Our Mission
We are Lake Minnetonka area citizens dedicated to the long term enhancement and improvement of Excelsior's Commons for the enjoyment of residents, guests and the surrounding community.
In short, we are a park conservancy; a type of non-profit that is helping parks thrive all over the country.
In short, we are a park conservancy; a type of non-profit that is helping parks thrive all over the country.
The Master plan
Excelsior's Commons Master Plan was created in 2017 with input from hundreds of residents, businesses and visitors.
The Funding Challenge
The Commons is a community park serving the South Lake community but funding it falls largely upon the City of Excelsior. The small tax base in Excelsior is insufficient to support either the maintenance or the improvement of the park. Visitors to the Commons know that it is a unique place that only exists due to the foresight of Excelsior’s early settlers. But the signs of wear are visible — the vegetation, facilities, utilities, etc. — as the park experiences continually high demand relative to its ongoing funding base.
Community for the Commons is a park conservancy, focused on creating pathways to allow the broader community to support the park that they love. Conservancies have proven highly successful in maintaining and improving parks all across the country.
Community for the Commons is a park conservancy, focused on creating pathways to allow the broader community to support the park that they love. Conservancies have proven highly successful in maintaining and improving parks all across the country.