NEW ULM – Ideas regarding the future of Fort Ridgely State Park flowed freely at a Citizen Advisory Committee meeting at the New Ulm Civic Center Thursday night.

The 13-member committee divided into three groups to look at detailed park maps and create new and improved ideas for day use, overnight campgrounds, trails and other park amenities.

After more than a half hour of discussion, ideas were discussed. The list included disc golf, an above-ground swimming pool in the campground, foosball in the chalet, more campsites, horse campground expansion including a connecting trail with the rest of the park, and bike trails, among others.

Committee member Jeff Sieve said he was surprised how much bicycle use increased in the park after more roads were paved.

He called the former park manager’s residence in the northwest corner of the park “very attractive, something that could be a rental unit.”

Phil Leversedge, DNR Deputy Director, said application for a National Park Service planning grant to designate Fort Ridgely State Park as a National Battlefield site continue to move forward with the Minnesota Historical Society. Fort Ridgely survived two Dakota Indian attacks in 1862.

The DNR closed the state park golf course after Labor Day but organizations including the Friends of Fort Ridgely and Mayflower Country Club continue to work to find ways to re-open the golf course next spring.

Kathy Dummer, DNR Southern Regional Manager, said the golf course chalet can still be rented out.

“We are evaluating winter (park) services,” Dummer said.

The 537-acre park has 35 drive-in campsites, a six-person farmhouse cabin and chalet rentals, a group camp, 22 horse campsites, 10 miles of hiking trails, 14 miles of horse trails, eight miles of snowmobile trails and a snowshoe trail.

Last year, 75,309 vehicles entered Fort Ridgely, which is a high count, at least since 2003. Fort Ridgely visits have climbed steadily since 2011.

Golf course use has been steady in recent years, according to DNR statistics with 2,750 rounds played in 2011, 2,635 in 2012, 2,246 in 2013, 2,635 in 2014, 2,786 in 2015 and 2,375 through Aug. 31, 2016.

According to a general population survey presented by Mae Davenport, Associate Professor, Department of Forest Resources at the University of Minnesota:

Forty-eight percent of Americans participated in outdoor recreation in 2015.

Active recreation trends include paddle and snow sports, trail running and adventure racing.

Trends in passive and appreciative recreation, include viewing and photographing nature and attending wildlife festivals, continue to rise in popularity.

Projected growth areas including skiing, challenge and equestrian activities, motorized water activities and viewing and photographing nature.

Davenport said introducing children age 5 to 18 to the outdoors is critical to active, adult participation in multiple outdoor activities. She added that keeping people age 65 and older active is important as well.

Opportunities to rent equipment, attend special events, take virtual park tours and attending programs to develop outdoor skills are highly valued, she added.

Davenport concluded that parks matter to communities and individual well being with multiple, long-lasting benefits, though clear disparities exist in who benefits.

She said the best park plans meaningfully engage diverse community members and visitors in the planning process.

A fifth Citizen Advisory Committee meeting will be scheduled a later date.