There’s big news for outdoor lovers in Minnesota, especially for those with disabilities. The Minnesota Council on Disability (MCD) joins the Department of Natural Resources (DNR) in celebrating major accessibility upgrades at the Walter F. Mondale Day-Use Area in William O’Brien State Park.
These improvements are the result of decades of hard work and passionate advocacy. The late Margot Imdieke Cross, a tireless champion for disability rights, played a key role, along with dedicated DNR staff who partnered to bring the vision to life.
What’s New at the Park?
Visitors will notice a wide range of new and improved features in the park’s most popular day use areas, all designed to make the park more accessible. They include:
- Fully accessible restrooms
- A revamped, accessible picnic shelter
- Easier access to the beach
- An accessible canoe and kayak launch
- Smooth, ADA-compliant trails and seating areas
- Upgraded campground and park office facilities
- Two all-terrain electric track chairs for exploring off the beaten path
These upgrades were completed as part of the DNR’s Get Out MORE (Modernize Outdoor Recreation Experiences) initiative—a one-time, $150 million investment in Minnesota’s outdoor recreation infrastructure.
“We are overjoyed,” said MCD Executive Director David Dively. “This has been well over 20 years in the making, and our late colleague and trailblazer Margot Imdieke Cross led the effort to make it happen. Margot was passionate about the outdoors. She consistently advocated for a fully accessible state park experience and worked closely with the DNR to set this project in motion. We are grateful to the DNR for their commitment to creating accessible spaces and for this opportunity to honor Margot’s central role and contributions.”
A Vision Years in the Making
Erika Rivers, former DNR Parks and Trails Director and now Executive Director of Wilderness Inquiry, remembers when the dream first took shape. Back in the 1990s, Margot helped lead a statewide accessibility survey for Minnesota parks and trails.
Minnesota voters approved the Legacy Amendment in 2008, creating dedicated funding for parks, trails, and other public resources. In 2012, Margot joined the Parks and Trails Legacy Advisory Committee to help guide those investments—and strongly advocated for improving accessibility throughout the state’s outdoor recreation system.
“Margot and I used to talk about how amazing it would be to have a model state park for accessibility,” Erika said. “After consulting with DNR Parks and Trails managers, we realized William O’Brien was the perfect park to try it, given its proximity to the metropolitan area and its outstanding natural beauty. And from there, the plan took off.”
DNR managers began outlining the project, and Margot went to work advocating for and securing additional funding to make it possible.
Come See for Yourself
MCD is delighted to see this long-anticipated accessibility project completed. This work is about more than new paths and restrooms. It’s about creating equitable access to Minnesota’s incredible outdoors for everyone.
The day-use area reopened to the public on May 1. Final upgrades will be completed by mid-June 2025.
DNR officials, MCD staff, MCD Council members, and guests will celebrate at a private event on June 11. Press and media interested in covering the event can contact Jill Westberry at jill.westberry@state.mn.us.
Want to explore the park? Bring your friends and family to William O’Brien State Park soon.
Visit the Minnesota State Parks and Recreation Areas website for permits, maps, and more.
Interesting Historical Footnote
Fittingly, the day-use area was named after Walter Mondale in 2019, shortly after Margot helped secure funding in 2018 to improve its accessibility. As a U.S. Senator, Mondale was a strong advocate for civil rights legislation that laid the groundwork for the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990. He also played a key role in securing the St. Croix River’s designation as one of the nation’s first Wild and Scenic Rivers.