county of sherburne 20260518-SherCo-Parks-Visitor-Impact-Study-RFP.pdf

Sherburne County Parks & Recreation Department- Parks & Trails Visitor Impact Study RFP 1

13880 Business Center Drive NW | Ste. 100 | Elk River, MN 55330 | 763-765-3308

REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL

Parks & Trails Visitor Impact Study

May 18, 2026

The Sherburne County Parks and Recreation Department (SCPR) seeks proposals from qualified and experienced firms to facilitate visitor economic impact study for 5 parks and a regional trail.

A Comprehensive Parks & Trails Plan was adopted in 2022.

Project Site Sherburne County Address/Directions: 5 Nature-Based Parks and a Segment of Regional Trail County: Sherburne Total Park Acres: 780.75 Total Regional Trail Miles:

4.25

Project Context and Site Background:

Sherburne County is Northwest of the Twin Cities Metro Area with Highway 10 and the Mississippi River forming the southern border and Hwy 169 running within the eastern border. The population of Sherburne County is approximately 103,156. The 2024 population profile reflected a median age of 36.6 and a median household income of $105,466. Ethnic diversity is also increasing with 11.1% identifying as black, indigenous, and/or persons of color (BIPOC).

SCPR employs a full-time Parks Director under the Public Works Director, who supervises a Park Maintenance Technician and a Natural Resources Coordinator. Prior to 2019, the Department had no full-time staff. In 2020, the Department began hiring a seasonal intern, which increased to two in 2021.

The Department also contracts private industry for necessary technical and professional services.

To date, SCPR has not provided formal programming. Informal programming through summer story strolls has been successful. In 2026, SCPR will be rolling out the first of its scheduled programming through consultants to provide nature-based fitness in the parks and paddle experiences on the Mississippi River and Big Elk Lake.

SCPR has no revenue deriving amenities. With 1 large picnic pavilion at Grams Park and another coming online at Island View in 2026, all reservations are provided at no cost to visitors. Both pavilions are supported by dual unit vault toilets. SCPR has no camping facilities.

SCPR seeks to better understand visitor use trends and the economic impact of visitors to its park and trail system. This information is needed to inform decision making about staffing and prospective capital investments.

Project Scope:

The selected firm shall provide services for this project that determine current visitor use numbers, peak times, and trends; and economic impact of current use and that of projected demographic changes.

Sherburne County Parks & Recreation Department- Parks & Trails Visitor Impact Study RFP 2

Sherburne County is looking for the consultant who can best deliver the best mix of the following deliverables.

Deliverables:

1. Visitor Use and Trend Analysis

• Total annual visitor use estimates for each park and for the Great Northern Regional Trail

• Peak and off-peak visitation patterns by hour, day, and season

• Visitor segmentation including: local vs. non-local users, demographics (as feasible)

• Documentation of all data collection methods, assumptions, sampling frames, and margin of error

• Maps and charts visualizing visitor distribution and temporal trends

2. Visitor Journey and Economic Impact Analysis

• Visitor origin analysis using survey data, mobile data, or other defensible methods

• Travel distance patterns and catchment area mapping

• Profile of visitor spending related to the park or trail visit

• Economic impact modeling results (IMPLAN, RIMS-II, or comparable system), including direct, indirect, and induced effects

• Sensitivity analysis with alternative scenarios (e.g., projected demographic growth, expanded programming, increased visitation)

• Summary of economic benefits to Sherburne County, specifically identifying local business sectors most affected

3. Public Health, Quality of Life, and Non-Market Benefit Assessment (Desired/Optional)

The County would like to be able to identify the health benefits of the studied parks and trail. SCPR seeking recommendations on how to achieve.

Example indicators:

• Life expectancy

• Percent of adults indicating poor or fair to the question of: “Would you say that in general your health is: Excellent, Very Good, Good, Fair, or Poor?”.

• Air Quality. Annual Air Quality Index (AQI).

• Social Connections. Percent of adults who self-report 14+ days of “not good” mental health days in a month.

Sherburne County Parks & Recreation Department- Parks & Trails Visitor Impact Study RFP 3

4. Data Deliverables and Technical Files

• Access to comprehensive report in shareable format. County reserves the right to request to see the raw data.

5. Recommendations for Future Planning and Investment

• Strategic recommendations related to staffing, capital improvements, programming, and long-term data collection

• A prioritized list of actions SCPR may take to enhance economic impact and visitor experiences

• Identification of infrastructure or operational constraints revealed through data

6. Reporting and Presentations

• Draft report for staff review

• Final comprehensive report incorporating feedback

• Executive summary suitable for County Board packets

• A presentation (virtual or in person) to SCPR leadership and/or the Sherburne County Board

• Public facing summary handout or infographic

Other Project Related Items

1. Preference will be given to respondents that demonstrate extensive experience conducting studies for local and regional parks and trails.

2. All printed and electronic data and documents related to the study process must be submitted in a format approved by SCPR and shall be come property of SCPR at the completion of the project.

Proposal Content - 12 page maximum

1. Letter of interest that includes an overview of the firm and sub-consultants that lists the team’s qualifications, specifies the project manager, the primary contact and the project principal representing the contractual authority of the firm.

2. A project organizational chart that illustrates team composition with key staff members and their roles defined.

3. Resumes of the project manager, principal and key staff.

4. Project Budget as separate document with list of estimated project hours for each staff member and 2026 hourly rates.

5. Statement of project understanding, proposed approach and coordination methods.

6. Three project descriptions for recent projects similar in scope (park and trail visitor use study) that highlight the data collection methods and data representation.

Sherburne County Parks & Recreation Department- Parks & Trails Visitor Impact Study RFP 4

For each project description, provide references (name, email and phone numbers).

7. Schedule that outlines key tasks, milestones and critical sequence based on upon the SCPRs proposed timeline.

8. Proposal Submission:

Proposals may be submitted electronically via email to:

Gina Hugo, Parks Director - gina.hugo@co.sherburne.mn.us

Late proposals will not be accepted. All proposals shall become public information after selection and remain the property of the SCPR.

Important Dates

Solicit Request for Proposal May 18, 2026 Deadline for questions May 27, 2026 Clarifications send to all firms June 3, 2026 Proposals Due June 15, 2026 Awarding of contract to Service Provider Desired Project Completion

August 4, 2026 Feb 28, 2027

Questions:

Submit questions to:

Gina Hugo, Parks Director– gina.hugo@co.sherburne.mn.us

Evaluation and Selection

SCPR will evaluate quotes based on the following:

1. Respondent’s demonstrated experience and knowledge in conducting visitor us studies for parks and trails in Greater Minnesota.

2. Respondent’s understanding of the goals and objectives of the project

3. Key staff assigned to project and related experience

4. Ability to complete project before February 28, 2027

5. References

6. Cost

The SCPR may decide to conduct virtual interviews or simply select the proposal that is determined to be the most advantageous to the SCPR. A contract will be negotiated with the selected firm. The SCPR reserves the right to reject any or all proposals.