Woodbury Parks: Refrigerated Rink, New Amenities

The Woodbury City Council last month went over the five-year Capital Improvement Plan, which included several items related to city parks.

The items listed below, from a Woodbury Parks Department memo, have not been fully approved, but are part of the city’s overview for future projects.

2014-15: Central Park Remodeling

Not specifically outlined as yet, Central Park remodeling includes items related to the Lookout Ridge playground, banquet facilities, performance area and other needs as determined by the other partners in the building: School District 833, ECFE, Washington County Stafford Library, Southeast Area YMCA, Stonecrest Senior Living Community and Cups N’ Scoops.

The amount allocated for city-benefited improvements for this project is $51,500 for design (2014) and $371,315 for construction (2015).

2014: Bielenberg Sports Center Field Light Replacement

The city plans to replace the existing athletic field light fixtures on fields 10, 11, 12, 13 and 14 as they were originally installed in 1995.

The new fixtures will use less energy and have less light spillage than the current fixtures and will be able to be remotely controlled and monitored from a smart phone or computer. The new fixtures will be installed on existing poles.

The amount allocated for this project is $396,550.

2013: Dale Road Open Space

Plans for the Dale Road Open Space call for a new a shelter/restroom building, improving the parking lot, paving some trails, developing community garden plots and establishing a tree nursery.

The amount allocated for this project is $334,750.

2014: La Lake Open Space

The idea for the recently purchased La Lake Open Space is new trails, and constructing an access road and parking area on the former Lone Lake Kennel property.  The property fronts on Bailey Road just west of Woodlane Drive, adjoins La Lake and is contiguous to other city open space property.

The amount allocated for this project is $489,250.

2015: Bailey Lake Community Trail

Bailey Lake community project is meant to complete the missing link to provide a continuous off-road paved trail between Cottage Grove Ravine and Lake Elmo regional parks. That link, after the completion of the County Road 19 project, is from about Bailey Road in Woodbury to 80th Street in Cottage Grove.

The route has not been determined, but the project would be a collaborative effort with South Washington County Watershed District, Cottage Grove and Washington County, utilizing city, county and watershed district owned property.

Since this project is of regional significance and involves multiple jurisdictions, there is a possibility to be awarded grant funding.

The amount allocated for this project is $265,225, which could be offset by 50 percent in grant funding or $132,613.

2016: Colby Lake refrigerated rink

The city plans to upgrade the current outdoor hockey rink to a refrigerated rink with fiberglass dasher boards and concrete surface.

The amount allocated for this project cost is $583,495.

2017: Valley Creek Community Park

Plans for the Valley Creek Community Park include the development of a community park, which could include the restoration of the barn located on the property.

The Woodbury Heritage Society is advocating restoring the barn for public use and will be soliciting donations and grants to provide the funding. The project would require significant site work including access road, utilities, parking and trails.

The amount allocated for this project is $983,454, which could be offset by 25 percent in grant funds and donations or $245,864.

2018: Turnberry Neighborhood Park

The Turnberry Neighborhood Park plans are for the development of a typical neighborhood park on land previously dedicated with the Turnberry development and additional land planned to be dedicated with the North East Business Park development.

A plan has not been prepared as yet and the timing is dependent on future residential development in the area.

The amount allocated for this project is $675,305.

2018: Phase 2A Neighborhood Park

A neighborhood park and trail system in the phase 2A portion of the city is also part of the CIP.

With several new developments in this area in the planning and constructing phases, the city sees the need to plan for developing the parks and trails consistent with the Comprehensive Plan to support the new neighborhoods.

The timing is dependent on the pace of the residential construction in the area. The amount allocated for this project is $695,564.