Foam noodles and swimming docks are back at Minneapolis beaches this year in an effort that Parks Commissioner Bob Fine said is "all about making the beaches more fun."
Non-inflatable floats and other beach toys had been banned for several years from city swimming areas, prompting criticisms that such regulations were driving families to beaches in suburban parks. This year, the Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board is instead making the toys available to beachgoers.
Parks officials are also installing deep-water swimming docks at Lakes Harriet, Calhoun and Nokomis. They'll be reachable only by swimming, and jumping off them will be permitted. Park Board President John Erwin said restoring the docks had been a high priority for Park Board members and Mayor R.T. Rybak.
The Park Board is also offering log-rolling classes at Lake Calhoun and considering how to establish swim routes outside the marked swimming areas for long-distance swimmers.
Lifeguards are scheduled to be on duty at Lakes Calhoun, Harriet and Nokomis beginning Saturday. City wading pools opened Friday, despite a high temperature of only 62. However, Webber pool in north Minneapolis is temporarily closed due to damage from the May 22 tornado.
Meanwhile, weed harvesters started working in city lakes this week to clear away early growth of Eurasian water milfoil and curly leaf pondweed. Growth has been slow this year due to cool and cloudy conditions, said Deb Pilger, director of environmental services for the park board. This will be the first of two harvests on Cedar Lake, Lake of the Isles, Lake Calhoun, Lake Harriet and Wirth Lake; Nokomis doesn't get as much weedy growth as other lakes, Pilger said.
Bill McAuliffe • 612-673-7646
