10 PRSR 07-08-2020 Memorandum
To: Parks and Recreation Commission
From: Michael Hecker, Parks and Recreation Director
Date: July 8, 2020
Subject: Director’s Report
This report is a monthly highlight of department activities related to recent collaborations, strategic
planning, staff changes/developments, and park operations.
Recreation Employee Positions
The Recreation Division will be losing two employees with 80 hours of weekly programming work -
Steve Benoit and Tim Dalton. Tim is transitioning into his new position as the Multipurpose Facility
Superintendent. Tim’s current programming assignments include outdoor ice rink attendants, adult
softball, adult volleyball, Eager Elks, Summer Sports Camps, Open Gym, Playground Enrichment,
Contracted Sports. We may want to review some of these programming services, re-assign them to
other staff, or hire a replacement for Tim.
We are transitioning the youth association field scheduling responsibilities and major park use requests to
Karen Wingard. These have been some of Steve Benoit’s main responsibilities. We feel this will work for
the summer as Karen is no longer organizing Elk RiverFest and has more part time assistance with the
Farmers Market. She has also taken on the city’s volunteer program which Steve was previously doing.
The volunteer program may be placed on a temporary hold to decrease Karen’s responsibilities if the
demands of the youth organizations continue to increase. Karen is on payroll as a 32-hour per week
employee.
The Tuesday adult softball program supervised by Tim Dalton will become the responsibility of a seasonal
employee under Tim’s supervision. This program is starting later because of COVID-19 and they will have
their full season going into the fall. The more competitive Monday adult softball program has been
cancelled due to low interest.
YAC improvement projects
The YAC dugout project is currently underway. We are also working on installing protective netting for
the new playground.
Item: 10
GRE Elk River Station Water Intake Structure
Tim Steinbeck of GRE presented the possibility of acquiring the GRE Mississippi River intake area for a
recreation site in February. After several conversations with MnDOT, he indicated they are not in favor of
a public access deck and path in that area. Tim said they didn’t outright forbid it, but they indicated they
would not advocate for it with the Corps of Engineers and MPCA.
GRE is working with MPCA on other below ground structures that they are hope not to have to remove.
They will remove the intake structure and the concrete piping from the river to Highway 10, to a
point determined by MnDOT and plan to leave and fill the piping on the east side of the highway up to
the plant, as the excavation required to remove these would be extensive and problematic to the
highway.
Active Elk River Park Improvements Orono Park and YAC
SRF Consulting and HCM Architects are planning to meet next week with staff to integrate site
layout and building concepts for both Orono Park and YAC.
Multipurpose Facility Fees, Staffing and Advisory Commission
A new Multipurpose Facility Advisory Commission will be formed with its first meeting including a tour
of the new facility on Tuesday, July 7.
Staff is working on tours for the multipurpose facility during the week of July 7. This is for our
community partners such as Active Elk River sports groups and ISD #728 Administration.
WTRP Nature Play Area and Shelter
The contractor at Woodland Trails Regional Park continues to make progress. This past week they poured
the concrete slab and footings for the small picnic shelter that was removed from LJWP in 2018.
Additionally, they have begun work on the tunnel feature, rain garden, and sand play areas. The shelter will
be shipped by August 1, 2020, to be installed by the contractor in early August.
Woodland Trails Regional Park Archery Range
Park Maintenance completed final grading and seeding of the WTRP archery range and installed all the
target stands and how holders. We anticipate opening the range in early September after we completed
construction of the backstop berm utilizing excess materials form the nature play area.
Orono Park Improvements Grant
We were informed by the DNR our application for the 2021 Outdoor Recreation Grant Program
has been selected for funding contingent upon final processing by the DNR. This $250,000 grant
has a local match of $250,000 (Active Elk River funds) is for redeveloping Orono Park to include
pickleball courts, storm water improvements, parking lot improvements, trail replacement /
expansion and beach improvements.