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Eagan recreation division reports growth in preschool, summer camps and sustainability; Art House on track for mid‑2025 opening
Summary
Recreation superintendent Tanya Mozzinger told the Eagan Advisory Parks & Rec Commission that preschool enrollment and summer camp participation rose in 2024, the department rolled out teen programs and sustainability efforts at events, and the Eagan Art House construction is on schedule for classes in June 2025 and a grand opening Sept. 13, 2025.
Tanya Mozzinger, recreation superintendent, told the Eagan Advisory Parks and Recreation Commission the recreation division broadened offerings in 2024 and is preparing several changes for 2025.
Mozzinger highlighted new teen programming including the inaugural Leaders in Training program, which trained participants as if they were summer staff and deployed them to summer-in-the-park sites to gain work experience and assist staff. She said the department moved summer camp registration earlier—opening in February rather than March—to better align with other providers and increase fill rates for 2025: “We started our summer camp registration in February,” Mozzinger said, noting the change helped fill more classes and reduce cancellations.
The department reported continued strength in early‑childhood and youth programming. Staff said preschool programs run at Bridal Ridge, Trapp Farm and Moonshine Park and serve more than 550 preschoolers annually. The summer-in-the-park program ran at three park sites and enrolled almost 1,700 children in 2024, a roughly 6% increase over 2023.
Mozzinger also described outreach and community events led by program staff. Outreach efforts—including a weekly free flagship “All Play” event—drew thousands: staff said the flagship series saw more than 3,000 visitors across events, and Market Fest averaged about 1,800 weekly visitors. Sarah Larson, who oversees community events, said the summer food-truck festival hosted about 13,000 attendees and 25 trucks.
On sustainability, recreation staff worked with Dakota Valley Recycling to distribute 1,500 reusable produce bags at Market Fest and expanded a reusable cup program at the food truck festival that staff estimated diverted about 4,600 disposable cups from landfill. Mozzinger said staff will continue those initiatives in 2025 and coordinate with the city’s climate action plan.
The presentation included a construction update on the Eagan Art House. Julie Anderson, recreation supervisor for the Art House, and Mozzinger said the new facility broke ground in May 2024 and has progressed through sitework and the first lift of asphalt. Staff reported windows were scheduled to be installed the day after the meeting, drywall was expected soon, and geothermal wells (about 40) are planned. Classes will continue at the existing Art House through April 2025; staff plan a transition period in May and anticipate welcoming classes in the new building in June 2025, with a grand opening on Sept. 13, 2025 as part of Eagan Art Block.
Mozzinger closed by inviting commissioners and residents to upcoming programs and early‑registration dates expected for winter and summer offerings.
