CONSTRUCTION PROJECTS

Countryside Park

Countryside Park is a nine-acre neighborhood park located in central Edina, just west of Tracy Avenue. The park contains two ball fields, tennis courts, a basketball court, children’s play equipment, and a warming house and bathroom building. A section of woods and a small wetland pond are located on the west part of the park along with a parking lot which is shared by Colonial Church.

The City of Edina recognized the need to plan for future improvement of Countryside Park and hired Hoisington Koegler Group (HKGi), a planning and design firm, to prepare concept park plans. 

Planning Process:  Staff from HKGi and the Edina Park & Recreation Department visited the park and discussed desired outcomes of the planning process. The goals of the planning work are to prepare a master plan for park revitalization and to identify a preliminary cost estimate for the potential park improvements. It was noted that no funds were yet set aside for improvements. HKGi analyzed the park and prepared a site analysis diagram summarizing the findings. A list of desired recreation features and activities was prepared based discussions with City staff. Ideas for improvement of the park were prepared and reviewed by City staff and the Edina Park Board. Two preferred concept park plans (described below) were prepared based on staff and Board direction. These plans are to receive neighborhood input with the goal of creating a master plan for improvement of the park.

Park Analysis Summary: Many of the park facilities, such as the shelter building and parking lot are in poor condition. The park lacks pathway connections for accessibility and recreation purposes. The park has some good quality facilities such as the little league baseball field located in the NE corner of the park and the tennis courts. The existing parking lot is shared with Colonial Church through a joint use agreement. The parking lot is not well used by park visitors at it is located far from most park recreation activities. 

Preferred Park Improvement Concepts:

CONCEPT A
In Concept A, both the basketball court and the tennis courts remain where they are. A comfort station/picnic shelter is located near the courts and adventure play area, but not near the existing surface parking lot. The children’s play area, which replaces the existing traditional tot lot, is to be integrated into a hill that is constructed from on-site soil from the sledding hill. The Prep Baseball Field is moved to the south side of the park and a large field space, to be used for soccer and other field sports, is to be located west of the little league field. The existing parking lot on the west side of the park is now more relevant for park users. There is also a small off-leash dog park proposed under the tree canopy and with close access off of the parking lot.  An extensive trail system edges all sides of the park and creates three smaller walking loops within, some of which become boardwalks they pass through educational rain gardens.    

CONCEPT B
In concept B additional in-the-park surface parking is introduced off of Olinger Boulevard. Near the parking on the north side of the park are a small off-leash dog park, comfort station/picnic shelter, basketball court and children’s adventure play area. In order to utilize the existing surface parking that is located in the southwest corner of the park, the Prep Field has been moved to the south side of the park. Between the parking lot and the storm water pond, additional infiltration swales have been added to suspend nutrients and sediments before reaching the storm sewers. The rain gardens are also aesthetically appealing as well as educational. A large open space, to be used for soccer and other field sports, is located in the southeast corner of the park.  An extensive trail system edges all sides of the park and creates three smaller loops within. 

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Concept A	Download the plans for Concept A.
Concept B	Download the plans for Concept B.