Lake Elmo parks staff and residents debate Ridge Park concept, express noise, traffic and field-safety concerns

Lake Elmo parks staff on Wednesday asked the Parks and Recreation Commission to pick which of two concept plans to advance for Ridge Park, a neighborhood park near Ivory Avenue North and Inwood Avenue. The concepts, prepared by Bolton & Menk using a community survey, center on a playground replacement planned for 2026 and differed chiefly in parking, trail layout and activity areas.

The commission was asked for direction on which concept to refine and what edits staff should share with the designer. Adam (Parks staff) said Bolton & Menk provided two layouts after reviewing results from a mailed and online survey of about 33 respondents. Both concepts included a playground and updates to the existing ball field; Concept B adds a larger loop trail and expanded parking (roughly 60–70 spaces), while Concept A emphasizes a single parking area and preserves more of the southern natural area.

Why it matters: Ridge Park sits adjacent to established housing (Parkview Estates, Torrey Pines) and near planned growth south of the site. The commission must balance resident livability (noise, traffic, privacy) with accessibility and ADA considerations for a replacement playground.

Residents who live next to the park spoke at public comment. Steven Wortman, who lives on Ivory Avenue North, said the mailed survey ‘‘did not fulfill or supply feedback’’ for neighbors and raised multiple concerns: pickleball or other hard-surface courts would fall well within the city’s parks-master-plan recommendation of 600 feet from residences, an Inwood Avenue access would add traffic to an already-busy street, and moving the ball field could increase the frequency of foul balls landing in backyards. Bert Snyder, another nearby resident, described Ridge Park as a relatively narrow strip of open space and said heavy use from organized sports would degrade neighborhood privacy and increase traffic through local streets. Eric Bandy, also an Ivory Avenue resident, said the park warrants updating but urged a larger survey sample and careful traffic planning.

Staff and commissioners discussed practical constraints. Adam noted the park currently lacks sewer (so permanent restrooms would be a future item), and any new parking or a turn lane at Inwood Avenue would likely require coordination with Washington County and could be costly. Commissioners flagged stormwater as an implementation issue: adding asphalt or a parking area would create runoff that must be managed with basins or other measures. Staff said the concepts show preliminary drainage ideas but that engineering-level stormwater design would be required during project design.

Specific data from the survey that informed the concepts: 33 respondents answered the frequency question (top result: 1–2 visits per week); about 80% favored updating the playground; roughly 57% of online respondents favored updating the ball field; 16 respondents supported a pavilion; several written comments suggested adding hard-surface courts (basketball or striped courts for portable nets such as pickleball).

Commissioners asked staff and Bolton & Menk to return with revised options that reflect the input: alternatives that (1) avoid or minimize an Inwood Avenue access, (2) consider reducing or relocating organized-field uses where balls could reach houses, (3) present options without a pavilion or without a ball field, and (4) address parking scaled to the chosen amenities. Commissioner comments also requested that Bolton & Menk present variations that move the playground placement, shift fields to higher ground if feasible, and show stormwater solutions and potential conservation‑easement impacts on the nature side of the park.

Ending: Staff said the concepts are preliminary and intended to guide phased capital planning; the commission requested Bolton & Menk return with revised concept drawings and cost/implementation notes before a recommendation is forwarded to city council.