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On August 17, 2011, the American Society of Landscape Architects (ASLA) is launching a campaign to raise public awareness and understanding of the landscape architecture profession. A coordinated launch will take place among ASLA chapters in all 50 states, and the Minnesota Chapter (ASLA-MN) is undertaking one of the most ambitious events in the nation by launching seven “floating islands” on an impaired lake inMinneapolis.
Spring Lake, located in the Lowry Hill Neighborhood between I-394 and Kenwood Parkway, was acquired by the Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board (MPRB) as a wildlife refuge in 1893. Since then, it has become a severely impaired body of water with a shoreline and park ridden with invasive species. This year, ASLA-MN partnered with the Lowry Hill Neighborhood Association (LHNA) to analyze ways to revitalize Spring Lake and its surrounding park. LHNA allocated funds to restore the area to its original designation as a bird and wildlife sanctuary and pledged to have the area removed from the Impaired Waters List of the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency’s Clean Water Act. The group’s plan includes design and installation of seven floating islands that will improve water quality, attract beneficial plant and animal species and help to restore the lake to a livable fishing habitat.