08/02/1999 Park Board Packet - Laserfiche WebLink

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TO: LINO LAKES PARK BOARD,/ LINO LAKES CITY COUNCIL FROM: The Timmers /+ 14 0/ 1541 LaMotte Dr. DATE: June 30, 1999 RE: 1. LaMotte Mini Park Playground(We cannot attend the July 6, 6:30 mtg) 2. Lino Lakes Senior Center 1. Although we live directly across the street,the petition for a playground in the area above was shown to us by neighbors-not discussed by anyone from LaMotte Circle. Hopefully without too much ill flavor from the park board and/or neighbors, we would like to express some concerns. Our length of residency in Lino Lakes is nearing 30 years. On several occasions we became involved in various issues over this parcel of land. After years of living/looking at a tall, unkempt weedy area and knowing that it was given to the City of Lino Lakes as part of the division of land and road by its owner, it was asked what was going to happen with it,to which our reply was-it is a"Green Area: and will remain just that. A few years later, we begged that it at least be mowed and after Mr. Timmers suggested mowing it himself,this request was complied with by Lino and trees were planted- and it was to remain as originally planned- a Green Area. We were pleased with that and realized Lino made a wise decision not only because this road has a huge Centerville Park and is a dead-end street with limited parking,but because there is not one piece of land anywhere that cannot be left alone and is so drastically desired everywhere. Now,however, when we asked what happened to the "Green Area: being grand- fathered in,Lino Park staff replied that they did not know what a green area was. As older residents, a voice in such concerns falls somewhat on deaf ears. We were told when we spoke with park staff that"the reason you don't want a playground is because you don't have any children"(we felt an unfair remark). We have enjoyed the tranquility and peacefulness and natural beauty here and we have fought for it many times. When our children were small they were either walked or driven to the school for playground activity, supervised and taken home and/or installation of equipment in our backyard. We had no problem with that and today,that is still done with our grandchildren for whom we also have had a swing set in our backyard. Again, a few years later,when we heard that this parcel was in the process of being swapped with another parcel by the original owner's family for real estate, our family including our children went to the board and opposed(and we were the only family in this area that showed up). If it hadn't been for our family, there undoubtedly would be several homes built in this area. Because of the reiteration that the land was a gift,the real estate plan was denied and again designated a "Green Area"as originally planned.