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City hall addition will reshape Community Park; pavilion, ball field slated for removal
Summary
City staff told the Waite Park Park Board that upcoming police department and city hall construction will require removal of an existing pavilion and the ball field at Community Park; staff flagged possible tree removals and plans for reforestation and public open-house outreach in March.
City staff told the Waite Park Park Board on Feb. 5 that a planned police department addition and city hall renovation will affect layout and features at Community Park, requiring removal of a small freestanding pavilion and the adjacent ball field.
“Construction could start anywhere between May 1 and July 1,” John Bowden said as he described the project schedule and the next steps for park input. Bowden said the city intends to collect the park board’s earlier comments and present consolidated recommendations to the city council, likely in a workshop if the board approves them.
Bowden also said the small pavilion that currently hosts plant sales is not structurally stable to be relocated and will need to be removed; staff will consider whether to replace it in Community Park or install a different-sized pavilion at another park. He gave a rough cost range for a potential new freestanding pavilion of “about a hundred to hundred fifty” thousand dollars, based on a prior proposal.
Zach Dube, the city’s public works supervisor for parks and streets and the park board’s new liaison, told the board that many trees in Community Park are ash and receive protective insecticide injections every two years to fight emerald ash borer. Dube said injections will continue and that staff will evaluate which trees must be removed for construction and consider early reforestation where losses occur.
Bowden said the city plans an open house on March 10 — an off council meeting night — for residents to review plans and for staff to gather public feedback. The board discussed options for replacing small picnic shelters, including lower-cost sheltered picnic tables and multiple smaller structures instead of a single large pavilion.
No formal action was taken to approve construction plans at the meeting; staff will return with visuals and recommendations to the park board at the April meeting.
