Site work for a playground / park / athletic field in Eyota, Minnesota. Completed plans call for site work for a playground / park / athletic field.

Question Cut Off Date 9/15/2025 02:00:00 PM (CT) Any requested modifications to the Contract Terms and Conditions language shall be submitted on or before the deadline for questions via the Questions" tab on the website. Requests for additional information, interpretations, or corrections to Terms and Conditions, Specifications and or Drawings shall be initiated on or before the deadline for questions, by utilizing the Questions tab on the electronic bidding site. 4.2 Questions shall appear on the website as submitted. Any protest alleging improprieties in the solicitation process or in solicitation documents shall be filed no later than seven (7) calendar days prior to the deadline for submittal of bids. Protests shall be sent electronically to the Purchasing Manager. This project is for site restoration of approximately 27 acres within Chester Woods Park. The Friends of Chester Woods volunteer group have committed funding for equipment and chemicals, as well as hundreds of volunteer hours dedicated to invasives removal in other areas of the park over the last few years. Clearing these areas of invasive species makes it much easier for volunteers to focus on maintaining the areas that we have already cleared and work on smaller pockets that are more manageable with manual removals. Statewide decline of Oak Savanna habitat is affecting many native species for both wildlife and vegetation. Chester Woods Park has many prime areas that, if restored, can add acreage back to the States overall Oak Savanna areas. Several small areas of the park adjacent to the proposed grant acreage are currently being restored by use of goats and manual invasives species removal. The restoration of the rest of site 17, which is approximately 27 acres, will create a contiguous and vast area of Oak Savanna in the park. The area has several trail segments, and are highly used by visitors coming to see one of the top features of the park, the reservoir dam. Sight lines and improved habitat by opening the understory will appeal to visitors and allow for increase in wildlife viewing. This large of a restoration will be a noticeable improvement to the forest. Restoration will be accomplished largely by contracting services with heavy equipment for tree felling and removal. Logs in good condition will be processed into firewood for the campground by staff and volunteers. Both contractors and staff will work to remove brush and invasive species by use of forestry mowers or manual cutting. Some standing dead trees that do not pose a threat to hikers will remain in place. Some root balls, downed trees and brush piles will also be left for habitat. Brush and small tree limbs will be burned on site in a biochar kiln. This will be purchased as part of a pilot program in the County to introduce and test the biochar byproduct. This kiln and the biochar will be used throughout the county by multiple agencies in a cooperative manner to determine the future opportunities in biochar production. Once the dense underbrush is removed, a woodland edge prairie seed mix will be planted to promote the desired savanna vegetation. Staff will continue to set back invasives and do annual maintenance in the area to preserve the restored habitat.