Cottage Park Improvements Park and playground improvements at Cottage Park

Milestones (anticipated project schedule by month/season)

Fall 2024: Community Engagement and Concept Design
Fall 2024 to Winter 2025: Design Development and Construction Documentation
Winter 2025: Bidding
Fall 2025 to Spring 2026: Construction

Background

This project will implement improvements identified and envisioned by the North Area Master Plan adopted by MPRB in 2019 for Cottage Park. The scope of this phase of improvements will replace the playground equipment which is nearing the end of its life and existing sand surfacing does not meet current ADA standards. The project will also identify what components of the Park’s Plan to be implemented with available project funds such as improved seating, a shade structure and landscaping.

Funding

Project funding for this phase of work sources include NPP20. The total available for design and construction is $560,000.00.

Park History

Name:  The name was taken from the park’s location in the Cottage Park Addition of the city.

Acquisition and Development

Cottage Park was dedicated by Samuel C. Gale and others as a park in the plat of Forest Heights on July 31, 1883, along with Glen Gale, Irving Triangle and Oliver Triangle. The first mention in park board proceedings of what were called the “Forest Heights parks” is a request by Gale and others in May 1887 that certain park land in Forest Heights be drained. The park board responded in June 1887 by officially requesting the city council to turn over to the park board the four properties.(See Glen Gale Park for more information.)

A small addition to Cottage Park occurred in 1914 when the city council asked the park board to take control of an adjoining small triangle at the street intersection.
1970s-era playground equipment at the totlot in the park was replaced in 2008.

Park history compiled and written by David C. Smith.