Project 1) Saving 120 feet of shoreline on Shakopee Lake
The landowner wished to sell to the DNR but needed to act faster than the DNR could accommodate, so Parks & Trails Council stepped up to buy and hold the land until the DNR was ready to acquire it. The land includes 120 feet of shoreline on Shakopee Point, plus two old cabins and a boathouse which were removed. The site is archeologically important.
Project 2) Protecting Historic Land
In 2012, one private owner, a Lutheran camp, put 75.5 acres of land within the park boundaries up for sale. This land contained ancient burial grounds dating back 9,000 years. While the DNR was not in a position to acquire it, P&TC was and ensured the irreplaceable history was preserved. In 2013 this project was completed and protected as park-owned land.
Project 3) Expanding along Hwy. 169
A small but key property will soon be added to Mille Lacs Kathio State Park, thanks to the efforts of P&TC. One modest modular home along this section of Hwy. 169 recently came up for sale, however the MnDNR’s acquisition timeline was longer than the landowners could wait. To prevent the land from being purchased from private owners, P&TC acquired the property in March 2025 and plans to hold it for as long as the MnDNR needs to secure its acquisition for the state park.
The property offers new opportunities to increase recreational access to nature and converting the developed land into a small parking lot could serve as a trailhead for scenic hiking trails. As most of this property is categorized as wetlands, its inclusion to the state park helps protect the water quality on nearby Mille Lacs Lake.