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PlansandSpecifications <br />PinewoodGolfCourse Page3of14 <br />Section2: Background <br />CityProfile <br />TheCityofElkRiveristhecountyseatofSherburneCounty, Minnesotalocatedabout34miles northwest <br />ofMinneapolis. Itissituated attheconfluence oftheMississippi andElkRivers. The2015population is <br />approximately 24,000. <br />With41parks andrecreation facilitiesandover1,000acresofparkland, thecityhasastrongcommitment <br />toparks andrecreationforresidentsand visitorsalike. Throughthe citypassestheGreatNorthern Trail <br />north/south) andtheMississippi RiverTrailwhich connectsLake ItascatotheGulfCoast. Residents <br />alsohave access tosome ofthe best cross country skiingand mountain biking trailsintheMinneapolis-St. <br />Paulmetropolitan area. <br />Becauseparksandrecreation facilities areessentialtothecity’sidentityandto thequalityoflifefor <br />residents, astrategicapproachto protecting andcultivating these assetsforthefuture isvital. Thestrategic <br />approach thatthecity hasrecently takenistheParks andRecreationMasterPlan, adoptedbyCityCouncil <br />inJune of2015. TheMaster PlanisintendedtoprovidedirectionfortheCityCouncil, theParksand <br />RecreationCommission, andcitystaffto guidethem instrategic decision makingthatwillimpact the parks <br />andrecreation system. Whetherallocatingresources formaintenance, buildingatrail, installinga <br />playground, protecting riverfront land, ordeveloping the nextseason’srecreation program offerings, the <br />planoffersguidance. <br />Pinewood GolfCourseProfile <br />TheMasterPlanmade littlereference totheGolf Coursebecause duringthemasterplanningprocess <br />2014-15), itwasnotopentothepublic. Through theplanning process, someresidents expresseda strong <br />desiretoretaingolfaspartof thecity’srecreation offerings (MasterPlanpage 23). Residentdesiresto <br />retainthecourseinclude providing anaffordablegolfoption; supportingnewgolfers withalearning <br />course; ensuringfamily-friendlyactivitiesthatappealtoallages. <br />Pinewood GolfCourse lies onthewesterly border ofthecity. Thecourseisanine-holeexecutivelength <br />courseonapproximately27-acresof land. Course length rangesfrom1,497to 1,832yardswithaparof <br />30. <br />Thecitypurchased thecoursefromtheoriginal owner 2005andoperated PinewoodGolf Course from <br />2006to 2013. Theaverage numberofrounds foreach yearofoperations isestimated around10,000. A <br />majorityofthe userswere seniors andyouth drawnfromthelocal market. Theseasonwastypically from <br />ApriltoOctober. Thecityoperations included afull-timeGolfCourseSuperintendentandseasonalstaff <br />tomaintainthecourseandclubhouse ataquality level. <br />Thecoursewasclosed forthe 2014andensuinggolfseason andmaintainedinaminimalmaintenance <br />statewiththe intentionthatitcouldbereturnedtoservice inaminimum amount oftime. <br />ElkRiverCityCouncildecidedinAprilof2016thatcitypersonnelwillnotoperate thegolfcourse and <br />expressed consensusinJune of2016toseekaresponsiblefirmto managethegolfoperations, lease the <br />courseforoperations orpurchase thecoursewiththeintentof operatingasagolfcourse. <br />July15, 2016