Editor’s note: This is the final story in a four-part series about the past, present and future of the pavilion and city park.

DETROIT LAKES — Significant changes are being considered at City Park in Detroit Lakes. Located at the intersection of Washington Avenue and North Shore Drive, the area’s iconic park offers 62 acres where people regularly gather with friends and family to participate in community events and sporting activities. Changing something so notable can be a cause for concern, so it’s important to review the proposed changes, which include a new bathhouse, wading pool and more.

The city’s plan to fund improvements to City Park is tied to an upcoming sales tax referendum that will be on the ballot in November.

City residents have the opportunity to vote on a half-cent sales tax on all state-taxable items for up to 12 years. Taxpayers include residents and visitors who shop in the city.

After reviewing 2017 sales tax data, City Manager Kelcey Klemm stated at an April City Council meeting that about 60% of retail sales were made by people who live outside of Detroit Lakes.

To get an idea of ​​what half a cent of VAT would cost when shopping, Klemm gave the following examples:

• For an item costing $4, a tax of about 2 cents would be imposed.
• A tax of 25 cents applies to a purchase valued at $50.

Local sales tax would not be levied on food, clothing, medicine, vehicle sales or other non-taxable items.

The estimated cost of the park project is about $3 million, but the total referendum cost is $13.7 million, including a new pavilion ($9.5 million), site preparation, planning and other construction-related costs.

At this time, project costs are only estimates. Actual costs could be higher or lower. For this reason, a contingency fund of approximately $2.5 million has been set aside for the referendum.

Klemm explained that the city has held several open houses on the pavilion and city park project in recent years. Feedback was collected at these meetings, led by RGD Consulting.

“We have a good concept, but it is not final yet,” said Klemm. “Some of these things will have to be determined in a planning process if the referendum is passed.”

That means if you don’t attend a previous meeting, there are more opportunities to get involved. Klemm noted that in addition to the public, the parks department and the city’s arts and culture commission will also be included in the discussions.

But before we can proceed with further discussions about the future of the park, the referendum on sales tax must first be passed. Otherwise, the discussion will be moot.

The bathhouse is a concrete block structure built in 1956 for $22,500, listed on the National Register of Historic Places, and features 2,300 square feet of restrooms for both sexes.

Matt Brenk, mayor of Detroit Lakes, remembers that when he was a kid, there were areas at the front of the building (facing the lake) where people could change into their bathing suits.

“I think there were some showers and maybe some outside showers where we could rinse off,” Brenk said. “So it was actually a bathhouse at one time.”

Klemm explained that the building gained its historical significance when the park was designated as historic. Because of the designation, the Minnesota State Historic Preservation Office would be involved in discussions about the park and the bathhouse.

Klemm said they are considering building a new bathhouse with outdoor showers. The outdoor shower would help combat the annual bathing fever that is common at many lakes in the area, including Little Detroit Lake.

“We’ve shared that with the State Historical Preservation Office,” Klemm said. “We have to justify why it needs to be replaced and not renovated. So that’s still a process we need to tackle.”

Splash pads provide an outdoor play area with fountains or other equipment that sprays water. It is not a water park.

“We probably get the most comments about the water feature,” said Klemm, adding that the feedback was positive. However, Klemm initially did not understand what would make a wading pool so close to the lake so attractive.

What made him rethink it was the fact that wading pools are also “heavily used” in other communities and the support from the community is “overwhelming.”

“I guess I’m a convert in that regard,” he said.

Still, there were logistical considerations. Klemm explained that city staff had raised concerns about placing the water feature next to the beach. For example, could sand get into the filters and damage them? Wading pool manufacturers were contacted, and Klemm said the initial concerns did not seem to be a problem.

The renovation plan for the city park calls for a city square in front of the east entrance of the pavilion. The area would be located between the pavilion and the planned bathhouse. The surface between the two buildings would be grass, which would provide a longer lifespan independent of foot traffic.

“This would give you the opportunity to expand pavilion events to the outdoor area in the east,” said Klemm. “And conversely, you could then hold a kind of concert or open-air event that could then spill over into the pavilion again.”

Klemm envisioned the space being used for a variety of events, including Bash on the Beach, Food Truck Fridays and Polar Fest activities. The space could also be an additional attraction for those who rent the pavilion.

The existing playground at City Park is located on a hill. Although the equipment is heavily used, those with limited mobility may find it difficult to negotiate the steep incline from the parking lot. There is a more moderate incline on the beach side of the playground.

Klemm said the plans for the playground include “fairly extensive site leveling,” meaning the hill will be removed and the site leveled. A poured rubber floor is planned on top of the leveled ground. The rubber floor will provide protection if children fall and is suitable for everyone, regardless of their mobility.

The playground equipment will also be completely replaced. Klemm noted that while he and other city employees describe the equipment at the City Park playground as “new,” it is actually “12 or 14 years old.” He explained that some of the current equipment will likely be retired to replace older equipment at other parks in the city.

The parking lot at City Park would remain very similar to the current layout. The proposed parking plan maintains one-way entrances and exits. The parking lot, which dead ends near the City Park troll, would be removed. A new loop would be added that would bring people closer to the pavilion, and parking would be offered along the loop.

“Overall, there is a net increase (in parking spaces),” said Klemm.

In an email following the interview, Klemm provided documents explaining that City Park currently has 165 parking spaces. The proposed parking plan calls for 182 spaces, 17 more than currently available.

“A 400-person event at the Pavilion will certainly put a strain on parking in the area,” Klemm said in an email. “That’s why we’ve talked about adding parking anywhere along West Lake Drive if there’s room.”

City Park features a concert area that is often used for outdoor concerts in the summer. Klemm said the current park plan does not call for any changes to the concert area.

No changes are planned for the disc golf course either, said Klemm. However, there are proposals to create a nature trail there. He reiterated that discussions about further improvements to the park could continue if the referendum is passed.

The number of trees in the park could be reduced somewhat, at least temporarily. Klemm said that several trees had been felled in recent years because they had died or had succumbed to Dutch elm disease and had to be removed. However, Klemm and Brenk stressed that more trees will “certainly” be planted.

“We are also a Tree City USA and we are very aggressive in planting trees throughout the city, so we will not let up in that area,” Brenk said.

The city plans to hold open houses this fall to further discuss the pavilion and city park project, the proposed sales tax that would fund the projects, and to highlight the deteriorating condition of the current pavilion.

“We are considering holding these in September and October,” said Klemm.

Previous articles on the Pavilion are available online or in back issues and include: