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Parks, Trails & Recreation Committee Meeting Minutes September 21, 2021 Page 3 Red Fox Road to Gray Fox Road that will be finished on the Arden Hills (west) side of Lexington so you will be able to walk from Red Fox Road to County Road E. Interim Public Works Director Swearingen said this summer Public Works completed crack sealing and fog sealing on the Elmer Anderson trail. As part of the 2021 PMP they rehabilitated trail connections from each of those streets and added ADH compliant pedestrian ramps. Hazelnut Park now has a new connection to Prior Avenue that is ADH compliant. Also, the crosswalks on Hamline Avenue are completed with an ADH compliant pedestrian ramp and receiving pad near Wyncrest, and ADH ramps and rapid flashing beacons at the trail crossing. B. Trail List Update Chair Van Valkenburg stated he attended a City Council Work Session on July 26 and the discussed the trail priorities list submitted by the PTRC. It was decided they would try to have better communication between the Council and PTRC and meet at least annually. Mayor Grant felt it would be important in 2022 for PTRC to have a clear work plan. The committee seems to focus on trails and could have a broader view on parks and recreation. C. National Fitness Campaign Fitness Court Chair Van Valkenburg stated that staff had sent a brochure about fitness courts that could be used by people of all abilities and ages. Is there an interest in the community for a court and which parks would it fit? Staff Liaison Vaughan added this would be free to the public equipment. There are only a few other courts like this in Minnesota and none in the metro area. The court is 38’X38’ which is roughly half of a tennis court. Adding a fitness court to one of the parks would help turn it into a destination park. He’d like location ideas and if they think it would be a viable project. He spoke with a representative from the National Fitness Campaign who sent a list of locations they suggested. The equipment is body weight, free motion pieces. Grant funding would be $30,000, local funding match around $110,000. There would be other options to explore through the DNR. Committee Member Poelzer said she would be willing to work with staff on this, and there is a video available to show what the courts look like. She thought it was a great idea and liked Cummings Park for a location. Chair Van Valkenburg asked if anyone else would like to help staff explore this further. Interim Public Works Director Swearingen said the idea of the item is to gauge interest of the committee. If there is interest they can try to work it into the City’s capital plan. Committee Member Hinton thought it was a wonderful idea, including making one of the parks more of a destination. Chair Van Valkenburg asked for more information on partnerships and locations, and another staff report next month.