Authorize Preparation of Plans and Specifications and Advertisements for Bids for The Waterfront - Trails and Trees

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 authorize staff to proceed to finalize plans and specifications for a trail construction project that would circumnavigate the 7+ acre pond that is in place now. The capital improvement project would include the planting of 60 trees and the installation of benches and trash receptacles around the park.  This case does not authorize the larger project in any way, but rather authorizes staff to complete the trail plans and obtain bids.

The first attachment illustrates the scope of the proposed project this case authorizes. The last three attachments are planning concepts and included as background and for context. 

A Public Hearing was conducted in December 2023 on the city-wide Capital Improvement Plan, and park improvements in Ramsey's downtown were identified as a proposed 2024 project.

Observations
Note: separately within this agenda, Council is anticipated to Approve Plans and Authorizing Advertisements for Bids for Improvement Project #23-19, COR Infrastructure Improvements—while the activity this case authorizes is similar in terms of process and location; the scope of work is quite different (trails and landscape versus streets and utilities), and also is to be funded via the Park Trust Fund (with no TIF funding whatsoever).

 

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 in 2024.

The Park & Recreation Commission and staff recommend moving towards construction of the trails and related improvements for The Waterfront in 2024, and therefore supports the motion below.

Motion to authorize the preparation of Plans and Specifications for the trail and related elements for The Waterfront, and obtaining bids for the same.