24-04 Approved Commission MinutesCrystal Parks and Recreation Advisory Commission Minutes
April 3, 2024
Crystal Community Center
The Parks and Recreation Advisory Commission Meeting was called to order at 7:00 p.m. by
Commission Chair Jesse McCaffrey.
Commission members in attendance: Jesse McCaffrey (Chair), Lynn Haney (Vice-Chair), Jennifer
Zielinski (Secretary), Joyce Cooper, Dave Anderson, J.D. Moore II, Terri Schultz, Angela Spores
and Kassidy Swanson. Alex Popp attended via Zoom. Also present were John Elholm,
Recreation Director and Brad Fortin, Parks Superintendent
Commission members absent: none
Haney made a motion to approve the February Park and Recreation Commission minutes;
Swanson seconded the motion. The Park and Recreation Commission minutes for March were
approved as written.
Chair McCaffrey deferred to Swanson during the chair person report. She gave a presentation
on strategies for parks and events recycling. The presentation reviewed benefits of recycling,
and highlighted what some cities with sustainability staff have done to improve recycling and
sustainability in their cities. A discussion of the presentation followed.
Commission members reviewed proposed sites to visit on the summer park and recreation
commission tour. The tour will be on June 26 and stay in Crystal. Proposed sites include North
Lions Park, Broadway Park, Twin Oaks Park, Cavanagh Park, Twin Lakes Shores Park, Valley
Place Park and Crystal Highlands Park.
Elholm gave a project update. The Crystal Cove Aquatic Center project is out for bid. Bids will
be opened on April 4. The bid is for construction of the pool. Items not in the bid include site
amenities like the climbing wall and the rope swing. Those items will be purchased directly by
the city. The state is providing the aquatic center with a $2.35 million legislative appropriation.
Staff is working through grant documents for these funds, which includes recording a restrictive
covenant on the pool property. Quotes will be sought for improvements at the pool building
and the community center service counter.
The North Lions parking lot and Valley Place Park court design plans are complete. The bid
packet has been advertised, with a bid opening scheduled for April 18 and proposed council
approval on May 7. Since use at North Lions Park will be limited due to the parking lot being
removed, staff will also evaluate converting the baseball field to a soccer field this summer; as
proposed in the park system master plan. Post cards have been sent to neighbors informing
them of these projects. Letters were sent to neighbors of the community center informing
them that cameras will be installed in the parking lot this summer.
Crystal Parks and Recreation Advisory Commission Minutes – Page 2 April 3, 2024
Elholm also discussed preparations being made for the refurbishment of Twin Oaks Park in
2025. Grants have been applied for; including CDBG and Hennepin County Youth Activities.
Commission members discussed items during the open forum, giving input, asking questions,
and commenting.
Fortin gave reports on park maintenance, and Elholm gave reports on recreation programming.
Elholm gave the Director’s report. He reported that the City of Crystal has been selected to
receive a 2023 Award of Excellence from the Minnesota Recreation and Park Association. The
award was in the parks and facilities category, for the projects completed in Bassett Creek Park.
Elholm gave the Crystal Frolics report. Planning for the event is progressing, with new potential
activities including volleyball and disc golf.
Elholm gave the Friends of Crystal Parks report. The group is planning their plant sale for May
18. They also bought the trees to be given away at the city's Arbor Day event on May 1. The
committee is actively exploring new ways to generate funds for other initiatives.
Upcoming community events include the Blue Line Extension meeting on March 7 and the Iftar
Dinner on March 14. Both events are being held at the Crystal Community Center.
Haney made a motion to adjourn the meeting; Schultz seconded the motion.
The commission adjourned the meeting at 8:19 p.m.
John Elholm, Recorder