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Park Board recommends Cullen Nature Preserve master plan to council, limits dogs to service animals
Summary
The Park Board voted unanimously to recommend the Cullen Nature Preserve master plan to City Council with an amendment restricting general dog access (allowing only service dogs), following staff presentation about conservation easement constraints and public support from the Friends group.
The Park Board voted Feb. 4 to recommend the Cullen Nature Preserve master plan to Minnetonka City Council, adding a board amendment that only service dogs will be allowed on the preserve.
Matt (parks staff) told the board the 30‑acre Cullen parcel is subject to a conservation easement with the Minnesota Land Trust that allows low‑impact public access but prohibits buildings and active sports fields. The draft master plan proposes modest, low‑impact infrastructure: a small parking area on Oakland Road, low‑impact loop trails, two boardwalk segments for wetland restoration demonstration, simple bench and council‑ring gathering spaces and interpretive signage to explain restoration and the site's homestead history.
"This is a rare opportunity to establish a nature‑focused preserve in an otherwise developed suburb," Matt said, noting the city has done extensive restoration work and will continue volunteer and grant‑funded projects such as prescribed burning and targeted invasive species removal.
Friends of Cullen representatives urged a conservation‑forward approach and pledged continued volunteer support and fundraising. "We really appreciate that collaborative effort working with the city," Gerald Gerson, president of the Friends group, said during the public comment period.
Board members discussed parking sizing, accessibility and whether certain wetland restoration steps were practical and cost‑effective. Staff described the parking proposal as modest but said more detailed engineering would be done during design to ensure buses and small service vehicles can be accommodated and to avoid trail views into adjacent houses.
At the conclusion of discussion the Park Board voted to recommend the plan to City Council and attached an amendment specifying that the preserve will restrict dogs other than service animals. The motion passed on a unanimous roll call vote with all board members present voting yes.
Next steps: the recommendation will be forwarded to City Council for review and adoption; staff said final design and construction would depend on capital budget approval and potential external grants.
