Frequently Asked Questions

Questions about the Park & Trail System Plan:

  • Many park amenities throughout the city were constructed 20-25 years ago and are reaching the end of their useful life.  Even with routine maintenance, amenities such as playgrounds, shelters, trails and hockey rinks eventually require major renovations or replacement. Many parks were built around the same time that the city was developed and are reaching the point of needing critical updates or replacement at the same time, creating many needs arising all at once.

  • If approved by voters, the city will focus on critical updates and improvements to Lakefront Park, Spring Lake Park, neighborhood parks and Highway 13 trails, ensuring the city’s outdoor amenities continue to enhance residents’ quality of life for years to come.

    Improvements at neighborhood parks will respond to the specific needs of the neighborhood where they are located and align with the character of the park. For many parks, this will mean upgrading or replacing aging playgrounds, fields and facilities so our outdoor spaces are accessible and enjoyable for everyone—now and in the future.

    Plans for Spring Lake Park include developing high-quality soccer fields, expanded pickleball courts, new hockey rinks, and a warming house. At Lakefront Park, the plan includes adding an adventure playground, splash pad, and year-round restrooms, along with improved accessibility and spaces for community events. Neighborhood parks will also be upgraded or redesigned, and trail connections throughout the city, including along TH 13, will be improved for better access and use.

  • Residents have consistently expressed a strong desire for enhanced lakefront access and modern, inclusive recreational amenities that meet the needs of our growing community.

    Community parks like Lakefront Park and Spring Lake Park serve the largest number of residents and provide the greatest value for investment, while also generating revenue through facility and field reservations that reinvest in the park system. Improvements at Lakefront Park depend on developing Spring Lake Park as a hub for activities like soccer and hockey, ensuring continuous service during renovations.

    Additionally, the plan prioritizes upgrading neighborhood parks across the city to ensure every resident has access to an updated park within a half mile, reinforcing the city’s commitment to improving the entire park system.

  • Through thoughtful planning, the city is committed to minimizing disruptions to events and athletics currently held in our parks. To achieve this, improvements will be phased in carefully between Spring Lake Park and Lakefront Park to maintain continuity of services as much as possible. While every effort will be made to reduce impact, there may be limited access to certain amenities, such as the playground at Lakefront Park, during construction.

  • If approved by voters, more extensive design and planning will begin in early 2026, including the hiring of contractors. Improvements to Spring Lake Park, Lakefront Park, neighborhood parks and highway 13 trails will be carried out over the next five years.

  • Through the annual budget process, the city will plan for necessary routine maintenance of any existing and updated park amenities per industry standard.

Questions about the planning process:

  • Since 2018, the city has worked with residents to develop the plan to improve its park and trail system through pop-up events, public meetings, interactive online maps, social media and other efforts to understand community needs. After a pause from 2020 to 2022, planning resumed in 2023 with a detailed assessment of park quality, accessibility, and contributions to conservation and community health.

    The city has continued engaging residents and local groups this spring, including conducting a local survey to gather feedback and better understand community priorities for park and trail improvements.

  • As with past projects like Ponds Park, the city will actively involve residents in shaping the outcome of new investments in the parks and trails system, offering opportunities to provide input on features such as play equipment and park amenities during the design process.

Questions about the cost:

  • Estimates for proposed upgrades at Spring Lake Park and Lakefront Park are approximately $20 million each, while improvements to neighborhood parks and trails are also estimated at $20 million, bringing the total cost of the city’s Park and Trail System Plan to $60 million.

    Cost estimates to address all the needs of every park and trail in the city exceed $115 million. Recognizing that the cost is too high to do everything at once, the city structured the investment plan in phases to prioritize the most critical needs and residents' top choices first.

  • The city has proposed an increase in the property tax levy to help pay for planned improvements to our park and trail system. If approved by voters, $60 million in funding would support improvements over the next several years.

  • If voters approve the ballot referendum to fund this plan, the plan's financial impact will vary based on property value. The estimated tax impact on an median-value home of $433,600 would be approximately $22 per month starting in 2026. Learn more about the cost of the proposed plan on the Cost Page.

  • If approved by voters in November, a property tax increase would serve as the main funding source for improvements in our park and trail system — providing an efficient way for the city to tackle multiple projects at once, rather than spreading them out over time.

    To help offset ongoing operational costs, the city may introduce new fees for park activities such as field use, facility rentals, and events.

  • Because Prior Lake has a mostly residential tax base, a local sales tax isn’t a viable funding option. That’s why the city is proposing a property tax levy, which spreads the cost across all property owners.

  • The city has actively pursued and secured various funding sources to support past and planned projects to help minimize the financial impact on residents. Examples include:

    • Ponds Park Phase 1: Secured a $300,000 MN DNR grant, and received $185,000 from Prior Lake Athletics for Youth (PLAY) toward the project.

    • TH 13 Trail Segment 5: Funded with a $250,000 MN DNR Trails Grant and $632,000 in Congressional directed spending.

    • TH 13 Trail Segment 1: Received $1 million in Congressional directed spending and applied for a $500,000 Safe Routes to School grant (not awarded).

    • Lakefront Park Playground: applied for $1,000,000 grant from the Prior Lake Rotary Signature Project in 2024 (not awarded).

    • Ponds Park Phase 2: Applied for a $350,000 MN DNR grant (not awarded), received $88,000 from PLAY toward project.

    These efforts reflect the city's commitment to leveraging external funding to deliver high-quality projects while reducing the burden on local taxpayers.