Parks staff presented a 10-year parks program at the July 8 workshop that includes playground replacements, trail maintenance and several potential pavilions. Marty said playgrounds typically have a 20'30 year lifespan and identified Lyons, Ridge and Reed playgrounds as candidates for replacement in the near term.

"Up until the last couple of years, we hadn't in Lake Elmo replaced the playgrounds. So playgrounds have between a 20 and 30 year lifespan," Marty said, explaining the department sets placeholders at 25 years and adjusts based on inspections.

Staff also described court and trail maintenance needs (seal coating and resurfacing) and suggested installing pavilions in one of four locations identified by the Parks Commission as priorities. Council discussed consolidating amenities into a larger central complex to focus quality over quantity; staff noted the $300,000 figure is a placeholder for a potential central site on land the city previously purchased near Sunfish Lake Park.

Council directed staff to pursue more community engagement and to coordinate with the Parks Commission on prioritization; staff said a more definitive scope and cost estimate would come after public input and design work.