(Click here or on the image above to download a high-rez copy of the map)

February 12, 2026

The city recently received bids for the construction of the north trail segment and improvements to the Greenwood Shores parking lot. On January 27, the city received eight competitive bids from qualified contractors. The bids ranged from approximately $783,000 to $1.09 million and were determined to be good value given current market conditions. City staff reviewed the bids and verified contractor qualifications, references and subcontractors. Staff will recommend awarding the construction contract at the February 9 City Council meeting so work can move forward on the approved portions of the project.

What work is included?
-Construction of the northern trail segment (to Della Drive/Lucy Ridge Court)
-Construction of the parking lot at Greenwood Shores Park

The southern trail route to Boardwalk A (near Paisley Path) has not yet received approval from the State Historic Preservation Office (SHPO). Options for next steps will be presented to the Park and Recreation Commission in February, followed by a recommendation to the City Council. More information on the construction schedule will be shared in a future update.

Habitat Restoration Update:

Habitat restoration efforts are continuing across multiple project areas, with invasive species treatment work completed in fall 2025 and additional buckthorn removal scheduled for winter 2026 under frozen ground conditions in order to minimize soil disturbance. Follow-up management will include targeted growing-season cuts over the next two summers, along with additional seasonal treatments through 2028 to support long-term vegetation health and ecological restoration.

February 18, 2025

• Starting in February of 2025, Great River Greening, in conjunction with the City of Chanhassen, will be conducting natural resource management activities in Lake Ann Park Preserve.
• Invasive species management is being utilized to maintain the health of the forest that has been established over the years on this property. This work is part of a larger ecosystem restoration effort to bring back open woodland dominated by native plant and animal species in the City of Chanhassen Park system. Mesic hardwood forest systems are some of the rarest plant communities in Minnesota. These plant communities were here historically, and restoring native habitat is important for maintaining our natural heritage. The main goal is to remove the non-native, invasive shrub buckthorn. This initial work will occur in the winter to reduce the impact on the ground, native plants, and animals. Most native species are unharmed by the work that will occur. Animals will either take shelter in a ground burrow, high up in a tree or simply leave the area ahead of work. Plants are not actively growing at this time and will regrow in the spring. We will be continuing our efforts in the following years to continue the removal of buckthorn and the establishment of native understory species. Overall, land management helps wildlife by creating better habitats in the long term.
• The paved trails continue to be on hold pending archaeological assessment review and permitting. The city obtained a permit from the Office of State Archaeology to conduct Phase 2 testing. The permit was received too late in the year to allow for further field testing due to winter condition. Phase 2 field survey work will performed in the Spring of 2025 when the ground is free of frost. Review will occur regarding the field results collected and recommendations will be given to determine next steps of advancing the Lake Ann Preserve project. 
• Click here to view the project map.

December 30, 2024

• The boardwalks for the Lake Ann Park Preserve trails are complete! The park preserve is open and available for winter walking, snowshoeing, biking and more.
• However, the paved trails continue to be on hold pending archaeological assessment review and permitting. The city obtained a permit from the Office of State Archaeology to conduct Phase 2 testing. The permit was received too late in the year to allow for further field testing due to winter conditions. The city evaluated and considered conducting winter fieldwork but found it impractical. Winter fieldwork is estimated to take 3-5 times longer and cost up to 5 times more than spring excavation due to extended field time and labor, costs for heat blankets, shelters and safety measures. That, coupled with required updates to the research design and state agency review, means that fieldwork will be delayed until spring in order to ensure adherence to standards, reduce costs and improve efficiency. The city is still optimistic that trail construction will occur in the late summer and early fall of 2025.

August 14, 2024

• All three boardwalks are substantially complete and are usable by the public.
• The contractor is fabricating overlook benches for Boardwalk A and city emblems for the railings on Boardwalks A, B, and C.
• The contractor will clean up around each boardwalk site and do hydroseeding.

Week of June 24 , 2024

•  Contractor will finish major work on Boardwalk C.  Work was completed previously on Boardwalk B.
• Materials for Boardwalk A will be staged near the trail entrance.
• Work on Boardwalk A will begin this week. This is the longest boardwalk and will take several weeks to complete.
• Trails near the Boardwalks A and C remain closed for safety. 

• Boardwalk B will be completed and available for use by the end of the week.
• Contractor will begin work on Boardwalk C, which is anticipated to take a couple of weeks.
• Materials will be staged near the trail entrances at Boardwalks A and C.
• Trails near the Boardwalks A and C remain closed for safety.

• Materials for the boardwalks have been delivered to the site.
• Work will begin constructing Boardwalk B and is anticipated to take 1-2 weeks.
• Materials will be staged in Greenwood Shores Park and near the trail entrances at Boardwalks A and C.
• Trails near the boardwalks remain closed for safety.

• Contractor is scheduled to complete boardwalk piers before March 30, 2024.
• Boardwalk piers will begin to be installed at Boardwalk B.
• Additional site clean up, grading, and some final tree clearing will occur.
• Following this week, the contractor is waiting material delivery and the sites may be quiet.  Please avoid areas where piers have been installed.  These areas have snow fence to block access.

March 2024

• Contractor has mobilized to the site and will complete tree and brush removal.
• Boardwalk piers will begin to be installed at Boardwalks A and C.

January 2023

• The City of Chanhassen kick-off the Lake Ann Park Preserve Implementation Project.

October/November 2022

• The wetland delineation was completed.

Summer/Fall 2020

• Residents begin moving into Lennar's new development.

2020

• The city approved the plan for Lennar's north neighborhood construction.

Fall/Winter 2019

• A feasibility stud was conducted in order to get public input on the level of development on the site, determine alignments, vet features, asses buildability, and develop budget-level estimates.

May 2018 - Summer 2019

• Lennar entered an option agreement to purchase 188 acres for housing development, including park preserve land. The city works with Lennar to acquire and protect park preserve property through dedication, purchase, and density transfer.

Winter 2017/2018

• The City of Chanhassen developed a general plan for the park and a trail loop in the northwest quadrant of Lake Ann.

Summer 2016

• A nearby Galpin Boulevard property was identified as "for sale."

2017

• The city completed the Park and Recreation System Plan, preserving parkland at Lake Ann and continuing the Lake Ann trail loop listed as high priorities. The trails were identified as the park's most useful feature.

The City of Chanhassen received the following grants to help offset project expenditures.

• Minnesota DNR – Local Trail Connection Grant ($250,000). Earmarked for the Southwest boardwalk
• Great River Greening Grant ($158,000) – Earmarked for natural resource enhancements and invasive species removals

On June 10, 2019, the City Council commissioned a Feasibility Study for Trail Concepts and Natural Resource Inventory and hired the consulting firm HKGi to lead these planning efforts. The City of Chanhassen sought public input throughout the month of August 2019 via a survey about how best to access, preserve, and enjoy the newly acquired 100-acre park preserve located northwest of Lake Ann.

• Feasibility Study Timeline
• Survey Press Release

There were 523 responses gathered, both online and in-person. Responses were varied and passionate, with an emphasis on stopping invasive species, creating a high quality natural area, and excitement about getting the chance to spend some time in the new parkland.

• Survey Responses

The complete Lake Ann Park Feasibility Study was published on November 25, 2019. 

• Lake Ann Park Feasibility Study dated November 19, 2019