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Lake Elmo council approves park use policy changes to reserve half of pickleball courts and make some deposits nonrefundable
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Summary
The council approved revisions to the park use policy that limit reservable pickleball courts to 50% at each site, set a $20 three-hour fee for individual court reservations, make certain deposits nonrefundable and add a $100 security deposit for pavilion rentals.
The Lake Elmo City Council on Dec. 16 approved revisions to the city’s park use policy aimed at increasing open-play access and clarifying fee and reservation procedures. The changes will take effect in January and will be incorporated into the official 2026 fee schedule.
Interim Public Works Director Mr. Swinopold said staff and the parks commission reviewed the city’s park use rules, which were last updated in 2019, and recommended several changes to improve transparency and fairness. “Our park use policy was, and hasn't been changed since 2019,” Swinopold said during his presentation.
Key changes adopted by the council include limiting reservable pickleball courts to 50% of courts at each site so half remain open for drop-in play, retaining a three-hour maximum reservation length, and charging $20 for a three-hour individual reservation. The council approved making some previously refundable deposits nonrefundable for reservations and adding a $100 security deposit for pavilion rentals; staff said that security deposit would be returned after post-event inspection if no damage occurred.
Staff explained higher recurring maintenance and resurfacing costs for courts. Swinopold cited resurfacing estimates of about $7,000 per tennis court and approximately $21,000 to resurface the three courts at Pebble Park when work is required in a few years. He said those costs are likely to be addressed through the city’s CIP and park dedication funds.
Council members asked about comparability with neighboring cities, digital reservation availability and how fees would be applied to clubs versus individual users. Staff said the city moved its reservation form into a new website facilities module that should provide near-instant availability updates and self-service booking.
A motion to approve the park use policy revisions was moved, seconded and approved by voice vote. The policy will be added to the 2026 fee schedule adopted later in the meeting.
