A downtown revitalization project four years in the making is near completion. The $8.5 million dollar Lake George development project, which started in 2006, will likely be complete in the spring. The new Lake George will include fishing piers, a renovated warming house, increased lighting, boardwalks, running paths, a granite water fountain, and an aquatic park with a splash pad, shallow pool and natural creek. St. Cloud Parks Director Scott Zlotnik says the public is going to be very impressed with the new-and-improved Lake George.

"I think it’ll be well-received. It’s been out there for quite a long time. We’ve received nothing but positive comments from citizens and local neighborhood groups that have partcipated. Once it’s all completed I think it’ll be the gateway to our downtown. It’ll be the epicenter of our community. What an asset to have a lake right in our backyard of St. Cloud. We’re the land of 10,000 lakes. There’s not many communities that can say they have such a resource right out their front doorstep,” said Zlotnik.

The Lake George project is funded by public and private partnerships including the city of St. Cloud and the Rotary Club.