Item 5B. Hyland Singletrack Development Agreement
Superintendent's Recommendation:
MOTION TO APPROVE AN AGREEMENT WITH ONE TRACK MIND FOUNDATION TO DESIGN AND CONSTRUCT A SINGLETRACK TRAIL IN HYLAND BUSH ANDERSON LAKES PARK RESERVE.
Prepared By: Luke Skinner, Associate Superintendent - Facility Services, Maintenance and Natural Resource Management
Background:
The continued growth of mountain biking in Minnesota has led to an overwhelming interest in developing new singletrack trails, especially closer to the urban core. Local advocacy and interest of new mountain biking opportunities at Hyland Lake Park Reserve is at an all-time high. As the Park District took over management of a number of park reserve units from the City of Bloomington, the timing was right to explore what was possible. Staff spent a better part of 2025 evaluating the potential for new mountain bike trails within the Hyland, Anderson Bush Lake Park Reserve.
Considerations included natural resource impacts, impacts to other park users and to neighboring residents. From our review, staff concluded that we can develop a high-quality, destination mountain bike trail to serve the public (~ 10 miles).
The One Track Mind (OTM) Foundation, the Park District’s partner in the wildly successful development of the Monarch Singletrack at Carver Park Reserve, has agreed to partner with the Park District in the design and construction of this new trail system at Hyland. Staff have worked with OTM to develop a cooperative agreement, similar to past agreements for Monarch, which outlines roles and responsibilities for each party.
Key responsibilities in the cooperative agreement include:
- OTM will fund the design and construction of up to 10 miles of singletrack and along with trail features at Hyland;
- OTM will be responsible for selection and hiring of the design consultant and construction contractor (with Park District approval);
- OTM and its contractors will work collaboratively with the Park District to design and construct the new trail and features. Park District staff will work directly with the contractor through field visits and design work;
- The Park District has final approval of the design of the trail;
- OTM and its contractor will work collaboratively with Park District to construct the trail and features; the Park District will have staff on site during construction;
- The Park District will review and approve final construction of the trail; and
- The Park District is responsible for the use and maintenance of the trail.
Once the agreement with OTM is approved, staff will initiate the next phase of trail planning which includes public engagement and trail design (January - May). Tentatively, planning would be completed in 2026 and construction would start in 2027.
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:
