6.1 SR 01-24-1994ITEM 6. 1.
TO: MAYOR & CITY COUNCIL
Ver FROM: PHIL HALS, STREET/PARK SUPT
1 DATE: JANUARY 20, 1994
SUBJECT: GRANT APPLICATION
Mike Niziolek, a District 728 school teacher, cross country
running and cross country skiing coach, appeared before the
Park and Recreation Commission at their regular meeting on
December 8, 1993. Mr. Niziolek was requesting support for a
grant application that he is writing. As you can see from the
enclosed material, one main portion of the grant is for an
environmental learning center building which would be
constructed at Woodland Trails Park. The second portion of
this grant is for the purchase of an environmentally sensitive
tamarack bog located two miles north and west of Woodland
Trails Park.
At this writing, Mr. Niziolek has a scheduled meeting with the
property owners regarding the possibility of the tamarack bog
purchase and will have information as a handout at the 1/24/94
City Council meeting.
The proposed learning center building would be used by District
728 school students for environmental education. Mr. Niziolek
suggested that each classroom of students could spend one day
per year at the park for an opportunity to study natural
sciences and this type of schedule could keep this building
occupied nearly everyday throughout the school year.
Mr. Niziolek will be present at Monday's meeting to further
describe the grant requirements, but it is my understanding
that the grant is for the construction of a building, purchase
of the tamarack bog, and for a two year program director for
the learning center.
The Park and Recreation Commission recommended that the City
support the matching portion of the grant with up to 50% of the
funding, not to exceed $70,000. The Park and Recreation
Commission did not, however, identify any sources of funding.
It is not clear to me at this time whether the City would be
involved with any of the construction work as part of the
matching funds.
Dave Anderson, Park and Recreation Commission Chair, will also
be present at Monday's meeting.
P.O. Box 490 0 13065 Orono Parkway • Elk River, MN 55330 9 (612) 441-7420 9 Fax: (612) 441-7425
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PROGRAM TITLE: Environmental Learning Key (E.L.K.)
PROGRAM GOALS: Implement environmental education programs and establish
educational sites for native ecosystems of Elk River. Outdoor environmental programs will
promote community involvement and emphasize: ecosystem awareness, problem solving,
preservation and restoration.
Specific topics are:
A. Establishing An Environmental Education Nature Center*"
B. Developing School and Community Environmental Education Programs"
C. Developing Environmental Education Sites*"
D. Provide Teachers With Environmental Education Programs
E. Restoring Native Vegetation of the Elk River Area
More detailed description of the program goals is found under the heading "Program Objectives."
"" Program goals which I would like the City of Elk River to support.
RATIONALE: Most residents of the Elk River area know very little about the region's native
ecosystems. Compounding this problem are the facts that: 1.) the community has no significant
environmental education programs or sites and 2.) the region is projected to experience a
population growth of 72% by the year 2020, the highest in Minnesota. Therefore, it is critical
that community members take steps now to educate all residents about: native ecosystems,
biodiversity, land stewardship and other current environmental issues. Equally important is a
community effort to identify and preserve threatened ecosystems before they are altered.
DESIRED FUNDING SOURCES:
1. Grant from the LEGISLATIVE COMMISSION ON MINNESOTA RESOURCES (LCMR)
2. Funding from the CITY OF ELK RIVER"
3. Funding from INDEPENDENT SCHOOL DISTRICT #728""
4. Funding from PRIVATE CONTRIBUTIONS*"
"" A CASH MATCH IN FUNDING WILL RECEIVE HIGHER PRIORITY THAN GRANTS
WITH NO MATCHING FUNDS.
SPECIFIC USE OF FUNDING FROM THE CITY OF ELK RIVER:
1. Develop a Nature Center and Environmental Education Sites in the Woodland Trails City Park.
Total: $145,000 Building Materials: $95,000 In -Kind Labor Contributions: $50,000
Breakdown of Building Material Cost: Electric and Gas Hookup ($4,000) Heating System and
Installation ($11,000) Plumbing and Installation (8,000) Electrical Wiring and Installation
($8,000) Masonry Material ($6,000) Wood and Window Building Materials ($49,000)
Structural Engineer ($6,000) Drain Field ($2,000) Project Cost Cushion ($5,000)
2. Support a Community Environmental Education Program.
Total: $105,000 Materials and Resources: $30,000 Coordinator (2 yrs): $75,000
Breakdown of Material and Resource Cost: Computer and Audio Visual Technology ($10,000)
Nature Center Displays ($10,000) Community Interpretive Programs ($10,000)
3. Develop future Environmental Education Sites on Naturally Significant Areas.
Total: $8,000 Trail and Site Development Materials: $7,000 Legal Fees For Developing
Environmental Educational Sites on Private Property: $1,000
The three above goals will cost $258,000 The greater the contribution by the City of Elk River
the greater the chance that we could obtain a significant grant to improve our communityl
PROGRAM OBJECTIVES:
A. Create an environmental education nature center within the biologically diverse Woodland
Trails Park of Elk River. The park has good remnants of four native ecosystems.
B. Students and community members will experience Environmental Education Programs which
will emphasize: inquiry, problem solving, interdisciplinary studies, recognition of native
ecosystems, research projects, local environmental issues and land stewardship through
creative ways to preserve and utilize native species. Community members of all ages, with
experienced assistants, will have opportunities to: deliver environmental education programs,
restore and preserve native ecosystems and develop community environmental plans.
C. Identify and develop education sites on private and public property which showcase native
ecosystems, biodiversity and interrelationships.
D. Provide teachers with opportunities and incentives to use quality environmental educational
materials for their students' cognitive level of development.
E. Involve the residents in activities of restoring and managing native species. The program
will promote: 1.) native ecosystems recognition and 2.) community wide restoration.
PROGRAM TITLE: Environmental Learning Key (E.L.K.)
PROGRAM GOALS: Establish, utilizing citizens of all ages, an environmental education
program and site which promotes: diverse out-of-classroorn experiences, research, recognition
of native ecosystems and landstewardship through preservation and restoration. Specific topics
are:
A. Developing School and Community Environmental Education Programs`*
B. Developing Environmental Education Sites"
C. Establishing Environmental Education Access and Facilities"
D. Educating Teachers About Environmental Education
E. Establishing a Youth Environmental Education Delivery System
F. Restore Native Vegetation of the Elk River Area
More detailed description of the program goals is found under the heading "Program Objectives."
** Program goals which I would like the City of Elk River to support.
RATIONALE: No environmental education sites exist in the Elk River Community or in
Sherburne County. However, the projected population growth of the region is the highest in the
state of Minnesota. Anticipated population increase is 72% by the year 2020. Therefore, it is
critical that we take steps now to educate the community about: native ecosystems, native
species, biodiversity, landstewardship and other current environmental issues. It is also
critical that we make every effort to preserve threatened ecosystems and encourage restoration
and management of natural ecosystems. Surveys of students and community members have
indicated that our community knows very little about the past native ecosystems of the areal
People of all ages would have an increased appreciation of the natural ecosystems of the area if
they could experience them first hand in an active and inquiry orientated setting.
DESIRED FUNDING SOURCES:
1. Grant from the LEGISLATIVE COMMISSION ON MINNESOTA RESOURCES (LCMR)
2. Funding form the CITY OF ELK RIVER"
3. Funding from INDEPENDENT SCHOOL DISTRICT #728'*
4. Funding from SHERBURNE COUNTY"
5. Funding from PRIVATE CONTRIBUTIONS`*
** A CASH MATCH IN FUNDING WILL RECEIVE HIGHER PRIORITY THEN GRANTS
WITH NO CASH MATCHING.
SPECIFIC USE OF FUNDING FROM THE CITY OF ELK RIVER:
1. Develop an Environmental Education Site and Facility in the Woodland Trails City Park.
2. Support a Community Environmental Education Program.
3. Develop future Environmental Education Sites on Naturally Significant Areas.
Estimated cost of the three activities is approximately $150,000 to $270,000 (The large
range of values is due to the uncertainty of the availability of naturally significant areas which
may be purchased through grant funding). The greater the contribution by the City of Elk River
the greater the chance that we could obtain a significant grant to improve our communityl
PROGRAM ®BJEC7WES.
A. Students (K-12) will experience, before graduation, a minimum of twelve days of
environmental education programming which emphasizes an inquiry multidisciplinary
approach to learning in an out -of -classroom environment.
Community members will all have year round opportunities to learn about the environment
through an inquiry approach to learning. Program emphasis will be toward natural history of
the area and land stewardship focusing on creative ways to utilize and preserve native species.
S. Identify and develop education sites which match environmental programming and showcase
biodiversity and native ecosystems.
C. Create an environmental education headquarters which is handicap accessible. Development
of the site will utilize community members of all ages.
D. Provide teachers with opportunities and incentives to use quality environmental educational
materials for their students' cognitive level of development.
E. Utilize the teenage youth of the community, under experienced adult supervision, to deliver
environmental education programs to elementary age students and adults.
P. Restore and (or) manage native vegetation at the environmental education sites using
community members of all ages to promote recognition of native vegetation and community wide
restoration.