Item 5A. 2026-2030 Capital Improvement Program
Superintendent's Recommendation:
MOTION TO APPROVE THE 2026-2030 CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM.
Background:
The 2026-2030 Capital Improvement Program, or CIP (Attached) is ready for review and consideration of approval by the Board.
Purpose of the CIP:
- The 5-Year CIP provides a road map for capital investments and capital funding for the next five years.
- The 5-year CIP helps guide investments in Stewardship, Commitments and Discretionary projects based on principles and priorities set by the Three Rivers Board of Commissioners.
- The 5-year CIP allows for collaborative planning with partners. The 5-year CIP allows for longer term operational planning.
- The CIP helps formulate but does not replace the annual Asset Management Program (AMP). Final funding decisions are made by the Board as part of the annual AMP process that occurs later this year.
- The CIP is not a substitute for specific project approvals.
The CIP reflects the Board’s desire to minimize bonding, to maximize use of outside funds for non-discretionary projects, and to invest in discretionary projects that will enhance public use of the parks.
How this CIP is organized
There are four primary categories of capital investments, along with administrative costs:
Stewardship: Projects that maintain what we have.
Commitments: Projects that involve agreements with other parties.
Discretionary: Projects that provide benefits, but which can be deferred.
Enterprise: Projects specific to Hyland Ski Area and Golf.
Administrative: Funding of Dept. of Design positions through the CIP.
Proposed Expenditures
There are 124 total projects in the CIP with projected costs totaling $111,648,811.
Proposed Funding:
Funding in the CIP equals the projected expenditures. Forty percent of funding is proposed through Three Rivers bonding. The remainder (60 percent) of funding is primarily through Federal and state funds. Each of the first four years (2026-2029) require Three Rivers bonding below the $8.5 million target level. Year 5 (2030) has several large stewardship projects that drive up the estimated bonding to about $10.4 million. However, by the time the 2030 Asset Management Plan is developed in 2029, it is nearly certain that the CIP will have met the desired bonding target at that time.
Funding sources are as follows:
Projects on hold and not included in the CIP
Three Regional Trail projects are currently on hold pending Federal Reauthorization of the Surface Transportation Improvement Program (STIP):
- CP Rail North Trail Development (Golden Valley, New Hope, Crystal)
- CP Rail South Trail Development (Bloomington, Edina)
- North Cedar Lake Reconstruction (Hopkins, St. Louis Park)
These projects have been awarded a combined total of $15 million in Federal Grants through the State of Minnesota’s STIP process, However, funding of the STIP program has not yet been reauthorized by the Federal government. Without Federal Reauthorization, or if the Reauthorization Bill limits use of funding to exclude bike/ped projects, these projects will not receive funding and would be financially unfeasible. If these grants are included in the Reauthorization, it will be necessary to reevaluate options for securing match money for these projects.
Next Steps
The CIP is a planning tool. The first year of the approved CIP (2026) drives the development of the 2026 Asset Management Program. The 2026 Asset Management Program will be considered for approval by the Board in December. The AMP dictates the project work and investments for the following year.
Relationship to the System Plan:
The Request for Action supports the following goal(s) of the System Plan:
Goal 1: You Belong Here
Goal 2: Parks Matter
Goal 3: Lead by Example
Attachments:
