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MINUTES <br />Parks & Recreation Commission <br />Apri12, 2009 <br />PARK ENHANCEMENTS <br />Morelan stated that the City Council, at a goal setting follow-up meeting, has requested the <br />Park & Recreation Commission supply them with a list and timeline for park enhancements. <br />Morelan suggested such items as 1) refurbishing Thunder Bay Park equipment 2) upgrading <br />playground equipment to some new equipment now available 3) recognizing any other <br />deficiencies in parks. <br />BASKETBALL COURT REQUEST FOR THUNDER BAY PARK <br />Chair Fahey recognized our guests. The youth, J'Vani Gizachew, of Pascal Street in <br />Roseville, introduced himself and stated he was requesting that the commission and city <br />consider putting a basketball court in Thunder Bay Park. He is a member of the Roseville <br />Area Middle School's Quest for Power Club. Morelan stated he also had phone conversations <br />with a boy named Tommy from the Club who lives in the Thunder Bay area, as well as <br />Science Teacher Lisa Lindquist, about the project. <br />J'Vani explained that the cultural group's goal is to make the area a better place to live. <br />Morelan stated that there wasn't any long term planning that included a basketball court for <br />that park. Morelan recommended that the Quest for Power group obtain signatures on a <br />petition from the residents in the Thunder Bay Park area requesting a basketball court. <br />J' Vani's mother asked if anyone knew the age of residents in that neighborhood. Sanders and <br />Morelan both commented that they thought it was a younger to middle-age group, possibly <br />with high school area children. J'Vani stated that the leader of their group was Lisa <br />Lindquist, a science teacher at Roseville Area Middle School. Morelan stated Ms. Lindquist <br />might be able to acquire neighborhood demographics through school records. <br />Chair Fahey asked for more information about the Quest for Power group. J'Vani explained <br />that the group studies their culture and history of their ancestors. The group started last year <br />and they also assist cities with cleaning up park areas. <br />Sanders stated that Thunder Bay Park is a small neighborhood park so he highly <br />recommended surveying the neighborhood residents for their opinion. He also suggested a <br />neighborhood meeting be scheduled if a survey or petition warranted a meeting. Morelan <br />stated that the cost of constructing a basketball court was quite an expensive project. Sanders <br />suggested, since the park is small, that ahalf--court might be an alternative. He estimated the <br />cost to be in the $25,000 range. Sanders commented that the timing might be good to plan for <br />this project as the commission will possibly be looking at upgrading/renovating this park in <br />the near future. <br />Page 2 of 5 <br />