The quiet side of the busiest lake in Minneapolis — where tree-lined residential streets slope gently toward Bde Maka Ska's western shore, and the neighborhood's greatest luxury is being close to everything while feeling far from the noise.
Last updated: March 2026 · A complete neighborhood guide
The western shore of Bde Maka Ska is the quiet side. On a summer evening, when the eastern beach is packed and the Uptown-adjacent paths are a human traffic jam of rollerbladers, joggers, and stroller-pushers, the west side of the lake feels like a different body of water. The path is less crowded. The parkway homes sit back from the boulevard behind deep lawns and old trees. Sailboats tilt in the distance. A family carries a canoe to the water. This is West Maka Ska's defining quality: proximity to the city's most popular recreational lake, experienced at a pace that remembers what relaxation feels like.
What is West Maka Ska, Minneapolis?
West Maka Ska is a residential neighborhood in Southwest Minneapolis, occupying the land west of Bde Maka Ska (formerly Lake Calhoun). It is bounded roughly by West 31st Street and the Cedar - Isles - Dean neighborhood to the north, Bde Maka Ska Parkway and the lake to the east, West 36th Street and the Midtown Greenway to the south, and France Avenue South to the west. Approximately 3,800 residents live here, in a neighborhood that is almost entirely single-family residential.
The neighborhood's identity is defined by the lake. Bde Maka Ska — at roughly 400 acres, the largest lake in the Minneapolis Chain of Lakes — provides the recreational and scenic anchor that makes the neighborhood what it is. But West Maka Ska's character is distinct from the busier eastern shore. Where East Bde Maka Ska has Uptown's energy, apartment density, and commercial activity, West Maka Ska is quiet, residential, and family-oriented. There is no commercial district. The streets slope gently toward the lake, shaded by mature trees and lined with homes that were built when this was the western edge of a growing city.
West Maka Ska Neighborhood Sign
West Maka Ska, Minneapolis — Key Stats (2025–2026)
West Maka Ska History & Origins
Bde Maka Ska — "White Earth Lake" in the Dakota language — was a central feature of Dakota life for centuries before European-American settlement. The Dakota leader Cloud Man established a farming village on the lake's western shore in the 1820s, in cooperation with the Indian agent Lawrence Taliaferro — one of the earliest experiments in agricultural adaptation on Dakota land. The western shore, where West Maka Ska now sits, was part of this community's territory. Forced removal in 1839 displaced the Dakota from the lake they had known and named.
The lake was subsequently named Lake Calhoun by the U.S. government, after John C. Calhoun, the Secretary of War and later Vice President who was an aggressive defender of slavery. That name persisted until 2018, when the lake was officially renamed Bde Maka Ska — a decision that went through years of legal challenges before being upheld by the Minnesota Supreme Court. The renaming restored the Dakota name and removed the honor given to a man whose legacy most Minnesotans were uncomfortable celebrating.
Residential development on the western shore came in the early 20th century, driven by the streetcar network and the Minneapolis Park Board's ambitious program of lakeside parkway construction. The Boulevard — the parkway circling the lake — was designed to provide both transportation and scenic beauty, and the lots facing it became prime residential real estate. The homes built during the 1910s and 1920s reflect the period's prevailing styles: Colonial Revivals, Craftsman bungalows, Tudor cottages, and stucco two-stories. The neighborhood has remained a stable, affluent residential area ever since, with none of the dramatic booms, busts, or reinventions that have marked neighborhoods closer to downtown.
Living in West Maka Ska
Living in West Maka Ska means living with the lake as a daily companion. Morning routines include lake-loop runs and dog walks along the parkway. Summer evenings involve paddleboarding, swimming at the beach, or watching the sailboats from a lawn chair. Winter brings cross-country skiing on the frozen lake and fat-tire biking on the plowed paths. The lake is not a weekend destination — it is the front yard, shared with the city but experienced with a proprietary familiarity that comes from daily use.
The residential streets behind the parkway are shaded, quiet, and well-maintained. Front porches are common. Landscaping tends toward the mature and established rather than the designed and curated. Children ride bikes on the sidewalks. The pace is slower than neighboring South Uptown and more domestic than Kenwood. Families are the dominant demographic: young families buying into the Lake Harriet school pipeline, established families who have been here for a decade or two, and empty nesters who aren't ready to give up the lake.
The social character is quiet and neighborhood-centered. Block parties and school events are the primary social infrastructure. There is no commercial gathering place within the neighborhood — no coffee shop where regulars congregate, no restaurant bar where neighbors run into each other on Friday night. Community happens on the lake trail, at the school, on the block. It is a neighborhood for people who value domestic peace and outdoor access over urban stimulation.
“People ask me why I'd live on the west side when the east side has all the restaurants and action. I tell them: that's exactly why. I can bike to all of it in five minutes, and then I come home to quiet.”
West Maka Ska homeowner
West Maka Ska Food, Drink & Local Spots
West Maka Ska has no commercial district and virtually no restaurants or shops within its boundaries. This is the trade-off of its purely residential character — quiet streets mean no corner coffee shop. Dining and shopping happen in the surrounding neighborhoods, all easily accessible by bike or short drive.
Where West Maka Ska Residents Eat & Shop
The Linden Hills commercial district — Tilia, Sebastian Joe's, Wild Rumpus, Clancy's, and dozens of independent shops — is a short drive or bike ride south along the lake. This is the closest thing to a neighborhood commercial center for West Maka Ska residents, and many treat it as such.
The Uptown commercial district on the east side of the lake provides a wider range of restaurants, bars, and shopping. Biking around the lake takes 15–20 minutes. Driving takes five. The range of cuisines — Thai, Vietnamese, Indian, New American, Mexican — is far broader than anything available in the immediate neighborhood.
France Avenue, running along West Maka Ska's western boundary, provides access to commercial activity both in Minneapolis and in adjacent Edina. The 50th & France shopping district in Edina — an upscale collection of restaurants, boutiques, and services — is a short drive south and serves as a commercial destination for many West Maka Ska households.
Seasonal concessions and rental operations along the Bde Maka Ska shoreline provide casual lakeside dining during warm months. The Tin Fish and other lakeside vendors offer burgers, fish tacos, and ice cream — nothing fancy, but the setting is the point.
The Lunds & Byerlys on West Lake Street, near the Midtown Greenway, is the primary full-service grocery option for many West Maka Ska households. A locally owned upscale grocery with strong prepared foods, organic produce, and a bakery that draws from across Southwest Minneapolis.
Parks & Lakes Near West Maka Ska
Outdoor recreation is West Maka Ska's primary asset and the reason most people choose to live here. The lake, the trails, and the park system are not amenities adjacent to the neighborhood — they are the neighborhood, in the sense that daily life here is organized around access to water and green space.
Bde Maka Ska
Bde Maka Ska is the largest lake in the Minneapolis Chain of Lakes — roughly 400 acres of water encircled by a 3.1-mile paved path. Three public beaches offer swimming. Kayak, paddleboard, and canoe rentals launch from the western and eastern shores. Sailboats — from small dinghies to larger keelboats — are a defining visual feature of the lake from May through September. The Calhoun Yacht Club, on the lake's western shore in West Maka Ska, has been a sailing institution since 1916. In winter, the lake freezes for cross-country skiing, skating, and ice fishing. The 3.1-mile loop is one of the busiest recreational trails in the city on summer evenings, though the western stretch tends to be less congested than the eastern side near Uptown.
Lake Harriet & the Chain of Lakes
Lake Harriet is a short walk or bike ride south, connected to Bde Maka Ska by a parkway trail through William Berry Park. The Linden Hills side of Lake Harriet — with the Bandshell, the Rose Garden, and the swimming beaches — is accessible on the trail system. From West Maka Ska, the entire Chain of Lakes is available on a continuous loop: Bde Maka Ska to Lake Harriet to Lake of the Isles to Cedar Lake and back — roughly 13 miles of connected trails through four lakes without crossing a major road.
The Midtown Greenway
The Midtown Greenway runs along West Maka Ska's southern boundary, providing a below-grade, car-free bike and pedestrian trail that connects the Chain of Lakes to the Mississippi River. For commuters, the Greenway is a transformative piece of infrastructure — a fast, safe route to downtown Minneapolis and beyond. For recreational riders, it extends the lake trail network eastward across the city. The Greenway's western terminus, near the intersection of the lake trails and France Avenue, is one of the busiest trail junctions in Minneapolis.
West Maka Ska Schools
West Maka Ska shares the Lake Harriet school pipeline with neighboring Linden Hills and East Harriet — one of the strongest public school pathways in Minneapolis.
Lake Harriet Lower Elementary (K–2) and Lake Harriet Upper Elementary (3–5) serve the neighborhood. Both are well-regarded, with strong Niche ratings and engaged parent communities. Middle school is Anthony Middle School, rated B by Niche. The high school is Southwest Senior High School — an International Baccalaureate World School with an A-minus Niche rating, strong academics, and a notable performing arts program.
Private school options accessible from West Maka Ska include the Blake School (with campuses in Hopkins and Minneapolis), Breck School, and various Montessori and parochial programs. The 50th & France area in Edina, just south, provides access to Edina's highly regarded public school system for families living near the city border — though this requires an Edina address, not a Minneapolis one.
West Maka Ska Real Estate & Housing
West Maka Ska is an expensive residential neighborhood, with median home sale prices in 2025 ranging from approximately $550,000 to $800,000. Lakefront and near-lakefront properties command significant premiums, often exceeding $1 million. Homes sell quickly — an average of about 12 days on market in 2025 — reflecting steady demand from families and lake-oriented buyers.
What Your Money Buys
At the entry level ($425,000–$550,000), you might find a smaller bungalow or cottage on an interior street, away from the lake and likely in need of some updating. The mid-range ($575,000–$800,000) gets you a solid three- or four-bedroom home from the 1920s: stucco two-stories, Craftsman bungalows with finished attics, or Colonial Revivals with updated kitchens. Above $850,000, you're looking at larger renovated homes, new construction, or properties with lake views or parkway frontage.
The housing stock is overwhelmingly single-family, dating from the 1910s through the 1930s. Stucco two-stories and Craftsman bungalows are the most common styles. Lot sizes are moderate — standard Minneapolis city lots — with mature trees providing shade and privacy. There are very few apartment buildings or multi-unit properties. The neighborhood feels like what it is: a streetcar-era residential community built for families, maintained by families, and priced for families with significant resources.
Getting Around West Maka Ska
West Maka Ska's Walk Score of 70 reflects the neighborhood's split personality: excellent walkability for recreation (the lake is right there) and limited walkability for daily errands (no commercial district within the neighborhood). The Bike Score of 90 is strong, driven by the lake trails, the Midtown Greenway, and on-street bike lanes.
Most daily errands — groceries, dining, shopping — require a short drive or bike ride to Linden Hills, Uptown, or the France Avenue corridor. This is the primary inconvenience of West Maka Ska's purely residential character, and it is one that residents have generally accepted as the price of quiet streets and lake access.
Downtown Minneapolis is approximately 15 minutes by car via Hennepin Avenue or I-394. MSP International Airport is roughly 20 minutes via Highway 62. Metro Transit bus service is available on France Avenue and Lake Street, with moderate frequency. Biking to downtown via the Midtown Greenway or the lake trail/Kenilworth Trail connection takes approximately 20–25 minutes. Most households own at least one car, and for daily commuting, a car remains the primary mode for most residents.
What's Changing: The Honest Version
West Maka Ska is a stable, desirable neighborhood, but it shares the broader tensions of Southwest Minneapolis — and has a few of its own.
The Name & the Identity Question
The renaming of Lake Calhoun to Bde Maka Ska in 2018 changed the neighborhood's name as well. "West Calhoun" became "West Maka Ska" — a shift that was embraced by some residents, resisted by others, and largely accepted through the gradual process of daily usage. Real estate listings still sometimes use both names. Newcomers use the Dakota name. Long-time residents vary. The name change is substantively settled, but it surfaces a broader question about identity: when a neighborhood is defined by a lake, and the lake's name changes, what does the neighborhood become? For most residents, the answer has been pragmatic: the lake is the same lake, the streets are the same streets, and the name is whatever the mapmakers say it is.
Lake Health & Climate Pressure
Bde Maka Ska faces environmental pressures common to urban lakes in Minnesota: stormwater runoff, invasive species, algal blooms during warm summers, and the long-term effects of climate change on water temperature and quality. Periodic beach closures due to water quality concerns have rattled residents in recent years. The Minneapolis Park Board manages the lake actively, but the reality is that a lake this heavily used, in an urban setting, requires constant intervention to remain healthy. For a neighborhood whose identity and property values are tied to the lake, water quality is not an abstract environmental issue — it is a direct threat to what makes the neighborhood work.
Affordability & Exclusion
West Maka Ska shares the affordability challenge of all lakeside Southwest Minneapolis neighborhoods: the same features that make it desirable — the lake, the schools, the safety, the trees — make it expensive, and that expense limits access to a narrow demographic. The neighborhood is overwhelmingly white and upper-income. The Minneapolis 2040 Plan's efforts to introduce more housing types have had limited impact here, where the lots are largely built out and the community has historically favored single-family residential character. The tension between citywide housing equity goals and neighborhood-level preservation of character is present in West Maka Ska, even if it is less vocal here than in neighborhoods with more active development pressure.
West Maka Ska FAQ
Is West Maka Ska a good neighborhood in Minneapolis?
Yes — West Maka Ska (sometimes called West Calhoun by long-time residents) is one of the most desirable neighborhoods in Southwest Minneapolis. It offers proximity to Bde Maka Ska and Lake Harriet, beautiful housing stock, strong schools, and a quiet residential character that feels insulated from the busier lakeside neighborhoods to the east and north.
Is West Maka Ska, Minneapolis safe?
West Maka Ska is one of the safer neighborhoods in Minneapolis. Violent crime is very rare. Property crime — primarily vehicle break-ins, particularly near the lake during summer months — occurs at low rates. The residential streets are quiet, well-lit, and generally feel secure at all hours.
What is the difference between West Maka Ska and East Bde Maka Ska?
West Maka Ska is on the western side of Bde Maka Ska and has a quieter, more purely residential character. East Bde Maka Ska is on the eastern side, closer to Uptown and Hennepin Avenue, with more commercial activity, more apartment density, and a more urban feel. West Maka Ska tends to have larger homes, larger lots, and a family-oriented atmosphere, while East Bde Maka Ska attracts a younger, more urban demographic.
How much do homes cost in West Maka Ska, Minneapolis?
Median home sale prices in 2025 ranged from approximately $550,000 to $800,000. Smaller homes or those farther from the lake can occasionally be found in the $425,000–$550,000 range. Lakefront or near-lakefront properties regularly exceed $1 million. West Maka Ska is among the more expensive neighborhoods in Minneapolis, though generally less costly than the lakefront blocks in Kenwood.
Is West Maka Ska walkable?
Moderately. West Maka Ska has a Walk Score of 70, reflecting good access to the lake and parks but limited walkable commercial options. The neighborhood has no significant commercial district of its own — residents typically drive or bike to Linden Hills, Uptown, or the France Avenue corridor for shopping and dining. The Bike Score of 90 is excellent, driven by the lake trails and Midtown Greenway access.
What schools serve West Maka Ska, Minneapolis?
West Maka Ska is served by Lake Harriet Lower Elementary (K–2) and Lake Harriet Upper Elementary (3–5) — the same strong pipeline that serves Linden Hills and East Harriet. Middle school is Anthony Middle School, and the high school is Southwest Senior High, an International Baccalaureate World School.
Where exactly is West Maka Ska in Minneapolis?
West Maka Ska is in Southwest Minneapolis, bounded roughly by West 31st Street and Cedar-Isles-Dean to the north, Bde Maka Ska Parkway and the lake to the east, West 36th Street and the Midtown Greenway to the south, and France Avenue South to the west. It borders Cedar - Isles - Dean to the north, East Bde Maka Ska (across the lake) to the east, Linden Hills to the south, and the suburb of St. Louis Park to the west.
Why is the neighborhood called West Maka Ska?
The neighborhood takes its name from its position on the western shore of Bde Maka Ska (formerly Lake Calhoun). When the lake was renamed from Lake Calhoun to Bde Maka Ska in 2018 — restoring its original Dakota name — the neighborhood name shifted accordingly. Some residents and real estate listings still use 'West Calhoun,' but the official neighborhood name reflects the lake's restored Dakota name.
Is West Maka Ska a good place to raise a family?
West Maka Ska is an excellent family neighborhood. The Lake Harriet school pipeline is strong, the streets are safe and quiet, and the lake provides year-round outdoor recreation. The neighborhood's residential character and family orientation make it particularly appealing to households with children, though the cost of entry is significant.
What Makes West Maka Ska Irreplaceable
West Maka Ska is not the neighborhood that people name first when they talk about Minneapolis. It does not have a famous bookstore or a renowned restaurant or a commercial district that defines its identity. What it has is position — the western shore of the city's most popular lake, connected by trails to three other lakes and a 51-mile parkway system, backed by residential streets of unusual beauty and calm. The neighborhood's great advantage is being close to everything — Uptown, Linden Hills, downtown, the entire Chain of Lakes — while remaining quiet enough that you can hear the loons on a summer evening.
That position comes at a cost, both financial and social. West Maka Ska is expensive, white, and increasingly homogeneous in ways that reflect the structural patterns of Southwest Minneapolis. The neighborhood's quiet stability can shade into a kind of comfortable insularity that resists the changes Minneapolis needs to become a more equitable city. But for the families biking the lake loop on a July evening, the runners training for the marathon on the Bde Maka Ska path, the empty nesters who have watched the seasons turn from the same screened porch for thirty years — this neighborhood delivers a version of urban life that is difficult to match and impossible to fake.
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