Good. >> Uh, we'll call to order the uh City of Oak Park Heights Parks Commission meeting July 20th. Um, can I get a an approval for the agenda? >> I move to approve the agenda. >> And a second? >> Second. >> Thank you. Uh, we have in front of us the minutes of the May 18th, 2026 meeting. Can I get a motion to approve the May 18th, 2026 meeting? >> move to approve the May 18th, 2026 meeting minutes. >> And a second? >> I second. >> Thank you. Uh department and commission liaison reports. Um Lisa, first one. >> Yeah. Good evening, everyone. Um just a quick one update tonight for you. Um last Tuesday, I met with Rachel Dvorak from the Minnesota DNR and um we did the closeout meeting for our 2023 to 2027 um Minnesota DNR shade tree program bonding grant. So, everything's been completed with that and I believe we even received the funds already um as part of the reimbursement back. So, we're done with that. >> Questions? >> Good work on that. >> That was a big grant. Lisa did a lot of work on that grant. So, it was really good work. Nice work, Lisa. >> Uh public works, Andy? >> Yeah, you bet. So, um I did uh I printed off or I submitted uh brief update, but I think the biggest thing I want to touch on tonight is the trail maintenance work. We've been working on that. Um this year's work focused on the easement trail. So, we uh replaced uh the easement trail from 55th into the upper fields at Brekke. Um the trail into Valley View Park from Ozark Avenue. Uh and then we also replaced a portion of trail from 56th Street to Stagecoach Trail. The work's not done yet. Um the contractor's still working, but uh we are also able to include um the basketball courts. George, I know that you mentioned that a a a year or two ago and uh it just worked out where we were able to include it in and um those are done. So, um I think the contractors are probably wrapping up with that project within the next 2 weeks. Um and uh after that, I guess we're just going to focus on uh just general upkeep and uh um >> I don't know. >> face-lifts or or or just, you know, just standard maintenance of the parks. So, that's what we've got on our on our agenda. >> Yeah, I looked at uh uh the basketball courts actually this weekend at Schwager and Kover they I thought they both looked pretty good. >> Yeah. >> Um >> Yeah. >> My question when I was up there at uh Schwager, is there a water fountain anyplace in that park? >> No, there's no water service. So, um >> There's nothing we can do about that, I suppose. >> We could tap into the main on 58th Street uh to bring something in, but um for a for a drinking fountain, I wouldn't think that would be a very good use of money. We do have in the CIP um and this is far out there, but uh the idea of possibly building a small shelter, like a restroom permanent restroom shelter, where we could bring water in that way, but uh >> Is that the only park that doesn't have water? >> Yes, it is. Yes. Yep. >> All right. I just thought about that as I was walking through there. I thought, "Where's the water fountain?" And I couldn't find it and I thought, "Well, the tennis or pickleball, whatever they're playing there, might want it." And then with the basketball court, sure. And you've got, you know, playground equipment for a lot of ages. >> Yeah. Yeah. >> You know, it'd be it'd be something if we could do it, but I understand there's a >> Well, it's it's nothing to look into it. We can certainly look into the cost of I can tell you it's probably going to be in the $10,000 range if that's you know, but we'll look into it. There's no problem in doing that. >> Well, if you get time. >> Okay. >> Are you good then? That's the report. >> Yeah, that's all I've got to report. Otherwise, just the general stuff is in the is in the packet. >> Um uh no commission report. Jennifer, did you want to speak to something? >> did. Actually, before I get to what's in your packet, I did want to give you an update on the plaque at Clover Park. So, couple years ago, I guess this was probably COVID times, we talked about we went out, we looked at a spot for a memorial plaque or plaque to kind of um showing the history of the area. And the commissioner had picked a nice spot for it, but after consulting with our plowing company, we decided that's probably not the best spot for it. And now we have this beautiful shelter, and so we've we're we're going to move it to the inside of the shelter and have a nice acrylic plaque inside the shelter, so it's away from the elements and not going to be an issue um for plowing or you know, whatever elements other things that can happen from being outside. So, we're we're we made that kind of executive decision earlier this year before we had a chance to meet with the Parks and Trails Commission, but I thought you would all think that's a great idea. So, that's in the works. >> So, it's inside? >> Inside of the shelter. Yep. Yep. And that shelter's open year round. So, um so yes, so that's that update on that. And then in your packet, you'll see on page um right after Andy's report, page seven, there's a a a map of Valley View Park. I just wanted to let you know that the Middle St. Croix Watershed Management applied for and received a grant, a significant size grant to do some restoration in the area. Uh their goal is to reduce phosphorus and sediment to Perrault Pond down there that kind of goes down behind Valley View into Oak Park Crossing Park. Um and so they're going to be doing as part of this grant some stream bank stream bank stabilization stabilization invasive species removal and woodland understory restoration. So we're really excited that they picked Valley View Park for that and that they received the grant. So that'll be happening over the next couple of years uh to help with that um ponding and phosphorus and stuff that does dump into the Saint Croix River. So That's all on that. That's all I have. >> Okay. Uh it doesn't appear that we have any visitor public comment tonight. Uh no public hearing, no old business. Uh new business, the parks and trails strategic planning discussion. Does somebody want to speak to that one? >> Yeah, um chair and members of the commission, I'll speak to that. So you you'll recall in the past we've done formal walk-throughs of our parks and trails and often times we'd spend time doing those and we'd come back with just maintenance items and I thought it would be really helpful and council thought it would be really helpful if instead of doing that, if we could think big picture. Like what do we think think of opportunities in our parks. What what are we missing? Just even just get crazy and think, you know, outside of that box big picture items that we could bring to the council that could maybe shape our parks for the future when there's money or if and when there's money to do so. And so I was hoping that I could get some ideas from the Parks and Trails Commission when we go into our budget and and capital planning discussions with the City Council. So, um Tom did your Council member Feats did send me a couple of ideas before we get started. I wanted to let you know what his his ideas Um so, he again, we've talked about this in the past. Um he a splash pad. And so, he said that is still something that he thinks that the Council should consider sometime down in the future. And then, another thing he talked about is some exercise equipment along the trails at Autumn Hills and at Oak Park Crossing Park. We did many years ago apply for a grant to have some exercise stations and we didn't we weren't successful on that. Uh but if that's something, you know, that that this commission or the Council wants in the future, we can always try to find funding or um put it into planning in the future. And then, another thing he talked about is that bridge over Heron Pond having maybe some viewing platform platforms for wildlife down there. >> If I may, both of those items are already in the CIP for the Parks Department. >> Great. Thank you. Okay. >> The exercise equipment and >> and replacing the the bridge >> Uh-huh. >> at Heron Creek. >> pad in there, too, or >> The splash pad was removed after the Council expressed no desire to build one in our park. So, it's >> of times they have. >> That's no longer in there, but >> [laughter] >> it it lasted several years, though. >> don't I don't know. I don't know. I think I brought it up several years ago. >> Yes, sir, you did. >> wanted to know they wanted to know if you still, you know, >> Yeah. >> Well, what's so amazing when you look at splash pads in the metro area and you look at a map of the metro area >> Mhm. >> and right down the center of it, there are so many splash pads, including Cottage Grove. >> Indeed. >> I mean, I'm embarrassed that they have one and we don't. But you look at that whole center corridor of splash pads and there's nothing >> on the East Metro >> out here. >> Yeah. I know. >> And you wonder, you know, does everybody go to the river or they can't use Lily anymore, I don't think. >> Nope. Nope. >> No, so >> Yeah. >> I I I just feel sorry for the people that don't go to the river or can't get to the river or can't get to Lake Como Park Reserve. >> Right. Well, >> It would be nice to have, but I understand. >> Maybe that's a maybe maybe speaking with the county would be a good option on that. It's maybe making it some somewhat of a regional park or a regional facility would maybe make more sense than than having it owned by the city. I think we might have talked about that before. >> So they would what? They they'd allow it into an Oak Park park? >> No. No. >> Okay, how would the county do it? What would >> Well, they would have to basically build it and be responsible for it, but it would it could be at a at a bigger park that's more suited for a splash pad. Am I making sense? >> Such as that? >> In Oak Park? >> Como Park Reserve. >> It would be in this area. Maybe not Oak Park. It's a possibly Stillwater, maybe Lake Como, maybe Bayport. Um Uh the county's got some parks in um Afton, maybe, you know, um >> Okay. >> Just an idea. >> Yeah. All right, so you want us to talk about possibilities now? >> Yeah. If you have If you have anything, we'd love to share it with our council. Um I was thinking we don't have any indoor space that we can rent for parties or gatherings. Do we? >> Well, there's one park facility that you could consider indoors. That would be Culver Park. >> Yeah. >> Um Culver Park is fine in the winter in the summertime and this is also in our CIP. This is our capital improvement plan to install an air conditioning unit in that facility because it's not and the windows don't open. >> Mhm. >> So days like today it's probably 120° inside that building. >> Yeah, that's not good. >> Not very >> I see. >> Yeah, but great idea. >> I was just asking around some of the neighbors in Autumn Ridge and I had three of them say that they would like an area to throw kids birthday parties. >> Sure. >> And so that I was just brainstorming ideas um to bring to the table tonight and that was one that I had a big response [clears throat] on. Yeah, so I don't know if that's like probably out of the box, I don't know, but >> Okay, keep saying it even if you think it's off. It's always good to >> That's a good one though. >> I was going to say dedicated pickleball courts. >> Yes, sir. >> You know, I know that's probably in there already. >> It is in there. >> Yep. >> Yep. Good one though. >> Yeah. >> Is hockey set up for pickleball now in the inside the hockey? >> It is. >> Yep. >> You know about that? >> Yep. Yep. >> Yes, so we do have the net here that you can check out for free. But again, like you said, it's not a dedicated pickleball court and our courts at Swanee Park are also tennis courts too. >> they're dual. >> It's a good idea. >> I had a couple of ideas. Um one of them is it at the Sand Creek Crossing Park at at um where the near where the trail begins at 58th, there's that hill there. There used to be a bench there once upon a time and that was kind of a nice bench. I mean, you could see the whole valley and it didn't seem like super big improvement. The bigger one that I had was um I was looking at our trail map and um there it's marked that there's a trail going from um Beach [snorts] Road down to Highway 95 along the Lookout Trail. And all that the best thing that we have is like a half a shoulder to walk on. And part part of that's got a sidewalk, but putting in a sidewalk there and making an actual trail would >> connect it better. >> would connect it better and yeah, allow people to walk down to the river, get on the Saint Croix Loop, things like that. >> sorry, where is this Lookout Trail? >> Uh Lookout Trail. So, from Beach Beach Road to Look Here, actually, I have a map if you want to see. But it from Beach Road down to 95, where it goes by that the the scenic overlook. >> Okay. >> Yeah, there's there's a lit down by 95, there's a um there's a little bit of sidewalk and then it stops and it's just a half of a half a shoulder. >> Sure. >> And actually I was my wife and I were driving down it last week just to make sure, you know, I remembered it the way I remembered it and uh there were people walking on the opposite side of the road because, you know, you're supposed to walk toward walk toward traffic. Well, that actually made it more of a hazard. >> [laughter] >> So. >> Um yeah, a a sidewalk there would be good. >> Yeah, okay. >> We can add that, but just I'll speak to that real quickly is that we did have a request um from I think a Stillwater resident last year and we kind of looked into it and consulted with our engineering team and they ultimately um said that it's not conducive to adding a sidewalk there because of the uh one is of course the drop-off on the uh what would be the east side of Lookout Trail there. >> Yeah. >> But we thought, well, can we at least add a a crosswalk from Have you noticed how the road shoulder on the um what side of the road is that? I guess it would be the northwest side of the road is wider. That's intended for a somewhat of a walking and a biking area, but it's not a dedicated trail. So, we can't add a crosswalk legally there either. But that's not to say that we can't shore up that hill >> Sure. >> And actually add a an actual sidewalk. >> Yeah. Yeah. >> So. >> I figured if we're thinking big picture, thinking out of the box. >> You bet. >> That's exactly what we're looking for. So, I really appreciate that. >> Yeah. >> Anything else for now? >> Um couple of years ago uh we talked about making all the uh bathrooms in the parks ADA compliant. >> Yes, sir. >> Have we done that? >> We have not done that. It is in the CIP, but uh we have not done it yet. >> You know as much as we have a lot of other stuff including splash pads that we'd like to see, I think that's kind of significant. >> Sure. >> I agree. >> Um >> Indeed. >> for the folks that need them. >> Yeah. >> Just to clarify for people that don't know what CIP that's our capital improvement plan that our city council adopts and it's kind of a five-year plan. Sometimes things get bumped off of there, sometimes things get moved up. So, we like to hear that something you find something to be a higher priority. >> If if I park in Breckenridge and I'm going to the fields, I might have brought this up before and I am I'm walking to the I'm I'm pushing a wheelchair to the fields. >> Mhm. >> If we could get >> asphalt >> asphalt or class five or something that would allow people to go from the parking lot, you know, kind of to the south of all the homes there. Just Sure. Trail along I think you you'd stay behind what's used for soccer and I know you'd stay behind the baseball fields plenty. >> Yeah. >> But something along that line. >> So, on the south side like as you're in the parking lot and you're >> You're in the parking lot and you're going to head You're going to You're going to You're going to be behind center field and and uh left field. >> Okay. >> As you head down there and then even if you could put, you know, wood steps to go up or maybe if you're going to put blacktop or asphalt in, you know, maybe you could run that up, too. I'm just >> It'd have to be a switchback, but yeah. >> Yeah. >> For ADA compliance. >> Yeah, I know all that. >> Right, but yeah, no, it's >> I just think again, there are people that I'm sure would want to get out there and it's got to be a chore. >> Yeah. >> If >> I think that is actually in our CIP, George, but we'll we'll look at it again to make sure it is. There are a lot of ADA uh upgrades included in the CIP. So, we we are fully aware that we should probably be uh updating these paths for that. Just money, you know. No big deal. [laughter] >> We need a sugar daddy, so >> Yeah, we do. >> [laughter] >> We Yeah, but we're lucky that Lisa finds grants for us, so we don't have to. We can get things done. >> Well, I agree with Tom, too, on another one I had at Oak Park Crossing was to put up put some extra We've talked about this before. Put some exercise equipment. I thought as I was walking on that upper trail at there's two benches and there's two kind of gazebo type things. If we could have one piece of equipment at those four spots and people could walk and do that and if that would take a grant, do we ever do you have to do the grant or do we hire a grant writer or how does that >> Yeah, I do it. Yeah. >> I mean, I'm sure there's got to be some outfits in Minnesota um that and I don't know how much something like that cost, but I thought well, if you could put four pieces of exercise equipment cuz I've seen people as I'm walking there who are using the the tables under the gazebos and they're using that for exercise, you know, which I suppose you could do, but it would be kind of nice if you had four dedicated exercise stations in that area. >> Yep. >> Well, that's great. Anything else? >> Any other big tickets? >> Okay, so we'll we have another meeting this year in September and at that time I would like to bring the CIP to you so you can see what's in there and give you feedback on what the council says on these things. >> Okay. >> Okay, perfect. Thank you. >> If maybe at the same time if you could bring us um someplace in my old minutes here I had um I think Andy probably gave us this Molitor fund park development >> fund development >> Yeah. What what's in each of those funds so that we get an idea of you know, if we're coming up with million dollar ideas and we got $20,000, maybe we should >> Yeah, adjust. >> reconfigure. [laughter] um >> You're probably right about that. >> And that is the case. I don't think the numbers have changed much in the last couple of years. >> Yeah. >> I don't believe we spent much and there hasn't been any additions to those funds, so >> Well, let's start spending money. That's why it's there, I guess. >> Yep. >> um Okay, we good on parks and trails strategic planning discussion? >> Any other? >> Yeah, thank you so much. This is very helpful. >> Okay. Uh next item is the annual meeting of the parks and trails commission. >> Yes, so we actually haven't had one of these in quite a while. Um, but according to our bylaws, we need to elect a chairperson and a vice chairperson annually. Um, and there is there are term limits on this. So, George, you've been our chairperson for two consecutive terms, and Tom has been our our uh vice chairperson for two consecutive terms. And so, those roles can be flip-flopped, or anyone else on the commission can be voted in as a chair or vice chair for the next 2 years. So, that is up to you. And we would do that by motion. >> How you feeling about it, George? >> I I I feel the same way here that I did when I was on the school board. I think 2 years is plenty, and then you should then you should change just uh get a different tone. Um, so I would anybody who would be interested, I'd be willing to nominate them. >> I would be interested in chair. >> Okay. >> Oh, great. >> I'll nominate John as our next chair for the next what? 1 year? 2 years? How was that with >> term. >> 2-year term. >> Mhm. >> And I guess I would need a second to that. >> I second it. >> Second. >> Great. >> And then we just need a vote. >> Yes. >> All those in favor, please signify by saying I. >> I. >> I. >> Opposed? You are now the chair. >> All right. >> I'll get a gavel. >> [laughter] >> So, we do need a vice chair now. George, you can be the vice chair, or >> All right. I still think same thing. >> [laughter] >> Want to be the vice chair? >> Sure. I'll be the vice chair. >> been around longest. >> Nominate Taylor for vice chair for >> I second. Second. >> Any others? All in favor, please signify by saying I. >> I. >> Opposed? Congratulations. >> Thank you. That was easy. >> All right. >> [laughter] >> We weren't going to make the new guy >> Yeah. >> [laughter] >> Two weeks maybe two years. >> I've been in this role for 25 minutes. >> [laughter] >> Congratulations and thank you for your service, George, for two terms. Now that John is our new chair, he gets to continue the meeting for the rest of today, so >> All right. So [snorts] we move on to the information for next meeting. Our next meeting is Monday, September 21st at 5:30 here at City Hall. And the next upcoming council meeting is >> July 26th. It's July 28th. It's July 28th. >> Yeah. That makes a little more sense. >> It was our last meeting. >> All right. And then upcoming council meeting is >> July 28th. >> July 28th, sorry. It's 6:00 p.m. >> Yeah. >> I don't look at that twice. >> That was my bad. >> I know. That's okay. And then anything else or otherwise we move to adjourn. >> So moved. >> Move to adjourn. >> All right. We are adjourned. >> Thank you. Great job, team. >> Mhm.