“Time,” they say, waits for no one; you can’t stop it, nor can you catch it! But what you can do with time is spend it with others. Only 170 years ago, city leaders of Excelsior had the foresight to make an “investment in people” by deciding not to build homes along 13 acres of its shoreline. Instead, a beautiful park we know as The Excelsior Commons was established, keeping the area natural. Rather than earmarking the land for commercial gain, they realized the importance of having a place to spend an afternoon with family or in self-reflection. Can’t you imagine women in long dresses with their parasols, children, and well-dressed husbands walking through the park on any given Sunday, a scene that world-renowned artist Georges Seurat painted many times?
To create such a beautiful destination, the City of Excelsior partners with the Community for The Commons, a park conservancy that works with the city to help improve and manage The Commons. Together, they work to protect and preserve the park’s historical relevance while investing in enhancements and improvements for generations to come. And this partnership has allowed a space for countless events, activities, and memories: a place for the community to connect.
There’s something for everyone at the Excelsior Commons. Connected to bustling Water Street, you’ll see the entire community come out any given day to grab a latte or enjoy some retail therapy and make their way down to the park for a full day of enjoyment along Lake Minnetonka’s beautiful shoreline. The Commons offers two swimming beaches, softball, youth baseball, basketball, walking paths, swings, a playground, and tennis courts. The Port of Excelsior has kayaking and paddle boats, and if you are looking for a bit of leisure, why not schedule a scenic lake cruise? There are spaces for family gatherings, reunions, and even weddings.
Other amenities include a new pavilion, plaza, public restrooms, and firepits with comfortable benches. Throughout the summer, the popular “Donation Yoga” program is held two to three times a week, typically on the lawn unless it’s raining, where it is then held in the pavilion. If you love music, you can get your groove on eight Wednesdays throughout the summer at the “Excelsior Concert in the Commons.” Sponsored by the Excelsior Morning Rotary Club, which donates half of the proceeds to the Excelsior Commons Master Plan, the long-term shared vision for the future of the park.
If playing softball, baseball, or just watching a game is your thing, take in a free game in the park. Or, if you love to read and appreciate flowers, you may want to open your book while sitting on a bench with a view of one of the many gardens in the park. An incredible army of volunteers known as “The Uncommon Gardeners” create and maintain the beautiful and important botanicals.
You’ve heard it often takes a village of like-minded individuals to get something done. The Excelsior Commons exists because of the City of Excelsior, the partnership with the Community for The Commons, 800 donors, and dozens of volunteers. “It’s an investment in community where connections are passed on from one generation to the next, and it’s a place where one can invest in their own mental and physical well-being,” says Sheila McMillan, the Chair of the Board of Directors for Community for The Commons.
Creating a beautiful environment where we can relax and connect might be the best investment for our community and for generations to come. I am just one of many who have a history with this park. I taught tennis to thousands of local families, many of whom I now see as adults playing at The Commons. Learning to swim at Excelsior beach, always attending the 4th of July fireworks, and I’ve continued the tradition, bringing my children to the park every year, creating those unforgettable moments like so many others who love coming to The Excelsior Commons. Learn more: https://www.communityforthecommons.org/
It’s an investment in community where connections are passed on from one generation to the next.