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Memorandum <br />To: Parks and Recreation Commission <br />From: Joe Stremcha, Business Services Director/Assistant City Administrator <br />Date: May 8, 2024 <br />Subject: Parks and Recreation Staff Report <br />This report is a monthly highlight of department activities related to recent collaborations, strategic planning, <br />staff changes/developments, and park operations. <br />Park and Recreation Manager Vacancy <br />The application period has closed. Applications will be reviewed promptly, and interviews scheduled later this <br />month. <br />Food Trucks <br />Food trucks are extremely popular in our parks. This increase in business activity has raised several public safety <br />concerns for the pedestrians traveling around these mobile operators. Staff will be recommending to the City <br />Council revisions to the current ordinance to provide clarity on approved surfaces for conducting business and <br />redefine their presence downtown as the language is specific to the summer concert series rather than city events <br />(such as the farmers market) as a whole. <br />Play My Way <br />The Play My Way program launched on April 30. The City of Elk River has many playgrounds that will need to <br />be replaced over the next 5 to 10 years. Staff are actively engaging with the youth of Elk River to help design <br />those playgrounds! There are several ways to get involved: <br />▪Take an online survey with your children where they get to choose the equipment, they would like to <br />have on their dream playground. <br />▪Join us at one of our Play My Way interactive booths this summer and vote in person. A list of events are <br />located on our website. <br />▪Download one of the playground creator worksheets on our website to do at home or with your school. <br />Copies are available at the Parks and Recreation office in City Hall. <br />▪For more information, please visit our website: https://elkrivermn.gov/playmyway <br />Plants and Things Recreation Complex <br />Staff collaborated with Steve Hickman about opportunities to market Plants and Things, USA during the <br />upcoming baseball/softball season. Various outdoor patio furniture will be displayed for use in accordance with <br />their sponsorship agreement. Elk River Youth Baseball donated to the City artificial turf and it was installed in <br />the batting cages at the PT Complex. Staff also installed the batting cage nets this year due to the project <br />timeline. Sponsorship banners have begun being placed on the outfield fences at the PT Complex. <br />Item: 8 <br />Page 82 of 125