City Council Meeting Date: July 7, 2026
To: Mayor and City Council
City Administrator
From: David E. Bennett, Public Works Director/City Engineer
Title
Consider Approval of Final Concept for Phase II of the Northfield Skate Park Project and Authorize Preparation of Plans and Specifications.
Body
Action Requested:
The Northfield City Council Considers Approval of Final Concept for Phase II of the Northfield Skate Park Project and Authorize Preparation of Plans and Specifications.
Summary Report:
City has hired Wizard Skateparks to design the next phase of the skate park and now have held multiple user group meetings and a neighborhood meeting to receive input on Phase II.
The input received from the neighborhood meeting is attached. The primary items the City heard at the meeting include:
• Screening the skate park from surrounding neighborhood.
• Adding rules to skate park
• Lighting concerns from neighborhood along with user concerns if lighting isn’t provided.
• Noise mitigation
• LED rope lighting/feature lighting
• Shade, benches, picnic tables (Phase II contextual additions)
• Crosswalk at Fareway and Seventh Street
Staff will walk through the proposed final concept layout. The final concept layout has been updated to reflect input received. The final concept includes site amenities such as shade, benches, picnic tables, landscape screening, and lighting.
Staff and the skate park users believe lighting should be included for safety and use in the fall and spring seasons. Normal City Park hours are from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m., the proposed lighting would follow park hours and shut off at 10 p.m. The Council could consider reduced hours for lights, such as turning off at 9 p.m.
A link to the park project webpage is attached.
Broader Context (Future Phases)
During the City Council's review of the Phase II Skatepark concepts, Council requested that staff evaluate the project within the context of the broader Memorial Park site, rather than as a standalone facility. Specifically, Council encouraged consideration of how the skatepark could better integrate with adjacent park amenities, including the municipal swimming pool, to create a more cohesive and active recreational destination.
Consistent with that direction, the proposed skatepark Phase II design incorporates features intended to enhance the experience for both participants and spectators. Perimeter seating, including limestone seating blocks, provides opportunities for visitors to observe skaters, while adjacent shade structures with picnic tables offer comfortable gathering spaces for families and friends. These elements are intended to encourage longer visits, support informal social interaction, and create an inviting atmosphere for both active users and spectators.
In addition to the Phase II improvements, staff explored several conceptual ideas illustrating how future park enhancements could further strengthen the relationship between the skatepark and swimming pool while maintaining the necessary separation between the paid pool area and the surrounding public park. Examples include a future pavilion/picnic shelter positioned to overlook both amenities, creating opportunities for larger family gatherings, community events, birthday parties, and shared use by visitors to either facility. Additional concepts include potential relocation or expansion of sand volleyball courts, bocce ball courts, and other outdoor recreation amenities that could broaden the appeal of the park to users of all ages and encourage longer stays.
The conceptual illustration also explores opportunities within the existing pool site, such as replacing portions of the underutilized basketball courts with pool cabanas or flexible gathering spaces. These improvements could be designed with a combination of interior pool access and exterior park access, allowing complementary uses while preserving the security and operational needs of the pool facility. While these concepts represent only one possible vision, they demonstrate how future improvements could create stronger connections between amenities and better activate the overall park.
These concepts are presented solely for discussion and long-range planning purposes and are not proposed as part of the current Phase II Skatepark project. Rather, they respond to the City Council's request to evaluate the skatepark within the context of the entire park and illustrate how future investments could build upon one another over time. Experience in other communities has shown that thoughtfully grouping complementary recreational amenities can increase overall park activity, encourage family-oriented use, improve the visitor experience, and maximize the community benefit of public investment.
Alternative Options:
NA
Financial Impacts:
$500,000 Grant from MN DEED
Local Costs projected to be under 10% or $50,000 that would be paid through the Capital Park Fund.
Tentative Timelines:
Design 2026
Construction Tentative Fall 2026 or Spring 2027