2025 Natural Shoreline Award Winner
Irving & John Anderson County Park in Oxford Township (Isanti County)
If you stand at the edge of Horseleg Lake on an early morning in fall, the only sounds you’ll hear are geese flying overhead and the gentle rustling of wind through the trees.
Irving & John Anderson County Park encompasses 404 acres of undeveloped land in southeastern Isanti County in Oxford Township, including 1.75 miles of undeveloped shoreline along Horseleg and Hoseshoe Lakes. Both Lakes are classified as Natural Environment Lakes, boasting excellent water quality and rare aquatic plants.
Located about one-hour north of the Twin Cities, Irving & John Anderson County Park lies in a richly diverse environment that supports white tailed deer, turkeys, pheasants, Blanding’s turtles, beaver, red-headed woodpeckers, sandhill cranes, and throngs of migratory birds. The park was established in 2012 and has undergone an intensive transformation to be restored from a farm into the thriving ecosystem it boasts today. According to the Parks and Trails Council of Minnesota, “Park users now relish this natural place where it seems hard to imagine the landscape could have ever been anything other than natural.”
Isanti County Parks Director Barry Wendorf tells us that the Isanti Soil and Water Conservation District and Friends of Anderson Park have both played big supporting roles in developing the park. Isanti SWCD seeded the original 174 acres of farmland to prairie in 2007 and has provided assistance for other habitat restoration efforts. The Friends group led development of the children’s natural play area - a big crowd favorite with young families - and plans a variety of interpretive programs and events throughout the year, including an annual fall festival in September that features live animals, music, wagon rides, and other activities.
Irving & John Anderson County Park is an excellent destination for canoeing and kayaking, birdwatching, hiking, cross country skiing, and horseback riding. There is a five-mile multi-use trail system, as well as a boardwalk that offers visitors an immersive lake experience. “Both Horseshoe and Horseleg Lakes have crystal clear water,” says Wendorf. “There are also a few remnant prairie patches you can find.”
Wendorf was hired on as Isanti County’s first full-time parks director in 2008 and says he’s been loving it ever since. “I think it’s great for us to receive this award and to raise awareness about the importance of protecting natural lakes.”