Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Parks Master Plan topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Eagan begins 10-year parks master plan focused on asset management and equity
Summary
City staff and HKGI consultant Kevin Clark presented a needs-assessment phase of a Parks and Recreation System Master Plan emphasizing maintenance of existing assets, coverage metrics (89% of residents within a 10-minute walk of a park) and a coming focus on replacement scheduling as many playgrounds approach 20 years of service.
The Eagan City Council received an update on a 10-year Parks and Recreation System Master Plan on March 11, emphasizing a shift from new-park creation to asset stewardship as the city matures.
Andrew (parks staff) said the city hired HKGI and consultant Kevin Clark to inventory park assets and assess system needs. Clark told the council that residents rate parks and recreation offerings highly and that coverage is strong: about 89% of residents live within a 10-minute walk of a park. The inventory and GIS mapping include playgrounds, courts, shelters and acreage, and staff assigned condition ratings to capital assets.
Clark and staff warned that many playgrounds will reach or exceed 20 years of age during the next decade. The inventory indicates that in the next 10 years about 80% of the city's playgrounds will be 20 years old or older and that roughly 60% of playgrounds will likely need replacement in that period unless the city continues rotational maintenance. Council members discussed the fiscal challenge of replacements (playgrounds are more expensive now than two decades ago), options to "right-size" or repurpose underused neighborhood parks, and how to balance new amenities with maintenance.
Council asked whether the plan should anticipate demographic change (aging population, families returning) and how to handle potential decommissioning or repurposing of parks when neighborhood demand shifts. Staff said decommissioning a park is difficult because of land-use and dedication rules; instead the plan will examine adaptively repurposing facilities and coordinating with school, county and private partners. Staff also said they will examine turf reduction, tree canopy goals and volunteer opportunities as part of the plan.
The consultant said the draft plan will move to public listening sessions, intercept surveys at the Eagan Community Center and an online engagement tool; a final plan is expected later this year with implementation programming and prioritized capital recommendations.
