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Orono, Minnesota <br />Executive Summary <br />December 2023 <br />HACKBERRY PARK MASTER PLAN <br />Process <br />In April 2023, the City of Orono enlisted the services of Bolton & Menk to help guide the City through a formal master <br />planning process of Hackberry Park. The master planning process was a coordinated effort between the Orono Park <br />Commission, City staff, and Hackberry Park’s neighborhood residents. From April through August a series of public <br />listening sessions were held by City staff to inform the design and programming of the park. Updates and draft concepts <br />were shared with the Hackberry Park sub-committee and the larger Park Commission. Orono City Council approved <br />staff’s recommendation to move into a preliminary design phase on Monday, August 28, 2023. The item was approved <br />in a 4-1 vote. Feedback at the final listening session on August 30th did not direct additional changes to the draft design, <br />allowing the plan to be finalized. Master plan recommendations are documented in the pages that follow. <br />Existing features: <br />Hackberry Park is a 3 acre neighborhood park located at the northwest corner of Willow Drive North and Maple Lane. The <br />block containing the existing park also includes one single-family home. This house was purchased by the City of Orono in <br />2016 using life estate and the City of Orono assumed ownership of the property when it was vacated in December 2022. <br />The removal of the house allows Orono to design a master plan for Hackberry Park that better meets meets the needs of <br />the commmnity. The main existing features include the following: <br />Overview <br />• Ball fields <br />• Basketball court <br />• Benches <br />• Bike Racks <br />• Chemical toilets <br />• Open space <br />• Picnic tables <br />• Open space <br />• Playground equipment <br />• Mature Trees <br />• Park sign <br />• Resident mailboxes <br />Resident Input <br />Orono City Staff & Council Approval <br />April 4: Master <br />Plan design <br />services begin <br />July 20: City staff <br />provided plan update <br />to Hackberry Park <br />sub-committee <br />August 7: Draft <br />concept shared <br />with Park <br />Commission <br />August 28: <br />Concept <br />approved by <br />City Council <br />August 30: <br />Listening <br />Session #3 <br />Master Plan <br />Complete <br />April 29: <br />Listening <br />Session #1 <br />May 9: <br />Listening <br />Session #2 <br />21