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County Park Board members with the help of a professional planning group, have taken the Fish Lake County Park plan off the shelf to “freshen it up,” the county commissioners were told recently.  The expansive plan now becomes the basis for seeking regional designation.   Regional status means the  130 acre site could be eligible for substantial outside funding and leverage grants from big picture recreational organizations.

Kurt Schneider, Chisago County Environmental Services Director, said it’s an all encompassing plan and is expensive.  But, he added, “I’m confident we can make progress, we can bring millions of dollars to this park through a regional designation.”

The county commissioners okayed sending in the designation request, with the plan to the Greater Minnesota Parks & Trails Commission. The agency will decide if the park meets conditions to be called “regional.”

Schneider and Parks & Trails Director Joe Tart said the plan covers the next 10 years. Funding might arrive in small amounts of $1 to $2 million, just like previous funds for bike trails did, but the projects are organized to be done in phases.

Fish Lake is west of Harris and is the county’s only real revenue generator.  The county sold 2,349 daily parking permits and 179 seasonal permits in 2022. The shelter rentals also bring in revenue. Fish Lake had 23 shelter reservations last year  for each of its two structures.  The next closest was Ki Chi Saga County Park play area shelter which was rented nine times.

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