Parks commission forwards revised 2026–2035 capital improvement plan to city council with several priority changes

The Lake Elmo City Parks and Recreation Commission voted to recommend the 2026–2035 Parks Capital Improvement Plan (CIP) to the city council with a package of staff and commissioner adjustments. The motion—made by the chair and seconded—specified several amendments and priorities that the commission asked staff to present to council.

The motion, recorded in the meeting, directed inclusion of all staff recommendations with the following modifications: keep project 46 (outdoor fitness park) on the schedule while clarifying the distinction between fitness parks and fitness equipment located along trails; move trail additions to 2027; add court resurfacing and a protective liner for the Lions Park ice rink in 2026 with priority 1 at $30,000; move invasive species management to 2030; and increase Lions Park playground equipment replacement to $275,000. The chair read that motion aloud in full during the meeting.

Staff (Adam) told commissioners that the CIP had been expanded to a 10-year program to give the city a…