Downtown park takes shape
After more than two years of planning, development of Lester Prairie’s new downtown park, located at the intersection of Central Avenue and Juniper Street, was substantially completed in 2009.
The project began in 2006, when a committee was formed and put together a plan that included installation of a new gazebo, walkways, benches, lighting, and landscaping.
The new gazebo in Lester Prairie’s Central Square Park was assembled by volunteers, and will be the scene of a variety of entertainment events in the future.
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An area in the northwest corner of the park will be used for a Legion memorial.
The Lester Prairie Business Association proposed the installation of an electronic programmable sign to be located in the park to promote community events.
Work on the new park began in the spring of 2009. Assembly of the gazebo and other tasks were completed by volunteers from the Central Square Committee, including Ralph Machemehl and Jerry Pawelk, and by employees of Lester Building Systems, whose time, along with equipment, was donated by the company.
Members of the high school football team volunteered to help with removal of debris prior to installation of the sod and seeding of the grounds.
Other steps included in the project were completion of the wiring, and installation of the sprinkler system. Decorative lighting was installed near the walkways, and trees were planted in mid-October 2009.
In addition to the many hours of labor and materials that were donated, Pawelk said five benches were donated, as well as a picnic table and a trash receptacle.
Council Member Bob Messer, who is the park board liaison, said the council will recognize all of the contributors when the project is complete.
An official opening of the new park is expected to take place in 2010.
There’s no shortage of good-natured fun in Lester Prairie, with parks that offer something for all outdoor enthusiasts.
Lester Prairie’s newest park is Central Square Downtown Park, which was completed in the fall of 2009. The other three main parks include Sunrise Nature Park, Lester Prairie City Park, and Prairie Ridge Park.
This year, all the parks will include signs that designate them as “tobacco free” areas.
Sunrise Nature Park
On the east side of the city, Sunrise Nature Park provides 50 acres of natural beauty. Every year, the park continues to improve, and since 2007, visitors have had access to all areas of the park.
This past year, a message board was installed at the main parking lot entrance off of McLeod County Road 9. A wooden overlook was also put in east of the parking lot, council member and park board liaison Bob Messer said.
“It’s just a neat little open water area with marsh plants,” he said.
Sunrise Nature Park features both woods and grassland on property purchased with a grant from the Department of Natural Resources.
Strolling through the park, visitors can see plants such as goldenrod, prairie coreopsis, coneflowers, iris, sunflowers, prairie rose, butterfly weed, and black and brown-eyed susans.
The park also includes a variety of prairie grass, such as Indian grass, switch grass, bluestem, Canada wild rye and wheatgrass.
Some of the plants in Sunrise Nature Park don’t typically grow in Minnesota, so the grant requires that these plants be preserved.
Additional grant money allowed for more than 10 acres of wildflower and prairie grass seeding on the south side of the park.
Many types of animals also make their home in the park, including deer, wild turkey, and a variety of songbirds.
The park has been named an official wildlife habitat by the National Wildlife Federation, and signs will be put in this spring.
Future plans for the park include additional features such as a butterfly habitat, bird habitat, walking paths, observation areas, a shelter, and picnic areas, as well as the installation of a variety of indigenous evergreen trees.
Additional park benches and trash receptacles will be added throughout the park and at trail entrances, and a picnic area will be created on Prairie Hill, near the center of the park.
Additional trail development and improvements will continue during the next several years.
Sunrise Nature Park is open to the public, but no motorized vehicles are allowed in the park.
For more information, or to help with Sunrise Nature Park, contact Bob Messer by e-mail at: rdmesser@yahoo.com, or call (320) 395-2975.
Lester Prairie City Park
Located on the south side of Second Avenue South near Pine Street South, Lester Prairie City Park is a hot spot for many community events.
The park is perfect for get-togethers, with playground equipment, grills, picnic shelters, and restrooms.
There is also a heated outdoor pool staffed by certified lifeguards. It has two slides, a diving board, and other equipment. For more outdoor excitement, people can try out the park’s tennis court, basketball court, and sand volleyball court.
There is one baseball field, one lighted softball/football field, and two little league fields. In 2008, a new T-ball field was added.
A batting tunnel is also available.
Prairie Ridge Park
In addition to the city park, there is playground equipment in Prairie Ridge Park, which is located in the Prairie Ridge development on the east side of the city.
