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Minutes <br />Park Commission Regular Meeting <br />Tuesday, February 4, 2025, 6:00 PM <br />City Council Chambers 2780 Kelley Parkway, Orono, MN 55356 <br /> <br /> <br />Page 2 of 3 <br /> <br />Adam Holmes, 6775 Fogelman Road, said mountain biking became a family endeavor, getting kids <br />outside and away from screens and got him riding bike again too. He said bikers are conscientious about <br />the trails and clean up after themselves, creating little environmental impact. <br /> <br />Anna Holmes, 6775 Fogelman Road, said she was never a biker until her son joined the mountain biking <br />team and it was a great opportunity for her family. She said mountain biking gave her a greater challenge <br />over a flat trail. She is part of a mom’s biking group but they have to drive 30 miles for a trail. She said <br />mountain biking is no more dangerous than lacrosse. She explained the reason for numerous coaches and <br />parent volunteers. <br /> <br />Jay Swenson, 2850 Little Orchard Way, said four of his kids have joined the Orono High School <br />mountain bike team in the last seven years but the obstacle is having to drive to a trail. He said he also <br />decided to start mountain biking, lost weight, and got in shape. Now he is a volunteer coach. <br /> <br />PRESENTATION <br /> <br />STAFF REPORT <br /> <br />2. Parks, Golf, and Facilities Update <br />Parks Superintendent Joe Ruthenberg introduced himself and gave a recap of activities since the last <br />meeting in August. He highlighted the annual tree lighting event, the new parking lot at the Lurton Dog <br />Park, tree maintenance, staff turnover and his base at the new public works building. He said greens fees <br />at the golf course were down a little last summer, largely because of rainy periods when carts could not be <br />used. Leagues helped keep the use up. <br /> <br />Commissioners welcomed Ruthenberg. <br /> <br />CHAIR REPORT <br /> <br />None <br /> <br />COMMISSIONERS’ REPORTS <br /> <br />Orono Mountain Bike/Multi-Use Trail Presentation <br />Commissioner Carter said a lot of time has been spent on this project over five or six years with a long <br />way to go. The earliest it would go to the City Council would be early summer for construction <br />realistically next year. He said he is both a mountain biker and a golfer and confirmed the nearest trails <br />are about a half-hour drive away. He gave a slide presentation showing a wooded five-acre site that would <br />not interfere with golf. He said the trail would be year-round and multi-use for hiking, cross-country <br />skiing and fat biking. The plan would be to access from the Luce Line rather than the golf course parking <br />lot. His recommendation would be to use the $15,000 budgeted in the Capital Improvement Plan to bring <br />in a professional designer. There would be an open house and public input prior to final approval. It is <br />hoped donations and matching grants would fund the project, with a ballpark cost estimate of about <br />$100,000. This trail would be a couple of miles long and most mountain bike trails in the metro area are <br />seven to eight miles, which would mean this trail would be targeted to the youth and local people. <br /> <br />4