Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAboutAgenda for April 2, 2018 City of Falcon Heights Parks & Recreation Commission AGENDA City Hall Monday, April 2, 2018 6:30 p.m. ___ Mary Hannon Jacobson ___ Walt Dunlap ___ Ron Eischen ___ Olivia Demerath ___ Alyssa Schmeling ___ Council Member Leehy ___ Staff Tim Pittman ___ Staff Tim Sandvik 1. Call to Order 2. Approval of February 5th, 2018 Minutes 3. Grant Updates a. Piano in the Park – “Play Your Part” b. Curtiss Signage 4. Comprehensive Plan 5. Special Events a. Spring Together b. Ice Cream Social/Hot Dog with a Deputy 6. Updates a. Winter Updates b. Summer Programming c. Staffing d. Potential Grant Opportunities e. Infaustrucutre – Short-term/Long Range Planning 7. Other Business 8. Adjourn City of Falcon Heights Parks and Recreation Commission MEETING MINUTES Monday, February 5th, 2018 6:30 pm CIty Hall, 2077 W. Larpenteur Ave. 1. Call to order Meeting called to order at 6:30 pm Attendance X- Present AB- Absent Mary Hannon Jacobson X Walt Dunlap X Ron Eischen AB Olivia Demerath X Alyssa Schmeling X Council Member Leehy X Staff Tim Pittman AB Staff Tim Sandvik X 2) Approval of Dec. 4, 2017 meeting minutes Meeting minutes were reviewed and approved 3) Grant Updates a. Updates on the Piano in the Park “Play Your Part” plans, including answering logistical questions as well as brainstorming how to foster community engagement in the piano. Possible outreach to music teachers in Falcon Heights to encourage participation. Artist hopefully present at April 2 meeting. b. Curtiss Signage updates including a commission presence at the “Spring Together” event on May 19, 2018 to mingle with community members and draw attention to the new signs. 4) 2018 Goal Setting a. Rec on the Go updates and discussion focused on promoting single-session activities with no cost, no registration, and on re-engaging previously under engaged community members. b. Programming for summer additional community opportunities, taking notes from other communities to bring fresh ideas to Falcon Heights c. Events in 2018, including both future meetings for the Parks and Rec Commission (April 2, June 4, August 6) but additionally the Ice Cream Social on July 19th and the Feb. 26th Comprehensive Plan Community Day. 5) Additional Updates Including a recap of 2017 major activities and financial progression. How do we get back in the black? Look out for grant opportunities in other communities, and bring ideas for parks programming to meetings this year. 6) Other business 7) Adjourn 8:21 pm motion made and seconded 101 IV. COMMUNITY SYSTEMS AND SERVICES 1. PARKS AND OPEN SPACES The character and function of parks shown on the land use plan are described in greater detail in the 2008 Comprehensive Park and Recreation Plan. (When complete, the Park and Recreation Plan will be appended to this comprehensive plan.) The mission of the City’s Parks and Recreation Department is to provide quality parks and recreation programs that promote healthy and active lifestyles to benefit residents and foster a sense of community. Providing convenient access to parks and open spaces is considered part of this mission. EXISTING PARKS AND OPEN SPACES Falcon Heights has four developed parks totaling 24.65 acres, equivalent to approximately 4.3 acres per 1,000 population. This is significantly less than the National Park and Recreation Association standard of 25 acres per 1000 residents. The City does, however, embrace the Minnesota State Fairgrounds, the University of Minnesota agricultural fields and the public University Golf Course, none of which are included in the calculation of park needs. (The University recreation areas are, however, counted in the “Parks, Recreation and Preserves” category in Table 5, page III-43, and on the Metropolitan Council 2005 Land Use data, Figure 5.) Of the 24.65 acres, the City owns less than 2.0 acres of park property. The City leases 16.5 acres of land for park use from the University of Minnesota. Falcon Heights Elementary School provides an additional 6.25 acres of park land. Four small open “commons” areas, 2.1 acres in all, are located in the University Grove neighborhood. These are not maintained by the City and are not counted in total park acreage. Of the four existing parks, one is classified as a community park, two as neighborhood parks and one as a mini-neighborhood park. Curtiss Field, which serves one of the largest neighborhoods, underwent expansion and major renovation during the summer of 2004, when a portion of the former Snelling Drive frontage road was incorporated into the park. 102 Table 18: Falcon Heights Parks and Open Spaces Name Size (acres) Land Ownership Park Classification Facilities Community Park 14.5 15 year lease (to 2023) Community Park Community building, ball fields, soccer fields, tennis courts, ice skating, fitness, course, horseshoes, play equipment, picnic shelter, community garden, trails Curtiss Field 1.9 City of Falcon Heights Neighborhood Hard court, skating/hockey, tennis bang board, warming house, ball field, play equipment University Grove 2.0 Yearly lease renewal Neighborhood Hard court, skating/hockey, tennis bang board, play equipment, picnic tables Falcon Heights Elementary School 6.25 Roseville School District #623 Neighborhood/ School Play equipment, basketball courts, ball field, skating, hockey, hard court FUTURE DIRECTIONS The City completed a Comprehensive Park and Recreation Plan in 1989 and is undergoing a similar process in 2007, parallel to, but independent of, this Comprehensive Plan. When complete, the new plan will be appended to this comprehensive plan. There are no existing or proposed metropolitan park facilities within Falcon Heights. However, Como Regional Park is less than half a mile from the City’s easternmost neighborhood, and the proposed Mississippi Como Trail will, if constructed, pass near the City’s southern border. According to the regional system statement for parks, the general alignment of the proposed trail follows Como Avenue beteen Raymond Avenue and Como Park in St. Paul. (Please see Figure 21, Page 80.) The portion of Como Avenue adjacent to the Minnesota State Fair is the southern border of Falcon Heights. If the trail is located north of Como Avenue, it will pass through Falcon Heights. The City is also investigating a potential bike/pedestrian route connecting Roseville to the University of Minnesota Falcon Heights campus and the Intercampus Transitway. The route would pass through Falcon Heights on Fairview Avenue, with a branch to Lauderdale on Larpenteur Avenue, and follow Gortner Avenue through the campus. (See Figure 21.) There are parks nearby in Roseville, Lauderdale and St. Paul. Connections among these parks and trails would benefit all communities concerned. 103 Figure 26: Falcon Heights Parks and Open Spaces #Community ParkMiscellaneous Public Open SpaceUM Recreational FacilitiesGrove Commons open spacesFalcon Heights Elementary SchoolFalcon Heights City ParksFalcon Heights City Parks and Open Spaceswith University of Minnesota FacilitiesCommunityParkGroveParkCurtiss FieldParkLARPENTEURSNELLINGCITY OF FALCON HEIGHTSCOMPREHENSIVE PLAN 2008FIGURE 27 104 PARKS AND OPEN SPACES: GOALS AND POLICIES Parks and Open Space Goals 1. To develop a park system to serve both neighborhood and community needs. 2. To provide a variety of recreation programs and events for all ages, abilities and economic groups in a cost-effective manner that best serves the needs of the community. 3. To promote healthy and active lifestyles for residents and visitors through quality leisure programs and well-maintained parks and trails. 4. Provide and maintain convenient access to city parks, businesses, and neighborhoods to encourage people to be mobile and active. Parks and Trails Policies 1. Upgrade and improve existing parks. 2. Offer park/recreation programs to residents that complement recreation programs available from surrounding cities and the school district, and duplicate programs only when necessary. 3. Cooperate with the University of Minnesota and the State Fairgrounds in shared use of recreation and open space lands. 4. Acquire additional park land through the City's land acquisition and park dedication program if land is sold and developed. 5. Include park accessibility in design of new and upgraded parks. 6. Provide space for community gardens. 7. Pursue opportunities to expand trail and sidewalk facilities throughout the City.