12-05-2019 Parks_Rec Minutes - Laserfiche WebLink

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MINUTES PARKS & RECREATION COMMISSION December 5, 2019 Park. The Community Services Manager noted a community building was not in the scope of the Pioneer Park Planning Process from the Parks Master Plan. He asked the Commission if it was something they were interested in including in the project scope. Horwath asked about the capacity of the Maplewood Wakefield Room. The Community Services Manager said the capacity was about 100 people. Horwath explained the City should be mindful of the design of the building and potential uses. He stated a space with a capacity of 150 might be used by community members for weddings. Darling asked if there was a budget for the community building. The Community Services Manager stated that it was just an idea at this time, and with the planned improvements to Pioneer Park, it seemed to be a good time to discuss a community building. He also mentioned that cost is an important factor. The Community Services Manager explained that Roseville’s Cedarholm building cost about three million dollars, and Maplewood’s Wakefield Building cost about two million dollars. He explained with the Pioneer Parks Master Plan including the water feature, nature area, and playground it could easily be a high dollar project. The Community Services Manager noted there are options to finance these projects through bonds and other means. Abruzzese asked how this project would compete with other ideas in the Parks Master Plan. She noted Option A for the Community Building was also space where the water feature was planned to be placed. Abruzzese stated the water feature had had significant community support throughout the planning process. She explained another idea in the Parks Master Plan was to renovate the central building in the park to make it ADA compliant. Abruzzese asked if there was a plan for the central building if a community building was also built. The Community Services Manager noted the location of the central building isn’t conducive to any type of large event because there is no easy way to transport goods to the site. Horwath stated the central building was also much smaller, and could possibly serve as a small community room. Chair Miller asked about converting one of the ball fields into a multi-use field. The Community Services Manager stated the use had really increased since the time of the Parks Master Plan, and now all four ball fields were used an average of 6 nights per week in the summer. Horwath asked if the Commission could get more information from Maplewood on the usage of the facility and the demand. Schletty asked that the Commission also look at traffic in the neighborhood surrounding Maplewood’s Wakefield Building. Horwath suggested the Commission also get data from the Vadnais Heights Commons. The Community Services Manager stated he could get information, but the Vadnais