2026 Park Commission Meeting
- Final review of Park System Plan and recommendation of approval for City Council
February 23, 2026 City Council Regular Meeting
- Adoption of the Park System Plan by the City Council
- What is a park system?
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A park system is the public parks, open spaces, trails, natural areas, and recreational facilities within a community. It may also include the recreation opportunities that are tied to these spaces, along with the maintenance and operations to keep the spaces in good condition.
- What does Shorewood have in its park system?
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The City of Shorewood is proud to provide a parks and recreation system that provides active and passive recreation opportunities for all ages. Shorewood boasts over 100 acres of a comprehensive park system that includes 7 parks, a variety of open spaces, trails, and a community & event center. Our park system provides ample opportunities for our community to play, relax, and enjoy the outdoors in a variety of ways.
- What is a Park System Master Plan?
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The Park System Master Plan is a roadmap for planning and completing park improvements, helping the City decide what parks to focus on first and ensure that changes and investments to a City park fit into the bigger picture of serving the needs of the community. The Park System Master Plan will use a summary of the community input received to create a 10+ vision for Shorewood’s parks, trails, facilities and programs. This plan will guide City decisions for individual park improvement project and new programming in the future.
- What should I not expect from the Park System Master Plan?
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It is important to keep in mind that many ideas will be shared throughout the process, and not all will be able to be incorporated. Resident input is essential in developing the plan, but trends within parks and recreation, long-term feasibility, budgets, and city-wide needs will be considered when formulating recommendations. Recommendations from the plan can be exciting, especially if an amenity that you desire or suggest is included! However, the plan does not fund the projects. The plan provides a long-term vision and priorities for the park system as a whole, and successfully implementing the plan will take time, proper funding, approvals, and resources.
This Parks Master Plan is focused on the parks themselves, not necessarily the connected trail system. While there may be some inclusion of trails nearby parks, this plan is not intended to provide a future City-wide trail plan or recommendations.
- Why is a master plan needed?
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A master plan is essential for ensuring City parks and amenities are meeting and continue to meet the needs of Shorewood residents. Our existing park plans are outdated and don’t reflect the current needs or trends within the community, leaving it difficult for the Park Commission to allocate funds for future capital park projects. A master plan allows the Commission to make strategic, data driven decisions that reflect the needs of our community. The plan will help the City take care of what we currently have, plan for what is next, and make sure the Shorewood park system is enjoyed by the entire community.
- Who is working on the master plan?
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The Parks Master Plan is a collaborative effort between City Staff, the Park Commission, and the selected consultant, Bolton & Menk. Parks & Recreation Director, Mitchell Czech, is the staff lead for the project.
- How can I contribute my ideas?
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There are many ways to contribute your ideas and make sure your voice is heard! The best way to contribute your ideas and feedback is by completing the community survey or by attending our resident engagement sessions at our Concert in the Park (Thursday, July 17, 6pm – 8:30pm, Freeman Park) or Oktoberfest (Saturday, September 27, 1pm – 3pm, Badger Park) events.
The Park Commission also meets on the 4th Tuesday of each month at 7:00pm in the City Hall Council Chambers. Each meeting has a “Matters from the Floor” section on the agenda for residents to share their thoughts and ideas.
You can also contact our Parks & Recreation Director, Mitchell Czech, at mczech@shorewoodmn.gov or 952-960-7925.
- Where do my ideas go?
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Survey results and feedback received from the resident engagement sessions will be compiled and utilized to prepare recommendations from Bolton & Menk. Results will be shared with City Staff and the Park Commission, and a summary of results will be included in the final master plan. Any comments, concerns, or ideas shared outside of the official survey or engagement sessions will be shared with the Park Commission and consultant to be considered in any recommendations.
- When will the master plan be complete?
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A draft plan is tentatively scheduled to be brought to the Park Commission during the November 25 Park Commission meeting. A final plan is tentatively scheduled to be presented to the City Council for final adoption at the December 8 City Council meeting.
- How can I be kept up to date on the progress of the planning process?
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Join our mailing list to ensure you receive up to date information. Also be sure to follow our Shorewood MN Parks & Recreation Facebook page, visit our website, or attend Parks Commission meetings to stay informed and involved in the process.
- What will the plan cost?
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$40,000 was budgeted in the Parks Capital Improvement Plan in 2025 to complete this project.
- How will the City pay for improvements?
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The City has a Parks Captial Improvement Plan (CIP) to prioritize and pay for parks projects exceeding $5,000. The CIP is reviewed on an annual basis by the Park Commission, and funds are allocated accordingly for each project. Projects may shift from year to year depending on need, condition of amenities, and feedback from residents. After the Park Commission provides recommendations for the CIP, the CIP is approved by City Council each year. The CIP is funded through City Council authorized transfers from the General Fund.
View/download the Parks Master Plan (PDF)