Just in time for the hot and humid weekend weather, Wirth Beach in Golden Valley will reopen after several years of renovation work and $2.5 million in improvements.
The new upgrades follow the 2006 renovation of the Wirth Lake Beach House and include a 280-foot long floating swim dock, new playground equipment and volleyball courts, as well as a new boardwalk which completes a trail loop around the entire Wirth Lake.
"We're so excited to have a grand opening for this facility," said Andrea Weber, project manager for the Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board. "We've done a lot of work in this area, and it's really coming together. The walking trails around our lakes is a signature of our park system."
The renovation and improvements were complete in early 2011, and the beach area was set to open last summer, but then a tornado hit the area on May 22, 2011 and destroyed the new swim dock and put the beach area in repair and recovery mode.
"This beach was closed all of last season, so we weren't able to do an opening," said Weber.
Megan Powell of Robbinsdale brought her 2-year-old daughter, Etta, to the beach area Friday to swim. Powell and her daughter tested the waters and ended up staying for a while.
"It's been a lot of fun, it's going to be a fun summer," said Powell.
The grand reopening festivities begin at Wirth Beach Saturday at 10:30 a.m.
Alexandra Renslo reporting
arenslo@twelve.tv
Friday, June 08, 2012