04/24/1995 Council Packet - Laserfiche WebLink

Home Search

COUNCIL MEETING APRIL 10, 1995 manner of operating a park system. Mrs. Langfeld assured the City Council that the County will work with the City in the area of park development. She also said that she hoped that some development could be done more cooperatively with the City than was done in the past. Mr. Vondelinde explained that he has been Director of Anoka County Parks for 13 weeks and so far is enjoying the position. He felt that Anoka County had an outstanding park system. He said he was pleased to be part of the park team and noted the level of commitment that the County Board of Commissioners has given to the park system. Mr. Vondelinde said he was looking forwarded to working together with the municipalities who have County Parks in their jurisdiction. Mr. Vondelinde noted that he started his career in Anoka County as the first manager of the Coon Rapids Dam Regional Park. He explained that a Comprehensive Park System Plan is currently under development which is also called 20/20 Vision. Part of the plan development will include public participation. The plan will provide an opportunity to define the appropriate roll for parks and recreation between the County and the City. This should help avoid duplication of services and develop a better understanding of each others leisure service delivery systems so that the City and County can work together in collaborate efforts. Some proposals for cooperation may be in the area of trails networking, equipment sharing such as in the Oak Wilt Control Program, joint programming for recreation services and marketing services. Some projects planned for 1995 in the Rice Creek Chain of Lakes County Regional Park Preserve include golf course improvement at the Chomonix Golf Course, removing the old club house on the north end of Reshanau Lake and converting the area into a public open space that can be used for tournament picnics and events. The County is applying for funding for a prairie restoration project north of the Wargo Nature Center. The area contains about 14 acres where an oaks savannah prairie will be introduced. A representative from the Lino Lakes Park Board, who is also a member of the Friends of the Parks Organization, has contacted Mr. Vondelinde regarding a proposal for a golf fund raiser to benefit parks in Lino Lakes. He is working with this group to organize a fall afternoon fund raiser. Mr. Vondelinde said he hopes to get some marketing from this event as well as build the cliental base at the golf course. PAGE 2