Edgewood advisory board sets 2025 priorities around urban-trail design, maintenance and windmill site

The City of Edgewood Parks and Recreation Advisory Board met Jan. 8 and discussed a streamlined 2025 work plan that prioritizes finishing design work for the city’s urban-trail Phase 3, updating parks impact fees, coordinating volunteer cleanup and events, and monitoring facility needs including the windmill site.

Brian Levenegan, a Parks and Recreation Advisory Board member, opened the item and said the board’s document is meant to “highlight major activities and projects for that year.” He said the work plan should focus on projects where board members can provide meaningful input and volunteer support rather than adding work for city staff.

Chuck, a City staff member, provided technical updates on the trail project and design funding. “Through 30% design, they’ve been doing geotechnical explorations last couple of months,” Chuck said, and later confirmed, “We have enough money to finish all the design phase.” He added that completing design work would make the project shovel-ready and improve grant opportunities.

Council member Southern, attending the meeting, said of the trail project, “I’m just looking forward to the, the our latest project with the inner, an urban trail completion. So I can’t seem to go fast enough for me for that 1.” Board members and staff discussed whether the design would proceed to 100% and noted a remaining need for regulatory clearances and later construction funding.

Board members also reviewed other recurring items on the condensed work plan: developing construction plans for a multimodal trail loop (listed on the capital improvement plan but not funded this year); updating parks impact fees (scheduled for this year, with staff to present materials in a month); coordinating park cleanups and volunteer events; and continuing oversight of city-owned facilities and properties.

On facilities, staff reported stabilizing work at the farm property and taking steps to protect the building, including installing dehumidifiers and heaters that are checked monthly. The board discussed the windmill property; Chuck said a move of the windmill “around 200,000” had been discussed and that the city still owns the land. He also said local utility clearance had been checked: “My understanding is PSC said we’re clear.”

Members flagged maintenance and operations as a recurring concern. One member said adding a large trail will likely require additional maintenance capacity and possibly another full-time equivalent (FTE) staff position to maintain new infrastructure. The board also discussed reduced city communications after the magazine ended and asked staff to expand information on the city website and social channels to reach residents.

Procedural items: the board approved the Oct. 9, 2024 meeting summary on a motion by Matthew Tory, seconded by Sean Olsen; the motion passed on an oral voice vote. The board later moved and seconded to adjourn early; the motion passed on an oral voice vote.

The board will continue to refine the work plan and asked members to submit additional items for consideration before the February meeting, when the board intends to finalize the 2025 work plan to share with city council.