The proposed redevelopment of Lake Rebecca Park is one step closer to becoming reality with the approval by the Hastings City Council at its meeting Monday night of a project manager.

The project manager will be Hoisington Koegler Group (HKGI) of Minneapolis, which came in with the low bid of $89,500 from three firms submitting proposals.

Much of the work will be paid for through a state Legislative-Citizen Commission on Minnesota Resources/Environment and Natural Resources Trust Fund grant of $1 million. The Lake Rebecca project also includes development of a master plan “which focus on habitat restoration, enhancement and enhancement as well as redevelopment of the Lake Rebecca parking lots, boat launch and trails.

“Habitat enhancement and water quality are key elements for the project to consider and address. Due to the wide variability in water levels on the site, significant care and consideration must be given to planning facilities that are able to tolerate the seasonal conditions and bounce in river elevation. Creativity and functionality will be important during the master planning process,” the HKGI proposal states.

The project must be completed by June 30, 2025 under the grant guidelines.

HKGI has worked on several projects with the city Parks & Recreation Department.

“HKGI staff are familiar with the City of Hastings through our past work on numerous projects in the city, most recently the City of Hastings People Movement Plan, which included in-depth mapping and analysis of the city’s pedestrian and bicycle system, part of which moves through the Lake Rebecca area. Our work with Dakota County has included master planning and design work for the County Parks Department, and park planning, greenway planning, and grant writing for the County Office of Planning. In 2018, we worked with Dakota County and the City of Hastings to complete the Vermillion River Greenway Master Plan for the Hastings segment,” according to the proposal.