Eagan News
For more than 25 years, the Eagan Art House has been our community’s place to create and connect. In fact, thousands of artists have visited the 1960s rambler-style building every year since 1997. It’s no surprise to users or staff that we need a new art facility.
“Art has become a part of Eagan’s DNA,” says Andrew Pimental, Eagan’s director of Parks and Recreation. “And the Eagan Art House is at the heart of that. We’ve been patching this building up for more than 25 years and the sheer number of art enthusiasts who come through the doors inevitably creates a lot of wear and tear. It’s time for Eagan’s art community to have a safe, accessible new facility to match the high value our community places on art.”
Currently, the Eagan Art House hosts visual art classes, special events, and art exhibitions; plus, it performs community outreach. While art’s value is inherent, it has an economic impact in Eagan too — to the tune of $4.9 million annually. Eagan’s investment in facilities like the Eagan Art House benefits the entire community.
PROJECT TIMELINE AND DETAILS
“We look forward to a new building making it easier for people to create and connect,” says Tanya Mozingo, Eagan’s recreation manager. “The new building will allow us to welcome more users with a greater variety of programs, create more flexible activity spaces, and provide community gathering spots for the next 25 years.” On top of that, the new building will better connect visiting artists with nature, Mozingo says. The design will highlight the beauty of Patrick Eagan Park, and some land restoration to native oak savannah will be part of the work.
Additionally, users will experience better safety with enhanced air filtration. The City will also be able to prioritize sustainability in building and maintaining the facility.
The initial design study of the new Eagan Art House highlighted sustainability, accessibility, and spaces that can serve a diversity of interests and programs. Design
and planning are underway, and the City expects a final design release this fall with a groundbreaking next spring.
“We don’t expect a break in classes and activities during the construction,” Mozingo says. “We’re planning to keep the current building open and operating until the new
building is ready to use.”
For Eagan resident Anne Spicer, Eagan Art House pottery classes have brought her a sense of community and belonging. She says, “It’s a testament to the City of Eagan that
it’s supportive of a new facility that will bring more neighbors together, expand access to art participation, broaden our human experience, enhance enjoyment opportunities, and empower greater investment in our City.”
Learn more about this and other Parks and Recreation projects at cityofeagan.com/parkprojects.
Since its inception in 1963, the Eagan Fire Department has evolved greatly. “Today we’re all career, all full time, here to respond from the station 24 hours a day, every day of the year,” says Fire Chief Hugo Searle. Those changes have meant faster response times, jumping from an average 14 minutes five years ago to under seven minutes today. “That directly impacts our ability to save life and property,” he says.
Along the way, the department has celebrated milestones, including new fire stations in 2011 and 2017, an all-female engine company for the first time in 2021, and transitioning to an
all-career staffing model in 2022.
With that transition, the City’s firefighters fully took on the roles of medical first responders, answering calls for aid in situations from car accidents to hazardous material leaks, and everything in between.
HOW THEY DO IT: TOOLS, TRAINING, AND TECHNOLOGY
The Eagan Fire Department is dedicated to protecting and serving the community with reliable responses by 40 highly trained professionals, plus three fire stations, a fleet
of fire trucks, and equipment. That means a lot of training; regular practice scenarios include water rescues, apartment fires, and heart attacks.
Another key ingredient to the department’s ability to respond efficiently to emergencies is technology. In 2023, the department began using a geographic information system (GIS) to help provide data about locations they serve, helping them better prepare for situations they’ll encounter on calls.
Additionally, Searle says, they never underestimate the power of connection. Eagan firefighters attend community events like National Night Out, the Fourth of July parade, and the Food Truck Festival; plus, they host an annual open house during Fire Prevention Week in October. Participating in all these events helps develop relationships with residents and build trust.
Searle appreciates the community’s support — and their rating of the department in surveys. “We have a 96% positive rating from our community, and we’re very proud of that,” he says. “Our current success isn’t by accident or luck. We’ve had some of the best firefighters in the state go through these doors, and they’ve created a legacy in this community that each firefighter looks to live up to every day, and on every call.”
Per notice from the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, our region continues to be in a period of drought and has now entered the Drought Restrictive Phase, so it is crucial that we come together as a community to address this pressing issue.
What you can do:
- Reduce outdoor water usage: Significantly reduce or stop lawn watering; lawns typically go dormant soon, so it will not damage the lawn in the long term. Consider discontinuing your use of outdoor lawn irrigation/automatic sprinklers for the season.
- Fix leaks: Check for leaks in your plumbing and irrigation systems. A small leak can waste a significant amount of water over time.
- Shorten showers: Take shorter showers and consider installing low-flow showerheads. Free low-flow showerheads are available. For more information: cityofeagan.com/conservewater
- Educate yourself: Stay informed about local water restrictions and guidelines for responsible water usage.
By making conscious efforts to reduce water usage, we can make a significant impact. Let's protect our environment and ensure there is enough water for everyone. Your actions today will make a meaningful difference tomorrow.
While fire safety should be top of mind year round, October is dedicated to brushing up on fire safety knowledge and skills. It’s also when the Eagan Fire Department invites you to visit a fire station to see the work they do and demonstrate safety tips up close. Plan to attend the annual Fire Safety Open House on Wednesday, October 11, 2023 5–8 p.m. at Station #2 (1001 Station Trail).
Cooking Safety
Cooking brings family and friends together, provides an outlet for creativity, and can be relaxing. But did you know that cooking fires are the number one cause of home fires and home injuries? By following a few safety tips you can prevent these fires.
Cook with Caution
• Be on alert! If you are sleepy or have consumed alcohol don’t use the stove or stovetop.
• Stay in the kitchen while you are frying, boiling, grilling, or broiling food. If you leave the kitchen for even a short period of time, turn off the stove.
• If you are simmering, baking, or roasting food, check it regularly, remain in the home while food is cooking, and use a timer to remind you that you are cooking.
• Keep anything that can catch fire — oven mitts, wooden utensils, food packaging, towels, or curtains — away from your stovetop. If you have a small (grease) cooking fire and decide to fight the fire...
• On the stovetop, smother the flames by sliding a lid over the pan and turning off the burner. Leave the pan covered until it is completely cooled.
• For an oven fire, turn off the heat and keep the door closed.
If you have any doubt about fighting a small fire…
• Just get out! When you leave, close the door behind you to help contain the fire.
• Call 9-1-1 or the local emergency number from outside the home.
Last year Cascade Bay installed a rooftop lightning detection system, similar to those many golf courses use. Covering the expense were hazard mitigation funds from the Minnesota Department of Public Safety’s Homeland Security and Emergency Management division.
The system, set at a three-mile radius, alerts park workers of nearby lightning. In its first season last summer, alerts were sent several times. “It’s a great resource for our staff,” says Mark Vaughan, facility manager. “We no longer have to make that hard decision of when to close facilities due to dangerous lightning — the computer system does that for us.” And that helps keep everyone safe at Eagan’s parks.
The Minnesota Legislature recently approved the enactment of Chapter 342 of MN Statutes which provides for the regulation of adult use cannabis starting Aug. 1, 2023.
This legislation allows local units of government to adopt reasonable restrictions on the time, place, and manner of the operation of a cannabis business and the use of cannabis in public spaces.
The City of Eagan hosted a public hearing on Wednesday, August 2, 2023, at the City Council meeting regarding the consideration of a cannabis moratorium. Following a public hearing on Wednesday, August 2, 2023, the Council voted to enact a moratorium, halting the operation of cannabis business until January 1, 2025 so that the City can study zoning, regulation, and enforcement options.
- Zoning — Cannabis businesses will simply be another type of legal business, subject to the city’s general zoning regulations. Cities may not ban the operation of cannabis businesses but may choose which zoning districts will allow them. The city may choose which zoning districts will allow cannabis businesses; the city cannot ban those businesses. The city should therefore designate at least one zoning district allowing cannabis businesses.
- Regulation — The City may not license businesses, ban businesses, or ban use or possession. However, the city may adopt ordinances with reasonable restrictions on the time, place, and manner of the operation of a cannabis business. For example, the City may consider limiting the operation of the cannabis business within a certain distance from schools or daycares.
- Enforcement & Compliance — The enforcement of cannabis sales and use will be conducted by local law enforcement and the State Office of Cannabis Management.
USE OF CANNABIS IN PUBLIC PLACES
As of August 1, 2023, cannabis use is legal in private residences, on private property unless prohibited by the owner, or other premises licensed for on-site consumption.
Unless the City adopts an ordinance prohibiting it, use in public spaces such as parks, trails, and sidewalks is legal. The City may not ban the possession or transportation of legal quantities of cannabis.
Following evaluation by public safety and the city attorney’s office, the City Council will hold a public hearing (date to be determined) and consider a proposed ordinance to prohibit use in public spaces.
We are planning our future fun, connections, and spaces, so we all can thrive.
Eagan residents love their parks and recreation opportunities. Nearly nine in 10 residents rate our parks a priority, and we work to reflect that community value. Our community boasts an extensive parks system with 60 parks and wide-ranging facilities and amenities, including trails, a water park, a splash pad, an ice arena, outdoor rinks, a community center, pavilions, accessible spaces, neighborhood play areas, and more.
Keeping Parks Current and Inclusive
“Over the past 10 years, we’ve re-envisioned and built many of the city’s parks and public spaces to meet the needs of our growing and diversifying community,” says Andrew Pimental, Eagan’s director of Parks & Recreation.
Besides the amenities mentioned above, Parks & Rec has focused on building pickleball courts to cater to local fans of America’s fastest-growing sport, adding inclusion spaces like Nature Play at Patrick Eagan Park and Destination All-Play at Woodhaven Park, and updating historical sites like Holz Farm to serve as learning venues for future generations.
“The City of Eagan is committed to making sure parks and recreation are available for all ages, interests, and abilities and we’re always planning for our future,” Pimental says. “In 2019, we began studying how our parks
and recreation facilities will need to evolve to serve you, your neighbors, and our future.”
Next Steps for Three Key Spaces
That 2019 study found that our current facilities are aging and need updates, so in the coming years the City is planning to invest in the following parks and recreation facilities:
Eagan Art House is our community place to create and connect. “This 1950s rambler-style building has been open since 1997 and hosts over 6,000 guests a year,” says Tanya Mozingo, Eagan’s recreation program manager. “The current building has served the community well, but maintaining it is no longer sustainable. It’s time to create a new, accessible space for our thousands of users.”
Eagan Community Center is our community hub for connection. Hundreds of community members visit the ECC every day for exercise classes, bingo, pickleball, gatherings, meetings, and more. It’s also where our community comes together for events, meetings, and activities. “Recreation needs shift over time, and we’ve seen many changes since the ECC was built in 2003,” says Jared Flewellen, Eagan’s assistant parks & recreation director. “We’re looking at how to adjust programs and amenities to serve everyone even better at the ECC.
Goat Hill Park is a winter play destination for skating, hockey, and more. A partnership with the Eagan Hockey Association allowed the City to install a refrigerated rink in the fall of 2022 to better support the community’s winter activities. To expand this amenity, a new shelter and pavilion will make the space even more of a winter destination and a year-round amenity.
When you live or do business in Eagan, you invest in our parks and recreation opportunities. It’s what has made Eagan such a successful city and strong community. As the above projects mature, we’ll share more information on funding in the coming months.
Eagan’s investment in our parks and recreation facilities benefit the entire community. New facilities will provide more space for people to play, create, and connect. New programs will provide more opportunities for people to be active and healthy. Eagan is already a wonderful place to live, work, and play, and these investments will support our future fun and connections so everyone can thrive. Learn more about the projects and watch how we are planning to transition these community amenities at cityofeagan.com/parkprojects.
