HomeMy WebLinkAboutPRCMin_98Apr8• MINUTES
City of Falcon Heights
Parks and Recreation Commission
April 8, 1998
Present: Carol Kriegler (P&R Director), Laura Kuettel (Council Liason), Donna
Daykin, Greg Schaefer, Peter Lindstrom, Bob Hengelfelt (guest), Mike Tracy
(guest).
Absent: Nancy Wickhem, Lois Millett
1. Minutes. of the March 9,•1998 meeting were approved.
2. Agenda Item D.-1. Discussion of possible improvements to the
Community Park fitness station course
In an effort to obtain input from fitness station users, the park was posted
with an invitation to attend the meeting. Letters were also sent to know
course users. Bob Hengelfelt and Mike Tracy attended the meeting to offer
• their thoughts, suggestions and ideas related to the course.
Carol Kriegler gave a brief report on the history of the existing course. The
stations were installed about 20 years ago in cooperation with the U of M. It
is believed that the stations were a gift from the U. The stations have and
continue to be used by a significant group of avid users. A few years ago,
several of the stations were replaced due to their deteriorating condition.
Many of the remaining stations are in poor condition with exposed concrete
footings.
The guests in attendance expressed an appreciation of the existing system
and a general like for the stations. They both indicated that they had been
regular users of the system for some time. They also indicated that the park
served as an excellent location for an exercise course. Additionally, the
following comments were made:
• Would prefer to reconstruct /repair this system than replace. It's better
to repair something than to buy new.
• Some warm-up /running should occur before any stretching take place.
• Stations should be clustered in four areas along the trail. This would give
individuals longer intervals to run between exercises. Currently, too short
of distances between stations. Particularly doesn't make sense to run
• short distances between stretching stations.
• Signage is important to provide proper instruction.
• Placement of individual stations should be thought out, i.e. benches
should be facing the sun in the morning to dry the dew.
The commission members and guests proceeded with a tour and examination
of the course and individual stations /signs. Additional comments were
made regarding the individual stations.
Following the tour, Carol Kriegler expressed concerns about the liability
associated with the city "reconstructing" the stations. It was agreed that
staff would check into the following:
• Liability issues related to the reconstruction (lumber replacement) of the
stations. Staff to talk with loss control consultants.
• Cost of reconstructing the stations.
• Additional information about Gametime's Parcourse system currently
available. Determine if this is the manufacturer of the existing system.
3. Agenda Item D.-3. Item was not addressed due to lack of time.
Submitted by Carol Kriegler
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