BATTLE CREEK WINTER RECREATION AREA

Photo Credit: Visit Saint Paul

Enhancing health, well-being and equity through connection to the natural environment.

REQUEST $3.1 million in state bond funding as a matching grant to design and construct the first and only snowmaking facility in the east metro. The project will install a permanent snowmaking system on 2.5 km of lighted trail, a teaching area for cross-country , and a sledding and tubing hill.

BENEFITS The Battle Creek Winter Recreation Area will support residents and student athletes from across the region by fostering healthy winter activities, and improving community access to enjoy outdoor benefiting the entire state by bolstering tourism efforts.

REGIONAL SIGNIFICANCE • More than 50% of people within two miles of Battle Creek Regional Park are people of color including Somali, Hmong, Karen, African American and Latinx communities. • The Sanneh Foundation, Minnesota Youth Ski League, Endurance United, Saint Paul Parks and Recreation and Ramsey County Parks & Recreation are already partnering to build robust learn to ski programs for the community, but reliable is necessary for success. • The winter recreation area is expected to bring 165,000 annual visits.

YOUTH PROGRAMMING & DEVELOPMENT • The Battle Creek Winter Recreation Area will serve as home to 16 east metro high schools. A total of 30 schools will use the facility for cross-country ski competitions. • In addition to providing 2.5 km of snow-covered cross-country ski trails, the winter recreation area will offer families in the surrounding community a free sledding and tubing hill to use from November - March.

HEALTH • More than 400 studies demonstrate the lifelong health benefits of being outdoors in nature, including lower blood pressure, improved mental health and reduced obesity rates. • Winter recreation helps create year-long opportunities to promote self-esteem, perseverance, a love of the outdoors and a connection to nature. PROJECT DETAIL The snowmaking system will be designed to establish a cross-country ski trail and sledding hill at temperatures below 27° F. System features include:

• 8 snowguns. • Water pipes and electrical lines. • Water cooling and maintenance center. • Updated LED lighting. • equipment.

FAST FACTS

vs 30 high school 0 3 cross-country ski east metro west metro teams would use the facility during SNOWMAKING FACILITIES competitions 2.5 km proposed length of ski trails 5 months 30-60 165,000 minutes guaranteed winter visits expected based on recreation with average travel time for current school comparable facilities snowmaking teams to a snowmaking facility

ESTIMATED PROJECT COST (2020) $5.3 million

state funding request $3.1 million

county funding committed $ $1 million JENNIFER O’ROURKE MARK MCCABE Director of Government Relations Director of Parks & Recreation 651-724-3461 . jennifer.o’[email protected] 651-363-3777 . [email protected]