HomeMy WebLinkAbout07S Letter of Support to Washington County to Proceed with Cottage Grove Ravine Regional Park Recreation Building Project
CITY OF COTTAGE GROVE 12800 Ravine Parkway Cottage Grove, Minnesota 55016
cottagegrovemn.gov 651-458-2800 Fax 651-458-2897 Equal Opportunity Employer
May 6, 2020
Washington County Board of Commissioners
14949 62nd St N
Stillwater, MN 55082
Dear Washington County Board of Commissioners,
We write this letter in response to the County’s recent board meeting where discussion about the future
of the Cottage Grove Ravine Regional Park Lower Landing Master Plan took place. Although we
understand and empathize with the concerns of COVID-19, our Council is disappointed to hear that the
project faces potential delay.
We feel compelled to express our unanimous and resolved support for Washington County to continue
with the final phase of the Lower Landing Master Plan. Our community has been eagerly awaiting these
facility improvements after several years of exploratory work. Both the County and our community
have spent countless hours over the past few years studying and planning for a new and improved
experience at Cottage Grove Ravine Regional Park. Open houses, surveys and public meetings have all
played an important role in developing the plan. We assure you that it has generated much excitement
and renewed spirit in the community regarding the future of the park.
Cottage Grove Ravine Regional Park is Cottage Grove’s largest park and is home to our only lake.
Additionally, it is one of just a few spots where our residents and visitors can fish, cross country ski, bird
watch and hike miles of natural trails in a diverse forest. What was a once a very underutilized park has
become a recreation destination due to the County’s commitment to improving citizen well-being via a
well-kept park and trail system. To not finish or postpone the master plan with the recreation center
would be an unfortunate halt to a project with such positive momentum. The proposed recreational
facility was going to be unique to Cottage Grove and give us a much needed gathering space for classes,
parties, meetings, socializing, leisure activities, changing space, fire pit, outdoor connectivity and more.
This is something our community has clearly identified as a recreational need. Further, we believe
government projects such as these provide economic stimulus to our local economy during these trying
times by providing work for companies and employees when it is needed the most.
We, the City Council of Cottage Grove, respectfully request the County to stay the course on the Cottage
Grove Ravine Regional Park Lower Landing project by building the recreational facility and completing
other lower landing improvements as presented to our Cottage Grove and Washington County
constituents.
Sincerely,
Myron Bailey, Mayor
Cc: Cottage Grove City Council