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Cottage Grove board directs short-term overflow parking plan for Bakken Park after rugby crowding
Summary
Village trustees directed staff to activate a temporary overflow parking area and tighten special-event planning after congestion and a near–public-safety incident during a large rugby event at Bakken Park. The board asked event organizers for attendance estimates and a staffing plan and put longer-term ADA and lot upgrades into the budget queue.
Village of Cottage Grove trustees on Monday directed staff to activate a temporary overflow parking area at Bakken Park for large events and to tighten special-event permit requirements after a May 31 rugby tournament left streets and lots congested.
The action came after residents, Parks and Recreation staff and public-safety officials described cars parked on Vilas Road and heavy pedestrian traffic that created a near–public-safety situation. Trustees and staff said a short-term fix — a staffed grassy overflow area inside the park — would be implemented while longer-term options are developed.
The queue of parking options includes a short-term grassy overflow area that staff estimate can hold about 140 cars and cost roughly $2,700 for one-time supplies (signage and tall traffic cones) plus modest staff time to set up; adding approximately 10 ADA parking stalls in the main lot with estimated construction of about $62,500; or building a new asphalt lot at a preliminary engineer estimate near $715,000 for roughly 76 stalls. Parks staff recommended the temporary grassy overflow lot as the immediate step.
Sean (parks staff) told trustees the park currently has 384 parking spaces and 15 handicap stalls. By village ordinance, Sean said, the standard is one parking space per four expected patrons; 384 spaces roughly accommodate 1,536 people. Staff and organizers said May 31 was a particularly large day — staff estimated as many as 1,800 people among players, coaches and fans — and that other dates this summer could approach but probably not exceed that scale.
Brad (Madison United Rugby organizer) and Police Chief Gary described operational changes they are testing: temporary no-parking signage on Vilas Road, staged staffing for ingress and egress, and use of alternate grass areas. Kevin Lofenberg, a firefighter and parks-and-rec committee member, and other residents proposed longer-term ideas including an access drive behind the courts to a large field used for festival overflow parking.
Trustees asked Brad to provide a list of event dates, estimated attendance ranges for each date, and specific staffing and communications plans for attendees so staff can trigger overflow arrangements in advance. Trustees also directed staff to add a parking section to future special-event permit applications so large events specify how they will handle overflow parking and traffic control.
Trustees did not vote to fund the long-term options immediately. Several members asked that the ADA-space addition and any new lot be considered in the regular capital prioritization and budget process. Parks staff said they will trial the temporary overflow arrangement at upcoming busy dates (late July and early August) and report results to the Parks, Recreation and Forestry Committee.
Trustees also asked staff to work with event organizers on clearer attendee communications (maps and signage) and to provide a map of planned temporary traffic flow for each event. If the short-term arrangement proves insufficient, staff will bring cost estimates for ADA stall work and the new lot back for prioritization.
The board’s direction was implemented administratively rather than through a formal ordinance vote: trustees authorized staff to activate the temporary overflow lot as needed and to require event organizers, via permit conditions, to provide attendance estimates and staffing plans before large events.
