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Gradually introducing non-turf vegetation, especially when it can be formed to the landscape without the use of planters or edging, will help enhance the buffer to the highway. 10. There is a need to pull the band shell area closer together. There is no discernable boundary currently and so people spread out, making the venue less intimate. This is an open park and so there should not be a wall or barrier erected, but it would tighten up the site and enhance the interaction by having a discernable boundary around the entertainment area. A row of paving stones (installed flat with ground level) around the outside would create the needed effect(the same way a three-point line does on a basketball court). Seven brick pillars, each three to four feet high, would further define the space without breaking up the flow of people throughout. When an event was taking place, people would congregate inside this area or hang around outside of this area, depending on their mood or desires. Either would be fine, but the space would be defined and this would enhance the feel of the site for participants. 11. The existing buffer between the parking area and the park/trail has not been well established or maintained. There needs to be more of a ground-level buffer her that can be created by planting shrubs (1-2 foot variety) along the east side of the trail to keep users of the trail from having to interact with automobiles. This can be further enhanced by a curb to be installed as part of future Government Drive improvements. 12. The crossing of Main Street(CSAH 11) by the Paul Bunyan Trail needs to be enhanced. There are a number of things that could be done that would be a huge improvement over the current situation. Painting a crosswalk—especially one that was blue and crosshatched --would be a cheap start. Placing a cone in the center and/or along the edge to slow traffic and narrow the unprotected gap for pedestrians would be another very cheap enhancement that could be done during the summer. Ultimately, the road through this section is unnecessarily wide for two lanes of traffic and no parking and so having a"pinch point"at the trail crossing—with a concrete bump out on each side and the possibility for a center, protected median—would be a major enhancement. 13. The vegetation in this area of the park performs an important buffering function, but it also blocks the view of the active park area and the commercial section of Government Drive from the intersection. Trimming the lower parts of the trees in this area would enhance the views without degrading the buffer. Enhancements on the southern parts of Trailside Park are more long-term ventures that will require fundraising and dedication of city funding to accomplish over time. 14. This is the only viable place for events and public gatherings within the downtown. We should look at this area as the "town square"and configure it as such. The trees in this area should be moved to the sides and the surface should be graded to be relatively flat. Thought should be given as to how to make ongoing, seasonal use of this space to maximize its value to the community. For example, in the winter this would be an ideal place for an outdoor ice skating rink(not a formal hockey rink but a recreational, family skating spot). Structures for Beanhole Days should be formalized to have value year-round, with a more appealing structure and an interpretative marker. 15. Ultimately this area could be used for some type of fishing-related exhibit to build on the city's brand. It has been discussed in the past that the City should work with the DNR to secure a grant for a fish pond Pequot Lakes Staff Report June 19,2014 4