After 38 Years, Lakeville's Parks, Recreation Director to Retire

Lakeville's first and only Parks and Recreation Director is retiring after nearly 40 years at the helm.

Steve Michaud has announced he's retiring in July after 38 years working for the city of Lakeville.

Beyond leading Lakeville's parks and recreation department, Michaud is may be best known for his volunteerism in the community, as well as helping to lead major volunteer-driven projects in town including the Veteran's Memorial at , as well as the .

Michaud, who is originally from Massachusetts, said he doesn't want to be one of those guys who waited too long to enjoy his retirement.

“There is no good time to leave—there will always be another project going on," Michaud said in a statement. "But my family and children take precedence now."

Michaud said his wife, Terri, is already retired, and his children are grown and in college.

"I have loved every single day that I have worked here. I’ve made many friendships and the residents have always been very kind to me," Michaud said.

City Administrator Steve Mielke told Patch that Michaud has made influenced the quality of life in Lakeville as no other employee ever has.

"(Michaud) has been able to accomplish programs and activities that otherwise could not have happened due to his many connections to the community. He is a passionate champion for the community and his work in Lakeville will be felt for generations," Mielke said. "He will be missed."

Michaud has been a part of 38 Pan-O-Prog parades and Fourth of July celebrations, and has spent 15 years as a member of the Lakeville Jaycees, and many years with both the Rotary Club and the Lions, according to the statement announcing his retirement.

Michaud came to Lakeville by way of college in South Dakota on an athletic scholarship. He had planned to become a coach and teacher. While at college, he fell in love with the Midwest and never looked back. He graduated, married his college sweetheart Terri, and went on to receive his master’s degree in Park and Recreation Administration from the University of Minnesota.

The following is from the statement issued by the city of Lakeville:

It was there that a job opportunity was presented for a live-in administrator for Antlers Park in Lakeville. Michaud was selected for the summer job, which started in April of 1974. He and Terri moved into a log cabin on Lake Marion with no hot water and little electricity and Michaud thought it was great. He put together programs and opened the beach for the first time that summer. By fall, the City Council realized that Lakeville needed a Parks & Recreation Director and Michaud was hired full time in September 1974.

At that time, the City owned Antlers Park, Aronson Park (with two fields), and had just purchased Ritter Farm Park. Today, after nearly four decades with Michaud as Director,  the City’s Parks & Recreation Department has grown to 62 public properties consisting of neighborhood and community parks, athletic fields, playgrounds, greenways, trails, tennis courts, skating rinks, picnic areas, conservation areas, nature areas, several public fishing areas, three swimming beaches, the Miracle Field, Ed Mako Environmental Learning Center, Veterans Memorial, Senior Center, Lakeville Area Arts Center, and the soon to be Heritage Center which is now under construction. There are more than 100 miles of pedestrian and bike trails, and many more miles of cross-country, snowmobile, nature, and equestrian trails. In total there are more than 1,400 acres of public parks and open space.

It is hard to list all of the accomplishments that have taken place while on Michaud’s watch, but major projects include:

• Master Plan for Ritter Farm Park
• Completed several park, trail, and open space plans – saw issues of other cities that were built out before Lakeville, and put together a long-term plan for trails so that they were built as part of projects as development grew
• Grew Aronson from two to nine fields and in partnership with ISD 194 oversee 100 athletic fields
• Redesigned Antlers Park in the 1980s to the original Dan Patch theme of the 1800s
• Began and grew recreation programming
• Developed the first Comprehensive Master Plan in the late 1970s, which is updated every five years
• Park dedication ordinance – provided revenue to buy and build parks
• Two bond referenda 1985  & 1995 – which provided funding for projects including: finishing Aronson, King Park, North Park, Casperson Park, Valley Lake Park, and East Community Park as well as neighborhood parks throughout the community
• As part of the Minnesota Recreation & Park Association established the statewide USSSA softball program for which he was inducted into the USSSA Hall of Fame

One of the things Michaud is most proud of is keeping costs down for residents by being successful at writing grants for park projects. The latest example is a $900,000 grant for the $1 million Kenrick Trail project. “The remaining matching funds came out of park dedication fees, so this project will be at no cost to taxpayers.” This trail piece will complete the long-planned Lake Marion Trail loop.

“I have the utmost respect for my staff and want to thank them for all they have done and continue to do for the community. They are each committed to our mission of improving the quality of life for our residents through parks and recreation.

“Our department has a great working relationship with the entire City staff. One of the things that has made Lakeville so successful is that we work together as a team to get things done. The City is very highly regarded by our residents and by other communities and I am very proud of that. I will miss Lakeville and the projects and challenges, but mostly I will miss being here to help people. I enjoyed being known as a guy who could get things done.”

City Administrator Steve Mielke said that he will work with the Council over the next few weeks to develop a plan to fill the vacancy. “I’m sure we will find a very qualified candidate to fill the position, but I think we all know that we will never replace Steve and all that he has done for this community. He will be greatly missed.”