02-05-2018 Park Board Packet - Laserfiche WebLink

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l ' I LINO KE December 7, 2017 Re : Country Lakes Park Project Dear Resident, This letter is to inform you of some upcoming projects related to Country Lakes Park, located at 6600 West Shadow Lake Drive in Lino Lakes. Country Lakes Park currently consists of approximately 22 acres of land along the shores of Reshanau Lake and contains a gravel parking lot, some bituminous trails and picnic areas. A fishing pier/canoe launch was recently removed due to the age and condition of the structure and the park contains some outdated picnic amenities. The park has a variety of landscapes, including some open lawn spaces, mature oak trees, wooded areas, wetlands, and shore land . Many of these landscapes have deteriorated over the years, which have resulted in degraded native cover now being suppressed by invasive species, such as reed canary grass, buckthorn, and pioneer tree species. The City of Lino Lakes has an opportunity to contract with YTS Companies, LLC to undertake removal of many undesirable trees and vegetation within the park at a cost much lower than is typically the case. This will allow the City the ability to start restoration efforts in the park to increase the biodiversity of the ecological spaces and habitats, supporting many bird and pollinator species. For example, there is potential to revive a wetland that may include the reemergent of rare species in the native seed bank, and opening up sunlight to the forest floor will encourage small oak trees to thrive and replace older species . The City has undertaken an extensive site review of the trees and vegetation with the City Forester/Environmental Coordinator, Parks Supervisor, Landscape Architects from WSB, and myself to determine the undesirable vegetation to be removed . Many of the trees and vegetation identified for removal will consist of: • Ash trees (due to the emerald ash borer now present in Lino Lakes ) • Cottonwoods and other Poplar species • Boxelders • Invasive non-native species, such as Buckthorn • Trees that are considered a potential hazard due to age or condition • Vegetation that needs "thinning out" (OVER)