Baker Park Reserve Long-Range Plan

Baker Park Reserve, Three Rivers’ first park, has successfully served the needs of park visitors for generations. To ensure the park and its offerings remain relevant to future generations and the broader changing community, and comply with the Metropolitan Council's Thrive MSP 2040 Regional Parks Policy Plan and funding requirements, Three Rivers Park District commenced a long-range planning process in 2018. The planning process was paused in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic and subsequently was restarted in 2022 with new engagement efforts with targeted populations, stakeholders and the public. Those additional engagement efforts have helped further refine the draft plan, which is now ready for public review and comment.

Baker Park Reserve is a fully developed and popular park reserve that offers something for everyone. A goal of the long-range planning process focused on continuing to support and enhance the current outdoor recreation and education offerings, as well as the natural resource restoration efforts.

Some of the key highlights of the long-range plan, including the significant recreation development ideas, include:

• Campground: Add winter camping and recreation offerings, add more camper cabins, redesign vehicular circulation at the campground entrance/exit, upgrade/expand electrical sites, and add a nature play exploration area.
• Lake Independence Recreation Area: Add an accessible fishing pier, improve shoreline fishing, and add reservable and non-reservable picnic pavilions.
• Outdoor Learning Center: Enhance nature-based programming offerings and facilities at the Outdoor Learning Center and Campground.
• Park-wide improvements: Add trail spurs to scenic overlooks, improve the West Trailhead, add bathrooms and a fishing pier at the Spurzem Lake boat launch, add flush toilets and a shower to the Marshview Group Camp, and potentially increase parking at the Public Safety area.
• Continue natural resource management and investment at current levels.

At its June 20 meeting, the Three Rivers Park District Board of Commissioners authorized the release of the draft long-range plan to the public for review and comment. The public comment period will remain open through July 30, 2024. To comment on the plan, submit comments in the box below, email them to Stephen.Shurson@ThreeRiversParks.org or mail them to Three Rivers Park District, Baker Park Reserve Long-Range Plan, 3000 Xenium Lane North, Plymouth, MN 55441.

Following the review period, and assuming no significant changes, the plan will be forwarded to governmental partners, including the Metropolitan Council, for approval. Upon approval from all partners, the Three Rivers Board of Commissioners will be asked to grant final approval to the plan.