2022 Parks Annual Report - Laserfiche WebLink

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North Star Wetland Bank At the December 15, 2021 meeting, the Parks Commission discussed conceptual trail alignments on city-owned property and the North Star Elementary property. The trails included connections between the school and Lions Volunteer Park as well as the Hardwood Creek Regional Trail and the city trail on Oneka Parkway. The potential to improve the wetlands as a means to fund trail construction was brought up. At the Parks Commission meeting of April 20, 2022, the Commission approved a proposal from WSB to evaluate wetland banking on the site. A wetland bank is created when existing wetlands and vegetation is improved and maintained. There is a market to purchase the credits received when such improvements are sustained to offset the wetland fill that is sometimes necessary with development. The school district was informed of the potential project and is supportive. The Council approved phase 1 of the evaluation at an estimated cost of $14,500. A vegetation assessment was completed and monitoring wells were installed in the summer of 2022. A report with recommendations is anticipated in early 2023. Freedom Trail At their meeting of April 20, the Commission approved funding to remove and re- place the paved trail near Freedom Trail. The condition of the trail was brought up by the neighborhood at a meeting to discuss the reconstruction of Oneka Park- way. The Commission discussed installing a fabric root barrier along portions of the trail to prevent damage from willow tree roots. This was added to the project at a cost of approximately $22,000. The reconstruction was bid and awarded with the Oneka Parkway Road Recon- struction project to help reduce costs of the trail project. It was partially funded through the Special Park Fund and partially with the road project funds. Arcand Park Pickleball Courts A Grand Opening of Arcand Park was held on September 17, 2020. The new park included a double pickleball court but complaints were immediate- ly received from residents that the courts were not fenced. The Parks Commission included funding to install fences in their 2022 CIP. Proposals were received from eight companies and Town and Country was the lowest at $24,895. The fence was completed in fall of 2022. Newly Paved Trail near Freedom Trail Pickleball Court Before New Fence