Eden Prairie, MN Special Events & Permits: Park Event Permits (2026)

Section 9.04 defines a 'Large group use facility' as any park shelter bigger than 200 square feet, plus trails and all athletic fields and courts, under Subd. 2. Once more than 20 people gather for a coordinated activity organized by a City resident, business or nonprofit with a local address, that group counts as a 'Resident sponsored large group' and Subd. 8 requires it to get a permit before using one of those facilities. Subd. 5 lays out the permit process: an applicant files with the Director of Parks and Recreation stating the applicant's and sponsor's name and address, the activity, time and area requested, an attendance estimate, and any other information the Director needs.

The Director must issue the permit once satisfied the activity will not interfere with public health, safety or enjoyment, will not create unusual or burdensome police-protection expense, does not conflict with another reservation for the same time and place, the required fee set by Council resolution has been paid, and the use lines up with the Council's adopted policies and guidelines for community use of park and recreation rental facilities. A permit holder gets priority over anyone else trying to use that facility during the reserved time under Subd.

5.D. Subd. 7 goes further for groups organized outside the City: any Non-resident sponsored group, meaning one led by someone who is neither a City resident nor a local business or nonprofit with an address in Eden Prairie, is barred from using a park at all, permit or not.