[1] After receiving attention for several decades due to illicit activities and safety concerns, the beach underwent a contentious "family-friendly" shift following efforts by the park board in the late 2010s.

The location was already deemed extremely family friendly, patrons often brought their small children and infants to experience a community without judgement and to meet people from all walks of life.

Despite the large railway operations going on nearby, the land surrounding Cedar Lake's eastern shore was sold to build houses, hotels, and other such structures between 1895 and 1975.

Instead, what established was a thriving community of local Minneapolis residents: many eclectic and artistic individuals of all races, who built a strong culture and welcoming group for daytime visitors that almost felt like a commune.

While people did not live on site, many would spend the entire day or arrive after getting off work to join their community in beach games (some local to the area, like the legendary sport "Rock Golf" created by a longstanding elder member of the community), relaxation, music, shared food and drink, and the general attitude that all people from all ages and all walks of life were welcome and would be treated as family.

The intergenerational aspect of the community was unique and something to be preserved, teens and seventy year old "old timers" who had been patrons of the area since the 60's and 70's were often found engaged in deep conversation or on the same teams for beach games and cards.

Unfortunately, the polar opposite of the word "preservation" played out in every aspect imaginable - from destroying and removing the culture, to police brutalizing beachgoers who had committed minor offenses or often no crime at all, and decimating the natural beauty and endangered/threatened wildlife that once flourished there.

The park police's continued harassment and abuse, the nearby wealthy neighborhood citizens dislike for counterculture and people who were "different", all this led to the downfall of the once beautiful place that used to be lovingly named Hidden Beach.

The vegetation obscured the view of the beach from the street, which made it considerably more difficult for park police members looking for a means of promotion by meeting their quotas - by handing out tickets for dog related offenses, occasional partial female nudity, and beer drinkers.

Other renovations approved included installation of picnic tables, a grill, a permanent police-only parking lot on the beachside itself, and a lifeguard stand.