Longtime manager remembered for making Chester Woods Park a special spot for all

John Molseed, Post-Bulletin, Rochester, Minn.
·2 min read

Nov. 2—EYOTA, Minn. — For 25 years, Tom Eckdahl made sure Chester Woods Park was a place everyone could enjoy.

Eckdahl, the longtime Chester Woods Park manager, died Sunday, Oct. 22, 2023.

The Olmsted County park was only a couple years old when Eckdahl took over management.

He worked with other county park staff, volunteers, the Friends of Chester Woods and others to make improvements, broaden opportunities for people to use the park.

"His passion kind of bled through the entire department," said Karlin Ziegler, Olmsted County Parks Director.

Eckdahl was key in establishing an annual disabled veterans deer hunt at Chester Woods and an ongoing youth turkey hunt. For his colleagues, Eckdahl led by example, Ziegler said.

"He has a legacy in the park and the department that will be long lasting."

Eckdahl also worked with other naturalists and volunteers to restore ecosystems and habitat while also providing space for casual users to enjoy the outdoors.

"Setting a cooperative, productive tone, that's a big part of his legacy, not just the physical things that you see," said Joel Dunette, a member of the Friends of Chester Woods.

Dunette worked with Eckdahl on several projects including prairie and habitat restoration at the park.

Dunette said Eckdahl did a good job balancing multiple wants and needs the park serves.

He recalls wondering why a strip of turf grass was adjacent to one of the prairie restoration areas. Dunnette later saw people picnicking and playing soccer on the grassy patch.

"It's balancing so many different interests to run that park," he said. "Tom did a good job with that."

Dunette said Eckdahl spoke quietly, was a good listener but would also be forthright about what he thought when it came to decisions about the park.

His demeanor and attitude helped people feel a sense of ownership in the park and that their contributions and ideas mattered, he added.

"Tom enjoyed seeing people using the park," Dunette said. "We will miss him."

Ziegler said she will miss Eckdahl as a colleague and friend and agreed that Eckdahl was glad to see people using the park where he dedicated decades of work.

"It made his day when people enjoyed the park as much as he did," Ziegler said.