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New Ulm council adopts 15-year Park and Recreation master plan after year-long community process
Summary
The City Council adopted a May 2026 Park & Recreation Comprehensive Master Plan that sets a 15-year vision after extensive public engagement (nearly 500 survey responses); the plan emphasizes maintenance, trail connectivity, accessibility and phased funding strategies.
The City Council of New Ulm voted to adopt a 15-year Park and Recreation Comprehensive Master Plan dated May 2026 following a presentation from consultant ISG and the city’s Park and Recreation director.
Joey Schugel, Park and Recreation Director, introduced the plan and said it was developed from the city’s 2024 comprehensive plan and a yearlong engagement process. "This plan should establish a 15 year vision for the city's parks, open spaces," Schugel said as he handed the presentation to ISG project staff.
Claire Roth, ISG project manager, summarized the process and findings, noting nearly 500 online survey responses and engagement with about 17 stakeholder groups. She said resident priorities included updates to existing facilities, expanded trail connections and more access to the riverfront, as well as amenities such as permanent restrooms, unique play areas and aquatics.
Jay Lauthammer of ISG highlighted operational recommendations including park classification, level-of-service mapping and prioritization criteria that weight safety and accessibility. He and ISG staff also discussed staging (short-, mid- and long-term actions), cost-estimating and possible funding sources and partnerships to reduce reliance on property taxpayers.
Councilors thanked staff and ISG for the work. A councillor offered a resolution to approve the master plan; the motion was seconded and carried on a roll call in which all voting members present recorded yes votes.
The plan will guide capital prioritization, maintenance and partnerships for parks throughout New Ulm over the next 15 years; staff and ISG outlined next steps for implementation, funding strategies and periodic review.
The council did not identify specific funding commitments at the meeting; implementation staging and potential funding sources were described in the plan documentation. The council adjourned the public meeting and scheduled a brief work session to follow.
