Parks commission recommends proposals for Lions Park pavilion and a playground overhaul

Lake Elmo City’s Parks Commission on July 21 recommended that staff seek proposals for a shade pavilion at Lions Park for installation in 2026 and voted to direct staff to gather proposals to replace the park’s playground, which the city has budgeted in the capital improvement plan.

The commission’s recommendation for a pavilion follows staff presentation of the city’s 2025–2034 Capital Improvement Plan (CIP), which proposes five new pavilions across the park system. Parks staff said Lions Park has lost large, shade-providing trees during past construction and from disease and storm damage, creating sustained public requests for shade. Parks staff estimated a pavilion similar to ones at Goose Park and Pebble Park would cost about $80,000 including concrete.

Parks staff (Adam) told commissioners the pavilion recommendation is presently a request to solicit design and placement proposals, not a request for funding. “At this point, no financial obligations are being sought,” Adam said, adding staff wants to bundle the pavilion with other Lions Park construction (playground replacement, pickleball surfacing, concession-stand work and parking improvements) so the projects can be coordinated to reduce impacts to the park.

Commissioners discussed likely locations for a pavilion — generally toward the north side of the park near the playground and pickleball courts to avoid property-line constraints and steep slopes — and whether reserving a pavilion would conflict with concurrent rentals of ball fields or concession stands. One commissioner said the site is “a hot spot” and that the pavilion “will get used.” The commission voted to recommend staff seek proposals for a Lions Park shade structure for installation in 2026.

On the playground, staff reported the existing set at Lions Park was installed around 2000 and has exceeded its roughly 20–25 year design life. The park was the most-visited site in the 2024 parks survey; staff said 58% of survey respondents reported visiting Lions Park. Staff proposed replacing the playground with equipment for ages 5–12 while adding features aimed at teenagers and improving ADA access to the play area. Staff recommended removing a nonoperational fountain and a merry-go-round to free space for the new layout and possible future shade structures.

Staff told commissioners the playground replacement is funded in the CIP from the park certification fund, with $300,000 allocated for the project. Surfacing options were discussed: “pour-in-place” rubber surfacing was noted as an option that would reduce long-term maintenance but cost more upfront — staff cited contractor quotes of roughly $30 to $60 per square foot depending on coverage and design. Commissioners asked staff to include alternate pricing (for full pour-in-place and for targeted high-use areas beneath slides and swings) in solicitation materials.

The commission voted to direct city staff to gather proposals to update the Lions Park play set using the recommendations provided, and discussed accessory items (benches, adaptive swings, additional teen-oriented equipment), ADA access, parking improvements, and timing for construction so work could start in spring to avoid conflicts with summer programming.

The votes recorded during the meeting were procedural voice votes with commissioners indicating “aye” and no recorded nays for the two motions; no detailed roll-call tallies were provided in the minutes.

The commission also discussed coordinating the pavilion and playground work so both could be completed as part of a consolidated construction effort to limit repeated closures of park areas.