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02-12-19 WTRGC meeting #4 K:\013222-000\Admin\Meeting\02-12-19 WTRGC meeting #4.docx 701 XENIA AVENUE S | SUITE 300 | MINNEAPOLIS, MN | 55416 | 763.541.4800 | WSBENG.COM Steering Committee Meeting Minutes Steering Committee Meeting #4 – Nature Play at Woodland Trails Regional Park City of Elk River, Minnesota Meeting: Tuesday, February 12, 2019 5:30 pm – 7:00 pm Re: WSB Project No. 013222-000 The following is a summary of the Steering Committee Meeting discussion Shelter Discussion – Location A or B  Design considerations: sunny location, accessibility, at least 50’ from the wetland (may not be a designated wetland as it was likely created from parking lot construction), mosquitos in dark, damp areas, visibility from the parking lot (comment from police chief earlier), discussed its use during winter as well, shelter will have electricity/plug-ins, etc.  Location A: suggest moving the location south towards the start of the cross-country skiing trails, prefer a location closer to the parking lot, visibility for police, connecting trail from shelter back to the loop and maybe a future trail to the north (not part of this project)  Location B: good view, far away from parking lot but group did not think having a manmade structure on this hill added to the park’s scenic quality The group voted and selected Location A with a revised location closer to the parking lot and ski trails with a connection back to the paved trail that leads to the parking lot. WSB to include this location, look at grading and if it requires a retaining wall (boulders) to accommodate the shelter pad. Nature Play Area Discussion Site Development Comments  Flooding on trail closest to the wetland, has seen 6” one year  Do not save existing cedar trees, will plant new ones or replacement of different species  Likes idea of planting small trees with protection (fencing) rather than larger more expensive trees, with a more mature landscape in 5-10 years  Need to fence prairie restoration area with fencing after project complete  Discussion about nature play during winter, if trails are plowed or not, no decision yet made on this  Sand area – will have draintile to keep it from flooding and connect to a rain garden / pollinator garden  Suggest pollinator gardens throughout play area  Discussed water fountain vs. activator button vs. manual pump, WSB to look into costs and options Play Elements Comments  Group overall liked the layout and location of elements  Suggest rock scrambling on steeper slopes using boulders on site Meeting #4 Minutes February 12, 2019 Page 2  Liked concrete tunnels  Suggest swinging bridge or suspension walk going up hillside, kids love swinging bridges, like the natural look of them but likely they have manufactured elements  Potential lawn games behind future small shelter location  Plyometric route using boulders, logs, elevation climb. This could be a beginner and more difficult route, could be incorporated into overall play area and not necessarily a stand alone route. Using boulder walls, platforms, could be in a stair pattern  Plinko wall with tree cookies near younger kid areas – group likes  More sand near younger kid area or a geo-dig that’s more dry south of the existing sand area. How to maintain the items that are placed here.  Suggest at the large boulders at entrance to also have a tunnel beneath it, more visible from the parking lot  Mini-zipline, look at Bassett Creek Park, up the hill on the suspension walk and down the zipline to the end  Discussed water element at the highest elevation of the play area, furthest away from the parking lot, adds element of surprise to find it as a kid.  Benches throughout to be made from natural materials using tree trunks, boulders  Tall grasses for mazes or material for younger kids, utilize dwarf trees for hobbit garden Play Area and Trail Surfacing Comments  Engineered wood fiber is used in play areas for safety on impact, reduce areas of wood chips  Bituminous trail is preferred over concrete, due to cost  Discussion about groundcovers (non-native lawn, no mow non-native grass, native grasses, dirt): only lawn will hold up to the foot traffic on this site so wood chips is suggested for play areas.  What is the best groundcover for the scrambling walls / plyometric routes? Possible Donation Items from Community  Boulders – many throughout the park, how to move them, moved by contractor or donated by local supplier  Sand  Benches – made of tree trunks  Concrete culvert pipes for tunnels, 48” or 60” diameter, 8’ in length  Contractor could also use stockpiled materials on-site that are collected by the community