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2025.10.01 PRC PacketAGENDA October 1, 2025 Crystal Community Center – 4800 Douglas Drive North, Crystal MN, 55429 7:00 pm Regular Meeting Agenda 1.Call the Meeting to Order / Introductions 2.Public Comments 3.Approval of Minutes 4.Chairperson’s Report 5.Commission Business / Discussion (45 minutes) a.Reimagining Crystal Frolics b.2026 Park Planning c.Future Destination Play Areas 6.Commission Open Forum (10 minutes) 7.Commission Reports (15 minutes) a.City Council Report b.Project/Maintenance Report c.Program Report d.Director Report 8. Community Reports (10 minutes) a.Community Activity/Event Reports •Crystal Frolics Report •Friends of Crystal Parks Report b.Citizen Contacts c.Other Community News Items 9.Adjournment Next meeting date: November 5, 2025 – Crystal Community Center MEETING OVERVIEW October 1, 2025 Crystal Community Center – 4800 Douglas Drive North, Crystal MN, 55429 Contact John Elholm – john.elholm@crystalmn.gov or 763-531-1150 if you cannot attend. REGULAR BUSINESS MEETING – 7:00 PM 1.Call the Meeting to Order and Introductions Jesse McCaffrey will call the meeting to order 2.Public Comments Citizens may bring items of concern related to parks and recreation to the attention of the commission. Speaking time may be limited and no action will be taken. 3.Approval of Minutes – September 3, 2025 4.Chairperson’s Report 5.Commission Business / Discussion John Elholm: Introduce Business Items a.Reimagining Crystal Frolics b.2026 Park Planning •Forest School Park •Woodland Park •North Lions Park c.Future Destination Play Areas 6.Commission Open Forum A time for commission members to share their thoughts and ideas about parks and recreation in Crystal. 7.City Reports John Budziszewski: City Council Report Brad Fortin: Project/Maintenance Report Michelle Margo: Program Report John Elholm: Director Report 8.Community Reports Michelle Margo: Crystal Frolics Report Lynn Haney: Friends of Crystal Parks Report Commission Members: Other community news and contacts 9.Adjournment Crystal Parks and Recreation Advisory Commission Minutes  September 3, 2025  Crystal Community Center    The Parks and Recreation Advisory Commission Meeting was called to order at 7:00 pm by  Commission Chair Jesse McCaffrey.    Commission members in attendance: Jesse McCaffrey (Chair), Lynn Haney (Vice‐Chair), Terri  Schultz (Secretary), Dave Anderson, Joyce Cooper, Deb Schaber, Angela Spores and Kassidy  Swanson. Also present were John Elholm, Brad Fortin and Michelle Margo from the City Staff.    Commission members absent:  J.D. Moore and Alex Popp     There was no public comment.    Haney made a motion to approve the August neighborhood meeting minutes; Schultz  seconded the motion. The Park and Recreation neighborhood meeting minutes for August  were approved as written.    Spores made a motion to approve the August commission meeting minutes; McCaffrey  seconded the motion. The Park and Recreation Commission meeting minutes for August  were approved as written.    Chair McCaffrey gave the chairperson's report.   He presented slides and led a discussion on  why playgrounds matter and the principles of playground design. McCaffrey shared that  playgrounds are essential spaces that support healthy development and social interaction,  invites everyone of all backgrounds, abilities and cultures to play together, and attracts  visitors, supports local business and contributes to community identity.  Concluding thoughts  included how do we leverage the popularity of a destination park in Crystal and what is the  culture of Crystal that should inspire the park design?  The topic of destination play will be a  discussion topic at the October meeting.    Elholm gave project updates for Crystal Cove Aquatic Center, Twin Oaks Park picnic  shelter and play area and Welcome Park basketball courts.  These projects are complete.   He also provided an update on planning for 2026 projects. Projects presented were Forest  School Park playground and picnic shelter; and the Woodland Park playground, picnic  shelter and basketball court. Information from the summer neighborhood meetings was  discussed, and the upcoming grant schedule for these projects was provided.  He also  shared information on the North Lions Park soccer (rectangle) field project.  Crystal Parks and Recreation Advisory Commission Minutes – Page 2               September 4, 2024    Elholm also provided information on preliminary planning taking place to improve the  Valley Place Park fastpitch softball field.  This would be a 2027 project.  He compared the  current layout for fastpitch softball to the 2017 master plan for the space.  The thoughts  being discussed involve rotating the field 180 degrees to be consistent to what is  proposed in the master plan.  This would bring players and spectators closer to  restrooms, the play area and parking.  It would also involve installing a new outfield fence  at 200’.  Elholm also shared a list of projects proposed in the long‐term plan for 2026 to  2029.  Commission members had an opportunity to discuss items during the open forum. One item of  discussion related to lighting at the Bassett Creek Dog Park.   Fortin gave a park maintenance report; which included vandalism, solutions to kids doing  ‘donuts’ in a gravel parking lot, tree surveys, pool closing, new pool parking lot, fence removal  for soccer at North Lions Park and other maintenance projects.   Margo gave the recreation program report; which included a review of current programs and  outreach.  There are many free community events and adult fitness being offered this month.   Staff is also completing Hennepin County Youth Activities Grants for programs and equipment.   Elholm gave the director’s report.  He mentioned that he is attending the National Recreation  and Park Association (NRPA) annual conference in September and that multiple staff will be  attending the Minnesota Recreation and Park Association (MRPA) annual conference in  October. Margo will also be presenting at the MRPA conference.     Margo and Elholm gave the Crystal Frolics report.  The Frolics committee will be meeting on  Monday, September 22 to review the 2025 event and discuss the future of the event.    Haney provided the Friends of Crystal Parks Report.  The Friend’s group will be meeting again  in October.    McCaffrey made a motion to adjourn the meeting; Schaber seconded the motion.      The meeting was adjourned at 9:10 pm      Terri Schultz, Secretary  Michelle Margo, Recreation Services Manager  Park and Recreation Advisory Commission Monthly Maintenance Report September, 2025 Vandalism: • Furniture dumped at Woodland and North Lion’s parks Projects: • Ash tree removal, city wide tree inspections (special assessment removals) • Tree planting in various parks • Ballfield and soccer field maintenance • Pool shutdown operations • Water planters and trees • Turf maintenance (Lots) • Irrigation maintenance and repairs • Grading, top dressing and seeding at Twin Oaks park (heavy rains washed out seed) • Begin irrigation blowouts • Vehicle Fair • Building maintenance (roofing and HVAC at old PW shop) • EDA house and property clean-ups • Playground inspections and repairs (Welcome Park track ride) • Trash removal Upcoming: • City wide diseased tree inspections, removals and notifications • Boulevard tree planting for residents • Trail maintenance, replacement and repairs • Shut down pool and buildings for season • Ballfield and soccer field maintenance • Remove seasonal planters from streetscape • Remove sunshades and shade elements for seasonal storage • Turf maintenance (mowing, fertilizing, weed control, top dressing and seeding) • Disc golf course maintenance • Snowplow and equipment prep for winter • Playground inspections and repairs • Door replacement at South Fire Station • Trash removal 4800 Douglas Drive North • Crystal, Minnesota 55429-3553 Tel: (763) 531-1000 • Fax: (763) 531-0949 • www.crystalmn.gov PROJECT SUMMARYOCTOBER 2025 This is an overview of the upcoming park projects in the City of Crystal, which will take place at various parks and buildings across the city. Twin Oaks Park While construction at Twin Oaks Park finished up in July, the turf that was installed needed additional work. The old topsoil has been removed, and better soil, seed and blanket have been installed. Crystal Cove Aquatic Center While pool and building improvements are complete, staff have been workong on ways to keep the building in great shape. One recent purchase includes a floor scrubber, that will keep the building even cleaner than before. Forest School and Woodland Parks Park designs for Forest School and Woodland Parks are nearly complete, and staff have now turned to seeking additional funding for the projects. Grant applications are being submitted for both. Tree Planting Tree diseases have resulted in many trees being removed throughout Crystal. Fall is a great time to plant trees, and maintenance crews have been working hard to reestablish the urban forest in Crystal parks. Day & Extended Trips Crystal Recreation’s trips are designed to make travel accessible and stress-free, allowing adults to relax and enjoy the journey while socializing and making connections close to home. The two trips highlighted sold out in just a few days! PROGRAM SUMMARYOCTOBER 2025 Below is an overview of the programs offered by the Crystal Recreation Department, along with occasional recaps of key special events we host. Oktoberfest - senior luncheon The 6 Annual Oktoberfest - Don’t miss this festive event for our active adult community! This event is hosted collaboratively by Brooklyn Park, Brooklyn Center, Crystal, Golden Valley, New Hope, and Robbinsdale. th Open Pickleball & Preschool Playtime Open Pickleball & Preschool Playtime are starting up in October. A great opportunity for all ages to come to the Community Center and enjoy being active with their community members. Farmers Market Crystal Farmers market has wrapped up it’s 2025 season. 19 different vendors and 4 community groups participated at our community table throughout the season.