Park & Recreation Advisory Board Meeting Date: March 4, 2024
To: Park & Rec Advisory Board Members
From: David Bennett, Public Works Director/City Engineer
Charlie Fredericks, Streets and Parks Manager
Title
Update and Discussion on temporary Frisbee golf course in Hauberg Woods
Body
Action Requested:
Update and Discussion on temporary Frisbee golf course in Hauberg Woods.
Summary Report:
In 2021, the City kicked off a study for a 10-year Park and Recreation Capital Investment Plan to look at the existing park system needs along with new park and recreation amenities. As part of that public engagement process, the community was asked to participate in helping shape the needs in the park system. A link to the plan is attached, below was the engagement opportunities on the plan.
One of the items heard from the public was related to disc golf, hence why it was added to the plan along with numerous other items.
The Park and Recreation Capital Investment Plan looked at the distribution of park amenities. Many of the new park amenities have been identified in parks to spread out the distribution. The study clearly identified we are lacking park and recreations amenities in the North and West parts of the community.
Cannon Valley Disc Golf Club approached the City early in 2023 to consider a temporary disc golf Course. This was brought to July PRAB meeting for discussion. PRAB requested staff complete a field walk of Hauberg Woods with Cannon Valley Disc Golf to see if the park could be possible location. Most disc golf courses are located in wooded areas.
At the September 11, 2023 PRAB meeting, PRAB recommended a temporary frisbee golf course be placed in Hauberg Woods. City Council subsequently approved this request.
There have been some question related to public notification related to this. There isn’t a public notification requirement for this placing amenities within the parks system. PRAB reviews and recommends to City Council. All PRAB meetings are publicly noticed, agendas available and open for the public to attend.
In 2005 the City created a Natural Resource Plan for Hauberg Woods. This plan helps identify key natural features, management goals, and maintenance activities. For example, the City had goats to help manage buckthorn around 2017. This plan doesn’t prohibit, a disc golf type park activity.
The east side of Hauberg Woods across the railroad tracks does have restrictions on use of the property for a period of time. Specifically, it limits to walking trails or a nature center but otherwise is to be left in a natural state.
The west side of Hauberg Woods, formerly Wahpekute Park before the new donated land on the east had a condition of renaming the entire park Hauburg Woods does not have any restrictions from what has been discovered from research thus far.
The temporary authorization will provide a good opportunity to evaluate the location of the park for frisbee golf. Also, there is opportunity for getting input from the users of the park as part of the process including neighborhood kids. The west side of Northfield has been identified to be substantially lacking in recreational opportunities in comparison to the east side of Northfield. This would be a low cost and low impact option to evaluate for a new use that in many other locations in Minnesota and elsewhere complements natural park areas similar to this community park.
Alternative Options:
This is an informational item for discussion. If the Parks Board would like to recommend some change to the prior recommendation to Council that could be done by motion.
Financial Impacts:
NA