Sylvan Hills Park

Improvements

General recommendations includes replacement of existing amenities with layout modifications for an improved recreational experience and improved safety.

Recommendations include:

• Remove ballfield and convert to low-grow lawn
• New trails to create internal loop, connect to amenities and connect to crosswalks
• New playground in more central location for improved safety and access from the parking lot to meet varying age groups
• ADA compliant playground surfacing (engineered wood fiber)
• Concrete playground border
• New full basketball court
• Tennis court with pickleball overlay
• Site furnishings with common characteristic (benches, tables, receptacles, bike racks, drinking fountain, etc.)
• Stormwater improvements
• Wayfinding signs
• Additional park signs
• Security light

Resources

• Updated Concept Plan with Stormwater Improvements(PDF, 5MB)
• Sylvan Hills Park recommendation(PDF, 773KB)
• Sylvan Hills Stormwater and Habitat Enhancement Feasibility Study(PDF, 36MB)

A total of $50 million in possible park system improvements were identified in the Park Plan. Based on resident input, Fridley City Council directed staff to work with a Park Plan Refinement Task Force advisory group to recommend $30 million in park projects that would be most impactful to the community.

Further, a resident Finance Task Force recommended funding the park system improvement plan by issuing General Obligation (GO) Tax Abatement Bonds for $20 million in bond proceeds, being repaid over no more than 15 years, with an additional $10 million to come from other City of Fridley funds.

Tax abatement is a tool that can be used by cities to abate all or a portion of property taxes levied by the City for a given purpose, such as public infrastructure improvements. All taxpayers, whether identified as an abated parcel or not, will continue to pay property taxes as they normally would. Minnesota Statute 469.1813 gives cities authority for tax abatement, and this has become an increasingly common means of funding park improvements, as they provide benefit to all residents. A requirement is holding a public hearing for the consideration of tax abatement, and that was held on May 23, 2022.The bonds will be repaid over 15 years with annual debt service payments being levied for and it is likely there will be an increase in property taxes beginning in 2023.

This plan will provide many opportunities for expanded recreation programming, enjoyment of nature and social gatherings. Enhancing and modernizing the city park system will position Fridley as a great place to live, work and play now and for many years to come.

The City was awarded grant funding from the Mississippi Watershed Management Organization to install stormwater improvements within Sylvan Hills Park in conjunction with the planned park project. The goals of these improvements are to:

• Improve the quality of stormwater runoff prior to discharge into the Mississippi River
• Reduce localized flooding
• Add a recreational and aesthetic benefit to the park
• Add ecological diversity and pollinator habitat.

Proposed improvements include:

• An underground infiltration system to provide regional treatment for stormwater runoff for an approximately 65-acre drainage area draining to the park via the storm sewer system. This will be situated under the open space and appear as a mowed field.
• An above ground treatment system comprised of two vegetated infiltration basins connected by a dry creek (creek may hold water during rain events).
• Additional pollinator habitat within the vegetated infiltration basins as well as slopes along the western edge of the park.

It is expected that these improvements will provide 16.1 pounds of phosphorus removal and 5,000 pounds of sediment removal annually from stormwater discharging to the Mississippi River. Modeling also indicates reduced flooding within the park and surrounding neighborhood during 10- and 100-year storm events.