Dayton parks commission debates band shell, parking and fire features for LC Stevens and PSA 21

Consultant Paul Kangas and Dayton’s parks commissioners spent the meeting focusing on design and budget priorities for LC Stevens Park (phase 3) and Park Service Area 21 (PSA 21), including whether to prioritize a band shell or divert funds to parking, fire features and other visitor infrastructure.

Kangas, who introduced himself as a Dayton resident and consultant with IOA Inc., summarized the planned work: a bridge contract already bid and scheduled for winter installation, irrigation contracted for spring as part of a five-park package, and phase 3 elements that include expanded seating, stage enhancements, a decorative gate required by Hennepin County and new entry signage. He told commissioners the parking lot is being priced as a bid alternate so it can be accepted only if bids allow.

Why it matters: commissioners must decide which elements to include in a March bid pack and which to defer; that decision will affect construction timing, event programming and how frequently the new amenities can be used. Kangas said a clear recommendation is needed now to finalize the RFP content.

Debate over priorities

Commissioners and residents voiced divergent views about where limited dollars should go. Some argued for a higher-quality, more permanent band shell that could boost programming and draw visitors; others said parking and smaller, lower-cost amenities would make the park usable sooner and support more frequent events.

"If we have $1,500,000 to do this entire project, then we can look at all kinds of options," Kangas said, noting the design and material choices are tightly tied to budget. He added that the stage area sits at flood elevations and any permanent structure in the floodway must be designed for occasional inundation.

Several commissioners favored a phased approach that prioritized infrastructure and accessibility. "I'd rather have it take more time, but be something that's gonna stand the test of time and is gonna drive people to the park," said Councilor Trost (Speaker 4). Another commissioner (Speaker 7) said smaller, multi-pod fire features would be "more affordable and maybe more useful" in the near term than an expensive masonry fireplace.

Design, operations and accessibility

The consultant recommended allowing electrical conduit at the shelter for event needs such as crockpots and sound systems and said a porta-potty on a concrete pad and an ADA-accessible changing station would be important for rentals and larger events. Commissioners emphasized programming frequency matters: a shelter used only twice a year has different needs than one used monthly.

Kangas warned that, because parts of the band shell area lie within a 500-year flood plain, conventional wood construction would not perform well; he recommended reinforced steel columns with flood-resistant footings or a more temporary canopy solution. He also noted fabric canopies typically carry warranties around 10 years.

Funding and next steps

Staff reported a $100,000 grant has been awarded to support the project. Kangas said that once bid pricing returns the commission will have a clearer picture of which alternates are affordable. Staff reiterated the RFP schedule: release this week with proposals due early January and an expected contract award by early February if the timeline holds.

The commission did not take a final vote on the major design tradeoffs at this meeting; instead members asked staff and the consultant to return with funding/bid information and a clearer list of recommended alternates so the parks commission can make a prioritized recommendation to the city council at the next steps.

What’s next: staff plans to post master-plan materials on the city website and bring detailed furniture and pricing to the next parks-commission meeting scheduled for Jan. 7. New staff (Ashley McCurdy) will join part time to assist with project administration.