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Resident urges Burnsville to find alternative site for Alumagnet Park pickleball courts
Summary
During citizens’ comments at a Burnsville City Council meeting, resident Dawn Grinch urged the council to locate proposed pickleball courts away from Alumagnet Park, citing the park’s designation as a priority natural area, algae problems at the lake, noise and lighting impacts, and nearby residential effects.
Dawn Grinch, a resident of 14013 Frontier Lane, told the Burnsville City Council during citizens’ comments that the proposed installation of up to eight pickleball courts at Alumagnet Park would harm the park’s natural areas and lake.
"Pickleball courts will not only not allow the park to thrive, but will be detrimental to the health of the natural areas," Grinch said, asking the council to seek an alternative location for courts rather than adding hardscape to the park.
Grinch said she recently moved to the Alumagnet neighborhood, volunteers in the park and has observed fragile conditions at Alumagnet Lake, including an algae bloom. She suggested indoor alternatives or retrofitting existing tennis courts, hockey rinks or fields for multiuse play, and also raised concerns about noise from tournaments, new lighting, added parking and seating tied to an eight-court complex.
Mayor Elizabeth B. Couch acknowledged the comments and said staff would continue the existing process, adding, "we can accomplish both. We can accomplish both. And so allow our staff to go through the process and we'll get through all of this together." The mayor’s remarks indicated the matter will remain under staff review; the council did not take formal action on the request during the meeting.
The comments occurred during the meeting’s citizens’ comment period; no public hearing or council vote on the park siting occurred that evening. The council has not specified a timeline or decision date for any final siting or design recommendation for the proposed courts.
