About Central Park

Central Park, located at 8595 Central Park Place, is a multi-use, year round facility consisting of about 20,000 square feet. It includes:

• A large play area, Lookout Ridge, open to children of all ages for a small admission fee
• An amphitheater with seating for about 200
• Activity/meeting rooms for a variety of programs
• Landscaped areas for walking or relaxing
• A coffee shop, “Cups 'N' Scoops,” that the city is leasing to a private operator
• Program space for the Early Childhood Family Education Program

The park design is meant to suggest the St. Croix River Valley, and features:

• Extensive landscaping
• Miniature mountains and cliffs
• A waterfall and small stream

The park serves as the central space linking the new R.H. Stafford Library on one end and the existing Southeast Area YMCA on the other end. A skyway link to the SummerHouse Senior Housing development also is part of the facility.

Benefits
There are numerous benefits to the community from a facility like Central Park. They include:

• Park-like atmosphere in winter
• More balance in the city’s recreational activities, i.e., space for passive recreational uses as opposed to the active uses supported by other city facilities
• Opportunities for socializing
• Place for children to play during the winter
• Enhanced cultural/educational opportunities in Woodbury
• Shared use of spaces by city, county and school district — good use of tax dollars
• More meeting space for community
• A focal point for the city, helping to foster a sense of community for Woodbury

Facts and Figures
The city’s share of the total construction cost was just over $5.5 million.

• Adding in other costs such as land acquisition, engineering and architectural fees, the total cost of developing the park was about $7 million.
• Most of the financing has come from city reserves.

The landscaping plan for the park was developed by McCaren Designs, Inc. of St. Paul.

• There are 60 trees growing inside the park, including Norfolk Island Pines, Black Olives, four varieties of Ficus, Cattelya Guava, Eastern White Pine, Podocarpus and River Birch. They range in height from less than 10 feet to 32 feet.
• More than 1,400 understory and ground cover plants fill in the landscaping underneath the trees.
• All the plants were transported from Florida in six specially equipped semi-trucks to ensure their arrival in excellent condition.
• The media used to grow the plants is specifically made for interior landscaping. It is composed of spagnum peat moss, vermiculite, processed bark, and sand.
• Seven tons of Chilton wallstone create intimate seating areas throughout the park.

History
The opening of the Central Park/R.H. Stafford Library culminates a process that began in 1994 when the Woodbury City Council appointed a task force to study ways the city could create gathering places where residents have the chance to meet informally for activities or for socializing.

In 1996, the city signed an option to buy a 6.3-acre parcel in the City Center area.

In 1998, the idea of an indoor park coupled with a new Washington County branch library was introduced to the community. An open house to obtain community input was held and a phone survey was conducted in February 1998.

In 1999, the City Council appointed the Central Park Task Force to provide guidance to the architects and staff regarding the design and programming for the proposed new facility. An informational open house was held in April to provide the public with an opportunity to review concept plans for the park and library. In July 1999, an agreement between the city and county was approved, and preparation of plans was ordered.

During 2000, plans and specifications were completed and operational agreements negotiated. In November 2000, the plans were approved by the Woodbury City Council and the Washington County Board of Commissioners.

The contract was awarded in March 2001, and construction began in April. The park opened in September 2002.