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HomeMy WebLinkAbout11-18-25 PTRC Chair: Dan Dietz (2027) Committee Members: Lacy Loosbrock (2025) Kerri Seemann (2025) Kate Olson (2025) Emelia Rogers (2025) Nancy Jacobson (2025) Elizabeth Johnson (2026) Derek Hilding (2027) Nikhath Nazir Ahmed (2027) “SJ” Julius (2027) Youth Committee Member: Ted Chesrund Council Liaison: Emily Rousseau Staff Liaison: Jess Skalicky Arden Hills Parks, Trails and Recreation Committee November 18, 2025 6:30 pm City Hall 1245 W. Highway 96 Arden Hills, MN 55112 651-792-7800 www.cityofardenhills.org City Vision Arden Hills is a strong community that values its unique environmental setting, strong residential neighborhoods, vital business community, well-maintained infrastructure, fiscal soundness, and our long-standing tradition as a desirable City in which to live, work, and play. Agenda CALL TO ORDER 1. APPROVAL OF AGENDA 2. APPROVAL OF MINUTES A. October 21, 2025 3. REPORTS A. Council Liaison Update B. Parks and Recreation Report C. Trails and Parks Projects Update 4. UNFINISHED BUSINESS 5. NEW BUSINESS A. Great River Greening Update – Natural Resources Management Draft B. 2027 Park Improvement Projects – Initial Site Inspections – Perry, Sampson, Ingerson 6. REPORTS FROM COMMITTEES A. Rain Gardens Work Group Update B. Natural Habitat Restoration Work Group Update C. Special Event Enrichment Work Group Update D. Volunteer Coordinating Work Group Update E. Trails Work Group Update 7. NEXT MEETING A. Tuesday, December 16, 2025 8. ADJOURNMENT CITY OF ARDEN HILLS PARKS, TRAILS AND RECREATION COMMITTEE MEETING TUESDAY, OCTOBER 21, 2025, 6:30 PM ARDEN HILLS CITY HALL CALL MEETING TO ORDER Committee Chair Dan Dietz called the October 21, 2025, meeting of the Parks, Trails, and Recreation Committee to order at 6:30 p.m. MEMBERS PRESENT: Dan Dietz, Nancy Jacobson, Amelia Rogers, Derek Hilding, SJ Julius, Nikhath Nazir Ahmed, Lacy Loosbrock, Ted Chesrund and Liz Johnson OTHERS PRESENT: Parks and Recreation Manager Jess Skalicky and Council Liaison Emily Rousseau ABSENT:. Committee Members Kate Olson and Kerri Seemann 1. APPROVAL OF AGENDA MOTION: Committee Member Julius moved and Committee Member Johnson seconded a motion to approve the agenda. The motion carried unanimously among members present. 2. APPROVAL OF MINUTES A. September 16, 2025 PTRC Minutes MOTION: Committee Member Hilding moved and Committee Member Rogers seconded a motion to approve the meeting minutes, as written. The motion carried unanimously among members present. 3. REPORT A. Council Liaison Update Council Liaison Rousseau said the Park System Master Plan Open House will take place on November 4 from 6-8pm at City Hall. Postcards went out and they are hoping for a strong turn out. Council Liaison Rousseau said November 4 is also Election Day and she encouraged everyone to vote, reminding everyone local elections are important. Council Liaison Rousseau said City Council has participated in three strategic planning sessions. They created a two year road map that we will be working towards. PTRC has several items in our area of interest. Those included expanding Adopt-A-Park and sponsorship programs, communication assessment and improvement plan. EDC will have a work plan approved. PTRC Parks, Trails & Recreation Committee – October 21, 2025 Page 2 priorities in 2026 include invasive species, educational plan, complete Park Master Plan, project prioritization and identify Park Plan funding opportunities. Staff is looking to assess technology needs and to determine if Staffing needs are being met. We’re always exploring alternative funding sources. Council Liaison Rousseau said Council will be reviewing some policies. We are going through a complete zoning overhaul. A PTRC initiative may include a city-owned land discussion. PTRC may also be tasked with helping implement the encroachment policy. Council Liaison Rousseau said EDC will host a business event where she will share Adopt-A- Park with the businesses attending. Council Liaison Rousseau said City Council set a preliminary budget for 2026. It is 18.32%. She understands that is painful. The amount can not go any higher than that, but may be reduced. This is an increase of approximately $255 a year, per household. Council is hoping to get it down to 16%, would still be $236 per household. Half of that budget covers Public Safety. The Tree Trust is included, at this time. There is $9,000 in the budget for next year for Great River Greening. There is also a hold of $10,000 to build up additional funds to start implementing the Park Master Plan work. Council Liaison Rousseau said she met with John Mazzitello from Ramsey County. He proposed and Council agreed to move the Highway 10 trail project to 2027. There is a cost participation policy where the County pays a portion of the proj ect. The policy is being revised so the County would pay a bigger portion so the City will have less burden. She asked him where the funds come from. He stated the County put money aside for a river view project. That is not happening now. The money will be distributed so the County will pay more on the trail projects via that cost participation policy. She understands this delay may be disappointing but it could save the City a lot of money on our portion of those project expenses. Council Liaison Rousseau said the County has agreed to fully fund the Rice Creek Commons spine road, as well as the City sewer costs. They are hoping the mass grading will begin in 2026 and the spine road will be built in 2027. Committee Member Johnson said there is information on what that road will look like, including sidewalks and median. She asked how final that is and if there is room for change. Council Liaison Rousseau said there was an open house a couple years ago. At that time Mr. Mazzitello said design was 60% complete. She could ask and see if the plans are final. She spoke to Rich Straumann and it isn’t what he was expecting it to be. Committee Member Johnson said time could be limited on whether or not PTRC gets to give any input. Committee Member Jacobson said her sub-group had some issues with the width of the distance between the road and the trail. They thought it was a lot of empty space. Committee Member Nazir Ahmed thought they may have left space for a future expansion. Committee Member Jacobson asked if construction of the spine road would include the trail. Parks, Trails & Recreation Committee – October 21, 2025 Page 3 Council Liaison Rousseau isn’t sure. She thought it was going to be built at the same time. She will get clarification. Committee Member Nazir Ahmed asked if the trail is a County or City project. Council Liaison Rousseau said it will all be County. Committee Member Rogers asked if the Highway 10 Trail will begin in 2027, or if that is when it is expected to be completed. Council Liaison Rousseau said it would begin in 2027. She asked how long the other portion of that same trail took to complete. Committee Member Rogers said once construction began, it was about six months. Council Liaison Rousseau assumes it will be completed within the year construction starts. Committee Member Loosbrock asked if pushing the trail will cost the City more. Council Liaison Rousseau said the cost of those types of projects aren’t increasing the same way other things are. The biggest difference is the County will pay a substantially larger portion which could save the City $200,000. Committee Member Rogers asked when the PTRC should begin talking about their feedback on projects. Is it six months prior to the project? She believes the PTRC have given feedback in the past that didn’t go anywhere. She wants to figure out how to bring some of those old items back to see if they can gain traction. There is a tricky turn lane on Lake Valentine Road. That road is heavily traveled by high schoolers. She said a trail there is confusing. It would be nice to know when they can anticipate an open house or discussion regarding that. Council Liaison Rousseau said there was an open house regarding the Old Highway 10 project. She isn’t sure what the next steps are for outreach surrounding that. She will check into that. Committee Member Loosbrock asked if there has been a design submitted, other than the information at the open house. Council Liaison Rousseau said that is the last time she remembers seeing any updates on that. She feels the design is about 80% complete. Committee Member Johnson said there is a trail being installed by her neighborhood on the west side of 51. The open house is this week. It is supposed to be built in spring of 2026. Discussion ensued regarding how the feedback provided at open houses isn’t always implemented. Committee Members discussed reaching out to different groups and county commissioners to give their feedback. Council Liaison Rousseau summarized the items she will seek additional information on and said she will report back when she has some answers. Parks, Trails & Recreation Committee – October 21, 2025 Page 4 B. Parks and Recreation Report Parks and Recreation Manager Skalicky said there is an open house for the Park System Plan is on November 4. The consultants will be sharing the information they have gathered so far and will also be taking feedback. The open house that Committee Member Johnson mentioned is not a City open house. She assured the Committee that she will use feedback gathered at the open house on November 4. She noted that sometimes there are reasons that certain feedback can’t be implemented. Parks and Recreation Manager Skalicky said she toured Ingerson, Perry and Sampson Parks and took inventory. The Park Lead pointed out the improvements that each park needs. It was comprehensive. She will share more information regarding those beginning phases of improving those parks in 2027. She outlined some of the issues at those parks. Parks and Recreation Manager Skalicky said the 75 Anniversary Committee is meeting and is hoping there will be some money allocated for that at an upcoming work session. The date is July 17, 2026, in conjunction with the Penny Carnival, which will be moved to Cummings Park rather than Perry Park because of space. The other events are still being decided. Parks and Recreation Manager Skalicky said her list of projects include Adopt-A-Park, rain gardens, tree abatements, Park Master Plan and helping to systemize and organize the Recreation Department. Committee Member Johnson asked if the EDC will seek sponsorships for the 75th Anniversary from the businesses attending their event. Council Liaison Rousseau said it will be mentioned. Parks and Recreation Manager Skalicky said she is hopeful a decision will be made on the 75th budget soon so that specific events and details can be finalized. C. Trails and Parks Projects Update Parks and Recreation Manager Skalicky provided the update from Assistant Public Works Director Miller. She noted the items in bold are new items. She said there will be an open house on October 23 from 3-7 pm at Centennial United Methodist Church in Roseville regarding the Minnesota 51 Trail improvements. The City is promoting this event, but it is a MnDOT event. Parks and Recreation Manager Skalicky noted the Old Highway 10 trail has been pushed to 2027 pending those cost sharing policy changes anticipated at the County level. Her understanding is that currently it is a 50/50 split in cost between the City and the County. This cost sharing policy could potentially change that to 10% City cost and 90% County cost. Council Liaison Rousseau said the actual split is still to be discussed. Discussion ensued that the City did not receive any Safe Routes to School Grant funds. Parks and Recreation Manager Skalicky said the proposed Lake Johanna Blvd. Trail has been broken out to include three separate segments over three separate years. She said the west segment Parks, Trails & Recreation Committee – October 21, 2025 Page 5 will be completed in 2029, the east segment will be completed in 2030 and the middle segment will be completed in 2031. Committee Member Jacobson said the trail isn’t that long. She wondered what the reasoning was to split the project. Parks and Recreation Manager Skalicky said it wasn’t a City decision. Discussion ensued that the City will pay for some of the project but Ramsey County is leading the construction. Committee Member Hilding asked what is happening with the Hazelnut parking lot. Council Liaison Rousseau said Mayor Grant and Councilmember Holden had negotiations with the church. The church has a large decision making board. She believes we have an easement with them to use the parking lot. That is on pause until the church board makes a decision. Parks and Recreation Manager Skalicky said her understanding is the parking lot is owned by the church and the City has an easement. Parks and Recreation Manager Skalicky said Arden Oaks Park and Freeway Park are substantially completed. She said there have been concerns regarding kids getting on the entrance ramp at Freeway Park. There is a temporary snow fence installed now, until the permanent fence is installed next year. The last item at those parks is the restoration of the green space. 4. UNFINISHED BUSINESS None. 5. NEW BUSINESS Committee Member Nazir Ahmed asked if there are any ordinances regarding way-finding or signage on trails. Parks and Recreation Manager Skalicky isn’t sure if there any ordinances or codes specific to way-finding. She said that is something on her list of tasks and processes she would like to address. Committee Member Nazir Ahmed thought that is something Bolton and Menk should address. Committee Member Jacobson said there are Arden Hills signs. She wondered how those were funded and asked who made and installed them. She thinks they are effective and have good information. Some of it is outdated, though. Discussion ensued regarding collaboration between Cities and the County. There a couple of different designs of signs. The County redesigned all of their signs. The Arden Hills signs are a different design. Committee Member Johnson said way-finding should definitely be a part of the Parks Master Plan, to include a schedule for how often the signs should be updated. Parks, Trails & Recreation Committee – October 21, 2025 Page 6 Parks and Recreation Manager Skalicky said another city she worked for completed a similar park master plan. Way-finding was not a part of that. That city had just begun the process for hiring a consultant to complete a way-finding study when she left. They were separate components. She doesn’t think it is in the plans to include way-finding with the current Park Master Plan. She thinks it is a big project. Committee Member Johnson said she thinks the consultants are focusing on the actual parks and the amenities in those spaces, with less focus on the connecting trails. Parks and Recreation Manager Skalicky said her visit to Sampson Park the other day included assessments of the entire park, including the trail that runs through it. Trails that run through parks will be addressed the most in the Parks System Master Plan, and the trail system as a whole will also be addressed. Chair Dietz said he heard the Bob Mullins sign has been approved. He hopes PTRC will be involved in the design and placement of the sign. There are a couple of other signs in the garden with a standard commercial look. He hopes the sign dedicating this garden can look more rustic. Parks and Recreation Manager Skalicky said we had to designate a specific spot in the park as Mullins Gardens. The sign will be a designator stating the name of the spot. The sign will be consistent with how other designating signs look. The sign is already done. Discussion ensued regarding the location of the sign. There are a lot of signs in that area. Committee Members expressed disappointment that this sign will be just one more sign in that area. Committee members believe the entrance to the garden would be a better placement option. Council Liaison Rousseau said signs can be moved. She said Elenore said there have been volunteer opportunities and there have been no Arden Hills volunteers. Chair Dietz said there are two, including himself. He spoke to her about having a temporary sign out when they are doing the work. That may encourage passersby to stop and inquire about the work they are doing and those folks may want to get involved. Committee Member Nazir Ahmed said she advertised for volunteers for one of her projects. It was just before school started and she didn’t get any volunteers. There is a lot of work to do. Committee Member Rogers wanted to know who is responsible for the signs on the trails and who is responsible for the signs at the parks. Parks and Recreation Manager Skalicky said it would fall under Public Works and Parks. The direction she was given regarding Mullins Garden was that it would be uniform to other spot designating signs. Discussion ensued regarding signage at Tony Schmidt Park, which is a Ramsey County park. Further discussion ensued regarding trail signs on trails that are not part of a specific park. There are Arden Hills signs that popped up a few years ago and they face the wrong direction. PTRC has been trying but have been unable to determine who put them up. Parks, Trails & Recreation Committee – October 21, 2025 Page 7 Parks and Recreation Manager Skalicky said she is not aware of those specific signs that are facing the wrong direction. She will look into it and make adjustments if she can. 6. REPORTS FROM COMMITTEES A. Rain Gardens Work Group Updates None. B. Natural Habitat Restoration Work Group Update Parks and Recreation Manager Skalicky said she met with Committee Member Seemann at Chatham Park this week. She has grand plans for that area. There has been a lot of work done already. C. Special Event Enrichment Work Group Update None. D. Volunteer Coordinating Work Group Update Committee Member Loosbrock said the Flashlight Pumpkin Hunt was well attended. The Lions Club and National Honors Society Students had a lot of volunteers to help with the event. E. Trails Work Group Update Committee Member Johnson said they had their first official meeting. There is a lot of interest from residents outside of the PTRC members who would like to be a part of that group. She said everyone is gaining a lot of knowledge from Rich Straumann. He is helping them connect the dots and understand Ramsey County’s grand plan. Learning how the funding works at the County level has been very educational. She said she walked Crepeau Park with Mr. Straumann and Committee Member Jacobson to look at where the trail breaks are there. They also noted a lot of trails end at someone’s back yard. Parks and Recreation Manager Skalicky said there are residents who have encroached on City land. So it appears you are in someone’s yard, but it is actually City land that those residents have chosen to improve. Committee Member Johnson said that is an important piece to the discussion regarding signage. It should be clear where the City land is. This work group will meet again in December. Committee Member Hilding said they are trying to wrap their heads around the trail map. As previously stated by the PTRC it is difficult to know what trails exist, which are in the planning stages and what trails are just possible trails that may or may not be developed in the future. Parks and Recreation Manager Skalicky said Bolton and Menk are creating a new trails map. Committee Member Johnson said when they toured Crepeau, a lot more of the trail is paved than is indicated on Google Maps. Parks, Trails & Recreation Committee – October 21, 2025 Page 8 Committee Member Chesrund said he runs in that area a lot. Bethel paved a lot of that trail about two years ago. Parks and Recreation Manager Skalicky said she fixed the issue with how to get to Cummings Park with the directions on different mapping platforms. It used to bring you to Wyncrest when searching for Cummings. That is fixed on Apple Maps and Google Maps after she submitted requests to both companies. Committee Member Jacobson said there was a lot of erosion on the creek at Crepeau. She isn’t sure if that is under Rice Creek Watershed’s jurisdiction or the City’s. Parks and Recreation Manager Skalicky will find out. Committee Member Johnson said it was very clear that buckthorn is being removed at Crepeau. Some of it has been cleared but other parts are very thick. Parks and Recreation Manager Skalicky said residents are allowed to remove buckthorn from City parks whenever they would like to. That work is most likely being done by residents who live in that area. Committee Member Hilding said it can be overwhelming when looking at the trail map. He thinks it would be helpful to identify a couple areas where we want to be working towards certain goals over the next few of years rather than having a 30-year plan with a bunch of great ideas. Chair Dietz encouraged everyone to take a trail tour with Mr. Straumann, if the opportunity presents. It is so informative. Council Liaison Rousseau said annually we like to choose two or three parks to visit and to learn about them. Discussion ensued regarding taking a van on a trail tour. It would help move the tours along and more people can join. It was pointed out that when everyone drives separately, it can highlight where there are parking issues. Committee Member Hilding said he noticed there are five committee members whose terms are expiring in 2025. He wondered how the terms work. Council Liaison Rousseau said there are currently two openings on the PTRC. Typically the rule is you can serve for three terms and then must take time off. However there is discussion surrounding allowing a committee member to continue to serve when there are vacancies. She asked any committee member who know they will not want to serve to send her an email. She will talk to Parks and Recreation Manager Skalicky about it and bring it back to the November meeting. She also noted that January is when the discussion regarding Committee Chair happens. Committee Member Jacobson said she will not be continuing with the PTRC as she is on the Planning Commission now. She would like to remain a “member at large” with the work on trails. Parks, Trails & Recreation Committee – October 21, 2025 Page 9 Parks and Recreation Manager Skalicky said she will bring the recommended upgrades for Perry, Ingerson and Sampson Parks at the November meeting. She encouraged committee members to visit those parks and compile their own list of needs. Committee Member Jacobson said Perry Park has the dog park. She assumes there will be an evaluation of that dog park. There is a drainage problem there. Parks and Recreation Manager Skalicky confirmed that is on the list. Committee Member Nazir Ahmed asked who is responsible for the trees that are on City property. Parks and Recreation Manager Skalicky said that is her department. Unless trees are a hazard, the City doesn’t remove them currently. The city will restart the abatement process on private property soon. Discussion ensued regarding what constitutes a hazard. Council Liaison Rousseau said there is a form on the website where residents can report hazardous trees. Committee Member Hilding pointed out that private utilities have easements. It can be tricky to determine who is responsible for trees in some areas. 6. NEXT MEETING A. Tuesday, November 18, 2025 ADJOURNMENT Chair Dietz adjourned at 7:41 pm. REPORTS – 3C Page 1 of 3 MEMO.doc MEMORANDUM DATE: November 18, 2025 TO: Parks, Trails and Recreation Committee FROM: Lucas J. Miller, Assistant Public Works Director SUBJECT: Trail and Parks Projects Update Previously Discussed Items: x County Rd D Trail connection o The City of Roseville is coordinating with Ramsey County to construct a new trail segment along the south side of County Rd D from Cleveland Ave to Lake Johanna Blvd with anticipated construction in 2026. x Hamline Avenue Trail connection with Roseville – Lake Josephine o Arden Hills staff is coordinating trail improvements with the City of Roseville for a trail connection along the west side of Lake Josephine with anticipated construction in 2026. ƒ An open house event took place on May 1, 2025, at Autumn Grove Park hosted by the City of Roseville. It was well attended and provided great feedback from the community. x County Rd E Trail connection o City staff is coordinating with Ramsey County to construct a new trail segment along the south side of County Rd E from the Elmer Anderson Trail to Lake Johanna. This project is postponed and no longer going to be completed in 2026 per Ramsey County. It is being proposed to be combined with the LJB Trail in 2028. x MN-51 Trail Improvements o City staff is coordinating with MnDOT to construct a new trail segment along the west side MN-51 (Snelling Ave.) from Lydia Ave in Roseville to connect to the existing trail on Old Snelling Ave with anticipated construction in 2026. o There was an in-person open house that hopefully most of PTRC Members attended: Thu, Oct. 23 from 3-7 p.m at Centennial United Methodist Church (1524 Co. Rd. C2 West, Roseville). x Old Highway 10 Trail, City staff is working with a consultant to pursue grants and state bonding funds. Estimated project cost is now projected to be $4.5 million. o Met Council Regional Solicitation – SRTS: $1,000,000 (City was awarded this grant) o MnDOT – SRTS: $1,000,000 (City was awarded this grant) o State GO Bond funds: $1,650,000 (pursuing but stuck at the state level) Page 2 of 3 o Ramsey County contribution: $1,227,500 o Remainder to be paid through Municipal State Aid and PIR Funds Council has directed Staff to have the Consultant finish the design documents over this summer and then bidding the project next winter for construction in 2027 (pushed back from 2026 to 2027 due to potential cost share policies being updated for trail project that would benefit the City). x Proposed Lake Johanna Blvd Trail o Lake Johanna Blvd Trail Preliminary Design Report was completed by Ramsey County on October 2022. o City Council adopted resolution 2023-023 which is the local match commitment of $2 million for the project (Total project cost estimated $9.5 million). o Ramsey County presented in November 2023 about the project corridor with City Council. o Ramsey County applied for the Met Council Regional Solicitation “Multiuse Trails and Bicycle Facilities” grant for $5,500,000 in 2023/2024. The project did not score well in its category but funding is still being pursued. o Within Ramsey County’s Transportation Improvement Plan they have scheduled the following timeline: ƒ Ramsey County presented information to Council in September which stated they are budgeting for the project to be completed in three different sections of the trail along Lake Johanna Blvd. over three separate years. ƒ RFP for Planning/Design contract: 2026 ƒ Planning/Design Phase: staggered 2026, 2027 and 2028 ƒ Construction: 2029 for the west segment, 2030 for the east segment and 2031 for the middle segment. x Council has negotiated with a private developer as part of the PUD for the site for a trail to be added along the west side of Snelling Ave from Highway 96 all the way down to Royal Hills Park. This work is likely to take place in 2026 if everything falls into place. This trail will be owned and maintained by the City once completed. Currently, the Developer is going through the Permitting Phase, and after that is completed, the City will start the Design phase for the trail with a consulting firm. x Arden Manor Park Hardcourt Construction – City staff has applied for the DNR Outdoor Recreation Grant Program to pursue funding for this project. The project was not awarded any funding. Council direction is to continue to pursue grant funding to fund the project. Staff reached out to CDBG representatives requesting the status of the program for 2025 which they responded that the CDBG Solicitation is postponed until a federal budget is passed. x Staff will be working with a consultant to implement Hardcourt Improvements within Hazelnut Park. x Hazelnut Parking Lot Status Update: Cost-share and maintenance responsibility negotiations continue with the Church representatives. The City has the parking lot resurfacing project budgeted for construction in 2025. Actual timing is dependent on Agreement renewal. Page 3 of 3 New/Updated Items: x The 2025 Parks Project (Arden Oaks Park & Freeway Park), are substantially completed except: o Final restoration at both parks in green space, likely with final approval in the spring 2026 for warranty work and seed establishment. o The City has requested the contractor add some extra draintile to the scope at Freeway Park in some low spots to promote drainage. This work is expected also to be done this calendar year weather permitting. NEW BUSINESS – 5A MEMORANDUM DATE: November 18, 2025 TO: Parks, Trails and Recreation Committee FROM: Jess Skalicky, Parks and Recreation Manager Becca Tucker, Great River Greening SUBJECT: Great River Greening Natural Resources Management Plan Requested Action Informational presentation: no action required. Background Becca Tucker from Great River Greening will give an update on the Great River Greening Natural Resources Management Plan they are currently in the process of creating. Attachment Attachment A: Great River Greening Natural Resources Management Plan Draft 1 NATURAL RESOURCE MANAGEMENT BRIEF CITY OF ARDEN HILLS Hazelnut Park, Floral Park, and Chatham Park Great River Greening 2025 Attachment A 2 Natural Resource Management Brief: City of Arden Hills Hazelnut Park, Floral Park, and Chatham Park Prepared for: The City of Arden Hills, Minnesota Prepared by: Great River Greening, June 2025 Contributing Authors: Rebecca Tucker AlexanderBahr 3 About the Authors Rebecca Tucker, Twin Cities Metro Program Manager (M.S. Plant Ecology and Population Genetics, Purdue University) Rebecca has been with Great River Greening since fall of 2017, progressing from Ecologist to Program Manager in that time. She currently manages two staff and over 30 restoration projects throughout Minnesota, coordinating habitat enhancement contracts, pollinator monitoring projects, and frequent public engagement opportunities. Rebecca has a Master of Science in Botany from Purdue University and a Bachelor of Science in Biology from the University of Wisconsin, Stevens Point, during both of which she engaged the public with a variety of educational talks and worked on numerous farm and greenhouse research projects. rtucker@greatrivergreening.org Alexander Bahr, Twin Cities Metro Project Manager (B.S. Ecology, University of Minnesota) Alexander originally joined GRG in 2019 as a seasonal field technician. He worked for 2 seasons in that role as part of a 7-year period of conducting field work in natural land management before being hired as Project Manager in 2024. He now coordinates and implements contract and volunteer work throughout the west and south metro areas.abahr@greatrivergreening.org GREAT RIVER GREENING Great River Greening’s mission is to secure the legacy of Minnesota land and water through community- based restoration, stewardship, and partnership, striving to improve Minnesota’s natural resources, protect clean air and water, and increase community access to sustainable open space. Suggested Citation: Great River Greening, 2025. Natural Resource Management Brief: City of Arden Hills Front Cover Images taken by Becca Tucker: Footpath bridge at Floral Park, red baneberry (Actea rubra) at Hazelnut Park, a walking path trail marker at Floral Park, and labeled native plantings at Hazelnut Park. ©2025by Great River Greening Great River Greening 251 Starkey St #2200 St Paul, MN 55107 4 Contents 1. Executive Summary............................................................................................................................... 5 2. General Background and Current Site Conditions................................................................................... 6 2.a. Summary of Park Locations............................................................................................................. 6 2.b. Hazelnut Park Background.............................................................................................................. 7 2.c. Floral Park Background..................................................................................................................10 2.d. Chatham Park Background ............................................................................................................13 3. Natural Resources Management Recommendations.............................................................................15 3.a. Summary of Park Goals and General Management Recommendations............................................16 3.b. Hazelnut Park Recommendations ..................................................................................................18 3.c. Floral Park Recommendations .......................................................................................................22 3.d. Chatham Park Recommendations..................................................................................................22 4. Specifications for Restoration Activities................................................................................................23 Appendix A: Seeding Species Lists............................................................................................................32 Appendix B: Tree and Shrub Planting Species Lists....................................................................................37 Appendix C: Soil Surveys ............................................................................................................................38 Appendix D: Meander Species Change Over Initial Management Year ...............................................................42 Appendix E: Invasive Species Management Protocols.....................................................................................43 Citations and References.........................................................................................................................48 5 1. Executive Summary The City of Arden Hillsseeks to improve the quality of the naturalareas at three of its public parks: Hazelnut Park, Floral Park, and Chatham Park. Native plant communities support a vast range of ecological functions including pollinator and wildlife habitat, carbon storage, water filtration, flood regulation, and the development and enrichment of soil. Land use intensification has significantly reduced and degraded native plant community habitats. Great River Greening’s assessment of the project sitesinformsreaderson the existing plant community structure as well as restoration recommendations. Restoration of natural areas at the listed parks will support pollinator foraging resources, water quality and streambank erosion, pollutant uptake from urban surface runoff, climate resiliency, and overall visual enhancement of this public outdoor space. The undeveloped focus project areas in these parksinclude 12.5 acres of woodland, 1.2 acres of prairie or open savanna, 2.7 acres of turf lawn, and 0.36acres of shoreline. This management briefis guided by existing vegetation, soils, and topography and will provide guidance on invasive control, debris and hazard tree removal, understory enhancement, invasive herbaceous control, and turf to prairie conversion throughout project unitsas they apply. The recommendations of each management unit should be considered the initial phase of a long-term commitment to land management. The site-specificsectionsof this document contain recommendations for the execution of management objectives for the named areas within each park in this document. The land in each of these areas is part of an altered urban ecosystem. As such, the recommendations for restoration are based on visual assessments of the sites and mapped soil conditions, with the understanding that they will not be fully restored to a native plant community. Instead, the goal is to transform the parks intosuccessful and healthy natural spaces for park visitors to enjoy and wildlife to find respite in. 6 2. General Background and Current Site Conditions 2.a. Summary of Park Locations General Location The City of Arden Hillsresides in RamseyCounty, approximately twelvemiles north of downtown Saint Paul, Minnesota. The “pre-settlement vegetation” mapped by the Minnesota Natural Resources Research Institute (NRRI) as part of the MN Natural Resource Atlas for the entire region of Arden Hills was Oak Openings and Barrens (cite). Farming and subsequent urbanization has significantly changed these habitats within the focus parks, but remnant green spaces and historic unaltered habitats remain. Much of the park system in the area consists of lands donated to or purchased by municipalitiesthat may have had historic significance or were unable to be developed due to topography or geography that nowmake up much of the natural areas in the urbanized communities today. As part of the Saint Paul –Minneapolis metropolitan area, Arden Hillsprimarily consists of residential and commercial land use. Arden Hill’s current municipal park system consists of 102 acres of designated parksand open space across 16 park sites(cite).The natural spaces throughout this predominantly residential city serve as publicly accessible active use areas for sport, recreation, and outdoor enjoyment, as well as corridors for the movement of wildlife and protection of natural resources, such as natural habitat, wetlands, woodlands, and drainage ways. The three parks chosen for this Natural Resources Management Brief are unique to their locations, while generally representing the state of urban parks and the potential restoration and habitat stewardship efforts required to maintain healthy native habitats. Figure 2.1 City and regional context of the three focus parks discussed in this management plan. 7 2.b. Hazelnut Park Background Overview of Historic and Current Site Conditions Historically, the oldest aerial imagery of the property, dating to 1937 as referenced in the Minnesota Historical Aerial Photographs Online (MHAPO) database, shows the area as a mix of wild space populated by sparse stands of trees and multiple levels of cultivated agricultural fields (cite). By 1945, the area to the south of the park had rapidly converted into residential housing resembling the current geographic surroundings of the park. Subsequent imagery indicates that the park has remained in its current extent since then. Currently,approximately 7 acres of HazelnutPark is turf lawn and sportfields with spaced canopy trees, actively managed by the city through mowing, and hand-weeding by neighborhood volunteers. The rest of the park, which is not managed as lawn space, is moderately shaded woodland. These 6.9 acres receive largely passive use from the public, with unofficial, public-established walking and mountain biking trails used and maintained within the woodland as well. The power corridor on the western boundary of the park is managed by the city as a community trail and may contribute to the native diversity of the overall park if managed to promotenon-woody, native species that would survive the required intermittent mowing done by or for the utility company. Soils The natural areas within the park predominantly consist of a mix of Zimmerman fine and loamy fine sand with some sloping in areas, suggesting well drained and highly permeable soil with minimal surface runoff after rain (cite andsee Appendix C for maps). This impacts the plant species that the site willsupportand accounts for the low diversity in understoryplants,which are adapted to low soil saturation. Thesesoils do not retain much organic or water-soluble nutrients, and the present non-native earth worms and potential of invasive jumping wormsthatalso break up needed detritus layers for sustaining hardwood forests, suggest that the park may facilitate a savanna habitat where it is low-diversity woodland is now. Vegetation Plant surveys were conducted prior to the start of contract work in fall 2024 and again in 2025 after the buckthorn-targeted forestry mowing and follow-up treatments in 2024 and 2025 cleared the dominant invasive shrub population in Hazelnut Park as seen in Appendix D (Figs. 1.a and 1.b). In 2025, the vegetation Figure 2.2 Hazelnut Park map showing the main woodland areas and the full extent of park using city parcel data. 8 community was of moderate quality with low invasive species presence, shown by the Composite Invasive Species Assessment (CISA) and the low Percent Native Vegetation (%PNV). Themain canopy layer of the woodland is comprised of predominantly black walnut (Juglans nigra), northern red oak (Q. rubra), and boxelder (Acer negundo), with a shrub layer dominated by woody invasives in patches, specifically common buckthorn (Rahmnus cathartica), scattered individuals of honeysuckle (Lonicera spp.) and white mulberry (Morus alba). Other native woody vegetation includedpoplar (Populus), maple (Acer), ash (Fraxinus)and raspberry (Rubus)genera, the most common being Missouri gooseberry (Ribes missouriense) and box elder (Acer negundo). Native herbaceous vegetation was more diverse in 2025, with white snakeroot (Ageratina altissima) and spotted touch-me-not (Impatiens spp.) dominatingthe trailside ground cover and stretching into the woodland, though much of the interior was most characterized by Virginia creeper (Parthenocissus quinquefolia),and Pennsylvania sedge (Carex pensylvanica), with scatterings of other species including Solomon’s plume (Maianthemum racemosum), Solomon’s seals (Polygonatum spp.), spiderworts (Tradescantia spp.), Jack-in-the-pulpit (Arisaema triphyllum),red baneberry (Actaea rubra), Virginia waterleaf (Hydrophyllum virginianum), rue anemone (Thalictrum thalictroides), andearly meadow-rue (Thalictrum dioicum). Non-native and invasive herbaceous species are also present in moderate densities, including burdock (Arctium spp.), smooth brome (Bromus inermis), Dame’s rocket (Hersperis matronalis), motherwort(Leonorus cardiaca), and garlic mustard (Alliaria petiolata).This diversity denotesa robust seedbank that will likely continue to be expressedas invasive woody populations diminish, however there will be the potential for weedy or invasive herbaceous species to dominate without maintenance. Resource Threats and Habitat Goals Buckthorn and honeysuckle shrubs have dominated the understoryand mid-canopy layers, largely preventing diversification in the shrub and ground layers of native species. Areas of weedier natives, such as the spotted touch-me-not and raspberries, have expanded into edge areas where more light can penetrate to their growing zones.Both groups of organisms will need to be challenged for space to achievehabitat goals, or else they will recolonize after initialgrantfundedwork is completed.Additionally, the park’s ash (Fraxinus) and oak (Quercus) populations may decline due to emerald ash borer and oak wilt, providing opportunities for both invasive species recolonization and native planting or seeding. The Minnesota Land Cover Classification System (MLCCS) was developed by the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (MNDNR) to “categorize urban and built-up areas in terms of land cover rather than land use” (cite). Hazelnut Park’s North Woodland (Fig. 3.2) is described as upland deciduous forest, with the south woodland being unmapped in the 2004 survey. Similarly, the Minnesota Native Plant Community (NPC) Classification proposed by the dominant species is FDs37, Southern Dry-Mesic Oak (Maple) Woodland (cite). As the invasive shrubs are removed and replaced during the initial years of restoration this dynamic will need to be monitored and guided towards native diversity such as seen in MHs38, which is predominantly composed of a mix of oaks (Quercus)and maples(Acer)in the canopy, dogwoods (Cornus) and stone fruit trees including Prunus species in the shrub layer, and sedges andwoodland-adaptedforbs inhabiting the ground layer (cite). Restoration ObjectivesOverview Further restoration efforts for Hazelnut Park shouldincludemanaging the emergingseedling invasive buckthorn and weedy herbaceous species populations while introducing additional woodland species biodiversity, both herbaceous and woody. Long term maintenance of the site will likely involve periodic 9 shrub layer thinning via mechanical removal or goat browsing to promote native understory establishment. The understory may not be dense enough to carry a prescribed runningfire and some native species (specifically white snakeroot) may become weedy and dominant with periodic fire, thusis not recommended for this site. Clonally growing species (i.e.dogwoods)and appropriate forbs and grasses to inhibit reinvasionof invasive woody species as well asprovide alternate food sources to wildlife and migrating birds.Native tree regeneration should also be monitored and augmented as needed.Volunteers can assist with both invasive woody control and native propagation. Section 3 provides detailed recommended tasksand timeline, with recommended species lists for seeding and planting in Appendices A and B. 10 2.c. Floral Park Background Overview of Historic and Current Site conditions Like Hazelnut Park, by the 1940s, Floral Park was surrounded by county roads and partially in agricultural production, with all but the areas displayed as Units 3 and 4 in Figure 2.3dominated by cropland with minimal but significantstanding trees.This trend continues through the 50s and 80s, though forests expanded backinto Units1 and 2over time, alongside increasing density in Units 3 and 4. Present conditions exhibit a 20- acremixed-use urban park, with areas of turf lawn and native trees accessible by recently re-paved trails, multiple sports facilities, a playground, and large areas of undeveloped woodlands and wetlands. This park also has a utility powerline that runs east to west, bisecting the site into north and south woodlands.Community efforts have established walking trails through the 13 acres of woodlands,as well as a planted native pollinator area adjacent to the trails with maintained native species for habitat and educational purposes. The woodlands present a diverse range of native species, with significant patches of mature oak trees that are representative of previous habitats prior to urbanization. There are several large-standing bur oaks in the center turf managed area and in Unit 3 that may be original to the park. Soils The glacial deposits that formed the Twin Cities isexemplified here, with many small but significant kettle potholes visible on historic maps. Moreover, the combination of soilsdemonstrates this unique feature of the St. Paul Baldwin Plains and Moraines ecological subsection (see Appendix Cfor details). The lowland in the northeast of Floral Park iscomprised of Seelyville muck soilshowing heavy organic layers with low drainage. Hayden fine sandy loam characterizes the rest of the natural areas of the park, (222Md). These soil characteristics and distribution within the site suggest that much of the water flows to the low wetlandsin the northeast and west, as well as to the ditch in the southeast, draining from the sandier soils throughout the woodlands. The shallow slopes in the lower areas may also promote water retention and soil saturation for long periods throughout the year, retainingorganic nutrient content, and thus supportinghardwood forest speciesregardless of presence or absence of recurrent fire. Figure 2.3 Floral Park map showing the main woodland areas, utility corridorand the full extent of park using city parcel data. 11 Vegetation Floral Park has a comparably highdiversity of native species in all trophic levelsand the previously predominantoak savanna habitat is still visible throughout the park. The tree canopy islargely comprised of white oak (Quercus alba), box elder (Acer negundo),buroak (Q. macrocarpa), northern red oak (Q. rubra), andcottonwood (Populus deltoides), with smaller numbers of quaking aspen (Populus tremuloides), green ash (Fraxinus pennsylvanica), and black locust (Robinia pseudoacacia) throughout.These weedier native tree species have filled in areas that may have previously been open habitat between oaks, changing the understory to a denser and shadier state. In addition, common buckthorn (Rahmnus cathartica) dominatesthe understory of theforested acres.Other woody understory species seenwith less cover include the nativegray and red-osier dogwoods (Cornus racemosa and C. sericea), black walnut (Juglans nigra), black cherry (Prunus serotina), as well as small patches of the invasive glossy buckthorn (Frangula alnus), invasive honeysuckle species (Lonicera spp.), and amur maple (Acer ginnala). Herbaceous invasive and weedy species seen include reed canary grass (Phalaris arundinacea), garlic mustard (Alliaria petiolata), common burdock (Arctium minus), Canada thistle (Cirsium arvense), and bittersweet nightshade (Solanum dulcamara). Like Hazelnut Park, the site has experienced reduced invasive population as well asa reduced native population due to thebuckthorn-targeted forestry mowing in winter of 2024-25. Common buckthorn and honeysuckle populations were much reducedfrom this effort, as well as continued community buckthorn mechanical cutting in previous years. In spring 2025, this opened understory has producedsmall numbers ofnative species including – in descending order –Virginia creeper (Parthenocissus spp), enchanter’s nightshade (Cicaea canadensis), lamb’s quarters(Chenopodium album), and common elder (Sambucus canadensis). On their own, these natives have the capacity to dominatethe understory and leave the site with minimal understory biodiversity, though the invasive population may be stunted. Managementof the powerline area occurred between 2023 and 2024 with the mowing of the vegetation to the height required for the utilities. This action favored grass and herbaceous vegetation including numerous weedy and invasive species, specifically reed canary grass(Phalaris arundinacea)which now dominates the corridor. Some native species were seen establishing in 2025, including hoary vervain (Verbena stricta), wild geranium (Geranium maculatum),common milkweed (Asclepias syriaca) and fern species (Athyrium filix- femina and Matteuccia struthiopteris). Resource Threats and Habitat Goals The main threats to this park’s ecosystems are invasive species pressure/ proliferation and soil erosion. While the buckthorn and honeysuckle populations were initially reduced during contracted work in 2024- 2025, their populations will likely rebound over time without sufficient management. Even if those two are controlled, black locust (Robinia pseudoacacia), amur maple (Acer ginnala), and reed canary grass (Phalaris arundinacea) populations were largely unaddressed and pose significant threats to the vegetation community as they will likely expand into the spaces where buckthorn and honeysuckle were removed and remain dominant throughout the utility corridor. Additionally, while the areas where buckthorn once existed rebound from the removal, the open soil riskseroding,due to rain and wind,into the adjacent wetlands, leading to excess nutrient and sediment loading.Oak wilt appears to be present in the existing stand of mature bur oak trees, and continued assisted oak regeneration will be necessary to maintain these species (cite). 12 The meanderplantsurveying was broken out by unit, allowing each unit to be characterized as unique woodland systemsowing to different vegetation characteristics within each unit. Taken as a whole, Floral Park could be classified into a combination of the following MN DNR ecosystem types: Southern Mesic Oak- Basswood or Maple-Basswood Forest (MHs38 and MHs39), Central Mesic or Wet-Mesic Hardwood Forest (MHc36and MHc47), and Southern Dry Mesic Oak-Maple Woodland (FDs37). Currently,though, Floral Park’s ecosystem can be characterized as wet to mesic hardwood forest, apartfrom the wetlands and powerline unit.Future maintenance efforts should aim to guide the park’s plant communities towards any of the mesic hardwood systems (MHprefix). Restoration Objectives Overview The woody invasive population reduction from 2023 through 2025in Floral Park will allow forfurther restoration efforts due to the increased accessibility in throughout the understory as well as increased light penetration to the ground in those areas for habitat regeneration from the existing seedbank. Further invasive woody species management, focused on the expansive amur maple (Acer ginnala) stand in the southeastern portion of the park’s woodland as well as continued buckthorn and honeysuckle management, will be required. Long term maintenance of the site will likely involve periodic shrub layer thinning via mechanical removal and goat browsing meanwhile native species populations can be stimulated with periodic prescribed fire. Additionally, seeding efforts into the eastern portion of the woodland where much of the buckthorn has been removed and openings in the ground layer are expansive will help to establish a dense understory and shrub layer that can replace and outcompete buckthorn. Volunteers can assist with both invasive woody control and planting/ seeding. Section 3 provides detailed recommended tasks and timeline, with recommended species lists for seeding and planting in Appendices A and B. 13 2.d. Chatham Park Background Overview of Historic and Current Site conditions Much ofthis park will be represented by discussing the center, “Priority Area”. These 6 acres of woodland have been adopted by the city, community, and neighbors for stewardship and restoration. These efforts are very visible throughout the sections where buckthorn removal and native species establishment have already begun, and recommendations will take these and other planned efforts into account for the proposed continuing stewardship actions. Soils Chatham Park is predominantly Hayden fine sandy loam with 6 to 25% slopes (132C and D) and Urban land Hayden-Kingsley complex with 3-5% slope soils (860C) in the upland sections with ponded aquolls and histosols (1055) in the center and north wetland areas (see Appendix C for details). The upland soil complex consists of moderately permeable, well drained sandy glacial till which may be remnant of previous periods prior to urbanization but has been significantly impacted by human actions both directly and indirectly. The lowland areas show water tables near the surface, with organic soils that hold rainwater for long periodsof time.These near-surface water tables suggest that this location is either a collection point for water in the landscape either underground or over land. Land managers can expect this site to support wet to mesic hardwood forest specieswhich are adapted to high humidity environments and significant exchange of water between the wetlands and atmosphere. Additionally, the soil here likely retains high organic nutrient content, leading to high growth rates among the vegetation. Vegetation The canopy of Chatham Park was –in 2024 –and to some degree still is dominated primarily by both species of invasive buckthorn (Rhamnus cathartica and Frangula alnus), though significant portions of the canopy were characterized by quaking aspen (Populus tremuloides) and box elder (Acer negundo). Combined with the presence ofscattered, facultative hydrophytic herbaceous and woody plant species, the plant community behaved like a mesic hardwood forest with pockets of depressional wetlands.In 2025’s survey, portions of the site’s plant community have remained the same, and others have changed. Broadly speaking, and while referencing the Restoration Evaluation Graph shown in Appendix D, Chatham Park contains a vegetation community of lowquality with high invasive species presence, shown by the high Figure 3.4 Chatham Park map showing the priority woodland area and the full extent of park using city parcel data. 14 value of the Composite Invasive Species Assessment (CISA) and the low Percent Native Vegetation (%PNV). While the site appears, on paper, to be of poor quality, it’s important to note that significant portions of the upland wooded areas have been completely cleared of invasive woody species and are now populating with a low biodiversity assemblage of native species. Thus, the park could be viewed as a sheer dichotomy between where work has and has not happened. Resource Threats and Habitat Goals The main threats to this park’s ecosystems are invasive species pressure/ proliferation. The patchwork approach to buckthorn removal has been remarkably successful in the spaces where it has been done by volunteers. The remaining threat will be the buckthorn outside of where volunteers have cleared. These dense stands will continue to act as a reservoir of seeds which may spread by birds and animals, reinvading areas without control of at minimum the mature female plants. As the invasive shrubs are removed and replaced during the subsequent years of restoration,this park’s ecosystems will need to be monitored and guided towards native diversity such as seen in MHs38, southern mesic oak-basswood forest. Mesic oak-basswood forests arepredominantly composed of a mix of oaks (Quercus) and basswood(Tilia americana) in the canopy. The shrub and subcanopy layers contain mostly gooseberries (Ribes spp),ironwood (Ostrya virginiana), and maples (Acer spp).Meanwhile,goldenrods (Solidago), waterleaf (Hydrophyllum virginianum), woodbine/ virginia creeper (Parthenocissus spp)and otherwoodland-adapted forbs inhabit the ground layer (cite). As prescribed fire is not a viable management technique for this park, the mid-canopy and understory layers should be filled with clonally growing species including dogwoods (Cornus) and appropriate forbs and sedges (Carex spp)to inhibit reinvasion and provide alternate food sources to migrating avians.(NOTE, this section may be rewritten to describe FFs59 as we finalize recommendations.) Restoration Objectives Overview Chatham Park will need continued expansion of buckthorn clearing by mechanical removal, followed by native species establishment for inhibiting reinvasion. Native species establishment should prioritize introducing or expanding populations of natives which proliferate aggressively and/or provide alternative food sources for avians. Prescribed fire is not recommended for this site due to its presence at a low point in the landscape and near-surface watertable making for poor burning conditions.Long term maintenance of the site will likely involve periodic shrub layer thinning via mechanical removal or goat browsing. Volunteers and community membersmayprovide the labor needed for continued mechanical removal of invasive woodies, as well as labor for seeding and planting, with contracted buckthorn removal and follow up on the full site.Section 3 provides detailed recommended tasks and timeline, with recommended species lists for seeding and planting in Appendices A and B. 15 3. Natural Resources Management Recommendations Great River Greening staff conducted plant surveys in September 2024and July 2025to evaluate the 3- parks’current conditionsand determine potential next steps for management as well as long-term stewardship. Maps and tables in this sectiondisplay recommended habitat types to use as guides for targe plant communities in each park, with tasks and price estimates for initial and currently planned work followed by continued maintenance over a 5-year timeframe. Seed lists can be found in Appendix A, and planting lists in Appendix B. A guide for managing specific invasive plant species follows in Appendix E. The following guidelines here were used in the decision-making process for writing the outline of the proposed restoration actions described in the rest of section 3. 1.Reduction/mitigation of non-native and invasive species. Due to vectors being likely to persist on the sites due to their urban setting and relatively small size, non-native species will likely persist on the site to some degree. To account for that external impact, many management units include an initial removal of the most dominant invasive species, followed by a revegetation plan that can provide competition against re-colonization by invasives. 2.Base restoration targets on current vegetation structure. Habitat enhancements are more likely to succeed, and be cost-effective, if they are to some degree accepting of the current structural condition of the vegetation. To the extent feasible, areas with mature tree canopy should be maintained as forested despite any potential inconsistencies of the forest composition with the pre- settlement vegetation of the area. Likewise, areas currently identified as managed turf or grasslands present the best opportunities for enhancement such as prairie, savanna, wet meadow, or other grassland habitats. 3.Consider impacts to park users during and after restoration activities. Restoration activities can be disruptive to these well-used, public spaces and may have short-term, negative impacts on public access and on the public’s experiences of the park. To the degree possible, high-disturbance activities (tree removal, forestry mowing, herbicide application, turf removal), should be undertaken within a condensed period. Likewise, higher consideration should be given to end-result goals that will provide aesthetic benefits for park users as well as native habitat enhancement. More intensive pocket plantings of native species, priority placement of planted trees and shrubs, and consideration of bloom times and establishment trajectories are recommended to accomplishing those goals. 4.Promote native vegetation establishment wherever possible. While existing planted non-native specimen trees provide a function and should not necessarily be replaced, any future plantings should be comprised of native species of local origin that provide the maximum habitat value for wildlife. Turf areas that do not receive high utilization for recreation are good candidates for conversion to high diversity grassland plantings to enhance resources for pollinators and other species, as well as creating a more robust and diverse landscape experience for park users with varying interest throughout the seasons. 5.Adapt to observed changes and conditions.Adaptive and responsive management is a key element for long-term success. After the initial restoration phase is complete, site monitoring and consultation with ecologists will keep the project on track to achieve the natural resource goals. The tables below show the Restoration Evaluation Scores for each park prior to the initiation of habitat restoration and after the first winter of contracted buckthorn removal. 16 3.a. Summary of Park Goals and General ManagementRecommendations The parks described for management are all unique but have typical Minnesotan habitat types that describe their main attributes which can be used to outline the main proposed management tasks. Table 3.a.1. General Native Plant Community Goals Park(Specific Areas in Cells) Target Native Plant Communities Hazelnut Park Floral Park Chatham Park Mesic Woodland (MHs37,38, 39, and MHc36 and 47)5.5ac W 1.1ac, SE 5.3ac, and SW 1.5ac Southern Mesic Prairie/ Savanna(UPs23 and 24)Power line 0.5ac Floodplain Forest (FFs59)N 6.1ac Priority Area 6ac and entire site Natural resources management has been initiated by the city and community volunteers over the past 5-10 years. The work has been focused on, but not limited to, buckthorn hand cutting and removal from 2020 through 2022 in the main north woodland in Chatham Park, invasive species hand pulling focused on garlic mustard, and a labeled-planting of native grasses and forbs establishing along the trail edge of the South Woodland.Through cityefforts, the Arden Hills Parks Trails and Recreation Committee, and neighborhood groups such as Arden Hills Greening, funding was received by Great River Greening from the Outdoor Heritage Fund, as appropriated by the Minnesota State Legislature, to facilitate the design and implementation of the following proposed goals and tasks. Table 3.a.2 Main Management Recommendations Site Name Acres Long-term Management Goal Recommended Actions Notes Hazelnut Park 5.5 Buckthorn control, native understory establishment Periodic shrub layer thinning/ targeted cutting; native species seeding/ planting Seeding native forbs and grasses should be prioritized, promoting the expansion of extant populations and inhibiting buckthorn population rebound. Floral Park Woodland 13 Buckthorn control, native understory establishment Periodic shrub layer thinning/ targeted cutting of invasive trees; native species seeding/ planting Seeding/ planting natives should begin shortly after contract work is completed to inhibit other invasive species proliferation. Floral Park Powerline Prairie 0.5 Right-of-way native prairie establishment Continued maintenance mowing, woody foliar herbicide application to control black locust expansion. Black locust should not be controlled by mowing as this encourages expansion. Chatham Park 6 Buckthorn control, native understory establishment Periodic shrub layer thinning for maintenance; continued targeted cutting of remaining buckthorn stand; native species seeding Seeding should focus on offering alternative food sources for avians. The following section contains specific recommendations for the execution of management objectives for the named areas within each park in this document. The land in each of these areas is part of an altered urbanecosystem. As such, the recommendations for restoration are based on visual assessments of the sites and mapped soil conditions, with the understanding that they will not be fully restored to a native plant 17 community. Instead, the goal is to guide towards and maintainthe parks asproductiveand functional natural spaces for park visitors to enjoy and wildlife to residein. GeneralManagement Goal Habitat Types The following recommendations are made to maintain this natural space as a broadleaf hardwood forest with minimal changes to the existing functional plant community. The two most similar native plant communitiesas defined by the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources’Ecological System Summaries and Class Fact Sheets located here: https://www.dnr.state.mn.us/npc/uplandforest.html that the municipality maytryto establishandmaintainare “MHs37 –Southern Dry-Mesic Oak Forest” and “FFs59 – Southern Terrace Forest”. These systems are guidelines for potential management, with predominant species that will fit the parks continued stewardship to native species butare not measures of a “complete” restoration. Every urban system has been impacted by the land use history of the property and of the area, and are not expected to match these defined plant communities’ ideal definitions. Generally Recommended Management Tasks Woody invasive species removal should be a primary goal, supplemented bygraminoid seeding for minor erosion control. Erosion control may be necessary to prevent further eutrophication/ nutrient and sediment loading of the wetlands within the parks. Woody invasive removal will likely need to focus on removal of common buckthorn (Rhamnuscathartica), glossy buckthorn (Frangula alnus), white mulberry (Morus alba), andinvasive honeysuckle (Lonicera spp.) . Timed forestry mowing, chain sawingor brush cutting starting in winter can control the remaining invasive woody population. Fine forestry mowing and/or goat browsing in late summer could help to maintain light infiltration to the ground. Forestry mowing may be possible in portions of the woodlands, but likely not the entirety due to high variability in localized elevation. An experienced operator should be consulted to evaluatethis option, and hand-cutting with material staging for removal or dropping for decomposition and wildlife piles can be used in parallel with heavy equipment. After management of invasive trees and shrubs,herbaceous invasive species such as burdock (Arctium spp), garlic mustard (Alliaria petiolata), or motherwort (Leonorus cardiaca) may spread into the cleared areas in the absence of sufficient seeding efforts. If that occurs, foliar herbicide application and timed mowing of those species should be utilized to limit their population expansion. Establishment of native understory species including grasses, sedges, as well as wildflowers, will be crucial to prevent the reestablishment of both herbaceous and woody invasive species, and depending on the goals for the specific area, planting native plant plugs, shrubs, and trees will be required to add diversity to the layers of habitat in the now invasive-cleared areas. 18 3.b.Hazelnut ParkRecommendations Contracted and Initial Management Hazelnut Park has ongoing contracted work which will reduce the mature buckthorn population in the northern woodland as outlined in Table 3.b.1. This work will continue through spring of 2027, employing a combination of critical period cutting during the growing season, and foliar herbicide application in autumn to control resprout and seedling buckthorn. Volunteer and city coordinated efforts have already significantly reduced or eliminated the buckthorn and invasive shrub population in the southern woodland, with native species planted at the edge of the woodland along the paved path. As this work continues, GRG will coordinate seeding the woodland to initiate an accelerated and directed succession process towards a composition like the mesic woodland systems listed in Table 3.a.1. This work will still be within the Outdoor Heritage Fund project to facilitate sustainable habitat that can be stewarded into the future. Continued Maintenance Once contract work in the northern woodland concludes in 2027, work in late 2027 and 2028 should focus on planting native trees and shrubs, and seeding native graminoids and wildflowers, with species selected from one of the appropriate plant community types listed in Table 3.a.1. The goals beingto provide direct competition for space to the buckthorn or other woody invasive species populations attempting to proliferate, and indirect competition by offering alternative food sources for birds, which are the main vector for buckthorn proliferation. Planting should occur in spring or autumn to ensure the best conditions for planting survival. Seeding for additional understory diversity is also advised and should happen sometime during autumn through spring for best germination and establishment rates.As the native plants establish in 2028 and onward, targeted foliar herbicide applications should focus on controlling invasive herbaceous species as, and if, they invade into the open spaces left by buckthorn removal. Similarly, from 2028 onward, the woodland should periodically receive renewed buckthorn control using critical period cutting and foliar herbicide application, or alternatives described later, every 2 to 3 years. The southern woodland in Hazelnut Park will need continued follow up/ maintenance work focusing on controlling buckthorn and establishing a mesic hardwood forest community. Although the southern woodland did not receive contract work under state grant funding, volunteer efforts have successfully eliminated most, though not all, buckthorn stems. Thus, follow up work will follow a similar trajectory to the north woodland with growing season cutting and autumnal foliar herbicide application for at least the next 3 years followingfullremoval of large buckthorn stems. Following that, the southern woodland can follow the same trajectory as the northern woodland with seeding, planting, herbaceous invasive control as needed, and continued buckthorn suppression, as described in the previous paragraph. Alternative control methods to herbicide application and critical period cutting include prescribed fire and goat browsing. Depending on when the native plant understory establishes throughout the northern and southern woodland areas, independently, prescribed fire can be used to further inhibit understory invasion/re-invasion by invasive woody and herbaceous species. Woodland burns should be conducted in autumn, when leaf litter is thickest and herbaceous vegetation continuous enough to carry fire. Meanwhile, goat browsing can be used as an alternative to fire and herbicide to suppress all woody species within an enclosed area. Goat browsing would be best used in areas where invasive shrubs and trees have overwhelmed the understory again,and they can be employed year-round. 19 Figure 3.b.1 Hazelnut Park map showing the full extent of park highlighting native plant community goals. 20 Table 3.b.1: Currently funded and planned management tasks for Hazelnut Park. The listed dollar values are rounded to the approximate value of the contracted work for these tasks, with the listed approximatedollar values for future tasksbased on current market standards. Existing and Goal Landcover Contracted and Planned Actions 2024 / 2025 2025 2026 2027 Notes Un i t 1 , N o r t h W o o d l a n d ( 5 . 5 a c r e s ) Altered/non- native hardwood forest to Mesic Hardwood Forest MHs38 Buckthorn initial removal (winter)$27,225 Forestry mowing with hand cutting in less accessible areas or trail edges as needed Growing season and fall continued buckthorn control $3,500 Mechanical mowing (equipment as well as brush cutters) regrowth and resprouts with fall foliar herbicide application for continued control Initial grass and sedge seeding $1,000 Winter seeding of native monocot understory species to establish competition for invasives Growing season and fall continued buckthorn control $4,675 Mechanical mowing (equipment as well as brush cutters) regrowth and resprouts with fall foliar herbicide application for continued control Continued forb seeding $3,000 Fall or winter seeding of perennial wildflowers and other blooming native species to add understory diversity Spring buckthorn follow-up treatment $4,125 Spring / early summer buckthorn follow up treatment, mechanical or chemical depending on the density of buckthorn seedlings seen Plug and shrub planting $6,000 Native planting of plugs (grasses and perennial wildflowers)as well as native shrubs with potential fencing installation to prevent deer browsing and facilitate establishment 21 Table 3.b.2: Recommended maintenance tasks for Hazelnut Parkafter the completion of the current project. The listed dollar values are estimates for the approximate value of labor based on current market standards in 2025. Habitat for continued maintenance and stewardship Recommended Maintenance Actions Year 1 2027 Year 2 2028 Year 3 2029 Year 4 2030 Year 5 2031 Notes Un i t s 1 a n d 2 , N o r t h a n d S o u t h W o o d l a n d s ( 6 . 9 a c r e s ) Continued Maintenance on Mesic Hardwood Forest MHs38 Woody invasive control $1400/ac $1400/ac $1400/ac Regular sweeps of the park space should be conducted to control remaining patches and keep them to small spatial extents. Herbaceous invasive control $2300/ac $2000/ac $1700/ac $1500/ac $1500/ac Repeated spot spraying and spot mowing will be needed, long term, to maintain a reduced population of invasive forbs and grasses, especially in the initial 5 years as native grasses and forbs establish. Goat browsing (alternative to herbicide) $500/ac $450/ac $450/ac Goat browsing can be a lower cost option to control invasive woody species long term. Sheep grazing may also assist in suppressing invasive herbaceous populations. Supplemental planting (price varies by plant selection and quantity) ~$3000 for labor, $16/plant (#2 container) As needed in areas that underperform. Good option for stewards or volunteers. Planted trees and shrubs may need herbivory protection for 2 – 5yrs.Supplemental seeding $3400/ac for labor and seed Hazard tree removal approximately $370/ tree depending on felling complexity May be required for continued native tree canopy and understory diversity maintenance as the existing ash and non-native populations diminish. 22 Note –these sections will be included when we have confirmation that the formatting utilized in Section 3.b for Hazelnut Park is what the city is looking for here. 3.c. Floral Park Recommendations Contracted and Initial Management Text Continued Maintenance Text Map Tables 3.d. Chatham Park Recommendations Contracted and Initial Management Text Continued Maintenance Text Map Tables 23 4. Specifications for RestorationActivities Thefollowing specificationsare general recommendations for how to conduct the types of work that could be done in the sitesof concern in this document. Contracted work should further tailorthese specificationsto the work areasthey are being applied to. Activity Park Management Specification General notes on activities x Target Species are noted in the park-specific recommendation sectionswith example species listed to show the types of vegetation to which each activity is geared. Woody tree /shrub initial removal Example target species: Buckthorn (Rhamnus cathartica and Frangula alnus), amur maple (Acer ginnala), and black locust (Robinia pseudoacacia) x Mechanical harvest is to be carried out only during winter, when frozen soil conditions exist and at least 4” of snow cover exist on site. All mechanical harvest operations will occur from December 1 – March 15. x All stumps shall be cut as close to the ground as possible with a height above ground of 3 inches or less. x All stumps will be treated accordingly to ensure no resprouts. See herbicide specifications for stump treatment. x All trees harvested from the project area must be removed from the site. Trees can either be hauled directly off site or ground and hauled off site. Woody tree / shrub control and maintenance Example target species: Buckthorn (Rhamnus cathartica and Frangula alnus), amur maple (Acer ginnala), and black locust (Robinia pseudoacacia) Cut and stump treat x Brush near save trees, or in areas inaccessible to forestry mowers including sloped sections, will be cut by handheld tools (e.g. chain saws or brush cutters). x Cut/Slash will be allowed in those areas identified and it would not be conducive to forestry mowing, burning or hauling to a chipper. Cut/slash material will need to be bucked up and dispersed so it makes ground contact. x In areas of low density, cut material can be bucked up in pieces no longer than 4’, with no branches coming off the ground at >45degrees, and dispersed in wooded areas not more than a single layer of material in depth and otherwise not impeding access and mobility; and/or piled and burned. Basal bark treatment x Preferred treatment method for black locust under 4” dbh is to basal bark around the tree with an oil based triclopyr ester formulation during appropriate weather conditions. x Preferred treatment method for black locust over 4” dbh is to frill cut around the tree and treat the frill cut with Transline during appropriate weather conditions. 24 x Frill cutting is a variation of girdling in which a series of downward angled cuts are made completely around the tree, leaving the partially severed bark and wood anchored at the bottom. Frilling is done with a saw, ax or hatchet. x There will need to be a follow up foliar in the area for any resprouts the following growing season. x Trees that are basal or frill cut will need to be cut down and mowed up after a minimum of 4 weeks have passed. This is to allow the herbicide time to translocate to the root system. Woody follow up maintenance x A follow-up foliar herbicide treatment should occur on any resprouting woody vegetation in the summer/fall following forestry mowing. x Spray operators should take care to spray all leaf surfaces of targeted species and avoid spraying only the top layer of leaves. x An herbicide indicator dye must be used with the herbicide. x XĖīīϙŘÍťôϙċĺŘϙċĺīĖÍŘϙÍŕŕīĖèÍťĖĺIJϙĖŜϙѵ͔҇͘ϟ x Use caution to minimize overspray during herbicide application. Woody herbicide application specifications General Application x Ideal herbicide application timing: Basal bark application in winter, foliar treatment in late summer/early fall, cut stump treatment during non-sap flow chemical is water based and conditions are not right. x Triclopyr ester (Garlon 4 ultra or approved equivalent) is preferred for all winter, early spring, and late fall applications (cut stump, basal stem or foliar treatment), unless otherwise stated. i. An oil-based, carrier must be a product specifically designed for herbicide use (e.g. Diluent Blue™); use of diesel fuel as a carrier is not allowed. ii. Amine formulations (e.g. Garlon 3a) are preferred for summer applications (June, July, August) to limit the potential for volatilization and off target impact of the chemical. x For cut stump or basal stem treatment in wetland or near aquatic areas, only aquatic-rated herbicides containing active ingredient Triclopyr-amine are approved. x Label directions must be followed. Active ingredient must be of sufficient percentage to be effective. x Blue dye must be added to herbicide mix (this is in addition to any blue coloring included in Diluent Blue or other ingredient). x Herbicide must be spot applied to stumps or basal stems with backpack sprayer or handheld sprayer. Boom or similar sprayers are expressly prohibited. x Foliar application to cover >50% of leaf surface area of each individual plant. Care for minimizing overspray must be used during all herbicide applications (stump treatment and foliar treatment). x Original herbicide and carrier containers complete with labels must be on-site or in parking lot, and available for inspection at all times. x Cut stumps must be treated within two (2) hours of cutting. x Herbicide must be applied under dry ambient and dry stump conditions that will persist for at least 24 hours from time of application. x Spill kit(s) must be on site at all times. 25 x No foliar herbicide applications using an ester formulation (e.g. Garlon 4) shall be made during the months of June, July, or August. x No foliar herbicide applications (regardless of formulation) shall be performed when the daily temperature is predicted to be ѵ͔͗τϙ>ϙ ſĖťēϙÍϙèĺŘŘôŜŕĺIJîĖIJČϙŘôīÍťĖŽôϙēŪıĖîĖťƅϙĺċϙѶ͓͔҇ϙÍťϙÍIJƅϙťĖıôϙîŪŘĖIJČϙťēôϙîÍƅϙϼIJĺťϙĤŪŜťϙÍťϙťēôϙťĖıôϙĺċϙÍŕŕīĖèÍťĖĺIJϽϟ Daily herbicide logs must be kept and provided weekly. Turf or prairie preparation for seed planting Dethatch or remove turf x In areas of dense turf, the use of a vertical cutter is recommended to dethatchor fully remove turf layer. x The contractor will control/clear >95% of target plants, and other invasive species from applicable units. x Contractor will apply up to two herbicide treatments with interspersed mowing. x Contractor may use boom sprayers for initial herbicide application with approval from landowner. x Follow-up herbicide applications will be conducted using spot spraying techniques. Planting/ Seeding Forbs and grasses x In areas of existing turf, seed areas with a mix that includes fine fescues at a density of 5lbs seed/1,000 ft2. This mix enhances grass diversity, which minimizes maintenance. x If a forb only seed mix is being applied, a density of 0.5 lbs seed/ft2 is recommended. x Some species that are too expensive to include in seed mixes but could be added as plugs include: pussytoes, common violet, and wild petunia. x All seed should be culti-packed following either broadcasting or drilling, except if seed is planted using a culti-packer modified to plant native seed. x Seed watering must occur consistently for the first three weeks after planting. Avoid heavy and infrequent water to ensure seed establishment. x Application of compost or an aquagel isrecommended to retain moisture during seed establishment. x Avoid mowing for minimum of 3 weeks after seeding. Woody understory seeding x Seeds will be hand broadcasted evenly throughout all woodland units after the completion of the initial woody invasive removal. x Seed mix should be based on approved BWSR seed mix matching the intended resulting ecosystem type Turf to prairie seeding x In areas of compacted soil, the area will need to have the top 6 inches tilled up to prepare the area for seeding. x Seeding immediately follows site preparation. x Seed is broadcast or drill seeded with equipment modified to plant native seed. x Seed is not planted deeper than 0.25 inches deep. x Small seed is broadcast directly onto the surface. x All seed is culti-packed following either broadcasting or drilling, except if seed is planted using a culti-packer modified to plant native seed. Erosion control blanket 26 x Necessary and sufficient erosion control to ensure even distribution and prevent wash-out of seed. f.) x Category 3N-straw (as defined by Minnesota Department of Transportation) natural net erosion control blanket should be installed on slopes greater than 3:1 rise to run. Cover crop x Bare soil areas or areas where erosion control measures have been taken will receive a cover-crop of cultivated oats or winter wheat. x Contractor is responsible for purchasing, delivering, and seeding the cover-crop. Planting trees and shrubs x Separate species to be sweated in bundles of 5-10, depending on size. Bundles should not contain more than one species. x Bare root plants should be stored in dry conditions between 45-70 degrees F or outside on bare ground if temperatures are suitable. x Avoid exposing bundles to the sun to prevent damage. x Syringe the roots thoroughly (spray with a hose or dip into tank) and then cover them with materials that will hold moisture, such as wet straw, wet burlap, wet excelsior. Do not cover the stems and branches with these materials. x Cover roots, stems and branches with clear or opaque plastic and anchor down the edges to keep the interior warm and humid. x Take precautions against drying out roots and otherwise retain the integrity of bare root trees. x Planting should occur once bud swell begins. Establishment maintenance x Mowing: x Mow all seeded areas 2-3 times in the first-year post seeding. x At least one mowing in the following year. x Mowing occurrences will be triggered by notification from the Project Manager. x Mowing will occur when weeds are 12-18 inches tall, and before the seed is viable. x Mow to a height of 4-6 inches. x Significantly disturbed soil and damage to restored areas are to be repaired by the Contractor. Herbaceous invasive control Cool Season Grasses: April-June (Spring) or September –October (early fall) with (choose herbicide: clethodim, sethoxydim, or glyphosate) Warm Season Grasses: June – September with (choose herbicide: clethodim, sethoxydim, or glyphosate) x Herbicide Application: o 90% removal of the targeted specieswill occur by mechanical or chemical methods. o Additional herbaceous invasives spotted by the provider should be brought to the project manager’s attention. o This project is not concerned with the following invasive herbaceous species and are beyond its scope: o Clopyralid formulations (e.g. Transline) are preferred for application to forbs to limit herbicide residence time in soil. o Treatment should be conducted in summer to early fall. o Spray operators should take care to spray all leaf surfaces of targeted species and avoid spraying on the top layer of leaves. o No foliar herbicide applications (regardless of formulation) shall be performed when the daily temperature is predicted to be >85 degrees F with a corresponding relative humidity of <45% at any time during the day (not just at the time of application). 27 o (Sub)contractor will allow vegetation growth to occur between applications to allow for the treatment to take full effect. x Spot Mowing: o Invasive forbs that follow a biennial or annual life cycle will be mowed at the appropriate times (per instructions from GRG project manager) to inhibit/ prevent seed production. o Workers will use appropriate mowing equipment (e.g. weed whips, brush cutters, brush hogs) to mow target species. o Target plants should be mowed to soil level. o Workers must take care to avoid collateral damage to non-target plants Prescribed Fire x Contractor requirements: o Have one or more designated burn bosses at or equivalent to a RXB2 designation. o Provide evidence of qualifications of burn boss, including training, experience (years and number of burns), and history (any escapes or other burn incidents). o Have members of the burn crew with a minimum training in S-130 and S-190 or equivalent. o Have all crew members and burn boss complete an annual safety refresher and passed an annual physical fitness test prior to conducting the burn(s) (RT130 or equivalent). o Provide evidence that burn boss has led burns of similar complexity with similar fuel types. o Supply all necessary equipment. o Provide PPE to all crew members, including but not limited to the equipment listed below. o Provide certification of adequate insurance coverage. o Provide two references of similar projects that were successfully completed. x Access and Staging: o Vehicle access is allowed for the preparation of burn breaks, conducting the burn, and for mop-up. o Service Provider will keep trails leading into the property open and accessible following the fire. o Service Provider is to work with Landowner to ensure necessary trails and field roads are closed to protect visitors during running fire. x Personnel Safety: o It is the Service Provider’s responsibility to provide qualified personnel full PPE for all crew, and all equipment, materials, and supplies, necessary to carry out the various tasks. o Full PPE requires a minimum of: ƒShirt and pants that meet NFPA Certification. ƒLeather gloves. ƒHard hat; Shrouds that meet NFPA Certification are to be available to crew members who request them. ƒSafety goggles or safety glasses with side shields. ƒLeather boots. ƒFire shelters are to be available to crew members who request them. ƒAll crew must have radios or similar means of communication. 28 x Permitting o Service Provider is responsible for securing all necessary state and local permits including compiling necessary burn plan(s). Copies of permits and burn plan(s) must be provided to Project Manager. This includes pile burning, if any, and running fire. o Service Provider is responsible for working with the landowner for any and all neighbor contacts. x Fire Break and Woody Debris Hauling/Pile Burning o Fire breaks must be sufficient to contain the running fire and escape possibilities and meet DNR and local permitting requirements. Burn breaks are to follow the perimeter of the burn unit as outlined in site map, except in the case where the Service Provider wishes to enlarge the unit at no extra cost and is expressly approved by the Project Manager. o Fire break work can be completed in the off season if conditions allow it. o Woody debris cannot bridge the fire break and, at a minimum, cut vegetation shall not be windrowed on the interior of the firebreak or edge of the planned work area. Any standing snags or holdover hazards within 15 feet of the fire line shall be removed asnecessary, including removal of any woody material on and/or across the firebreak. Removal of this woody debris may require the use of chainsaws. o Service Provider can remove (burn or haul off site) deadfall woody debris from burn unit prior to running fire, if so desired. If hauled, material must be moved off-site; pushing coarse woody debris to the outside of the burn unit or into the wetlands is not allowed. o Hauling /pile burning of coarse woody debris larger than 8” diameter must get express approval from Project Manager. o Removal or felling of snags in and near the burn unit prior to the running fire is discouraged unless for compelling safety reasons and must be expressly approved by Project Manager. o Optional: internal fire breaks around snags are required. x Running Fire o A 48-hour notice of intent to burn must be given to Project Manager. o Running fire must be conducted within state and local permitting guidelines. o Neighboring properties including, but not limited to, residences and livestock operations, and roadways, and railways must be considered as it relates to smoke management, weather prescription, drought, red flag warnings, burn restrictions, and burn bans. o Resource objectives of the fire (e.g., removing thatch, killing trees) will dictate temperature, relative humidity, and fuel moistures necessary on the day of burn. o It may be required to mow, rake, leaf blow, and/or run a wet line on fuel materials around desirable standing trees within the burn unit to prevent damage to these trees. o Service Provider is responsible for smoke management while conducting the burns. o Service Provider is responsible for notifying Project Manager within 12 hours of completing a prescribed fire. x Mop up and Snags o Service provider is responsible for all mop-up, including putting out smoke that may precipitate phone calls or cause possible flare up after the initial burn is completed. o Snags in and near the burn unit must be retained through the process unless safety concerns dictate otherwise. o A thorough effort to extinguish any snags or trees that ignite during the running fire must be made in an attempt to avoid felling. 29 o The service provider will be required to conduct a next day visit to ensure the fire is out and no smoke remains. x Documentation o Service Provider will submit to Landowner a brief follow-up report must include weather conditions during the burn, burn results, unexpected events, deviations from the plan etc, as well as weather conditions of expected follow-up period, no less than one day. o Burn report will be submitted as soon as possible or within one week of the burn and must include a map indicating actual burn results (hand-sketched map is adequate, but one that is delineated with GPS points in the field is preferred). Woody debris disposal options Dead down woody disposal x Removal of all dead down wood prioritizing: x Along the property lines (provide 10-foot clearance), x Along trails (provide 20-foot clearance), and x Where dead down wood severely impedes management of buckthorn x Dead down wood to be harvested includes tree trunks, limbs, and branches of dead down trees that are less than 12” in diameter if shorter than 10’ in length. x This woody debris can be managed using the alternative methods within this section. Biochar kilns x The contractor will burn piles of previously cut brush using County and/or Contractor-supplied biochar kilns. x The Contractor shall prepare, submit, and receive all necessary permits/approvals from appropriate entities prior to burning brush piles. x The contractor shall remedy plant mortality caused by burn piles by prepping and reseeding burn pile areas. Ash and any remaining woody debris shall be dispersed by the Contractor, and the area shall be thoroughly raked prior to seeding. x Biochar kilns are designed to process woody material <4" in diameter and not exceeding 4 ft in length. Any material within burn piles that does not meet this requirement will need to be processed by the Contractor on site to meet these specifications or will be the Contractor's responsibility to be removed from the area on the site that is to be seeded. x Once ignited, material can be added on top of burning pile within the kiln until coals are within 1 ft of the top of the kiln; larger (up to 4” diameter) material will char best during the middle stages of the burn. A 100 gallon or larger pressurized water tank and hose should be on site, as the burned material must be quenched with water once the material is no longer producing visible flames within the kiln. Off-site removal conducted by Contractor x All trees harvested from the project area can be chipped and removed from the site. Trees can either be hauled directly off site or chipped and hauled off site. x Contractor may remove chips off-site to compost facility to control on-site nutrient cycling. Goat Browsing Requirement x Restoration will be conducted using prescribed grazing with Boer, Boer-cross, Spanish, Savanna, Kiko, or similar meat goat breeds. Standard size dairy goats may be added but may not constitute more than half of the goat herd. x No long-haired or miniature goat breeds can be used. x Goat herds must be comprised of mixed-aged goats, meaning a herd cannot be comprised of all young of the year goats. 30 x The goat herd cannot contain new goats that are not fence trained. x Number of goats supplied by the contractor may vary, but density of goats must be high enough to achieve target ecological goals. Project manager may request additional animals, or reduction of animal numbers, to reach management goals. The Contractor will include the number of goats they will provide in this proposal. x No chemical de-worming of goats can be conducted on site. Further, all chemical deworming must be completed a minimum of two weeks prior to goats being brought to the site. Winter Grazing x The target browse rate is 85-90% of visible damage or bark stripping on target species. The project manager reserves the right to modify this target based on unit conditions and goat behavior. x Desirable tree and brush species are present within the project area and it is understood by the Project Manager that these other species will likely be impacted by prescribed grazing even though they are not the target species. Growing Season Grazing x Depending on vegetation densities and regrowth rates, the expectation is that each paddock will experience at least two grazing events during the growing season. The Project Manager and contractor can mutually agree to modify this plan as needed. x The target defoliation for each event is approximately 85%. The Project Manager and contractor can mutually agree to a lower rate as needed and particularly within paddocks where escapes are undesirable. x The Project Manager and contractor will work closely to determine the length of each grazing event. x Return interval: The timing of the second (and third as applicable) grazing events is dependent on the rate of regrowth. A minimum of three weeks of rest between grazing periods is preferred. However, the time interval between grazing events may be altered by the Contractor with approval from the Project Manager. x Determining the initial paddock size and stocking rate will be the responsibility of the contractor. The Project Manager reserves the right to modify paddock size, stocking rate, return interval, or defoliation target based on site conditions and vegetation response. x Desirable tree and brush species are present within the project area and it is understood by the Project Manager that these other species will likely be impacted by prescribed grazing even though they are not the target species. Fencing x Some sites are naturally divided into paddocks by existing trails, some are larger units that can be further divided into paddocks. See site descriptions and maps for further details. x The contractor is required to provide enough electric mesh fencing to enclose a minimum of one paddock at a time. The Contractor will include a map or description of proposed paddock sizes, approximate fencing lengths and locations in this proposal. x The electric mesh fence must be a minimum of 35” tall and contain a minimum of 8 horizontal strands (7 conductive), with vertical struts or strings a minimum of every 12”. x With most electric mesh fence, the fence posts are built in and situated every 12.5’. Additional step-in posts may be needed to help support the fence on the uneven terrain found on site. If the mesh fence style used by the Contractor does not have built in fence posts, then posts must be provided by the Contractor and placed a minimum of 12.5’ apart. o Optional: The Contractor is required to provide a 12-volt, deep cycle battery to provide electricity to the fence as there is no on-site electricity available. 31 o Optional: The Contractor is required to provide an electric fence energizer with solar power capacity for recharging the battery. The solar panel wattage should be large enough to meet the joule output to power the fence. x The Contractor is required to provide grounding rods to ensure energy supply to the fence. A rule of thumb for grounding rods is to use 3’ of grounding rods for every joule of output from the energizer. x The Contractor is responsible for maintaining a fully operational fence at all times (clearing fallen branches and other debris, righting fallen posts, etc). Fence Lanes and Installation x The Contractor may need to cut brush and herbaceous vegetation on portions of each site to allow placement of paddock fencing. x No non-target trees will be cut without the express permission of the Project Manager. x No permanent or hard fences may be established. x Fencing must be removed when the goats are removed from the site. x Brush and other debris that falls onto trails as a result of fence lane clearing must be removed from the trail and mow strip. x Any damage to park property, including rutting of trails, must be repaired immediately and at the Contractor’s expense. Site Visits x The Project Manager and Contractor will work closely to coordinate site visits and health checks per the following schedule: x The Contractor will evaluate site conditions and animal health a minimum of twice per week. x The Contractor will respond to the site within 2 hours or less to address any issues identified by Project Manager or Landowner/Land Manager (e.g., downed fence, goats outside fence, etc.). Mobilization and Communication x The Project Manager and Contractor will remain in close communication throughout the contract period. The following communication checkpoints and timelines will be observed: x Weekly formal project check-ins by Contractor. Schedule to be determined by mutual agreement. x For initial mobilization: x Approximately one week prior to mobilization to a new site: Contractor and Project Manager discuss target mobilization date. x Approximately 24 hours before mobilizing to the site: Contractor notifies Project Manager, provides an approximate arrival window. x When goats are being loaded/in transit to the site: Contractor confirms move with Project Manager by phone or text. x For rotation between paddocks: o Approximately 12 to 24 hours prior to moving to a new paddock: Contractor will notify Project Manager. o Immediately after goats have been relocated to a new paddock: Contractor will notify Project Manager. Performance assessment x 85% removal of select species. x In proposal, define how herd will achieve performance objective. 32 Appendix A: SeedingSpecies Lists The following table displays recommended seed mixes for each site’s habitat types. Full seed mixes can be found onthe Minnesota Board of Water and Soil Resources website - https://bwsr.state.mn.us/seed-mixes - for each seed mix codereferenced below. The landowner should be aware that the mixes listed in this table were chosen as the best fit for the plant communities and locations of the project site available from the MN Department of Natural Resources. This should not be taken as an exhaustive list of possible species to include in seeding the site, and a professional seed vendor should be consulted when purchasing a mix for the landowner’s site. Table A.1 Seed Species Lists (shaded cells denote recommended seed mix use in those units). Site / Unit Hazelnut Park Floral Park Chatham Park BWSR Mix Code BWSR Habitat Name Woodland Mesic Hardwood Woodland Utility / powerline Woodland Mesic Hardwood 36-212 Woodland Edge S and W 36-712 Woodland Edge Central 35-642 Mesic Prairie SE Pilot Mesic Short Urban Buffer S and W These lists can also be used as guidelines for native plant plug choices as well. Mostof the species will be able to be found in native nurseries. It is recommended that any plants chosen for these sites be sourced from within 250 miles (ideally from within 150 miles) of Arden Hills to promote the maximum success and establishment. Availability of species from vendors may require substitutions from these mix guidelines. A table of potential species substitutions can be found here - https://bwsr.state.mn.us/sites/default/files/2021-02/seedmix-substitution.pdf 33 34 35 36 37 Appendix B: Tree and Shrub Planting Species Lists These lists focus on tree and shrubspecies that could be planted in the habitat types present at any of the sites. Herbaceous species can also be plantedbased on the Board of Water and Soil Resources (BWSR) species listed in Appendix A, table A.1. Species Lists by Habitat Type Lowland/ Wet Woodland Wooded shoreline Mesic Woodland Plant Type Common name Scientific name Common name Scientific name Common name Scientific name Tree Black Maple Acer nigrum Red Maple Acer rubrum Paper Birch Betula papyrifera Shrub Silver Maple Acer saccharinum Silver Maple Acer saccharinum Gray Dogwood Cornus racemosa Sugar Maple Acer saccharum Chokeberry Aronia melanocarpa American Hazelnut Corylus americana Pagoda Dogwood Cornus alternifolia River Birch Betula nigra Beaked Hazelnut Corylus cornuta Gray Dogwood Cornus racemosa Hackberry Celtis occidentalis Wild Honeysuckle Lonicera dioica Round Leaved Dogwood Cornus rugosa Buttonbush Cephalanthus occidentalis Ironwood Ostrya virginiana American Hazelnut Corylus americana Pagoda Dogwood Cornus alternifolia Jack Pine Pinus banksiana Bush Honeysuckle Diervilla lonicera Silky Dogwood Cornus amomum Red Pine Pinus resinosa Black Cherry Prunus serotina Red Osier Dogwood Cornus sericea White Pine Pinus strobus Chokecherry Prunus virginiana Tamarack Larix laricina Big Toothed Aspen Populus grandidentata White Oak Quercus alba Cottonwood Populus deltoides Quaking Aspen Populus tremuloides Swamp White Oak Quercus bicolor American Plum Prunus americana Northern Pin Oak Quercus ellipsoidalis Bur Oak Quercus macrocarpa Swamp White Oak Quercus bicolor Bur Oak Quercus macrocarpa Red Oak Quercus rubra Wild Black Currant Ribes americanum Red Oak Quercus rubra Prickly Gooseberry Ribes cynosbati Prickly Gooseberry Ribes cynosbati Common Elderberry Sambucus canadensis Missouri Gooseberry Ribes missouriense Missouri Gooseberry Ribes missouriense Downy Arrowood Viburnum ralinesquianum Black Raspberry Rubus occidentalis Bebb's Willow Salix bebbiana Prickly Ash Zanthoxylum americanum Common Elderberry Sambucus canadensis Pussy Willow Salix discolor Basswood Tilia americana Red Berried Elder Sambucus racemosa American Elm Ulmus americana Nannyberry Viburnum lentago High Bush Cranberry Viburnum opulus 38 Appendix C: Soil Surveys Hazelnut Park 39 Floral Park 40 Chatham Park 41 42 Appendix D: Meander Species Change Over Initial Management Year D.1.a. Hazelnut, September 18, 2024 D.1.b. Hazelnut, July 11, 2025 D.2.a. Floral, September 18, 2024 D.2.b. Floral, July 11, 2025 D.3.a. Chatham, September 18, 2024 D.3.b. Chatham, July 11, 2025 Figures D.1 through D.3 - Composite Invasive Species Abundance (CISA) by Percent Native Vegetation (%PNV) - Figure shows along the y-axis the amount of the site that is covered by invasive species, with the x-axis showing the percentage of the site inhabited by native vegetation. The placement of the dot indicates the quality of the site with sites in the upper left being worse off than those in the bottom right. Both sites where contract work has been conducted showed reduced invasive species presence, mostly attributable to decreased buckthorn density. Although, Chatham’s invasive coverage qualitatively increased, likely due to different survey times and surveyors. Notably, all sites had negligible changes in %PNV. 43 Appendix E: Invasive Species Management Protocols Note –the full 27-page document will be attached to the final draft after updates; example pages follows - 44 45 46 47 48 Citationsand References Note – Citations will be completed (with in-text references) prior to the finalization of the document. Lucinda Johnson, Will Bartsch, George Hudak, Mae Davenport, Kris Johnson, Kristi Nixon, Jane Reed and Atlas Team. 2022.Minnesota Natural Resource Atlas: Online mapping tools and data for natural resource planning, management, and research in Minnesota. Natural Resources Research Institute, University of Minnesota Duluth. Soil Survey Staff, Natural Resources ConservationService, United States Department of Agriculture. Web Soil Survey. Available online at https://websoilsurvey.nrcs.usda.gov/. Accessed [May and June 2025]. Minnesota Historical Aerial Photographs Online as managed by the John R. Borchert Map Library, University of Minnesota and Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (MNDNR). https://gisdata.mn.gov/dataset/base-historical-aerial-points. Accessed June 2025. Mn DNR Natural Heritage description - Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, Natural Heritage Program, Minnesota's Native Vegetation: a Key to Natural Communities, version 1.5, 1993. https://files.dnr.state.mn.us/assistance/nrplanning/community/mlccs/mlccs_manual_v5_4.pdf Minnesota Department of Natural Resources. “FDs37 Southern Dry-Mesic Oak (Maple) Woodland.” 2003. https://files.dnr.state.mn.us/natural_resources/npc/fire_dependent_forest/fds37.pdf NVCS description - US National Vegetation Classification draft documents of the International Classification of Ecological Communities: Terrestrial Vegetation of the Great Plains and Great Lakes. Compiled by The Nature Conservancy and edited by Don Faber-Langendoen and Kristin Snow, April 2000. Soil Orders and Suborders in Minnesota, University of Minnesota Extension. Available online at https://extension.umn.edu/soil-management-and-health/soil-orders-and-suborders-minnesota. Accessed September 2025. Comprehensive Plan, 2017-2025, Ramsey Conservation District. Available online at https://www.ramseycounty.us/sites/default/files/Environment/Conservation%20District/RCD%20Comp%2 0Plan_04-11-18.pdf. Accessed September 2025. Comprehensive Plan, 2015-2019, July 2017 Update, Anoka Conservation District. Available online at https://anokaswcd.org/images/AnokaSWCD/About/Reports%20and%20Publications/2015_19AnokaSWCD CompPlanJuly2017Update.pdf. Accessed September 2025. Comprehensive Natural Resources Stewardship Plan, 2021-2030, Anoka Conservation District. January 2021. Available at https://anokaswcd.org/images/AnokaSWCD/About/Reports%20and%20Publications/2021_2030_ACD_Co mp_Plan.pdf. Accessed September 2025. Schuster, M.J., Wragg, P.D., Roth, A.M. et al. No evidence of a long-lived seedbank in common buckthorn, Rhamnus cathartica L., within Minnesota deciduous forests. Biol Invasions 25, 3043–3048 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10530-023-03113-4 University of Minnesota. “Minnesota Historical Aerial Photographs Online.” MHAPO, John R. Borchert Map Library, 3 Sept. 2015, apps.lib.umn.edu/mhapo/. 49 Aaseng, Norman E. Field Guide to the Native Plant Communities of Minnesota. The Eastern Broadleaf Forest Province. Minnesota Dept. of Natural Resources, 2005. NRCS. “Web Soil Survey.” Web Soil Survey, United States Department of Agriculture, Natural Resource Conservation Service, 11 Oct. 2023, websoilsurvey.nrcs.usda.gov/app/. NEW BUSINESS – 5B MEMORANDUM DATE: November 18, 2025 TO: Parks, Trails and Recreation Committee FROM: Jess Skalicky, Parks and Recreation Manager SUBJECT: 2027 Parks Improvement Projects Initial Site Inspections Requested Action Informational presentation: no action required. Background Staff will give an informational presentation on the findings during the initial site inspections at Perry, Sampson, and Ingerson Parks. Attachment Attachment A: 2027 Parks Improvement Projects Initial Site Inspections Summary Power Point Attachment B: Perry Park Site Inspection Notes Attachment C: Sampson Park Site Inspection Notes Attachment D: Ingerson Park Site Inspection Notes Arden Hills 2027 Park Improvement Projects Sampson Park Perry Park Ingerson Park Sampson Park Perry Park Ingerson Park Attachment A Sampson Park Straighten paved trails Professional tree pruning Remove signs from trees Sampson Park - Trees & TrailsSampsonPark- Straighten paved trails Professional tree pruning Remove signs f rom trees Trees &Trails-T Concrete ribbon container New playground New swingsets Sampson Park - PlaygroundSampsonPark Concrete ribbon container New playground New swingsets Playgroundk-P New hoop New court Replace basketball nets with modern chain nets Sampson Park - Basketball CourtSampsonPark New hoop New cour t Replace basketball nets with modern chain nets Basketball Courtk-B Perry Park Boards are failing Rusting metal supports Upgrade lighting Perry Park - Hockey RinkPerryPark-Hoc Boards are failing Rusting metal suppor ts Upgrade lighting key Rinkck Near Warming House Ballfield fencelines Throughout park Perry Park - Dead TreesPerryPark-Dea Near Warming House Ballf ield fencelines Throughout park d Treesad Low exterior concrete spots Poor outfield drainage Drainage into playground corner Perry Park - Ballfield DrainagePerryPark-Bal Low exterior concrete spots Poor outf ield drainage Drainage into playground corner ield Drainagelf Failing hillside Drains into Dog Park Enormous drainage gully Perry Park - Entire Park DrainagePerryPark-Ent Failing hillside Drains into Dog Park Enormous drainage gully re Park Drainagetir Failing rentention wall Widen trail for access Trails sinking & settling Perry Park - TrailsPerryPark-Tra Failing rentention wall Widen trail for access Trails sinking &settling sils Upgrade paving Repair fencing Remove bleachers from dog park Perry Park - Ballfield PerimetersPerryPark-Bal Upgrade paving Repair fencing Remove bleachers f rom dog park ield Perimeterslf Redo parking lot Replace dying trees Privacy fence for dumpsters Perry Park - Parking LotPerryPark-Par Redo parking lot Replace dying trees Privacy fence for dumpsters king Lotrk Install fiber for security Replace picnic tables Concrete pads for trash & recycling Perry Park - PavilionPerryPark-Pav Install fiber for security Replace picnic tables Concrete pads for trash &recycling lionvil Ingerson Park Declining tree grove Ants ate many box elders Dead & declining trees throughout Ingerson Park - TreesIngersonPark- Declining tree grove Ants ate many box elders Dead & declining trees throughout TreesT Steep hill hard to maintain Pocks from removed trees throughout Poor drainage at bottom of hill Ingerson Park - Stormwater & FieldsIngersonPark- Steep hill hard to maintain Pocks from removed trees throughout Poor drainage at bottom of hill Stormwater &FieldsS New Playground New concrete ribbon container New playground bench Ingerson Park - Playground & BenchIngersonPark- New Playground New concrete ribbon container New playground bench Playground &BenchP Replace benches and tables Upgrade to modern pavilion Basketball Court is good Ingerson Park - AmenitiesIngersonPark- Replace benches and tables Upgrade to modern pavilion Basketball Court is good AmenitiesA Replace benches and tables Upgrade to modern pavilion Basketball Court is good Ingerson Park - AmenitiesIngersonPark- Replace benches and tables Upgrade to modern pavilion Basketball Court is good AmenitiesA Additional Notes Attached Perry Park Site Inspection Notes Mike Christofore, Lucas Miller, Jess Skalicky Monday, October 13, 2025 Hockey Rink x The hockey rink is currently in fair-to-okay condition. It was recently painted. The rink is beginning to fail: some boards are loose and wiggly, and the bottom boards are starting to rot. Replacement isn’t immediately necessary, but planning for future repairs is required. x The metal supports for the boards are rusting. Some discussion was made about replacing boards as needed versus regrading and installing a completely new rink. x Ideally, the rink would be rebuilt, regraded, and installed with new boards. x Lighting: The rink lighting could be upgraded to LED. Currently, lights are manually operated via a breaker by rink attendants; they are not on timers. Trees and Vegetation x Behind the warming house, several decaying trees are a maintenance hazard. An assessment is needed to determine if some should be removed. x Behind Field 3, along the fence line, most trees are dead, diseased, or dying. Branches frequently hit the fence, causing damage. Removing these trees would æôIJôƱťϙæĺťēϙŕÍŘħϙıÍĖIJťôIJÍIJèôϙÍIJîϙIJôÍŘæƅϙēĺıôĺſIJôŘŜϟ x FĖīīŜϙæôēĖIJîϙťēôϙæÍīīƱôīîŜϙÍŘôϙŕŘĖŽÍèƅϙēĖīīŜϠϙŜťôôŕϙċĺŘϙıÍèēĖIJôŘƅϙæŪťϙıÍĖIJťÍĖIJÍæīôϟϙ Originally, these were set at a 2:1 pitch grade when the park was built. It would be nice if they weren’t so steep and if it was mowable. x "ôÍîϙĺŘϙŜIJÍŕŕôîϙťŘôôŜϙæôēĖIJîϙĺŪťƱôīîŜϙÍIJîϙēĺèħôƅϙŘĖIJħŜϙIJôôîϙèīôÍŘĖIJČϟϙ“ēôƅϙÍŘôIJЍťϙ immediate hazards but should be addressed eventually. Fields and Drainage x Field 3 and the north side of the park require regrading due to drainage issues. Water pools in low spots, and machinery sometimes gets stuck. x "ŘÍĖIJÍČôϙèŪŘŘôIJťīƅϙŘŪIJŜϙċŘĺıϙťēôϙēĺèħôƅϙŘĖIJħϙÍIJîϙæÍīīƱôīîŜϙťēŘĺŪČēϙťēôϙîĺČϙŕÍŘħϠϙæŪťϙ the current system is not working and creates lots of low wet spots in both the ĺŪťƱôīîϙĺċϙƱôīîϙ͒ϙÍIJîϙťēôϙîĺČϙŕÍŘħϟϙ x >Ėôīîϙ͒ϙēÍŜϙîŘÍĖIJϙťĖīôϠϙæŪťϙĖťϙĖŜϙĖIJŜŪƯĖèĖôIJťϙťĺϙÍîîŘôŜŜϙīĺſϙŜŕĺťŜϟ $WWDFKPHQW% x iIJϙťēôϙŜĺŪťēϙŜĖîôϠϙſÍťôŘϙſÍŜēôŜϙċŘĺıϙ>Ėôīîϙ͑ϙĖIJťĺϙťēôϙŕīÍƅČŘĺŪIJîϙèĺIJťÍĖIJôŘϠϙƱīīĖIJČϙÍϙ corner of the playground container îôŜŕĖťôϙŕÍŜťϙôƯĺŘťŜϙťĺϙŕŘôŽôIJťϙťēĖŜϟ x Consider completely regrading the dog park due to ponding water and the poor drainage. x The east fence īĖIJôϙĺċϙťēôϙîĺČϙŕÍŘħϙŜŕôèĖƱèÍīīƅϙĖŜϙŜĖIJħĖIJČϙÍIJîϙôƄťŘôıôϙôŘĺŜĖĺIJϙĖŜϙ ŕŘôŜôIJťϙÍIJîϙſĺŘŜôIJĖIJČϟϙ“ēôϙôƄĖŜťĖIJČϙrip-rapped ēĖīīŜĖîôϙĖŜϙIJĺťϙťÍħĖIJČϙťēôϙſÍťôŘϙŘŪIJĺƯϙ as designed and this needs to be corrected. x îîϙƱīīϙťĺϙıÍħôϙťēôϙēĖīīϙıĺſÍæīôϙŜĺŪťēϙĺċϙťēôϙîĺČϙŕÍŘħϟϙ x Field 1 has a spot in right or right-èôIJťôŘϙƱôīîϙťēÍťϙēĺīîŜϙſÍťôŘϢϙÍîîĖIJČϙŜÍIJîϙƅôÍŘīƅϙ would improve drainage. x Regrading will require protection for the irrigation heads. The best way to do this would to put temporary metal caps on. x Regardless of regrading, the irrigation heads all need readjustments anyway, as many shoot water unevenly since they are sideways from getting hit by mowers. x >Ėôīîϙ͐ϠϙĖıŕŘĺŽôϙôŘĺŜĖĺIJϙĺIJϙťēôϙôÍŜťϙŜĖîôϙťĺϙťēôϙôƄĖŜťĖIJČϙæôôēĖŽôϙŜťĺŘıϙŜťŘŪèťŪŘôϟϙ ÍīīƱôīîŜϙÍIJîϙ>ôIJèĖIJČ x Fencing and anchors around some æÍīīƱôīîŜϙÍŘôϙċÍĖīĖIJČϟϙ>ôIJèôŜϙīôÍIJϠϙÍIJîϙèĺIJèŘôťôϙ anchors have risen up above the concreate due to ground movement. The fence around the dog park ЊĺŪťƱôīîЋϙhas a particularly bad lean due to drainage and frost heave. x The concrete corner near the space where Field 3 and the dog park meet is particularly unstable. Water pools there for days after rain, and drainage is inadequate. x ĺIJèŘôťôϙıÍĖIJťôIJÍIJèôϙŜťŘĖŕŜϙŪIJîôŘϙæÍīīƱôīîϙċôIJèôŜϙÍŘôϙIJôôîôîϙťĺϙŕŘôŽôIJťϙîÍıÍČôϙ from mowing. x Retaining walls, particularly around the paved trail outside the perimeter of Field 2, are failing and need repair. x ôIJťôŘϙƱôīîϙıÍĖIJťôIJÍIJèôϙČÍťôŜϙſĺŪīîϙæôϙēôīŕċŪīϙĺIJϙÍīīϙƱôīîŜϟ x The unused home run fence behind southwest Field 1 is covered in buckthorn and should be removed. This fence is an additional unnecessary fence on the outside of ťēôϙæÍīīƱôīîϟ Remove trees along the west fence line, also. x īôÍèēôŘŜϙÍŘôϙƱIJô; a few need to have concrete pads under them. x ‡ôŕīÍèôϙťŘÍŜēϯŘôèƅèīôϙŘôèôŕťÍèīôŜϙÍŘĺŪIJîϙťēôϙƱôīîŜϙſĖťēϙèĺIJèŘôťôϙŕÍîŜϟ Dog Park x A water source for dogs is needed (tamperproof)ϠϙĖîôÍīīƅϙſĖťēϙÍIJϙÍŪťĺıÍťĖèϙŜēŪťĺƯϟϙ (ƄĖŜťĖIJČϙŜŕĖČĺťŜϙċŘĺıϙŕŘôŽĖĺŪŜϙæÍŜôæÍīīϙƱôīîŜϙıÍƅϙÍīīĺſϙÍIJϙĖIJ-house connection. x Smaller dogs sometimes escape under the fence, but the addition of a bottom rail has helped. We should improve the bottom of the fences so dogs cannot ever get out. x „ĺťôIJťĖÍīϙôƄĖŜťŜϙťĺϙŜôŕÍŘÍťôϙŜıÍīīϙÍIJîϙīÍŘČôϙîĺČŜϠϙťēĺŪČēϙťēôŘôϙēÍŜϙæôôIJϙīĖťťīôϙ demand from the public. PTRC has asked for this and would like to see it. x All concrete and benches around the dog park are remnants of the previous æÍŜôæÍīīϙƱôīîϙÍIJîϙŜēĺŪīîϙæôϙŘôıĺŽôîϟ Pavilion and Warming House x >ĖæôŘϙĺŕťĖèϙÍèèôŜŜϙſĺŪīîϙæôϙæôIJôƱèĖÍīϙċĺŘϙŕĺťôIJťĖÍīϙċŪťŪŘôϙèÍıôŘÍϙĖIJŜťÍīīÍťĖĺIJϟϙ>ĖæôŘϙ should be run to both the warming house and the pavilion. x Wooden picnic tables are old and should be replaced; we should not use wooden picnic tables. x Permanent trash receptacles should be installed in the pavilion. Trails and Concrete Areas x The paved trail around the perimeter of Field 2 has sunk and slopes outward, particularly in the back-leftƱôīîϯϙ͒rd baseline corner. A retaining wall is leaking and needs repair. Increasing the corner radius on the paved trail would improve maintenance access and straightened out so it is plowable. Also, the north retaining wall is also failing and pavement above the wall is also failing. x “ēôϙŜĺŪťēϙŜĖîôϙĺċϙťēôϙŕÍŘħϠϙĖIJèīŪîĖIJČϙèĺIJèŘôťôϙÍŘôÍŜϙĺŪťŜĖîôϙæÍīīƱôīîŜϠϙIJôôîŜϙťĺϙæôϙ repaved and redone. Parking Lot x Two trees in the parking lot island are struggling due to low planting and restricted root growth. The island should be redone with a single healthy tree. x Replace/relocate signage within island. Miscellaneous Notes x The portable toilet privacy fence should be enlarged to accommodate an additional ADA portable unit and leveled out. Consider adding another (a second) porta potty, îŪôϙťĺϙēĖČēϙŽĺīŪıôϙĺċϙťŘÍƯĖèϙîŪŘĖIJČϙæÍīīϙČÍıôŜϟϙ x Regrading and irrigation adjustments will involve temporarily capping irrigation heads with metal. It’s a labor-intensive process but would protect the irrigation system. x IŘŘĖČÍťĖĺIJϙŜēĺŪīîϙæôϙôIJťĖŘôīƅϙČĺIJôϙťēŘĺŪČēϙÍIJîϙŪŕîÍťôîϯıĺîĖƱôîϟϙ x Hills between the pavilion and dog park are steep for mowing. Adjusting the slope would help, though care is needed to preserve the healthy tree IJôƄťϙťĺϙťēôϙŕÍŽĖīĖĺIJϟϙ x Possibly replace the Perry Park sign with a new one. x Trash dumpsters should have concrete pads and be placed behind privacy walls to meet city code. Sampson Park Site Inspection Notes Monday, October 13, 2025 Mike Christofore, Lucas Miller, Jess Skalicky General Park Improvements x Permanent trash receptacles are needed. They should be installed on permanent concrete pads. x The wooden picnic tables should be removed and replaced with modern tables that match the style used in other city parks. x Replace existing bench with a new one. x “ēĖŜϙĖŜϙÍϙċŘĖôIJîīƅϙIJôĖČēæĺŘēĺĺîϙŕÍŘħϠϙÍIJîϙĖıŕŘĺŽôıôIJťŜϙŜēĺŪīîϙŘôƲôèťϙťēÍťϙ character. Parking and Access x The parking pylons should be removed and regrade the area. x Both asphalt pads (the parking lot and the pad next to the basketball court) need to be redone. Trails and Trees x The paved trails should be straightened, either by shifting the trail to one side of the trees or the other, or by removing one tree if necessary. However, as many trees as possible should be preserved. x The trees throughout the park need professional pruning and need to mostly be protected-in-place, if possible. x Road signs that are currently attached to trees should be removed and reinstalled on proper posts. x After checking the Ramsey County GIS, it appears the 5-8 pine trees along the north side of the park are within the park’s boundary, not on the easement line as we had thought while we were doing the inspection. They’re getting old. They don’t need anything now, just noting they are old and it shows. Playground Area x The playground needs full replacement, including a new bench and a new concrete container. Attachment C x Replace swings, including a new concrete container. x While some council members expressed interest in a nature-themed playground with logs and natural play elements, this location may not be suitable due to limited parking for the audience that type of playground would attract. Basketball Court x The basketball court needs to be replaced, including installation of a new hoop. x The current chain net is the only type that has not been repeatedly vandalized. We should look into getting modern chain nets that are both safe and visually appealing instead of the nylon nets. x Mill and Overlay the parking pad and the approach to the basketball court. Grounds and Landscaping x Minor grading work is needed in grassy areas to address a few low spots. x Shrubs and overgrowth along the south perimeter fence should be cleaned out. Ingerson Park Site Inspection Notes Monday, October 13, 2025 Mike Christofore, Lucas Miller, Jess Skalicky Ingerson Park Improvement Notes Trees, Landscaping, and Drainage x The grove of trees in the southeast corner of the park is declining near Lexington Ave. Most of the trees can be removed in-house, though a few will need to be contracted out. x The hill near this grove cannot be mowed with standard equipment and currently requires push mowing. Extending the hill would make it more accessible for maintenance, though care will be needed near the property line. The adjacent property owner is a generally cooperative person. x There is potential to replace the dying grove of trees with a parking lot. x FĖŜťĺŘĖèÍīīƅϠϙŜťĺŘıſÍťôŘϙīĖħôīƅϙƲĺſôîϙîĺſIJϙťēôϙēĖīīϙÍIJîϙôƄĖťôîϙſôŜťϠϙæŪťϙŜôîĖıôIJťϙ buildup, ground movement, and land settling have caused water to pool about 20– 30 feet from the woodline. The area has become swampy and cannot be mowed due to standing water in the summer. Re-grading should direct water down toward the cul-de-sac, where a swamp connects to Lake Josephine in order to promote drainage. x The area once had many boxelder trees, which attracted ants. Over time, numerous ťŘôôŜϙēÍŽôϙæôôIJϙŘôıĺŽôîϠϙīôÍŽĖIJČϙæôēĖIJîϙēĺīôŜϙÍIJîϙŕĺèħϙıÍŘħŜϙťēŘĺŪČēĺŪťϙťēôϙƱôīîϙ and hill. These uneven spots are safety hazards for runners using the hill for conditioning and for children sledding when there is only a thin layer of snow. The entire site should get a “skin-coat” of topsoil grading. x Diseased or hollow trees should be removed, and new trees planted to restore ēôÍīťēƅϙèĺŽôŘÍČôϟϙ“ēôϙČŘĺŪIJîϙîôŕŘôŜŜĖĺIJŜϙīôċťϙċŘĺıϙŘôıĺŽôîϙťŘôôŜϙŜēĺŪīîϙæôϙƱīīôîϙ and leveled. Potentially add additional trees from losses over the years. x Buckthorn eradication is needed around the entire perimeter of the park. Shelter and Amenities x The park shelter is older and does not match the modern design of newer park structures, such as the one at Johanna Marsh. Attachment D x While the current shelter is structurally sound and in good repair, it is outdated in appearance. A new, modern-style shelter would be a desirable upgrade in the future. x The swinging bench above the sledding hill should either be replaced with a standard bench or removed entirely. x All wooden picnic tables should be removed and replaced with newer models consistent with a standard, modern design that is chosen to place in all city parks. x „ôŘıÍIJôIJťϙťŘÍŜēϙŘôèôŕťÍèīôŜϙŜēĺŪīîϙæôϙĖIJŜťÍīīôîϙĖIJϙƱƄôîϙèĺIJťÍĖIJôŘŜϙŜôťϙĺIJϙèĺIJèŘôťôϙ pads. x The post at the entrance of the park should be straightened; it’s currently sideways. x The park sign is in good condition and does not need replacement. x Consider upgrading the porta-potty with an ADA pad. Existing location looks to be in pretty good condition. Playground and Recreation x The playground needs full replacement, including a new play structure, new concrete container, and a new bench. x ϙīÍŘČôŘϙŕÍŘħĖIJČϙīĺťϙſĺŪīîϙæôϙæôIJôƱèĖÍīϠϙôŜŕôèĖÍīīƅϙČĖŽôIJϙťēÍťϙIIJČôŘŜĺIJϙ„ÍŘħϙĖŜϙťēôϙ most popular sledding location in Arden Hills. Also, restripe and replace/redo parking spot bumpers at existing parking lot. x The basketball court is currently in fair condition but should be scheduled for replacement in the next park improvement cycle. Currently, protect-in-place with this project.