11 PRSR 03-10-2021 Memorandum
To: Parks and Recreation Commission
From: Michael Hecker, Parks and Recreation Director
Date: March 10, 2021
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.
Active Elk River - Orono Park & YAC
The request for proposals for the Orono Park General Site Improvements is open and will close at 2 p.m.
on March 11, 2021. Sealed bids will be opened and announced publicly at that time at City Hall. Due to
limited seating capacity and social distancing requirements, the bid opening can be viewed remotely.
Details can be found on the city’s website.
The pre-engineered toilet and shelter for Orono Park and YAC toilet building are under state contract and
will be approved by City Council with the Orono Park improvements. The shelter follows the same design
features/branding as the pavilions at WTRP and Lions Park.
Upland Restoration at Houlton and Baily Point
Staff from Friends of the Mississippi River (FMR) notified the city and Sherburne Soil and Water
Conservation District (SWCD) about available funding for upland restoration projects on the Elk
River at the William H. Houlton Conservation Area (below the Lake Orono dam) and at Bailey
Point Nature Preserve.
Sherburne SWCD provided cost estimates and preliminary engineering design plans for the two
sites. FMR has enough funds to cover both projects, which must be completed by summer of 2022.
They have solicited feedback from the DNR with hopes to move these projects forward this spring
to ensure they are completed while the FMR funding is still available. A third stabilization site was
also identified along the Mississippi River within Houlton however this project is significantly more
expensive and will require other funding to complete.
Item: 11