|
In June 2014, Meadowbrook Golf Club was closed after record
rainfall caused Minnehaha Creek to overflow and the golf course to flood. Over
the next 16 months, Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board (MPRB) staff, Minnehaha Creek Watershed District staff,
neighbors, golfers and other community members brainstormed ideas to re-imagine
Meadowbrook Golf Club as a premiere golf course.
Based on those ideas, three
design concepts were created and presented to the public. Based on community
feedback, a design was chosen which included substantial improvements to the
course, including re-meandering or the moving/altering of Minnehaha Creek and mitigating flood conditions on nine holes. In
early 2016, the project was sent out for bid.
Bids for re-configuring and restoring the golf course have
been rejected and efforts are being directed towards a plan better aligned with
available funding from defined sources. A key constraint to the original
plan that has changed is the fact that our current Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) funding for restoration
is not, as previously thought, a one-time opportunity. A future flood could be
addressed with future FEMA reimbursements.
In addition, the need to align green
fee pricing with area competition precludes the golf course from being able to
finance the restoration as previously envisioned. These parameters
suggest that the MPRB pursue a more achievable golf course configuration closer
to the current course layout with adjustments focused on supporting the
Minnehaha Creek Watershed District’s re-meandering of the stream. Staff continues to investigate options that would allow
for course improvements while also exploring the potential for reopening the
course with limited improvements in 2017.
 |
Contact
Keith Kalny
Minneapolis Park & Recreation Board
Phone: 612-230-6400
Email: kkalny@minneapolisparks.org
|
