Rochester Park Board Meeting Summary – May 5, 2026

The Rochester Park Board met on May 5, 2026, at 4:30 p.m. in City Hall Conference Room 104. The board approved consent items, heard public comments on sidewalks at Martin Luther King Jr. Park, discussed a disc golf organization agreement, authorized bids for park improvements, and received a fundraising update from the Rochester Parks Foundation.

Consent Calendar

• Item 8.A: Approved applications to permit alcoholic beverages at the 2026 FORWARD Park Concert and 2026 Riverside Music Series.
• Item 8.B: Approved the Canopy Loss Fee Policy.
• Item 8.D: Authorized an agreement with California Skate Parks for design services for the Silver Lake Skate Park expansion.
• Item 8.E: Approved the extension of the Rochester Recreation Center agreement with the Rochester Grizzlies hockey team for 2026–2028.
• Items 8.A, 8.B, 8.D, 8.E were approved unanimously in a single block motion.

Public Comments & Testimony

• Glenn Leckband (Ward 4 resident): Read a resolution and petition urging the board not to install concrete sidewalks on the south and west sides of MLK Jr. Park, citing tree preservation, safety concerns near utility poles, stormwater runoff, and that the park is already accessible via existing paths.
• Fred Morck (read on behalf of David Renker): Submitted a petition with 110 signatures opposing the proposed south and west sidewalks, citing safety, tree preservation, and the park's historic character.
• John Molseed (East Side Neighborhood Association): Stated the association's board voted to oppose converting green space to sidewalks along the southwest border, arguing it conflicts with climate resiliency, adds maintenance costs, and is redundant given the north-side trail and planned bike amenities on Center Street.
• Mike Degerstrom (Zumbro Valley Audubon Society): Read a letter advocating for pollinator-friendly plantings, native wildflower plots near playgrounds, natural areas under trees to support overwintering insects, and wildlife corridors between parks.

Discussion Items

• Monthly Reports (Item 5.A): Parks and Recreation Director Paul Widman reported on digital accessibility improvements to public-facing online content, now mandated by the U.S. Department of Justice. Forestry Division Head Mike Nigbur noted ongoing physical accessibility evaluations in parks.
• Canopy Loss Fee Policy (Item 8.B): Approved without further discussion.
• Disc Golf Association MOU (Item 8.C): Pulled from consent by Commissioner Chad Ramaker for discussion. Commissioners debated whether the requirement for a master plan was applied uniformly across partner organizations. Commissioner Ramaker expressed concerns about transparency and fairness, noting that some groups (e.g., RAPA and pickleball) were not required to produce master plans while others (e.g., RASC for mountain biking) were. City Forester Jeff Haberman said the master plan clause was meant for flexibility, not to impose a financial burden. Drew Wilson of the Rochester Area Disc Golf Association (RADGA) said they do not view a master plan as a burden but would like a defined timeline if required. A motion to approve the MOU without the master plan requirement passed 4-3 (Commissioners Ramaker, Cormack, Bilderback, and Kunz in favor; Commissioners Neumann, Morgan, and Marino opposed).
• MLK Jr. Park Quotes and Bids (Item 8.F): Pulled by Commissioner Mark Bilderback. Park Planner Jeff Feece explained that the sidewalk proposal is based on the Unified Development Code, Active Transportation Plan, Parks and Recreation System Plan, and the Minnesota SCORP grant criteria. He noted that only three trees would be removed for the sidewalks, with a fourth already slated for removal near a utility pole. Mitigation measures include meandering sidewalk design, raising the sidewalk to minimize root cutting, and tree protection fencing. Commissioners debated trade-offs between community opposition, tree preservation, accessibility needs, and grant compliance. Commissioner Martin Cormack stressed that omitting sidewalks would exclude people using wheelchairs and walkers. Commissioner Rebekah Kunz questioned whether rejecting the sidewalks could jeopardize the $1.5 million grant. Director Widman and staff noted that reneging on grant application promises could harm future funding relationships. The board unanimously approved the quotes and bids as presented.
• Rochester Parks Foundation Update (Item 9.A): Foundation co-chair Tori Boomgaarden Gross reported that the foundation has raised just over $70,000 of a $100,000 goal for amenities at Silver Lake Pool (climbing wall, basketball hoops, zipline). Fundraising kicked off late in 2025, with an anonymous donor matching individual gifts up to $10,000. The foundation aims to reach the goal by summer 2026.

Key Outcomes

• Approved block consent items 8.A, 8.B, 8.D, and 8.E unanimously.
• Approved the Disc Golf MOU without the master plan requirement by a vote of 4-3.
• Authorized quotes and bids for MLK Jr. Park improvements (including sidewalks) unanimously.
• Directed staff to schedule a study session to review partnership agreements and criteria for master plan requirements.
• Placed future agenda items: Olmsted County Parks and Trails Commission joint meeting; inquiry about Rec Center ice availability; tennis court condition at Quarry Hill Park; discussion of native wildflower reintroduction.