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HomeMy WebLinkAboutFeb2025_Parks PresentationSteve Hart, Parks and Recreation Manager City of Prior Lake Investing in Prior Lake Parks & Community •Prior Lake is known for its scenic parks, lakes and trails that offer a wide range of recreational opportunities and support residents’ overall quality of life. •After years of heavy use, many city parks and trails need major repairs and upgrades to continue serving residents. •Residents have been clear – they want updated parks, modern amenities and enhanced access to the lakefront. •To meet the needs of our growing community, the city developed a Park & Trail System Plan to invest $60 million in parks, trails and recreational opportunities to serve residents for the next 20-plus years. •Since 2018, the city has engaged residents to better understand their needs and priorities for parks improvements. ➢This has included pop-up events, public meetings, an online interactive engagement map and more. •In 2023, the city thoroughly assessed parks and trails for quality, accessibility, conservation and community health impact. •In 2024, the city finalized its Park and Trail System Plan to align with community’s priorities and assessment findings. •Moving forward, the city will continue gathering resident input on the plan and its implementation. How We Got Here The city is dedicated to listening to residents and working together to figure out the best ways to improve parks, trails and outdoor amenities for everyone. Challenges & Opportunities •Even with regular maintenance, features like playgrounds, shelters, trails and hockey rinks eventually require major upgrades to continue serving residents safely and effectively. •Most of Prior Lake’s parks were built during the city’s initial development decades ago and are reaching the point where renovations or replacements are needed. By 2040, Prior Lake’s population is expected to grow by 36%. The city must adapt to support this growth by reinvesting in heavily used public amenities, which include our parks and trails. Challenges & Opportunities Amenities in need of repair or replacement: •Deteriorating park buildings and other amenities. •Aging, inaccessible and/or non-inclusive playgrounds. •Unsecure pedestrian crossings. •Trail connectivity, surface deterioration and accessibility barriers. A lack of: •Access to the beach and lakefront amenities. •Trail connectivity to key destinations and nearby communities. •Safe, adequate pedestrian connectivity to lakes and parks. •Adequate parking at parks and community facilities. •Recreational amenities that meet present-day demand, such as space for skating, fishing, tennis, pickleball and more. Expert assessments found that many amenities and features across the city’s parks and trails are at the end of their useful life. The city’s Play. Explore. Connect. plan aims to ensure Prior Lake’s outdoor amenities continue to enhance our community’s quality of life for years to come. Developed in partnership with residents, the plan would deliver critical updates and improvements to: •Lakefront Park •Spring Lake Park •Neighborhood parks •Highway 13 trails The Play. Explore. Connect. Plan P L AY. E X P L O R E . C O N N E C T. P L AN : L AK E F R O N T PAR K Lakefront Park improvements would include: •A new playground and splash pad •Increased accessibility to Watzl’s Beach, including a fishing pier •Additional space for popular community events •A new entry/exit to the park that would enhance circulation and safety •Year-round community restrooms •New and updated space for activities including ice skating, skateboarding, picnicking, tennis, pickleball and snowshoeing Lakefront Park serves as a community hub for events and recreation. The city’s plan would update aging amenities and expand activities for all ages. P L AY. E X P L O R E . C O N N E C T. P L AN : S P R I N G L AK E PAR K Spring Lake Park improvements would include: •Additional pickleball courts •High-quality soccer and football fields •Updated hockey/skating rinks & a warming house •A safe and inclusive playground •Year-round community restrooms Acquired in the early 2000s, Spring Lake Park was planned as a larger community park that would ease demand on Lakefront Park amid the city’s growing population P L AY. E X P L O R E . C O N N E C T. P L AN : H I G H WAY 1 3 T R AI L S & N E I G H B O R H O O D PAR K S Neighborhood Parks: MN Highway 13 Trail Projects: To create greater connectivity and safer pedestrian travel to popular destinations and regional areas, the plan would connect the intersection of CR 42 and Highway 13 to downtown Prior Lake. The plan would ensure each neighborhood has one high- quality park within a half-mile radius that accommodates recreational programming for 300 or more children. For many neighborhood parks, this will mean upgrading or replacing amenities such as playgrounds, fields and park buildings. The Cost •Recognizing the high cost of system-wide upgrades, the city’s plan is phased to prioritize needs, maximize benefits and manage resources effectively over time. •The plan would focus on the following projects for an estimated total of $60 million: •Upgrades at Spring Lake Park: $20 million •Upgrades at Lakefront Park: $20 million •Improvements at neighborhood parks and trails: $20 million Cost estimates to address the needs of every public park and trail in the city would exceed $115 million, illustrating the significant challenges to reinvest in the entire park system. ✓Details about the plan ✓The process of developing the plan ✓Challenges and opportunities for city parks and trails ✓Frequently asked questions ✓Connections to other city platforms and informational resources Learn more: PlayExploreConnectPL.org This new city website will inform residents about the plan and provide updates. Features include: We encourage residents to ask questions and share your ideas and feedback using the website's Contact Form. Questions?