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Home My WebLink About2025-03-18 Work Session Meeting Packet Meeting location: Edina City Hall Community Room 4801 W. 50th St. Edina, MN City Council Work Session Meeting Agenda Tuesday, March 18, 2025 5:30 PM Accessibility Support: The City of Edina wants all residents to be comfortable being part of the public process. If you need assistance in the way of hearing amplification, an interpreter, large-print documents or something else, please call 952-927-8861 at least 72 hours in advance of the meeting. 1. Call to Order 2. Roll Call 3. Meeting Topics 3.1. Park Planning Updates: Fred Richards Park Master Plan and Braemar Park Master Plan 4. Adjournment Page 1 of 37 d ITEM REPORT Date: March 18, 2025 Item Activity: Discussion Information Meeting: City Council Agenda Number: 3.1 Prepared By: Perry Vetter, Parks & Recreation Director Item Type: Other Department: Parks & Recreation Item Title: Park Planning Updates: Fred Richards Park Master Plan and Braemar Park Master Plan Action Requested: None; information and discussion only. Information/Background: City staff will provide an update on the Local Option Sales Tax projects funding the Braemar Park and Fred Richards Park Master Plans. The Braemar Park master plan was created in 2017 with the help of residents and community members. City Council approved the master plan on Jan. 3, 2018. On Nov. 8, 2022, voters approved via referendum a local option sales tax to allocate $8.1 million of project funding for implementation and next phases of the Braemar Park master plan. Braemar Arena was built in the 1960s and has had a patchwork of upgrades since then, but some of its infrastructure is failing and many areas are worn and dated. Demand for ice time, from recreational hockey leagues to figure skating lessons to open ice skating, exceeds capacity. A half-cent sales and use tax approved by Edina voters in November 2023 will provide additional funding totaling $45.2 million for the upgrades and expansion. Braemar Arena will be upgraded and expanded to improve the experience for skaters, help meet community demand for ice time and preserve its historic legacy. Fred Richards Park is being created from the former Fred Richards Golf Course. The 43-acre site, almost double the size of Centennial Lakes Park, will become a multi-use park for a variety of activities year round. Fred Richards Park will subtly divide into sections, providing different experiences for people and nature. It also includes what was formerly known as Lake Edina Park. On Nov. 8, 2022, voters approved via referendum a local option sales tax to allocate $17.7 million of project funding for implementation and next phases of the Fred Richards Park master plan. Resources/Financial Impacts: Relationship to City Policies: Supporting Documentation: 1. Staff Presentation: Braemar and Fred Richards Park Project Updates Page 2 of 37 EdinaMN.gov Park Project Updates March 18, 2025 Perry Vetter, Tom Swenson, Rachel Finberg Page 3 of 37 Review and Comment Feedback Page 4 of 37 Grand Opening and Move in Occupancy & Closeout Project Management Construction Bidding and Permitting Construction Documents (CD, 90 -100%) Focus of Details Design Development (DD, 60%) Critical Connections Schematic Design (SD, 30%) Big Picture Predesign & Planning Project Process Fred RichardsFacility & Buildings Fred RichardsSite & Landscape Braemar Arena Braemar Park Page 5 of 37 Braemar Arena •Selected TEGRA as owners' rep and JLG as the project architect •Met with stakeholder groups on initial design ideas, wants and needs •Edina Hockey Association •Braemar City of Lakes Figure Skating Club •Edina School District/Athletics •Breakaway Academy •General Sports •Ikola Cup •Selected JGL as a subconsultant to assist with Food & Beverage operational analysis •Issued Request for Proposal and interviewing Construction Manager at Risk firms •Need to onboard CMaR to understand cost and budget implications Page 6 of 37 Braemar Arena •SB2030 and LEED •Geothermal •Solar •Natural Gas to Electricity •Pursuing alternate design to not demolish south rink •Save downtime/ice time •South is adequate condition •Better connect rinks for patrons and tenants •Enclose backyard rink •Alternate backyard rink •Continue with all other aspects of Master Plan (parking, drop off, equipment, etc.) Page 7 of 37 MASTER PLAN IMPLEMETATION Page 8 of 37 Nordic Ski Trails Road Reconstruction Trails and Arbor Day Trails and Natural Resources Pickleball and Parking Courtney Fields and Playground Signage, Safety, and Maintenance Trail Connection and 9 Mile Creek Bridge Crossing Page 9 of 37 •Next Steps: 2025/2026 South Segment alignment Recreation and Programming kickstarts MORC relationship building Braemar Trail Status •MORC agreement in place •Trail connection in design with SRF •Trail signage updates ongoing •RES signed on for restoration through 2028 •2025 Arbor Day Event •Oak Wilt Monitoring and Control •XC ski trail 2025/2026 hopeful Edina MTB Team Nigel Nowlin Eagle Scout Project Page 10 of 37 South Segment Connector Navigating: Wetland Conservation Easements Floodplain Requirements Bridge Structure and Footings Disruption planning for Golf Page 11 of 37 Braemar Dome and Pickleball •Address Safety Concerns with existing Lot •Increase Parking Capacity •Trailhead Access for Bikers •Restroom and changing access •Parking •Bike wash •Water bottle filler •Pickleball Courts •Stormwater BMPs Photo credits Pickleroll Photo credits PicklerollPage 12 of 37 Page 13 of 37 Courtney Fields Sports Lighting- COMPLETE Backstops and Netting- COMPLETE Playground- IN PROGRESS Paths and Sitework- IN PROGRESS ADA Seating and Bleachers- PENDING Electrical Switchgear- Fall 2025 Page 14 of 37 EdinaMN.gov Fred Richards Park City of Edina Confluence & EOR Page 15 of 37 Fred Richards Park Master Plan Implementation Update Page 16 of 37 Fred Richards Timeline Page 17 of 37 Page 18 of 37 2017 Project Highlights •Pickleball •Nature Bank •Adventure Playground •Open Greenspace Page 19 of 37 2023 Project Highlights •Food Forest •Sedge Meadow •Nature/ Inclusive Play •Gathering Spaces Page 20 of 37 2024 Project Highlights •Wetland Bank •Trails and Passive Recreation Spaces •Parking and Wetland Impacts •Restoration •Facility Shift Page 21 of 37 Wetland Bank Page 22 of 37 •Next steps: •Final approvals •Easement approval phase 2 •Legal boundary survey •Title Insurance Commitment •Filing •Monitoring and Maintenance Requirements (5 years) •Discussion on sales of credits and dispersal of proceeds Wetland Bank Update •Review of Wetland Impacts – Current •Submission of Wetland Bank Final Application This Month •Submission for Nine Mile Creek Stormwater Permitting – This Month •Financial Assurances for Impacts- March Council •Wetland Bank Easement approval- Pending 2+ month delay notice given in January. •Boardwalk Variance from NMCWD- pending stormwater permitting Page 23 of 37 Wetland Bank Vegetation Page 24 of 37 Facility Improvements •Remove maintenance building •Remodel existing clubhouse for programming and community use, add storage •New Building for food & beverage, restroom and gathering •In response to necessary shift in site design due to permitting requirements Page 25 of 37 Facility •OPN working on schematic design •JGL onboard to help with food and beverage •Hazmat analysis and testing •Next Steps •Select Design •CM costing •Sustainable Building Certification •F&B needs identified •Remediation work prior to demo or remodel Page 26 of 37 Page 27 of 37 Great Lawn Page 28 of 37 Food Forest Page 29 of 37 Balancing Nature Play and Inclusive Play Page 30 of 37 Page 31 of 37 Page 32 of 37 Page 33 of 37 Page 34 of 37 Click to watch 3D video of the proposed playground. 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