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Finding trail solutions

Council hears proposal to update trails, pond at Independence Park

Photo by Deb Gau Marshall city staff say trails at Independence park are in rough shape and need replacing. But at the same time, they’re also considering expanding an undersized stormwater retention pond on the south end of the park.

MARSHALL — The trails at Independence Park are in serious need of replacing, Marshall city staff said. But before the city makes a final plan to update the trails, they’re also considering whether to enlarge a stormwater retention area at south end of the park and get rid of culverts that are undermining part of the trail.

The proposal would essentially add a fourth pond and a pedestrian footbridge to the park.

“We wanted to bring this concept forward and get some feedback,” City Engineer Jason Anderson told council members. After discussion with the council, Anderson said he would seek a quote for engineering services and report back.

Anderson said the city engineering department and Marshall Community Services have been talking about updates to the asphalt trails that go through Independence Park.

“They’re in pretty poor shape, pretty much throughout the park,” Anderson said. In addition, the slope on parts of the trail does not meet accessibility standards, and in one area culverts are undermining the trail.

The culverts connect the park’s three ponds to a stormwater retention area that is meant to settle out silt before water runs into the ponds. However, it’s “very small” for the drainage area it serves, Anderson said.

Anderson said there were a couple possible paths forward for updating the park. The city could just replace the trails and culverts. The other option would be to also expand the stormwater retention pond, and add a new footbridge crossing over it. Anderson said there was about a two-foot drop in elevation between the stormwater retention pond and the three other ponds, so it could also be possible to put in a small weir or waterfall feature.

It would cost an estimated $772,000 to replace the Independence Park trails with concrete and build the footbridge, Anderson said. The enlarged stormwater pond and weir, with a recirculating pump, would cost an estimated $267,000.

Anderson said the city had submitted an application for a $250,000 DNR trails grant to help fund the park updates, and Community Services was also reaching out to possible community partners.

Some council members said they were in favor of the proposal, but they also had questions and suggestions. Council member John DeCramer asked if expanding the stormwater pond would help stop the other three ponds from silting up. In 2016, the city had to excavate the bottoms of the ponds to remove excess sediment.

“That would be a large goal,” Anderson said. The bigger stormwater area and weir would slow the sediment down and help keep it out of the other ponds.

Council member James Lozinski the new trail design should take into account use by heavy equipment, during community events like Light Up the Night.

Council member Russ Labat said he had received suggestions from members of the public about using Independence Park as the site of a new city aquatic center. Maybe the city should wait to take action on the trails, until after further discussion of updates at the Aquatic Center, he said.

Marshall City Administrator Sharon Hanson said public input sessions on the Aquatic Center are planned in early July.

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