Projects

Westwood Lake Water Quality Improvement Project

St. Louis Park

Project Number: WST-2

Project Status | Complete

At their meeting on September 21, 2017, the Bassett Creek Watershed Management Commission approved a proposal from the Commission Engineer (Barr Engineering) to perform a feasibility study for the project which began in October 2017.

At their meeting in May 2018, the BCWMC reviewed the final feasibility study and took action to pursue "Concept 3" in the study: a linear water feature that captures and treats roof runoff and provides educational activities.

At their meetings in July and August 2018, the BCWMC approved the 50% and 90% design plans, respectively.

A public hearing was held by the BCWMC on August 16, 2018 - no comments were received during the hearing. Immediately following the hearing, the BCWMC adopted a resolution officially ordering the project, certifying costs to Hennepin County for tax collection, and approving an agreement with the City of St. Louis Park to design and build the project.

Construction of the project got underway in late 2019 and continued through 2020 and was built in conjunction with the construction of the new Westwood Hills Nature Center building. A ribbon cutting for the new building was held in September 2020.

The final project report was presented in December 2021.

Project Funding | Not Grant Funded

Funding for this project totaling $404,500 came from a tax levied on the residents of the Bassett Creek Watershed by Hennepin County in 2019.

Project Description

The Westwood Lake Water Quality Improvement Project is part of a much larger project at the Westwood Hills Nature Center (WHNC), a 160-acre park owned by the city of St. Louis Park. In 2019 and 2020, the city completely reconstructed the WHNC facilities. The new facilities include trail circulation and wayfinding, additional parking, expanded outdoor classroom area and water garden, expanded natural play and outdoor education area, improved canoe and kayak launch, interpretive features, and new interpretive center building. As part of this project, the BCWMC installed a linear water feature that captures and treats roof runoff and provides educational activities and designed and installed a watershed educational display inside the new building.