May has been a busy month for the Grass Lake Restoration Team at the garden on the southeast shore of Grass Lake wetland. Fencing was installed, followed by two planting events (pictured here).
Multiple generous neighbors have agreed to help share the watering responsibilities during summer 2026 to help the plants get well established. We still have some more plants to install in the areas where buckthorn was removed, and you will notice erosion blankets slowly being installed along the shore.
These are steep locations with delicate soil – please avoid climbing or hiking in the area to allow for the best possible flourishing of the plants.
Next up: We hope you will join us for an hour of observing nature! This Breakfast Bio Blitz led by outdoor educator, Rachel Kimpton, is a chance to bring your mobile devices (photo/tablet/etc.) with the iNaturalist app, and participate in a giant species documentation project (plants, animals, insects, etc)!
Saturday, June 6, 2026 at 9-10am — Featuring complimentary donut holes from Kenny Neighborhood Association, and Hennepin County Master Gardener Volunteer program will provide coffee for the morning!
Register so we know how many donut holes to bring: https://forms.gle/BREjP8FXpQHDjxdBA
Meet at the southeastern shore of Grass Lake Minneapolis near the fenced garden area.
About Grass Lake
Did you know Grass Lake is a 27 acre wetland, and although it is surrounded by an urban environment, it attracts a large diversity of wildlife? It is a DNR protected water body and is under the jurisdiction of the Minnehaha Creek Watershed District. The land around the lake is owned by the City of Minneapolis and is under the management of Public Works. Grass Lake, Richfield Lake, and Wood Lake, while separate entities today, were once a single system. There is currently a connecting pipe between Grass Lake and Richfield Lake.
The entirety of Grass Lake falls within a Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board (MPRB) Habitat Corridor, highlighting the location’s importance when considering planning efforts. Additionally, MPRB’s comprehensive plan, “Parks for All, 2021-2036,” describes a goal (Goal #6) to strengthen ecological connections of higher quality ecological areas and minimizing the effects of habitat fragmentation. Grass Lake serves as the southernmost body of water in Minneapolis nearest to a noted biodiversity hot spot at the intersection of Bryant Avenue South and Minnehaha Creek, thereby functioning as an important connector and protective refugia for the animals that shape our local ecosystems.
