Newly Nokomis

The Board decided to separate the Lake Nokomis improvements from the larger program, which included the Rice Lake and Minnehaha Creek acquisitions and betterments, and ordered the preparation of the plans and estimates , which were presented to the Board in December and approved.

The work on the bathing beach was completed during the summer , and in order to be prepared for the coming bathing season advance appropriations of $ 23 , 000 . 00 from the 1917 and 1919 Bond Issues were made towards the building of the bath house. The foundation of the building is completed, and the above ground work will be carried on during the winter . The building is to be similar in arrangement and appearance to the Glenwood Bath House, but somewhat larger, providing for the following accommodations :

710-Men
342-Women
342-Boys
56-Small Children

No material changes have been made to the plans for general improvements of the park as submitted in 1914 , and for that reason it does not seem necessary to reproduce them. These improvements will make Lake Nokomis as attractive and useful as are all our lake parks. Under normal conditions it should be possible to complete the improvements within three years.

-Thirty-Seventh Annual Report
 Minneapolis Park Board of Commissioners
 1919

The Lake Nokomis bath house and beach were completed early in July, and the official opening took place in July. Some changes were made in the proposed arrangements of dressers and lockers , and the ground plan herein reproduced shows the present very satisfactory arrangement. The building presents a very attractive appearance, is commodious and practical in its appointments…

The very fine sand of the beach, and the clear water make bathing very enjoyable and attractive. The Nokomis Baths are very popular, and the attendance for the short season demonstrated the need of better approaches, and the completion of the general improvements of the entire park.

-Thirty-Eighth Annual Report
  Minneapolis Park Board of Commissioners
  1920

The plantings established last spring have taken good hold and the entire park was in a most flourishing condition during the whole of the season, its attractive appearance calling forth a deal of favorable comment by the public in general. Cement curbs were constructed along all the roadways — making a total of 33,282 linear feet. 5.95 miles of bituminous walks were constructed and resurfaced . Concrete steps were built at 52nd Street East and Woodland Boulevard. Some sections of the roadways received their final surfacing.

A proper lighting system was installed at the bathing beach and two water – toboggan slides introduced. Two fields for baseball and football were established on the northwest meadow — all of which add to the park’s usefulness and popularity.The total expenditure for the year’s improvements was $ 55,783.08.

-Forty-Second Annual Report
 Minneapolis Park Board of Commissioners
 1924