Rosemount's "Built to Play" Parks Plan Could Mean Up to $75 Million in Bonds
TLDR
- Rosemount is moving forward with Built to Play, a plan for new parks, ice, fields, and rental space.
- On Sept. 15, the council set a public hearing on Port Authority bonds of up to $75 million, plus a special "industrial development district."
- An open house is Thursday, Sept. 24, 6-8 p.m. at City Hall.
- The public hearing is Tuesday, Oct. 20.
- The city estimates the average household would pay about $75 a year for four years, then $20 a year for two.
This one got approved quietly, but it could be one of the biggest things to come out of the Sept. 15, 2026 Rosemount City Council meeting. Tucked into the consent agenda was the first formal step toward paying for Rosemount's Built to Play plan. And the number attached to it is big: up to $75 million.
What Is Built to Play?
Built to Play is Rosemount's plan to invest in parks and recreation. The city says the goal is safe, modern, and welcoming places for everyone to play and gather.
City Administrator Logan Martin gave a quick rundown at the end of the meeting. He said the plan includes:
- Investments in parks
- New ice offerings
- New field offerings
- Flexible rental space
"Some of the really exciting investments in the parks and recreation and amenity offerings in the city" are in that plan, Martin said.
The city has a story map on its Built to Play page. It lets you click around town and see where each investment would go. According to the city, the projects include:
- A new two-sheet ice arena, with earthwork that could start in late fall 2026
- Two youth softball and baseball fields at the new ice arena site
- Rosemount's first city-owned full-size baseball field, near the UMore fields
- A bigger Central Park, with a universal playground, a larger splash pad, more parking and a 5,000-square-foot event space
- New and replacement playgrounds, including at the Akron Avenue ballfields
- An Erickson Park remodel
The city says the designs are conceptual and not final.
What the Council Did Tuesday
The council approved a "call for a public hearing" on two things. That just means they scheduled a hearing. They haven't approved the borrowing yet.
Here's what the hearing will cover, in plain language:
1. An industrial development district. This is a special zone the city sets up under state law. It gives the city's Port Authority certain tools to help pay for projects.
2. Port Authority bonds up to $75 million. Rosemount has its own Port Authority (a city agency that handles economic development and financing). Bonds are a loan the city pays back over time. The Port Authority would borrow up to $75 million to pay for Built to Play work.
Martin said this item is "a lot of words" to say it's tied to Built to Play. The Port Authority also took action on this earlier the same evening.
The item passed with the rest of the consent agenda, 4-0, with no discussion.
What It Could Mean for Your Taxes
Taxes didn't come up at Tuesday's meeting. But the city has published an estimate on its Built to Play page.
The city says it will phase the project costs over six years. For the average Rosemount household, that works out to about $75 a year for four years, then $20 a year for two years.
Part of that money will also help pay for the Fire Station 2 expansion and a new fire engine, according to the city. Still have questions about what it means for your home? The open house and the Oct. 20 hearing are the best places to ask.
How to Learn More and Weigh In
Open house: Thursday, Sept. 24, 6-8 p.m., in the council chambers at Rosemount City Hall (2875 145th Street West). You can see project displays, ask questions, and talk with council members.
Public hearing: Tuesday, Oct. 20, at the regular council meeting. This is the official chance to speak before the council takes the next step toward selling the bonds.
Even Mayor Jeff Weisensel said the open house wasn't on his calendar yet. So put it on yours.
The Bottom Line
Rosemount has been on a building streak. There's the award-winning public works and police campus, the $14 million Fire Station 2 plan approved at this same meeting, and now Built to Play. If you care about ice time, fields, or park space, or about what it adds to your tax bill, this is the time to pay attention.
Check out the story map, go to the Sept. 24 open house, and come ready with questions for the Oct. 20 hearing. The city's Parks and Facilities page shows what's already out there. And if you're curious about the Port Authority's legal setup, it's in Minnesota Statute 469.0813. In the meantime, get out and enjoy what we've got, like the Rosemount Fall Food Truck Festival at Central Park this Saturday. For more on how the city's been growing, see our earlier Rosemount council recap.
