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HomeMy WebLinkAboutPRNR Commission - 06/01/2026Meeting Agenda Eden Prairie Parks and Natural Resources Commission 7 p.m. Monday, June 1, 2026 Homeward Hills Park 12000 Silverwood Drive Eden Prairie, MN 55347 ATTENDEES Commission Members: Patrice Erickson, Chair; Pedro Curry, Vice Chair; Cecilia Cervantes, Duane Hookom, Jennifer Meyer, Kirk Spresser, Sana Elassar, Lisa Nichols, Giridhar Kuppili, Kevin Harris, Troy Parish Student Representatives: n/a City Staff: Amy Markle, Parks and & Recreation Director; Jana Graczyk, Recreation Services Manager; Matt Bourne, Parks & Natural Resources Manager; Gamiel Hall, Community Center Manager Recording Secretary: Joni Komperda MEETING AGENDA I. Call the Meeting to Order II. Approval of Agenda III. Minutes A. Approval of the minutes for the Parks and Natural Resources Commission meeting held Monday, April 6, 2026 IV. Report of City Council Action V. Report of Planning Commission VI. Petitions, Requests and Communications VII. Reports of Commission and Staff A. Parks and Recreation Director N/A B. Parks and Natural Resources Manager 1. Tour of Homeward Hills Park playground renovation and barn 2. Discussion about future barn renovation C. Recreation Services and Community Center Managers 1. Parks and Recreation App update D. Parks and Recreation Experiences 1. Share your experiences of events, park/building visits, news articles, etc. VIII. Other Business IX. Next Meeting A. July 6, 2026, Meet at front of City Center (8080 Mitchell Road), parks bus tour X. Adjournment PURPOSE STATEMENT Act in an advisory capacity to the City on mattes of leisure services, recreation programming, and development and use of parks and recreation facilities supported by the general public. • Enlist the support of organizations and individuals in providing City parks and recreation facilities and activities. • Provide input to staff in the promotion of awareness and use of recreation facilities and activities by community organizations and individuals. • Provide input to staff on park plans including the site development and facility modifications and/or improvement program. • Provide input to staff on park and recreation facility use. • Provide input to staff on leisure programs and activities. • Provide input to staff to ensure the inventory, preservation, and management of natural resources. Unapproved Meeting Minutes Eden Prairie Parks and Natural Resources Commission 7 p.m. Monday, April 6, 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; Recording Secretary: Joni Komperda MEETING AGENDA I. Call the Meeting to Order Markle called the meeting to order at 7:01 p.m. Commissioner Meyer was absent. Student Representatives Brazil, Glasrud, Kaura, and Syed were absent. Markle had everyone introduce themselves to new commissioners, Harris and Parish, and share what drew them to work on this commission. II. Approval of Agenda Motion: Spresser moved, seconded by Kuppili, to approve the agenda. Motion carried 10- 0. III. Minutes Motion: Hookom moved, seconded by Curry, to approve the March 2, 2026 minutes with no amendments. Motion carried 10-0. IV. Report of City Council Action Markle shared information on the automated external defibrillator (AED) program and donations. The Lions Club recently donated $21,000, following a previous donation of $14,000, to fund AEDs for city parks. An AED recently installed at Miller Park saved a life within two weeks of its placement. Due to this success, five more units are expected to be installed in various parks within the next few weeks. The initial investment for an AED unit and its accompanying tower is approximately $7,000. The city is currently working with a GIS specialist to create a map of all AED locations, which will be accessible via the app, the city website, and the "park finder" tool. • Harris, a cardiologist, emphasized his professional interest in preventing cardiac arrest and discussed the importance of education for first responders, teammates, and coaches. • Hookom shared that he has personally benefited from an AED in a park. He also highlighted "Pulse Point," a resource through the "Cardiac Crusade" non-profit that allows users to locate the nearest AED via Siri or Google Maps. • Spresser recounted a powerful story shared with the City Council about a young man whose life was saved by an AED while playing pickleball. Markle also shared about park improvements and field developments. An informal cricket pitch is being established at Flying Cloud Fields. When in use, soccer goals will be moved to allow for all-day cricket on Sundays. This is an interim solution as the community has expressed a desire for a full-sized, dedicated space. The fields are scheduled for a full renovation, including irrigation updates, in approximately six years. Markle went on to share about environmental initiatives and grants. • The city has secured large grants from the Minnesota DNR to address Emerald Ash Borer infestations. As a requirement, the city recorded several properties to ensure they are not sold while the state works to remove affected ash trees. • A resolution was passed to submit an outdoor recreation grant to the Minnesota DNR for a project at the Outdoor Center. Proposed improvements include redoing the boardwalk around the observatory and adding a new section for fishing, water quality sampling, and educational classes. • A contract with a private company was approved for restoration work at the Eden Brook Conservation Area, specifically focusing on the removal of buckthorn. Markle also touched on quarterly donations and internships. The City Council is set to approve a $50,000 anonymous donation specifically designated for the Arts Center. This donation will fund a new internship program at the Arts Center. The donor has committed to an additional $50,000 for the following year, ensuring the program's sustainability for at least two years. V. Report of Planning Commission Action Bourne said the Planning Commission has had a relatively quiet period recently. At the most recent meeting, the commission approved a simple lot split for an office building. There are more projects in the works as potential topics at the next meeting. VI. Petitions, Requests, and Communications None VII. Reports of Commission and Staff A. Parks and Recreation Director Markle shared details on the below projects: Cedar Hills Bike Park: The project recently went out for bid and the bidding period closed last week. Spresser asked how many people bid on the project; Bourne and Markle answered: out of four contractors who reviewed the plans, two submitted competitive bids. The city will be working with the lowest bidder, with the contract expected to go before the City Council during their second meeting in April. • Timeline: Resource management is scheduled to begin before the main project gets underway in June. The goal is to hold a ribbon-cutting ceremony in September. • Engagement: The bike committee is meeting this week to discuss design themes, maintenance, and a long-term vision for mountain bike trails in the city. There will be community engagement opportunities at Cedar Hills in May to involve the public in the process. Proposed Baseball Facility at Miller Park: Conversations are ongoing with the Eden Prairie Baseball Association regarding a proposed medium-sized indoor facility at Miller Park. The building would be utilized primarily in the winter for pitching and hitting practice. • Funding and Access: The association is expected to fund the project through fundraising. A contract would be established to grant the association a specific number of "prime time" hours per week, while also keeping the space open for use by other groups such as softball and cricket. • Design and Approval: An architect has drafted a design that has been reviewed by Community Development. The project requires approval from the Parks Commission and the City Council before proceeding. Erickson asked if it would be an open space; Markle replied it would be. B. Recreation Services Manager Graczyk conducted a PowerPoint presentation regarding Eden Prairie’s public art initiatives, emphasizing how these projects enrich the community by promoting identity, pride, social connection, and accessibility. The presentation featured various art installations across the city, including images of several city pieces. Graczyk covered the topics below: • Digital Navigation: A new online navigation system has been launched that aligns with the city's Parks and Recreation app and official recreation webpage. • The Flying Red Horse: Graczyk provided extensive details on the historic "Flying Red Horse" installation. Markle added that Channel 5 News recently interviewed the Schwartz family regarding this piece for a segment expected to air soon. • Art on City Walls: Graczyk distinguished between permanent installations and the "Art on City Walls" program, which features “temporary” displays intended to help local artists showcase their work. In response to a question from Nichols, Graczyk clarified that the rotating art series webpage is currently offline while it undergoes a complete revamp. Nichols inquired about the stipends or payment structures for these artists. Bourne noted that initial efforts were largely supported by grant funding and involved a thorough application review process. Nichols asked if the committee for this program had been closed and if there were plans to reopen it. Graczyk indicated that the city is currently reevaluating the process and seeking new grant funding. Nichols and Graczyk agreed to connect outside of the meeting to discuss the refinement of the art selection process, as Nichols has prior experience in this area. Spresser jokingly noted that Nichols was now "officially" on the refinement committee. • Community Engagement: Nichols suggested that future projects, such as murals or mosaics, could be effectively executed in partnership with local schools. Spresser proposed forming a small working group to brainstorm and then present ideas back to the commission, suggesting that the city consider seasonal rotations for art. Bourne recalled that the committee originally discussed murals centered on immigration stories. Graczyk concurred with these suggestions and noted the value of diverse perspectives. • Art Engagement Internship: Graczyk announced that a new year-long internship position, funded by an anonymous donor, has been posted. Applications will be reviewed next week, with a targeted start date at the end of May. • Developer Requirements: Cervantes revisited a previous inquiry regarding whether the city requires developers to contribute a percentage of project costs to public art. Cervantes advocated for a minimum requirement (e.g., 0.25%) to serve as seed money for future public art projects. Hookom jokingly remarked that the city's current focus on art essentially began with "Graffiti Bridge." • EP Walks: A launch is planned for fall 2026, which will serve as a future Parks, Recreation, and Natural Resources topic with a specific focus on public art opportunities. C. Community Center Manager None D. Parks and Natural Resources Manager Bourne shared updates on a variety of projects: Homeward Hills Park Renovation: Work is resuming on the replacement of playground equipment and the addition of a new splash pad. The project has a farm-themed design to match the site's history. Spresser asked when they anticipate the project to be done. Bourne said completion is targeted for the end of June 2026, contingent on weather and spring road restrictions, to ensure it is ready for the summer camp season. • Court Reconstruction: The tennis and basketball courts are scheduled for a complete reconstruction beginning in May 2026. This will include new surfacing and fencing. • Future Barn Improvements: There are plans to refinish the exterior of the barn next year. Additionally, staff is in preliminary discussions regarding internal renovations to the barn, with more details to follow. • June Meeting: Markle noted that since the June Commission meeting will be held at Homeward Hills, the group will be able to see the significant progress on these various "refreshed" amenities firsthand. • Additional Work: The tennis and basketball courts at the park are also scheduled for complete reconstruction starting around mid-May. The commission plans to visit the site during their July park tour to see the progress and new amenities. Riley Lake Park: The parking lot at the Riley-Jacques Barn is in critical need of replacement and is scheduled to be redone this year. • Operational Impact: Sievert, speaking from his experience as a summer camp counselor, inquired about potential changes to the field layout. Bourne clarified while the parking lot is being replaced, there are no current plans to alter the adjacent field used for camp games. • Seasonal Features: In response to an inquiry from Harris regarding a bookstore, Bourne confirmed a seasonal bookstore will operate out of the Riley Lake location. County Road 62 Bike Trail: A new bike trail is being developed along County Road 62, spanning from Eden Prairie Road to Dell Road. Hookom asked if it would be on the north or south side, and Bourne confirmed the trail would be located on the south side of the roadway. Staring Lake Bridge Replacements: Several bridges over the creek at Staring Lake are reaching the end of their lifespan and require high maintenance in their current state. They will be replaced and widened from the current 7-8 feet to a standard 10-foot width. This work will require temporary trail closures, and the commission will review these locations during the upcoming park tour. Flying Cloud Fields Planning: A formal planning process is beginning for the Flying Cloud fields to address uneven turf and irrigation issues. The project will involve breaking the area into four quadrants, re-leveling, and regrading each section. • Expansion of Usable Space: Engineers and landscape architects are working to level a significant drop-off in the southeast section. This will create more usable space for soccer and lacrosse, allowing staff to rotate fields and better manage turf wear patterns. • Timeline: Planning and design will take place this year, with construction moving through one quadrant per year starting next year until the entire complex is complete. E. Parks and Recreation Experiences Hookom reported visiting the city trails over a recent weekend and specifically commended the upgrades and trail work completed on the River Bluff Trail. Hookom highlighted the value of the city’s connectivity, noting how pleasant it is to travel park-to-park while overlooking the lakes. Hookom raised concerns regarding the use of motorized scooters and "no-pedal" e-bikes by children at Round Lake Park, specifically observing them cutting through sand/play areas. Hookom noted that many parents appear unaware of what equipment is appropriate or legal for park use. Markle stated upcoming legislation is expected to clarify the use of e-bikes in public spaces and provide better frameworks for enforcement. Markle discussed the need for educational outreach specifically targeting middle school students, as many in that age group are currently operating e-bikes in a manner inconsistent with state law. Markle noted that Public Safety is committed to increasing the issuance of citations this year in addition to ongoing educational efforts, with a further update expected on Thursday. Hookom inquired about an upcoming open house at the park. Markle clarified that while the event is primarily geared toward those planning weddings, memorials, or celebrations, it is open to the general public. Hookom remarked humorously that he was not personally looking for a wedding venue. Erickson asked for the specific building location for the next meeting. Markle confirmed the meeting is planned for the barn at Homeward Hills, noting the facility allows for meeting either outdoors or indoors depending on the weather. Markle mentioned the upcoming council and commission banquet; Erickson confirmed receiving the formal invitation in the mail. VIII. Other Business None IX. Next Meeting June 1, 2026, Homeward Hills Park, 12000 Silverwood Drive, Eden Prairie, MN 55347 Note: Commission Banquet is May 14, 2026; invite to follow. X. Adjournment Motion: Spresser moved, seconded by Cervantes, to adjourn the meeting. Motion carried 10-0. Markle adjourned the meeting at 8:13 p.m.