The Excelsior Commons

Email:  Sue@PrintsPublishing.com

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When Jenny and Nick were little, I often took them to the swim beach in Excelsior where they could play on the sandy shore and waters of Lake Minnetonka while I smiled at them and soaked up the sun.

I don’t recall if I went before or after their naptime, but I do know that naptime was very important to this young mother.

Since our kids have moved on to have families of their own, Allan and I often stroll the streets of Excelsior, usually from our boat dockside, but this time it was from streetside.

I found a collector’s item at Leipold’s and then we each got an ice cream cone and walked the path down to the beach.

We had no idea of all the amenities of that acreage along Lake Minnetonka — like tennis courts.

There is a ballfield on the shoreline along with shade trees and manicured grounds.

Not only is there a ballfield, but also massive built-in seating overlooking the lake.

There is also a bandstand with a huge amount of audience space and a line-up of vendors and porta-potties to accommodate the hundreds who most likely come to the concerts.

Someone had foresight decades ago to preserve this expansive and valuable piece of shoreline in Excelsior for the public.