22-04 Approved Commission MinutesCrystal Parks and Recreation Advisory Commission Minutes
April 6, 2022
Crystal Community Center
The Parks and Recreation Advisory Commission Meeting was called to order at 7:04 p.m. by
Commission Chair Jesse McCaffrey.
Commission members in attendance: Jesse McCaffrey (Chair), Tony Sumnicht (Vice-Chair), Shaz
Ahmadi (Secretary), Dave Anderson, Joyce Cooper, Forest Eidbo, Erin Kolb, Lynn Haney, and Taji
Onesirosan. Also present were John Elholm, Brad Fortin, and Scott Berggren from the City Staff.
There was no public comment.
Mr. Sumnicht made a motion to approve the March Park and Recreation Commission minutes;
Mr. McCaffrey seconded the motion. The Park and Recreation Commission minutes for March
were approved as written.
Mr. McCaffrey gave his chairperson’s report. He presented some slides around cultivating
environmental stewardship. The commission discussed ways to create more opportunities for
community members to get involved in environmental programs. It was noted that a recent
NRPA survey estimates that 94% of adults value teaching children to be good environmental
stewards. Existing programs like Arbor Day, Edible Courtyard and others help with this. Other
opportunities to promote environmental stewardship were discussed, such as having park
clean-ups be a more regular occurrence at neighborhood meetings.
Mr. Berggren provided a schedule for the bus tour planned for June 15. The tour's focus will be
visiting recently completed projects and a park with projects planned for 2023 in Crystal.
Mr. Elholm provided an update on park projects for 2022. The building removed at Twin Oak
Park was almost all recycled. The existing parking lot at the park will be removed later this
spring. The contractor will be installing boardwalk sections on the helical piles in the MAC
Wildlife Area. Quotes have been received for the pickleball court project, and style of bench
was discussed at the meeting. Drawings were shown for the parking lots at Bassett Creek Park
and the Crystal Community Center. Mr. Elholm highlighted the schedule for future park projects
through 2028. Project completion dates are subject to change based on need and funding.
The commission discussed park signage. The commission was supportive of changing Crystal’s
Lee Park to Woodland Park to reflect the plat name and remove confusion that exists with
Robbinsdale’s Lee park – located a few blocks away. If the name is changed, the neighborhood
name would likely reflect this too. A new park sign at Twin Oak Park would continue to
highlight its designation as a POW/MIA Memorial. Once all the neighborhood parks have new
signage, the focus will move to natural areas, some of which do not currently have signs. The
term ‘natural area’ was preferred for these signs instead of using the term ‘park.’
There was not a council report.
Crystal Parks and Recreation Advisory Commission Minutes – Page 2 April 6, 2022
Mr. Fortin gave reports for park maintenance and Mr. Berggren for recreation
programming. They both referred to the information presented in the commission packet.
Mr. Elholm gave the Director's report. He gave a brief update on the planning process for the
CP Regional trail. Three Rivers is beginning to meet with commissions within the corridor. A
joint meeting with Crystal’s parks and planning commissions will be organized in June.
Ms. Haney gave a Crystal Frolics report. Mr. Sumnicht has agreed to write the clues for the
“Crystal Ball” search. The family festival has been moved to Saturday afternoon.
Mr. Elholm gave a Crystal Fund report. They are changing their name to Friends of Crystal
Parks. They have a new website.
Ms. Haney made a motion to adjourn the meeting; Ms. Kolb seconded the motion.
The commission adjourned the meeting at 9:00 pm.
John Elholm, Recorder