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Brainerd City Park Board approves phased skate-park application, bench program, camera upgrades and concert fee waiver
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Summary
At its meeting the Brainerd City Park Board directed staff to pursue a phased funding application for a Memorial Park skate park and approved a string of park actions including Saint Croix memorial benches, prioritized security cameras, hydroseeding donations, a bandstand fee waiver for Friends of Gregory Park and other operational items.
The Brainerd City Park Board voted unanimously to direct staff to prepare a phased funding application for the Memorial Park skate park and approved multiple park projects and operational items during its meeting.
The board directed staff to support a three-phase skate-park approach that would let construction begin in phases while fundraising continues, with staff returning to the board to finalize the special-appropriation application. Chair Miller moved the motion to approve the preliminary phasing and to authorize staff to prepare the application; a board member seconded the motion and it carried by voice vote.
Other approvals at the meeting included:
- Saint Croix memorial benches (engraved) — staff recommended the Saint Croix option (about $998 per bench) over a polyscape alternative; engraving fees were described as $35 setup per line plus about $6 per letter. Placement and lifetime-replacement policy will follow existing park procedures.
- Professional services roster — staff summarized a citywide RFP that yielded 33 proposals for an on-call consultant pool; the park-related roster will move to the city council on May 4 for formal contract approvals.
- Security cameras — the board prioritized fixed camera replacements at Memorial Park and the LUM pavilion where fiber and power exist, and authorized use of cellular "game" cameras for more remote locations such as Rotary and Mississippi Landing.
- Hydroseeding/topsoil donation at Gregory Park — Community Action and a donor (DeChantel) will fund and provide materials and labor for topsoil and hydroseeding; the board approved the plan, noting staff must meet an approximate June 28 timeline to achieve grass establishment and should plan for supplemental watering if needed.
- Bandstand fee waiver for Friends of Gregory Park — Friends requested a waiver of the $50 bandstand reservation fee for a seven-concert summer series (June 4–Aug. 27) and offered to insure events and assist with repairs; the board approved a waiver and asked staff to formalize a recurring-use agreement.
- Additional items — the board also approved a temporary YMCA youth golf program at Memorial Park, an annual concession agreement with Rosalini's Pizza, a color preference (tan) for the Lions Park playground rubberized surface to be added to park design standards, and a June meeting date change to June 30.
Why it matters: the consolidated approvals advance several city park improvements, start fundraising and procurement steps for larger capital projects and open the bandstand for a community-run concert series while staff addresses safety and repair concerns.
What happens next: staff will return with application materials and formal agreements where required (the skate-park application and consultant contracts will proceed toward city council review). Where staff was directed to prepare formal agreements, those will be brought back to the board for final sign-off as soon as practical.
