City staff and members of the City Council have spent the past four months developing an alternative approach to manage the city’s extensive park system after voters rejected a Parks Master Plan referendum last November. The plan was eight years in the making and identified $120 million in need within our existing parks.

“There are 49 parks in the city of Prior Lake. This is four times the number of parks in other cities of our population size,” said Kirt Briggs, Prior Lake Mayor. “Parks are a wonderful amenity to have, but they come with a need for ongoing investment.  Many of our parks are now over 30 years old and showing their age as maintenance costs mount. With the voters providing clear direction to council, it is time to put our parks on a sustainable financial path forward for our growing community.”

Put simply, the city has more parks than it can maintain long-term and city leaders are considering consolidating parks that are close in proximity and have similar amenities. The goal is to efficiently deliver more varied experiences by reducing duplicative and worn-out features across our parks system.

Another option under consideration is divesting parcels of land with the proceeds from the sales being reinvested into the city’s parks and trails. The city also continues to pursue outside funding sources, actively applying for grants and exploring partnerships to help cover maintenance and improvement costs.

Residents continue to show strong support for parks and trails, which is something the city looks to preserve even as it reevaluates how the system is funded and maintained.

“Our end goal is clear,” Briggs said. “We want to preserve what residents love about our parks while making responsible decisions that keep the system strong for future generations.”