by Erin Johnson
Thisweek Newspapers

What will Eagan's parks look like 15 years from now?

Residents will have a chance to put their two cents in as the city plans the future of its parks system.

A public forum on the future of Eagan's parks will be held Thursday, Feb. 17 at 6:30 p.m. at the Eagan Community Center.

Residents are invited to share their thoughts on programs, priorities and facilities for Eagan's parks with the Advisory Parks and Recreation Commission.

"We want to know if people are satisfied with the recreation opportunities they have today, what they would like to see in the future, what recreation opportunities might be missing from Eagan, and what facilities or open spaces they utilize now or would like to use in the future,î said commission Chair Terry Davis.

Eagan has an extensive parks system and numerous recreational amenities, with 54 city parks, 110 miles of walking trails and 350 lakes and ponds.

The city has hired a national consulting firm, Conservation, Environment and Historic Preservation Inc. (CEHP), to assess the current system and make recommendations for the future.

"We don't know a whole lot about what the folks in Eagan are interested in at this point. That's the point of this meeting,' said CEHP President Bill Beckner.

Beckner said that Eagan is already ahead of the game with several facilities that people around the country desire, like the Civic Arena, Cascade Bay and the Community Center.

"Most people don't have those facilities available to them,î he said.

Eagan also has top-notch parks, he said. In fact, it is the only city CEHP has visited that received its highest rating for every single park.

There is no differentiation in the level of maintenance between parks in Eagan, unlike other cities CEHP has worked with, he said.

"They're well maintained, and the facilities are well kept up,î he said. "That certainly speaks well of the management of their parks system.î

Eagan parks appear to be representative of the city's population, he said, and they have a lot to offer.

"They've obviously done a good job of listening to what people want and trying to respond to that,î he said.

One of CEHP's tasks is to look at regional and national trends and how they might impact Eagan.

One notable trend, Beckner said, is that the population is getting older. In the next 15 years, baby boomers will all be over the age of 55.

Boomers will likely remain active in their later years, he said, which will have an impact on the overall use of parks and facilities, he said.

"Boomers are not going to be doing all that much in the way of horseshoes,î he said. "They'll be out doing more active things.î

After getting feedback from residents, CEHP will spend March and April discussing open space, trails and land needs and prioritizing key issues with the city and community groups. A final report with recommendations is expected in May.

The city will be sending out resident surveys in coming weeks and set up a hotline for residents to register their thoughts about the park system and its programs.

"Whether for green space or park facilities, whether for youth or senior citizen programs, these discussions will greatly assist the determination of priorities for the next 15 years,î Davis said.

The Eagan Community Center is located at 1501 Central Parkway. For more information, call (651) 675-5500.

Erin Johnson is at eagan.thisweek@ecm-inc.com.

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