Background

Originally constructed in 1991, Scenic Heights Park serves residents between US HWY 169, Marshall Road and Eagle Creek Blvd, and is accessible to many residents via the Vierling Greenway, with over 800 households living within a 1/2 mile (10 to 15 minutes walk) from the park. Master planning efforts have been underway for the last several months and staff is asking for Council's approval to move forward with the proposed, revised concept plan.

Community Engagement

Residents in the Southbridge neighborhood were notified by mail, doorknocker and email about open houses and surveys. Information was sent in both Spanish and English.
An in person open house prior to concept design was held in late Summer 2020 where over 60 residents attended.
After concepts were designed, residents were re-notified about a chance to vote on the designs and leave more feedback. A virtual open house was also held to give residents more detail on the designs.

Concepts

Residents were shown two concepts in the design feedback surveys. The first concept was a more play focused park which offered an expanded playground, a pumptrack and two half court basketball courts. The second concept was a more multi-generational park which showed a pickleball courts, an expanded playground and a large bankshot course. Concept plans which were shown to residents are attached to this item.

In total, 153 residents took the design feedback survey and most preferred the multi-generational design which offered pickleball courts but swapped half court basketball for bankshot.

Staff worked to revise the concepts based on neighborhood feedback and due to cost constraints and concerns that too many activities may cause parking issues in the neighborhood. The modified concept is similar to concept 2, but shows 4 pickleball courts rather than 8.

Budget Impacts

Early in park planning, it was obvious to staff that Scenic Heights Park serves as more of a community park rather than a neighborhood park given its dense service area. The 2021 CIP was revised to include an additional $200,000 for more park amenities. The total allocated funding for this park is $250,000 in 2021, and $200,000 in 2022. The concept plan as proposed has a cost estimate of $925,000. Improvements will be phased in, with playground construction to be completed in 2021, and the remainder of master plan amenities to be phased in as budget allows. Staff will review the CIP and reallocate money within the Park Development fund over the next several years.

Next Steps

Staff is asking for approval of the proposed concept plan for Scenic Heights Park. If approved,  staff will work with the consultants to develop construction documents and with St. Croix Recreation to complete a final estimate for playground construction for 2021.

Public Works will manage the projects through construction with the additional amenities to be completed over the next several years if the CIP is revised and approved by Council and when funding is available.

A total of $450,000 has been allocated in the 2021 CIP for years 2021 and 2022. The concept plan as proposed has a cost opinion of $925,000. Improvements will be phased in, with playground construction ($250,000) to be completed in 2021, and the remainder of master plan amenities to be phased in as the budget allows. Staff will review the CIP, and reallocate money within the Park Development fund over the next several years and submit the changes as part of the CIP review and adoption..