2023 City of Shakopee Budget

115

Budget Impact: It takes a lot to maintain the facilities and grounds for one of the largest property owners in Shakopee – The City. How do you maintain almost 719 acres of parks/open space land with 45 parks, 29 playgrounds, 94 sports fields, 209 acres which is mowed, 83 miles of trails, and 37 parking lots? With great and efficient staff! The Parks Maintenance Division consists of 11 full-time and 14 seasonal staff that do it all. 2022 was back to normal with a few extra events and additions. Parks crews supported events that brought hundreds of teams and thousands of spectators back to Shakopee. Tournaments and sporting events including soccer, lacrosse, adult softball, youth softball, football, youth/amateur baseball, Lions softball, frisbee golf, and NEW this year: a mountain bike race held at the Xcel Energy Mountain Bike Park and a cricket tournament held at Tahpah Park. Community events included Rhythm on the Rails, Iron Man event, Taste of Shakopee, Wheelies event, Shakopee-Prior Lake Shock Waves water ski team events, A Night to Unite and a few NEW events: Tap2022 Beer Festival, Shak-O-Lantern event held downtown, and the classic car and craft show at Tahpah park. Park replacements and additions in 2022 included Jennifer Lane Park, playground replacements at Scenic Heights and Prairie Bend Parks, edible gardens at Scenic Heights Park, musical play area in Windermere late last fall, and a 9-acre pollinator prairie located along Highway 169 just east of County Highway 69. Downtown, the addition of five parklets were installed in front of local businesses! Notable effort by our parks crews, including our seasonal staff, have also been given to the streetscaping around the city including the downtown area, the Vierling Drive roundabout area on the west end of the city, the Shenandoah Drive area around Canterbury Commons, and other miscellaneous streetscaping nodes. Keeping the city looking sharp is top on our priority list! Natural resources preserves and protects the city's urban forest, wetlands and plantings in open spaces, and includes invasive plant and pest management. Shakopee's ash trees remain under attack. The first case of emerald ash borer was confirmed in 2021. The city's tree stock is such a significant and valuable resource. Maintaining safe, healthy trees takes significant efforts and the city is dedicated to these efforts. Shakopee has received the "Tree City USA" designation for the past 15 years for the city's efforts and commitment to its urban forest management.

EMPLOYEES

PERCENT OF GENERAL FUND EXPENDITURES

12.2

11.2

11.2

11

Park Maintenance 9.3%

Actual 2020 Actual 2021 Budget 2022 Budget 2023

Number of Employees (FTEs)