Oakdale parks staff report LED field lights installed, rink use up and Discovery Center services expanding

Parks staff told the Oakdale Parks and Recreation Commission on Feb. 10 that work on the capital improvement project to install LED lighting at Walton Field 1–4 was completed last week and staff will return in spring for minor aiming adjustments.

"They really, trucked through it then, and they did the fine tuning last week," said Jeff, a parks staff member, reporting on the contractor Kilmer Electric and the smart control system that allows remote operation.

Jeff also said the parks crew is handling tree removals and emerald ash borer work and that seasonal snow removal and sidewalk clearing have been manageable this winter. Staff are preparing for a move to a new facility on 32nd and Granada and are inventorying decades-old shop equipment to decide what to retain, auction or discard.

Commission and staff updates noted a rise in hockey-rink usage this season. Julie, parks staff, said the hockey rinks "have definitely seen increased skating numbers." She reported the Discovery Center is again an AARP Tax-Aide site on Mondays through April 21 and the site is fully booked.

Julie also announced the department’s new online registration platform, CivicRec, which is now accepting program and shelter reservations (including Willowbrook) and event registrations. She said snowshoe rental rates are $6 per person for two hours and that the department is hiring summer recreation instructors (typically 8–10 hires) with applications accepted through March.

Other items listed by staff included an indoor market with a few remaining dates, a sold-out indoor garage sale on April 5 with 23 vendors, a Sunday bingo event at the Discovery Center, and the "Best Snow Sculpture" contest accepting entries through March 31. Staff encouraged advance online registration for the community walk program, which resumes April 1.