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The Parks Commission reviewed and recommended approval of the proposed plan at their 11- <br />17-2025 meeting as presented by staff. (Vote 6-0) <br />The City Council had a joint workshop with the Parks Commission on 01/13/2026 to review the <br />workplan and discuss the goals for the Commission. At the meeting no additional changes were <br />proposed for the plan. <br />ISSUE BEFORE CITY COUNCIL: <br />Would City Council like to accept the 2026 work plan as proposed? <br />PROPOSAL DETAILS/ANALYSIS: <br />Planning / Project and Development – Items in this section have been listed as a CIP item or have <br />been identified as an item of consideration by the Parks Commission. <br />-Connar from Washington County will present future CIP projects the county is working on <br />that may affect the City of Lake Elmo in years to come. He will also provide an updated <br />scope on the Greenway Trail and its potential development throughout the city. <br />-Review the upcoming neighborhood playground replacements and prioritize those based off <br />city councils’ recommendation to reduce playgrounds in neighborhood parks. <br />-Staff will work with city engineers in preparation and design for the reconstruction of the <br />parking lot and trails in Elmo’s Dog Park. <br />- Work with Flagship Recreation on the replacement of the Lions Park Playground. <br />-Obtain and select bids for the resurfacing of the hard surface courts in Demontreville, <br />Carriage and Tablyn Park. <br />-Begin planning for and placement of a park pavillion. Make a priority list for future <br />replacements and their location. <br />- Provide concepts and a plan for the Ridge Park Playground Replacement <br />- Review Tablyn Park Playground with priority list and identify need or removal. <br />-Provide options and implement a sound barrier for pickleball noise at Pebble Park <br />-Develop a master plan for the future of Lions Park. <br />Maintenance & Refurbishing – This section primarily emphasizes the preservation of existing park <br />amenities and resources. The public works team is responsible for carrying out most of the <br />maintenance and necessary upgrades to park facilities. They perform daily operations across city <br />parks, which include conducting weekly and monthly safety inspections and garbage cleanup. In <br />addition to annual inspections of the trails and bituminous areas. <br />Over the past year, the public works team has been dedicated to enhancing parks to provide a better <br />experience for all users. The staff will continue planting trees throughout the city parks to create <br />more varied shaded areas. <br />Additional Park Initiatives <br />Items in this section focus on additional efforts by the commission and staff to continue the upkeep <br />of our community parks to make them enjoyable for all users. <br />A collaborative workshop with the city council is scheduled to evaluate the 2026 work plan, which <br />will aid in ensuring that the objectives are in line with other divisions within the city, providing <br />direction for future decisions or our parks. Staff will continue supporting the initiatives of <br />conservation programs offered at the Sally Manzara Nature Center, including the buckthorn <br />removal project, and will present any forthcoming grant opportunities. There has been continuous