Lilleskogen Park
This 8-acre park formerly known as Old Lion's Park, is located near the Village Center, with approximately half its area in wetlands. Parking and access are problematic off of Oakhill Road. Buckthorn has run rampant over much of the site. There are no existing facilities on site. A few old footpaths remain.
Lilleskogen Park Restoration Plan
Lilleskogen Park (formerly known as Old Lion's Park) the southeast corner of the intersection of State Highway 97 (Scandia Trail) and County Road 52 (Oakhill Road), marking the east entrance to the Scandia village center. "Lilleskogen" is Swedish for "the little forest."
The approximately 8-acre park has been degraded by exotic and invasive species and by past uses. Seeking to improve the park and to create a gateway to the community, the Scandia Park and Recreation committee enlisted assistance in 2006 from the University of Minnesota Urban Design Center to develop a conceptual plan for the park. Besides restoring the natural plant communities at the park (wetland and woodland), the plan also includes installing a boardwalk, paving and expanding the existing trail system, creating an outdoor classroom, creating a "butterfly garden" and installing interpretive signage.
In May of 2007, a wetland delineation was completed, and in October of 2007, the city issued a request for proposals for professional assistance to develop detailed plans for implementing the conceptual restoration plan. In November the firm of SRF, Inc., working with Scandia firm Critical Connections Ecological Services, was hired to prepare the restoration plan. In March 2008, the City Council approved the plan.
The next step will be to pursue the funding needed to execute the plan, which will probably take several years. The full plan is available on the city's website.
