City of Lakes Loppet moves back to Hennepin-Lake
Events, Featured — By Thatcher Imboden on November 16, 2011 8:25 pmThe City of Lakes Loppet will move back to the streets of Uptown after at least 6 years of ending the race along The Mall just west of Hennepin in Uptown. The event will take place Saturday, February 4th through Sunday, February 5th, 2012.
The 2012 races will exit Lake Calhoun on the south side of Lake Street and run up the south two to three lanes of Lake Street to Hennepin Avenue, where it will turn south and end just before 31st Street. Traffic will still be allowed along the Lake Street route, however cross traffic between Lake Calhoun and Hennepin will not be allowed.
Back in the early 2000s, the race ended at Hennepin near Lake Street but used 31st Street to go from Lake Calhoun to the heart of Uptown. According to organizers who met with me earlier this year, the reason for the move was in part due to the uncertainty of whether the top of the Mall and the surface lot that they use at the Walker Library for their event would be available. The Walker Library, as of earlier this year, was to start construction in early 2012, however that has since been pushed back until late 2012 at the earliest. That uncertainty along with a desire to return the event to a more vibrant location front and center in Uptown was a good reason to look at alternatives.
The Star Tribune highlighted the move today, which you can read more about if you’d like. According to the Star Tribune, the event is hoping to draw over 10,000 participants and 40,000+ visitors.
Calhoun Square will be used as the event’s warm, village of vendors and festivities. The event features ski races, snow sculptures, ice biking, skijor, a luminary ski ride, music, food, and more.
Thatcher Imboden
How cities work and change, how they are the product of their inhabitants and outside forces, and the resulting livability keep me thinking and dreaming about the future. I work in urban real estate development, am Past President of an Uptown business organization, grew up in Uptown, was on an Uptown neighborhood association Board, and am an Uptown and Lyn-Lake historian.
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3 Comments
I think the Loppet should add an ice bike race.
The Loppet does have an ice bike race sponsored by Penn Cycle. in the past, it’s always been held on the channel between Lake Calhoun and Lake of the Isles.
Looks like it is happening again this year. You should sign up!
http://www.cityoflakesloppet.com/loppet-events/penn-ice-cycle-loppet/
EDUCATE YO’SELF, JANNE!