10 PRSR 03-09-2022 Memorandum
To: Parks and Recreation Commission
From: Michael Hecker, Parks and Recreation Director
Date: March 9, 2022
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 proposed Orono Park construction schedule includes time for the grass seed to establish through fall.
We are not planning city or community special events there in 2022, including Elk RiverFest and the
Thumbs Up 5K. The Thumbs Up event worked well at WTRP last September, and we are working with the
organizers to follow the same format this year.
We are not reserving Orono Park picnic shelters for this summer until we have a more definite
construction schedule. We hope to open reservations in late summer with the new fee structure.
Athletic Field Study
Staff and the subcommittee met with HKGI to start the Athletic Field Use Study. The purpose of
this study is to evaluate field needs for the next 5-10 years. HKGI will gather data, with the help of
staff to form surveys. The surveys will go out in two phases: one to the association staff for input
and one to the participants and users of the facilities. Staff has already informed the associations to
encourage participation to ensure their voice is heard. Once the data is collected, HKGI, staff and
subcommittee members will meet with the associations to discuss the findings of the surveys and
how to proceed forward. The associations will be able to provide further input on the direction they
would like Elk River to go with the fields.
HKGI will take all the information into consideration, while keeping the main goal in mind to blend
local trends with state and national trends. Subcommittee members gave HKGI the background
information on our fields and facilities and detailed some projects that are currently in the works and
some future ideas. We look forward to working with HKGI to help us evaluate our fields and
athletic facilities.
Item: 10
Trott Brook Park Tennis Court Project
On February 22, the City Council approved the Trott Brook Park Tennis Court project.
Bids were received from 14 companies on February 10 and checked for accuracy by SRF Consulting.
The base bid includes demolition of the existing court and installation of perforated drain tile. Bid
Alternate One removes the existing light poles and replaces them with improved LED lighting.
The bid tabulation indicates the lowest bidder as Northwest Inc. at $206,003.50 base bid and
$47,000.00 Alternate One. Work may commence next month, but most of the construction will not
happen until mid-May. All work shall be substantially completed before Friday, July 1, 2022. The
PIF has $270,000 allocated for the base bid of this project (engineer’s estimate).
Summer Programs
Summer program planning has been completed and put online for registrations on March 1. A full
complement of recreation programs for all ages is now ready for registration. An extensive variety of
summer programs will be offered for participants of all ages.
Some examples of youth opportunities include sports classes in t-ball and soccer as well as
enrichment opportunities in Safety Camp and Summer Playground Adventures. Opportunities for
adults include summer softball, Farmers Market, and kayak and paddle boarding on Orono Lake.
Over 60 types of programs are being offered with over 100 individual class opportunities.
Tonya Love has worked with our city’s communications group on our new websites. We have two
new sites: Parks and Recreation She will show her work at the March 9 meeting.