Wassermann Lake Preserve

Wassermann Lake Preserve

Aerial of Wassermann Lake Preserve

The Wassermann Lake Preserve provides an interactive experience with nature throughout 10 acres along Wassermann Lake.


It provides a variety of areas to gather, play and enjoy nature including a nature play area, prairie paths, a boardwalk, a picnic shelter and multiple gathering areas throughout the preserve. The site features artistic interpretive elements, such as a watershed walk and legacy oak fire ring to connect visitors to the preserve’s natural features and tell the story of the site’s history and restoration. The preserve also restored the site’s natural areas which feature a wetland, prairie, oak savannah, and an intermittent stream channel. At the centerpiece of the preserve is Wassermann Lake, a popular fishing and boating destination.


Fire PitFishing Pier in LakePark Shelter
 

Park Features
Enjoy all that Wassermann Lake Preserve has to offer as a Signature Community Park for our community members.

Park Amenities
Victoria_Parks_Icons_PlaygroundPlaygrounds (Natural)
Fish IconFishing Pier
Trail IconTrails
Snowshoe IconSnowshoe Area
Leaf IconOpen Space
Fire Pit IconFire Pit
Victoria_Parks_Icons_Park_ShelterPark Shelter

Park Facilities
 BenchBenches
 Picnic Table IconPicnic Tables
 Trash Bin IconTrash Bins
Victoria_Parks_Icons_Toilet_Paper Public Restrooms
Water Fountain IconDrinking Fountains 




Park Visitors
Wassermann Lake Preserve has a variety of park amenities and facilities for community members of all ages. 

Playground Equipment Appropriate for the Following Ages
  • Early Childhood (2-5 Years)
  • School-Age (5-12 Years)



Park Location
Address: 9175 Church Lake Blvd, Victoria, MN 55386
Parking: Parking Lot
Neighborhood: Lake Wassermann Ridge






Know Before You Go
Park Hours
  • Open 6:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. Daily
Park Safety
Pets in the Park
  • Pets Must be Leashed or Caged
  • Clean Up After Pets


Aerial of Park Shelter

Rent the Wassermann Lake Preserve Shelter
The Oak Side of the Wassermann Lake Preserve Shelter is available to rent for private events. The Fire Side remains open to the public during all rentals. The Oak Side is best used for small gatherings due to limited public parking and limited seating available.

Learn how to rent the park shelter.





History of the Preserve

The Wassermann Lake Preserve was the first major project in the Six Mile Creek – Halsted Bay Subwatershed that exemplifies the Minnehaha Creek Watershed District’s balanced urban ecology framework.

This can be seen in the commitment to partnership between the City of Victoria and the Minnehaha Creek Watershed District (MCWD) to realize natural resource benefits while meeting community goals. Wassermann West Lakefront Park would provide water quality improvements, while providing public access and recreation opportunities on Lake Wassermann.

The groundwork for this project began when the District signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the City of Victoria in 2015, which identified the mutual value both agencies find in cooperative planning on water quality issues and land use planning. The MOU identified Lake Wassermann as an area of mutual priority due to its poor water quality and location within the growth corridor of Victoria.  The lake is listed on the State Impaired Waters list, and the degraded lake conditions are primarily caused by a high invasive common carp population and a high phosphorus load coming from both internal and external sources.

In 2016, the District formed the Six Mile – Halsted Bay Planning Partnership, which brings together a variety of organizations located in the subwatershed to engage in proactive communication about plans, priorities, and opportunities for collaboration in the region. During routine coordination with the City of Victoria, staff from the City and MCWD identified 33.5 acres of undeveloped land for sale along the Lake Wassermann shoreline. The parcel includes Wassermann West Pond and adjacent wetlands, and restoring these areas could result in significant reduction in phosphorus entering Lake Wassermann, while also providing the public access to the lake, which was a goal identified in the City of Victoria’s 2008 Comprehensive Plan.



Friends of Wassermann Lake Preserve

Friends of Wassermann Lake Preserve

The City of Victoria’s Parks & Recreation Department recruits passionate volunteers each year to help keep Victoria’s recreational areas safe and beautiful. One of these opportunities is joining Friends of Wassermann Lake Preserve. Volunteer commitments include becoming a caregiver for the park gardens or an outdoor education leader.





Wassermann Lake Preserve Resources 



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The park system woven throughout Victoria, Minnesota is managed and maintained by, or in partnership with, the City of Victoria Parks & Recreation Department.

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