5.a Chair reportPRC Chair report – for November 1, 2021
Meet and Greet with CLFLWSD staff
On Oct 27, 2021, I met with Nick Bancks and Dave Bakke of the Comfort Lake Forest Lake Watershed
District. The purpose of the informal meeting was introductions and discussion regarding possible
partnerships with the district regarding Scandia Park plans.
I emphasized this was discussion and idea sharing only, and any action requires committee
recommendations to our city council.
Nick informally shared a review of the Greenways Corridor presentation that he gave at a recent City
Council meeting. Our discussion then focused primarily on the Bone Lake Park, and how proposed
activity in that park would complement some of the long-range planning ideas for the Greenways
Corridor effort.
Dave Bakke represented both the Bone Lake Association (BLA) as well as the watershed district. He
stated that the greatest interest right now is the refreshing and completion of the West and East trails.
Of high interest is a possibility of a boardwalk along the northern edge of the park, that would be a
bridge over the wetland connecting the two trails and allowing, roughly, full trail access around the
entire park perimeter. At an earlier conversation, the idea was posited regarding harvesting a
boardwalk at the now closed Warner Nature Center.
Nick discussed the possibility of DNR CPL (Conservation partnership Legacy) grants. At first glance, it
appeared that the trail work may be eligible for these grants, especially if we include some form of
educational component with our plans. Dave indicated that the BLA has a reserve fund from which
funds could be requested for an appropriate project.
Our informal next steps included a follow up by Nick to the DNR regarding more information about
grants. He will also attempt to reach out to someone associated with the Warner Nature Center and
inquire about the boardwalk. Dave will update the BLA at an upcoming meeting, likely after the first of
the year. The three of us will meet again informally sometime in mid-November.
Respectfully submitted, Terry Gorham
PRC Chair