HomeMy WebLinkAboutPRMinutes_2023_08_07Parks and Recreation Advisory Board Notes
Monday, August 7, 2023 5:30 PM
1. Call to Order
Steve Berseth Called meeting to order at 5:32pm. Present: Doug Smith, Nathaniel Condelli, John Maynes,
Jay Larsen, Steve Berseth, Ericka Sanders (Via zoom) & Parks, Recreation and Forestry Director Kristin
Zimmerman. Absent: Ashley Ragsdale. Guest: Stephanie Fleckenstein
2. Approval of Agenda
Motion to approve agenda by Doug Smith, 2nd by John Maynes; motion carried.
3. Approval of Minutes
Motion to approve minutes by Doug Smith, 2nd by Jay Larsen; Motion carried.
_____________________________________________________________________________________________________
4. Presentation: Edgebrook Water Source
Stephanie Fleckensein is a water source engineer and has been working on the limited water supply issues
at Edgebrook. Due to the dry years and lack of rain and storms the ponds aren’t able to capture water and
hold the water at a level to maintain irrigation issues. The question is how do we maintain the water levels if
we aren’t receiving enough precipitation. The recommendation is to tap into a water source that isn’t tied to
ground water because it is not dependent on the amount of rainfall through the year. It is a more resilient
and reliable water source. We would also connect the two ponds via a culvert, drain and clean the ponds
and add a liner to prevent the water level from going down. They propose that we move forward with
having conversations with the board, the city and the owners of the land to connect the ponds across from
129. Stephanie’s’ firm plans on starting more conversations with the landowners and looking at the water
quality in the next few weeks. Currently there is not timeline for the project. Doug Smith motions to move
forward with the potential of connecting the ponds from across I 29 to the Edgebrook ponds. John Maynes
2nds; Motion Carried.
5. Presentation: No Mow Areas
Kristin presented 5 potential no mow areas in Brookings. These No Mow Areas would create less maintenances space
for staff and would also allow other natural species to grow in Brookings. There would be wild flower spaces, taller
grass spaces as well as pollinator habitats. The 5 areas that Kristin has proposed are:
• South Main Fire Station- .67 acres of pollinator habitat
• Trail South of the Airport- 1.5 acres
• North of the Veterans Memorial- .7 acres of pollinator habitat
• South Main and 8th street S.- 1.5 acres
6. Discussion & Possible Action on No Mow Areas
Kristin brings up that the no mow areas will help with lowering mowing areas for staff and cutting back on their work
load. This will also be a great benefit for the community as it will bring in pollinator habitats. Kristin points out that
the area by the fire station will be close to Dakota Prairie Elementary and they have a bee habitat so the school
could benefit from that as well. We would discuss seeding mixes with a vendor that we have used in the past and the
seeding mixes would be specific to each area. Of course, these areas would also bring in some wild life to the areas,
which we would want to have, but it would also make for very beautiful areas of the city that commuters will be able
to see. Doug motions to move forward with the no mow areas, Nick 2nds: Motion Carried
7. Discussion and possible action on Park, Recreation and Forestry Board Appointing Student Board
Member.
Page 2
Candidate is interested in serving on the park board as he has a special interest in Parks and Recreation. He is a life
guard and a high school student. Motion is carried to appoint Cade Christenson the Park and Recreation Board Student
position.
8. Department Updates
• City of Brookings was awarded educator of the year from South Dakota Wildlife Federation. Brookings Park,
Recreation and Forestry office accepted the award due to our work in the forest initiative, food forest and
other projects that we have had going.
• Josh Bauman is the Assistant Parks, Recreation and Forestry Director. Josh is a tremendous asset to our department
and has a wealth of knowledge when it comes to our parks systems. He helps immensely in facilitating projects, as
well as keeping projects on task. He will oversee Parks and Golf Course operations.
• Our department received the $10,000 Deadwood Foundation Grant for the Pioneer Bandshell and a donation not to
exceed $450,000 for the pickleball courts. There will be 8 lit courts located in Hillcrest Park.
• We are looking at changing the location of the Food Forest to the community gardens. Staff toured the Food Forest
in Luverne MN and felt that if we were to have a food forest it would be better located at the community gardens.
The philosophy of the food forest is to bring in plants that aren’t necessarily native. Maintenance will have to be
looked at in the long term, but there are a few things that we can do to help mitigate maintenance by using
hardscapes and raised beds. We have also mentioned the Food Forest to SDSU McCrory Gardens and the school
district to house the food forest.
• Our Tree Voucher Program was a success this spring. We are currently waiting for around 100 Vouchers to be
returned. These vouchers are still out but are good until the end of the year so we aren’t expecting to open the
project back up in the Fall like we wanted to. We will likely do another Tree Voucher Run in the Spring of 2024.
• We plan to burn a few areas at the nature park with the Fire Department.
• The proposed playground at Lions Park was not in line with safety standards when it was installed, we are working
with the contractor and the doner to make sure that everything is going as planned. The lions are now being filled
with concrete and we are adjusting the bracket underneath. We are also increasing the footprint for the fall
protection. Will only cost $2000 extra.
• Fishback soccer complex new crow’s nest will be set over the weekend
• Pioneer Park basketball court has been demoed and construction will start in the next couple of weeks.
• Hillcrest Pickleball courts bid specks are in progress and will go out this fall. Constructions starting in the Spring.
• Soggy Doggy Days is Sunday the 13th at 6:30pm
• 2- to 5-year-old playground replacements, we are waiting on new designs from a new vender. The new vender is a
part of a purchasing coop so we don’t have to go to bid. They do have a grant program so our money is able to go a
little further.
• Trails were poured north of the pedestrian bridge at Dakota Nature Park, tree work is continuing and staff is focusing
in the south area of the park to remove invasive species removed.
• McClemons park, is very popular. We had to order a new rope fitting. Just incase you get a call or people ask.
• Larson Ice Center, hockey practice began on July 31st on the First Bank and trust rink. We also confirmed that the High
school state hockey tournament will be held in march 2023 at the Larson Ice center.
• The Activity center has an open house on September 20th. We signed an agreement with SDSU nursing and they will
be providing wellness checks to our members at the activity center.
• We are hoping to do a worlds largest swim lessons next year, it is a one-day thing and about 45 mins, but teaches
kids how to stay above water if they aren’t able to swim. Stacy would like to expand the Hillcrest Aquatic Centers
water carnival next year as well to offer more water activities throughout the summer.
• Darren Hoff, Josh Bauman and Mark Bren our shop supervisor, are working on the Brookings 500. It’s a kid’s power
wheel race. Mark is going to be the pit; kids will drive the car on the lifts and they will race around pioneer park. We
are hoping for June, but not 100% Sure yet.
Page 3
• This winter we are working with ice skating with the Grinch or Santa, or potentially both at the Larson Ice Center.
9. Call for Future Meeting Topics
• Naming rights for the parks and things that the park board is responsible for.
• Discussion of the Master Plan
• Change of Policy to have a July Park, Recreation and Forestry Board Meeting
• Discussion on Adult Recreation programs and having a weather policy and cancelations
• Discussion on leaving the lines for Volley Ball Courts out all season.
10. Adjournment
Motion to adjourn by Steve Berseth, John Maynes 2nds: Motion carried. Meeting ended at 7:25 PM