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HomeMy WebLinkAboutPRNR Commission - 10/05/2026Agenda Eden Prairie Parks and Natural Resources Commission Joint Meeting with the Heritage Preservation Commission 7 p.m. Monday, October 5, 2026 Staring Lake Park Building 14800 Pioneer Trail Eden Prairie, MN 55344 ATTENDEES PRNR 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 PRNR Student Representatives: Lyla Stidger, Bryce Dennison, Alex Hoyt, John Melchior, Ruwaida Warsame, Kai Schmitt, Seth Gilligan HPC Commission Members: Robert Bowes, Chair, Paul Thorp, Vice Chair, George Maxwell, Rod Fisher, Betsey Woods, Nancy Cass, Andy Ludowese, Lisa Rude, Prima Sisinni HPC Student Representatives: Kensley McQuillan, Evan Ebert, Medha Ganjam, Oindri Bagchi, Aishah Alam City Staff: Amy Markle, Parks and & Recreation Director; Jana Graczyk, Recreation Services Manager; Matt Bourne, Parks & Natural Resources Manager; Gamiel Hall, Community Center Manager; Beth Novak-Krebs, Senior Planner Recording Secretary: City Staff MEETING AGENDA PRNR Commission Meeting 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, September 14, 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 1. n/a B. Parks and Natural Resources Manager 1. n/a C. Recreation Services and Community Center Managers D. Parks and Recreation Experiences 1. Share your experiences of events, park/building visits, news articles, etc. HPC Meeting I. Call the Meeting to Order II. Reading of the Land Acknowledgement Statement III. Approval of Agenda IV. Minutes A. Approval of the minutes for the Heritage Preservation Commission meeting held Monday, September 21, 2026 V. Reports of Subcommittees A. Native American Outreach B. New Heritage Preservation Site Designation C. Renovation/Maintenance/Development D. Documentation/Historical Recordings/Outreach VI. Reports of Commission and Staff VII. Reports of Students VIII. Reports of Historical Society Joint Commission Meeting 1. Introductions of Commissioners and Commissions 2. Reports of Commission and Staff A. Parks and Recreation Director 1. Cedar Hills Bike Park 2. Staring Lake Dog Park- West 3. Event Updates B. Heritage Preservation Staff Liaison. 1.Book on indigenous history of Eden Prairie 2.Interpretive panel at Smith, Douglas More House 3. Birch Hall at Glen Lake Children’s Camp 4. Purgatory Creek Bridge IX. Adjournment Tour of Cummins-Phipps-Grill House 13600 Pioneer Trail, Eden Prairie, MN 553471 X. Next Meeting PRNR Commission- Monday, November 2, 2026 at 7:00 p.m. Heritage Preservation Commission- November 16, 2026 at 7:00 p.m. PRNR COMMISSION PURPOSE STATEMENT Act in an advisory capacity to the City on matters 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 Minutes Eden Prairie Parks, Recreation and Natural Resources Commission Meeting 7 p.m. Monday, September 14, 2026 Round Lake Park Building 16691 Valley View Road Eden Prairie, MN 55344 ATTENDEES Commission Members: Patrice Erickson, Chair; Pedro Curry, Vice Chair; Kirk Spresser, Cecilia Cervantes, Duane Hookom, Jennifer Meyer, Sana Elassar, Lisa Nicholas, Giridhar Kuppili, Kevin Harris, Troy Parish Student Representatives: Lyla Stidger, Bryce Dennison, Alex Hoyt, John Melchior, Ruwaida Warsame, Kai Schmitt, Seth Gilligan 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: David Teigland, City Clerk MEETING AGENDA I. Call the Meeting to Order Acting Chair Spresser called the meeting to order at 7:19 p.m., after introductions of staff, commission members and student representatives. Chair Erickson, Vice Chair Curry, Stidger, Dennison, Hoyt and Gilligan were absent. II. Approval of Agenda MOTION: Cervantes moved, seconded by Hookom, to approve the agenda. Motion carried 9-0. III. Minutes a. Parks, Recreation and Natural Resources Commission meeting held Monday, August 3, 2026. MOTION: Meyer moved, seconded by Hookom, to approve the minutes with corrections for several misattributions. Motion carried 9-0. IV. Report of City Council Action At the Aug. 18 City Council workshop, Markle presented on the proposed Eden Prairie baseball and fastpitch softball facility that was discussed at the August commission meeting. The Council approved baseball and softball to proceed with fundraising, which they are now actively doing. The association did not want to move forward with securing architectural plans until they had that approval. The overall cost could be $1.2 million or more. They want to build sometime next year, but it will be whenever they get funding. Markle said two agreements could come to the commission for review: one regarding the building itself, and the other would be an operational agreement. Markle said she thought the prep work could finish in 2027. Spresser said three comments emerged from the commission meeting regarding security, a space for parents to be, and fundraising. Markle said they were all included in the presentation. There must be security cameras. The associations don’t want to take out a loan, and will fundraise accordingly. There must be space built in for parents alongside areas for kids to put their equipment. Markle said that many Parks items are approved via the consent calendar, and mentioned that she was going to present about the new Staring Lake dog park at the upcoming meeting. Other upcoming items include a ballfield fencing contract for $61,000; a change order for the bike park for $50,000; a contract for $28,000 construction documents for a path from the City West light rail station to Roers apartments; $42,000 for restoring an area of prairie bluff; $50,000 for vegetation management at Richard T. Anderson Conservation Area; and $52,000 for construction documents to replace two bridges at Staring Lake Park. At the September 1 Council meeting, Markle discussed public art at the workshop session and Graczyk gave an update on the Art Center. At the meeting itself, consent items included a $75,000 contract for elliptical machines at the Community Center and a One Pass agreement to be used by seniors. Schmitt asked when the path between City West and Roers would be done. Bourne said it should be completed this year. Spresser asked how fence repair was decided. Bourne said the money was budgeted in the capital improvement plan, and the high school and baseball and softball associations gave feedback as to where the needs were greatest. V. Reports of Planning Commission Bourne stated there was nothing to report. VI. Petitions, Requests and Communications VII. Reports of Commission and Staff A. Parks and Recreation Director Cedar Hills Bike Park Markle gave an update on the Cedar hills bike park. The park is 45 acres, with 15 acres devoted to trails. There are multiple trails and apparatus that will appeal to a variety of riders and skill levels. There will be an upcoming ribbon-cutting event to open the park, likely over a weekend. For now, some of the connections in areas of the park are unfinished so that people don’t ride on them yet, before signs are in place. Spresser asked when they would be available for use, and Markle said in the next few weeks once the signs are up. Markle said that volunteers would have a role in maintaining the park, along with the City for larger scale maintenance. Elassar asked if bikes would be available for rental. Markle said the department has checkout programs for recreational equipment, and they could look into doing something similar for the bike park. Meyer asked how people could provide feedback or alert the City to maintenance issues. Markle said there would be QR codes at kiosks in the park that people can use. Meyer then asked when the commission would have an opportunity to evaluate how the park is being used, the trail quality, and its safety. Markle said they would want a year data; Spresser mentioned that summer would probably be the busiest time for the park, which would mean having the focus group look at data about a year out. Markle noted that Meyer was a part of the group. Parish asked about signage for overflow parking. Markle said that Flying Cloud Field would be used when the parking lot, which has 22 spaces, was full and that there would be a sign indicating this. The expectation is that many people would bike to the park rather than drive. Nichols asked about what kind of equipment people would need to ride. Markle said that park rules require helmets, and that mountain bikes are generally preferred. The park would not permit remote controlled cars, e-motos, or Class 2 or 3 e-bikes. The department looked at how peer cities did this, as well as looking at state rules. Nichols asked how someone interested in using the park who was not familiar with it could learn what kind of equipment they would need. Markle said a web page was forthcoming, and that kind of information could be included. She said her goal was to keep the page updated with information about upcoming programs and clinics to get people involved. Meyer asked if the trails or park as a whole would have a theme, such as one geared toward the airport, and if there would be any art in the park. Markle said the theme, including potential names of trails, would be around a Minnesota nature theme. Some artists have been approached about contributing to the design. B. Parks and Natural Resources Manager C. Parks and Recreation Director Graczyk introduced Syverson to discuss the EP Walks program. Syverson said the program was beginning October 3 and would consist of themed walks exploring culture, nature and history in Eden Prairie as well as promoting wellness and social connection. There would be a different theme every month; each walk would be around 1-3 miles and last roughly an hour. Syverson discussed the benefits of walking as well as reasons for developing the program, including building relationships among participants, learning opportunities, building partnerships with other groups in the city, and that walking requires little equipment or investment to participate. Some of the potential partners could include the library, nonprofit groups, artists, historians, City officials and leaders, and other community members. Syverson mentioned the multiple ways the program was going to be promoted to encourage participation and to get people to return month after month. The first three walks would be October 3 at Riley Creek Conservation Area, focusing on fall colors; November 7 at Staring Lake Park with a naturalist from the Outdoor Center; and at a yet-to-be determined December date at Round Lake Park with Mayor Case. The walks would be adapted seasonally and, for example, have lemonade in the summer, apple cider in the fall and hot chocolate in the winter. The terrain would vary by location, but safety would be the first priority, with the walk leader equipped with a first-aid kid. If the weather on a walk day was poor, the walk might move inside, such as at Eden Prairie Center, though that would disrupt the outdoor theme. Ideas being looked into include a wireless tour audio system for participants as well as traction devices for shoes or boots in the winter. Syverson mentioned multiple possible themes for future walks, including at the various parks and historical properties around the city, as well as self-guided walks for people who could not make the scheduled walks. Commissioners then broke into small groups to brainstorm ideas and themes for walks. Kuppili asked if pets were allowed on the walks, and Syverson said that leashed and well-behaved pets were permitted. Commissioners contributed several ideas including other historic properties, a light rail ridealong, Eden Prairie Liquor or Fat Pants Brewing, an Eden Prairie High School theme, one focused on heart health, and walks outside the city such as at the arboretum. Cervantes suggested the walks be inclusive for people with mobility issues and disabilities. Parish said there could be a version for families with younger children. Nichols agreed and said this would encourage families to participate, and suggested the walk leader have experience interacting with young children. Cervantes also said discussion during the walks could be recorded for people who wanted to do it later. Spresser said that there could be multiple versions of the walks so that people of varying skill and comfort levels could participate. Meyer said that the first walk was the same day as the City’s Open House, so it might be a good synergy. Spresser said that participants could get a sticker every time they participated or earn a t-shirt for participating frequently. Hookom mentioned walks with a focus on photography or starwatching. Syverson showed four draft versions of a logo for the program that were developed by the Communications team. Commissioners were split on which one they preferred. Elassar asked if residents could be asked to contribute designs, and Syverson said that was a possibility. Syverson agreed to present other concepts to the commission. Harris said that because there were so many parks in the city, walkers could receive a passport and mark off which ones they had visited. Severson then showed a draft of the website, where the various existing walking programs in the City would all be listed. The site would also include registration for walks, which is preferred but not required. Nobody would be turned away from a walk if they had not registered. D. Community Center Manager E. Parks and Recreation Experiences Meyer said she participated in Fitness in the Parks, doing yoga and tai chi, which were both free and outside. She suggested keeping the programs going through the winter inside park buildings. Hookom rode his bike to the pop-up splash pad at Nesbitt Preserve Park and said it was well-attended. Parish said his kids participated in summer activities at Lake Riley and the Art Center, and complimented the college-age staff for being engaging and connecting with the participants. He also played pickleball with his kids at Miller Park. Parish said that the Preserve has converted its tennis courts to pickleball. Harris went by Riley Lake Park on Labor Day and said it was very crowded on the holiday with a diverse group of attendees. VIII. Other Business IX. Next Meeting October 5, 2026, joint meeting with Historic Preservation Commission X. Adjournment MOTION: Hookom moved, seconded by Meyer, to adjourn the meeting. Motion carried 9-0. Acting Chair Spresser adjourned the meeting at 8:46 p.m.