Pollinator Demonstration Garden Project Adjacent to the Northstar Train Station

In 2022, the City was successful in securing grant funds through Great River Greening (GRG) to establish a pollinator corridor between Veterans Drive and the BNSF right-of-way.  Subsequently, the City submitted a revised application to expand the project to include reseeding of a recently constructed infiltration basin and reseeding around the rim of a stormwater pond as well.  Additionally, the revised application included a demonstration garden adjacent to the Northstar commuter rail station that would be established with larger, potted plants.

There is approximately 3.6 acres of right-of-way, sandwiched between Veterans Drive and the BNSF railroad tracks, stretching from the Coborn's anchored retail area to the stormwater pond at the intersection of Ramsey Boulevard and the railroad tracks (see attached exhibit).  The City will use part of the funding to hire a contractor to complete the seeding of this long corridor with an enhanced dry prairie mix offered by the Board of Water and Soil Resources (BWSR).  The infiltration basin in the southeast corner of the COR was originally seeded (unrelated to this grant) as part of that project.  However, that seeding failed for various reasons.  The expanded scope of this grant included reseeding not only the infiltration basin, but also the rim of the stormwater pond, with a combination of wetland and upland species.  That work was completed last fall.

The final component of the expanded scope of the project is a demonstration garden that will be installed this spring.  This will consist of approximately 100-200 potted, native plants and possibly several native plum trees.  Staff and GRG are still designing the full scope of the demonstration garden, but it could potentially include informative/educational signage, focusing on pollinator habitat, as well as a path/walkway through the garden.

This project aligns well with an item on the most recent Environmental Policy Board (EPB) Work Plan: Design and Implement a Demonstration Garden.   Staff is working with GRG on final design aspects, and once complete, would be looking to involve the EPB in the planting/installation phase.  At this time, Staff is considering a planting event that coincides with a regular meeting date of the EPB, such as April 17.  The reasoning is twofold.  First, generally, board members have kept their calendars open on meeting nights and this wouldn't require an additional evening commitment from board members.  Secondly, this particular meeting date is close to Earth Day (April 22) and Arbor Day (April 28) and the planting activity could be tied to both.

Staff would like feedback from the EPB as to whether there is an interest in participating in the demonstration garden planting activity.  Secondly, if there is interest, would there be a preference to conduct the planting on a regularly scheduled meeting night (e.g. April 17) or a separate, weekday afternoon/evening.  

The cost of materials for the pollinator demonstration project are a covered component of this grant.

By general consensus, let Staff know if there is an interest in participating in the installation of the demonstration garden plants and, if so, if there is a preference to schedule it on a regular meeting date or find an alternative weekday afternoon/evening.