2022-08-16 City Council Work Session Agenda Packet
CITY OF MENDOTA HEIGHTS
CITY COUNCIL WORK SESSION AGENDA
August 16, 2022 4:00pm
City Hall Council Chambers 1101 Victoria Curve, Mendota Heights
1. Call to Order
2. Oheyawahe/Pilot Knob Task Force
3. Mendota Heights Athletic Association
4. Adjourn
______________________________________________ City Council Work Session Memo
DATE: August 16, 2022
TO: Mayor, City Council and Parks and City Administrator
FROM: Ryan Ruzek, Public Works Director
SUBJECT: Oheyawahe/Historic Pilot Knob Task Force Update
INTRODUCTION
At the August 16, 2022 work session, the City Council will hear information on Natural
Resources, Interpretive planning, and additional land acquisition opportunities at
Oheyawahe/Historic Pilot Knob.
BACKGROUND
The attached memo from the Oheyawahe/Historic Pilot Knob Task Force outlines the
development and highlights of this advisory group. Following the Task Force memo is an
Executive Summary regarding the natural resources on the site and the current Phase 1
Interpretive Plan.
The Oheyawahe/Historic Pilot Knob Task Force is recommending certain budgeting requests for
the 2023 city budget:
Increase of Natural Resources Management funds – The city is currently budgeting $11,000
per year for management of invasive species and implementation of natural resource
improvements. The task force is recommending an increase of $4,000 to this budget item. The
city is proposing to partner with Dakota County on implementation of improvements. Dakota
County can fund 90 percent of implementation costs and 50 percent of maintenance costs.
Phase II Interpretive Plan – The Task Force is requesting that the city have available a cash
match of up to $10,000 if the Task Force is successful at soliciting a Heritage Partnership grant
to further advance the Interpretive Plan.
Property Acquisition – There remains one single family home on Valencour Circle. The Task
Force is recommending that the city have available a cash match of $25,000 for acquisition of a
portion of the remaining privately owned property. The Task Force long range plans include a
complete acquisition of this property but a short term improvement to obtain the north 0.5
acres is recommended at this time. This improvement would be contingent on a successful
Natural and Scenic Area grant.
Additional short term improvements may also include: Assembling a State Capital Bonding
request in May 2023 and potential improvements to the Valencour garage
REQUESTED ACTION
The Council is asked to hear about the work on this site and ask any additional questions to the
Task Force and staff. City staff will then discuss these requests with the Council during their
scheduled budget workshops.
DATE: August 11, 2022
TO: Mendota Heights City Council
FROM: Historic Pilot Knob Task Force (Gail Lewellan, Al Singer, Juanita Espinosa, Dale
Bachmeier, Chris Soutter, Autumn Hubbell)
RE: Report of Activities 2020 – 2022; Recommendations
Background
On January 7, 2020, the Mendota Heights City Council appointed a six‐member Historic Pilot
Knob Task Force to serve on an ad hoc basis. The Task Force’s broad mission is to identify
actions to preserve and improve Pilot Knob/Oheyawahe as an important regional resource
located in Mendota Heights. The Task Force was given considerable discretion as to how to
approach this work, understanding that decision‐making authority is reserved to the City
Council. It was anticipated that the Task Force would coordinate and partner with groups and
individuals who have worked towards similar goals over the years. This work is ongoing.
The Task Force has focused on three interrelated areas: capital improvements, natural
resources and interpretation ‐forming respective subcommittee to address each areas. City
staff have played key roles in the work of the Task Force. Ryan Ruzek provides support to the
capital improvements committee and, along with Cheryl Jacobson, to the Task Force as a whole.
Krista Spreiter provides staff support to the natural resources and interpretation committees.
A description of the major activities taken by the City with Task Force recommendation and
engagement is below:
Capital Improvements
1. Former Snyder Property. Worked to support the acquisition of the one‐acre Snyder
property on Valencour Circle as an important addition to the historic site and provide an
indoor space for educational and other gatherings. Dakota County representation on
the Task Force assisted in the facilitating the property appraisal, negotiating price,
assisting with a successful state grant, and providing cost‐share for the acquisition.
2. 2018 Landscape Plan. The Task Force, a consultant and an Indigenous Advisory Group
reviewed the 2018 Landscape Plan funded through Great River Greening and previously
submitted to the City for developing the initial 2022 bonding proposal and future site
plan
3. Capital Bonding. At the encouragement of Rep. Rick Hansen and with co‐sponsors Rep.
Ruth Richardson and Sen. Matt Klein, the Task Force worked with the City to submit a
$1.27 million capital bonding proposal to the Minnesota Legislature during the 2022 for
session. Task Force members and City staff participated in a site tour for the House and
Senate Capital Investment Committees and a presentation for the Senate Capital
Investment Committee. No bonding bill was passed this session, but a foundation has
been laid for a new proposal in 2023.
4. Signage. A new, wood‐routed sign was installed at the entry and a new sign in Dakota
and English at the start of the trail encouraging respectful behavior was installed.
5. Doty Property. Study and facilitate potential acquisition of a portion of the Doty
property along Valencour Circle to improve the and usefulness of the building on the
former Snyder property for group activities and to provide a new trail connection.
Natural Resources
1. Restoration. Restoration of this site to preferred plant communities has been very
challenging due to past uses and geography including disturbed soils, the desire to
minimize tilling so as not to disturb burials and minimize the use of pesticides in a sacred
site. Unfortunately these efforts have not achieved the desired results.
2. New Natural Resource Management Plan (NRMP). The Task Force has drafted a five‐
year NRMP to replace the outdated 2008 plan based on the Dakota County NRMP
template. The NRMP identifies management units and sub‐units, assesses the issues and
identifies priorities. Cost estimates for implementation are currently being developed.
The Executive Summary is attached to this report and the full plan will be submitted to
the City Council for approval.
3. Funding. The five‐year plan, if approved by the City Council, can form the basis for a
Joint Powers Agreement (JPA) with Dakota County for continued restoration and
maintenance. Through this JPA, the County could provide up to 90 percent of the
restoration costs and up to 50 percent of maintenance costs given that the site is
adjacent to the MN River Regional Greenway.
4. Acacia Park Cemetery Cooperation. Task Force member Al Singer has met with Acacia
Park Cemetery Manager and Task Force member Dale Bachmeier and the Acacia Board
of Directors to discuss the possibility of a permanent easement and restoration of the
northern 13 acres of the property adjacent to the City property. Discussion is ongoing.
Interpretation
1. Heritage Partnership Program Grant. Task Force members worked with City staff to draft
the successful application for a $44,500 State Heritage Partnership Program grant to the
City in 2021. The City, Dakota County and Pilot Knob Preservation Association are the
contributing partners under the grant and have worked together on all phases of the
work. The purpose of the grant is to accomplish the first phase of interpretive planning
for the site. The “106 Group” was hired by the City as a consultant to conduct this
work. The first phase plan was submitted to the State in July 2022 and is attached to this
report.
2. Indigenous Advisory Group. A critical first step in interpretive planning was to convene
an Indigenous Advisory Group (IAG) to inform the planning process regarding
appropriate themes and uses for this site. This was a challenging, time‐consuming and
critically important activity which prevented completions of other plan components. The
IAG affirms that Oheyawahe (also spelled Oheyawahi) is an important Dakota sacred site
in a constellation of sacred sites along the Mississippi and Minnesota Rivers in the metro
area. The Task Force agrees with the consultant that it is critical to continue working
with Indigenous advisors to guide appropriate activities at this Dakota sacred site.
3. Interpretive Focus Areas. The consultant recommended site locations for interpretive
installations and themes. The consultant also recommended removal of some current
interpretive materials that are in poor repair and inconsistent with these
recommendations.
4. Additional Consultant Recommendations. The consultant also provided other
recommendations which the Task Force is still reviewing. The Task Force is not
recommending Council action on these recommendations at this time.
5. Cost Estimates. The consultant provided estimated costs in a very general way.
Additional decisions and data will be required prior to a phased implementation of final
recommendations.
6. Next Phase of Interpretation Planning. The consultant recommended a multi‐phase
approach to interpretive planning to align with funding opportunities. The first stage
could include site planning, landscape planning, design development and
implementation. We hope that implementation will align with 2024 capital bonding
funding. The planning work would need to be publicized and offered to various
potential bidders through a Request for Proposal process.
7. Future Funding. The Task Force will work with City staff to draft a proposal for an
additional grant from the Minnesota Historical Society to implement the next phases of
interpretive planning. The Task Force will research additional public and private funding
opportunities.
Recommended Next Steps
1. Natural Resources. The Task Force recommends finalizing the NRMP after cost estimate
have been received and then developing a JPA with Dakota County for implementing
natural resource improvements to the site using City funds for match.
2. Interpretive Planning. The Task Force will develop and submit a future grant proposal
for the next stage of interpretive planning for Council consideration in 2023 and
recommend that the city provide a $10,000 match for this proposal.
3. Capital Bonding. The Task Force will develop and submit a capital bonding proposal in
2023 City Council consideration and possible submission to the MN Legislature during
the 2024 session. We recommend that the City develop materials that would visually
incorporate key elements of the NRMP, the first phase of interpretive planning, trail
connections to MN River Greenway and former Snyder property, and other integrated
landscape and interpretive elements. These materials could possibly be produced by in‐
house by the City communications staff working with the Task Force or may require
contractual assistance.
4. Doty Property. The Task Force recommends including match funding for a potential
state grant request with County financial assistance similar to the acquisition of the
former Snyder property in the 2023 budget for the City share of acquisition costs of a
portion of the Doty property.
Attachments:
1. Executive Summary of Natural Resources Plan
2. Interpretive Plan from 106 Group– First Phase
1
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
OHEYAWAHE NATURAL RESOURCE
MANAGEMENT PLAN
BACKGROUND
PHYSICAL AND CULTURAL HISTORY
A series of inland oceans ebbed and flowed in the middle portion of North America between 500 to 20
million years ago, eventually forming thick layers of limestone and sandstone bedrock. Successive
glaciers further sculpted the landscape by creating rolling hills, occasional taller “knobs” and numerous
small lakes resulting from melting chunks of ice. The broad Minnesota River Valley was carved by
glacial meltwater about 12,000 years ago and cut even deeper by the Glacial River Warren which was
an outlet for Glacial Lake Agassiz in northwestern Minnesota. Sediment from the Minnesota River and
the eroding bluffs have been slowly filling the valley for the past 10,000 years.
The combination of hills and bluffs, wetlands, springs, creeks and rivers created a rich mosaic of
habitats for abundant wildlife. It became part of the Dakota homeland with a constellation of
significant Dakota sites near the confluence of the Mississippi and Minnesota Rivers known to the
Dakota as Bdote, “where the two waters meet.” One of the most prominent of these sites is
Oheyawahe (Oȟéyawahe), which means “a hill much visited” or alternately, Oheyawahi (Ohéyawahi),
which means “I have come here to say something/pray. Oheyawahe is a sacred place for the Dakota
Oyate (“Nation”) and other regional Indigenous nations. For centuries, Dakota people gathered, held
ceremonies and buried their relatives here.
Two treaties between the Dakota and the United States government in 1851 and the later U.S.-
Dakota Conflict resulted in most of the Dakota People being removed from the state. Settlers soon
moved into the area which was known as “Pilot Knob,” named for the prominent hill once used by
steamboat captains to navigate the nearby river. The more-level portions of the area were used for
growing crops and the grass-covered slopes provided forage for livestock. Following native burial
customs, settlers established the nearby St. Peters and Acacia Park Cemeteries on the higher portions
of the area.
During the mid-1900’s, the site hosted truck farms, a motel and gas station. In 2002, developers
announced plans to build 157 townhomes on the site. A broad coalition of indigenous people, local
residents, historians, archaeologists, faith communities, and environmental groups united to preserve
a portion of the area. In 2006, the City of Mendota Heights with financial assistance from a wide
variety of public and private sources, acquired 8.2 acres from the developers. In 2007, the City, again
with financial assistance from numerous partners, acquired 17.2 acres from Acacia Park Cemetery.
Combined with 2.6 acres of existing City land, the protected site, bordered by State Highway 55 on
the north and east; two private residential properties on the east, Sibley Memorial Highway, the Big
Rivers Regional Trail and Acacia Cemetery on the west; and Acacia Boulevard on the south, totaled 27
acres. In 2017, a larger 112-acre area was listed on the National Register of Historic Places. In 2021,
the City, with financial assistance from the state and Dakota County, acquired an additional one-acre
residential property.
2
ECOLOGICAL ASSESSMENT
An ecological assessment of the 27-acre site owned by the City of Mendota Heights was conducted in
July 2020, to assess the current conditions of the natural resource restoration. The open portions of
the site consist primarily of a patchwork of reconstructed prairie with a range of conditions and issues,
reflecting site variability and challenges and the different management approaches taken to transition
the site to a more desirable condition over the years. In previously forested areas, there is very little
grass cover with a predominance of aggressive native forbs such as Canada goldenrod. In other areas
where haying or grazing was undertaken, aggressive native forbs such as bergamot dominate.
Throughout the site, green ash, boxelder and walnut trees/saplings are present along with an
abundance of wild grape. Some areas where shrubs have been planted are dominated by burdock, a
weedy biennial. In goldenrod or other forb-rich areas, there is very little grass cover. Although the
north, east or south wooded boundary areas were not thoroughly assessed, there was little species or
structural diversity observed with little or no desired ground cover.
Overall, the site has high wildflower diversity during early to mid-summer, low wildflower diversity
during late summer and fall, and the grass component remains underrepresented.
NATURAL RESOURCE CHALLENGES
Previous residential, commercial and agricultural land uses have led to significant erosion, soil
compaction, chemical accumulation, and habitat loss and fragmentation within the site. The adjacent
transportation corridors have deposited salt spray and nitrous oxide from exhaust on the site. These
uses and inputs have resulted in the loss and degradation of soil health, declining plant and animal
populations, and overall loss of species diversity. Insufficient natural processes, such as fire and
grazing, and new influences, such as adjacent land uses and invasive species, have also contributed to
declining plant diversity throughout much of the site.
Natural resource management decisions must also consider other issues. The site is on the National
Register of Historic Places and is visited by Indigenous people and the general public throughout the
week. In deference to Dakota community requests, use of herbicides is limited and soil is not tilled
more than 2 inches deep. In addition, the Rusty Patched Bumble Bee, an endangered species, is
documented on the site and Best Management Practices are used as much as possible to reduce
impact to the Rusty Patched Bumble Bee and other at-risk pollinators.
PREVIOUS MANAGEMENT ACTIVITIES
Active natural resource management practices were initiated by the City and Great River Greening in
2008. These early efforts focused on removing invasive species, planting native oak savanna species,
and conducting prescribed burns.
1. Invasive species control—Management activities to control non-native invasive plants include
conservation haying, pulling, prescribed burn, animal grazing, and herbicide spraying—
depending on species and severity of the infestation. Grazing of grasses by horses was done in
2013 but was found to be not cost-effective; grazing of cool-season grasses by sheep and
grazing of goldenrod clones and woody invasive plants by goats were more successful. Clones
of the tall goldenrod complex have been managed by conservation haying during goldenrod
flowering and setting seed, selective herbicide spraying of clones followed by seeding of native
grasses, goat browsing of goldenrod clones in July and August; ag lime was applied as a soil
amendment in specific areas with little success.
2. Native plantings—Seeding wildflowers in Fall and native grasses in Spring was more successful
than seeding in other times of the year. Prairie forbs that flower in Spring and early Summer
3
have been planted along the trails to support invertebrate pollinators. Native shrubs that serve
as spring nectar sources for pollinators and that shade invasive, non-native plants have been
planted in selected areas. Bur oaks have been planted individually and in small groves; some
native trees and shrubs, such as red osier dogwood, hackberry, and black walnut have been
allowed to grow on the forest edge.
3. Prescribed burns—Prescribed burns to managed for oak savanna vegetation are done in Spring;
three portions of the site are alternately burned using a three-year rotation. Fall burns are
not recommended.
RECOMMENDATIONS
Restoring natural areas and ecosystems amidst a long history of alteration, degradation and loss must
address these systemic changes, as well as current challenges/issues, and incorporate new research
on effective approaches. Without active natural resources management, the site will be of low quality,
eventually dominated by early successional and invasive species already present in the area.
Vegetative restoration will be based on adaptive management which is a systematic, practical
approach to improving resource management policies and practices. It provides a structured process
for learning which actions best meet management objectives, promotes flexible decision making that
can be adjusted as outcomes from management actions and other events become better understood
and can reduce resource management uncertainty. Characteristics of adaptive management include:
• Regular monitoring that can reveal new issues that were not addressed in the plan
• Analysis of the outcomes in consideration of the original objectives
• Incorporation of the results into revised management decisions and practices.
VISION
The vegetation and wildlife of Oheyawahe will be managed to restore and improve biodiversity and
achieve resilience and regionally outstanding quality to ensure that current and future generations can
experience the natural setting, learn about and honor the site’s storied past and enjoy panoramic
views.
GOALS
A. VEGETATION MANAGEMENT
1. Improve and maintain natural resource diversity in designated areas of higher vegetative
quality and use
2. Focus invasive species control on the most invasive species in the highest quality areas
3. Restore and preserve the soil community of fungi, bacteria, invertebrates, and plants which are
fundamental to soil health
4. Install native seed, forbs, shrubs, and trees to:
a) limit response of invasive plants
b) provide necessary year-round habitat for pollinators and birds
c) mitigate traffic noise
d) retain panoramic views
B. WILDLIFE MANAGEMENT
1. Increase diversity of pollinators and other insects
2. Manage habitat to increase grassland bird species
4
C. INTERPRETATION
1. Provide opportunities for formal and informal learning about natural resources and
natural processes and the relationships between people and nature
2. Ensure interpretive improvements are compatible with natural resource goals
D. CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS
1. Integrate near and long-term capital improvements with Management Units and Sub-units
2. Ensure that restoration and other management activities enhance and complement capital
improvements
TARGET PLANT COMMUNITIES AND MANAGEMENT UNITS
The target plant communities include Oak Forest, Oak Savanna, Prairie, Shrubland, and Woodland.
These plant communities have been recommended based on existing conditions, previous on-site
restoration experience, pre-European settlement vegetation that once existed on the site and in the
local area, anticipated climate changes, planned site uses, costs, and other considerations.
A. MANAGEMENT UNITS
To facilitate the inventory and assessment and to target prescriptions for management, the site
has been divided into Management Units, based on existing land cover, realistic restoration goals
and proposed restoration activities. The Units include Lower Terrace, West Prairie, North Prairie,
South Prairie, Forest, Buffer, and Entry.
Each of the Management Units have been evaluated using criteria and other site conditions to
develop a general score for overall ecological health. Summaries describing specific vegetative
goals, challenges, and recommended plant species and associated vegetation and wildlife
management activities have been developed for each Unit.
5
B. MANAGEMENT SUB-UNITS
Management Units are divided into Sub-units based on current vegetation, restoration status and
target community. Sub-units include Bluff, Pollinator Trail Edge, Prairie with Over-Abundant Canada
Goldenrod populations, and Old Homestead. Over time, it is expected that many of these Sub-units
will merge or dissolve within their respective Management Unit.
6
MANAGEMENT RECOMMENDATIONS
In general, the recommendations are to continue to monitor and control aggressive invasive species,
conduct prescribed burns in areas managed as grassland and oak savanna and continue plantings of
primarily native woody and herbaceous species as appropriate for each Management Unit.
A summary of the Five-Year Work Plan is as follows:
1. Management Unit 1: Lower Terrace
Priority: Control herbaceous and woody invasive species, increase native plant diversity,
protect and provide habitat for pollinators and other wildlife, and provide safe
and sustainable trail access to top of bluff.
2. Management Unit 2: Buffer
7
Priority: Control woodland invasive species, and plant trees and shrubs to provide a buffer
from traffic noise, light and air pollution. This area includes Minnesota Department
of Transportation Right-of-Way.
3. Management Unit 3: Forest
Priority: Control woodland invasive species, and plant trees and shrubs to provide an
effective buffer from traffic noise, light and air pollution, and protect and provide
habitat for pollinators and other wildlife.
4. Management Unit 4: West Prairie
Priority: Maintain tallgrass/mixed-height prairie community; protect and provide habitat
for pollinators and other wildlife; preserve scenic and historic views; and provide
an effective buffer for traffic noise, light and air pollution. Includes oak savanna
community.
5. Management Unit 5: North Prairie
Priority: Control woodland invasive species, protect and provide habitat for pollinators
and other wildlife, and provide an effective buffer from traffic noise, light and
air pollution. Includes oak savanna community.
6. Management Unit 6: South Prairie
Priority: Control woodland invasive species, protect and provide habitat for pollinators
and other wildlife, and provide a buffer from traffic noise, light and air pollution.
Includes oak savanna community.
7. Management Unit 7: Entry
Priority: Create welcoming and informative entrance, provide natural space for activities
that complement interpretive opportunities and manage stormwater.
Main Office
1295 Bandana Blvd N
Suite 335
St Paul MN 55108
Locations
Boston MA
Richmond VA
Washington DC
106group.com
OHEYAWAHI
A Sacred Dakota Place
Interpretive Plan
Building on previous research and engaging with Indigenous people
to ensure Indigenous voices guide site development at
Oheyawahi/Pilot Knob Preservation Site
May 2022
Acknowledgments
Prepared for:
The City of Mendota Heights
Pilot Knob Preservation Association
Dakota County
Prepared by:
106 Group
Regine Kennedy
John Reynolds
Full Circle Planning + Design, LLC
Sam Olbekson
Gwen Westerman
Glenn Wasicuna
In Collaboration with:
An Indigenous Advisory Group and other Indigenous elders, artists, and leaders who are all members of
Dakota, Ojibwe, and Iowa tribes in MN, ND, SD, KS, and NE, as well as the Mohican tribe of Wisconsin.
Oheyawahe/Pilot Knob Task Force of the City Mendota Heights
Funding provided by:
"This publication was made possible in part by the people of Minnesota through a grant
funded by an appropriation to the Minnesota Historical Society from the Minnesota Arts
and Cultural Heritage Fund. Any views, findings, opinions, conclusions or
recommendations expressed in this publication are those of the authors and do not
necessarily represent those of the State of Minnesota, the Minnesota Historical Society,
or the Minnesota Historic Resources Advisory Committee."
Oheyawahi / Pilot Knob Interpretive Plan 106 Group | i
TABLE OF CONTENTS
INTRODUCTION .......................................................................................... 1
Overview of the Planning Process ....................................................................................................... 2
Indigenous Engagement ............................................................................................................................. 4
FOUNDATIONS ........................................................................................... 5
Framing the Issues ............................................................................................................................... 5
Indigenous perspectives on place-making, site planning, and visitor experience ........................................ 5
Indigenous perspectives on the existing site conditions .............................................................................. 8
Framing design, interpretive, and place-making opportunities .................................................................. 11
Interpretive Framework ....................................................................................................................... 13
Mission and Vision .................................................................................................................................... 13
Goals and Principles ................................................................................................................................. 13
Audiences ................................................................................................................................................. 14
Interpretive Messages ............................................................................................................................... 16
RECOMMENDATIONS FOR INTERPRETATION .................................... 19
Interpretive Methods and Strategies .................................................................................................. 20
Interpretive Focus Areas .................................................................................................................... 22
Interpretation by Location ................................................................................................................... 23
Linking Interpretive Themes to Locations-Near Term................................................................................ 25
Linking Interpretive Themes to Locations-Long Term ............................................................................... 26
1. Opportunity for Indigenous Space ......................................................................................................... 27
2. Additional Public Entry .......................................................................................................................... 28
3. Pilot Knob Road Public Entry/Gateway (near term)............................................................................... 29
4. Medicine Wheel ..................................................................................................................................... 30
5. Overlook ................................................................................................................................................ 30
6. Seven Council Fires .............................................................................................................................. 31
7. Trail Connections .................................................................................................................................. 31
7a: Big Rivers Regional Trail ..................................................................................................................... 31
7b: Valencour Circle .................................................................................................................................. 32
IMPLEMENTATION PLAN ........................................................................ 33
APPENDIX A
Resources and Existing Interpretive Materials
Oheyawahi / Pilot Knob Interpretive Plan 106 Group | 1
INTRODUCTION
Oheyawahi means “I have come here to say something (to pray)” in Dakota. This sacred site is located at
Bdote in Mni Sota, or “where the two waters meet” in “Minnesota.” It is part of Dakota homeland and
one of a constellation of significant Dakota sites along the Mississippi and Minnesota Rivers. This is a
sacred place for the Dakota Oyate (“Nation”) and other regional Indigenous nations. For centuries,
Dakota people gathered, held ceremonies, and buried their relatives here. Dakota and other Indigenous
people continue to care for and remain connected to this place today.
A 112-acre site at Oheyawahi/Pilot Knob was listed on the National Register of Historic Places (NRHP)
in 2017. This site comprises both public and private land. The City of Mendota Heights (City) owns a 28-
acre area known as “Historic Pilot Knob,” which is open for public visitation. This smaller site, which is
the focus of this plan, currently includes a gravel parking lot and soft-surface trails that meander through a
partially restored oak savanna and forested landscape. In recent years, the number of people visiting the
site has grown considerably. Current visitors include adults participating in sacred site tours, student
groups (from elementary through college/university), in addition to the general public. Onsite
interpretation is minimal and increasing numbers of visitors necessitates a coherent and comprehensive
interpretation program. This plan builds on previous planning and considered recommendations put forth
in the Historic Landscape Plan (developed and submitted to the City in 2018, but not adopted) to confirm
or recommend alternatives.
This plan project seeks to deeply engage Dakota and other Indigenous people with the planning process
for site development and interpretation at Oheyawahi. In addition to the mostly Dakota and Ojibwe
consultant team, an Indigenous Advisory Group of Dakota elders, educators, and leaders was assembled
and consulted throughout the project, and other representatives of Indigenous communities were engaged
through one-on-one meetings and a virtual workshop. The outcomes of this plan are the direct result of
past and current engagement with Dakota, Ojibwe, and other Indigenous people, and consultation with
Mendota Heights and Dakota County staff and members of the Oheyawahi/Pilot Knob Task Force
established by the City.
Oheyawahi / Pilot Knob Interpretive Plan 106 Group | 2
Overview of the Planning Process
This interpretive planning project builds on previous work, notably the Historic Landscape Plan which
can be referenced for more information about site background and context, as well as a site analysis.
Download or view the plan at the Pilot Knob Preservation Association website
(pilotknobpreservation.org).
Sep Oct Nov Dec Jan Feb Mar Apr May
Project Startup
Engagement
Onsite Meetings X X
Virtual Workshops X X X
Additional Engagement X X X X
Public Presentation X
Interpretive Plan
Draft X
Final X
Oheyawahi / Pilot Knob Interpretive Plan 106 Group | 3
Oheyawahi / Pilot Knob Interpretive Plan 106 Group | 4
Indigenous Engagement
Bringing Indigenous, especially Dakota, voices to the planning process was central to the consultant team
make-up and the engagement approach. Four of the five-member consultant team are Dakota and/or
Ojibwe, providing deep cultural knowledge and Dakota language expertise. A six-member Indigenous
Advisory Group further incorporated Dakota and Ojibwe voices and perspectives. Elders, educators, and
leaders shared their knowledge of this and other local Dakota sites in such a way as to provide continuity
and connections.
The consultant team sought to engage other Indigenous elders, educators, and leaders, including the
Tribal Historic Preservation Officers from the four Minnesota Dakota tribes. Throughout the project
process, about 10 additional outreach engagements bolstered the core group conversations. It was
important for the Indigenous Advisory Group to include additional voices in the conversation to gain the
perspective and insight of Dakota people living outside of Minnesota and other Indigenous people
connected to the site.
Indigenous engagement activities included multiple on-site discussions, online meetings, and other direct
one-on-one conversations. Discussions began with high-level conversations about the meaning of
Oheyawahi to Indigenous communities, both historically and today, and what forms of cultural
interpretation would be desired and appropriate. Additional discussions included observations and
evaluations of the existing conditions of the site including the arrival and entry experience, current
interpretive and cultural elements, site amenities, landscape, vegetation, and existing built structures.
Based on these conversations, the Indigenous Advisory Group created high -level planning concepts and
considerations for further site planning and detailed design for the site that would align with respectful
use, preservation, and enhancement of both the Indigenous and non-Indigenous visitor experience of the
site.
The project participants are members of Dakota, Ojibwe, and Iowa tribes in MN, ND, SD, KS, and NE, as
well as the Mohican tribe of Wisconsin.
Oheyawahi / Pilot Knob Interpretive Plan 106 Group | 5
FOUNDATIONS
Framing the Issues
Indigenous perspectives on place-making, site planning, and visitor
experience
The Indigenous engagement discussions highlighted key planning and design considerations important to
creating and maintaining culturally appropriate place-making and interpretive messaging strategies. Like
other cultural revival efforts in the Indigenous community, restoring and honoring culturally significant
places in the landscape can provide opportunities to connect culture to place, to authentically reflect
Oheyawahi / Pilot Knob Interpretive Plan 106 Group | 6
history and traditions, and to provide culturally appropriate opportunities for individual and group
experiences. The following are key questions and principles considered.
Culturally Authentic Place-making: How do we understand the meaning of Oheyawahi, and how do we
tell this story authentically?
1. There is already inherent cultural meaning to the place. What
opportunities are there to acknowledge the history and
significance of Oheyawahi to convey its unique place in the
Dakota cultural landscape?
2. Why is this a special place? What makes Oheyawahi different
than other culturally important sites locally and regionally and
how do we express that identity to celebrate that uniqueness?
3. This place holds an important story about how Dakota and
other Indigenous people lived in sync with the environment and honored this landscape for its
distinct location and physical characteristics. It also holds a story of colonization, land loss,
forced removal, and scarring the landscape into an unrecognizable form for economic benefit.
How can the story of resilience and restoration be celebrated?
4. What are appropriate site elements that can authentically express the cultural identity of the site
and honor both traditional and contemporary Dakota and Indigenous cultural practices?
5. Are the existing site elements authentic, relevant, and culturally meaningful?
6. How do we tell cultural stories when we are not there? Who creates, designs, and maintains the
elements that tell these cultural stories?
7. How can we ensure that cultural stories are generated by Dakota people and/or through the
Dakota communities?
Culturally Informed Site Planning Considerations: How and should we direct the user experience of
visiting Oheyawahi through culturally informed site planning strategies?
1. Site Organization: Organizing areas of the site to create opportunities for a culturally rich
experience while promoting respectful treatment of the site.
a. Where is the best location to enter the site? Is there a more appropriate main entrance
location that can create a sense of identity separate from the current entry that is adjacent
to the existing cemetery? The monumental stone gateway to the cemetery overshadows
the experience of arriving at Oheyawahi and could feel domineering to some people.
Does the monumental stone gateway to the cemetery overshadow and subjugate the
important arrival experience at Oheyawahi?
b. How can we organize the activities and elements on the site to provide public and private
opportunities for cultural activities while preserving areas for habitat, restoration, and
non-human use?
c. What is an appropriate circulation and pathway system that can connect visitors to site
elements while preserving areas for habitat, restoration, and non-human use?
d. What cultural features are appropriate and how are they composed within the landscape?
2. Restoration, Landscaping and Plantings:
a. What was the pre-settlement vegetative landscape of this site, and what are appropriate
restoration goals given the contemporary context of adjacent ownership and uses
(highway, private land), climate change, and other conditions?
A story of resilience
and restoration can
be celebrated with
this project.
Oheyawahi / Pilot Knob Interpretive Plan 106 Group | 7
b. What aspects of the site have been changed or harmed, and how can we implement
design and planning strategies that heal the land?
c. What are the appropriate strategies to restore and enhance the native plant communities
on the site? Should culturally important plants be introduced in designated areas? Should
there be designated garden space or should plantings be distributed throughout the
landscape? Is it appropriate and safe to allow harvesting?
d. Should vegetative buffer zones be established along the perimeter of the site to mitigate
highway sound, pollution, and visibility?
e. How will the site be managed and cared for? Is prescribed fire appropriate?
3. Listening to the Land:
a. How can ecology, sustainable, and regenerative design principles drive the design?
b. What are cultural perspectives on planning and designing landscapes?
c. How can we design to honor and recognize cultural connections to the landscape: the four
cardinal directions, sunrise and sunset? How does Dakota star knowledge inform
opportunities for experience and interpretation?
d. How can the seasons, year-round access, seasonal celebration, and protection from the
elements, inform design decisions?
Culturally Rich and Respectful Visitor Experiences:
1. How do we create an entry experience that honors and celebrates the significance of arriving at a
culturally important place?
2. What cultural information is appropriate to share with the general public, and what should be kept
private?
3. What experiences can be provided for Dakota and Indigenous community members?
a. Opportunities to experience the site as an individual and as a community
b. Opportunities to engage in cultural activities
c. Opportunities to learn about one’s own culture
4. What experiences can be provided for non-Indigenous visitors?
a. Opportunities to learn about Dakota culture in an authentic way, directly from Dakota
sources
b. Opportunities to design the site and experience to convey to visitors that this is a sacred
place that should be respected and cared for.
5. What involvement should the Dakota community have in future design, planning, and
construction efforts?
6. What ceremonies are appropriate to mark ground blessings for any future construction efforts?
Oheyawahi / Pilot Knob Interpretive Plan 106 Group | 8
Indigenous perspectives on the existing site conditions
Culturally Informed Observations on the Existing Site:
Through multiple site visits and discussions about the current conditions of the site, several key
observations were made that provide valuable insight into how members of Indigenous communities
perceive the place and visitor experience as it is now.
1. Entrance Sign Area: The arrival experience to the site was discussed and there is potential to
create a more inviting and welcoming marker to identify the importance of this place. The
existing sign does not adequately convey the Dakota cultural ties to this place or signify that o ne
has arrived at a highly important landscape. It was also discussed that entering at this location
adjacent to the highly monumental gateway to the cemetery diminishes the identity of
Oheyawahi. This adjacency does not provide the differentiation to convey that it is a separate
place with an entirely different perspective on landscape and culture.
Additional comments:
a. This is not a “park” - is there an opportunity to revise this language on the sign? (A
modification to the sign has since been completed to cover the word “Park”).
b. Recent vegetative clearing has provided good views into the site.
c. Power lines above need to be considered for bus / fire truck required heights.
d. Why do people come here?
e. What should greet visitors as they arrive?
Oheyawahi / Pilot Knob Interpretive Plan 106 Group | 9
f. Does this sign say, “protect this sacred place?”
g. What is going to happen to the industrial-zoned land across the street to the south?
2. Entrance Drive / Parking: The current entrance and parking area does not provide a clear “landing
area” for groups and other visitors to orient themselves and have an introduction to the site away
from traffic. Cemetery traffic conflicts with visitor traffic here and this area feels like an
abandoned street (as it actually is).
Additional comments:
a. Clearer signage that this is not a through street is necessary to avoid people driving in and
turning around.
b. Traffic-calming measures and safe paths for pedestrians are needed at the parking area.
c. How to differentiate the entry to Oheyawahi from the cemetery?
d. Can we restore the forest edge adjacent to the cemetery?
e. How do we announce arrival at the intended destination?
f. How much parking does this place need?
g. There should be better toilet facilities, done in a sustainable way.
h. There should be relief from the wind, rain, and sun.
3. Trail Sign: There is an opportunity to have a stronger sense of identity, interpretation, and
wayfinding as one enters the trail system.
a. A stronger “first gathering area” is needed near the parking lot with enough room for
large groups to gather and talk
b. Signage should be in Dakota first and English second.
c. What are additional ways to visually recognize sacred space in a Dakota way?
d. What are appropriate ways to educate visitors via signage? Are signs for informational
purposes or for engaging visitors and providing opportunities for education?
e. Does signage invite graffiti? (The original sign was stolen and replaced with funds from
the Mendota Heights Public Works budget).
4. Medicine Wheel: The Medicine Wheel was discussed from both a cultural and physical
perspective. The area was in poor condition when visited and its value as an interpretive or
cultural element was questioned.
a. Is a Medicine Wheel Dakota or “Pan-Indian”?
b. The gravel is difficult to maintain in distinct colors.
c. The metal edging is difficult to maintain.
d. This looks messy and uncared for.
e. What is the purpose? Is there a different way to achieve the goals for this space?
f. Is this “cultural signage” or an authentic cultural expression?
g. Is this for Indigenous, Dakota, or non-Indigenous visitors?
h. Is this a compass? Should we need a compass to know the cardinal directions?
5. Interpretive Signage Along Path: The existing interpretive signage provided a starting point for
discussing potential future interpretive elements from a content and design perspective:
a. How do we connect with the site during a visit?
b. What does the landscape want?
c. Signage is deteriorating and difficult to read.
d. How many signs are necessary to tell the story? How many cultural talking points are
appropriate?
Oheyawahi / Pilot Knob Interpretive Plan 106 Group | 10
e. Are we telling stories to a wide audience or to Dakota people?
f. The paths are challenging for elders to walk on.
g. There are no toilets/restrooms along the trail.
h. There are no places for trash.
i. Is the view of the cities a great view or a reminder of colonization and capitalist society?
6. Seven Council Fires: This element was discussed at length as there were already a number of
questions surrounding its design and installation. It was recognized as a positive element and the
discussions provided insight that any future culturally based elements placed in the landscape
here must be carefully considered.
a. Where did the stones come from?
b. The drilling scars are evident, what does that say?
c. This can be a hot, windy, and sunny place—could trees provide shade and shelter?
d. Can water be provided?
e. Are fires allowed?
f. There are still questions about the order of the stones.
g. Why was this placed on this particular spot?
7. Garage Site: The area around the existing garage on the east side of the site was seen as having
good opportunities for additional use, especially for cultural activities that need privacy away
from the general public visiting the site. Questions about site infrastructure and connections to the
pathway system and other areas of the site were considered.
a. How can the space around the garage be utilized?
b. Could private ceremonial space be created here, away from the main trail areas?
c. Could a Sweat Lodge be created here? What are the considerations for fire, showering,
changing room, bathroom, water, and eating?
d. Where is the old septic system?
e. Can any other structures be built here?
8. Garage Building: Having a structure where people could gather out of the elements was seen as a
good opportunity. The garage provided space, but there were questions about its viability as a
comfortable and usable gathering space.
a. Can this space be heated?
b. Can the upper room be a meeting space?
c. Is this a secure building?
d. Is this rentable/reservable?
e. Can this have a bathroom and water source?
f. What hours can this building be used?
Oheyawahi / Pilot Knob Interpretive Plan 106 Group | 11
Framing design, interpretive, and place-making opportunities
Dakota and Indigenous Perspectives on Culturally Informed Place-Making:
The following is a summary of the key guiding design principles that were formulated around potential
planning and building in the Bdote area. How and what is built (or not) at Oheyawahi must be
thoughtfully planned and must include Dakota insight. These principles provide a design process
framework for subsequent efforts to provide a culturally authentic experience that honors Oheyawahi.
These principles of culturally respectful development framed the Indigenous Advisory Group’s
recommendation to connect site design strategies with specific cultural interpretation opportunities. Some
of the key primary place-making considerations and recommendations for further study include:
1. Sense of Arrival: Providing a sense of arrival that lets visitors know Oheyawahi is a highly
important place for Dakota and Indigenous people. Consideration should be given to how visitors
arrive, what visually welcomes them, and where they land for orientation and transition.
2. Dakota Identity: Providing a clear sense of Dakota identity and conveying that this is a sacred site
to be cared for and respected. This can be done through signage, plantings, or other cultural
elements and use.
Oheyawahi / Pilot Knob Interpretive Plan 106 Group | 12
3. Culturally Informed Site Planning: Organizing the site to provide for multiple experiences.
Individual and community gatherings for Dakota, Indigenous, and non-Indigenous visitors to each
learn and experience Oheyawahi or participate in cultural activities privately or as a group. Areas
are established for human use and most areas are reserved primarily for plants and animals.
4. Cultural Authenticity, Equity, and Inclusion: At an important cultural place for the Dakota and
other Indigenous people, this can be a place that is designed by the Indigenous community, where
art and cultural elements are authentic and created by Dakota community members, and where
Dakota community members can lead ongoing care and maintenance.
5. Regenerative and Restorative Site Design: Build only what is needed, and design to heal and
restore the landscape.
6. Inclusive Design: Provide adequate site amenities (water, shade, restroom facilities, and accessible
trails) so that visitors of all ages and all physical abilities can safely and comfortably experience
that site.
7. High Quality and Beautiful Design: The historic and cultural importance of this place calls for
thoughtful, high-quality, and beautiful design with continued Indigenous community involvement
and leadership. This can be an authentic and beautiful expression of Dakota culture and values and
a demonstration of a commitment to restorative practices that convey our overall community’s
commitment to healing broken connections to landscape, to culture, and to each other.
Oheyawahi / Pilot Knob Interpretive Plan 106 Group | 13
Interpretive Framework
Mission and Vision
Mission
What does Oheyawahi do? What is its purpose? (practical, focused; present and ongoing)
Oheyawahi is a gathering place. Here people gather as relatives, connecting with plants,
animals, land, air, sky, and each other. This place is Dakota Homeland. People of many
cultures gather here now.
Dakota people, the City of Mendota Heights, Pilot Knob Preservation Association
(PKPA), and Dakota County care for this sacred land, guided by Indigenous
knowledge and values, and mindful of its importance in cultural identity, history,
and education.
Vision
What do we aspire to bring into being? (aspirational, expansive, and future-oriented)
Oheyawahi is a culturally meaningful Dakota place—one among a constellation
of Dakota sites around Bdote. People gather together here to care for the land,
share perspectives and authentic stories, and learn from the land and one another.
Goals and Principles
Goals for Interpretation
What will visitors to the site sense and understand as a result of their experience at Oheyawahi?
All visitors will…
⚫ feel rejuvenated and connected with the land and landscape;
⚫ understand and appreciate that this is a historically rich, sacred Dakota place;
⚫ learn from the land and through sensory experience;
⚫ have opportunities to participate in stewardship activities; and
⚫ want to return to and share memorable experiences of Oheyawahi.
Principles
Principles define a set of basic, foundational assumptions that guide interpretation at Oheyawahi. These
principles are the foundation upon which the Interpretive Plan is built and should inform future
interpretive development at the site. These principles also guide programming, exhibits, and other
interpretive media at the site.
Oheyawahi / Pilot Knob Interpretive Plan 106 Group | 14
Interpretation at Oheyawahi will…
⚫ share the authentic history of the site centering Indigenous voices;
⚫ foster learning and contemplation;
⚫ convey factual information;
⚫ link tangible resources, such as plants and animals, to intangible concepts, such as family,
joy/suffering, and birth/death;
⚫ be accessible physically, cognitively, and culturally, to the greatest extent feasible;
⚫ accommodate multiple learning styles and present information in easy-to-understand terms; and
⚫ nurture restoration of historical, cultural, and natural resources.
Site development will…
⚫ concentrate development in entrance areas in order to minimize impacts on the land and preserve
the historic character of the land and views;
⚫ be environmentally friendly and consistent with the Natural Resources Management Plan; and
⚫ place elements carefully so that burials are not disrupted.
Audiences
The primary audiences to consider for interpretation and interpretive programs are varied with shared and
unique needs and barriers. Additional outreach (e.g., survey of schools) should be conducted to confirm
the needs and barriers listed here are consistent across specific audience groups.
Generally, all audience group need accessible, well-maintained trails and basic site amenities such as
public restrooms and drinking water.
Audience Needs Barriers
Dakota people from
communities throughout their
traditional lands, which
include Minnesota and places
that extend beyond the borders
established for Minnesota,
such as Crow Creek, Santee,
Sisseton, and Spirit Lake
Experience and connect to
ancestral homeland and
cultural history unmediated
Quiet, contemplative space
Reserved space for ceremony
Well-maintained trails,
especially for Elders
Lack of awareness
Lack of cultural confidence
Feeling unwelcome
Ojibwe, Ho-Chunk, and other
regional Indigenous people
Experience and connect to
nature unmediated
Lack of awareness
Local and regional residents
and visitors
Multiple environments to
explore and new things to
discover on return visits
Concern for safety and/or
comfort
Difficulty navigating to and
through the site
Oheyawahi / Pilot Knob Interpretive Plan 106 Group | 15
Lack of facilities and/or
programming
Educational groups
(elementary, middle school,
high school,
college/university)
Content that meets curriculum
standards. Spaces to learn,
think, interact, and play
Public restroom and drinking
water
Lack of school time and
resources
Lack of adequate parking,
especially for buses
Lack of site amenities for
groups (gathering space,
public restrooms, etc.)
Groups of adults (teachers,
religious groups) on sacred
site visits
Content that shares the full
and authentic history of the
site
Well-maintained trails
Public restroom and drinking
water
Concern for comfort and site
accessibility
Lack of adequate parking
Lack of site amenities for
groups (gathering space,
public restrooms, etc.)
Historians, birders, nature
enthusiasts, artists,
photographers
A range of nature experiences Lack of awareness
Big Rivers Regional Trail
users
Orientation and interpretive
trailhead with water fountain,
bike rack, and public
restrooms
Possibly access to food and
drink to purchase
Difficulty in accessing the site
Environmental professionals,
students, and managers
Multiple environments for
learning
Lack of resources and/or time
Oheyawahi / Pilot Knob Interpretive Plan 106 Group | 16
Interpretive Messages
WHAT IS INTERPRETATION?
Interpretation is storytelling. More specifically, interpretation at Oheyawahi means conveying the
authentic nature of the place to the people who go there. It is about setting context. It is about connecting
people emotionally and intellectually to this place, its stories, and each other.
The Big Idea is the main message, the core concept that visitors should take away from their experience
at Oheyawahi. Themes provide organizational structure and clarity to the messages that visitors encounter
when they visit a site. A theme is different from a topic in that it expresses a complete idea or message. A
theme should answer the question, “So what?” It should tell visitors why a specific topic is important.
The Big Idea at Oheyawahi is:
This is a Dakota place of gathering where people, especially children, have the opportunity
to learn on their own, to experience the land as their teacher, and to connect with the land.
Gather & Honor
Theme Statement: This Dakota place has many names that describe Oheyawahi as a place to gather as
relatives, and to honor ancestors, plant and animal relatives, and the stars.
Ideas to share, cultural perspectives, and potential topics or storylines:
⚫ Honor Dakota ancestors and welcome future generations.
⚫ Tie stories together, reclaim memories, be a good relative, and be a good guest.
⚫ Dakota people are still here and come to Oheyawahi, which is a sacred site and a place of power.
⚫ People of many cultures gather here now.
⚫ This is not a “park.” It is a sacred site and Dakota burial place. (Explore the meaning of a sacred site
through questions, such as: What does a sacred site mean to non-Indigenous people? What is the
difference between a “cemetery” and “burial site”?)
⚫ From a Dakota perspective, plants, animals, and stars are relatives, not resources to be exploited.
⚫ Honor different ways of knowing and learning.
⚫ There are various names for this place and different spellings for Oheyawahi. Share the multiple
names for the site, discuss why there are various names and different spellings. Describe that
Dakota place names are descriptive and that Dakota language is embedded in this place.
Dakota names for Oheyawahi:
Oheyawahi: “I have come here to say something (to pray)” (name and meaning provided by
Glenn Wasicuna, Dakota elder, first language speaker, and Dakota language and cultural
instructor).
Oȟéyawahe: “A hill much visited,” “a place where people go for burial practices” (name
provided by Cantemaza Neil McKay, Senior Dakota language instructor, University of
Minnesota, Dawi Cofer and resources Riggs and Durand cited in Appendix A).
Oheyawahi / Pilot Knob Interpretive Plan 106 Group | 17
: “In a pipe ceremony (Chris) Leith led with Chief Arvol Looking Horse on the
north slope of the hill in March 2004, the hill was given a new name: , “the hill
of all the relatives.” (p. 187, Mni Sota Makoce: The Land of the Dakota).
Paha Oipa “top of the hill” was another name that Chris Leith (1936-2011), a Dakota elder from
the Prairie Island Indian Community, called the site.
European settler names:
Pilot Knob (a reference point for riverboat pilots)
La Butte des Morts (Knoll of the Dead)
Connect & Belong
Theme Statement: At this sacred place, we connect with everything living in a full circle that includes
the land and sky, people, plant and animal relatives, and the past and future.
Ideas to share, cultural perspectives, and potential topics or storylines:
⚫ Oheyawahi is one of a constellation of Dakota sites near Bdote, the meeting of the Minnesota and
Mississippi Rivers.
⚫ Connect to the land through sensory experiences and stewardship activities.
⚫ This is a place where Dakota people can have a sense of home—this is where Dakota people came
from and where they belong.
⚫ Share a more complete history of the site, from different perspectives: Dakota, Ojibwe, and
European settler history.
⚫ Recognize the importance of this place to different people, including Dakota, non-Dakota,
neighbors, historians, birders, artists, students, and teachers.
⚫ Explain the Mississippi River Flyway and Lower Minnesota Valley Important Bird Area.
⚫ The views to and from Oheyawahi have changed over time and can be used to tell the stories of
Indigenous life and western settlement/colonization.
Listen & Respect
Theme Statement: Here, the land is the teacher of her story. Listen to what the land is saying and do
what is good for the land.
Ideas to share, cultural perspectives, and potential topics or storylines:
⚫ This is a place where the land is the teacher of the story. When we are here, we listen to what the
land is saying and do what is good for the land.
⚫ This is a Dakota place where Dakota people continue to care for the land and where land
management incorporates Dakota perspectives.
⚫ Adaptive land management listens to the land and uses techniques that respond to past and current
conditions of the land, plants, and animals. Soils degraded by prior development, pesticides,
fertilizers, and harmful airborne particulates can be restored to a healthy ecosystem.
Oheyawahi / Pilot Knob Interpretive Plan 106 Group | 18
⚫ Restoring the vegetation to a mosaic of prairie and oak savanna will provide healthy habitats for a
diversity of native plants and animals, including birds using the Mississippi Flyway and the
endangered rusty-patch bumble bee.
⚫ Indigenous and non-Indigenous land use and values have changed over time, including
acknowledging the value of natural areas and spending time in nature.
⚫ The site has been preserved as public land for public use. Explain what it means for Oheyawahi to
be protected public land.
⚫ When the land of Oheyawahi changed from private to public ownership, the views from the site
were again available for all to experience. The preservation of this natural area as public land
ensures its protection and accessibility for generations to come.
Learn & Reflect
Theme Statement: Ancient sea deposits formed the bedrock foundation of Oheyawahi, and glaciers
carved the landscape, creating a unique topography that contributed to the site’s importance in Dakota
culture and in Minnesota state history.
Ideas to share, cultural perspectives, and potential topics or storylines:
⚫ The geological history of Oheyawahi can be read in its layers of bedrock.
⚫ Glacial processes, such as the flow of the Glacial River Warren, carved the landscape we see today.
⚫ Oheyawahi overlooks the confluence of the Minnesota and Mississippi Rivers and is part of Bdote,
considered by many Dakota people as a sacred place of creation.
⚫ The confluence of the great rivers was important in early state history.
⚫ The Treaty of Mendota in 1851 was signed at Oheyawahi, forcing Dakota people from their
homelands and opening much of Minnesota for European settlers.
⚫ Describe the role of the National Register of Historic Places (NRHP) for site preservation, explain
why Oheyawahi qualified for listing, and identify other NRHP sites in the area.
Oheyawahi / Pilot Knob Interpretive Plan 106 Group | 19
RECOMMENDATIONS FOR INTERPRETATION
Based on conversations and engagement with the Indigenous Advisory Group and other people from
Indigenous communities, interpretation at the site should be conveyed through minimal physical
structures or elements. Some Indigenous participants wanted no interpretation—to let the land speak for
herself. In 2003, Chris Leith, a Dakota elder and spiritual leader at Prairie Island Indian Community,
admonished, “Leave it alone. Leave it alone," when asked what should be done at this site, what can be
done to protect it, during an interview with Bruce White (historian) and Bob Brown (former Mendota
Mdewakanton Dakota Community Chairperson) related to site preservation.
However, given that the site is on public land and visited by Indigenous and non-Indigenous people,
notably fifth graders from Saint Paul Public Schools, the Indigenous Advisory Group acknowledged the
need for some onsite interpretation. Overall, physical interpretation should be located at the site
entryway(s), with minimal physical elements elsewhere on the site. Digital media, such as app- or
website-based tours could be used to prepare visitors for their visit and to answer questions while they are
onsite.
The mix of experiences and elements for conveying interpretive messages is in the landscape and built
structures. Interpretation is also concerned with things beyond the site’s intrinsic meaning or site stories.
For people to be engaged and have a meaningful experience, they must be able to find their way around
and feel physically comfortable. Interpretation is about the entire visitor experience, an integrated, multi-
disciplinary approach to design and accessibility.
Good interpretation helps people build meaning and knowledge from their experience and generally
incorporates methods that accommodate multiple learning styles. Visitors’ preferred learning styles are
influenced by several factors including past experience, the learning environment, and heredity.
Following are four types of learning styles:
• Auditory: Learner must hear information
• Verbal: Learner must read information
• Visual: Learner must see information
• Tactile: Learner must interact with the information
The best interpretation incorporates as many of these learning styles as possible to reach the largest
number of visitors. Interpretive exhibits should be developed with multiple learning styles in mind.
Oheyawahi / Pilot Knob Interpretive Plan 106 Group | 20
Interpretive Methods and Strategies
Guided Programs
⚫ Site tours, classes, talks, or workshops
Guided programs for adults and children could cover a range of topics based on the site’s themes.
Landscape conservation lectures, for example, could discuss the restored landscape at the site and
focus on environmental stewardship and Indigenous knowledge of plants. The curriculum
developed by MN Humanities Center, A Teacher Guide and Supplementary Lessons for Learning
about Mnisota First People (see Appendix), could be the basis for other classes, tours, and talks
about the site and its stories.
Guided programs were a controversial topic among the Indigenous Advisory Group. The overall
preference was to stop programs (guided, “sacred site” tours, etc.), but there was an
acknowledgement that it might be unrealistic. People giving tours and the St. Paul School District
bring people here without reservation or notification because it is public land. If guided programs
are part of future site interpretation, it will be important to establish parameters for programming,
specifically how programming can be developed respectfully. Guided programs were considered
primarily from a cultural perspective, not an audience-needs perspective.
Self-guided
⚫ Art/Exhibits
A physical object intentionally created
to express interpretive messaging
through a sensory experience. Could
include sculpture, graphic panels, and
audio among other installation types.
At right: Sculptural interpretive
exhibits at He Mni Caŋ.
⚫ App-based Interpretation
Mobile or app-based interpretation
provides visitors the opportunity to learn more about the site before, after, or in lieu of an in-person
visit. It can also enrich the visitor experience with trail maps, program information, and a deeper
dive into site stories. Digital interpretation can support site interpretation so that fewer physical
elements (e.g., signs) are on the land.
In addition to a standalone, site-specific app, QR codes (and/or a short URL) and an updated Pilot
Knob Preservation Association brochure could provide more interpretive content that visitors can
access at the site or at home.
Oheyawahi / Pilot Knob Interpretive Plan 106 Group | 21
⚫ Interpretive signs
Interpretive signs should be used judiciously in
interpretive areas and along trails. Care should be taken to
concentrate messaging at the site entry area and limit
signage in the natural areas of the site.
At right: Small, angled interpretive sign minimizes
intrusion on the landscape at the Schaar’s Bluff site in
Spring Lake Park Reserve near Hastings.
⚫ Landscape elements (plantings, trails, views)
A physical object or sensory experience intentionally
created to convey an interpretive message. This could
include site furnishings, plants, trail design, and vistas/destination points among other elements.
At right and below: Wrapped graphics
incorporated into site furnishings
minimize landscape intrusion and add
interpretive messages in unexpected
places.
Oheyawahi / Pilot Knob Interpretive Plan 106 Group | 22
Interpretive Focus Areas
Two focus areas, one for people and one for the land, as shown below, diagrammatically support the
approach of keeping new infrastructure to the site perimeter and providing the maximum amount of space
for the land to heal and be a teacher, through direct experiences with site visitors.
Oheyawahi / Pilot Knob Interpretive Plan 106 Group | 23
Interpretation by Location
This project builds on previous planning, specifically the Historic Landscape Plan. Overall, this new plan
recommends an approach that is lighter on the landscape, with fewer people-centric structures and
elements, than recommended in the previous plan. Additionally, this plan recommends consideration of a
site entry on the east side of the site. As with the previous plan, this plan recommends ongoing
engagement with members of Indigenous, specifically Dakota, communities.
Overview
Visitor Entry and Orientation Area
A welcome/orientation area and visitor drop-off at a new entry would provide visitor amenities (e.g.,
toilets, drinking water, gathering space) and convey interpretive messages along with information about
how visitors can be a good guest in this sacred space. From a Dakota cultural perspective, entering the site
from the east along Valencour Circle would be appropriate. A Valencour Circle entry location has the
benefits of avoiding the busier intersection at Pilot Knob Road to reduce safety concerns, separating
school buses from other visitors, and removing confusion with the existing imposing entryway for Acacia
Park Cemetery. However, there are significant logistical issues with an eastern entry, including the lack of
utilities (water, sewer and electrical) and the high costs to provide such services. Additionally, part of the
land that would functionally be included as an entry is privately owned and currently not available for
incorporation into the site. The Valencour Circle area should be further evaluated as an additional and,
potentially primary, entry.
Reservable Space
A location where Dakota people can gather privately at this sacred site are important for healing and
caring for the land, people, and their connection with each other. How this is operationalized on City-
owned, public land should be explored in subsequent site development projects.
Trails
The Historic Landscape Plan suggested trail additions and improvements that go beyond the minimal
improvements approach recommended by previous engagement with Dakota people, the Indigenous
Advisory Group, and this plan. The existing trails need to be improved for accessibility. Two new
connecting trails should be added: one linking the recently acquired property on Valencour Circle and
another to replace the current, eroded path connecting to the Big Rivers Regional Trail to the west.
Seating, such as benches or boulders, should be incorporated into trail design at regular intervals to
provide resting stops, especially for elders, as well as opportunities for contemplation.
Gathering Areas
The Historic Landscape Plan suggests adding multiple gathering areas, which goes beyond the minimal
improvements approach recommended by previous engagement with Dakota people, the Indigenous
Advisory Group, and this plan. Gathering areas should be limited to the Visitor Entry Areas, Overlook,
Oheyawahi / Pilot Knob Interpretive Plan 106 Group | 24
the existing Seven Council Fires, and the re-designed Medicine Wheel area, leaving most of the site
available for people to connect directly with the landscape.
Landscape Restoration
Any landscape restoration efforts should be mindful of the historic landscape of Oheyawahi, as shown in
the Seth Eastman illustration below from the late 1840s. The Historic Landscape Plan describes
restoration efforts related to native plant community restoration and a more balanced ecosystem.
Oheyawahi overlooking Bdote shown in a Seth Eastman painting, ca. 1846-48 (Minnesota Historical Society)
Oheyawahi / Pilot Knob Interpretive Plan 106 Group | 25
Linking Interpretive Themes to Locations-Near Term
Oheyawahi / Pilot Knob Interpretive Plan 106 Group | 26
Linking Interpretive Themes to Locations-Long Term
Oheyawahi / Pilot Knob Interpretive Plan 106 Group | 27
1. Opportunity for Indigenous Space
A space should be available by reservation for private events. Based on initial conversations, the space
would be reserved for use primarily for evening, on-site Indigenous gatherings. Consideration should be
given to waiving any fee for Indigenous use, much like the State of Minnesota permits free access to state
parks and sacred sites to tribal members.
The current building on Valencour Circle could be improved by including electricity for lighting and heat.
Although on-site plumbing is not feasible in the near term, a portable restroom and enclosure would help
this site be more usable as a gathering space.
Interpretive Theme and Potential Stories
⚫ Gather & Honor
Dakota people are still here and come to Oheyawahi, which is a sacred site and a place of
power.
Tie stories together, reclaim memories, be a good relative, and be a good guest.
⚫ Connect & Belong
Connect to the land through sensory experiences and stewardship activities.
This is a place where Dakota people can have a sense of home—this is where Dakota people
came from and where they belong.
Method options
Art, integrated signage, and/or site amenities
Considerations
⚫ Who maintains the space?
⚫ Who can reserve the space?
⚫ Is there a cost to reserve the space?
⚫ Who maintains the reservation list?
Next Steps
⚫ Improve the existing building with electricity for light and heat, and provide a portable restroom.
⚫ Collaborate with a Dakota/Indigenous Advisory Group to develop culturally appropriate art in, and
potentially around, the building.
⚫ Develop signage that provides guidance on the significance of Oheyawahi and appropriate
guest/visitor behavior while at the site.
Oheyawahi / Pilot Knob Interpretive Plan 106 Group | 28
2. Additional Public Entry
Valencour Circle Public Entry (near term)
Create entry for visitors with signage/interpretive area and trailhead. Provide area for bike parking and
enhance facilities. Add layers of interpretation when moving from near- to long-term configuration.
Primary Public Entry & Welcome Space Option (long term)
Comparable to the “Gateway Area” in the Historic Landscape Plan. This would be a welcome/orientation
area with trailhead, interpretive features, shelter, and site amenities (e.g., toilets, food service or vending).
Informal seating could be incorporated to provide additional gathering space and staging areas for school
groups. Provide area for bus drop-off and visitor waiting/staging area, add bike parking, and enhance
facilities. As noted above, additional land acquisition and study of feasibility and cost for utilities is
required before determining whether this area can become the primary entry and hub for interpretive
information about the site. Here, visitors will have opportunities to understand the larger cultural,
historical, and ecological landscape so that Oheyawahi can be an introduction to experiences at nearby
cultural and natural locations.
Interpretive Themes and Potential Stories
⚫ Gather & Honor
Honor Dakota ancestors and welcome future generations.
Tie our stories together reclaim memories, be a good relative, and be a good guest.
People of many cultures gather here now.
This is not a “park.”
From a Dakota perspective, plants, animals, and stars are relatives, not resources to be
exploited.
Honor different ways of knowing and learning.
Share the multiple names for the site.
⚫ Connect & Belong
Share the authentic history of the site and recognize different perspectives on this place.
Oheyawahi is one of a constellation of Dakota sites near Bdote, the meeting of the Minnesota
and Mississippi Rivers.
⚫ Listen & Respect
All stories
⚫ Learn & Reflect
All stories
Oheyawahi / Pilot Knob Interpretive Plan 106 Group | 29
Method options
Art, sign/signage, audio, indoor & outdoor exhibits, site amenities, guided programs
Considerations:
⚫ Is the space staffed?
⚫ Is after-hours access available?
⚫ What amenities are available for the public?
⚫ What is the timeline for site improvement?
Next Steps
⚫ In the near term, next steps overlap with improvements identified for the building above, with the
addition of trail information and access.
3. Pilot Knob Road Public Entry/Gateway (near term)
Improve sense of entry for visitors with signage/interpretive area and trailhead. Improve parking lot to
accommodate desired number of vehicles. Provide bus drop-off area adjacent to a visitor
waiting/gathering area. Add bike parking and enhanced facilities.
The gathering area could feature a ground surface map of Dakota places along the Minnesota and
Mississippi Rivers, an audio post welcoming visitors to this sacred Dakota site in Dakota and English,
and providing guidance on appropriate behavior. Small or integrated signage could reinforce the audio
message in Dakota and English and provide an alternative for people with different learning styles.
Interpretive Theme and Potential Stories
⚫ Gather & Honor
Honor Dakota ancestors and welcome future generations.
Tie our stories together, reclaim memories, be a good relative, and be a good guest.
Method options
Sign, audio, outdoor exhibit, self-guided digital/virtual tour (QR code, URL, or app), printed materials
Next Steps
⚫ In the near term, improve the current entry with a visitor waiting/gathering area, and improved
parking and site amenities, such as trailhead information and interpretive signage.
Oheyawahi / Pilot Knob Interpretive Plan 106 Group | 30
⚫ Incorporate QR codes and/or short URLs into on-site and printed materials to link visitors to
additional site information and trail maps at the PKPA (or comparable) website. Ultimately, a
standalone app could be developed if there is sufficient visitor demand.
⚫ Develop interpretive elements collaboratively with a Dakota/Indigenous Advisory Group.
⚫ The trailhead, welcome, and interpretive signage should be designed to be moved to the east-side
entry when that location is developed.
4. Medicine Wheel
Re-design or create a new design by Dakota artist and provide seating.
Interpretive Theme and Potential Stories
⚫ Listen & Respect
This is a Dakota place where Dakota people continue to care for the land and where land
management incorporates Dakota perspectives.
Method
Outdoor exhibit
Next Steps
⚫ Develop interpretive elements collaboratively with a Dakota/Indigenous Advisory Group.
⚫ Add bench or boulder seating to this area with trail improvements.
5. Overlook
This overlook would include boulders or benches for seating and interpretation related to the view.
Guided or self-guided programs could stop here to identify locations in the view that speak to Dakota
places, the flyway, and sites related to Minnesota state history.
A labeled panoramic image, supported by an audio message about the view, could help visitors connect
with and better understand the view from this prominent vantage point.
Interpretive Theme and Potential Stories
⚫ Connect & Belong
Explain the Mississippi River Flyway and Lower Minnesota Valley Important Bird Area.
The views to and from Oheyawahi have changed over time and can be used to tell the stories of
Indigenous life and western settlement/colonization.
Oheyawahi / Pilot Knob Interpretive Plan 106 Group | 31
Method options
Guided program, audio, and outdoor exhibit
Next Steps
⚫ Develop interpretive elements collaboratively with a Dakota/Indigenous Advisory Group.
⚫ Add bench or boulder seating to this area with trail improvements.
6. Seven Council Fires
This gathering area has limited accessibility due to rough terrain. This sculptural work consists of seven
blocks of carved stone set in a circle and engraved with the names of the seven council fires of the Dakota
Nation. It was designed and produced by local artist Seitu Jones in collaboration with Great River
Greening and PKPA under the guidance of Chris Leith, who was spiritual adviser to PKPA before the site
became public land. The installation was part of an initial site restoration plan prepared by Great River
Greening that called for restoring the land to oak savanna and maintaining the trail to this stone seating
installation. Chris advised that there should be seven stones, one for each of the seven council fires, so the
work was done with his guidance.
Interpretive Theme and Potential Stories
⚫ Gather & Honor
Honor Dakota ancestors and welcome future generations.
Tie our stories together reclaim memories, be a good relative, and be a good guest.
Method options
As-existing, guided program
Next Steps
⚫ Remove the two existing interpretive signs, and move the content to a new entry kiosk.
⚫ Develop program collaboratively with a Dakota/Indigenous Advisory Group.
7. Trail Connections
7a: Big Rivers Regional Trail
This connection to the regional trail would have a place for a bicycle rack and include site entry signage.
A small interpretive sign in Dakota and English could convey basic site information and provide guidance
for appropriate behavior at the sacred site.
Oheyawahi / Pilot Knob Interpretive Plan 106 Group | 32
Interpretive Theme and Potential Stories
⚫ Gather & Honor
Honor Dakota ancestors and welcome future generations.
Tie our stories together reclaim memories, be a good relative, and be a good guest.
Method options
Sign
Next Steps
⚫ Develop interpretive elements collaboratively with a Dakota/Indigenous Advisory Group.
7b: Valencour Circle
A trail connection to between the recently acquired property on Valencour Circle and the existing trail
network would provide access between the building and the primary natural areas of the site. Small
orientation and interpretive sign in Dakota and English could convey basic site information and provide
guidance for appropriate behavior at the sacred site.
Interpretive Theme and Potential Stories
⚫ Gather & Honor
Honor Dakota ancestors and welcome future generations.
Tie our stories together reclaim memories, be a good relative, and be a good guest.
⚫ Connect & Belong
This is a place where Dakota people can have a sense of home—this is where Dakota people
came from and where they belong.
Method options
Sign
Next Steps
⚫ Develop interpretive elements collaboratively with a Dakota/Indigenous Advisory Group.
Oheyawahi / Pilot Knob Interpretive Plan 106 Group | 33
IMPLEMENTATION PLAN
The schedule for implementation includes high-level phasing and costs. All costs are “concept level” and
may vary depending on final design.
Notes:
1. Construction estimates for entry and trail improvements are based on 2018 construction costs, as
included in the Historic Landscape Plan
a. Per the Plan, construction cost estimate includes a 20% design and administration fee and
an additional 20% construction contingency for unknown costs.
b. Trail construction cost includes grading, class 5 base material, and three-inch thick
bituminous pavement. Includes all erosion control materials, labor, and turf
establishment.
c. Assumes utility pole relocation or burial of overhead power line cost will be addressed by
utilities.
2. Fabrication costs for interpretive features can be refined as the scope and design are finalized.
3. Phasing: Two phases are identified, but exact timelines are variable depending on funding and
other factors.
4. Costs are addressed in three categories:
$ = Up to $20,000
$$ = $20,000-$100,000
$$$ = More than $100,000
5. Fabrication cost estimates for interpretive elements:
Art: Costs can vary considerably, depending on material, level of complexity, and selected artist.
Exhibits: Costs can vary considerably, depending on material and level of complexity.
Sign (comparable to standard Dakota County sign): $2,000
Sign (custom or integrated into site structure): $2,000-$5,000
Audio (includes talent and studio fees): $5,000
Audio hardware (built-in or standalone): $1,000-$2,000
Oheyawahi / Pilot Knob Interpretive Plan 106 Group | 34
Recommendation Timeframe Cost Notes
Phase 1 Phase 2 $ $$ $$$
Ongoing Dakota/Indigenous Engagement
Advisory Group X X $
Artists & Content Specialists X X $ Critical during design and implementation
of interpretive elements
Additional Engagement X X $
Improved Entry
Pilot Knob Road Entry X $$ Costs based on the Historic Landscape
Plan and bonding cost sheets
Valencour Circle Entry X $$$ Costs based on comparable structures
Valencour Circle Property
Site improvements X
Electricity for lighting and heat in the
building, and portable restroom (cost to be
determined by City)
Operations X Cost to be determined by City as part of
the regular operations budget
Trail Improvements
Trails to Valencour Circle
and Big Rivers Regional
Trail
X
$$$
Costs based on the Historic Landscape
Plan and capital bonding cost sheets
Interpretive Elements
Design X
$$
Total timeframe: 1-1.5 years
Includes: Concept, schematic, design
development, and pre-production
$50,000-$75,000
Implementation X
1. Indigenous space $$ Art, integrated signage
$5,000-$50,000
2. New East Entry $$$
Art, integrated signage, audio, indoor &
outdoor exhibits
$50,000-$300,000
3. Improved West Entry $ Sign, audio, outdoor exhibit
$5,000-$20,000
4. Medicine Wheel $ Outdoor exhibit
$15,000-$20,000
5. Overlook $ Audio, outdoor exhibit
$5,000-$15,000
6. Seven Council Fires $ Sign, audio, outdoor exhibit
$5,000-$10,000
7. Connection to BRRT $ Sign
$2,000
Oheyawahi / Pilot Knob Interpretive Plan 106 Group
APPENDIX A
Resources and Existing Interpretive Materials
Oheyawahi/Pilot Knob pocket guide/brochure created by the Pilot Knob Preservation Association and
funded by the Minnesota Historical Society (available from PKPA website):
http://pilotknobpreservation.org/wp/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/Pilot-Knob-Guide-2017-
webreduced.pdf
Oȟéyawahe (Pilot Knob): A Teacher Guide and Supplementary Lessons for Learning about Mnísota’s
First People:
Pilot-Knob-curriculum-FINAL_4-29-2019-web.pdf (pilotknobpreservation.org)
MHC Absent Narratives Resource Collection (humanitieslearning.org)
Created by Priscilla Buffalohead, Ethan Neerdaels, and Ramona Kitto Stately in partnership with Osseo
Area Schools and the Minnesota Humanities Center, 2019.
National Register of Historic Places Nomination Form:
DRAFT Nomination Form for NRHP (pilotknobpreservation.org)
2018 Historic Landscape Plan proposal (not adopted):
Oheyawahe_HistoricLandscapePlanDocument_FINAL-181031 optimize.pdf (pilotknobpreservation.org)
Bolton & Menk. 2020. Memorandum: Phase I Archaeological Survey Methodology 2085 Valencour
Circle, Mendota Heights. (SHPO File No. 2020-2047).
Cofer, Dawi. 2017. Oȟéyawahe: A new spelling for an old name.
http://pilotknobpreservation.org/wp/?p=126
Durand, Paul. 1994. Where the Waters Gather and the Rivers Meet, An Atlas of the Eastern Sioux, Paul
Durand. Library of Congress Catalog Number: 94-71463.
Quinn Evans Architects. 2020. Indian Mounds: A Sacred Place of Burial: Cultural Landscape Study and
Messaging Plan. https://www.stpaul.gov/departments/parks-and-recreation/design-construction/current-
projects/indian-mounds-regional-park-0
Riggs, Stephen R. First published 1890, new material 1992, A Dakota-English Dictionary. St. Paul:
Minnesota Historical Society.
Oheyawahi / Pilot Knob Interpretive Plan 106 Group | 2
Terrell, Michelle. 2003. A historical, cultural and archaeological evaluation and determination of
eligibility of Pilot Knob for the proposed “The bluffs of Mendota Heights” development, Mendota
Heights, Dakota County, Minnesota (SHPO File No. 2003-1677).
Ten x Ten. 2017. Dakota County Minnesota River Greenway Cultural Resources Interpretive Plan.
https://www.co.dakota.mn.us/parks/About/TrailPlanning/Documents/MinnesotaRiverCulturalResourcesIn
terpretivePlan.pdf
Westerman, Gwen and Bruce White. 2012. Mni Sota Makoce: The Land of the Dakota. St. Paul:
Minnesota Historical Society.
White, Bruce and Alan Woolworth. “Oheyawahi/Pilot Knob: A Hill of State and National Significance in
Dakota County (Minnesota)” in Over the Years. June 2004. Dakota County Historical Society.
In addition to the materials referenced above, the following parallel planning efforts have been considered
during the development of this plan: Wakan Tipi Center (Lower Phalen Creek Project at Bruce Vento
Nature Sanctuary); River Learning Center (City of Saint Paul and the Great River Passage Conservancy
as an outcome of the Great River Passage Master Plan); River Balcony (City of Saint Paul and the Great
River Passage Conservancy as an outcome of the Great River Passage Master Plan); Flying Cloud Drive
(Hennepin County in consultation with the Shakopee Mdewakanton Sioux Community), Shakopee
Riverfront Trail (a collaborative effort of Three Rivers Park District, Scott County, City of Shakopee,
Shakopee Mdewakanton Sioux Community, and Scott County Historical Society); American Indian
Cultural Corridor (Native American Community Development Institute); Bde Maka Ska Refectory
(Minneapolis Parks and Recreation Board); and Fort Snelling Revitalization (Minnesota Historical
Society).
______________________________________________ City Council Work Session Memo
DATE: August 16, 2022
TO: Mayor and City Council
FROM: Cheryl Jacobson, City Administrator
SUBJECT: Mendota Heights Athletic Association
INTRODUCTION
The City and the Mendota Heights Athletic Association (MHAA) have a long history and have held
meetings throughout the past to discuss relationship opportunities and strains. Representatives
from MHAA will be attending the work session on August 16.
BACKGROUND
The City of Mendota Heights coordinates the use of athletic fields and facilities owned by the
City. The City’s Field and Facility Use policy establishes the guidelines for the allocation and
management of city athletic fields and facilities including allocating the use of the current athletic
fields to support Parks and Recreation programs throughout the City and for Mendota Heights
residents, preserving the facilities offered by minimizing wear and tear, and preventing overuse
while conserving maintenance costs.
City fields and facilities are often used in a multi-purpose manner and are requested by a variety
of sport providers and users each year.
MHAA is an independent not-for-profit organization which serves the athletic needs of families
in ISD197. MHAA offers recreational, in-house and traveling athletic opportunities for children
ages 3-15. MHAA is governed by a working board of volunteers that is responsible for leading
and overseeing the operations of the Association. Dan Novak is the President of MHAA.
MHAA is a primary user of city owned fields and is recognized by the city council as a youth
athletic association serving Mendota Heights athletes.
REQUESTED ACTION
Informational discussion.