The Waterfront - Recommend Funding for Trails, Trees and Furnishings, 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. In the Fall of 2023, the mass grading and establishment seeding for the park was completed.  Over the Winter of 2022-23, 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, banquet space, patios, as well as outdoor beer garden and lawn game areas.  During the Winter of 2023-24 the Commission also reviewed concepts for family-friendly water play features east of the proposed community building.  The large building with proposed indoor and outdoor program areas is essentially a modern community center, with outdoor water-play elements replacing a more traditional public swimming pool.

At the Commission's regular January 2024 meeting, the Commission recommended, and City Council subsquently approved, preparing plans and specifications and obtaining bids for the trail and associated improvements.  The purpose of this case is to consider a recommendation to City Council to proceed with trail construction and tree planting at the park, together with installation of the attendant furnishings (benches, bike racks and trash receptacles). The first attachment details the scope of that proposed work and probable costs.

On April 9th, 2024, City Council has scheduled time at their regular work session to discuss an overview of how the annual operations for The Waterfront community building would be accommodated—as well as next steps for the larger project.  At the regular City Council meeting on this same date, approval of the trail project for the park is anticipated to be on Council's regular agenda for consideration.  Bids for the trail project are currently being advertised and due to the city on April 3rd, thus the reason and timing for the Park & Recreation Commission's review and recommendation at the March meeting.

Additional information will be presented at the meeting.
  

The funding for the proposed trail and related elements would be from the Park Trust Fund, which has a balance of >$7M.  This case authorizes a not-to-exceed amount of $430,000 and is the formal recommendation from the Park & Recreation Commission to City Council.

Staff recommends authorization of the funding and construction of the park improvements this case discusses for The Waterfront in 2024, and supports the motion below.

Motion to recommend to City Council a not-to-exceed amount of $430,000 from the Park Trust Fund for the construction of trails, and related improvements to The Waterfront.