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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2023-03-13 Packet 07.D. To: Parks, Recreation and Natural Resources Commission From: Zac Dockter, Parks and Recreation Director CC: Date: February 27, 2023 Subject: Cottage Grove Trailway Corridor Landscape Restoration Grant Introduction The City has been working for many years to restore park and open spaces to their native landscape features. Doing so improves parkland habitat and ecology while also beautifying community open space. The Parks and Recreation Department is considering restorative landscape work for the Cottage Grove Trailway Corridor in 2023. The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources Conservation Partners Legacy (CPL) Grant program has a mission of restoring, protecting, and enhancing wetlands, prairie, forest and habitat for fish, game and wildlife. The CPL Grant is designed by the DNR to partner with regional and local organizations to achieve said mission through Legacy Grant funding. Funding for the CPL program is from the Outdoor Heritage Fund created by the people of Minnesota. This fund receives 33% of the sales tax revenues resulting from the Clean Water, Land, and Legacy Constitutional Amendment passed by the voters in the November 2008 election. The CPL Grant program offers an excellent opportunity for the city of Cottage Grove to continue its efforts of restoring historical landscapes within the Cottage Grove Trailway Corridor. Background The Cottage Grove Trailway Corridor is one of Cottage Grove’s most heavily used trailway and open space areas in the community. It acts as a hub by connecting several Cottage Grove’s parks, trails and greenspaces. This east/west trailway connects with Hidden Valley park to the west, Highlands Park to the north, Kingston Park to the east and Pine Tree Valley Park to the south. With over 1.3 miles of paved trail and nearly 50 acres of open space (highlighted in map below), this space is truly a Cottage Grove treasure. Since 2006, the City has been working to restore quality habitat within this corridor. The eastern 26 acres were converted to prairie in 2006. From 2006 to 2007, Hidden Valley Park, West Draw Park and Meadowgrass Parks were restored to prairie. Beginning in 2020, Kingston Park open spaces to the east were restored to native prairie, woodland and wetland. The ultimate goal of this effort is to create a habitat corridor belt that stretches the length of the developed community. This effort will give both wildlife and humans a nature connection through the heart of Cottage Grove. This would result in nearly 6 miles of continuous native and diversified habitat that is complimented by a recreational trail system. The map below highlights the complete corridor. Successfully Restored Habitat Proposed Habitat Restoration Grant Future Habitat Restoration Space The requested grant application requests funding to restore 21 acres of the Cottage Grove Trailway Corridor (highlighted in red on the map above). This land is currently dominated by invasive species with minimal management practices. The grant would provide funding to clear invasive trees/shrubs/grasses/weeds followed by planting of Minnesota native prairie, wetlands and woodlands. The project team will be creative with encouraging habitat benefit by planting tree species that provide a food source to animals, birds and humans. Such native species may include crabapple varieties, wild plumb and Hazelnut just to name a few. Further, grasslands will be populated with wildflowers that support pollinators, Monarch Butterflies and more. When mature, this restored landscape will provide year-round beauty while also supporting the everchanging ecosystem within the greenway. Additionally, these restorative efforts promote water quality by planting sustainable species that have large root masses to filter water and protect soils against drought/erosion. Further, once established, these spaces require minimal maintenance which ultimately saves the City labor, fuel and equipment expenses. To support this landscape restoration effort, staff is recommending application for a MN DNR Conservation Partners Legacy grant in the amount of $155,000. The match requires a 10% match from the City. If awarded, the funds would be derived from the Public Landscapes Initiative fund which has this project scheduled for 2024 and carries a budget of $20,000. Although some work would begin in 2023, the majority of expenditures will take place in 2024. Grow-in maintenance and in-fill work continues through 2026 to assure the landscape matures as designed. Project costs and funding sources are proposed as follows: Project Costs $155,000 Grant Request $139,500 City In-Kind Match $5,500 City Cash Match $10,000 Should City Council authorize the grant application, staff will connect with adjacent homeowners regarding the plan. Residents will be invited to a project review at a future Parks, Recreation and Natural Resources Commission meeting so comments and concerns can be publicly documented. Staff Recommendation Support application for a MN DNR Conservation Partners Legacy grant for Cottage Grove Trailway Corridor native habitat restoration in the amount of $155,000.