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Arden Hills Service Directory 1245 West Highway 96 Arden Hills, MN 55112-5734 Office Hours Monday through Friday 8:00 a.m.—4:30 p.m. 651-792-7800 www.cityofardenhills.org Sheriff and Fire 911 Water and Sewer Problems (During non-business hours) 651-767-0640 Mayor: David Grant 651-538-0747 dgrant@cityofardenhills.org Councilmembers: Brenda Holden 651-636-2987 bholden@cityofardenhills.org Fran Holmes 651-631-1866 fholmes@cityofardenhills.org Dave McClung 651-332-0352 davemcclung@comcast.net Robert Woodburn 651-633-2389 rwood37393@aol.com City Administrator: Patrick Klaers 651-792-7810 pklaers@cityofardenhills.org Communications Committee Editors/writers: Susan Cathey, Tina Kulzer Writer: Emma Theis Council Liaison: David Grant Staff Liaison: Amy Dietl Desktop Publisher: Mary Nosek Council meetings are held at City Hall on the second and last Monday of the month at 7 p.m. Meetings are televised live on Cable Channel 16. Meetings of the Planning Commission are televised as well. Visit www.cityofardenhills.org for information about taped meeting playbacks. Arden Hills Notes is the official news- letter of the City of Arden Hills, an equal-opportunity employer. 2 City Park Profiles--a series Floral Park 1423 W. Floral Drive by Tina Kulzer The original 11 acres of Floral Park were purchased from O.J. Husby & Sons in 1965 for $11,000. At this time, the surrounding neighborhood was among the least popu- lated areas in Arden Hills and had yet to realize its projected growth potential. The park’s undeveloped acreage was scenic, heavily wooded, and included a low marsh area. As development plans were considered by the City, it was agreed that the wooded areas were to be kept undisturbed to allow for passive enjoyment of the lush landscape. Other preliminary plans included building out several ball fields, a hard surface area, and tennis courts. In 1969, an additional nine acres adjacent to the park were purchased from Amos C. Gale for $12,600. This parcel was purchased as a possible site for an Arden Hills civic center. Action on a civic center concept was delayed due to financial considerations, however, and the idea was ultimately abandoned. In 1975, the Parks and Recreation Committee approved concept plans conceived by three landscape architect students from the University of Minnesota. Development moved forward over the years, based on the information provided by these students. Through the years, this 20-acre park was developed to serve the recreation needs of what was soon to become one of the most populous neighborhoods in all of Arden Hills. Trails, woods, and a wide range of amenities Today, Floral Park offers a little bit of something for everyone. It is a very well-connected park, with trail access on Hamline Avenue (which connects to trails leading into Cum- mings Park), Royal Lane, and Norma Avenue. Floral Park is one of the more easily accessible neighborhood parks in Arden Hills, offering pedestrian access points in many directions. For visitors arriving to Floral Park by car, street parking is available on the south side of Royal Lane only. Floral Park’s amenities are spread throughout the park in three main areas that are separat- ed visually by woods, but all connected by paved trail. Trail access at the park’s northeast corner on Hamline Avenue forms the park’s northern boundary as it winds through heavy woods and marshland. The trail leads to a youth-league ball field and soccer field, situated on a lower elevation open space surrounded by trees. Following the trail south through another patch of woods leads to the playground area. The current play structure and swing set were installed in 2001. This area also offers a picnic shelter, portable restroom facilities, and a new pollinator garden with park bench seating (see page 3). Paved trail continues from the playground area to the park’s southern boundary at the corner of Floral Drive and Royal Lane, where there is a hard surface area featuring a tennis court (with full fencing) and full-court basketball. The hard courts were last resurfaced in 2012. Fall is the perfect time of year to visit Floral Park. Get out and enjoy the changing of the seasons at this meandering, picturesque park!