HomeMy WebLinkAbout2022 5-10 Ramsey County offers to sell golf course to Maplewood STARTRIBUNErJ
Ramsey County offers to sell golf course
to Maplewood
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By SHANNON PRATHER , STAR TRIBUNE
May 10, 2022 - 5:35 AM
Maplewood leaders said they simply don't have the green to buy the 88
acres of greens and fairways that make up the now -shuttered Ponds at
Battle Creek golf course.
Ramsey County offered to sell the golf course to Maplewood after closing
it last fall. The county declined the city's request to reopen the golf course
this spring amid talks, said Maplewood Mayor Marylee Abrams, so the
future of the 88-acre parcel remains in limbo.
"The County came to Maplewood on Feb. 3 and basically offered to sell us
the Ponds golf course," Abrams said. "Unfortunately we didn't budget to
buy a golf cour rage the golf
course. A golf c
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Ramsey County closed the 9-hole course last September. It was the worst
performing of its five courses and was losing money before the COVID-19
pandemic reignited interest in the sport. The decision to shutter the
course and potentially redevelop it has stirred intense debate in the
community with some arguing it should remain a golf destination. Others
said it should be preserved as green space, while another faction said
developing affordable housing should be a top priority.
Maplewood leaders have discussed the possible land deal in several closed
sessions. Abrams said city staff and the council will discuss the future of
the Ponds at a public workshop May 23.
"This is really important property that is of high environmental value,"
Abrams said. "This is a legacy property in our community."
Ramsey County spokeswoman Allison Winters said the county has had
dialogue with Maplewood about the golf course and another 77-acre
vacant parcel just north of a county corrections facility.
"While we speak with Maplewood, we also continue to evaluate both north
and south parcels for future development, but we do not have any active
solicitations," Winters said.
She confirmed the county will not open or maintain it as a golf course but
rather will secure and maintain the property "consistent with our practices
at other vacant county -owned properties." Winters said the county's 2022
budget does not include funding or staffing for the golf course.
Abrams said neighbors are concerned about the property sliding into
disrepair. She said that will be part of the workshop discussion.
The county board voted to establish the golf course in 2001 on county
corrections property as an innovative work program for inmates serving
time at the nearby county workhouse.
The county announced plans to close the course in 2019 citing operating
losses and the county's four other golf courses. It quickly become the latest
battleground between conservationists clamoring to preserve green space
and county leaders who have it earmarked for redevelopment with an eye
toward affordable housing.
Golf enthusiasts lobbied to keep it open, and the nonprofit Friends of the
Parks and Trai :ourse should
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The county says the record is clear: The Ponds is not technically parkland
because it's built on corrections property.
The possible development of the nearby 11-acre parcel just north of the
workhouse has also sparked controversy_ with environmental groups
lobbying to maintain the property as prairie for endangered nesting
grassland birds.
Shannon Prather covers Ramsey County for the Star Tribune. Previously, she covered
philanthropy and nonprofits. Prather has two decades of experience reporting for
newspapers in Minnesota, California, Idaho, Wisconsin and North Dakota. She has
covered a variety of topics including the legal system, law enforcement, education,
municipal government and slice -of -life community news.
Shannon.Prather@startribune.com. . 414
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CountyFuture of Maplewood's Ponds golf course in limbo after Ramsey
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