Friends of Lily Lake

02/13/2026

02/10/2026

Just in case you see some emergency vehicles and personnel tomorrow!!

**Notice: Training Exercise**

On Tuesday, February 10, 2026, the Stillwater Fire Department will be at Lily Lake for a simulated ice-rescue training drill.

During this time, you may see emergency vehicles, firefighters, and first responders preparing for and performing the simulated exercise.

Thank you for supporting our mission to protect the birthplace of Minnesota.

If you have an emergency, please call 9-1-1.

01/13/2026

Sludge plowing on Lily Lake, in anticipation of the big freeze! THANKS

12/15/2025

Many people like to walk along the perimeter roads surrounding Lily Lake, so this is especially helpful for them. If you are unable, or unwilling, to shovel your sidewalk, and if you already contract for a plowing service for your driveway, ask that service if they also do sidewalks.

❄️ Winter Sidewalk Shoveling Reminder ❄️

As winter weather continues, we’d like to remind residents and property owners of the importance of keeping sidewalks clear, safe, and accessible for everyone in our community.

✔️ Sidewalks must be fully shoveled after snowfall so pedestrians don’t have to step into the street
✔️ Curb ramps and curb cuts should also be cleared, especially after plows pass—this is critical for accessibility
✔️ Please shovel the full width of the sidewalk, down to the pavement, withing 24 hours after snow events

Un-shoveled or poorly shoveled sidewalks can create safety hazards, particularly in high-traffic areas and along key walking routes.

Thank you for doing your part to keep Stillwater walkable, accessible, and safe all winter long! 💙

12/13/2025

The new "Woodlands Snowshoe Trail" has be 'stomped in'. Come and give it a try, following between the orange and green ribbons. Orange reflective discs have also been installed on a few trees, making the trail navigable at night for adventurous souls with a headlamp. It's fun, yet a little challenging in a couple of spots, making it a one-of-a kind trail within our City limits. Snowshoes with hiking poles are great, but winter boots should also now suffice.

If you want to complete the full 1-mile loop: Start at the fishing pier and walk the trail counter-clockwise. Go alongside the entrance road, between the ice arena and the lake, and into the wooded lakeshore trail. After 100 yards take a sharp left up the switchbacks and almost to the top of the bluff. You'll then walk above the ice arena, and back down to the west end of the filtration basin. Circum-navigate the basin, then past the playground, baseball fields, tennis courts and picnic pavillion. Parallel Greeley Street's sidewalk and into the mini-woods, through the historic Ice Factory's foundation and back down to finish at the fishing pier.

Coming soon, but safe ice dependent, will be our more familiar additional 1-mile lake perimeter walking/skiing trail.

Let us know how all of this feels.

11/16/2025

A dear member of our community, lakeshore home owner of 55 years, prior FLL Board Member, School Board member for 20 years, and city lobbist passed away recently. His funeral was held yesterday (see link). https://drive.google.com/file/d/1d1onUCTEGIl9M7AokNzGhYbe6Ufm6DUC/view?usp=drivesdk

11/12/2025

Checking out the sky looking northwest over Lily Lake tonight. Quite spectacular.

10/29/2025

A very well deserved award… for Del’s foresight, patience and tenacity to see this through.

10/09/2025

If you can spare a few minutes, please fill out the following survey: https://us.maptionnaire.com/p/44zvk7mow2n9?fbclid=IwRlRTSANVCMZleHRuA2FlbQIxMQABHknjep9wvQLhSRoz6ygYghi1FruBvcdgp5wj72J4H5WycCJOC7npFmsUD_uV_aem_dO3aPDpGctq_T2_kb8ET6w

09/29/2025

Thanks to all of our members and neighborhood guests who enjoyed a beautiful evening around a bonfire. We shared stories while roasting s'mores, eating hot dogs, beans, chips, and cookies. Background music from a Farm AID 40 sound track was upscaled a little later by Chris Warner on his guitar.

A brief presentation was given to the attendees on the value of membership, highlighting our past years' accomplishments plus aspirations for the next few years.

Should you be interested in finding out more about the Friends of Lily Lake (FLL), or even joining, please visit our website (below). You will find information on the lake's history, past actions of FLL in getting the lake removed from Minnesota's Impaired Waters List, plus the Strategic Visioning process and final report to make Lily Lake once again the 'heart of the neighborhood'.

https://lilylakemn.wixsite.com/lilylake

09/08/2025

This should certainly help those of us who ride bikes along Greeley St by Lily Lake Park feel a lot safer. Thank you City of Stillwater, Minnesota - Local Government.

🚴‍♀️ New Road Markings in Stillwater – Sharrows 🚘

What are sharrows?
Sharrows are painted in travel lanes to remind motorists that bicyclists and cars share the road.

For Drivers:
🔹 Expect to see bicyclists in the lane.
🔹 Slow down and share the road.
🔹 Pass only when it’s safe and do so slowly and carefully.

For Bicyclists:
🔹Ride along the center of the sharrow symbol.
🔹Avoid riding too close to parked cars.
🔹Remember: sharrows are a guide, not a protected bike lane.

Remember:
Sharrows don’t give exclusive space to cyclists—they simply highlight that roads are for everyone. Please drive and ride with care.

👉 Watch for these new markings on Greeley St South!

08/11/2025

While the canoe/kayak/paddleboard launch platform on Lily Lake (that was installed last year) isn’t quite this fancy… it is getting quite a bit of use this year. Come and check it out… it’s over by the Ice arena.