Minnesota Recreation & Parks Magazine - Fall 2024

MINNESOTA RECREATION & PARKS

MINNESOTA

Publisher Minnesota Recreation and Park Association

200 Charles Street NE, Fridley, MN 55432 www.mnrpa.org

Tel: 763.571.1305

An affiliate of National Recreation and Park Association

Editorial Staff

Michelle J. Snider

Bethani Gerhard

Editorial Board

Jennifer Fink, New Brighton

Lori Hokenson, New Brighton

Mary Jo Knudson, Owatonna

Cheryl Kormann, New Ulm

Patrick Menton, Winona

Advertising Sales & Design

Todd Pernsteiner

Pernsteiner Creative Group todd@pernsteiner.com 952.841.1111

MRPA Board of Directors 2024

President: Michelle Okada, Woodbury

President-Elect: Eric Carlson, Apple Valley

Past President: Jerome Krieger, Blaine

Secretary: Tracy Petersen, Edina

Treasurer: Sonya Rippe, Plymouth

RSC Chair: Scott Heitkamp, Burnsville

East Metro: Kelly Distad-Arvold, New Brighton

East Metro: Mike Ramirez, Eagan

East Metro: Dan Schultz, Rosemount

Northeast Region: Amber Moon Peterson, Nisswa

Northwest Region: Lynn Neumann, Hutchinson

Southern Region: Joey Schugel, New Ulm

West Metro: Roxann Maxey, Minneapolis

West Metro: Jenna Smith, Victoria

West Metro: Jason T. West, St. Louis Park

This magazine is the official quarterly publication of Minnesota Recreation and Park Association and is provided complimentary to members as part of their MRPA membership. The editorial board encourages the submission of articles and photos for publication by agency members. Articles of approximately 500-700 words or less may be submitted, but may be edited for length and clarity. Contact Michelle Snider, MRPA, at 763.571.1305 x100 if interested in submitting an article for a future issue.

Articles and Advertising Deadlines

Winter 2025 issue January 8, 2025

Spring 2025 Issue March 24, 2025

Summer 2025 issue May 22, 2025

Fall 2025 issue September 15, 2025

MRPA reserves the right to approve all submitted advertising in MINNESOTA Recreation and Parks magazine.

Playground Maintenance Course November 13, 2024 Roseville Skating Center Roseville

20-21, 2024 Virtual

& Inclusion Workshop December 3, 2024 Brookview Golden Valley

Playground Maintenance Course November 21, 2024 Council Chambers Owatonna

Annual Conference 2025 October 27-30, 2025 Heritage Center of Brooklyn Center Brooklyn Center

FROM THE PRESIDENT

By Michelle Okada MRPA President

A Successful Conference & Putting the Strategic Plan in Motion

It was a wonderful opportunity to welcome back our members at the Minnesota Recreation and Park Association (MRPA) Annual Conference and Exhibit Hall in Mankato. As always, the conference allowed us to step away from our daily challenges and connect with colleagues, fostering education, inspiration, and camaraderie. Hosting nearly 450 delegates and 80 vendors demonstrates our growth and commitment to advancing our profession. I would like to extend my gratitude to Claudia Hicks, Kevin O’Brien, and the entire Conference Committee, the exceptional presenters and educational session providers, as well as our generous sponsors and MRPA staff, Michelle and Bethani, for delivering an exceptional conference experience.

In October, the MRPA Board convened for their regular meeting, where we discussed various agenda items, including progress updates on the Strategic Plan and the 2025 budget. Two key staffing highlights for the 2025 budget include the potential increase in hours for Bethani’s position and the allocation of additional funds for supplemental staff support. The Board is considering approximately $12,500 to hire and contract additional resources to assist Michelle and Bethani in their current roles. With a goal to expand educational opportunities and collaborate with the Recreational Sports Commission, focusing on trending recreational activities such as pickleball.

The flexibility of these funds will enable the staff to pursue opportunities while assessing the membership’s capacity to support these new offerings, all while meeting the overall expectations of members. This approach allows for purposeful program and service additions and adjustments without committing to full-time or regular part-time staffing, ensuring the budget commitment is also supporting the goal of financial stability.

As always, feel free to reach out to any current Board member for a conversation to clarify your understanding or share your perspectives on these proposals. The Board members are eager to discuss the progress of the Strategic Initiative from 2024 and to highlight the objectives for 2025 at the annual general meeting in January.

This edition of the magazine highlights the MRPA Awards of Excellence, celebrating the remarkable creativity and dedication that parks, and recreation professionals bring to their communities. Be sure to explore this month’s issue to discover the outstanding work happening throughout our great state. Congratulations to this year’s award winners and thank you for making these visions a reality!

Fall Challenge:

Embrace something new! Whether it’s playing a game or activity you’ve never tried, experimenting with a recipe you’ve always wanted to make, or signing up for a local community event or class, take the plunge! Dream it, schedule it, and make it happen!

Kind regards,

Michelle Okada

MRPA Retiree Luncheon Held September

Southern Minnesota Recreation and Park Association (SMRPA) Golf Tournament

The SMRPA Golf Tournament celebrated its 15th year. This year the tournament changed venues and was held at Northern Hills Golf Course in Rochester. This is SMRPA’s only annual fundraiser for youth scholarships and professional development. SMRPA is a major contributor to the MRPA annual conference when it is held in southern Minnesota. Mark your calendars for next year’s tournament, August 15, 2025, at Rochester’s Northern Hills.

Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board wins 2024 National Gold Medal Award for Excellence in Parks and Recreation

American Academy for Park and Recreation Administration recognized Minneapolis park system as best among largest cities in the country during annual National Recreation and Park Association Conference in Atlanta, Georgia. The Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board (MPRB) was recognized with the 2024 National Gold Medal Award for Excellence in Park and Recreation Management. The Gold Medal is widely recognized as the premier award in the park and recreation industry.

“I’m incredibly proud of our talented and hard-working staff and thankful to serve a city like Minneapolis, which truly loves its parks and passionately supports them,” said MPRB Superintendent Al Bangoura. “Our park system was built through more than 140 years of ambitious plans and fierce advocacy and this recognition shows we’re continuing to honor that legacy with a new emphasis on equity and innovation.”

A panel of five park and recreation professionals chosen for their considerable

experience and knowledge in parks and recreation evaluates agency applications. Applications detail how agencies address the needs of those they serve across a broad range of topics, focusing primarily on initiatives undertaken or completed in the last three years.

This is the second Gold Medal Award earned by the MPRB, the first coming in 1989. The MPRB was named a Gold Medal Award finalist in 1988, 2016, 2017, 2018, and 2021.

“The Gold Medal confirms what many who work, live, or play in Minneapolis know to

be true - Minneapolis has one of the best park systems in the world,” said MPRB President Meg Forney. “This award is for MPRB park professionals, whom I am so grateful that they inspire, create and serve public spaces for all.”

Founded in 1965, the Gold Medal Awards program honors communities in the United States that demonstrate excellence in parks and recreation through long-range planning, resource management, volunteerism, environmental stewardship, program development, professional development and agency recognition. Musco Lighting, LLC has been the proud sponsor of the National Gold Medal Awards program for more than 20 years.

Agencies are separated into seven classes, with five classes based on population, one class for armed forces recreation and one class, awarded on odd numbered years, for state park systems. The MPRB competes in Class I, for agencies serving jurisdictions with a population of 400,001 and over.

Minnesota USSSA Hall of Fame Golf Tournament Held July 25th

The 31st Annual Minnesota USSSA Hall of Fame Benefit Golf Tournament was held July 25, 2024 at the Theodore Wirth Golf Course in Minneapolis. Thank you to Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board for hosting this annual fundraising event.

SPARKING INSPIRATION THROUGH PLAY

Creating spaces and places for everyone to use their imagination and connect with the elements around us.

Celebrating Our Successes and Advancing Our Mission

By Jennifer Fink, MRPF President

As president of the Minnesota Recreation and Parks Foundation (MRPF), I am thrilled to reflect on the success of this year’s MRPA Annual Conference.

The engagement from all of you—our members, sponsors, and supporters— was nothing short of extraordinary, and it speaks to the strength of our community and shared passion for parks and recreation.

A true highlight of the conference was honoring Michelle Margo, the 2023 Ed Brandeen Cornerstone Award recipient. Michelle’s tireless dedication, spanning over 30 years, has left an indelible mark on our field. Her efforts have raised tens of thousands of dollars to support our Foundation, and we are so grateful for her unwavering commitment.

The Golf Outing was another example of the support we receive from partners and sponsors. I’d like to extend my sincere thanks to:

• St. Croix Recreation, our Title Sponsor.

• Kompan and MWP Recreation for their Course Games sponsorships.

• Webber Recreation, for keeping the fun going with the Beverage Cart.

• And to our generous Hole Sponsors: MN Equipment Solutions, Bolton & Menk, Romtec, HKGi, and WSB

Your contributions helped make the outing an engaging and enjoyable experience for all, while also supporting our fundraising efforts.

The conference also featured a highly successful Heads and Tails Split the Pot Game and our ever-popular Beer and Wine Pull, which brought energy to the event while raising crucial funds for our Foundation’s mission.

Speaking of our mission, I’m excited to with you all the Foundation’s new mission statement: “To Provide Equitable Access to education and opportunities for the purpose of enhancing recreation and parks throughout Minnesota.” This mission will guide everything we do, ensuring that our work is rooted in accessibility and inclusivity.

Together, we have the power to make a lasting impact on communities across Minnesota, ensuring that parks and recreation spaces continue to thrive and serve all residents. I look forward to working alongside you to advance this mission and strengthen the ties that bind our vibrant community. Thank you for your continued support and dedication.

Give to the Max Day is Nov. 21

We are just a few days away from Give to the Max Day on November 21, 2024! This is your opportunity to make a meaningful difference by supporting the future of parks and recreation in Minnesota.

Every donation made will be matched, up to $5,000, thanks to the generosity of Jan and Ken Vraa, who have dedicated this gift in honor of Harvey Feldman, a cherished member of our community.

Your gift, no matter the size, will have twice the impact on the Minnesota Recreation and Parks Foundation, allowing us to provide equitable access to education and opportunities for parks and recreation professionals statewide.

Here’s how you can help:

• Visit our Give to the Max website www.givemn.org/organization/ Minnesota-Recreation-And-ParkFoundation

• Donate on November 21, 2024: Your donation will be doubled!

Let’s make this year’s Give to the Max Day the best one yet. Together, we can continue to honor Harvey’s legacy and strengthen the future of parks and recreation.

MINNESOTA RECREATION & PARK ASSOCIATION

MINNESOTA RECREATION & PARKS is a hyper-targeted magazine mailed quarterly to Minnesota Recreation and Park Association (MRPA) park and recreation agency decision-makers and affiliates. It is also available online at mnrpa.org.

Summer 2025 | Ad deadline: July 11, 2025 2024 Conference Guide • Meet a Keynote • Tech4Rec Community Partnerships & Volunteers

Fall 2025 | Ad deadline: September 26, 2025 MRPA Agency Awards • Top Industry Trends • 2025 Buyer’s Guide *Content subject to change.

MINNESOTA magazine features industryrelevant content related to management of parks, recreation programs, facilities, aquatics, athletics, trails, nature centers, natural resources, and special events. This valuable resource is read by municipal, county, and park district employees throughout Minnesota.

MINNESOTA provides an opportunity to market directly to staff who frequently need your products, services, and/or expertise.

ad spaces

Battle for the Buoy 2

SECOND ANNUAL MRPA LIFEGUARD COMPETITION

HELD JULY 28TH IN APPLE VALLEY

MRPA Lifeguard Competition Crowns 2024 Winners

By Bethani Gerhard, Minnesota Recreation and Park Association

Nine lifeguard teams competed on a Sunday night this past summer at the Apple Valley Family Aquatic Center. Teams had a great time assessing aquatic-related scenarios and competitions. This was the second annual MRPA Lifeguard Competition with the first being held in July 2023.

“As the Aquatic Network lead for MRPA, I can confidently say that the lifeguard challenge games were a blast, filled with fun and energy,” states Heather Flock, recreation supervisor for the City of South St. Paul and the chair of the MRPA Aquatics Network. “We’re already excited to compete again next year! The amount of learning and camaraderie

developed within the teams is exactly what an aquatic facility needs. It not only fosters a safe environment for recreation but also makes it an incredibly fun place to work, which is key to our success in parks and recreation.”

Flock adds, “The MRPA Aquatics Network is always looking for help to implement

Photos by Megan Mulligan

Congratulations to the following teams for placing in the competition:

these programs. If your aquatics staff is interested in getting involved, have them join our meetings the first Wednesday of the month at 10:30 a.m. Most meetings are virtual or have a Zoom option if they meet in-person. Planning for this lifeguard competition begins after the New Year.”

MRPA extends a thank you to Apple Valley Parks and Recreation for hosting this event. Also, thank you to the following MRPA Aquatics Network members (shown below) for planning this year’s event:

• Bridget Russell

• Tescha Lindquist

• Mikayla Beuch

• Steve Skinner

• Heather Flock

• Kevin O’Brien

• Megan Mulligan

Also, thank you to Megan Mulligan, aquatics and inclusion services manager with the City of Minnetonka, for taking photos at the MRPA Lifeguard Competition.

The nine teams participating in this year’s event included:

• Apple Valley - Family Aquatic Center

• Apple Valley - Redwood Team 1

• Apple Valley - Redwood Team 2

• Faribault - Family Aquatic Center

• Inver Grove Heights

• Lake Crystal Area Rec Center

• Minnetonka - Shady Oak Beach

• Three Rivers Parks District

• South St. Paul

1st Place: Apple Valley Redwood Team 2 (Score: 192)

2 nd Place: Shady Oak BeachCity of Minnetonka (Score: 191)

3 rd Place: Inver Grove Heights (Score: 189)

87 TH ANNUAL MRPA CONFERENCE

Annual Conference 2024 a Huge Success!

MRPA says thank you to all the delegates, volunteers, exhibitors and sponsors of the 87th Annual Conference and Exhibit Hall held September 24-27 at the Mayo Clinic Health System Event Center in Mankato, MN. The conference included nearly 450 delegates, 80 exhibitors, and numerous sponsors and volunteers. Attendance marked an all-time high for a MRPA Annual Conference hosted by Southern Minnesota Recreation and Park Association (SMRPA). This year’s conference also included many educational sessions and the 2nd Annual Maintenance Rodeo.

2024 CONFERENCE COMMITTEE

MRPA is grateful for the outstanding work of the year’s annual conference committee:

Conference

Co-Chairs

Claudia Hicks

Kevin O’Brien

Programming

Ben Boldt

Sandy Bromley

Tyler Luethje

Exhibit Hall

Riley Donovan

Paul Peanasky

Joey Schugel

Logistics

Melissa Bernhard

Devin Pewowaruk

Marketing

Ali Mayer

Sponsorships

Cheryl Kormann

Networking

Mary Jo Knudson

Rick Schaber

Volunteers

Eric Anderson

Kayla Campbell

Maintenance

Rodeo

Becky Cusey

Brad Dushaw

Dustin Heiderscheidt

Patrick Menton

Joel Radel

Jim Tatge

Sponsors 2024

Thank you conference sponsors for making this event possible.

2024 MAINTENANCE RODEO WINNERS MAINTENANCE

MRPACONFERENCE

Congratulations to the following Maintenance Rodeo winners:

Backpack Blower (32 contestants)

Winner: Nathan Milbrath, Three Rivers Park District

Skid Steer (25 contestants)

Winner: Jacob Witt, City of Mankato

Plant ID (26 contestants)

Winner: Lara Newberger, City of Plymouth

Zero-Turn (38 contestants)

Winner: Max Anderson, City of Buffalo

All-Around Champion: Erik Heuring, City of Plymouth

Winners (left to right): Lara Newberger, Nathan Milbrath, Erik Heuring, Jacob Witt, Max Anderson

YOU’RE ALMOST DONE WITH A LANDSCAPING PROJECT. YOU’VE ONLY GOT 5 YARDS OF ROCK TO PUT IN 3 BEDS. BUT THE NEWBIE ACCIDENTALLY TORE A HYDRAULIC HOSE, LEAVING YOU WITH 5 YARDS OF ROCK TO SHOVEL BY HAND. THAT’S WHEN YOU CALL YOUR ZIEGLER REP. HE LINES UP YOUR REPAIR BY 2 PM SO YOU CAN COMPLETE THE PROJECT ON TIME.

NORWOOD PARK | BROOKLYN PARK, MN

It Takes a Village

Local Communities Show Support for Minnesota Athletes at the 2024 Summer Olympic Games

By Bethani Gerhard, Minnesota Recreation and Park Association

Numerous Minnesota athletes competed at the Olympic Games in Paris this summer. In this issue we highlight two Minnesota women athletes who had the support of their local communities cheering them on back home. Alise Willoughby, originally from St. Cloud, competed in BMX racing and Dakotah Lindwurm, originally from St. Francis, competed in the women’s marathon.

The community of St. Cloud held Olympic watch parties on August 2, 2024 from 12 – 3 p.m. to show their support for Alise Willoughby. She took first place in all three of the Women’s BMX Racing quarterfinals at the Olympic Games, although she did not receive an Olympic medal, according to Pineview BMX Park. This was her fourth Olympic team representing Team USA.

As a way to show their support for Dakota Lindwurm, the community of St. Francis held a celebration at the SFHS stadium on August 8, 2024 from 5 – 7 a.m. Lindwurm was the top American finisher in the race, placing 12th place overall, according to the Saints

News. Nearly 200 people showed up to the celebration, a partnership between St. Francis Area Schools and the City of St. Francis to welcome KARE 11 Sunrise show to the area. It featured interviews with representatives from the city and the school district to Lindwurm. This was her first Olympic appearance representing the USA.

More About Dakota Lindwurm

The women’s marathon became an Olympic sport during the 1984 Olympic Games in Los Angeles. Dakota Lindwurm became a solid runner for Saint Francis High School (SFHS) before she graduated in 2013, according to the

Saints News. She is the first SFHS graduate to go to the Olympics.

Hockey was Lindwurm’s primary focus in her early years until her mom requested she join another sport and that running quickly became her sport, according to the Saints News. After high school she was a walk-on on at Northern State University in Aberdeen, South Dakota and developed into an AllAmerican before graduating in 2017.

Lindwurm was ranked 30 th -40 th for the women’s marathon at the Olympics this year. For her to earn 12 th place in the in the race was something she said she was very proud of, according to the Saints News. And Lindwurm was the top American finisher in the race, finishing in 2:26:44 at the Olympics women’s marathon in Paris August 11, 2024. This was a pace of 5:35 per mile in the 26.2-mile distance run. Lindwurm had been gearing up for the race since February 2024 when she qualified with a third-place finish at the U.S. Olympic Trials, according to the Saints News

More About Alise Willoughby

BMX racing became an Olympic sport during the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing. Alise Willoughby went to the Olympics for BMX racing beginning in 2012 in London and won the silver medal in the Olympic Games in Brazil in 2016, according to Pineview BMX Park. This year in Paris was her fourth Olympic Games where she advanced to the semifinals for a chance to win a medal.

Lindwurm was the top American finisher in the race, finishing in 2:26:44 at the Olympics women’s marathon in Paris August 11, 2024.

Photo by Pineview BMX

Willoughby

Willoughby was six years old when she started racing BMX, according to Visit Greater St. Cloud. Women’s BMX wasn’t an Olympic option or even a professional career option during that time. Her family was instrumental in the creation of Pineview BMX Park. This is where Willoughby grew-up racing. Her father, Mark Post, was the track manager for nearly 25 years and is still on the park’s board of directors after retiring as operator in the fall of 2023.

Pineview BMX Park is a non-profit organization run by volunteers and holds USA BMX sanctioned races. The park allows riders to have an annual USA BMX membership, which lets them ride at any of the tracks in the United States. The track is It is always free to come out and watch events.

BMX racing originated in the 1970s in California with its sibling BMX freestyle, according to the

Sports Foundation. A BMX bike has a singlespeed gear and professionals are restricted to small 20-inch wheels. BMX racing was officially recognized by the International Cycling Union (UCI) in 1993. During the Olympic Games, racers start at an elevated gate, requiring a fast reaction time and strength to physically fight for positioning during the race.

Dakota Lindwurm ( Photo by Saints News)

Alise Willoughby ( Photo by Pineview BMX Park)

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2024

RECOGNIZING MINNESOTA AGENCIES AND ORGANIZATIONS FOR OUTSTANDING 2023 ACHIEVEMENTS

By Bethani Gerhard, Minnesota Recreation and Park Association

Each year, MRPA recognizes agencies or organization in Minnesota for outstanding achievements. Congratulations to the 16 recipients of the MRPA Awards of Excellence for projects completed in 2023.

Marketing and Communications

Apple Valley - Referendum Marketing and

The City of Apple Valley’s parks, trails, and recreational facilities are an invaluable asset to the community. However, many of these amenities were approaching the end of their useful life, requiring significant improvements and updates to continue serving residents and visitors for years to come. To implement these essential changes in a timely manner, the City of Apple Valley needed to pass a parks referendum.

Communication Plan

On November 7, 2023, the parks referendum passed with overwhelming support and became the largest-ever referendum to pass in Apple Valley history. While the ultimate goal was a successful referendum, the following marketing and communications goals were established to create a positive dialogue between residents and staff:

Parks and Facilities

Crystal - Bassett Creek Park

The largest park in Crystal has long been appreciated for its trails, natural features and signature facilities. In 2023, the City of Crystal worked with a variety of partners to make meaningful improvements to both the natural habitat and recreational facilities. Bassett Creek Park has been home to a 15-hole disc golf course for years. Crystal worked with Great River Greening and their contractor to convert a portion of the disc golf course into prairie. They also worked with a disc golf professional to design a new course. Three holes were added, resulting in an 18-hole disc golf course with a portion that goes through a landscape rich in native prairie. A pedestrian bridge was replaced in the center of the park, which also serves as a critical link between holes 17 to 18. The new accessible bridge enhances yearround trail use by accommodating plowed snow removal in the winter, expanding winter trail access and creating paved trail opportunities year-round.

The Bassett Creek dog park also saw a complete overhaul in 2023. The original dog park was on the site of a repurposed

• Set a schedule for referendum marketing and communications.

• Understand residents’ parks and recreation wants and needs by conducting two statistically accurate community surveys.

• Create and maintain a webpage dedicated specifically to the referendum that included ongoing updates.

hockey rink and consisted of one small area for dogs. The new dog park offers more shade; and it consists of separate areas for small dogs and large dogs. The redesigned space includes a water spigot and an accessible perimeter trail with benches, ensuring comfort for both dogs and their owners. The relocation of the dog park to a new site, previously a disturbed area of the park overrun with buckthorn, was an integral part of a broader habitat restoration initiative. The new site is situated closer to Bassett Creek, so the project required collaboration with the local watershed district to ensure responsible design. Thoughtful signage in both English and Spanish was added to educate visitors on the importance of preserving the surrounding natural environment. These improvements are part of a broader vision for Bassett Creek Park and balances habitat restoration with new and improved facilities. The park continues to be a vital asset for Crystal residents and a model of community-centered park development.

• Produce visual concepts of the desired projects for use in hard copy, video, and online marketing materials.

• Mail a concise but complete referendum brochure to all Apple Valley addresses detailing proposed projects, cost estimates, and voting information.

• Produce an overview video highlighting the entire referendum package and many smaller videos highlighting specific proposed referendum projects on YouTube.

• Schedule and advertise the public informational meetings to be held virtually and in person.

• Use all mediums to encourage the public to get out and vote.

Little Canada - Pioneer Park Inclusive Park Enhancements

The Pioneer Park play node enhancement project has transformed a 1.2-acre section of the 33-acre Pioneer Park in Little Canada into a hub of community activity. With a focus on inclusivity and accessibility, the project aimed to break down barriers and welcome everyone into this shared space for recreation and relaxation.

Improvements identified to the project included the creation of a play node designed to cater to visitors of all ages and abilities. Careful selection of playground equipment ensured accessibility for everyone, complemented by the installation of pouredin-place rubber fall safety surfacing. An accessible water feature and open-air picnic shelter further enhance the space, serving as both functional amenities and focal points for community gatherings and programming. The process began in 2018, when the City of Little of Canada recognized the need for enhancements at Pioneer Park, as outlined in the Parks System Master Plan. Community engagement was a priority, leading to a partnership with the University of Minnesota Resilient Communities Project to develop a comprehensive engagement strategy. This strategy embraced youth involvement,

focus groups, individual interviews, and a city-wide survey, empowering residents to voice their desires for their park. With the City Council’s approval of project plans

Mankato - Thomas Park Renovation

Thomas Park was a five-field facility for many years and originally built as a baseball facility. For a decade, families and softball enthusiasts were vocal about their desire to see a new softball facility built to provide increased gender equity and more modern amenities. This became the guiding vision of the 2023 Thomas Park Improvements. This project was broken into two planning sections - “base”

improvements, the upgrades that were considered integral to the renovation, and the “extra” improvements, the upgrades the City of Mankato could select and determine the final project scope.

The “extra” improvements that were selected as part of this project included a new concession and restroom building. These

in early 2023, construction commenced in spring, marking a significant milestone in the park’s transformation. The park project was completed in the fall of 2023.

new buildings include multi-stall restrooms for men and women, an inclusive restroom, a concession stand with a window, two team rooms and storage space. The positive upgrades made with this in mind included increased land efficiency by laying out more fields more intentionally. New water detention ponds were added to address legacy infrastructure that did not account for modern stormwater standards. Other upgrades included LED lighting, an exterior light control panel, low-flow restroom fixtures, metal roofs and concrete siding to ensure an extended life cycle for the building materials.

The external partners included Mankato Area Public School, Mankato Community Education, Mankato Area Girls Fastpitch Association (MAGFA), Bethany Lutheran College and the neighborhoods surrounding Thomas Park. It was during conversations with these groups that the City of Mankato learned which teamfocused amenities were needed, including designated team rooms, storage options, warm-up areas, spectator viewing and more. Thomas Park became a more useful product because of this collaboration.

AWARDS OF EXCELLENCE

Maple Grove - Gleason Fields

Gleason fields underwent a redevelopment of athletic facilities to meet the community’s needs for tournament venues, revenue generation, and enhanced recreational experiences for youth. The project held significant importance for the City of Maple Grove. Before its redevelopment, the spring baseball season faced consistent delays due to late thaws, poor field conditions, and challenging soils, resulting in a shortened season for many user groups.

During the work to develop the 2018 Comprehensive Park System Plan, the Park Board identified the community’s need for tournament-level

facilities. They viewed this as an opportunity to attract visitors, generate revenue, and provide a high-quality recreational experience for youth. A feasibility study was done at this time. The planning process for the redevelopment of Gleason Fields officially began in 2020, with the City Council directing staff to continue to study Gleason Park as a potential site for a redeveloped athletic complex focused on baseball and softball. With support from both the Council and the Park Board, City staff initiated community engagement meetings with stakeholders, including community members, park neighbors, youth athletic associations, and city staff. Through this process, it was evident that there was strong community support and a willingness to collaborate on funding, confirming the project’s viability.

The City then hired a team of consultants, including Hoisington Koegler Group Inc., RJM Construction, and Stantec, to work with staff in realizing the project. Through successful grant applications and partnerships with youth athletic associations, the City secured funding to build a premier athletic facility that will cater to the community’s needs for years to come. The approved bid and construction began in early 2023 and was later completed in the same year. The fields have improved playability technology with a synthetic playing surface which enhanced the overall playing experience for athletes.

New Brighton - Sunny Square Park Renovation

Sunny Square Park’s transformation, guided by the City’s 2040 Comprehensive Park and Trail Plan, aimed to strengthen community connections, and create vibrant gathering spaces. The City of New Brighton utilized the innovative Sourcewell procurement method, which streamlined timelines, enhanced collaboration, and maximized cost-effectiveness.

Key Improvements:

• Community Hub: Replaced the outdated neighborhood center with a modern open-air shelter and restrooms.

• Unique Play Experience: Introduced distinct play and exercise equipment to foster neighborhood identity.

• Accessibility for All: Added widened trails and accessible elements.

• Improved ballfield: Worked in partnership with the local baseball association to identify improvements. The park’s transformation was a collaborative effort, with extensive community engagement shaping its features. From design to completion in five months, the project adhered to a tight schedule, demonstrating efficient planning and execution. Sunny Square Park now stands as a vibrant hub for connection, recreation, and community pride, exemplifying innovative procurement and community-driven design.

AWARDS OF EXCELLENCE

Winona - Bluffside Park Trail Construction

For years the mountain biking community has asked the City of Winona to expand the trail system and install modern, mountain bike-optimized trails. In year past, mountain bikers would have to travel far to utilize other trail systems. City staff and administrators agreed that it was time to expand and invest in outdoor recreation opportunities in the City of Winona. The Bluffs Traverse Conservation and Recreation Area master plan was created, which details a variety of expanded, improved and new features for three of the City parks. Due to the size of Bluffside Park and adding mileage to the trail system, the City hired IMBA Trail Solutions to create the Bluffside Park Trails Plan, which compliments the master plan.

In the Bluffside Park Trails Plan, there were six goals that are laid out for our trails project:

• Provide desired experiences for a diversity of users

• Develop a sustainable trail network

• Manage user-created trails

• Improve circulation and minimize user conflicts

• Introduce new mountain bike experiences

• Become a regional mountain bike destination

During the summer and fall of 2023, the City of Winona installed four new trails, totaling five miles. The goals were met and the support from the community has been overwhelming. The Winona City Council, the

key landowner - Woodlawn Cemetery, and the Trail Naming Committee composed of community members, has also been very supportive. There has definitely been an uptick in users, particularly mountain bikers, which makes this a regional mountain bike destination.

Programming and Events

Duluth - Youth on Trails

The Duluth community has spent over 25 years working to create an expansive mountain bike trail system called the Duluth Traverse, a multi-use trail system linking neighborhoods and people to green spaces and parks. As this expansive trail system was being built, the community started to recognize that not everyone had access to these trails. Coordinated conversations about the accessibility of outdoor recreation in Duluth has been happening for over a decade. In 2015, Duluth acknowledged the adventure gap amongst youth of varying socio-economic and racial demographics. To address and begin to close that gap, the Parks and Recreation Commission, followed by the Duluth City Council, formally adopted the Duluth Children’s Outdoor Charter. The Principles of the Charter are Access, Discovery, Connections, and Stewardship.

Youth serving non-profits and Duluth Public Schools discussed expanding youth mountain biking. Often missing was availability of trail-worthy bikes, safety equipment and transportation. Duluth Parks and Recreation is committed to engaging community in trail and park resources by leading free and affordable programs across the City. This program needed a lead that had community minded focus and could bring together all the partners. Creating the foundation for partnerships between numerous organizations to provide quality bike equipment, instruction, and experiences to new and diverse audiences for years to come. With progressive opportunities designed to develop a diverse group of bike leaders from the participating youth.

Youth on Trails was funded by a grant from the Greater Minnesota Regional Parks and Trails Commission, through the Clean Water, Land, & Legacy Amendment. This project would not exist if not for high levels of collaboration, coordination, and communication between many community partners. Expanding youth mountain biking opportunities has been discussed throughout our community with various stakeholders as an important next step to all youth enjoying Duluth’s impressive trail system.

St. Louis Park - National Day of Racial Healing

The goal of the National Day of Racial Healing program was to offer an inclusive and safe space for community members to engage, be educated, and reflect with one another through meaningful conversations aimed at promoting racial equity and justice. This program began in 2017 and is observed on the Tuesday following the national holiday commemorating Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. This national day was founded by the

W.K. Kellogg Foundation to inspire others to engage communities to promote healing and transformation from the effects of racism.

In 2023, the City of St. Louis Park Parks and Recreation Department in conjunction with several

community partners hosted the first annual National Day of Racial Healing program. The objective of this program was to engage community members to support one another through interpersonal connections and conversation. This was done through entertainment, education, and collaboration which ultimately made an impact on many who attended and participated. This program guided dialogue for individuals to share and

understand that racial healing is the core of racial equity.

The St. Louis Park Parks and Recreation Department used various aspects of technology for this program. The program accepted registration in advance to give staff an adequate count. In addition, staff worked closely with the in-house communications team to design social media posts for promotion on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook. The local partners and sponsors also supported the program and shared the content through their social media platforms.

Staff produced a QR code for participants to access an online survey to submit feedback anonymously immediately following the event. Twenty-five percent of the participants completed the survey and shared their overwhelming appreciation and heart felt comments. The committee met to debrief the following week to discuss the survey feedback and enhance or modify for the second annual event in 2024. Overall, the impact was positive with overwhelming support from the facilitators, committee members, and attendees.

AWARDS OF EXCELLENCE

Three Rivers Park District - Three Rivers Park District Signature Events

In 2020, the Three Rivers Park District Board of Commissioners adopted a 2040 System Plan for the Park District. The plan serves as a guide toward implementing the vision that every person can connect with nature every day. The plan describes a visitor experience model for nature-based recreation in which people’s awareness, interest and comfort level with outdoor recreation is measured on a spectrum – from those who are not aware of what activities are available, to those who are curious, those who are beginners at the activity, those who are avid participants, to those who are experts and schedule their lives around participation in a given activity.

As staff evaluated program offerings through the lens of the 2040 System Plan, they realized the competitionfocused events in the Park District attracted participants at the “advanced” and “expert” levels of the visitor experience model. Staff set a goal of offering large annual public events designed to reach the largest possible audience of potential visitors –not only those who already are avid or expert participants in an activity, but also those who may not be aware of what activities are available, or may need a lesson and rental equipment to be able to participate.

In 2023, Three Rivers implemented the first year of the new Signature Events program. The annual offerings consist of Winter Play Day, the Trail Mix trail run, the Trail Spin biking-centered event, Fall Fest

on the Farm at Gale Woods, and the Minnesota Nordic Ski Opener. The objective was to reach people from as many backgrounds and comfort levels (or lack thereof) in nature as possible, as well as to be as welcoming as possible. The events are free to attend (some optional races held as part of some of the events require a registration fee). One aspect of technology that was used are QR codes that guests scanned to access interactive maps for the event, and the maps translate into the language that individual has set as the default on their smartphone.

Washington County – Dia de los Muertos Celebracion

Washington County Parks hosted its first annual Día de los Muertos Celebración on October 29, 2023. This program celebrated a traditional holiday—el Día de Muertos (the Day of the Dead)—observed across the world, especially by people of Mexican heritage. The overarching program goal for this event strived to offer a culturally significant program that would positively impact underrepresented users. Underrepresented users in Washington County Parks include populations who have

historically been met with challenges when visiting the parks, including financial burdens, cultural adversity, access barriers, language obstacles, and more.

Program staff created art activities, signage, and a calavera (sugar skull) scavenger hunt with Spanish and English instructions for all to enjoy.

A partnership with Washington County’s Hispanic/Latinx employee resource group (ERG), was built to further mitigate language barriers for participants. Members from the ERG mingled with participants and assisted in an interactive story time around the fire.

Participants were engaged in a meaningful activity on the holiday, its significance to Hispanic cultures, and the humorous undertone the holiday brings to families who

are remembering their loved ones. For this educational component, the parks division established a partnership with Washington County Libraries to offer a bilingual story time. Multiple books on el Día de Muertos, specifically those with Spanish and English translations, and interactive bilingual songs were shared.

This program was effectively marketed for Hispanic audiences, an underrepresented population of park users. To achieve this, staff created bilingual flyers in Spanish and English. Outreach staff shared flyers and program details with community partners who had connections to Hispanic populations across the county. This effort proved successful with many families and individuals who spoke Spanish in attendance.

The final objective emphasized the need to provide this program at no cost to participants. According to the Regional Park Use Among Select Communities of Color study by the Metropolitan Council, Hispanic/ Latinx communities stated cost as one of the top barriers to park visitation (Metropolitan Council, 2014). To erase this barrier, program staff utilized Statewide Health Improvement Partnership (SHIP) funding to provide complimentary vehicle permits to participants and remove all participation costs to this event.

Sponsorships and Partnerships

Hutchinson - Community Bike Fleet

Hutchinson has an extensive bike and pedestrian network throughout the community including 35 miles of paved trails, three miles of unpaved trails, 16 miles of bike friendly streets, three miles of bike lanes and 33.5 miles of sidewalks. The project goals and objectives included providing the community with a resource that would allow for increased pedestrian and bicycle safety education.

Students and community members who don’t have access to bicycles and the equipment needed to learn how to safely ride a bike. The Community Bike Fleet allowed the City of Hutchinson to reach low-income youth. One major goal of this project was to encourage physical activity among students by providing them with the opportunity to learn and practice the skill of bicycle riding. This not only enhances their physical

coordination but also fosters a sense of independence and selfconfidence. By mastering the art of cycling, students gain a valuable skill that can serve them throughout their lives.

The project aimed to engage the local community, particularly schools in Meeker, McLeod, and Sibley counties. By providing access to a dedicated bike fleet, helmets, and necessary equipment, the initiative seeks to facilitate handson, experiential learning. This engagement was designed to create a positive impact on the community by promoting bicycle safety and education. These goals collectively contributed to the overarching mission of the project: to empower students with valuable life skills, promote a healthy and active lifestyle, and foster community well-being through education and engagement.

Inver Grove Heights - 5th Quarter Event and Partnership with SPARC

5th Quarter was an event held in collaboration with ISD 199 and their newly formed coalition - Spartan Prevention, Advocacy & Resource Coalition (SPARC), a staff, student and volunteer led coalition who aims to provide resources and education to Spartan families on how to

prevent underage drinking, smoking and vaping. Inver Grove Heights (IGH) Parks and Recreation has been a member of SPARC since its inception in 2022. IGH Parks and Recreation has held numerous open skate and basketball events for teens in the community in partnership with SPARC, but have felt they were not hitting the target audience as much as they had hoped for. The 5th Quarter became a new staple of the Inver Grove Heights community. 5th Quarter was a lock-in style event held after hours at the IGH Community Center immediately following the end of one of the football home games. This event served grades sixth, seventh and eighth grades since these grades are a missed age demographic in programming. The goal was to provide healthy recreational alternatives to underage drinking, smoking and vaping. After a lengthy brainstorming session, it was settled to provide a teen lock-in style event.

Planning meetings began in June of 2023 to discuss the logistics of the event. Including determining the four activity stations that would be available that evening. The stations included: open skating with free rental skates, open gym and pickleball, open turf where they could engage in active games or interactive inflatables (axe throwing and a competitive bungee run), and a social hang area where students could “chill” with their friends, play jack box games and enjoy pizza and beverages. The event was held on Friday, September 22, 2023 from 9:30-11:30 p.m. and served 186 students.

YOUR LOCAL SOURCE FOR TURF

As a family owned and operated business, we take pride in our service and customer satisfaction. Independently run, unlike many of our single-source competitors, Synthetic Turf Solutions Minnesota partners with numerous industry-leading manufacturers across the country to offer the widest range of products, services and solutions – allowing us the freedom to find the proper products that align with our clients individual needs at a price to fit all budgets. With a locally stocked warehouse in the southwest metro, we are truly your ‘one-stop shop’ for all things synthetic turf and game court related.

New Brighton - Community Lunches

Created in partnership with Mounds View Community Education, Community Lunches are a heartwarming monthly event that brings together over a hundred of our cherished seniors for delicious meals and delightful entertainment. The mission? To combat senior isolation, enhance quality of life, and build strong community partnerships.

Since March 2023, attendance has soared to an impressive 130+ participants per lunch. Imagine a room filled with laughter, joy, and the mouth-watering aroma of catered meals from local favorites. It’s not just about food; it’s about connection, companionship, and a sprinkle of magic that makes every lunch unforgettable.

Lunches feature everything from singer-songwriters to historical speakers. Seniors also connect with resources that enhance their lives, from fitness classes to advice on navigating Medicare. These lunches have become a beloved staple in New Brighton. Together, NBPR is not just serving meals—they’re serving smiles, friendships, and a sense of belonging.

St. Louis Park - Trail of Small Wonders Grand Opening Festival

The goal of the Trail of Small Wonders was to bring community, nature and the arts together to create a festival celebrating the grand opening of the event. This was accomplished through a collaborative partnership between St. Louis Park Friends of the Arts (FOTA), City of St. Louis Park and Westwood Hills Nature Center.

The Trail of Small Wonders was designed to give the community an opportunity to create miniature homes for imaginative beings to be displayed along the paths at Westwood Hills Nature Center. Nearly 50 of these architectural wonders were placed along the nature center’s ADA accessible trails for all who walked the trails to discover. These extraordinary and enchanting community-created art pieces remained in place for three weeks following the free Grand Opening Festival.

It took nearly seven months to design, plan and implement this program. The Small Wonders workshops, in which the public could sign up and create their own miniature home, was offered on two

separate weekend dates in June prior to the event. During this time, we also prepared the trail for the placement of the 47 structures that were designed and created. By the end of June of 2023, we organized a drop-off event where the creators were able to set up and place their houses along their designated sites on the trail.

The Grand Opening Festival was held on the evening of July 10, 2023 with over 400 people in attendance. After the festival, there was a meeting and debrief in August as well as a presentation of the event to the St. Louis Park Parks and Recreation Advisory Commission. Overall, the objective of the grand opening festival was to bring greater recognition to the popular Trail of Small Wonders and celebrate the public art that was creatively made by a wide variety of community members. These members included youth, adults, families and local artists. This free and accessible opening day festival and grand unveiling offered inspiration to find magic in nature and to experience art in unique spaces.

Congratulations to all 16 award-winning MRPA agencies who submitted for this year’s Excellence Awards! Visit www.mnrpa.org/Award-Opportunities for details on this and other upcoming award opportunities.

Volunteer Initiatives

Three Rivers Park District - Remote Wildlife Camera Survey - Volunteer Citizen Science Project

In an effort to better understand the presence and relative abundance of mammals in the parks over time, wildlife managers designed a volunteer-driven citizen science monitoring program that utilizes remote cameras placed in offtrail locations throughout the parks. Monitoring of furbearers in the field is challenging, and conventional methods such as predator scent post surveys are labor-intensive and can be impacted by weather and seasonal conditions. The remote camera survey offers an alternative method that is relatively easy to operationalize while providing solid data from a scale and geographic coverage that meets the monitoring needs of the Park District.

The goal of the project was simple but powerful: engaging volunteers to place remote wildlife “camera traps” in the parks to document animal species occupying the restored and managed habitats. Following established protocols for camera placement and settings, volunteers headed afield and captured thousands of images that are tagged and georeferenced, and later compiled into annual records that can be analyzed and assessed over time by wildlife managers. Findings from the study will be a component of long-term ecological assessment of park habitats and also generate research questions that can be addressed in future wildlife management work, including wildlife movement and habitat utilization studies.

In 2023, 12 resolute volunteers captured over 40,000 images of wildlife across 25 different species in the parks. This documentation included rare and elusive species in our region such as black bear, fisher, red and gray fox, river otter and mink. The project offers a window into wildlife and their activity and reinforces the importance of the habitats that park reserves and regional parks provide.

A red fox caught on camera at Elm Creek Park Reserve.

Corporate MRPA Members - Alphabetical

Anderson Race Management

Mary Anderson

4047 Camberwell Drive North Eagan, MN 55123 (651) 688-9143  mary@andersonraces.com andersonraces.com

ATE Recreation

Grant Kangas 11500 Wayzata Blvd #1039 Minnetonka, MN 55305 (763) 447-7349  grant@aterecreation.com aterecreation.com

B32 Engineering Group

Scott Ward 2211 Oneil Road Hudson, WI 54016 (651) 256-3090   scott.ward@b32eng.com b32eng.com

Bituminous Roadways Inc.

Logan Blodgett 1520 Commerce Drive Mendota Heights, MN 55120 (651) 686-7001  logan.blodgett@bitroads.com bitroads.com

Bolton & Menk, Inc.

Anne Gode 1960 Premier Drive Mankato, MN 56001 (952) 890-0509  anne.gode@bolton-menk.com bolton-menk.com

Burbach Aquatics, Inc.

Julie Westemeier 5974 Hwy 80 South Platteville, WI 53818 (608) 348-3262  juliew@burbachinc.com burbachinc.com

Commercial Recreation Specialists, Inc.

Terese Welch 807 Liberty Drive, Suite 101 Verona, WI 53593 (608) 848-8781  crsmarketing@crs4rec.com crs4rec.com

Confluence

Terry Minarik

530 N. Third Street Suite 120 Minneapolis, MN 55401 (952) 451-0144  tminarik@thinkconfluence.com thinkconfluence.com

Creative Resources Agency

Bridget Resig 1208 5th Street South Hopkins, MN 55343 (612) 558-3268  bridget@acreativeresource.com acreativeresource.com

Custom Bridges and Boardwalks

Joe Krebs

606 Delco Dr Clinton, WI 53525 (608) 676-2282  custom@inwave.com inwave.com

Custom Builders Inc.

Jeffrey Reiter 12383 - 234th St. Cold Spring, MN 56320 (320) 443-0107  jeffrey.reiter@custombuildersmn.com custombuildersmn.com

Damon Farber Landscape

Architects

Tom Whitlock 310 4th Ave South, Suite 7050 Minneapolis, MN 55415 (612) 332-7522  twhitlock@damonfarber.com damonfarber.com

Daylight Specialists

Jeff May

5001 Drew Ave North Suite 1 Minneapolis, MN 55429 (952) 818-4854  jeff@daylightspecialists.com daylightspecialists.com

FinnlySport

Jesse Parker 14990 53rd Ave N Plymouth, MN 55446 (800) 851-0342  jesse.parker@finnlysport.com finnlysport.com

Fireflies Play Environment Inc.

Camille Calderaro 275 E. 4th St. #620 St. Paul, MN 55101 (612) 990-2969  camille@lunningwende.com lunningwende.com

Flagship Recreation LLC

Kelly Simich 11123 Upper 33rd Street North Lake Elmo, MN 55042 (763) 550-7860  kelly@flagshipplay.com flagshipplay.com

H+U Construction

Nikki Rugh 5555 West 78th St., Suite A Minneapolis, MN 55439 (612) 438-0258  nrugh@hu-construction.com hu-construction.com

HGA Architects and Engineers

Nancy Blankfard, AIA 420 North 5th Street, Suite 100 Minneapolis, MN 55401 (612) 758-4000  nblankfard@hga.com hga.com

HKGi

Eric Blodgett

800 Washington Ave N Suite 103 Minneapolis, MN 55401 (612) 338-0800  eric@hkgi.com hkgi.com

Horizon Commercial Pool Supply

Jason Gillet

4444 Round Lake Road West Arden Hills, MN 55112 (651) 917-3075  jason.gillet@horizonpoolsupply.com horizonpoolsupply.com

HydroApps LLC

Courtney Klein

PO Box 31894

St. Louis, MO 63131 (314) 377-5769  courtneyklein@hydroapps.com hydroapps.com

ISG

Amanda Prosser 6465 Wayazata Blvd. Suite 970

St. Louis Park, MN 55426 (952) 426-0699  amanda.prosser@isginc.com isginc.com

JLG Architects

Tom Betti

710 S. 2nd St., 8th Floor Minneapolis, MN 55401 (612) 746-4260 TBetti@jlgarchitects.com jlgarchitects.com

Johnson Fitness

Drew Wurst

7585 Equitable Drive Eden Prairie, MN 55344 (952) 500-0508  drew.wurst@johnsonfit.com johnsonfit.com

Kompan

John Engfer 605 West Howard Lane, Suite 101 Austin, TX 78753 (612) 940-1138  joheng@kompan.com kompan.com

Kraus-Anderson

Eric Quam 501 South 8th Street Minneapolis, MN 55404 (612) 332-7281  eric.quam@krausanderson.com krausanderson.com

Landscape Structures

Megan Andrada 601 7th Street South Delano, MN 55328 (888) 438-6574 meganandrada@playlsi.com playlsi.com

Corporate MRPA Members - Alphabetical

LHB, Inc.

Lydia Major

701 Washington Ave. North, Ste. 200 Minneapolis, MN 55401 (612) 338-2029  lydia.major@lhbcorp.com lhbcorp.com

Life Floor

Briana Valente 2010 East Hennepin, Suite 208 Minneapolis, MN 55413 (612) 986-7560  lindsay.valente@lifefloor.com lifefloor.com

Midwest Playscapes, Inc.

Andrew Pudwill 8632 Eagle Creek Circle Savage, MN 55378 (800) 747-1452  andrew@midwestplayscapes.com midwestplayscapes.com

MINNCOR Industries

Jessica Berg 2420 Long Lake Rd Roseville, MN 55113 (651) 361-7500  jessica.berg@minncor.com minncor.com

MWP Recreation

Harlan Lehman PO Box 27328 Golden Valley, MN 55427 (800) 622-5425  harlan@mnwiplay.com mnwiplay.com

Musco Sports - Lighting

Scott Peitz 100 1st Ave West Oskaloosa, IA 52577 (763) 533-2030  scott.pietz@musco.com musco.com

MyRec.com

Colleen Kinkade PO Box 16997 Salt Lake City, UT 84116 (802) 465-9732  info@myrec.com myrec.com

National Fitness Campaign

Lindsay Valenti 1740 Kearny Street San Francisco, CA 94133 (518) 596-3944  lindsay@nfchq.com nfchq.com

Northland Recreation

Bill Johnson 10085 Bridgewater Bay Woodbury, MN 55129 (651) 815-4097  info@northlandrec.com northlandrec.com

Nystrom Publishing Company

Gerry Nystrom 9100 Cottonwood Lane Maple Grove, MN 55369 (763) 425-7900  gerry@nystrompublishing.com nystrompublishing.com

Oertel Architects, LTD.

Andrew Cooper 1795 St. Clair Ave Saint Paul, MN 55105 (651) 696-5186 bdever@oertelarchitects.com  oertelarchitects.com

Plaisted Companies

Brian Thunberg 11555 205th Ave NW Elk River, MN 55330 (763) 450-9145  bthunberg@plaistedcompanies.com plaistedcompanies.com

Pleva Mechancal Inc

Taylor Stone 13420 Bittersweet Rd Woodward, IA 50276 (515) 438-2279  taylor.stone@pleva.org pleva.org

Premier Polysteel

Tim Solum 305 Enterprize Dr. Northwood, IA 50459 (507) 301-1655  tim@premierpolysteel.com premierpolysteel.com

Corporate MRPA Members - Alphabetical

Rec Technologies

Hannah Sibley-Liddle 1624 California Street San Francisco, CA 94109 (978) 407-4918 hannah@rec.us partner.rec.us

RJ Thomas Manufacturing / Pilot Rock

Justin Jorgensen PO Box 946 Cherokee, IA 51012-0946 (800) 762-5002  jjorgensen@rjthomas.com rjthomas.com

Rock Hard Landscape Supply

Kim Gaida-Wagner 3600 Hwy 13 West  Burnsville, MN 55337 (952) 895-7408  kgaida@rockhardmn.com rockhardmn.com

RJM Construction

Brad Barickman 830 Boone Avenue North Golden Valley, MN 55427 (952) 837-8600  brad.barickman@rjmconstruction.com rjmconstruction.com

Romtec, Inc.

Hannah Duncan 18240 N Bank Road Roseburg, OR 97470 (541) 496-3541 hduncan@romtec.com romtec.com

RSCS LLC

Dave Black 950 Breckenridge Ln Louisville, KY 40207 (612) 247-4901  daveblack99@comcast.net rscs.com

SafetyFirst Specialty

Contracting, Inc.

Marissa Bauer 31095 Baugh Street NW Princeton , MN 55371 (651) 210-7038  marissa.bauer@ safetyfirstplayground.com safetyfirstplayground.com

Southern Minnesota Inspection

Chris Plonske 211 Johnson Street Eagle Lake, MN 56024 (507) 257-3742 Ext. 229  cplonske@ southernminnesotainspection.com southernminnesotainspection.com

Sports Lighting Authority

Harlan Gallop

11900 Wayzata Blvd Suite 216G Minnetonka, MN 55305 (763) 525-0070  hgallop@sportslightingauthority.com sportslightingauthority.com

SRF Consulting Group Inc

Ken Grieshaber

3701 Wayzata Boulevard, Suite 100 Minneapolis, MN 55416-3791 (763) 475-0010  kgrieshaber@srfconsulting.com srfconsulting.com

Stantec

Todd Wichman 2335 West Hwy 36 St. Paul, MN 55113 (612) 712-2145  todd.wichman@stantec.com stantec.com

St. Croix Recreation

Chris Johnsen 1826 Tower Drive West Stillwater, MN 55082 (651) 430-1247  cj@stcroixrec.com stcroixrec.com

Synthetic Turf Solutions of MN

Mark Prince 7546 Kimberly Lane Eden Prairie, MN 55346 (952) 913-7012 mark@synthetic-turf-mn.com syntheic-turf-mn.com

TKDA

William Armstrong 1500 Piper Jaffray Plaza-444 Cedar St Saint Paul, MN 55101 (651) 292-4400  william.armstrong@tkda.com tkda.com

USTA Northern

Pat Colbert 2685 Vikings Circle Suite #100 Eagan, MN 55121 (952) 358-3283  pat.colbert@usta.northern.com usta.northern.com

Webber Recreational Design

Jay Webber 1442 Brooke Ct Hastings, MN 55033 (800) 677-5153  customerservice@webberrec.com webberrec.com

Windseth

Jillian Reiner 610 Fillmore Street Alexandria, MN 56308 (218) 829-5117 320-335-5011  windseth.com

WSB

Candace Amberg 701 Xenia Ave South Suite 300 Minneapolis, MN 55416 (763) 231-4848  candace@wsbeng.com wsbeng.com

Errors and Omissions:

Listings provided as of October 1, 2024. This Buyer’s Guide is for reference only. While we aim for accuracy, Minnesota Recreation & Park Association (MRPA) and Pernsteiner Creative Group (PCG) do not guarantee the completeness or accuracy of the information. Company details, including contacts and services, may change without notice. MRPA and PCG are not responsible for errors or omissions. Please verify all information directly with listed companies. Corporate MRPA members: please report listing edits to todd@pernsteiner.com for correction in the online version.

Corporate MRPA Members - Categories

AQUATICS

Burbach Aquatics, Inc.

Julie Westemeier

5974 Hwy 80 South Platteville, WI 53818 (608) 348-3262  juliew@burbachinc.com burbachinc.com

Horizon Commercial Pool Supply

Jason Gillet 4444 Round Lake Road West Arden Hills, MN 55112 (651) 917-3075  jason.gillet@horizonpoolsupply.com horizonpoolsupply.com

ARCHITECTURE / ENGINEERING

B32 Engineering Group

Scott Ward

2211 Oneil Road Hudson, WI 54016 (651) 256-3090   scott.ward@b32eng.com b32eng.com

Bolton & Menk, Inc.

Anne Gode 1960 Premier Drive Mankato, MN 56001 (952) 890-0509

anne.gode@bolton-menk.com bolton-menk.com

Confluence

Terry Minarik

530 N. Third Street Suite 120 Minneapolis, MN 55401 (952) 451-0144  tminarik@thinkconfluence.com thinkconfluence.com

Damon Farber Landscape Architects

Tom Whitlock

310 4th Ave South, Suite 7050 Minneapolis, MN 55415 (612) 332-7522  twhitlock@damonfarber.com damonfarber.com

HGA Architects and Engineers

Nancy Blankfard, AIA 420 North 5th Street, Suite 100 Minneapolis, MN 55401 (612) 758-4000  nblankfard@hga.com hga.com

HKGi

Eric Blodgett 800 Washington Ave N Suite 103 Minneapolis, MN 55401 (612) 338-0800  eric@hkgi.com hkgi.com

ISG

Amanda Prosser 6465 Wayazata Blvd. Suite 970 St. Louis Park, MN 55426 (952) 426-0699  amanda.prosser@isginc.com isginc.com

JLG Architects

Tom Betti 710 S. 2nd St., 8th Floor Minneapolis, MN 55401 (612) 746-4260

TBetti@jlgarchitects.com jlgarchitects.com

LHB, Inc.

Lydia Major 701 Washington Ave. North, Ste. 200 Minneapolis, MN 55401 (612) 338-2029  lydia.major@lhbcorp.com lhbcorp.com

Oertel Architects, Ltd.

Andrew Cooper 1795 St. Clair Ave Saint Paul, MN 55105 (651) 696-5186

bdever@oertelarchitects.com

SRF Consulting Group, Inc.

Ken Grieshaber

3701 Wayzata Boulevard, Suite 100 Minneapolis, MN 55416-3791 (763) 475-0010  kgrieshaber@srfconsulting.com srfconsulting.com

Corporate MRPA Members - Categories

Stantec

Todd Wichman

2335 West Hwy 36 St. Paul, MN 55113 (612) 712-2145  todd.wichman@stantec.com stantec.com

TKDA

William Armstrong

1500 Piper Jaffray Plaza-444 Cedar St Saint Paul, MN 55101 (651) 292-4400  william.armstrong@tkda.com tkda.com

Windseth

Jillian Reiner 610 Fillmore Street Alexandria, MN 56308 (218) 829-5117 320-335-5011  windseth.com

WSB

Candace Amberg

701 Xenia Ave South Suite 300 Minneapolis, MN 55416 (763) 231-4848  candace@wsbeng.com wsbeng.com

Asphalt Paving

Bituminous Roadways Inc.

Logan Blodgett 1520 Commerce Drive Mendota Heights, MN 55120 (651) 686-7001  logan.blodgett@bitroads.com bitroads.com

Branded Merchandise

Creative Resources Agency

Bridget Resig 1208 5th Street South Hopkins, MN 55343 (612) 558-3268  bridget@acreativeresource.com acreativeresource.com

Bridges / Boardwalks

Custom Bridges and Boardwalks

Joe Krebs 606 Delco Dr Clinton, WI 53525 (608) 676-2282  custom@inwave.com inwave.com

Construction Management

Custom Builders Inc.

Jeffrey Reiter 12383 - 234th St. Cold Spring, MN 56320 3(320) 443-0107  jeffrey.reiter@custombuildersmn.com custombuildersmn.com

H+U Construction

Nikki Rugh 5555 West 78th St., Suite A Minneapolis, MN 55439 (612) 438-0258  nrugh@hu-construction.com hu-construction.com

Kraus-Anderson

Eric Quam 501 South 8th Street Minneapolis, MN 55404 (612) 332-7281  eric.quam@krausanderson.com krausanderson.com

RJM Construction

Brad Barickman 830 Boone Avenue North Golden Valley, MN 55427 (952) 837-8600  brad.barickman@rjmconstruction.com rjmconstruction.com

Facility Inspections

Southern Minnesota Inspection

Chris Plonske 211 Johnson Street Eagle Lake, MN 56024 (507) 257-3742 Ext. 229  cplonske@ southernminnesotainspection.com southernminnesotainspection.com

Fitness Products

Johnson Fitness

Drew Wurst 7585 Equitable Drive Eden Prairie, MN 55344 (952) 500-0508  drew.wurst@johnsonfit.com johnsonfit.com

National Fitness Campaign

Lindsay Valenti 1740 Kearny Street San Francisco, CA 94133 (518) 596-3944  lindsay@nfchq.com nfchq.com

Flooring

Life Floor

Briana Valente 2010 East Hennepin, Suite 208 Minneapolis, MN 55413 (612) 986-7560  lindsay.valente@lifefloor.com lifefloor.com

Graphic Design & Publications

Pernsteiner Creative Group, Inc.

Todd Pernsteiner 5115 Excelsior Blvd #433 St. Louis Park, MN 55416 (952) 841-1111 todd@pernsteiner.com pernsteiner.com

Landscape Supplies

Rock Hard Landscape Supply

Kim Gaida-Wagner 3600 Hwy 13 West  Burnsville, MN 55337 (952) 895-7408  kgaida@rockhardmn.com rockhardmn.com

Corporate MRPA Members - Categories

Lighting

Daylight Specialists

Jeff May

5001 Drew Ave North Suite 1 Minneapolis, MN 55429 (952) 818-4854  jeff@daylightspecialists.com daylightspecialists.com

Musco Sports - Lighting

Scott Peitz 100 1st Ave West Oskaloosa, IA 52577 (763) 533-2030  scott.pietz@musco.com musco.com

Sports Lighting Authority

Harlan Gallop 11900 Wayzata Blvd Suite 216G Minnetonka, MN 55305 (763) 525-0070  hgallop@sportslightingauthority.com sportslightingauthority.com

Manufactured Goods

MINNCOR Industries

Jessica Berg 2420 Long Lake Rd Roseville, MN 55113 (651) 361-7500  jessica.berg@minncor.com minncor.com

Playground & Park Furnishings

ATE Recreation

Grant Kangas 11500 Wayzata Blvd #1039 Minnetonka, MN 55305 (763) 447-7349  grant@aterecreation.com aterecreation.com

Commercial Recreation Specialists, Inc.

Terese Welch 807 Liberty Drive, Suite 101 Verona, WI 53593 (608) 848-8781  crsmarketing@crs4rec.com crs4rec.com

Fireflies Play Environment Inc.

Camille Calderaro

275 E. 4th St. #620 St. Paul, MN 55101 (612) 990-2969  camille@lunningwende.com lunningwende.com

Flagship Recreation LLC

Kelly Simich 11123 Upper 33rd Street North Lake Elmo, MN 55042 (763) 550-7860  kelly@flagshipplay.com flagshipplay.com

Kompan

John Engfer 605 West Howard Lane, Suite 101 Austin, TX 78753 (612) 940-1138  joheng@kompan.com kompan.com

Landscape Structures

Megan Andrada 601 7th Street South Delano, MN 55328 (888) 438-6574 meganandrada@playlsi.com playlsi.com

Midwest Playscapes, Inc.

Andrew Pudwill 8632 Eagle Creek Circle Savage, MN 55378 (800) 747-1452  andrew@midwestplayscapes.com midwestplayscapes.com

MWP Recreation

Harlan Lehman PO Box 27328 Golden Valley, MN 55427 (800) 622-5425  harlan@mnwiplay.com mnwiplay.com

Northland Recreation

Bill Johnson 10085 Bridgewater Bay Woodbury, MN 55129 (651) 815-4097  info@northlandrec.com northlandrec.com

St. Croix Recreation

Chris Johnsen 1826 Tower Drive West Stillwater, MN 55082 (651) 430-1247  cj@stcroixrec.com stcroixrec.com

Webber Recreational Design

Jay Webber 1442 Brooke Ct Hastings, MN 55033 (800) 677-5153  customerservice@webberrec.com webberrec.com

Playground Inspection & Maintenance

SafetyFirst Specialty Contracting, Inc.

Marissa Bauer 31095 Baugh Street NW Princeton , MN 55371 (651) 210-7038  marissa.bauer@ safetyfirstplayground.com safetyfirstplayground.com

Printing

Nystrom Publishing Company

Gerry Nystrom 9100 Cottonwood Lane Maple Grove, MN 55369 (763) 425-7900  gerry@nystrompublishing.com nystrompublishing.com

Race Management

Anderson Race Management

Mary Anderson 4047 Camberwell Drive North Eagan, MN 55123 (651) 688-9143  mary@andersonraces.com andersonraces.com

Corporate MRPA Members - Categories

Restaurant Supply

RSCS LLC

Dave Black 950 Breckenridge Ln Louisville, KY 40207 (612) 247-4901  daveblack99@comcast.net rscs.com

Restrooms / Shelters

Romtec, Inc.

Hannah Duncan 18240 N Bank Road Roseburg, OR 97470 (541) 496-3541 hduncan@romtec.com romtec.com

Sensors & Controls

Pleva Mechancal Inc

Taylor Stone 13420 Bittersweet Rd Woodward, IA 50276 (515) 438-2279  taylor.stone@pleva.org pleva.org

Site Furnishings

Premier Polysteel

Tim Solum 305 Enterprize Dr. Northwood, IA 50459 (507) 301-1655  tim@premierpolysteel.com premierpolysteel.com

RJ Thomas Manufacturing / Pilot Rock

Justin Jorgensen PO Box 946 Cherokee, IA 51012-0946 (800) 762-5002  jjorgensen@rjthomas.com rjthomas.com

Software / Technology

FinnlySport

Jesse Parker 14990 53rd Ave N Plymouth, MN 55446 (800) 851-0342  jesse.parker@finnlysport.com finnlysport.com

HydroApps LLC

Courtney Klein PO Box 31894

St. Louis, MO 63131 (314) 377-5769  courtneyklein@hydroapps.com hydroapps.com

MyRec.com

Colleen Kinkade PO Box 16997 Salt Lake City, UT 84116 (802) 465-9732  info@myrec.com myrec.com

Rec Technologies

Hannah Sibley-Liddle 1624 California Street San Francisco, CA 94109 (978) 407-4918 hannah@rec.us partner.rec.us

Looking to become a Corporate MRPA Member?

Corporate Members receive:

• Two mailing lists (sets of labels) or two e-mail blasts sent from the MRPA office.

• Member discounts for additional services.

• Special exhibitor rates ($300 discount for MRPA Annual Conference Exhibit Hall booth compared to non-member rate).

• Listings in the quarterly Minnesota Recreation & Parks magazine mailed to more than 900 members and allies and available online.

Soil & Sand

Plaisted Companies

Brian Thunberg 11555 205th Ave NW Elk River, MN 55330 (763) 450-9145  bthunberg@plaistedcompanies.com plaistedcompanies.com bthunberg@plaistedcompanies.com plaistedcompanies.com

Synthetic

Turf

Synthetic Turf Solutions of MN

Mark Prince 7546 Kimberly Lane Eden Prairie, MN 55346 (952) 913-7012 mark@synthetic-turf-mn.com syntheic-turf-mn.com

Tennis

USTA Northern

Pat Colbert

2685 Vikings Circle Suite #100 Eagan, MN 55121 (952) 358-3283  pat.colbert@usta.northern.com usta.northern.com

• Listings in MRPA Buyer’s Guide mailed to more than 900 members and allies; it’s also available online.

• The quarterly magazine via mail and online.

• Member rates for advertising opportunities.

• Logo, listing and link on MRPA’s online Corporate Membership Directory.

The annual Corporate Membership rate is: $625. Become a member online at mnrpa.org/Join-MRPA!

If your small team is stretched thin, you need a reliable partner who can jump in and lighten the load. Pernsteiner Creative Group specializes in park and recreation marketing, delivering the results you need with minimal ramp-up time. Our affordable, effective design and marketing solutions are tailored to help you maximize every dollar and minute. Let us be the creative extension of your team—ready to tackle projects and keep things moving smoothly. When you’re ready to get things done, we’re here for you!

Solutions for All Your Marketing Needs

• Graphic design • Brochures & catalogs

• Flyers & posters

• Direct mail

• Presentations

• Signage & displays

• Strategic plans

• Social media

• Marketing management

• Printing & mailing

• Advertising & sponsorships

NRPA Playground Maintenance Courses

Wednesday, November 13, 2024

8 a.m. to 4 p.m. | Roseville Skating Center, Roseville

Thursday, November 21, 2024

8 a.m. to 4 p.m. | Council Chambers, Owatonna

National Recreation and Park Association has developed an educational training focused on playground maintenance. The new Playground Maintenance Course is a one-day educational class that includes the following topics: an overview of playground safety standards and guidelines, playground owner responsibilities and maintenance discussions on playground equipment surfacing and site items. Participants will receive a manual during the class, and a certificate upon completion of the course.

This class is different than the Certified Playground Safety Inspector (CPSI) course offered annually. This course may be viewed as a stand-alone playground safety opportunity with no certification, or as an introductory class to the CPSI course. Individuals completing the CPSI course and successfully passing the exam earn a national certification.

Eligibility

Course participants must be 18 years of age or older

Class Size

Class attendance is limited to 40 individuals.

Course Outline

• Section 1: Introduction

• Section 2: Playground Equipment

• Section 3: Site Considerations

• Section 4: Surfacing

• Section 5: Owner Responsibility

Learning Objectives for Attendees

• Demonstrate an increased awareness of the playground safety standards and guidelines

• Identify the need for maintenance of playgrounds, surfacing, and site items in play areas

• Implement playground maintenance practices

ADVERTISER INDEX

8

Registration Check-In 8:30 a.m. – 12 noon

Classroom Instruction 12 – 12:45 p.m.

Lunch Provided 12:45 – 4 p.m.

Classroom Instruction

Registration Fee: (Price includes course materials and lunch)

$195 per person (MRPA/NRPA member)

$250 per person (Non-member)

Registration Deadline: October 31, 2024

Register at mnrpa.org.

Bringing Your Disability Inclusion Competency to the Next Level Workshop

Tuesday, December 3, 2024 | Brookview, Golden Valley

Brookview 316 Brookview Parkway Golden Valley, MN 55426

Presenter:

Lisa Drennan

MERGE Diverse Abilities Inclusion Consulting, mergeconsulting.org

Registration Check-In:

9 a.m.

Sessions & Lunch

9:30 a.m. - 3 p.m.

(.5 CEUs)

$179

Registration fee includes workshop content, lunch, and .5 CEUs

Registration limited to 60 participants

Registation deadline: November 26, 2024 (or until full)

Send form and payment to:

Minnesota Recreation & Park Association 200 Charles Street NE Fridley, MN 55432 OR

Email: gerhard@mnrpa.org

Registration Information

This intensive, interactive workshop is for recreational professionals involved or interested in disability inclusion in recreation settings. Join us to gain the tools to welcome, engage, and support persons with disabilities. The curriculum for the day will include:

• Inclusion – What It Is & Isn’t

• Eight MERGE Inclusion Strategies –Learn about hidden disabilities / neurodiversity, and the traits, behaviors, and responses. Explore the preventative inclusion strategies with four philosophical approaches and four concrete strategies. Gain the leadership implementation plan by discussing the evaluative hurdles and questions around implementing these strategies.

• Solving Inclusion Scenarios

About MERGE

• Words Matter: Navigating Disability Language & Models – Delve into disability inclusion, examining person-first language, etiquette, and interactions with participants with disabilities. Explore program modelsSpecialized, Adaptive, Integrated, Authentic Inclusion - uncovering their elements, benefits, and challenges. Reflect on the term “special” and its impact on supporting disabled individuals. Join for insights on reframing inclusion in programs.

• Dealing with Challenging Behaviors Through A New Lens – Inclusive recreation programs aim for success for all, but some children pose unique challenges. Explore fostering success, offering insights on family engagement, intake optimization, and staff empowerment to minimize suspensions. Gain tools to navigate behaviors, distinguish meltdowns from tantrums, and implement tailored approaches for positive outcomes.

MERGE champions disability inclusion by providing expert guidance to recreation, sport, camp, and community organizations. Their tailored training programs empower these entities to welcome, engage, and support individuals with diverse abilities. MERGE’s founder, Lisa Drennan, has 40 years of experience in supporting people with disabilities. Visit www.mergeconsulting.org to learn more.

Or register online at mnrpa.org Questions? Contact MRPA at (763) 571-1305 (x109) or gerhard@mnrpa.org

Agency:

Main Contact:

Address:

City: State: Zip:

Phone: Email:

n Number of registrants x $179 = $

Total due: $

n Check enclosed n Will mail check n Bill me

Attendee #1 Name: n CEUs requested

Attendee #2 Name: n CEUs requested

Attendee #3 Name: n CEUs requested

Attendee #4 Name: n CEUs requested

Attendee #5 Name: n CEUs requested

Attendee #6 Name: n CEUs requested

RECREATION AND PARK ASSOCIATION

200 CHARLES ST NE FRIDLEY MN 55432-5368

Smart Play® ™

Elevating Play with Imagination and Adventure

Soar into the fun of Volo™, a compact playstructure that ignites imagination and adventure for all! The inner ring is fully connected by the innovative LSI Flexx™, our own game-changing steel-reinforced cable netting that o ers a plethora of play sensations from bouncing and climbing to relaxing. Designed for seamless fun, this new Smart Play® playground design allows kids of all abilities to craft their own play journey in a perpetual loop of excitement. Whether seeking high-energy thrills or calm exploration, Volo is a multi-layered playground that invites every child to express and enjoy their unique play style. To learn more, visit playlsi.com/volo