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Home My WebLink About2019 Parks Annual ReportPARKS REPORT Commissioners: Dave Strub, Chair Cathy Moore-Arcand, Vice Chair Nicole Schmid Roger Clarke Mat Rauschendorfer Ranell Tennyson Shawn Haag Lions Park Master Plan Approved on March 2, 2014 Community Park Funding Addressed One of the 2019 Parks Goals was to engage with the City Council and community to look at next steps to implement the Lions Park vision to serve residents throughout the community. Council Workshop On May 13, the Hugo City Council and Parks Commission held a workshop to discuss funding of community parks. A back- ground was given on City parks and the approved community park master plans. The City’s financial consultant provided information on how cities can fund park improvements and survey opportunities. The City Council and Parks Commission discussed parks usage, phasing and prioritizing of park improvements, and funding options. Park Priorities Identified At their meeting of June 19, the Parks Commission identified their priorities for community park development. This was later presented to the City Council at their budget workshop on September 5. The first priority was re-development of Lions Park to include a large picnic shelter, parking lot, roadway improvements, and stormwater improvements, memorial garden, play- ground, splash pad, sports courts, fire pit and amphitheater. Secondly, interim improvements to Irish Avenue Park should be made to improve access and existing uses while the park is being master planned. The third priority was to construct phase A identified in the Clearwater Creek Preserve Master Plan, followed by Phase D. These phases include a north to south trail on the west side of the park and a boardwalk connection to Fenway Blvd, respectively. ANNUAL REPORT OF THE PARKS, RECREATION, AND OPEN SPACE COMMISSION 2019 Development Projects Meadows at Hugo At their March 20 meeting, the Parks Commission reviewed a sketch plan for 84 residential lots north of 159th Street and west of Hwy 61 called “The Meadows at Hugo”. No formal action was taken but the Commission gave their input on exten- sions of the City’s trail system and payment of park dedication fees. Rosemary Apartments Payment of park dedication fees was approved for the 45 unit Rosemary Apart- ments at the March 20 meeting. They will be located north of Rosemary Way. Rice Lake Reserve At their November 20 meeting, the Parks Commission reviewed a residential development to be called “Rice Lake Reserve”. The development consists of 90 single family lots located northeast of the corner of Egg Lake Road and Goodview Avenue North. The Commission approved extension of a trail and payment of park dedication fees. The development is near Hanifl Fields Athletic Park. Sunset Lake Park Planning The City has owned a .7 acre parcel on the south-west side of Sunset Lake for many years. It is used by the neighborhood for lake weed dumping. Park dedica- tion for the Preserve on Sunset Lake expanded the city-owned property to 1.8 acres. During the development approvals, residents asked about improvements to the city-owned property. During the 2040 Comprehensive Pan process, the Commission heard that additional water access was needed in Hugo. The Parks Commission included planning the park on their 2019 goals. A neighborhood meeting was held on September 18. Two concept plans were presented illustrat- ing improvements including small parking lot, walk-in kayak access, fishing pier, picnic shelter, and walking paths, etc. In general, the neighborhood was not in favor of making improvements to the property that would encourage public use. The Parks Commission will evaluate their concerns over excessive fishing and traffic in the neighborhood. Oneka Lake Park gets a Facelift Continuing for the third year with neighborhood park improvements, the Parks Commission allocated $40,000 in their CIP. Summer projects were identified after spring inspections and discussed at the May 15 meeting. The largest project was the full removal of the degraded soft surfac- ing at Oneka Lake Park. It was a week-long project to replace the wood chip surfacing. The rubber soft sur- facing was repaired in 2018. Other projects included repairing and replacing basketball hoops at Arbre and Oak Shore Parks. Playground soft surfacing was freshened at Frog Hollow, Heritage Ponds and Oak Shore Parks. Concept for a future park on Sunset Lake (unapproved plan) Oneka Lake Park Before Oneka Lake Park After Kathy Marier Memorial At the May 15 meeting, Pete Pederson, repre- senting the Hugo Lions Club, proposed a memo- rial to honor Kathy Marier. Marier served as the first Chair of the Parks Com- mission and was a driving force for Hugo’s first play- ground which was built in in Lions Park in the late 80s. The Hugo Lions Club funded the climbing rock and bronze plaque. The memorial was dedi- cated during Hugo Good Neighbor Days. Trails Constructed in 2019 With the reconstruction of 130th Street east of Hwy 61, a mile-long trail was added to the City of Hugo which was identi- fied in the Trails Plan. Within Adelaide Landing, 2.5 miles of sidewalk and 1.5 miles of trails will be constructed overall with the development. Signifi- cant portions of this sys- tem were constructed in 2019. In 2019, 525 feet of trail and 2,100 feet of side- walk was constructed in Oneka Place making connections to Prairie Village and extending the Oneka Parkway Trail. Additional trails and side- walks will be constructed with future phases. Boardwalk Installation in Adelaide Landing Adelaide Landing Park The Parks Commission approved a combination of land and fee dedication for a 319 unit development to be known as “Adelaide Landing” at their March 22, 2017 meeting. The large central neighborhood park totaled 7.8 acres of upland and collaboration on planning and building the park was discussed. At their meeting of January 16, 2019, the Parks Commission heard from Excelsior group that phase 3 of the development was going to be constructed, which would provide access to the future park. The Commission provided general direction on the park. Having a sufficient amount of parking was a priority as well as connec- tions between the north and south park parcels. Desired amenities included a large multi-purpose playground, pickleball courts, basketball courts, and a large picnic shelter. The Commission asked Westwood to draft a park plan. Concepts were reviewed at the April 17 meeting and approved at the May 15 meeting. Grading started shortly thereafter. The parking lot and trail connections were constructed in late October. Westwood coordinated construction with the contractors currently working in the development with the goal of reducing costs. The playground will be selected in the winter of 2020 and construction will resume in the spring of 2020 to complete the park. Estimates for the remaining construc- tion were updated and reviewed by the Commission at their September 18 meet- ing. In the fall of 2019, the trails and boardwalks of phase 1 and 2 were complet- ed providing access to the ponds and open spaces within the scenic network. Contact Us (651) 762-6300 Hugo City Hall 14669 Fitzgerald Avenue North Hugo, MN 55038 Staff Liaison: Shayla Denaway (651) 762-6342 Visit us on the web at www.ci.hugo.mn.us Recreation Programs The City of Hugo continued to host a variety of recreation programs as well as partner with other organizations to host special events in Hugo. These include: 3 Movie Nights at Oneka Elementary Park Play Days 3 Tech Tac Toe Classes Roe Family Singers 3 Fridays with Firefighters Rev. Matt’s Monster Science Monthly Preschool Storytimes Walking Memory Cafes Festival Halloween Event Sponsor Hugo Good Neighbor Days Golden Spike Sponsor Kid ‘N Biz Tour de Hugo Movie Night/ Emergency Vehicle Show in the Park The Roe Family Singers at Hanifl Fields Athletic Park