Park Information

Address:  121 Mississippi Drive
Hours:  Sunrise to Sunset

This park has been adopted by: The Monticello Chamber of Commerce.
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Amenities

• Natural open area
• Views of the Mississippi River
• Wetland
• Seasonal swan viewing (Approx. November - March)

Pathway Connections

Swan Park is accessible from the River View pathway. From the pathway, turn left on Mississippi Drive; Mississippi Drive is an on-road route to the park. View the pathway map

For 35 years, Swan Park has been home to a privately-led artificial feeding program for trumpeter swans. Sheila Lawrence, the Swan Lady, began feeding the swans in the mid-1980s when their population was critically low in Minnesota. As she fed these beautiful birds along the banks of the river, more swans began to gather. Eventually the daily feeding of corn was drawing more than 3,000 birds during the Minnesota winters. She remained dedicated to her swans until her death in 2011, when the feeding program was continued by her husband, Jim Lawrence.

Over the decades, the feeding program successfully supported the recovery of the trumpeter swan population in in the region. The latest estimates suggest a statewide population of approximately 30,000 birds, a staggering improvement for these creatures.

Changes were made in 2020

The tireless commitment of Sheila and Jim Lawrence will continue to have a lasting impact on trumpeter swans. Now we need to take the next step in honoring their legacy to protect the birds; we need to ensure they stay wild.

After consultation with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Minnesota DNR, and the Trumpeter Swan Society, the artificial feeding program will be discontinued in 2020, giving the swans the freedom to forage for food and reinforce their natural instinct to migrate. We still expect to see swans in the area as they search for food in open fields and take advantage of the open water along the river in Monticello, but we’re unlikely to see the significant number of birds like we have in years past.

There will be an inevitable period of adjustment for the swans and our community as we navigate the first winter without the local feeding program. However, city staff and local volunteers have worked with biologists and other swan experts from the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, Minnesota DNR, and Trumpeter Swan Society to create a plan that prioritizes the long-term well-being of the swans.

Looking to the Future

Swans will continue to be a unique and beautiful part of Monticello. While there’s sure to be a sense of disappointment over the loss of the feeding program, we hope residents and visitors understand the short-term adjustment is in the best interest of the swans. We can honor the legacy of the Lawrence family by continuing to protect the swans’ natural instincts and help them stay wild.

Questions about these changes? Please contact the Parks Department: 763-295-3170.