Frequently Asked Questions - the City of Nisswa Minnesota

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Sample development scenarios
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The Open House sought input about three unique development scenarios.
Participants were asked to rank the options shown below, as well as select
which depiction of the various amenities were best for the available space.
ary
20
15
An online response tool will also be available on the city of Nisswa’s web site,
Feb. 6-19, 2015, to allow participation and feedback from area residents who
were unable to physically attend the Open House event.
Results from this event and the online tool will help formulate a plan to be
presented to the Nisswa City Council.
Nisswa Lake Park and Recreation Area
Concept A Key Features:
Concept A
approx 20 parking spaces
loop trail from tunnel to lake
a few small picnic areas
small restroom building
small swimming area
small fishing dock
6-8 boat dock spaces
A
Outlot B
(not park property)
l
w
H
Private
P
rivate Property
l
Downtown Pocket Park
y
37
1
l
Rain Garden
l
Picnic Areas
l from Downtown
Tunnel
to NLPRA
l
Park Entry Plaza
Information & Wayfinding Signage
l
Restrooms
& Showers
Pedestrian & Bicycle
Access Trail
Swimming
DNR Property
Site of DNR Public Boat Launch Facility
Fishing Dock
Lake Overlook
&
Picnic Area
Public Boat Docks
B
Park Access Road
Site design and facilities along with potential connections
with Nisswa Lake Park and Recreation Area are subject to
DNR approval and the Public Water Access design and
construction process.
Nisswa Lake Park and Recreation Area
Concept B Key Features:
approx 30 parking spaces
loop trail from tunnel to lake
modereate sized
picnic areas
2 picnic shelter buildings
restroom building with
outdoor showers
small amphitheater space
larger swimming area
dedicated fishing dock
10-12 boat dock spaces
To DNR Boat Launch Facility
Concept B
Outlot B
(not park property)
Private Property
To Hazelwood Drive
l
& Regional Trails
Downtown Pocket Park
Picnic Shelter
y
w
H
l
37
1
l
Rain Garden
Picnic Areas
Amphitheater/
Performance
Space
Tunnel from Downtown
l
to NLPRA
Park Entry Plaza
l
Information & Wayfinding Signage
Picnic Shelter
l
Restrooms
& Showers
l
Swimming
l
Pedestrian & Bicycle
Access Trail
Park Access Road
l
Fishing Dock
Lake Overlook
&
Picnic Area
Public Boat Docks
Nisswa Lake Park and Recreation Area
C
DNR Property
Site of DNR Public Boat Launch Facility
Site design and facilities along with potential connections
with Nisswa Lake Park and Recreation Area are subject to
DNR approval and the Public Water Access design and
construction process.
Concept C
To DNR Boat Launch Facility
Outlot B
(not park property)
Private Property
To Hazelwood Drive
& Regional Trails
Downtown Pocket Park
H
l
w
y
Smaller Picnic
Shelter
1
37
Picnic Areas
Rain Garden
l
Playground
Lake Overlook &
Gathering Area
Large Picnic Shelter
& Catering Kitchen
Amphitheater/
Performance
Space
Fishing Dock
Lake Overlook
&
Picnic Area
Public Boat Docks
Restrooms
& Showers
l
DNR Property
Site of DNR Public Boat Launch Facility
Site design and facilities along with potential connections
with Nisswa Lake Park and Recreation Area are subject to
DNR approval and the Public Water Access design and
construction process.
To DNR Boat Launch Facility
Lakeside
Boardwalk
Tunnel from Downtown
to NLPRA
l Plaza
Park Entry
Information & Wayfinding Signage
Pedestrian & Bicycle
Access Trail
Swimming
- Children’s Area
40 feet
Concept C Key Features:
approx 40 parking spaces
loop trail from tunnel to lake
with scenic overlooks and
gathering spaces
many picnic areas
2 picnic shelters — a
smaller building and a larger
building with kitchen
restroom building with
outdoor showers, tables
large amphitheater space
large swimming area with
seperate child swim area
large fishing dock
12-14 boat dock spaces
lakeshore boardwalk
l
l
Next Steps
Based on the Nisswa City Council
recommendations, a new
Request for Proposal will be sought
for detailed engineering plans for
the park, as well as cost estimates
for park improvements.
By June of 2015, a park
development proposal will
be presented to the Nisswa City
Council, followed by a public
hearing. Upon Nisswa City Council
approval, the NLPRA project will
be considered “shovel ready” and
eligible for the MN Legacy Parks
Grant and/or other public and
private grant funding.
With successful grant-seeking
and other necessary permitting
requirements met, construction
of the park could begin as early
as Spring of 2016.
Contacts
Nisswa Lake Park & Recreational
Area Steering Committee
Co-Chairs: Richard Roberts
& Lee Seipp
Park & Recreation Director
Alex Hondl, (218) 963-0047
ahondl@ci.nisswa.mn.us
l
l
To Hazelwood Drive
& Regional Trails
What is it, where is it and
what will it include?
The Nisswa Lake Park & Recreational Area (NLPRA) is a 2.1 acre site
located on the eastern shore of Nisswa Lake, directly across Highway 371
from downtown Nisswa and immediately adjacent to another parcel acquired
by the DNR for use as a future public water access.
A lakeside park close to downtown will provide nature-based trails and
recreational opportunities, as well as regional access and connectivity to
water for residents and visitors alike. NLPRA will offer public access to the
Gull Lake chain of lakes while providing a convenient gateway to downtown
Nisswa businesses and the Paul Bunyan Trail.
Improvements currently being discussed for the park include:
1) picnic areas and benches
2) a swimming area
3) a fishing pier
4) mooring slips for up to 16 watercraft
5) a gazebo, pagoda or pavilion structure
6) biking and walking trails that connect to the Paul Bunyan Trail
7) restroom facilities
8) a boardwalk along the lakefront
The park has many, beautiful mature trees (including many mature white
pines) and a scenic overlook of Nisswa Lake. Combined with the planned
DNR public water access located adjacent and south, the addition of a public
park and swimming area on Nisswa Lake will greatly enhance the area’s
appeal.
Park Access Road
l
l
Nisswa Lake Park
& Recreational Area
www.ci.nisswa.mn.us/nisswalake
Become
Involved!
l Stay informed by getting on the
park mailing list or visiting
the city’s website —
www.ci.nisswa.mn.us/
nisswalake— or scan this
nisswalake
QR code (right)
for quick access
to the web page
l Attend a
Steering Committee
or City Council meeting.
l Make a tax-deductible donation
to the Friends of Nisswa Lake Park.
l Volunteer or participate in future
park activities!
www.ci.nisswa.mn.us/nisswalake
Frequently Asked Questions
How much money has been raised through
voluntary donations or from grants to support
the park project?
What is Minnesota DNR’s role in the park development project?
As planning proceeds for the park, the City will seek a Memorandum of
Understanding with the MN DNR to allow for collaboration and cost sharing
of certain improvements and park amenities. This will allow for the public water
access and the park site to function as one integrated park and recreational
area and provide a much larger site footprint for park visitors to enjoy –
whether they arrive by boat, by car, by bike or on foot!
Local residents JoAnn and Arnold Johnson donated
$300,000 toward the purchase of the park land.
In conjunction with the MN DNR, the City of Nisswa
applied for and received a $500,000 Minnesota Parks
& Trails Regional Legacy Grant in 2010. Since 2007,
the Friends of Nisswa Lake Park have raised over
$100,000 through tax-deductible donations from
over 170 individuals, organizations and businesses.
An additional $15,000 in grants has also funded the
park technical and planning phases. It is estimated
that the cost to fully develop the new park will be
in the range of $500,000.
Who will be responsible for ongoing management and
maintenance of the NLPRA?
As the city’s newest park, the city will maintain this park just as it does other
city property. As a part of the visioning process and development of park plan
scenarios, the NLPRA Steering Committee will provide options to the City
Council for consideration. The actual development plan and park configuration
will depend on:
1) how the City Council believes the park can best serve
the needs of area citizens
2) the amount of grant and aid funds that the Steereing Committee
and City can successfully compete for; and
3) estimates of future maintenance.
Ultimately, the City Council and citizens of Nisswa will decide how this project
moves forward.
What is the relationship between the
new Pocket Park, the 371 tunnel and
the Nisswa Lake Park & Recreational
Area?
How is the City partnering with other interested
parties on this project?
Many parties have been involved in developing the Nisswa
Lake Park & Recreational Area concept and proposal.
Early work from the City’s Parks & Recreation Advisory Committee was
followed by the formation of the Friends of Nisswa Lake Park (FONLP) to begin
to raise funds for park planning and acquisition. FONLP partnered with the
Brainerd Lakes Area Community Foundation to solicit tax deductible donations
for the project.
These are three interrelated but
separate projects that allign with the
policies of the city of Nisswa’s
Comprehensive Plan:
(1) to acquire land to develop
a beach and/or passive recreation offerings and
(2) to develop connecting trails
to the Paul Bunyan Trail.
At about the same time, the Minnesota DNR was contacted to solicit support for
the creation of a new public boat access at the Nisswa Lake location, as well as
a small parking lot for vehicles/trailers.
MnDOT participated by including the tunnel in their 371 expansion plans in
order to provide safe access to the park and public access. The tunnel and
pocket park are not considered part of the Nisswa Lake Park project, but they
create a great entryway from the downtown area to the NLPRA and DNR public
boat access sites.
Other park project collaborators include the:
• Initiative Foundation (grant)
• The University of Minnesota Center for Rural Design
(design concept/plan development) and
• The U of M Regional Sustainable Development Partnership (grant).
What is the role of the Nisswa Lake Park Steering Committee?
In June 2014, the Nisswa Lake Park Steering Committee was formed to help
guide the continuing park planning efforts. This committee, volunteers
composed of Nisswa residents, business owners and city staff, coordinated
the work by the U of M Center for Rural Design, which included a survey of
residents on the proposed Nisswa Lake Park, development of park designs and
a February 2015 public open house on the project to solicit additional public
feedback. The Steering Committee will use input from the open house activities
to formulate recommendations to deliver to the City Council.
The City was fortunate to take
advantage of several generous
donations and grants for the acquisition
of the park property - and the timing
of the improvements on Highway 371
allowed for the construction of the
Pocket Park and 371 tunnel.
Learn more about the comprehensive plan at: www.ci.nisswa.mn.us
Timeline of Major Activities
Lake frontage land
becomes available
on Nisswa Lake, near
Downtown Nisswa
Friends of Nisswa
Lake Park (FONLP)
is formed
JoAnn and Arnold
Johnson offer donation
toward purchase of
park land
Plan
Nis now to attend the
a Lake
& Rescw
Pa
reatio
nal Arrek
a
Minnesota Parks & Trails
Legacy Grant is awarded
to Nisswa for the park
land purchase
OP
HOUESN
E
Thursd
ay, Feb
.
4:30 - 7:
at the Nis
Land is surveyed
and maps are
created
swa Co
Stop by
Hwy 371 tunnel
and pocket park
developed
5, 2015
30 p.m
mmunity
anytime
.
Center
Scan this
QR code
for quick access
to the web page!
betwee
l Learn
n 4:30
- 7:30 p.m
abo
. to:
lakeside ut the history
of
park &
recreation the city’s new
l Provide
al area
input on
options
for the the best develop
land
ment
l Enjoy
refresh
ments
Raffert
courtes
y’s
y of
Chocola Pizza, Schaef
te Ox,
er’s Foo
Sto
the Nis
ds,
swa Cha neHouse Cof
fee and
mber.
Community engaged
in design concept
Learn mo
re at ww
w.ci.niss
wa.mn.u
s/Nisswa
Lake or
call (218)
963-004
7
www.ci.nisswa.mn.us/nisswalake