05-07-09 Parks Commission Minutes

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MINUTES Parks & Recreation Commission May 7, 2009 benches and bricks, and also has an endowment fund for raising funds to continue maintaining and improving the park. Johnson distributed pamphlets for the DVD film about the Foundation made by the North Suburban Cable Commission, the Roseville Central Park Foundation Endowment Fund and how to help with the Celebration Walk at the Muriel Sahlin Arboretum. Samples of flyers from their fundraising events, The Story of the Idea for the park, the foundation by-laws, a 40-year park anniversary newspaper article interviewing Monte Johnson, and a Guide to New Approaches from the National Recreation and Park Association from 1970 were given to the commission also. Slain asked if their board meetings were open to the public. Johnson stated that they are closed meetings but do allow guests. Chair Fahey thanked Johnson for attending our meeting and explaining the Roseville Central Park Foundation's history and mission. Fahey also thanked Patti Sullivan for requesting and arranging for him to be our guest. BASKETBALL COURT REQUEST FOR THUNDER BAY PARK Chair Fahey recognized our Quest for Power Club guests. Three youth, J' V ani Gizachew, Tommy Oem and Malik Roobelle, introduced themselves as members of the Quest for Power Club. Each spoke about their request to have the commission and city consider a basketball court in Thunder Bay Park. They went door-to-door with a survey on April 18th, as the commission requested at the April meeting, asking the residents if they would like or object to a basketball court in the Thunder Bay Park. Their survey results from forty-seven residents showed 39 for the court and 8 against having the court in the park. Yes was 83% and No was 17%. Positive comments included: wonderful addition, positive thing for kids, great idea, very supportive, let us know how we can help, bravo for getting involved in the community and it's a good idea as long as no trees are removed. Negative remarks included: the park is unsupervised, can lead to trouble with teen gatherings, don't put on west side of park as we like the open area for soccer, baseball, football and kickball, and it will just be a hangout for older kids. Maida said the committee would be doing a park tour after the meeting and they will take a look at the park to see where a court could be constructed. There was a discussion that if the hoops were kept at a lower height than normal it would deter older kids from using it. The placement of the proposed court was also discussed. Both points of view with having it back off the road or having it close to the road were also discussed. Everyone agreed that ahalf=court would be better and would also distract older kids from playing there. Page 2 of 4