Recreation Facilities Update

We are planning our future fun, connections, and spaces, so we all can thrive.

The City of Eagan initiated a comprehensive Recreation Facilities Study in 2019 that focused on a potential indoor athletic space, as well as our current four City-owned recreation facilities; Cascade Bay, Eagan Art House, Eagan Civic Arena (ECA), and Eagan Community Center (ECC). Following that study, and after the COVID-19 pandemic settled down, staff communicated with City Council on the next steps for executing items identified in the plan. The City will begin a phased plan to update phase I sites (ECC, Art House, and Goat Hill Park) beginning in 2023. The City welcomes public input and will host a series of public engagement events to gain further insight into all three of these big projects. To receive information on these events, please subscribe to the Park Projects email list.

Planning to Improve Recreation Facilities

We know how much our community values our 60 parks, our community facilities, and our green spaces. In fact, nearly all residents rate our parks and recreation opportunities positively and as a top City priority. We work to reflect those values.

Each year we look at our Eagan park system plan to ensure that our parks serve everyone. Here are a few projects we're investing in this year to keep our parks, buildings, and community vibrant in 2023 and beyond.

  • Eagan Art House logo

    Eagan Art
    House

    Your place to create and connect

  • Goat Hill icon

    Goat Hill Park and Skating Rink

    Winter play destination

  • Eagan Community Center logo

    Eagan Community Center

    A hub for community

What's next for these facilities?

  • Eagan Art
    House

    Planning how to create space for our thousands of users

  • Goat Hill Park and Skating Rink

    Design and planning of shelter/pavilion project

  • Eagan Community Center

    Planning and adjusting programs and amenities to serve everyone

Phase 1 Timeline (2023-2025)

Parks Projects Timline
Parks Projects Timline

Concept Plans

Eagan Art House

  • Project goals
    • Create multi-functional art and gathering spaces
    • Increase participation capacity for activities
    • Create long-term sustainability and efficiencies for activities and gatherings
    • Pictured Below: 2019 concept based on stakeholder feedback

Image of 2019 Art House concept floor plan based on stakeholder feedback

Goat Hill rink covering

  • Project goals
    • Extend skating season
    • Create multi-use year-round usability
    • Increase maintenance efficiency

Goat Hill Ice Rick concept rendering

Eagan Community Center

  • Project goals
    • Create multi-functional activity and gathering spaces
    • Increase participation capacity for activities
    • Refresh existing spaces to increase efficiencies and create new spaces to enhance activity offerings

Image of 2019 Eagan Community Center concept floor plan based on stakeholder feedback

2023 Park Projects

Goat Hill Pavilion (rink roof) project is scheduled to begin fall of 2023, with a goal of being complete prior to the winter skating season. Site work may begin sooner, but is dependent upon contractor’s schedules. Equipment and material staging will likely take place on the east rink, to avoid interference with parking and user groups. The refrigerated rink was completed prior to the 2022–23 skating season. Project goals and planning will continue on a new park building, supportive parking enhancements for year-round activities, along with site improvements such as tree plantings and storm water management.

Contractors/Consultants: JLG / Norson

Staff Lead: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Comp Plan/Master Plan: Supported by both plans

Project Cost Estimate: $2,500,000

Funding Source: Park Development Fund

Location: 4391 Lexington Ave. S.

Event Est. Start Est. Completion
Advertisement for Bid June 1, 2023 June 12, 2023
Public Comment Aug. 21, 2023 Aug. 21, 2023
Construction Period Fall 2023 Winter 2023
Opening Date Winter 2023/2024 Winter 2023/2024

Slater Acres Park Playground is scheduled for replacement in 2023. Below is a preliminary drawing of the proposed replacement.

Project Name: Slater Acres Playground Replacement

Contractors/Consultants: Burke / St. Croix Recreation

Staff Lead: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Comp Plan/Master Plan: Supported by both plans

Project Cost Estimate: $50,000

Funding Source: Park Development Fund

Location: 2185 James St.

Event Est. Start Est. Completion
Advertisement for Bid/Request for Proposals November 2022 December 9, 2022
Public Comment

December - January 1, 2023

Please submit information to the above comment box

Construction Period September 2023 September 2023
Opening Date October 2023 October 2023

The tennis courts at Oak Chase Park will be repaired and resurfaced with new asphalt and acrylic during the 2023 season. During the repair period, the courts will not be playable.

Project Name: Oak Chase Tennis Court

Contractors/Consultants: Bituminous Roadways, Inc.

Staff Lead: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Comp Plan/Master Plan: Supported by both plans

Project Cost Estimate: $150,000

Funding Source: Park Development Fund

Location: 4400 Oak Chase Rd.

Norse Park is the newest City of Eagan park and development of the passive park will begin in 2023. Benches, public art, and a small sun shelter are currently scheduled to be installed near the trail.

Project Name: Norse Park

Contractors/Consultants:

Staff Lead: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Comp Plan/Master Plan: Supported by both plans

Project Cost Estimate: $200,000

Funding Source: Park Development Fund

Location: 640 Vikings Pkwy.

Event Est. Start Est. Completion
Capital Improvement Planning Oct. 2022 Dec. 2022
Construction Period Summer 2023 Summer 2023
Opening Date Summer 2023 Summer 2023

Parks Master Plan

Park System Master Plan Update

Parks and recreation are an essential community service that provides health and environmental benefits, economic value, and social connections. A strong and active park system is a key component to enjoying a high quality of life. This system also plays a crucial role in protecting natural resources for future generations. The City of Eagan has built a comprehensive park system over the last 60 years, providing spaces for its residents to recreate, exercise, learn, gather together, and enjoy nature and solitude. As demographics, recreation trends, and environmental conditions in Eagan continue to evolve and change, a flexible and adaptable park system plan is necessary to meet changing needs. This update to the Parks & Recreation System Plan is part of the City of Eagan's 2040 Comprehensive Plan Update. It builds upon the Eagan Park Plans (1983 & 1995), the 20/20 Vision Plan for Parks, Recreation, and Open Space (2006), and the City's recently completed Eagan Forward (2016) vision plan.

Prior Projects

Summary:

2016: The five-year Parks & Recreation Master Plan identified future improvement needs at Rahn Park. The City has continued to proactively budget and identify this park for redevelopment efforts. Reinvestment projects aim at correcting both deferred maintenance and aid in keeping our parks up to date and flexible for organized and passive recreation use.

2020: Improvement dollars were approved by the City Council for a two-phase approach at Rahn Park.

2021: The existing tennis and basketball courts were constructed in the mid-1980s. Phase 1 would focus on outdoor improvements to the site.

2022: The existing warming house/park building was built in 1974. Phase 2 would focus on the warming house/park building remodel.

Project Name: Rahn Park Building Renovation

Contractors/Consultants: LHB Architects

Staff Lead: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Comp Plan/Master Plan: Supported by both plans

Project Cost Estimate: $650,000

Funding Source: Park Development Fund

Location: 4425 Sandstone Dr.

Event Est. Start Est. Completion
Engagement - Open House

Nov. 15, 2021 — Open House

4425 Sandstone Dr., 5:30–6:30 p.m.

Can't make it or prefer to provide input virtually? Click here to provide feedback on park amenities at this site: polco.us/shx8pm

Nov. 15, 2021 — Open House

4425 Sandstone Dr., 5:30 –6:30 p.m.

Can't make it or prefer to provide input virtually? Click here to provide feedback on park amenities at this site: polco.us/shx8pm

Design/Construction Documents May 2021

November 2021

Advertisement for Bid/Request for Proposals December 2021 Bid opening: Jan. 12, 2022
Construction Period February 2022 December 2022
Opening Date December 2022 December 2022

Summary: A new paved trail connection between Rahn Athletic Park and Rahn Park offers better accessibility to park amenities. The trail connection provides more user-friendly and ADA-compliant access to all park amenities in both parks. These amenities include restrooms, ballfields, open play space, nature trails, sport courts, playgrounds, volleyball, and access to additional trail connections to the city-wide system.

Project Name: Rahn Park Connection Trail

Contractors/Consultants: TBD

Staff Lead: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Comp Plan/Master Plan: Supported by both plans

Project Cost Estimate: $175,000

Funding Source: Park Development Funds and MN DNR Local Trail Connections Grant

Location: 4425 Sandstone Drive

Event Est. Start Est. Completion
Advertisement for Bid/Request for Proposals TBD TBD
Construction Period May 2022 December 2022
Opening Date December 2022 December 2022

For more information on Public Art Installation please visit cityofeagan.com/public-art

The City of Eagan Parks and Recreation Department annually completes projects that add additional amenities/value to sites that are completed with City staff or are lower cost.

  • Off Leash Dog Park (OLDA) The OLDA small dog area will receive fencing improvements.
  • Playground surfacing Quarry Park and Trapp Farm Park will have pea gravel playground surfacing removed and have fiber wood chips installed to assist with accessibility.
  • Northview Athletic Building — Design and create construction documents for the concession/storage/bathroom building near the softball fields at Northview Park.

Summary:The City of Eagan is partnering with the local youth hockey association, Eagan Hockey Association (EHA) to increase access to outdoor skating in the winter and create a year-round community space with the construction of a refrigerated ice rink and pavilion covering at Goat Hill Park. The multi-phased project will begin this fall with installation of a concrete rink with a chiller system, that once built, will provide access to outdoor skating as early as October and as late as March.

EHA has presented the City with a commitment of $1.3 million in funding to pay for the first phase of developing a covered, outdoor rink that would support the city's goal of developing a destination winter recreation facility per the 2015 Parks Master Plan.

Partnership Background: In October of 2018, the EHA approached the City of Eagan with an idea to partner on a mini refrigerated rink as an experiment at Pilot Knob Park. That winter, a successful partnership provided a variety of experiences for both park users, as well as EHA membership and inspired a larger partnership to be considered.

Project Name: Goat Hill Park Rink

Contractors/Consultants: All American Ice LLC, Max Steininger Inc., 292 Design Group

Staff Lead: Chris Fleck, facility and project manager, (651) 675-5557

Comp Plan/Master Plan: Supported by both plans

Project Cost: $1,300,000.00 Projected Cost

Funding source: 100% Donated Funds

Location: 4391 Lexington Ave. S.

Event Est. Start Est. Completion
Engagement Process

July 2021

Survey was provided on the City of Eagan website. For additional comments please email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

July 2021

Survey was provided on the City of Eagan website. For additional comments please email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Design/Construction Documents July 2021 September 2021
Advertisement for Bid/Request for Proposals July 2021 September 2021
Construction Period September 2021 December 2021
Opening Date TBD TBD

Project Update

Oct. 28, 2021

Earthwork has prepared the site for rink construction. Perimeter concrete work has begun and is currently being coordinated around the edge of the future rink. Following the perimeter concrete process — contractors will work towards preparing the interior (rink) slab, weather permitting.

Nov. 11, 2021

Summary:

Now Open — Oct. 11, 2021

 

The existing tennis and basketball courts were originally constructed in the mid-1980s. The courts have received typical crack maintenance past three decades but are now deemed unrepairable. New court spaces may include play for basketball, tennis, and pickleball. Construction concepts are being developed for additional parking spaces which may include off-street parking along Sandstone Drive and possible use of the east hockey rink as temporary or seasonal parking; the hockey rink will still be available for winter skating. Plans are also being developed for renovating the existing trail connection to the courts to meet ADA code. The existing court lights will be refurbished with energy-saving LED fixtures. Additional work will be included in this project to mitigate water runoff from the courts before entering the nearby pond. New site amenities will include benches and additional landscaping.

Project Name: Rahn Park Courts

Contractors: WSB

Staff Lead: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it., (651) 675-5329

Comp Plan/Master Plan: Supported by both plans

Project Cost: $500,000.00 Projected Cost

Funding source: 100% Park Dedication Fund

Location: 4425 Sandstone Drive

Event Est. Start Est. Completion
Engagement Process November 16, 2020 - Cancelled November 16, 2020 - Cancelled
Design documents January 2021 January 2021
Construction Period April 2021 September 2021
Advertisement for Bid March 2021 March 2021
Bid Opening March 2021 March 2021
Opening Date - Now Open October 11, 2021 October 11, 2021

Summary:

The existing playground and swingset will be removed from the site. The swingset container will be completely removed and seeded with the replacement swingset being installed in the playground container.

Project Name: Cinnamon Ridge Park Playground Replacement

Contractors: Flagship Recreation / Landscape Structures

Staff Lead: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it., (651) 675-5505

Comp Plan/Master Plan: Supported by both plans

Project Cost: $55,200.00 Projected Cost

Funding source: 100% Park Dedication Fund

Location: 4480 Slater Road

Event Est. Start Est. Completion
Request for proposal December 2020 Dec. 18
Document Review December 2020 January 2021
Construction Period June 2021 August 2021
Opening Date August 2021 August 2021

Summary:

The existing entrance shade structure will be removed from the site. The site will have additional landscaping installed surrounding the entrance to match the existing park landscaping. The site will also have two vertical signs installed at the entrance.

Project Name: Festival Grounds Entrance

Contractors: Schnell Designs

Staff Lead: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it., (651) 675-5505

Comp Plan/Master Plan: Supported by both plans

Project Cost: $25,000.00 Projected Cost

Funding source: 100% Park Dedication Fund

Location: 1507 Central Parkway

Event Est. Start Est. Completion
Request for proposal January 2021 January 2021
Document Review February 2021 March 2021
Construction Period April 2021 May 2021
Opening Date June 2021 June 2021