7.1 PRSR 04-12-2023
The Elk River Vision
A welcoming community with revolutionary and spirited resourcefulness, exceptional
service, and community engagement that encourages and inspires prosperity. Updated: January 2023
Request for Action
To
Parks and Recreation Commission
Item Number
7.1
Agenda Section
Action Item
Meeting Date
April 12, 2023
Prepared by
Michael Hecker, Parks and Recreation Manager
Item Description
Neighborhood Ice Rink Status
Reviewed by
Cal Portner, City Administrator
Reviewed by
Action Requested
Discussion of the maintenance status at Riverplace and Mississippi Oak Park neighborhood rinks.
Approve (or deny), the continuing operations of the Riverplace Park neighborhood ice rink.
Approve (or deny), the continuing operations of the Mississippi Oaks Park Ice Rink.
Background/Discussion
Maintenance staff observed that the two neighborhood rinks, Mississippi Oaks Park and Riverplace Park were not
used this season by evidence of no skate marks when temperatures were below freezing. This was presented in my
Managers Report at the March Commission meeting. Commission and staff consensus was to reach out to the
neighbors of the ice rinks.
Staff sent about 200 postcards to the neighbors of Riverplace and Mississippi Oak Park to gather opinions
regarding their neighborhood ice rinks. We asked residents to complete a quick survey via QR code to help us
determine whether we should continue maintaining their neighborhood ice rinks. They were also informed that
the topic would be included on the agenda for the April meeting.
Initial survey results from residents indicate more than 60% of households that responded use the ice rinks three
or more times.
Financial Impact
Parks maintenance estimate they spent about 253 hours this past season to maintain each ice rink.
Mission/Policy/Goal
Opportunity to live, work and play
Attachments
Ice Rink Survey Postcard/Survey Questions and Results
Emails from Neighbors of the Parks
The City of Elk River is reaching out to the
neighbors of Riverplace and Mississippi Oaks
Park to gather opinions regarding the
neighborhood ice rinks located within these
parks. The City would like residents to complete
a quick survey to help us determine if the city
should continue to maintain neighborhood ice
rinks. The Parks and Recreation Commission
will be discussing this topic at the April 12
meeting. You are invited to attend the meeting
to share your questions or concerns.
Par-ks and Recreation Commission Meeting
April 12, 2023 at 6:30pm
City Hall Council Chamber
13065 Orono Parkway, Elk River, MN 55330
Neighborhood Rink Survey SurveyM onkey
1 / 6
37.93%22
62.07%36
Q1 Which neighborhood park do you live by?
Answered: 58 Sk ipped: 0
TOTAL 58
0%10%20%30%40%50%60%70%80%90%1 00%
Riverpl ace Par k
Mississippi
Oaks Park
ANSWER CHOICES RESPONSES
Riv erplace Park
Missis s ippi Oaks Park
Neighborhood Rink Survey SurveyM onkey
2 / 6
96.55%56
3.45%2
Q2 Were you aware that the city flooded and maintained an ice rink at the
park?
Answered: 58 Sk ipped: 0
TOTAL 58
0%10%20%30%40%50%60%70%80%90%1 00%
Yes
No
ANSWER CHOICES RESPONSES
Yes
No
Neighborhood Rink Survey SurveyM onkey
3 / 6
17.24%10
12.07%7
15.52%9
55.17%32
Q3 Did anyone in your household use your neighborhood rink this past
2023 season?
Answered: 58 Sk ipped: 0
TOTAL 58
0%10%20%30%40%50%60%70%80%90%1 00%
No
Yes , 1 t ime
Yes, 2-3 times
Yes, 3 or
mo r e t imes
ANSWER CHOICES RESPONSES
No
Yes, 1 t ime
Yes, 2-3 times
Yes, 3 or more times
Neighborhood Rink Survey SurveyM onkey
4 / 6
77.78%7
22.22%2
0.00%0
Q4 If you did not use the neighborhood rink this past 2023 season, was it
because you:
Answered: 9 Sk ipped: 49
TOTAL 9
0%10%20%30%40%50%60%70%80%90%1 00%
Had no
interest
Prefer to use
t he Handke P...
Prefer to use
the Spectrum...
ANSWER CHOICES RESPONSES
Had no interest
Prefer to us e t he Handk e Pit rink s
Prefer to us e t he Spectrum High School rinks
Neighborhood Rink Survey SurveyM onkey
5 / 6
12.07%7
55.17%32
32.76%19
Q5 Would you prefer to see park maintenance concentrate on maintaining
a higher level of service at the Handke Pit and Spectrum ice rinks?
Answered: 58 Sk ipped: 0
TOTAL 58
0%10%20%30%40%50%60%70%80%90%1 00%
Yes
No
No pr efer ence
ANSWER CHOICES RESPONSES
Yes
No
No preference
Neighborhood Rink Survey SurveyM onkey
6 / 6
86.21%50
13.79%8
Q6 The City of Elk River spent an average of 4-hours daily with a total cost
of 253 staff hours this past season to maintain the Riverplace Park ice
rink. Should the City of Elk River continue to provide resources to
maintain your neighborhood rink?
Answered: 58 Sk ipped: 0
TOTAL 58
0%10%20%30%40%50%60%70%80%90%1 00%
Yes
No
ANSWER CHOICES RESPONSES
Yes
No
-----Original Message-----
From: Kyle Kamke
Sent: Monday, March 20, 2023 4:40 PM
To: Hecker, Michael <MHecker@ElkRiverMN.gov>
Subject: Ice rink survey
Mr. Hecker,
We live near Mississippi Oaks Park and received the survey. In the past we and many other families have
used the rink extensively. This winter the rink was not used much by us or anyone else as the weather
didn’t cooperate. Addi�onally, it seemed the MO Park rink was opened much later than Handke this year.
In the past neighbors have cleared the rink during snowfalls (nights/weekends) with an atv and put up
lights. That didn’t happen this year as the rink was opened so late. There has been talk of hauling in a
fish house as a warming house.
We would like to see more resources going into maintaining this rink possibly including:
- ligh�ng
- temporary ne�ng on one end
- shade cloth
- warming house
We have no idea on the cost or feasibility of these.
Thanks,
Kyle Kamke
Michael Hecker’s reply:
Thank you for your email. If you have not already done so, please be sure to take the survey. The
discussion of adding addi�onal resources to your neighborhood rink came up as a Parks and Recrea�on
discussion 4-5 years ago. Ligh�ng and boards were discussed by the Parks and Recrea�on Commission
but the cost at that �me was prohibi�ve. The discussion at the April 12 mee�ng will be to either deny or
approve con�nuing opera�ons of the neighborhood rinks. Based on the results of the surveys so far, we
have a strong interest to keep them opera�ng.
Feel free to atend the Commission Mee�ng on April 12 when the rinks will be discussed.
Michael Hecker, CPRP
City of Elk River - Parks and Recrea�on Manager
13065 Orono Parkway, Elk River, MN 55330
763.635.1150 ElkRiverMN.gov
From: Rebekah Vevle
Sent: Tuesday, March 28, 2023 12:48 PM
To: Recrea�on <Recrea�on@ElkRiverMN.gov>
Subject: Ice rink
We received a card asking us to complete a survey about the use of the Mississippi Oaks Park ice
rink. We did fill out that survey, as our kids used it as much as possible. What worries me is the survey
indicated that no one used the ice- that there were NO skate marks. I don’t know how this is possible, as
it was used by MANY neighborhood kids, hockey was played, figure staking was done. I am worried that
incorrect informa�on will effect the future of this rink. It was late to be flooded, and only redone
once. It was in really poor shape most of the season, but it was s�ll used a lot. Here is a picture of some
kids on it this year.
Becky Vevle, resident of Mississippi Oaks neighborhood