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When you think of places that have over 100 miles of walking and cycling trails and 1,400 acres of parkland, a city of merely 56,000, located in the northern Midwest state of Minnesota, probably won’t come to the top of your list. Yet it should! It’s no accident that the motto of the city of Lakeville, Minnesota, located only 23 miles or so from Minneapolis-St. Paul, is Where Nature Meets the Twin Cities. It also should be no surprise that this is one of the fastest growing cities in the state, with a 35% increase from the 2000 U.S. Government Census. Given all of the Lakeville, MN, land for sale, it beckons outdoor lovers to come and make this city home. The city’s Parks and Recreation Department maintains 47 parks, 70 ball fields, 30 soccer fields, 26 playgrounds, 3 beaches and 25 miles of pedestrian and bicycle trails, among other public facilities. In addition, the residents of Lakeville participate in the Parks, Recreation and Natural Resources Committee, a citizen advisory group that deliberates and provides input to the City Council regarding all of these facilities. Lakeville also produces a Comprehensive Parks Open Space Plan, which identifies detailed policies and strategies to “guide recreational development through the year 2030.” Considering the population growth rate of the city, the plan is an important tool in maintaining the community’s quality of life in the face of diminishing open space, resulting from all of the on-going development. Of the 47 parks in Lakeville, Ritter Farm Park is by far the largest, occupying 340 acres of natural environment and wildlife refuge at the city’s far western edge and bordering on beautiful Lake Marion. Being a bit remote may explain why a park of this size is little visited, even though it offers its residents opportunities for cross-country skiing, snowmobiling, hiking, archery, and horseback riding, among many other activities. Yet, the low visitation by residents can also be seen as a plus for nature lovers looking for a solitary, tranquil experience. Over 130 species of birds have been identified here, including eagles spotted throughout the park, as well as various locations in the city. Not far from Ritter Farm Park and also on Lake Marion, is Antlers Park Beach, one of three public swimming beaches in Lakeville. Located on 12 acres of parkland at the southeastern tip of the lake, the beach also has a fishing pier, paddle board rentals, and volleyball courts. The park is flush with trees and conveniently borders up to the sand so that one doesn’t have to move back and forth from the beach to the park. In addition to being the most popular beach in the city, the park also has a rich history, having begun as a 40-acre amusement park built by Colonel Marion Savage in 1910 to attract passengers to his Dan Patch Railroad Line, an electric excursion train running from Minneapolis to the amusement park. Antlers Park soon became one of the most famous amusement parks in the upper Midwest, with a lavish dance pavilion, a large bathing beach, diving tower, and sliding water chute, as well as a boat dock that offered sailboats, rowboats, and canoes. In drawing visitors from all over the Midwest as well as many southern states, it could be said that the amusement park put Lakeville on the map. The lake is named in honor of Colonel Savage. Also, the city just recently agreed to pay $675,000 for six acres of land to expand Antlers Park and add more green space. Interestingly, the park and beach also serve a neighborhood that according to Neighborhood Scout's analysis is “among the best neighborhoods for families in Minnesota.” Further analysis indicates that the Antlers Park neighborhood is more family-friendly than 96.8% of neighborhoods in all of Minnesota, based on a combination of quality public schools, low crime rates, and owner-occupied single family homes, thus giving this community a Leave It to Beaver look and feel. With a high number of college-educated parents in a neighborhood that is wealthier than 95.5% of the neighborhoods in the United States, Antler Park is also a great choice for Millennials and urban trendsetters, especially those who want the sophistication of an urban setting in a city with so much open space. The neighborhood, not to mention the City of Lakeville, certainly makes for a great place to live, and with so much Lakeville, MN, land for sale, it’s no wonder this is such a fast-growing community. Outdoor lovers, come quickly!
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