Some city beaches remain closed in Minneapolis as hot weather continues

A few beaches are closed due to water quality concerns, with the Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board saying several city beaches are at bacteria levels unsafe for humans.

The Minnesota Star Tribune
July 30, 2024 at 9:10PM
Swimmers enjoyed the water at Lake Nokomis Beach in 2017. The south Minneapolis lake's two beaches are closed until further notice.
Swimmers enjoyed the water at Lake Nokomis Beach in 2017. Nokomis remains open but six Minneapolis beaches are currently closed. (Star Tribune file/The Minnesota Star Tribune)

As high temperatures persist this week in Minnesota, several Minneapolis beaches remain closed due to high levels of bacteria.

Rainstorm runoff from summer storms can carry bacteria from the shore into the water, leading to elevated E. coli levels.

Four of the 12 beaches operated by the Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board are closed due to high levels of E. coli that are unsafe for humans, according to the park’s Lake Water Quality map.That’s down from six beaches closed earlier this month.

North Beach and 32nd Street Beach on Bde Maka Ska; Southeast Beach on Lake Harriet; and Hiawatha Beach on Lake Hiawatha all remain closed. Thomas Beach on Bde Maka Ska and Lake Harriet’s North Beach have since reopened.

In Hennepin County, Centerview Beach on Lake Minnetonka is closed. Separately, Fort Snelling Beach on Snelling Lake is closed due to flooding, according to the county’s Beach Water Status map.

The nine swimming beaches in Ramsey County remain open.

about the writer

Zoë Jackson

Reporter

Zoë Jackson is a general assignment reporter for the Star Tribune. She previously covered race and equity, St. Paul neighborhoods and young voters on the politics team.

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