5.c Staff Report
Staff Report
Date of Meeting: July 8, 2021
To: Parks and Recreation Committee
From: Brenda “Bee” Stignani, Office Assistant
Re: Staff Report
• Lilleskogen Sign Update: Behnken Stone is faced with challenges to schedule a subcontractor for the
post’s footings. Soderlunds Mill is ready to complete the si gn when the brick supports are started.
Staff is ready to submit the necessary permits to Washington County when the subcontractor is
scheduled. Scandia’s Administrative Permit for a permanent sign is submitted.
• Arts in Action camp, August 2-6th, 8 a.m. – 4 p.m. in the Community Center is being promoted on social
media. Everything else is up to St. Croix Festival Theater.
• Pickleball Straps for the tennis court nets and 7’ Pitcher’s L-Safety Screen are now available for
resident’s use.
• Advertising update: 8 Wayne Erickson Memorial Ball Field Banners are up; one is being updated due to
a logo change. Three Leonard Wojtowicz Skating Park dasher boards are in process of being made.
• Wind in the Pines sign update: PW staff confirmed signs were removed for cleaning/repair
• Hay Lake Park Pavilion: preparing documents to determine if historical survey is required
• Orwell Ave Park Survey Monkey request for park name suggestions survey closed on July 1st. Staff
needs direction on the next step towards sele cting a name for eventual recommendation to City
Council. (Note: multiple answers were allowed on most questions.)
o Are you a resident of Scandia? Yes- 23 No-2
o What general category of names do you recommend?
▪ Descriptive – 12
▪ Honorary – 1
▪ Historical – 7
▪ Reflecting Swedish Heritage – 9
▪ Other
• If you have to put a name on it, name it after Delores Peterson
• Socially and culturally neutral . . . less potential for future drama
• Native American name
• Perhaps Native American connection – name or ?
• Combination of a Swedish name that describes the intent of the park
o Suggestion of a Park Name(s) to consider (more than one suggestion may be listed in your
response)
▪ Scandia Meadows, Nordic Nature Trail, Dala Horse Meadows or Dala Meadows
▪ Walter F. Mondale Park
▪ Liten Park – means small park in Swedish
▪ Hidden Gem, Mosquito Alley
▪ Hidden Wonders
▪ Dala Walk, Dala Nature Preserve, Dala Forest
▪ Scandia Family Square
▪ Apple Pie Park – we could plant all apple trees and when they are large enough, we can
have an apple festival. We could also donate to the area food shelves.
▪ Dark Skies Nature Park
▪ Ojbwaland
▪ Settlers Park
▪ Orwell Park
▪ Fredlig Plats Park – which means Peaceful Place Park. This gives acknowledgement to
the Swedish community, is easy to pronounce, and shows the intention of the park to be
a peaceful place.
▪ Swede Hollows
o This new park will have a picnic table and rustic walking trail (acquisition requirements) at a
minimum. Are there other features you would like the City to seriously consider?
▪ Picnic Pavilion – 4
▪ Softball Field – 1
▪ Restoring the Prairie – 14
▪ Educational Signage on walking path – 5
▪ Other
• Volleyball court
• Save money. Leave it rustic.
• Water
• Keep it natural! Don’t develop. Protect land & wildlife.
• Establish a birding trail, create bird habitat. Exercise circuit (like the one by
Osceola Medical Center)
• We prefer no park but realize the park must be built according to the MN Tax
Forfeiture requirements. We’d prefer just a park bench and leaving it to the
wildlife. Scandia already has enough parks. Scandia has other issues that need
to be addressed before we spend more money on parks.
• Involve scouts and the immediate neighborhood in development to increase
buy-in …. I’ll volunteer time and money
• Adult exercise equipment that would be appropriate for seniors.
• Use the park to hold astrological events lik e teaching kids the stars and the
constellation’s names.
• Trash and recycle bins
• ADA accessible, native plants (flours, shrubs and trees), peace pillar, some type
of public art
• Would you like to be notified of future Parks & Recreation Committee events addressing the future
development of this park? Yes – 14 No – 8