This transcript appears to be a meeting of the **Cottage Grove Park Recreation and Natural Resources Commission**. Based on the context provided and the dialogue within the text, I have identified the speakers (including identifying the new Chair, staff members mentioned by name, and Councilmembers acting as liaisons). [00:00] **Adam Larson (Chair):** We'll call the meeting of the Cottage Grove Park Recreation and Natural Resources Commission to order. The mission of the Cottage Grove Parks Recreation Department is to create and promote policies, programs, and places that enable active living for a more vibrant community. Roll call taken. Can I get a motion to approve the agenda? Motion, second. All in favor? (Group: Aye). Any opposed? Okay. Has everybody had a chance to look through the minutes from the last meeting? I have. Can we get a motion to approve? [00:30] **Unidentified Commissioner:** Motion to approve the minutes. [00:33] **Unidentified Commissioner:** I'll second. [00:35] **Adam Larson (Chair):** All in favor? (Group: Aye). Any opposed? All right. Open Forum—looks like none tonight. Presentations—none tonight other than welcome to our new chair, Adam Larson. Commissioner Susie has offered Adam this great opportunity to lead our Parks Commission, so thanks for taking on the duties and look forward to having you lead. [00:50] **Adam Larson (Chair):** Thank you. All right. Action items: Pickleball program. [00:55] **Zac Dockter (Parks and Recreation Director):** Thank you, Chair, members of the Commission. I will turn it over to our Recreation Supervisor, Brad Mukher, who's going to talk a little bit about our taking over the pickleball programming in Cottage Grove. [01:10] **Brad Mukher (Recreation Supervisor):** All righty, thank you Commissioners. As Zac said, working with the old pickleball club, we have come together and created a good plan for pickleball operations here in Cottage Grove. If you have yet to hear of pickleball, it is a very fast and growing sport, not only throughout the state but is definitely taking the country by storm as well over the last number of years. With that being said, we've put together a pretty nice plan for 2024 and beyond to kind of solidify pickleball as an adult offering—for now at least—in our community. Currently, in Cottage Grove, we have a number of playing opportunities. We have four locations throughout our community at Granada Park, Cedar Hurst Meadows, Sunny Hill, and of course now Glacial Valley Park. We have what I'll call two full-time locations with nets and approximately nine courts, and I do expect that these full-time locations at Granada and Glacial Valley will be used heavily and extensively through our club and open play as well as leagues and future tournaments. Just some quick little stats here: it is the fastest-growing sport three years in a row, outpaces any youth sport—baseball, football, basketball, lacrosse, hockey. It is absolutely growing and very, very fast. Age 55 and up is the largest age bracket and that is currently kind of an untapped market that our Recreation Department is looking to expand into. So this is a really good move for us and a good opportunity for citizens of our community. Kind of just some back history on the club: as far as I know here in Cottage Grove, there was a pickleball club basically housed at Granada Park that was organized through a group of volunteers. A five-member Advisory Board oversaw the promotion and word of mouth to help grow the sport, and it has quickly grown kind of over their capacity to manage registrations and payments. So that volunteer organization is a liaison to the members... they’re really the eyes and ears on the ground to bring it back to Zac or Jim for any maintenance needs. When I first started, they were at 100 members; three years ago 125; when Glacial Valley started getting on our radar, I met with the board and they’re at about 130. They really wanted to hand over operations in partnership to help bring it to the next level. So, handing it over to where we have the resources to utilize all that stuff is a good move for everybody. Glacial Valley expansion has really opened up doors of communication. We will manage registration, promotions, organization of leagues, clubs, tournaments, and execution. I've met with the Advisory Board and researched neighboring communities like Woodbury, Inver Grove, and Mendota Heights. Woodbury is rapidly expanding with over 600 members and is busting at the seams, so it was important that we were taking care of our community first so they didn't take away from our members. We will be offering league play—men’s, women’s, and co-ed mixed leagues. For reference, 3.5 and below is beginner/intermediate; 4.0 and above is competitive. These leagues will be Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday nights. In total, if we fill, we’ll look at 72 teams. I’m allowing four players per team to help with scheduling conflicts. Regarding tournaments, we are holding off on offering multiple ones in 2024, focusing on one fun community-focused tournament this fall—maybe a grandma/grandchild or grandpa/grandson event. As far as rentals, I’ve had outside organizations reach out, but we’re slowing down on that to see how our facility is utilized by our community first. Looking at the schedule, Glacial Valley is the premier park with Granada as the backup. Monday morning the club is at Glacial Valley while Granada is open play, then they flip in the afternoon to create equality in playing time. The Advisory Board will continue to help us. Registration opened March 1st for residents and March 8th for non-residents. As of this morning, we were full at 200 members with 10 on the waitlist. I feel really good about that. I’ll be monitoring usage to see if I need to make changes to allow for more open play. With that, I can stand for any questions. [09:05] **Zac Dockter (Parks and Recreation Director):** Mr. Chair, I would like to just add three things. One clarification: this wasn't a "hostile takeover"—the club actually asked us to help them take over the program. Two: we always try to keep at least a few courts open in the community to general public play. Even with that schedule, there's always at least three courts open. And fourth: the action request is just to support the pickleball program as presented. [09:38] **Adam Larson (Chair):** Questions for Brad? [09:40] **Justin Olsen (Councilmember):** Brad, thank you, it's a good presentation. Seems like something we ought to do. I would be curious on financial needs—is the club doing fundraising as well? And also, can you compare this to how our relationship is with other athletic associations? Is it similar? [10:05] **Brad Mukher (Recreation Supervisor):** Absolutely, Mr. Olsen. This is a recreation program. Users pay a fee to utilize the times at the court, similar to an adult softball league. We’ll utilize those funds to help offset maintenance needs. As far as athletic associations, I don't think it has any relation—this is a city-run sponsored program. [10:25] **Justin Olsen (Councilmember):** If I could follow up, is it more similar to our relationship with the group at the disc golf course then? [10:30] **Brad Mukher (Recreation Supervisor):** I think the disc golf course has taken a volunteer stance on bringing their own changes, though the Advisory Board here will certainly shape how our program looks. [10:35] **Zac Dockter (Parks and Recreation Director):** Commissioner Olsen, if I may—there are some similarities, but with athletic associations, they take all registrations and handle all the money. We just help manage facilities. On this, we are doing all registration, programming, and management. A lot of the fees go to offset our staff time. We have a lot more control over this particular program. [11:15] **Commissioner Susie:** Are there any concerns about parking? I remember when we were doing a playground survey around Granada that there was some feedback from residents about noise and parking. Will Glacial Valley have enough parking to meet the needs? [12:10] **Brad Mukher (Recreation Supervisor):** I certainly hope so. I think it’s going to be a very busy park in general with the new playground and facility reservations. 200 people in the club doesn't mean 200 people are there at once; usually, it's about 30 to 40 people playing at any given time. But it's something we'll have to watch. [12:50] **Adam Larson (Chair):** I had a question. We see Glacial Valley and Granada are programmed. The other ones are open courts all the time? [13:05] **Brad Mukher (Recreation Supervisor):** The other courts don't have nets; it’s a "bring your own net" type of thing. We are focusing on Glacial Valley as the premier park. [13:18] **Zac Dockter (Parks and Recreation Director):** Mr. Chair, those are multi-use courts (basketball, four-square). If we put nets up, they would no longer be multi-use. Also, Glacial Valley has lit courts, which provides more flexibility with seasons. [14:05] **Adam Larson (Chair):** Anyone else? We're looking for a motion to support the pickleball program. [14:10] **Unidentified Commissioner:** A motion to support the pickleball program. [14:12] **Unidentified Commissioner:** Second. [14:15] **Adam Larson (Chair):** All in favor? (Group: Aye). Anyone opposed? All right, we support the program. Thanks, Brad. Up next: Presentation of information. [14:20] **Zac Dockter (Parks and Recreation Director):** Thank you, Chair. I'll go through the action updates all at once. For Mississippi Dunes, the Council approved the name, so that is official. Regarding the building, we’ve started conceptual design so we can get graphics for the local option sales tax initiative. We had a kickoff meeting about the history and archaeology of the area. The Commission will be the public engagement side, so you’ll see a rendering in May. Community Garden: we got the $23,000 SHIP grant via Washington County. Council reviews the agreement next week. If approved, we’ll start running water and tilling the land with the gardening club. Bike Park: they are out trying to raise funds for the remainder of the project. Cottage Grove Trailway Corridor: we got a grant (I believe $50,000) for restoration from Imperial Avenue West to Hinton. That’s our last section to make the whole habitat restoration through that corridor. I’ll be sending a letter to residents reminding them we'll be removing invasive and dead trees to reestablish the prairie and woodland habitat. Any questions on those five items? [16:45] **Unidentified Commissioner:** With the removal of trees, are we in that range where after the end of March we can't cut down trees to save the wild bats? [16:55] **Zac Dockter (Parks and Recreation Director):** Yes, we have an ecologist on the project so we are aware of the laws regarding the bats. We might be cutting a lot now and then more later. With that, I’ll turn it over to Superintendent Foreman for Strawberry Fest. [17:25] **Jim Foreman (Parks Superintendent):** Thank you, Commissioners. Strawberry Fest will be June 20th through June 23rd at Kingston Park. There will be a softball tournament at Lamar. Thursday night is family night. Friday and Saturday nights we'll have concerts. The parade is Saturday at 10:00 AM. They are still looking for ambassadors (up to age 21) for the next season. [18:40] **Monique Garza (Councilmember):** If I can interject—with the ambassadors, they do give out scholarships for the older ones too, so that’s a great opportunity for our teenagers. [19:05] **Adam Larson (Chair):** Any questions? All right, we can move on to donation acknowledgements. [19:10] **Zac Dockter (Parks and Recreation Director):** We had two memorial benches donated for Highlands Park. There was also one put in at Kingston. The program is gaining traction; we have a new style of bench and plaque that people seem to like. Also, regarding AED units: we have "Safe Station" units with ads accessible 24/7. There's one at Kingston, Oakwood, two at Hamlet, one at Highlands, and one at Woodridge—all donated by the Teddy’s Heart Foundation. The snowmobile club also donated one for Lamar Park. The Middle School will have two units as well. We had a presentation to Council months ago about being a "Heart Safe Community," and between Teddy's, the Athletic Association, and the snowmobile club, we’ve added many units. [20:55] **Adam Larson (Chair):** Any questions? [21:00] **Zac Dockter (Parks and Recreation Director):** Staff reports are included in your packet, including impact measures. You can see the growth in almost every area. We hear way more positives than negatives. I also included an educational article on liability cases. [21:20] **Adam Larson (Chair):** Commission comments? You’re having an easy first meeting for me. Council comments? [21:30] **Monique Garza (Councilmember):** I apologize for my tardiness. We are still on spring break today and my brain is still on spring break. Our City Council meeting last week was a record 15 minutes, so it's all about spring break right now! But thank you all. [22:00] **Adam Larson (Chair):** I will entertain a motion to adjourn. [22:03] **Unidentified Commissioner:** I'll make a motion to adjourn. [22:05] **Unidentified Commissioner:** Second. [22:07] **Adam Larson (Chair):** All in favor? (Group: Aye). Anybody opposed? All right, we’re adjourned.