Laserfiche WebLink
was short one full sized multipurpose field, one full sized basketball court, <br />and an aquatic facility. She explained the City has a surplus of two <br />playgrounds, and the playgrounds at Pioneer and Spooner are needing to <br />be updated within the next 5 years. Springer stated Pioneer Park has a <br />strong focus on athletics with elements like the pinwheel ballfield facility. <br />She explained there is a national decrease in team sports and an increase <br />of personal fitness activities. Springer suggested Pioneer Park could be <br />rebranded into a Community Recreational Park which would include a <br />themed playground. Kost noted the programmed activities discussed at the <br />last meeting wouldn’t have to be at Pioneer Park, but the ideas generated <br />at this meeting should focus on the theme in general. <br /> <br />Kost asked if the Commission was thinking of a theme for the entire park <br />system, or Pioneer Park specifically. Schletty suggested the theme be a <br />journey, or set of experiences that include signage about the history or <br />natural resources of the area. Kost suggested park signage telling a story <br />of “what was here before the park” as a theme throughout all of the parks, <br />or just a specific park that has a unique history. Darling stated the name <br />“Pioneer” Park was a good basis for a historical theme. Horwath explained <br />it could be about how the City became “Little Canada”. Hanson stated <br />Little Canada was settled by French Canadians in 1844, and that is how <br />the City got its name. Councilman Fischer stated a historical theme may fit <br />well in Gervais Mill Park. Kost asked the Commission if the historical <br />theme should be part of a story, or just a piece of history. Horwath <br />suggested the theme only include the Pioneer Park playground for the <br />short term, instead of the whole park. He explained it would be difficult to <br />change the entire park to fit around one unified theme. Kost stated legible <br />and consistent signage could be used to illustrate the theme. Sullivan <br />stated her vision of a journey was specific to Pioneer Park. She explained <br />many people come to the park to do one specific activity. Sullivan <br />suggested highlighting multiple activities throughout the park to discover <br />new activities. Kost noted the park is very big, but in order to facilitate <br />exploration there would have to be elements that aren’t self-evident. <br />Schletty explained the path from the parking lot to the activity could <br />include more features. He explained there isn’t much to see along the path, <br />unless there is a ball game going on. Kost suggested conveying a story <br />throughout the park, and adding small elements in over time. He <br />summarized the themes that the Commission had discussed so far <br />including a natural environment theme, which could involve adding more <br />intentional plantings around the ponding area; an active and healthy <br />theme, with healthy activity signage; or a city history theme. Horwath <br />noted signage about the benefits of an active lifestyle, and facts about <br />physical activity could be used for park signage and social media. Springer <br />suggested a healthy lifestyle theme be related to the historical component. <br />She suggested an example signage saying “The average voyageur burned <br />4,000 calories per day.”