If you've been driving past Johnny Cake Ridge Park lately, you've probably noticed all the construction activity.

Well, the wait is almost over—this Thursday, October 23rd, there will be a celebration of the grand opening of not one, but two brand-new recreation spots.

The City Council wants you to join them for a double ribbon cutting ceremony at Johnny Cake Ridge Park West (14255 Johnny Cake Ridge Road).

First up is the newly renovated Goodwin Pickleball Complex at 5:00 PM, followed by the brand-new Apple Valley Skate Park at 5:30 PM.

City staff and the construction teams will be there too, so it's a great chance to see these facilities in person and hear about what went into making them happen.

Whether you're into pickleball or skateboarding (or just curious to see what the city's been working on), stop by and be part of the celebration.

Remember that parks referendum back in November 2023?

Turns out a lot of us felt the same way about our parks—they needed some serious love. After years of community meetings and surveys where residents shared what mattered most to them, voters approved a pretty substantial investment in our park system.

The thing is, many of Apple Valley's 51 parks were showing their age. Playgrounds that had been around since the '90s, worn-out trails, aging facilities—you know the drill. The pandemic didn't help either, with everyone suddenly spending way more time at parks and really putting them through their paces.

So the community said yes to a $73.25 million investment to bring our parks into the modern era. Thursday's ribbon cutting is one of the first chances we get to see that money at work.

The skate park and pickleball courts are just the beginning. There's actually a ton of construction happening across Apple Valley right now. Drive around and you'll probably spot work crews at several locations.

Some of the bigger projects already underway include the Hayes Youth Athletic Complex, where they're building four brand-new lighted baseball and softball fields.

Redwood Park is getting a complete makeover with the city's first truly inclusive playground, along with courts for tennis, pickleball, basketball, and even ecuavolley.

And Kelley Park? They're rebuilding pretty much the whole thing—new stage, bigger splash pad, better restrooms, the works.

On the "already done" list, Hayes Arena got a complete refrigeration system overhaul last year, and Splash Valley Water Park (you might still call it the Family Aquatic Center) wrapped up its renovation this past summer with new slides, updated mechanical systems, and a fresh look.

Here's something cool—the city's not just building stuff and hoping people like it. Right now, there are surveys open for 12 neighborhood parks that are getting upgrades next spring and summer. We're talking about parks like Cedar Knolls, Duchess, Findlay, Greening, Hagemeister, and several others.

Fill out the surveys here: https://applevalleymn.gov/ParksProjects

You can actually help pick the playground equipment, choose the color schemes, and share what else you'd like to see. The surveys are open through October 31st, so if you live near any of these parks (or just have opinions about playgrounds), now's your chance to make your voice heard.

I know what you're thinking—this all sounds great, but what's it doing to my taxes? Fair question. For a home valued at $300,000, we're talking about roughly $18 a month. That breaks down to about $16.31 for the main park improvements and $1.59 for the Redwood Pool replacement.

The city spread the bond payments over 20 years and staggered when they're borrowing the money, which helps keep things manageable. Whether that feels like a good deal probably depends on how much you value having quality parks around, but at least it's not a huge shock to anyone's budget.

What I think is pretty neat about this whole thing is that it's not just about fixing what's broken. Sure, replacing 30-year-old playground equipment is part of it, but there's also a real focus on making parks work for everyone. The inclusive playground at Redwood Park is designed so kids of all abilities can play together. New trails are being built with accessibility in mind. And they're adding amenities that didn't exist before, like those ecuavolley courts and more pickleball options.

Plus, there's $2 million set aside just for natural resources—planting trees, restoring prairie areas, creating pollinator habitats. So even as we're adding more facilities, there's thought going into preserving the natural character of these spaces.

Look, I could keep going about all the projects in the pipeline (there are a lot), but honestly, the best way to understand what's happening is to come out Thursday evening and see the finished product. The Goodwin Pickleball Complex and Skate Park are real, tangible examples of what this referendum investment looks like in practice.

Bring the family, bring your skateboard or your paddle, or just bring your curiosity. It's a chance to celebrate something good happening in our community and maybe get excited about what's still to come.

See you there on Thursday, October 23rd at Johnny Cake Ridge Park West. The pickleball celebration starts at 5:00 PM, and the skate park follows at 5:30 PM. Let's check out what Apple Valley's parks are becoming.