Regional Planning Approach to Attract Tourism West of the Twin Cities

Fourteen cities near Lake Minnetonka in the Metropolitan Twin Cities area "want to entice more people to do, boosting tourism by rebranding the area as a year-round regional destination and revamping lakefront attractions," writes Kelly Smith. The plans would remake the towns on the lakefront in the model of "places like Key West, Naples, San Diego or Duluth."

Included in the plans:

• A scenic byway around the lake, so tourists can tour the entire lake.
• The Wayzata Lake Effect—a 10-year concept plan to improve access and amenities on Wayzata’s (considred the gateway to Lake Minnetonka) lakefront
• "An ambitious concept to boost access to its lakefront for everyone from pedestrians to boaters by adding docks, a pier and lake walk."
• And "new bike lanes, added temporary boat slips and a food vendor at a beach house that houses storage and public restrooms."

Not everyone is supportive of the plans to increase access to the lake. Mary Bader, a longtime resident and former City Council member is quoted an earlier article describing her resistance to the potential changes: “Do we need a massive redevelopment plan for what is basically a nice little town? No, I don’t think so, and I don’t think most people in Wayzata think so."