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HomeMy WebLinkAboutParks and Recreation - 01/05/2026Approved Minutes Eden Prairie Parks, Recreation and Natural Resources Commission Meeting 7 p.m. Monday, Jan. 5, 2026 Staring Lake Park Building 14800 Pioneer Trail Eden Prairie, MN 55347 ATTENDEES Commission Members: Patrice Erickson, Chair; Pedro Curry, Vice Chair; Cecilia Cervantes, Sana Elassar, Duane Hookom, Giridhar Kuppili, Jennifer Meyer, Lisa Nichols, Kirk Spresser Student Representatives: Ella Brazil, Jack Dennison, Ani Dirks, Everett Gilligan, Seth Gilligan, Gwendolyn Glasrud, Simone Kauna, Allison Schuessler, Daniel Siegert, Affan Syed, Rose Wicks City Staff: Amy Markle, Parks and Recreation Director; Jana Graczyk, Recreation Services Manager; Gamiel Hall, Community Center Manager; Matt Bourne, Parks and Natural Resources Manager; David Teigland, City Clerk MEETING AGENDA I. Call the Meeting to Order Erickson called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m. Commissioners Kuppili and Spresser were absent. Student Representatives Brazil, Dirks, Kauna and Syed were absent. II. Approval of Agenda Motion: Cervantes moved, seconded by Meyer, to approve the agenda. Motion carried 7-0. III. Minutes A. Motion: Curry moved to approve the December 1, 2025, minutes with no amendments. Hookom seconded. Motion carried 7-0. IV. Report of City Council Action Markle summarized the Parks-related activity from the December 2 City Council meeting. All items were approved via the Consent Calendar: • The annual Community Garden Plots Lease Agreement with the Metropolitan Airport Commission, which is a three-acre parcel on Flying Cloud Drive. The lease is about $1,000 per year. • A contract with Indigo Signs for the Park Entry Monument Sign Refurbishment Project. The signs that are in the worst condition will be addressed first, and the project will be completed throughout 2026. The contract value is not to exceed $100,000. • A contract with Johnson Companies for the RTA Maintenance Trail Retaining Wall, which is for PRNR COMMISSION MEETING MINUTES January 5, 2026 Page 2 approximately $440,000. The City will contribute 25 percent of the total via a grant that was received. The wall will be constructed in 2026. V. Report of Planning Commission Action None VI. Petitions, Requests and Communications VII. Reports of Commission and Staff A. Parks and Recreation Director Markle introduced the main topic of the meeting: the potential relocation of the Staring Lake Dog Park. The dog park is co-located with part of the cross-country ski area at Staring Lake Park. The area is used as a dog park throughout the year unless and until there is groomable snow, at which point the dog park closes and the area becomes part of the skiing area. This has led to consternation among both dog park users and skiers: many dog park users would like a year- round space for their pets, while skiers report that people bring their dogs to the area even when it is designated a ski area – the only groomed ski trail in Eden Prairie. The high school ski team practices there and does the trail grooming. This conflict recurs on a regular basis, so the Parks and Natural Resources team has worked to arrive at a possible solution, to be presented by Bourne. B. Recreation Services Manager None C. Community Center Manager None D. Parks and Natural Resources Manager Bourne displayed maps of the park that included the ski areas and the dog park. The section used as the dog park is considered to be the most desirable section of the ski area due to its gentle slopes, open areas and turns, and is known as the Cummins Meadow. The trails were created in the early 2000s; the ski team raised funds and built a storage shed in 2004; electrical was brought in from the Cummins-Phipps-Grill House nearby (the archery range dates to about the same time). The shed is used for video review of skiing techniques as well as a storage area for grooming equipment. The ski trails are open for public use, but the ski team provides the grooming, maintenance and the necessary equipment under an agreement with the city. The city approached the ski team around 2006 with the idea for what became the dog park, to be open yearly from May through October. Bourne said the ski team was initially resistant to the idea after all they had invested in the space. After some give and take, the dog park PRNR COMMISSION MEETING MINUTES January 5, 2026 Page 3 opened, and due to its popularity, is open whenever conditions are not conducive to skiing. This varies due to winter conditions; while the last two winters had no closures, at least three of the previous four winters saw the dog park closed for around 3-4 months. However, many people and pets use the space as a dog park regardless of if it is officially open or not; foot traffic and pet waste negatively affect the space when it is supposed to be a dedicated ski area. The City offered various proposals in 2017 and 2018 to adapt the dog park for year-round use; however, relocating the equipment shed would have been cost-prohibitive for the ski team and other options were not practical. Bourne described an area of Staring Lake Park that the department has identified as a potential addition or supplement for the existing dog park. The location is near the amphitheater and also close to the park building, permitting accessibility to amenities. It formerly held a horseshoe pit and bocce courts that have since been relocated. The area has also been the site of trees affected by oak wilt that were removed. The extant fencing could be used to create a small-dog area and the area reconfigured to a dog park comprising about 2.5 acres. This would preclude the relocation of the equipment shed. Bourne said the work could be done during the summer and be ready for when the snow returns in the winter of 2026-27. E. Parks and Recreation Experiences Siegert reminded the group of the annual Winter Blast event, to be held at Staring Lake Park on Saturday, Jan. 10, at which he would be working. Markle said a sauna would be arriving for the event and would be available for use the rest of the winter. Nichols encouraged members to attend the meeting of the Friends of Eden Prairie Parks the morning of Jan. 10 at the City maintenance facility. Myers checked out a buckthorn puller over Thanksgiving and removed about 100 invasive trees. Myers also attended the recent open house at the Art Center, which was attended by about 150 people. Schuessler worked at the Community Center during the Swim with Santa event. She suggested making the event more interactive, such as including a scavenger hunt to appeal to older children, as well as a broader array of decorations from other religious traditions. VIII. Other Business IX. Next Meeting February 2, 2026, Eden Prairie City Center, 8080 Mitchell Road, Heritage Rooms X. Adjournment Motion: Hookom moved, seconded by Cervantes, to adjourn the meeting. Motion carried 7-0. PRNR COMMISSION MEETING MINUTES January 5, 2026 Page 4 Erickson adjourned the meeting at 7:50 p.m. Respectfully submitted, David Teigland City Clerk