Edina's Parks and Recreation Department launched a pilot program in March to install automated external defibrillators — portable devices that can restart a heart during cardiac arrest — at outdoor public spaces. The initiative, developed in partnership with the Rotary Club of Edina, aims to improve emergency response times at high-traffic community locations.

Pamela Park was selected as the first installation site due to its heavy use by residents and visitors alike. The park features outdoor ice rinks, athletic facilities, and walking paths that draw crowds year-round. The new AED station provides 24/7 public access, includes instructions in multiple languages, and is integrated with the city's emergency dispatch system.

"Pamela Park has so many uses — it's used for outdoor ice rinks, used for all sorts of athletics and just general park users walking the paths — and just having this life-saving tool here is awesome for all the people that use this park," a Parks and Recreation representative said during the City Council retreat.

A representative from the Rotary Club of Edina emphasized the organization's commitment to the project. "We know firsthand that AEDs in public places save lives in emergencies, and Pamela Park is highly visited by people from outside of our community and inside of our community where there's lots of activities taking place, and we want to be a part of that solution for saving lives," the representative said.

The pilot project will help city officials evaluate the effectiveness of outdoor AED stations before potentially expanding to other parks and public facilities. No formal votes were taken during the retreat, which served as a planning session for council members.