Eagan News
Nearly 200 community members gathered for Eagan’s first-ever Spring Summit at Silver Bell Learning Center on April 3. From longtime residents to those newly connected to our city — whether living, working, or simply spending time here — everyone came with a shared goal: to help shape a more inclusive and thriving future for Eagan.
The event created space for meaningful dialogue and new connections. Over a shared meal, residents, students, and members of the business community, plus Mayor Mike Maguire and City staff, discussed how to help everyone thrive in Eagan.
Attendees dove into three questions guided by our facilitators from The Finding Human Institute, exploring what it truly means to love where we live — and how we can collectively contribute to a community where everyone thrives.
Thank you to everyone who shared their stories, listened with curiosity, and helped make the Spring Summit a meaningful step toward building a more connected, inclusive Eagan.
Let’s keep the momentum going. As summer approaches, stay connected and find your fun in Eagan — with events, activities, and experiences that bring us all a little closer.
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The Eagan Community Center (ECC) reinvestment project launched in late 2024, ushering in exciting upgrades. The first phase focused on exterior additions, which, once completed, will include a brand-new, state-of-the-art fitness center.
Phase 2 begins in June and will shift construction indoors, with ECC updates, including:
- new restrooms,
- a new elevator for improved accessibility,
- a renovated indoor playground, and
- an updated lobby and staircase.
During this phase, the main upper entrance will be closed. Visitors will be directed to use alternate entrances, clearly marked by construction signage.
To better accommodate those with mobility needs during this period, please park in the lower lot for more accessible entry options.
This phased construction approach is designed to minimize disruptions and ensure that all ECC features remain open and accessible throughout the project.
Thanks for your patience and continued support as we enhance the ECC. Learn more about how we’re planning for future fun at cityofeagan.com/parkprojects.
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Using a bike or e-bike for transportation is a great way to get around, exercise, and decrease your carbon footprint. But in suburban communities like Eagan — where roads were designed with cars in mind — cycling safely can be a challenge. To help ensure you and your family members stay safe while biking, be sure to follow the tips below.
Tips For Cycling Safely
- Maintain a safe speed.
- Follow traffic rules.
- Install a mirror on the left side of your
handlebar or attach one to your helmet. - Wear a helmet. A helmet with Mips® technology and/or an NTA-8776 certified helmet protects against higher-impact speeds and covers a larger part of the head. Replace your helmet if it’s more than five years old.
- Use bicycle lights to improve your visibility. Always ride with your lights on; never ride at night without a light.
- Stay visible by wearing bright, reflective clothing.
- Avoid right-turn-only lanes. When you are in the turn lane, position yourself in the center of the lane you’re traveling in the direction you’re headed.
- Never ride on the sidewalk; this is dangerous for you and for pedestrians.
- Ride on the road shoulder with the flow of traffic when the shoulder is wide enough to share with cars.
- Ride predictably — signal your intentions to turn or stop; and avoid weaving in and out of traffic.
- Be courteous and communicate clearly — make eye contact with drivers and pedestrians.
- Pass others on the left, share a verbal warning (“on your left”), and ring your bell to alert that you’re passing.
What Is The Ring Road?
Eagan streets with shoulders include those that make up the ring road (see map above): Yankee Doodle and Diffley roads east of Lexington, Deerwood Drive, Denmark Avenue, Wescott Road, Wilderness Run Road, Lexington Avenue (south of Diffley Road), Dodd Road, and Blackhawk Road.
Avoid the intersection at Pilot Knob and Yankee Doodle roads, and freeway on-ramps and off-ramps. Instead, use the ring road (see green area on map below) that enables cyclists to completely avoid these busy areas. This was completed by the City about 10 years ago.
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Over 56 years, Eagan’s Funfest has grown from a small gathering at Rahn Park into one of the city’s most anticipated summer events. This year Funfest will kick off with a throwback to its origins when a parade of kids on bikes circles the festival grounds on Thursday, July 3. There’s also a low-key carnival preview day geared toward families with younger kids, with no music or additional entertainment, on Wednesday, July 2, 4 to 8 p.m.
“Funfest has grown a lot since it started,” says Andy Schmitz, Funfest board chair. “Now we run a two- to four-day festival, depending on the year. We have a day at the Viking Lakes campus, two beer tents with local vendors, a carnival, a parade, live music, and — of course — fireworks.”
Festival Funds Nonprofit's Scholarships
Funfest, run by a volunteer board of directors, also has a meaningful mission. Organized as a nonprofit, Funfest dedicates funds raised to scholarships for its student ambassadors — local students, ages 9 to 18, who develop leadership skills and represent Eagan at community events and local festivals.
Last year, Schmitz says, Funfest devoted $21,000 to ambassador scholarships, the Lions Club, the American Legion, and the Eagan Crime Prevention Association.
A Community Effort -- Not A City Run Event
Although the City of Eagan is an essential partner, Funfest is not a City-run event — a common point of confusion.
“The City is a partner that provides public safety, fireworks, and the portable restrooms,” Schmitz explains. “But everything else comes from the Funfest budget. We rely on local businesses to help support the community event, and raise money through vendors and parade registrations, as well as ambassador fundraisers like grocery packing and bowling events.”
That said, three spots on the 12-seat Funfest board are designated for City of Eagan staff members. And this year, Eagan’s last three police chiefs will serve as parade grand marshals to honor the Eagan Police Department’s 60th anniversary.
2025 Funfest
This year’s event, July 2–5, has a new component: a chill-out tent for kids and families to take a break with coloring books and fidgets. And because of ongoing construction at the ECC and limited parking, MVTA is providing free shuttles on July 4 between the Eagan park-and-ride lot and the festival grounds. These will run every 15 minutes, 3–11:30 p.m. Learn more at eaganfunfest.org.
Attendees with questions regarding weather, parking, etc. should follow the Funfest social media accounts — Facebook: @eaganfunfest and Instagram: @eaganjuly4funfest. Event details, like musical acts, can be found on their account pages too.
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COUNCIL TO ADOPT CLIMATE ACTION PLAN
To prepare for the impacts of climate change, the City began developing a climate action plan in April 2024. A team of city staff, residents, and representatives of partner agencies and local organizations worked together to develop the plan, which is expected to be adopted by city leaders this month.
The final plan prioritizes reducing emissions and building resilience, and it focuses on ensuring that the community is healthy, equitable, and sustainable so that everyone can thrive.
Thanks to all of the community members who offered feedback on the draft plan through engagement sessions and surveys, we’re ready to begin the next step of this work: implementation.
Learn more at cityofeagan.com/sustainability. See the full listing of Earth Week events.
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We’re thrilled to announce that the new Eagan Art House opens to the public, seven days a week, beginning June 16. Come by Patrick Eagan Park to see the new building and check out the art in the lobby. Eagan Art House staff created the pieces featured in the first installation.
Our new building provides a larger, more accessible space, giving us the ability to offer a greater number of programs and classes, and welcome more users into the building. Eagan Art House is an institution in our community, so we’re lucky to build on the strength we already have. Teaching artists and local residents have made art with us since 1997; people are our strongest asset and we’re thrilled to expand this community with a larger space.
Along with the new building, a revamped website offers great information about how you can get involved with Eagan Art House. Registration is ongoing for spring and summer activities, including day camps.
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PEOPLE, PURPOSE, AND PRESENCE
Public Works Week is coming right up, May 18–24. And the event is worth celebrating — despite public works’ low profile.
“People don’t think much about public works — as long as things are going right,” says Russ Matthys, Eagan’s director of Public Works. “Especially when it comes to the parts of the system you don’t see: Think drinking water delivery, wastewater, and more.”
WHAT DOES PUBLIC WORKS DO?
Several divisions make up the department; each covers a unique role:
Engineering protects the integrity of the City’s transportation network, utilities, and lake water systems.
Streets & transportation maintains streets, trails, and sidewalks, plus plowing, and coordinates street signs, street lighting, and traffic signals.
Lakes & wetlands restores, protects, and enhances lakes, ponds, and wetlands.
Water & sewer utilities provides water, sewer, and storm utility services.
Eagan’s Public Works team is in action throughout the year — clearing snow, repairing roads, maintaining waterbodies, and planning for the future.
CONNECTING WITH THE COMMUNITY
Beyond their daily work, Public Works staff members make it a priority to engage with the community at local events like Cops & Bobbers, Ice Fishing Fest, Lakefest, and the next big event, Big Rig Rally.
“It’s such an honor to serve this community, and help people learn more about lakes and wetlands and how we can all take care of them,” says Jessie Koehle, water resources specialist. “We love our waterbodies so much, and these events give us a chance to tell the community all about them.”
Public Works Week is a time to recognize the people behind the scenes — working year-round to ensure Eagan remains a great place to live, work, and play.
DON'T MISS BIG RIG RALLY
4–7 p.m. Thursday, May 29
Central Maintenance Facility, 3501 Coachman Pt.*
Big Rig Rally invites the community to come learn about and celebrate the Public Works department.
Come check out mowers, plow trucks, police and fire vehicles, the famous garbage truck, and more. Held rain or shine, the day also includes equipment demos, face painting, and giveaways — while supplies last.
Plus, you can help fill The Open Door truck by bringing a canned food donation.
*Additional parking will be available at Oak Hills Church (1570 Yankee Doodle Rd.).
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