In his four-decade career with the city of Chaska, Public Works Director Brian Jung can’t recall a more challenging project than the refurbishment of City Square Park.
Native American burial mounds throughout the park limited the ability to disturb the soil and the central bandstand needed to have an Americans with Disabilities Act-compliant ramp added to it without compromising its iconic feel.
“We went into this project realizing the difficulties of working in this area,” Jung said. “It made us get awful creative.”
Plans to upgrade the park first started to come together in 2017. Numerous layers of official approvals — from the Park Board, City Council, Minnesota State Historical Preservation Office, Minnesota Indian Affairs Council and tribal communities among them — had to occur before work could begin. Earlier this year, the project kicked off and work is now nearly complete.
Coordinating with city staff and various private vendors, the central gazebo — built in 1985 — was the first thing brought back to life.
“The gazebo was in really bad shape,” Jung reported. “The floor was buckling.”
Utilizing one of the footings from the original 1880s-era bandstand, a new floor and steps were poured with steel reinforcements. Accessible railings also were installed. A new accessible ramp wraps around the structure, providing access to residents of all physical abilities.
New recessed soft LED lights were installed by the city crew and the entire gazebo received a new coat of paint. The gazebo had already received a new roof in 2020 in anticipation of the complete structure being refurbished.
“Let’s be honest,” Jung said. “The gazebo is the postcard of Chaska, and to be able to bring this back to life is amazing. I’m really proud of the people I’ve worked with down here, because this is going to be here long after I’m gone.”
The sidewalks throughout the park were showing their age, Jung said, so new concrete pathways were installed.
“It’s a very clean, very crisp look,” he noted.
The historic light poles, originally installed in the mid-1930s, were completely overhauled, as well. The globes were cleaned up, the electrical was updated and energy-efficient LED bulbs were added.
“The light poles are all ready for hanging baskets next year,” Jung said.
The Veteran’s memorial along Chestnut Street received a facelift as well. The flag poles dated back to the 1930s, but crews tried to avoid disturbing the soil in the area. They utilized some of the original footings and reinforced them to help the flags withstand high winds.
The only portion of the park project yet to be completed are the corner fences. No companies in the U.S. are casting steel fences anymore, Jung reported, so the city may have to settle for an aluminum option instead.
“I look forward to seeing the park next year, with the grass all growing and the hanging baskets … everything done and complete,” he said.
Since 1857, when the parkland was donated to Chaska, City Square Park has been a gathering place for community events, concerts and more.
