Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAbout2022 Parks Annual ReportPARKS REPORT Commissioners: Meredith St. Pierre, Chair Cathy Moore-Arcand, Vice Chair Nicole Schmid Mat Rauschendorfer Ranell Tennyson Emily McGinnity Grand Opening Celebration on September 22, 2022, Pedersen and Mayor Weidt (above) Lions Park Construction Completed After a year of planning and a full year of construction, Lions Volunteer Park and the Peder Pedersen Pavilion was complet- ed in September 2022. The new park and pavilion has been very well received by residents and enjoyed by all ages. Grand Opening Held A celebratory ribbon-cutting was held on Thursday, September 22. Mayor Tom Weidt and honorary volunteer Peder Pedersen spoke at the ceremony. Attendees included Councilmembers, Parks Commissioners, Lions Club members, planning team stake- holders, design consultants, contractors, and community members. It was a beautiful day to celebrate the people and their efforts that made the new park a reality. Pavilion Named in Honor of Local Volunteer At the meeting of July 18, 2022, the City Council named the park Lions Volunteer Park to acknowledge the many volunteers that serve the Hugo community. The new building was named Peder Pedersen Pavilion. Peder Pedersen, nicknamed Pete, is a long-time resident of Hugo, Lions Club member, Parks Commissioner, and steadfast community volunteer. ANNUAL REPORT OF THE PARKS, RECREATION, AND OPEN SPACE COMMISSION 2022 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 Thank you Roger! Roger Clarke resigned from the Parks Commis- sion in November after serving as Chair for the last 2 years. Clarke has been on the Commission off and on since its begin- ning. We appreciate his ongoing leadership and volunteerism. We thank him for his service. Community Engagement The Commission values its responsiveness to res- ident requests and com- plaints as evident in two items of discussion in 2022. A neighbor voiced com- plaints that off-leash dogs were accessing their property from Irish Ave- nue Park. The Commis- sion addressed the com- plaint with signage, fenc- ing, and landscaping buff- ers. A resident requested that Val Jean park be graded to allow their neighbor- hood to put up an ice rink in the park. The Parks Commission approved the request. However, the resident moved and the neighborhood did not wish to continue the rink. The park was not graded. McCollar Park, Location of Responsible Irrigating Irrigation Controller Grant At the meeting of March, 2022, the Council approved an application for the Metro- politan Council Water Efficiency Grant Program. Grant funds would save an esti- mated 2,373,360 gallons of water through the installation of irrigation controllers and water sensors at six city parks and the Hugo Fire Hall. Each location was proposed to cost $7,638.42 by Peterson Companies for a city-wide cost of $53,468.94. Staff was notified in May that the City was awarded $36,000 from the Metropolitan Council. The remaining cost to the city of approximately $18,000 exceeds the required match. At the meeting of June 15, 2022, the Parks Commission authorized funding from the Special Park Fund for the project, however, funding from the Water Fund was used instead. The Council approved the proposal from Peterson Companies at their meeting of June 20, 2022. All of the new parks in Hugo use storm water for irrigation– Arcand, Cove, and Lions Volunteer Park. A re-use project was completed at Beaver Ponds Parks 2017. WaterSense certified controllers were installed at Diamond Point, Arbre, Oak Shore, McCollar, Val Jean, Heritage and Aspire Parks. All irrigation in the Hugo parks system is now monitored and controlled through the Baseline system which allows for reduced water use and responsible maintenance of the turf, plantings, and ball fields. Lions Volunteer Park Development Projects Shores of Oneka Lake At the meeting of April 20, the Parks Commission approved a park dedication proposals for the Shores of Oneka Lake which included 3.89 acres (40% of the requirement) of land adjacent to Oneka Lake and payment of 60% of the fee. The development is located east of Highway 61 off of 159th Street and includes 318 residential lots on 132 acres. Oneka Prairie At the July 20 meeting, the Commission approved park dedication of .66 acres and payment of the fee for Oneka Prairie. The proper- ty is 25 acres and located northeast of the current extent of Oneka Parkway. It has 59 residential lots and the developer is proposing to make improvements to the mini-park including a playground and shelter in exchange for PUD flexibility. Goodview Estates At the July 20 meeting, the Commission approved payment of park dedication fees for Goodview Estates. The proposed development includes 59 residential lots east of Adelaide Landing off of Goodview Avenue. Hugo Estates At the October 12 Meeting, the Commission approved payment of fees for the Hugo Estates development which included 16 manu- factured home sites and a 54 unit apartment building on 7 acres. Grand Opening Celebration on September 22, 2022, Pedersen and Mayor Weidt (above) 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 Hugo Estates (Above), Oneka Prairie (Below)