(Lake Park)– The Lake Park City Council Monday authorized city staff to proceed with applying for a Community Attraction and Tourism, or CAT Grant, for planned renovations of the city park. Mayor Matt Carstensen says they’re seeking a $900,000 grant that would go toward the $3.4 million project…
“They have raised those limits since we started this park project, and they’ve raised those limits. And so they’ve also raised the percentage that you are able to apply for when it comes to the project itself.”
Carstensen says the project includes new playground equipment along with a number of other amenities…
“We are looking at putting in a walking trail around the entire park; making improvements to the pickleball area and probably putting in some new volleyball courts, updating those. We’re also looking at doing a trail head for the bike path that comes to Lake Park. That will include updated restrooms, a shelter and probably some amenities to accommodate parking for bikers that want to drive to Lake Park and ride back to Spirit Lake or wherever or even just around town. We are also planning on putting in a new shower house and bathroom for the campground area; updating our shelter house and putting in some more shaded picnic areas.”
Carstensen outlines a proposed timeline for the project…
“So we plan on starting the planning process, design process, in December of this year; letting bids in February and would like to start actual construction in April of this coming spring, April of ’26.”
Carstensen says that’s highly contingent, however, on funding.
