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MINUTES <br />CITY COUNCIL <br />APRIL 27, 2015 <br />parking occurs for the classic car show. Sanders noted that the biggest <br />change that occurred relative to Canadian Days parking was when the <br />house was sold across the street from the park and Canadian Days lost the <br />use of approximately 75 parking spaces. <br />Sanders reported that the Parks & Recreation Commission has been <br />talking about the reforestation plan for two or three years. Sanders <br />reported on the history of this corner of the park noting that it was a <br />farmstead and pasture land and that there are still remnants of the farm <br />buildings in existence. Most of the trees that established in this area are <br />not of high quality and the reforestation plan would include some clean-up <br />and replanting of quality trees. Sanders also indicated the interest in <br />clarifying the history of this farm and the addition of some plaques that <br />report that history. Sanders suggested that perhaps someone on the <br />Historical Society could do this research. <br />Sanders then noted the $5,000 gift to Spooner Park from the Leah <br />Broecher Estate and the Commission's goal to do a multi -faceted project <br />with those funds. He reported that a bench has already been installed in <br />the park acknowledging her donation. The remaining funds are planned to <br />be used for the reforestation project and for the interpretive signs for <br />farmstead. <br />Sanders indicated that the reforestation plan is to ensure that the wooded <br />area remains a nice wooded area. The plan would include the planting of <br />small starter trees among the existing trees. He noted that the impact of <br />this reforestation would not be seen for a long time. Sanders indicated that <br />the plan before those present is just a schematic and indicated that planting <br />locations will be identified in the field based on existing conditions. He <br />indicated that the Boy Scouts are looking for a project and suggested that <br />they could help with this planting. There is no current timetable for the <br />project, however. <br />Sanders indicated that in terms of Canadian Days, the Parks Commission <br />is totally committed to the annual celebration as well as to the park itself. <br />Goswitz asked if the intention was to clear out the scrub brush so that <br />people could walk amongst the trees. Sanders indicated that some clearing <br />would be done of scrub trees and buckthorn, but the goal is to leave the <br />area as a natural woods and a wildlife habitat. <br />The Parks Director reported on the history of Spooner Park which was <br />purchased from the School District over 20 years ago. He noted that the <br />rolling terrain is the result of the dredging of the creek with the materials <br />piled in the park. Sanders indicated that he has some old aerial photos of <br />the park area and that the 1940 aerial shows the location of the farmstead <br />driveway. The 1973 aerial shows the park area totally torn up given the <br />2 <br />