Carver County parks staff outline Coney Island interpretive plan, seek future grant funding

Carver County parks staff told commissioners they are moving a draft interpretive plan for Coney Island toward final review and hoped to return in August to request adoption and funding to begin installations.

The plan "tucks underneath" the county's long-range plans for Lake Waconia Regional Park and focuses on four interpretive themes — indigenous use/Dakota crossroads, community gathering and resort-era history, labor and leisure tied to resort operations, and island ecology — staff said. Sam Pertz, Parks and Trail supervisor, said the county had reached 50% design and planned to submit the draft to the State Historic Preservation Office by June as required by the project grant.

Why it matters: county staff said the interpretive work will shape how residents and visitors experience the island and will support follow-up grant applications to fund installations (signage, tactile artifacts, audiovisual elements) in 2026. Commissioners stressed access concerns — the island has limited public transport options — and urged staff to prioritize physical items that let people engage with the island’s story without requiring many more studies.

Pertz said stakeholder outreach in March included local community groups, archaeologists and efforts to engage Dakota representatives through a liaison to the Mdewakanton. He said archaeology studies done since county ownership had informed the plan and that the county had struggled to build a formal Dakota advisory committee but had tried through existing tribal liaisons.

The draft plan maps where themes might appear on the island (for example, ecology material near the historic rookery and sugar maples), and lists a menu of interpretive approaches ranging from traditional signage to tactile artifacts, sound posts and a technology-enhanced "sunroom" experience on the mainland. Pertz said the county had about $49,000 in state grant funding that paid for the current planning and that the parks budget included roughly $50,500 for design and implementation in 2025.

Commissioners and audience members urged staff to translate planning dollars into on-the-ground experiences for children and families and suggested practical steps: a small book for every sixth grader, more kayak trips, seasonal ferry or pontoon trips to improve access and outreach at county events like the county fair. Parks staff noted the department already runs multiple kayak trips and that new docks had been added on both shorelines this year to improve access.

Commissioner comments reflected competing expectations: some residents questioned spending on studies while others urged investment to preserve and explain the island's history. Pertz said the county expects to return in August with a final plan and cost estimates for installation work so the board can prioritize projects and seek additional grant funding in the July pre-application cycle.

The board did not adopt the interpretive plan at the meeting; staff will incorporate stakeholder comments, submit to SHPO, and return with a final plan and budget recommendations for board action in August.

Ending: Commissioners asked parks staff to prioritize access and to include a clear explanation of grant and local funding options when the plan returns for board consideration.