Parks include natural and built elements that tell the stories of past and current communities.​

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CHALLENGE

The Excelsior Commons and Port of Excelsior are gateways that connect the City of Excelsior and Lake Minnetonka, both physically and metaphorically. As public property, The Commons and Port are also distinct centers of refuge and transition. With a beach, dock, picnic grounds, and park space, people have long gathered here for recreation, community-building, and connecting with nature. As a well-used natural resource, Excelsior Commons continues to evolve to meet community needs while retaining its ties to the past.

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SUCCESS

New History worked with the City and design team during the master planning phase to provide design guidance for historic preservation. New History conducted historical research, completed a site inventory for Excelsior Commons and the Port of Excelsior, and recommended a period of historic significance. New History’s work serves as a starting point for future preservation planning and design projects affecting these sites and will also help guide Heritage Preservation Commission (HPC) reviews of site changes until full design guidelines can be drafted.