11-03-2025 PRCEM Parks, Recreation &Community Education Advisory Board
Meeting Minutes
November 3, 2025
Members present were Liz Stearns, Margo Kaping, Kyle Wendling, Eric Thovson, Ann Lamecker, Chad
Czmowski and Josh Kamrath and Erin Knudtson. Staff present Lynn Neumann, Leslie Alberts and Sara
Witte.
Kyle Wendling called the meeting to order at 5:15 pm.
Margo Kaping moved to approve the October 6, 2025, meeting minutes.Josh Kamrath seconded the
motion.The minutes were approved.
Old Business
Parkland Dedication Fees
o Last updated in 1995
o Roughly$300,000 in the account—to be used for Parkland, Open Spaces and Trails
o Looking to the advisory board on how to move forward with the following:
o Fee structure: per unit or percentage of the land
o Take the fees out of the ordinance and use a fee schedule
o Lynn will bring back comparables
o Nothing renewable going into the fund at the moment
New Business
North Park Playground Replacement
o Current structure has been in place since 2000
o Scheduled to be replaced in spring/summer of 2026
o 50/50 share between the City of Hutchinson, PRCE and ISD423
o Saved $30,000 on discount of equipment
o New structure will offer more independent play
o Paying to have equipment installed: $18,000 for labor—budgeted into plan
o Installed by Midwest Playscapes
o Lynn will send out design—chose to stay with school colors
Open Skate Opportunities
o East rink vs West rink—open skating in East rink M/W/F: 11am-1pm and Sunday: 1-4pm
o Provides opportunities for the community and other entities
o Scheduling is as follows: 1)PRCE Programming 2)ISD 423 3) Associations 4) Community
o PRCE cancels open skating for hockey games/tournaments
o West rink doesn't offer a lot of seating for games/tournaments
o PRCE is looking into compromising open skate times
Northwoods Park Ice Rink
o PRCE logged user times/groups and has been a decrease in participation (closed about 4 years
ago)
o Received a neighborhood request to re-open the rink
o Suggested to flood the rink but limit staff by not opening warming house, restroom facilities
o Parks offered to clear the rink of snow, but wouldn't be a priority. As time allows.
o Neighborhood would need to shovel. Could provide signage reflecting this change. "Minimum
maintenance rink"
Board Member Items
• Shady Ridge Park: picnic table was not put out this summer. This was done as a request from
the neighborhood in the past. Will relay this information to just kindly"remind" Parks to drop
one off at this location.
• Senior Center: Intent to purchase expires December 31, 2025. Hospital gets first right of refusal.
Budgeted "as is"for 2026.
Adjournment
• Next meeting is December 1 -Location TBD
Erin Knutdson moved to adjourn, and Josh Kamrath seconded the motion.The meeting adjourned at
6:15pm.