About the Park Plan

In 2017 the City acquired the property located at 1513 Main Street North for parkland purposes after a Concept Plan was developed. The property spans 15 acres and features three-quarters of a mile of shoreline along the St. Croix River.  It was purchased with funding from the City of Stillwater, Washington County, and the State of Minnesota’s Legislative-Citizen Commission on Minnesota Resources (LCCMR). 

The park will include multiple pedestrian access points to the river, an accessible fishing pier, an accessible kayak/canoe launch, patio and picnic areas, and multiple trails, including connection to the near by Brown’s Creek State Trail.

The current building on the property will be remodeled to include a community room and restrooms open to the public.

The city intends to restore much of the property to natural conditions and provide passive recreational uses.  

Donation

On September 21, 2021, the Stillwater City Council accepted a 1 Million dollar donation from Mrs. Geri Freels, of the Oak Glen neighborhood. The donation will assist the City in renovating the former Aiple residence in Lumberjack Landing into a multi-use park building. Her desire to share the love she and her late husband, Frank Freels, had for the St. Croix River with the Stillwater community.

Mrs. Freels contacted the City after discovering that the conversion of the building, which was originally scheduled for completion in 2030, would cost $1.3 million. She hopes that the City will be able to complete the project sooner than expected. City staff anticipate that, depending on other funding options, the building's conversion could be completed within the next five years.

Award Winning Design

The City of Stillwater received an Award of Excellence from the Minnesota Recreation and Park Association (MRPA) for the North Aiple Property (Lumberjack Landing) Master Park and Vegetation Management Project.