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Minnehaha Creek Watershed District honors Ardan Park restoration project; council, staff and residents praised partnership
Summary
Minnehaha Creek Watershed District presented Edina with a statewide Project of the Year award for the Ardan Park restoration, which re‑meandered Minnehaha Creek, treated stormwater from more than 80 acres, removed a failing low‑head dam and improved park ecology and public access.
Edina — The Minnehaha Creek Watershed District presented Ardan Park with Minnesota Watersheds' statewide Project of the Year award at the Feb. 4 City Council meeting, recognizing an integrated engineering and park restoration that improved ecology, increased recreational use and treated runoff from a broad watershed.
James Whisker, watershed administrator, described the project as an exercise in "balanced urban ecology," noting the team re‑meandered the creek, restored habitat and made the creek a focal point of the park while addressing a failing low‑head dam. The project now treats stormwater from more than 80 acres as far away as 50th and France and supports activities that include walking, kayaking, fishing and informal recreation. (James Whisker)
Steve Sando, local board member and neighbor, emphasized strong regional awards and national engineering recognitions the project earned and thanked what he called "exceptional collaboration among city departments, the watershed district and local residents." Mayor and council members joined the recognition and authorized a brief photo presentation with watershed staff. (Steve Sando)
Why it matters: The project is presented as a model for integrating stormwater management, ecology and public space investment, and council members thanked staff for long‑term leadership and public engagement that turned a formerly degraded reach of Minnehaha Creek into a widely used park amenity.
