The Waterfront - Trails and Trees, a 2024 CIP

As part of the city's community park system, a water-centric park known as The Waterfront has been envisioned for more than a decade in Ramsey's downtown. This Fall, the mass grading for the park was completed and final seeding will occur in 2024. Last Winter, the Park & Recreation Commission performed a detailed analysis of how a park building could best serve the community— this process resulted in a concept for an approximate 37,000 gross square foot two-story building, consisting of mass timber construction; and including dining, fitness, large indoor play area, gallery, and banquet space.  The structure with proposed indoor and outdoor program areas is essentially a modern community center, with outdoor water-play elements replacing a traditional public swimming pool.

The purpose of this case is to consider recommending to City Council proceeding with trail construction circumnavigating the approximate 7 acre pond that is in place now. The first attachment details the scope of that proposed work, (but does not identify costs for tree installation).

For the meeting, staff will review all the progress in The COR, all the different layers and value of the proposed Waterfront park and community center, together with the considerations and goals of the trail project specifically. 
 

This case does not authorize funding per se. The primary funding for the proposed trail and related elements would be from the Park Trust Fund, and would occur following a formal recommendation from the Park & Recreation Commission to City Council at a later date.

Staff recommends a discussion on the benefits of moving towards construction of the trails for The Waterfront in 2024, and supports the motion below.

Motion to recommend to City Council authorization of the preparation of Plans and Specifications for the trail and related elements for The Waterfront, and obtaining bids for the same.