Cottage Grove park splash pad to open mid-summer

Talk about it

Construction has started on the recreational splash pad in Highlands Park in Cottage Grove and will be ready to cool off kids of all ages around July 4.

Use of the facility will be free and it’s expected to be a popular activity throughout the summer, according to Zac Dockter, city director of parks and recreation. There will be parking in the park lot, at the basketball courts and on the street.

Splash pads are built to have no standing water and water sprays and features are activated by sensors to run for a limited amount of time. Water is treated and recycled.

The neighborhood summer program at Highlands Park is moving to Woodridge Park on 90th Street. The Tot Time program at Woodridge is moving to Pine Tree Park on Indian Boulevard, Dockter said.

Recreation programs will also be held at Peter Thompson Family and Hearthside parks.

The municipal pool on the west side of Highway 61 is closed and the pool will be removed. It was too expensive to operate, according the city, and was underused.

The pool facility, once called Thompson Grove Country Club in the 1960s when the city was being rapidly developed, can be used for another city facility, according to an advisory committee made up of staff members and representatives from city commissions.

The committee’s consensus is that the building could be re-modeled and insulated to become an indoor park for young children and host birthday parties and other celebrations as well.

Dockter said it’s likely funding for the revamped facility would come from a city referendum some time in the future.

Park improvements this summer will also include paving a trail around Pine Tree Pond south of 80th Street south of Fire Station 2 and the trail to the archery range.

A gravel trail east of Jamaica Avenue from south of Jasmine Avenue to 80th Street west of Jensen Avenue will be paved this summer.

A tunnel under 80th Street will be built connecting the newly paved trail to the Kingston Park area east of 80th Street. The tunnel will also serve as a way to manage surface water runoff as well.

At Woodridge Park, ball fields are getting new turf and dugouts.

A new park is being opened as well. Sunnyhill Park, on Sunnyhill Road near the northeast city border with Woodbury, officially opens this summer.

There will be a ball field and a bocce ball court, park shelter and play structure, according to Dockter.

New recycling bins will be placed in city parks for cans and plastic.

Tags: cottage grove, updates, news, government