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PARKS AND RECREATION COMMISSION MEETING MINUTES 6/14/93 Members present: Carol Huso, Lloyd Jacobson, Morris Nicholson, Steve Schugal, Jyneen Thatcher, Carol Weisberg; Carol Kriegler, Parks Director; and Sue Gehrz, Council Liason. Guest present: Donna Senauer, University Grove Park Task Force Co-chair. Approval of minutes from April meeting was tabled, as copies had not been sent with agenda packet. D-1: University Grove Park Improvement Project Planning. Before reviewing the neighborhood meeting, Carol W. voiced some concern over the preliminary cost estimates included in the agenda packet, specifically the ~ 27,000 for Coffman St. sidewalk. Both Carol K. and Sue agreed that this was outside of the U-G Park improvements, but will be drawn from the Parks CIP, under the designation of "bike trails". Donna asked if this trail or sidewalk will be continued along Larpenteur and on Cleveland near the soccer fields. The comprehensive plan (1989) indicated a bike path along Larpenteur. The neighborhood meeting (May 24 at 1666 Coffman) was attended by more residents of 1666 than the University Grove neighborhood. Overall, the plan was well received with concerns raised over the basketball court, the shelter, and the path. The proposed path, using a portion of the 1666 service drive along the north side, generated discussion and a petition based upon concerns for safety, privacy and liability. After discussion of some options, including construction of path paralleling the service drive, Sue suggested ending the path at the hard court, which would allow accessibility to the park facilities, but not provide a loop path. As this circular path was requested by task force members representing 1666, the Commission decided to present two options to the 1666 Board of Directors - ending the path at the hard court, and using the service drive. A parallel path was felt to be too-much asphalt and too expensive for this park, with the anticipated low volume of use. The path (whatever the configuration) will not be done until late in the summer, after all the street work is finished, and will follow the advice of 1666 Board of Directors. In regards to the basketball court, concerns were raised at the meeting that a full court, regardless of size, would attract players from beyond the immediate neighborhood. Discussion among the Commission focused on possible solutions, such as taking down one standard if a problem develops, or removing the backboards from one standard. In general, members of the Commission preferred to keep a full court if possible, to provide a recreation opportunity for the teenagers of the neighborhood. Final decision was for two full-size standards, one at either end, and a short Cjunior) standard positioned on the west side of the court, with on-going monitoring of the use. The shelter was discussed at the meeting with concerns raised about the distance from the shelter to the rink, distance from the street (needing to be shoveled), the need for additional lighting inside the shelter, and security issues pertaining to it being used as a hang-out after park hours. It was widely felt that a shelter was needed for ice-skating, but a year-round shelter wasn't needed, although desireable. The decision of the Commission was to provide the needed facilities now, winter