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Minnetonka council hears update on 20th Tour de Tonka; organizers report strong registration, volunteer needs
Summary
Organizers told the Minnetonka City Council the Tour de Tonka's 20th anniversary has more than 1,700 registrants, five route options across four counties, and ongoing volunteer and safety coordination with local partners.
Kim Carlstein, the city’s executive director for community education and a Minnetonka resident, briefed the City Council on the upcoming Tour de Tonka, saying the 20th-anniversary ride is “happening this Saturday.”
Carlstein said the event has “over 1,700 registrants” as of the meeting and that organizers “fully expect it to be up to 2,500.” She described five route options ranging from about 16 miles to 100 miles that traverse “four counties, 25 cities and riding on 143 unique roads and trail miles.”
Why it matters: Tour de Tonka is a major annual community event that draws riders statewide, raises funds for local partners and requires coordination across multiple jurisdictions for traffic and safety. Council members thanked organizers for the event’s community-building role and for working with public safety partners.
Organizers told the council they contracted a local company for commemorative merchandise and will host an archives display at the vendor fair. Carlstein said a longstanding group of 49 riders will mark 20 consecutive years of participation. She noted partnerships with the Minnetonka Police Department, First Student and the ICA food shelf, and said ICA has received “over $100,000” from the event since 2006.
Carlstein described logistics: smaller routes have about two rest stops while the 100-mile course includes five rest stops with entertainment and food; volunteers play a large role and organizers are seeking roughly 600 volunteers, including route captains and rest-stop staff. She said some parking and route coordination involves neighboring cities and counties and that organizers secure about 350 off-site parking spaces through agreements with local property owners for larger events.
Council members commented that the ride is “a huge part of what makes Minnetonka Minnetonka every summer” (Council Member Calvert) and expressed appreciation for the event’s fundraising for the ICA food shelf and for the volunteer base that supports it. Carlstein said registrants have donated about $2,000 so far at registration, and that organizers expect additional walk-up and day-of donations.
The presentation closed with organizers asking for continued partnership from the City and public-safety agencies; council members encouraged continued attention to safety and thanked staff and volunteers for supporting the event.
A council vote was not required on the report.
