Celebrating Streetcar Park

Can you believe it?

After nearly three years of hard work, the community-led initiative to revitalize Streetcar Park in Mahtomedi had a much-deserved moment in the sun on October 9. More than 100 volunteers, city officials, and community members came together to celebrate completion of the massive effort to transform what was once a tangle of invasive plants and dying trees into a delightful stopping point along the Lake Links trail featuring not only the original covered bridge over Depot Creek, but also a natural play area, picnic spot, and refuge for urban wildlife.

Highlights of the Friday evening event included a ribbon-cutting, opportunity to view posters providing an overview of the project, free hot dogs and pizza, and, best of all, the delight of seeing and hearing dozens of children sliding, climbing, balancing, scrambling and laughing as they enjoyed the natural features of the park. 

Some notable numbers shared:

A huge THANK YOU to the Streetcar Park Improvement Team, made up of community members Ian Harding, Heidi and Tony Bennett, Lindsay Buck, Cindy Rasmussen, and Katie Mackie, who created the vision and turned it into reality. Thanks as well to the City of Mahtomedi, Mahtomedi City Public Works Department, Mahtomedi Parks Commission, Lake Links Association, Wolgamot Lake Links Trail Enhancement Fund, Mahtomedi Garden Club, Wildwood Lions Club, Rice Creek Watershed District, Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts, Meridian, The Community Hub ( Dellwood, Grant, Mahtomedi, Willernie Facebook group), Tree and Table LLC, Prairie Restoration, and all the many private donations from around the community.

Members of the Don and Darlene Franklin family pose on and with a park bench dedicated to the couple.

The City of Mahtomedi presented Katie Macke, Ian Harding, Cindy Rasmussen (front); Heidi Bennett and Lindsay Buck (back); and "all the volunteers" with a handcrafted plaque acknowledging their contributions.