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CITY COUNCIL <br />STAFF REPORT <br />AGENDA ITEM 8. <br /> <br />STAFF ORIGINATOR: Rick DeGardner, Public Services Director <br /> <br />MEETING DATE October 6, 2025 <br /> <br />AGENDA ITEM: Ice Rinks - Seasonal Pickleball Court Use <br /> <br />INTRODUCTION <br />Councilmembers Ruhland and Lyden requested this item be placed on tonight’s work session <br />agenda. A pickleball court is located within the hockey rink at Inner Park in Circle Pines, and the <br />two council members want to explore this possibility in Lino Lakes. <br /> <br />BACKGROUND <br />The City of Lino Lakes currently has three parks with hockey rinks - City Hall Park, Sunrise Park <br />(2), and Birch Park. Dedicated pickleball courts are provided at Tower Park (4), Watermark Park <br />(2), City Hall Park (2), and Northpointe Park (1). In addition, there are 8 tennis/pickleball courts <br />at Centennial Middle School. <br /> <br />Below is some background information along with staff’s perspective of paving a hockey rink for <br />pickleball courts at each location. <br /> <br />City Hall Park - Two pickleball courts were constructed in 2023. Therefore, no need to install <br />additional courts inside the hockey rink. <br /> <br />Sunrise Park - The north rink boards were replaced in 2022. The south rink boards are in poor <br />condition and are scheduled to be replaced in 2028. The recommended distance for a pickleball <br />court from homes is a minimum of 500 feet to help mitigate noise, with 1,000 feet or more <br />being ideal for significant noise reduction. There are dozens of homes within 1,000 feet with <br />the nearest home 160 feet from the hockey rinks. Eight pickleball courts are available in relative <br />close proximity at the Centennial Middle School. <br /> <br />Birch Park - The hockey rink boards are in poor condition and are scheduled to be replaced in <br />2027. The rink is approximately 265 feet from the nearest home. Of the three existing hockey <br />rink locations, Birch Park is preferred. If this project is pursued, it makes sense that the <br />boards/fencing are replaced at the same time as the asphalt is installed. <br /> <br />Pickleball courts are an amenity often located at destination parks that require travel for most <br />users. There are three destination-type pickleball facilities that geographically cover Lino Lakes: <br />Tower Park (southeast), City Hall Park (north), and Centennial Middle School (southwest). <br />Page 44 of 52