Orono Public Golf Course

An Email Chain between a Citizen and Orono Mayor Denny Walsh and Josh Lemons. Other Council and Park Commissioners as well as City Staff are copied in one message breaking Open Meeting Law

Mayor Walsh shames Citizen for asking questions and says the questions are propaganda and misinformation (sic). Walsh emails all City Council members thereby creating a quorum and breaking open meeting law. #dennywalshformayor #denniswalshformayor #dennywalsh #denniswalsh

Mayor Walsh (in black type) shames Citizen appears to lie about the clear cutting of trees because we photographed several healthy trees cut right next to the parking lot where the Pavilion will be placed. Walsh then claims no one ever said this was just for the golf leagues but that is exactly what was said during the 1/2/24 Orono Park Commission Work Session at about minute 5-6 by Orono Park Commissioner Brian Roath. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7pShl3g_u_A #dennywalshformayor #denniswalshformayor #dennywalsh #denniswalsh #brianroath

Citizen writes a concerns respectfully to Orono Park Superintendent Josh Lemons. #dennywalshformayor #denniswalshformayor #dennywalsh #denniswalsh

Orono Park Superintendent Josh Lemons obviously deflects the request for more information and supports the notion that a one hour meeting prior to the Park Commission meeting will suffice for any Citizen input. Citizens mistrust the entire process due to omission and deflection. #dennywalshformayor #denniswalshformayor #dennywalsh #denniswalsh #joshlemons

Once again during the 1/2/24 Orono Park Commission meeting Mr. Rick Carter proposes his pet activity Mountain Biking for the Orono Golf Course? No environmental consideration and in fact, Mr. Carter claims they won’t cut trees down completely ignoring the data about soil management and damage to tree bark. Mr. Carter wants to ride right through 3 Ecologically Significant Areas without any consideration to wildlife. Apparently because it is dry right now he had no idea he was riding a golf cart through a marsh area. He also tries to weigh in on legal matters as a volunteer? See our video at about minute mark 45:31 on our Youtube channel here: https://youtu.be/7pShl3g_u_A?feature=shared #rickcarter #oronoparkcommission #orono #oronomn #mountainbiking #johnwithrow #oronomountainbiketeam #westonkamountainbiketeam #moundmountainbiketeam #oronomtb #westonkamtb #mountmtb

During the 1/2/24 Orono Park Commission Meeting the Orono Golf Course cam under fire again for development. As Orono Park Superintendent Josh Lemons cut down dozens of trees including those that were healthy, Citizens cried outrage. Lemons said “he just decided.” See the photos above of the damage and clear cutting for what appears to be a parking lot extension and Party Picnic Shelter by a Private interest group for their own use. For more information see about minute mark 1:44:47 on our Youtube video here: https://youtu.be/7pShl3g_u_A?feature=shared
#oronoparkcommission #joshlemons #josh lemons #trees #oronopublicgolfcourse #oronomn

The Orono Public Golf Course is one of the oldest natural grass 9-hole golf courses in the state. It will be 100 years old next year and now it’s slated for development by the City of Orono. Hundreds and perhaps thousands of citizens have asked that this development, a sports complex, be halted due to noise and lower property values along with the utter disruption to the golfers. Proposed was a Pickleball/Hockey Rink that was estimated to cost somewhere near a million dollars to complete. Even with donations, this was primarily going to need taxpayer funds.

The Orono Public Golf Course has three ecologically significant areas: First is the Tamarack wetland shown above.

The Orono Public Golf Course has three ecologically significant areas: Second is the Oak forest shown above.

The Orono Public Golf Course has three ecologically significant areas: Third is the Mixed Emergent Marsh shown above.

Letter to the editor by local citizen featured on January 21, 2023.

KSTP Channel 5 covers the Orono Public Golf Course on January 24, 2023

Channel 9 Fox News covers the Orono Public Golf Course February 9, 2023

https://www.change.org/p/keep-orono-public-golf-course-dedicated-to-golf-aa9da0c8-9ecd-4cb1-bcf2-d393076f2cfd?source_location=search

Although the Hennepin County Youth Grant application for a Hockey Rink has been withdrawn from consideration, there are four Park Commissioners, #BrianRoath, #CameronPorter, #JanBerg, #SandraRasmussen that are all in favor of adding Pickleball Courts to the Golf Course against nearly one thousand citizens. The search for a new venue and funding continues.