May 1

May 1 Foundation donating $2 million toward development of Cascade Lake Park

A Twin Cities-based foundation with two senior living facilities in Rochester is making a large donation to help with the development of Cascade Lake Park.

The J.A. Wedum Foundation, owner of Shorewood Senior Campus and Cottagewood Senior Communities, is scheduled to present a $2 million check to the City of Rochester on Thursday. The grant money will be used to convert the mining site into one of the city's premier recreation areas.

"The vision for the space will include paved walking trails, a swimming beach and pool house, a visitor center, an amphitheater/band shell, paved parking spaces, and an area for food vendors,” Eric Huntoon, campus director of Shorewood Senior Campus, said in a news release.

Cascade Park sits immediately north of Shorewood Senior Campus. According to Huntoon, a walking bridge will connect the two sites.

Plans to develop Cascade Park have been in the works for more than a decade, but have been hampered due to a lack of funding and delays in mining. A master plan for the park was approved by the city in 2005.

Park officials anticipate that the development of the park could be completed within the next five years. However, larger projects such as the amphitheater could take longer depending on costs.

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(Cover graphic: Park Master Plan)