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Parks and Environmental Commission Regular Meeting Minutes December 7, 2020 Page 2 1 2 Silverwood Park Supervisor Alyssa Baguss provided a power point presentation including the 3 mission of Three Rivers Park District is to promote environmental stewardship through 4 recreation and education in a natural resources-based park system. It encompasses over 27,000 5 acres of parks and trails and serves millions of visitors annually. Ms. Baguss noted the 6 location of the park and noted it is part of the Three Rivers Park District. There are 26 parks 7 as part of the Park District. There is no admission to the park and there is free parking. Many 8 of the programs at Silverwood Park are free. Ms. Baguss showed an overhead view of the 9 overflow parking lot. 10 11 Ms. Baguss provided a review of the 2020 Programs and Projects in Silverwood Park along 12 with photographs. The camps had ten or less participants in response to Covid. All programs 13 are outdoors and will continue through the winter months. A float in movie theater was held 14 on Silver Lake in July. There are five new sculptures and an updated poetry trail. 15 16 A photograph of the Silverwood Island Shoreline restoration project which will begin in 2021 17 was provided. Wellness in the Park is offered with yoga and meditation where visitors can 18 also join guided and self-guided walks on a new forest bathing trail. It is the first forest 19 bathing trail in the State of Minnesota. The new gallery pieces – Suspended Modulations will 20 be open January 14 – February 28, 2021. Facility rentals for 2022 will open January 4, 2021. 21 The shoreline restoration project has been postponed and will begin in 2021. 22 23 Commissioner Guest asked how many patrons visit Silverwood Park and Ms. Baguss stated 24 The Met Council did a study and estimated there were 400,000 annually. This year there was 25 approximately a 300% increase in the Spring. 26 27 Councilmember Bernard Walker asked about the movie and whether boats can be rented. Ms. 28 Baguss stated they do have a rental boat operation which consists of 6 canoes. She noted there 29 were attendees in all types of floating crafts. Councilmember Walker asked if this would 30 continue in 2021 and Ms. Baguss stated they are considering that. 31 32 Commissioner Guest asked where the events are publicized, and Ms. Baguss stated on their 33 website, along with Facebook and Instagram. 34 35 School Board Representative, Ms. Cassandra Palmer, joined the meeting at 7:30 p.m. 36 B.37 Central Park Drain Tile Project and Stadium Field and Turf Project Update 38 39 Mr. Troy Urdahl reviewed a power point titled Central Park Projects Update. He stated the 40 goal is to study the need and feasibility of synthetic turf at Central Park. He summarized the 41 Operational Goal Rationale. The stadium field needs assessment includes concession stand, 42 ticket booth, accessible restrooms, press box, bleachers, stadium field turf surface and stadium 43 running track. 44 45 Mr. Urdahl reviewed the use investigation stating the District is 40+ acres short on land by 46 MDE standards for new construction, there are over 2000 youth users of Central Park each 47