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Commission recommends extending Sunfish Lake Park hours for Oct. 11 stargazing event
Summary
The Parks Commission voted July 21 to recommend the City Council extend Sunfish Lake Park hours until 10:30 p.m. on Oct. 11 so the Saluenz Era Center can host a stargazing program with the Minnesota Astronomical Society; attendance will be capped at 40.
The Lake Elmo City Parks Commission on July 21 voted to recommend that the City Council extend Sunfish Lake Park’s hours until 10:30 p.m. on Oct. 11 to allow a stargazing event presented by the Saluenz Era Center and the Minnesota Astronomical Society.
Verity Davis, identified in the meeting as a program manager with the Saluenz Era Center, said last year’s stargazing program drew about 40 attendees and that organizers capped attendance at 40 for logistics and food service. Davis said organizers will run the event with a presentation by the Minnesota Astronomical Society and that there is not a weather backup date; the program is designed to be engaging even if stars are not visible.
Commissioners raised safety and lighting concerns about guiding attendees from the parking area in the park; Davis said staff used lighting from the interpretive center and volunteers with flashlights to escort attendees to their cars during last year’s event. One commissioner said the program “should be a good thing,” and the commission voted in favor of recommending the hour extension to the City Council. The motion passed by voice vote with no opposition recorded.
Organizers plan to limit attendance to 40 people and expect the program to end around 9:00–9:30 p.m. on Oct. 11. City staff will forward the commission’s recommendation to City Council for final approval of the temporary hour extension.
