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HomeMy WebLinkAboutParks and Recreation - 06/01/2026 Approved Minutes Eden Prairie Parks, Recreation and Natural Resources Commission Meeting 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, Sana Elassar, Kevin Harris, Duane Hookom, Giridhar Kuppili, Jennifer Meyer, Lisa Nichols, Troy Parish, Kirk Spresser Student Representatives: N/A City Staff: Amy Markle, Parks and Recreation Director; Jana Graczyk, Recreation Services Manager; Matt Bourne, Parks and Natural Resources Manager; Gamiel Hall, Community Center Manager Recording Secretary: Joni Komperda MEETING AGENDA I. Call the Meeting to Order Erickson called the meeting to order at 7:04 p.m. Commissioners Curry, Cervantes, Elassar, Hookom, Kuppili, Nichols and Spresser were absent. Parks and Recreation Director Markle was absent. Laura and Kevin Bluml, longtime Eden Prairie residents, were in attendance. II. Approval of Agenda The agenda could not be approved due to lack of quorum. Erickson directed the meeting to proceed with the agenda as distributed. III. Minutes Due to lack of quorum, no formal vote was taken to approve the April 2026 minutes. IV. Report of City Council Action April 7: The Winter Quarterly Donations Report was formally presented and approved, continuing the city’s practice established a few years ago to process donations on a PRNR COMMISSION MEETING MINUTES June 1, 2026 Page 2 quarterly rather than a monthly schedule. During the review of donation items, it was noted that an anonymous donor has fully funded a new, year-long Arts Engagement and Administration Internship. The intern officially commenced employment in April in a broadly defined role centered on public art initiatives, administrative tasks, and highlighting the historical and cultural narrative of the art center. The City Council approved a construction contract for the repaving and rehabilitation of the Riley-Jacques Barn parking lot. The contractor executed the physical work rapidly and completed the project ahead of schedule, ensuring the venue is fully prepared to host upcoming seasonal events like graduation parties and weddings without logistical disruptions. April 21: The City Council officially issued an Every Day Proclamation and formally approved the development and construction contract for the Cedar Hills Bike Park. The Council also authorized a contract with a design consultant to draft formal construction documents for a new trail segment along Flying Cloud Drive. This new trail will run from Charlson Road near the scenic overlook and the C.H. Robinson campus, extending all the way north to Pioneer Trail. The consultant is currently compiling engineering blueprints and specifications with the goal of opening the project for competitive bidding in the near future. Finally, the rehabilitation contract for the Homeward Hills Park hardcourts was approved, and on-site construction has already commenced. May 5 and May 19: The City Council issued a proclamation designating and supporting Senior Awareness at its May 5 meeting. At the May 19 meeting, the Council entered into a contract to initiate Phase 2 of construction at Pleasant Hill Cemetery. This expansion is heavily driven by necessity, as the previous columbarium structure installed five years ago is entirely sold out, and Pleasant Hill Cemetery has completely exhausted its capacity for traditional inground burial plots. While plenty of inground options remain available at the alternative cemetery site on Eden Prairie Road, the columbarium expansion represents the sole remaining option for local interments at Pleasant Hill. In response to an inquiry regarding pre-construction sales, Bourne confirmed a formal waitlist is currently being maintained. Once the Phase 2 structure is physically installed, individuals on the list will be brought on-site sequentially to select their specific niche locations. V. Report of Planning Commission Action Several updates with major natural resources implications were highlighted, beginning with the C.H. Robinson property redevelopment. The developer has secured approval to demolish an existing commercial building on the campus and utilize an adjacent large vacant lot to construct a new townhome development. Because the site directly borders the Prairie Bluff Conservation Area, city staff are actively collaborating with the developer to establish a pedestrian access framework. This will ensure residents can easily get up to the existing scenic overlook, pergola, and picnic facilities, either via direct access or through an integrated village connection. This project has cleared initial approvals and is scheduled for final City Council review later this month. PRNR COMMISSION MEETING MINUTES June 1, 2026 Page 3 Bourne shared a status update for the nearby Marshall Gardens development, where the project scope was revised to replace previously approved condominiums with uniform townhomes. This acquisition allows staff to extend the Riley Creek Conservation Area nature trails through the parcel, creating contiguous pathway connections westward and northwestward along the upstream creek. This expansion will yield a significant community benefit once planned Dell Road infrastructure improvements add a dedicated pedestrian crossing, enabling trail users to safely access the expanded network. VI. Petitions, Requests, and Communications None VII. Reports of Commission and Staff A. Parks and Recreation Director None B. Parks and Natural Resources Manager Homeward Hills Park Field Tour and Construction Progress: The commission began an outdoor walking tour of the Homeward Hills Park renovation at 7:11 p.m. Bourne led the walkthrough, explaining the old, enclosed playground was excavated and an underutilized beach volleyball court was removed. In its place, a modern, single-use splash pad system is being installed, matching the designs at Miller Park and Nesbit Preserve. Activated by an on-demand button, it runs for 30 seconds to minimize water volume and has a rubberized safety surface. The project uses a farm theme to match the historic barn. The expanded footprint has separate play equipment for toddlers and older kids. Seating and shade umbrellas were centrally placed so parents can easily view both areas. A geometric gaga pit, a Nine Square court and reconstructed tennis and basketball courts are also being installed. Bourne noted pickleball lines were intentionally excluded due to neighborhood noise complaints. Resident Testimony and Infrastructure Feedback: Local residents Laura and Kevin Bluml, who live within a half-mile of the park, approached the commission during the tour to share operational feedback. They raised safety concerns regarding visitors using the pedestrian path as a driveway, noting a recent incident where a rental party vehicle almost struck a five-year-old child on a bicycle. They pointed out that the current "No Unauthorized Vehicles" sign confuses permitted renters, whereas other city signs explicitly state "No Motorized Vehicles." This ambiguity previously led winter patrons to drive cars PRNR COMMISSION MEETING MINUTES June 1, 2026 Page 4 directly up to the ice rink. The residents suggested installing physical barriers that still allow entry for city water, garbage, and emergency trucks. They also critiqued the rendering, noting an isolated triangular grass patch where trucks turn that will inevitably be destroyed, recommending it be paved instead. Finally, they requested that missing rule signs be replaced to mandate that dogs remain on-leash and to prohibit smoking, vaping, and golfing, and recalled a past incident where youth climbed the barn roof and bent the gutters, requiring police intervention. The residents also noted that the old volleyball court historically served as a popular neighborhood sandbox for children and nannies, and requested a sandbox be added since league volleyball has declined. Bourne thanked them for the valuable feedback, promising a full sign inventory and noting that the new playground safety fence will naturally block vehicle access. He added that the remaining volleyball court was upgraded with new poles and netting to protect the adjacent wetland. Future Barn Renovation and Spatial Design Framework: The commission held a visioning session for Phase 2, which targets next year's exterior and interior renovation of the park's historic barn building. Bourne requested feedback on the exterior color palette, noting staff have considered an "Old Red Barn" theme, a "White Barn" motif (like the Riley-Jacques Barn) or a neutral scheme. Commissioners reacted cautiously to the red barn concept, noting it might feel too bold for the neighborhood. Reviewing the building's history, Bourne noted it was a functioning barn moved from a farm across the street in the late 1980s or early 1990s when that land was developed. The commission recommended installing historical interpretive panels to highlight its authentic heritage. The tour concluded, and the commission returned indoors at 7:38 p.m. Architectural Enhancements and Amenity Integration: Meyer critiqued the current upper-level layout as feeling too closed off from nature, strongly advocating to expand the outdoor deck into a functional patio space. Meyer also questioned the total lack of windows on the playground side. Bourne explained that the extreme slope of the roof and the low door overhang restrict vertical wall space but agreed to look into corner window workarounds. The commission also reached a firm consensus to remove the large, built-in wooden benches to create a completely open, dynamic floor plan utilizing flexible tables and chairs. Commission members noted the upper level gets uncomfortably hot for summer youth camps, highlighting a need to upgrade the HVAC system. To drive off-season winter rentals, Bourne suggested adding a modern fireplace, which the commission widely supported. Parish requested a dedicated storage closet for guest coats and tables, similar to the Preserve Barn. Regarding the kitchen, Bourne questioned if a full residential kitchen was necessary. Erickson, Parish and Meyer agreed that renters only use the space for catered dishes and PRNR COMMISSION MEETING MINUTES June 1, 2026 Page 5 crockpots rather than actual cooking. Erickson recommended downsizing the kitchen footprint to one-quarter of its size, focusing instead on continuous countertop space, heavy-duty electrical outlets and a large sink. Bourne agreed a highly functional staging kitchen is non-negotiable based on public feedback. Next Steps and Funding Timeline: Bourne concluded the barn discussion by outlining the approval timeline. Because the Phase 2 renovation is slated for next year, the finalized design concepts must first secure formal capital allocation within the city's upcoming Capital Improvement Program (CIP) budget cycle before moving to the City Council for authorization. C. Recreation Services and Community Center Managers Mobile Application Launch and Marketing Architecture: Hall updated the commission on the new Eden Prairie Parks and Recreation mobile application, which launched in mid-January 2026. Designed as an all-in-one digital tool, it allows residents to browse programs, view class schedules, register for activities, and scan digital barcodes at facility check-ins. The communications team drove initial adoption through organic marketing, targeting facility users via digital newsletters, posting signage across all recreation centers, and utilizing pre- formatted social media assets. User Analytics and System Performance Metrics: The application has captured over 2,100 total downloads and recorded 56,000 distinct user interactions since its launch. Active monthly users averaged 1,400 initially and stabilized at 750 to 800 users in May. During May, the app had over 250 scan-ins, and the direct registration link received over 700 clicks. The Community Center dashboard and Group Fitness schedule emerged as the top two most-visited sections. Software Integration Challenges and Core Infrastructure: Hall identified an operational hiccup regarding group fitness scheduling. Because the city relies on a third-party vendor database that is not natively integrated, clicking the fitness link forces users out of the app into an external mobile browser. Hall acknowledged this redirection is the largest source of confusion, driving the most support calls to the front desk. Graczyk explained that early rollout phases were delayed by Apple and Google Play Store compliance protocols, which prevented a live test during winter registration. Staff intentionally withheld a massive marketing push before the heavy summer registration on March 4. However, the app performed flawlessly under the surge; 69 residents successfully registered for camps via the app in the first 35 minutes, generating $33,000 in revenue with no system errors. User Experience Feedback and Technical Enhancements: During the interface critique, Harris noted he was previously unaware of the app but downloaded it PRNR COMMISSION MEETING MINUTES June 1, 2026 Page 6 during the meeting, praising the barcode scanner. Graczyk highlighted that the app features a secure single sign-in framework, solving the historic issue of patrons missing out on high-demand camp slots because they forgot their passwords. Meyer noted that while the external group fitness link works fine, general program registration is a usability bottleneck. Meyer said finding summer tennis lessons is confusing since they don’t intuitively appear under primary registration tabs, causing users to go down navigation rabbit holes. Parish noted free or informational community events are absent from the calendar, recommending an "Upcoming Events" button and gesture-based swiping to browse months. Graczyk welcomed the feedback, noting mobile scaling depends on the main city website, but staff will evaluate adding a community events node. In response to a follow-up from Meyer, Hall confirmed that racquetball court reservations remain entirely bound to physical pen-and-paper booking sheets. Erickson asked how the public currently submits feedback; Hall noted most come via front desk calls, and Graczyk invited the commission to email staff directly with suggestions. Community Communications and Environmental Maintenance: Harris questioned how average residents learn about these tools. Graczyk said the city relies on Life on the Prairie, a physical newsletter mailed quarterly to all Eden Prairie households, paired with social media campaigns across Facebook, Instagram, TikTok and X, noted by Bourne. Parish noted a personal reliance on physical road signs and bulletin boards and praised the overhauled online entertainment calendar. Bourne and Parish reminded the commission that residents can also subscribe to the weekly Friday Report, compiled by the city manager, which links to local news coverage (like Fox 9 or the Eden Prairie Local News). Shifting to natural resources, Harris raised concerns about severe buckthorn infestations at Riley Lake Park and asked how to report them. Bourne confirmed invasive species fall under the commission's purview, requesting residents report problem areas directly to staff or the Friends of Eden Prairie Parks volunteer group. Bourne emphasized that because the city’s 16-member full-time field staff maintains thousands of acres of parkland, they rely heavily on citizen volunteers. D. Parks and Recreation Experiences Cedar Hills Bike Park: The meeting concluded with a reflection on the recent Cedar Hills Bike Park neighborhood open house attended by Erickson, Parish and Meyer. Erickson shared a positive anecdote about a passing mother who stopped to investigate, then returned with her 10-year-old son and his friend, who rode over on their bikes and expressed intense excitement about the upcoming mountain bike park. Parish noted that local mountain bikers currently have to travel to Bloomington or Shakopee, making this development a great asset for keeping recreational traffic within Eden Prairie. PRNR COMMISSION MEETING MINUTES June 1, 2026 Page 7 Annual Banquet: Erickson requested that the formal record reflect the commission's deep appreciation for the municipal staff for their exceptional work organizing the annual volunteer banquet. The event received widespread praise from attendees, with Erickson highlighting numerous compliments regarding the custom decorative table centerpieces. Bourne noted that his departmental staff directly contributed to putting the centerpieces together. Additionally, Graczyk highlighted that the Parks, Recreation and Natural Resources Commission won the banquet's annual trivia and team-building challenge. Erickson enthusiastically confirmed the victory, noting that Rick Getschow intentionally designs completely unique, highly difficult challenges every single year, for which he received praise. Media Coverage and Upcoming Parks Bus Tour Schedule: Erickson noted the recent Cedar Hills Bike Park development and neighborhood open house received positive local press coverage, including dedicated feature stories from local media outlets. Erickson then transitioned to future scheduling, reminding members that the next monthly commission meeting will deviate from the standard boardroom format to serve as the annual summer parks bus tour. VIII. Other Business None IX. Next Meeting July 6, 2026, meet at the front of City Center (8080 Mitchell Road, Eden Prairie, MN 55344) for the parks bus tour X. Adjournment Erickson thanked the residents in attendance for their comments and adjourned the meeting at 8:13 p.m. Due to lack of quorum, there was no motion.