HomeMy WebLinkAboutPRCMin_95Jun12Minutes
City of Falcon Heights
Parks and Recreation Commission
June 12, 1995, 7:00 p.m.
Members Present: Jackie Benson, Morris Nicholson, Greg Schaefer, Carol Weisberg,
Carol Kriegler (Parks Director), John Hustad (Council Liaison).
Absent: Steve Schugel, Nancy Wickhem.
1. Minutes were not available from meeting of April 19, 1995.
2. Summer recreation program is on track. Carol Kriegler conducted training
sessions for the summer staff who will spend the rest of this week preparing for their
classes by practicing with each other. Programs begin on Monday, June 19.
3. Carol Kriegler invited Scott Tapio and Allan Weinand, members of the Falcon
Heights School Site Improvement Committee, to attend this Commission
meeting since there have been significant changes in the plans for site improvement.
They did not attend.
• 4. Hardcourt construction at Falcon Heights School. There has been heavy
use of the existing hardcourt for basketball. There have been many complaints about
foul language, litter, urinating in the bushes, and excessive noise late at night. A
decision was made to move the hardcourt to the East side of the site so that it won't be
located immediately adjacent to the backyards of residents. The objective of this move
is to minimize the nuisance. The school originally wanted the hardcourt located on the
West side because it would be convenient for the older kids to use at recess, but they
changed their minds because of all of the recent problems noted above. The new
proposed location of the hardcourt will be easier to police at night.
The hardcourt would be approximately 40' X 70', color coated with boundary lines and
keys, and include both standard and junior height basketball standards.
5. Play equipment for children 10 years and older would be located on the West
side of the school grounds. This would necessitate moving the two baseball fields to
the East.
6. Moving backstops and space excavation.
• A neighborhood survey that we conducted about two years ago showed a real
interest in maintaining open space. We are attempting to have no net loss of space
between backstops.
• It is important to respect the neighborhood buffer zone (30-40' between the
• school and residences) and not encroach on it.
• Putting play equipment on the West side puts it in the right field play area.
To rectify these issues, we would have to move both backstops 60' to the
East. The City Engineer says we can do this with no net loss in open space between
the fields. This would allow the existing drainage swate on the East edge of the
grounds to remain as it is. The neighbors on the East have a very significant buffer, so
moving the fields should not be disruptive to them. The ball fields are currently used
for summer recreation programs and Roseville Area Little League.
Challenges with moving the backstops:
• The grade drops considerably on East side. The City Engineer thinks it would
be easiest to bring in fill to level it off. This doesn't address the issue of turf
improvement. There are many ruts and voids in the playing fields which need to be
eliminated, and grass would have to be planted in the new area where fill was used.
• Carol Kriegler talked to an expert regarding rehabilitation of playing fields. He
said that we shouldn't do it unless we are willing to put in irrigation sprinklers.
• Risks include uncooperative weather and kids not staying off the new turf.
Even though the school is willing to keep the kids off the new fields for a season, that
doesn't address the problem of keeping kids off after school. Also, a year might not be
long enough to reestablish turf.
• Morris Nicholson voiced serious concerns about children falling off the edge
of the fill area when chasing down a fly ball, and he is not convinced that drainage will
not be a problem for neighboring residents. These issues will be discussed with the
City Engineer.
• We need to try to find a way to fill the voids.
Decisions: We are not willing to move the ball fields this year. At this point it seems
that moving the ball fields will create more problems than it solves. Carol Kriegler will
talk with Ellen Blank, Principal of Falcon Heights School, to see if there are other
options regarding the location of play equipment for older children. Carol will also talk
to the City Engineer about the possibility of improving the ball fields in stages.
Carol Kreigler needs to have a neighborhood meeting to walk them through the
proposed plan. After talking with Ellen Blank and the City Engineer, Carol and Greg
Schaefer wilt decide whether it is too soon to have a neighborhood meeting, originally
planned for the end of June.
7. Ice cream social plans are in place, including entertainment. It was suggested
that we compliment the entertainment with jugglers, unicycles, etc. and that we have
activities for small children. There will beatable set up with information about the
indoor playroom.
8. Lion's Club waste receptacle recognition. The Lions Club would like to
donate waste receptacles for the parks. They would like a sign of recognition affixed to
each receptacle. They suggested a bold, colorful acrylic plaque with their logo.
Decision: It is important to keep recognitions tasteful and in scale. The Commission
recommends that low impact, understated signage be used. Small bronze plaques
will be used to acknowledge this generous contribution. The Lion's Club will pay for
the plaques which cost $50 each.
9. Trees will be planted in Grove Park at the end of June. Anew tire swing will also
be installed.
Submitted by Carol Weisberg
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