11-18-25 - PTRC Minutes - Laserfiche WebLink

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Parks, Trails & Recreation Committee – November 18, 2025 Page 8 reasons. The playground is missing a portion of the container due to rot. The benches and the actual play structure will be upgraded. Discussion ensued that Ingerson is Arden Hills’ premier sledding location. Any tree plantings will take that into consideration and will be spread out to avoid the paths sledders would take. Further discussion ensued that there isn’t enough parking to accommodate all of the people who sled there. They have floated the idea of removing the grove of diseased trees and putting a parking lot there. Committee Member Rogers noted the difference between a pavilion and a warming house. Given how much sledding happens there, she would like to see a warming house to provide more shelter from the weather. Parks and Recreation Manager Skalicky said the pavilion is functional but it’s not as modern looking as other parks’ pavilions. She added a warming house to the list of possible improvements. Committee Member Olson asked if accessibility is being considered. Parks and Recreation Manager Skalicky said there are two cul-de-sacs that butt up to the park. There is a plan for the City to build a trail between the cul-de-sacs. There are discussions of a north to south trail along Lexington from Ingerson to the park. The trail between the cul-de-sacs will be a City project. That Lexington trail would be in conjunction with Ramsey County. Committee Member Olson asked how much got removed for the improvements in 2025. How can the PTRC help the City realize the importance of adding funds in the budget for these improvements? Parks and Recreation Manager Skalicky said being on the PTRC is a good start. She will use any and all feedback she receives. Committee Member Olson said PTRC was asked to chime in on Freeway and Arden Oaks Parks and their feedback was not heard and no additional funding was budgeted for. In the end, the improvements seem to be the bare minimum. She would like to prevent that from happening again. She joined this committee to be an advocate for the parks and trails. If there is no funding, there isn’t much the PTRC can do to help. Committee Member Julius assumes there are a basic set of needs. There shouldn’t be a park that doesn’t have swing sets. They are always in use. She is a huge fan of community builds. If the community can rally to save the City some money, she is sure she could find people to volunteer. This community wants to contribute. Committee Member Johnson thought there were a lot of people who responded to a survey question regarding wanting to help. Parks and Recreation Manager Skalicky said residents were asked if they would support an increase in spending on parks projects. She said there was a majority in favor of that.