The URL can be used to link to this page

9.f) Wind-in-the-Pines Park Trail Improvements/Proposal to Carnelian-Marine-St. Croix Meeting Date: 3/17/2009 Agenda Item: f; ,� � City Council Agenda Repart City of Scandia 14727 209`h St. North Scandia, MN 55073 (651) 433-2274 Action Requested: Authorize submission of a proposal to the Carnelian-Marine-St. Croix Watershed District (CMSCWD) to fund improvements to Wind-in- the-Pines Park. Deadline/ Timeline: N/A Background: • Wind-in-the-Pines Park is a 44-acre nature park located east of State Highway 95 at Pilar Road. The city-owned park includes a section of Falls Creek, a high-quality tributary to the St. Croix River, and is adjacent to the state-owned Falls Creek Scientific and Natural Area (SNA.) � In the last two years, the city has made some improvements to park trails funded partly through a grant from Great River Greening. 'I'he grant also funded preparation of a concept plan to complete a gap in the trail that would traverse a steep slope. • The Capital Improvement Plan includes a project to complete the trail in 2010. However, there is unlikely to be sufficient funds in the Parks Capital Improvement Fund to undertake the project. • The Carnelian-Marine-St. Croix Watershed District (CMSCWD) has earmarked some funds in its 2009 budget for a project that would benefit Falls Creek. An initial meeting between their Administrator and Park Committee members concluded that CMSCWD might be interested in funding a joint project with the city. • Park Committee Vice Chair Karen Schik prepared the attached proposal for submission to CMSCWD, outlining a $14,603 project. The city's contribution is proposed to an in-kind match of volunteer labor. Recommendation: The Park and Recreation Committee recommended making a proposal to the CMSCWD. Any grant agreement would require City Council approval before work could begin. Page 1 of 2 03/09/09 Attachments/ • Project Pro}�osal Materials provided: . Concept Plans for Trail Development Contact(s): Alex Bildeaux, Par-k and Recreation (�'ommittee Chair (651 433-2121) Karen Schik, Park and Recreation Committee Vice Chair(651 433-5254) Prepared by: Anne Hurlburt, Administrator (wind in the pincs proposal to CMSCWD) Page 2 of 2 03/09/09 f � Project Proposal to the Carnelian-Marine-St Croix VVatershed District March 2009 Submitted by the Scandia Park and Recreation Committee PROJECT: Trash Removal and Completion of a Hiking Trail on a Hillside Adjacent to Falls Creek at Wind in the Pines Park. DESCRIPTION: There are two parts to this proposal. One involves removing old debris from Wind in the Pines Park, which was fonnerly the town dump and is now a park, owned and �nanaged by the City of Scandia. The most proininent debris is some old machinery (snow-mobiles) that lie near a trail. Other debris of all kinds is located at the head of a ravine. The second part of this proposal is for assistance with developing a section of hiking trail on a steep slope at the park. Wind in the Pines is an important natural area adjacent to Falls Creek SNA. The park encompasses a section of Falls Creek, a high-quality tributary to the St. Croix River. This park preserves many unique features, including rare plants, animals, and high biodiversity and is largely unimpaired by non-native species. The deep ravines, narrow ridges and steep slopes make the park an enthralling place to visit, but also present significant challenges to prevent erosion from human traffic, which would not only degrade the vegetation, but could significantly impair Falls Creek. At present, there is an existing partial trail system at the park, but it is not continuous within the park—it leads off park property onto state and private lands. The city would like to complete the trail system within the city property to provide better public access to this beautiful park and to keep foot traffic located in areas where it is not damaging. A properly developed trail system would prevent degradation of the slopes. The city has already completed trail improvements in the park by installing waterbars and steps on steep trail sections, to repair existing damage and prevent potential erosion problems. The final step to complete the trail system is to create a section of trail on a slope, linking the ridgetop trail to the trail along the creek. If this trail is not completed, park visitors will either continue as they, following a trail onto private property, and exacerbating erosion of a deeply entrenched trail, or they will strike out onto a steep slope that has no trail, potentially causing very serious erosion and plant disturbances. A study of the trail system and designs for the new trail section at the park was completed in 2007 by Great River Greening. Dedicated and skilled volunteers from the Scandia Park and Recreation committee are willing to contribute to this project, but additional expertise is needed to ensure that building the trail does not result in damage or erosion of the slope. Such a situation would be devastating for the condition of Falls Creek. 1 . , For these projects, the Scandia Park and Recreation Committee respectfully requests assistance from the Canlelian-Marine-St Croix Watershed District. Preventing potential erosion and de�;radation of Falls Creek is at least as important as repairing a problem once it occurs. In addition, removing debris fi-om the park will improve the aesthetics and will reduce �otential contaminants to the creek. ASSISTANCE NEEDED: Trash debris: Financial assistance to facilitate relnoval of the debris. Trail construction: Engineering assistance to review existing trail construction plans, financial assistance to hire qualified contractors to complete the project. TIMETABLE: Ideally, both the trash removal and the trail construction would conducted in fall, when most native plants are donnant and when the soil is firm and dry. However, late spring may also be a feasible time, if the ground is firm and disturbance to vegetation can be minimized. The water bars and stairs were installed in May 2008 with no impacts to the native vegetation. That work was conducted on existing trails so the chance of disturbance was much less than for new trail construction. Nevertheless, with care, work in the spring may be reasonable. LONGTERM MAINTENANCE: The City of Scandia is responsible for the long-term management of the park, including the trail system and other maintenance. The Park and Recreation Cominittee is charged with the specific tasks of assessing and conducting maintenance needs and is committed to doing so. Committee members have spent numerous hours clearing trails of dozens of fallen trees to prevent hikers from creating alternative trails in seepage areas and other sensitive locations. The committee has also worked diligently to remove exotic brush from the edges of the woodland, and to keep trails mowed and cleared. The committee includes an ecologist, a logger, and a retired parks manager as well as other skilled members. Once a trail system is installed, they will have the ability to ensure the maintenance. BUDGET: Debris Removal The detailed budget for debris removal will need to be developed once the snow is gone and the site can be assessed more completely. Rough estimates are provided below. Disposal could be coordinated with Scandia's "Heavy Metal" day in Spring. Scandia volunteers would help with removing trash that is easy to carry. Task Contractor with "light on earth" equipment(20 hrs @ $50/hr) $1,000 Disposal costs $800 Total $1,800 2 Trail Construction Cost estimate for the New Trail Connector at the east e»d of the site, on steep slope descending to Falls Creek are sl�ow» below and the construction plans are attached. Costs will vary dependi»g on the contractor. Hiring the Minnesota Conservation Corps, for example, would likely reduce costs. Trail with Stairs Item Qty Unit cost/unit Materials Labor Labor In Kind Project Cost Hrs Cost match Total S75 ECB 7 rolls $45.00 $315.00 3.5 $175.00 U-Staples 2 box $30.00 $60.00 0.0 $- #4 20' Rebar 28 each $10.00 $280.00 6.0 $300.00 8' Timbers (Harvest 25 each $1,875.00 &Transport) 24"Treads (Harvest 50 each 20.0 $1,000.00 & Transport) Excavation 55.0 $2,750.00 $340.00 Timber Placement 20.0 $1,000.00 $204.00 Tread Placement 40.0 $2,000.00 $204.00 Final Grading 30.0 $1,500.00 Project 40.0 $2,600.00 Management $655.00 214.5 $11,325.00 $2,623.00 Total $11,980.00 $2,623.00 $14,603.00 3 � . � F� -� �'� Trail Construction: The new section of trail will begin approximately 60' from the last waterbar installed in the area that had been previously repaired. The trail would consist of 3 stair sections connected by 2 stretches of trail. �.;::: ; �� : Stepping Stones: ' ' The traif connection will re- ;� � �fi quire a stream crossing. To 1 _� � maintain the rustic char- 'i, :r,��y_. ' �,,��.� 4� acter of the trail, large ! = : stones from the area can be ', �` ;' placed to create a stepping , � stone crossing. � : Outsloped Treads: " �� ;� This steep section will re- ii �`��•� ``�� °,:' quire the use of treads to �, �� :; prevent erosion on the slope '; ' `" and create stable footing. . ! '�,'`�' �;�: Tra�1 Bed I � :� �� , � �: � Shrub Plan#ings ' ��'� . . , �� Previous Trail Repa�r � .:. A rea , I ; ; � � i -- _ _ _ r ^ ^ _ ^ �� G N F A T CG�U /�/ SGQ/I.L(.GQ '- Y V L�� /.� R 1 V E R � ��/K.� L,�(i� �C;� �LIL.�(I 1 Q,/� � �� / �/ G R F[N 1 N G I�•,LL.-� � Covc��t ��ic�-,�ccv �acC �c�eLi�teat �r � /, ;, Trail Overview The connecting trail will descend approximately 50' from a trail along the ridgeline down to the stream, where it will join with another existing trail. A series of 15 outsloped treads will bring w�` the visitor to a 60' long trailbed that descends at a 15% slope to a second set of tread stairs. :;' Two grade dips will be built into this section to slow runoff flowing down the trail After de- �r scending the second set of steps, a relatively gentle path will lead to the third set of steps which will descend down to the stream edge. =:__ ! � Outsloped T,- A .�� oil .:::::.::•;::;::: � ........, � � .� .�,�--� '- ::. --_.� .. .. I .,. .. „ � 20 �� ..: :; -� :;: � _ .. .:' �nS/p(Jed Tr . " oU �'ut SIoPe �` . ::�,, � Trail Bed '� Grade Dip � Fill Slope (30' Spacing) A� Existing Deadfall 20� �nsloped Tr°i� � � � Outsloped Trail ` C, g� ^ c�t� �^ ��/ - 7 , _ c a [ a r JCII/LL/LA - l�V L/LK Cf! f'�le L,L/L�� .''/t R I v F R IG�F E N I M G . � � I � ^ ..._.____ _'" - i �_ Ca,•cce�t I�.aic-fi�v-,1V�u• �ac�Z�c�cl;��:7;,,�,r, " � Cross Section A-A' Native p�antings � C125 ECE3 This section of trail will follow along the �nside ;� of a long section of existing deadfall. Soil from i�� ;� � the slope will be removed and placed along the „III=I1 � deadfall to create a gently sloped trailbed. The ��I i I�' f� cut slope will be stabilized with erosion contro! II)—'`� —''I` �,� �'�!-i�i-1�i.-{_ blanket. A sli ht de ression will be made along '��;,Ili—!I!_�!�_� �v'., g p =I f 1=1 I 1=1 I(_; the inslope side of the trail to accept runoff from _!�!�i I I—i I!�_ '�=i I i-1 I I-1 the hillside. �'=1 I 1=1!I�! �Y� ' -f I I-1(�_� _I!i—1 i I- ��—�" Cut Slo e '=1�I—I I i-` p � 'I��IIl��lli � � � Existing Grade '�I-1 I!-1 I i _�� 'I I-1 I I—€!I -�` =1 I I—I I 1=i I ' _= � =1 I 1=1 I 1=1 I -' _ =i I 1=1 I I—I "=-�`, „ -111=11I—!_ ::- . 18 Trail Bed '—I I 1=1 I I—I ; ,- � � i '—I I I—I I1=, '";=- `� 5� Outslope , '�=1 I 1=i I I— � -'" - � �'1=111=11I— '"�' � - - - - - - - - � „ �'�1=!I I—i i i= �-;;!=i __ �/,,;r�T_ -�I I-1 I I-1 I I-1 I l--I I� , �� _ ��%�/� � -I!I-1 I i—I I 1=1 I 1=1 I, ��'� �.-- E x i s t i n g _'�! !11=!11=�1 - � �— Deadfall ,f ,�,,. �_��—�, , ,�—� —_ �� , �,�; � � -� � ��-- f�E= 'i _,i� �,. _ �li=—, , Fill Slope - �:___�,� --�� _.-� �� =lji ; _ - .,_ � � ��_= �; ' ,, ?i ' E _, i, �i�-�...�� __; i- -'�1 i'!� 1i1��; 1 I� _I j �-. _ ____---- - __ _ _ _ _ --- -- —__ ___ - -- -- _ ��_�,.,�)�� — ,, _ _�- _--- -- - �! ` R ` " r Cc't� o f�'ca�t�%�a� - Wa�c�r �/ce �ua�l �ark� R t V [ R � GMf_FNING _ ✓�� f �,_._..._.___...._. .. � Cid/GCC�Z� T�/.d/L�',.��'PCCr ��y�[C .LJC!>P!/�atflGt i i Cross Section B-B' A total of three stair sections will be constructed to descend °* Native Plantings steep portions of hillside. 9-1 2" x 24" wide logs with the bark C�25 ECB removed will be cut from on site and anchored in place with �� rebar. The backside of the treads will be filled with soil and �_ \ ;�� I �� Cut Slope outsloped to allow for drainage. The upslope trailbed near ��—rl ��;_i - the stair sections will be insloped to allow water to drain away �� `�,� from the stairs. -TI—_ E -1 I.I- 1 =1 I i� -Rain Garden _I I1-� I �-iTi_ '_�� ''IIIIII�I �� . i_ 3y, Inslop�' �} '��= I – - I i— ` - Fill Slope -1II- - =1II-1I1=1I1=1II '=1 I I� =1 I_I-1Ti=��i-i i i_I I 1=_ `'. '=1I I-1I1- '-I I I-1I I I I-1I �- ''-�t�- '1=1 I f I I-I I 1=1 I!=1�� '�1=1 I !I I-I I I-1 I I ,�_,�i-I I I-1 �� 111=111- II- -I I I-I I 1= 1=I1 I i=�liy �-�I I=I I I I I+-I I I-I I � �_J�I-1�� , -I I I-111 '=i I I I I I�- I I- I�=�_ � !I III II I1i=111-N Landing � - ��i.. 11=1!IIIIIIII�� ' Sq Outslope 1/2" x 24" rebar �� III-III , _I I I I I I-�I -��!; �'��i+: -�._ i=1 I 1=1 I� �I -i�� _._� ' 1�_ '��=�11=11 �"111��11 iIi �I� ' i_; � _II� I�(—.�lij ��1-i ,�,`. �� _�,,__.,, _._ , �i,_._, _.�� _ � �- - c R r a r CJGtU Of JCCL/LA,LQ - !�V%/LL/ G!L ��LC 1 J'�1t. � , R 1 V E R ✓ � �IG�EENIMG _�� ------- C4flC� l�/�tiL�/' �eur L/'�L�UC�/r' ,, ,�,;:�� ' l � . € Plan View B-B' .. �� '�•� This plan view shows an overview o �''`,: � � Roin Garden �� ,�, ��; �. of the ath la out a roachin -'� ''� �`'''' ` p Y p p g ; Q ''�'�-��,` -,_ -. . , � ' the steps. The path upslope of the ��° _\ ��oa \`�`''-��''----"—"-----' e Dip Q �---------- � steps will change from an outsloped � y £;� trailbed to an insloped trailbed. A �; � �anding � vegetated swale/raingarden along ,�; the inside edge of the trail will carry t�� water past the stair area and outlet � f:< � along the hillside. The path on the � � �' downslo e end of the stair w' 12� �� ! p S ill be �ente� �_ � outsloped. 1 �� ,. �2� s � 5� Outsloped � j Treods 9" x 24" s Londing e 0 c r N O � . ..,-; G(o�e O,p/f m _ _— —--- _ - - _ c R � � T CctU a�.Scu�q`a - �utR' ca fhc �c�t �ar�C^ R I V ! R �I GRif MIMG �� / .. !____ ._ __ � Co,ccc� 7��i�fir.-,'Lcrv- �q��Dc�c�i�.,�car / Cross Section C-C' This section of trail primarily follows an existing footpath. It's rel- atively flat topography will allow widening of the trail bed while creating only a small impact. II=II�- =1 I I—!I i—_ I I—i I i—!!'—� =i I i—I I I—I I 1=1!�_ =!I I�I I !-1 I I—i i I—� `"-lII,;,II!;111;,II!;, . , -� � =1 I�—�I�—�I;_;I�_ ��' !'-1 I�-f I 1=!I i=1 I!— '—!��-11!=111=111= Existing Grade -'�!.;,i f I-1 I I—1 I i=1 I, , —I I 1=1 I 1=1 I 1=1 I;— �u t Slope ' -1 I I—i I i=i;�—; i;= r -1 I 1=1 I I-1 I!=1 I!=I _ _�I!—1 I 1=1 I I-1 I f=1 I i_ �I�—�M 1=1 I I—i I I—i I I—, 18" Tra i I B e d , —I I 1=1 I 1=1 I 1=1 I(_! � '''-111i�I11-11f iil !-_ , � 5� Outslope I_I I I_I I �_I I i-;�. ' _- ; `'=1 I I—I I I—!I i-1 I '':- _ � — — — —'�i-lll=!I � ; i �_, _� - — - � „ ,, �— i= , '_ : - I _ _I I�_I I I-! I i � ' ' - -='ll�ill�„IIi,, ,ill,, ,�I,,, ,Tl= I� =;!li I_; I- _� . -. ��- - 'i -�� -� ' '_;��'= V _ � !_._ .';_�: - � ,�, , , � -' �!---- , - - _. ;�,_ _."�_ �—i ,...�. .� ..,. ,w �...«. ...,.� �. .., . .. �. :_�. . . _._� � ,._...._ "' In _ _ — _ —_. _. . _. __. _ ._ � . _^ F �-+ [' � 7^ /i�� J r � c a E e r (�L�!1 O�JCCClLLLIQ - !/V LlL�� GJ1 ��Le 1�//lC:` �J�•''6t �� R I V F R ✓. � I GOEFN IMG .� I � J ..._....__. __"' � G�,��t P a�f�-;��,. 7�-�� D��,�„��,,: , �