Lake Shore Is Replacing the Fritz Loven Park Bridge

Lake Shore is about to replace the bridge that carries visitors into its most important park. In June 2026, the city was formally awarded roughly $792,000 from the state's Local Bridge Replacement Program to replace the aging bridge over Stony Brook at Fritz Loven Park. The project, expected to be built in 2027, will replace a one-lane crossing that dates to 1972 with a larger two-lane bridge. For residents who use the park year-round, it is an infrastructure project that directly protects a favorite part of daily life.

The Old Bridge

The bridge over Stony Brook at Fritz Loven Park has been in service since 1972. It is a one-lane, 12-foot structure with a posted 3-ton weight limit, and county engineers identified significant deficiencies as far back as 2022. The city chose a larger two-lane replacement for safety and cost, and a state design-standards variance was approved in 2024.

The New Bridge and Its Funding

In April 2026, Lake Shore learned it was in line for an estimated $792,000 from the state Local Bridge Replacement Program. At the June 22, 2026 council meeting, the city was formally awarded the funding and committed to the project, which is expected to be built in 2027. The city also decided in February 2026 that the trees around the bridge will remain part of the plan, so the park's character is being protected along with its access.

What It Means for Residents

**Safer, more reliable park access:** a two-lane bridge removes the weight limits and the single-lane bottleneck that have limited how the park is used.

**A protected natural retreat stays protected:** Fritz Loven Park is an 80-acre green space with walking and snowshoe trails, fishing, and picnic spots, and a solid bridge keeps it usable for everyone.

**Infrastructure investment signals a healthy town:** a city that wins state funding and commits to maintaining its parks is planning for the long term.

The Bottom Line

The Fritz Loven Park bridge replacement is not the flashiest project on Gull Lake, but it matters. It protects access to one of Lake Shore's best assets, keeps an 80-acre natural park open for the community, and shows the city investing in the infrastructure behind daily life. For residents and buyers alike, that is the kind of quiet improvement that keeps a community strong.

Thinking about Lake Shore? Start with our Lake Shore community guide, read about Fritz Loven Park and the Gull Lake Classic, or schedule a conversation. Cheers!