03/05/2001 Park Board Packet - Laserfiche WebLink

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• • • population to be 15,053. Based upon the population estimate, about one half of the park system should be implemented to accommodate the existing population. The City has well over half of the land acquired for the park system but falls short in park facilities development. Approximately $2,490,134 dollars in infrastructure and trails is needed to equip existing parks and provide trails to serve existing neighborhoods. 2. The Comprehensive Park Plan envisioned development of about 80 miles of trails throughout the community. To date, approximately 14 miles of trails have been constructed in the City. Based upon the population estimates, half of the planned trail system should be implemented to serve existing residents /development. Approximately $1,089,528 dollars of trail improvements (3.55 miles of park trails; 9.3 miles of transportation trails; and 13.6 miles of bike trails) in addition to the 14 miles of existing trails should be in place to serve the existing population. 3. The City has not traditionally included park improvement funding in its annual budget process. As a result, the City has fallen behind in park development and it is estimated that $2,490,134 dollars of equipment and improvements are needed to equip the existing parks for the current residents. The capital outlay for parks and recreation has been used for acquisition of tractors and trucks but not generally for park equipment and improvements. Previous `budgets have appropriated about $15,000 annually for trail improvements. In. 1998 the City Council authorized expenditure of $150,000 for park improvements, which was the result of a one -time excess fund balance. The 2000 budget appropriated $50,000 for the improvement of Black Duck Trail. There is a need to establish a park fund to provide funding for park equipment, facilities, land acquisition, and trail development. 4. At the same time that park capital outlay budget is decreasing, the City population and households continues to increase by 4.69% and 5.6% respectively. (The City population has increased by 707 people based upon the April 1st estimates from 1998 to 2000). The number of households within the City has increased by 249 households based upon the April 1st estimates from 1998 to 2000). 5. Within the next twenty years, the City is expected to grow to a population of 20,500 residents housed in 7,575 households. If growth occurs as anticipated, the City will be two thirds developed by the year 2020. Within the next twenty years, the City park and trails system will need to add about 16 acres of land and about 39 miles of trails to accommodate its future population. 6. The City is considering development of a 67 -acre, community athletic complex southeast of the intersection of Birch Street and Centerville Road. Preliminary design cost estimates for the facility range from $3,279,437.50 to $6,965,372.50. The community athletic complex is planned to replace the proposed 36 -acre Community Park (Birch Street and Hodgson Road) and 50 -acre Athletic Complex (Holly Drive and 12th Avenue) as contemplated by the Comprehensive Park and Trail Plan. The City will need to develop a funding mechanism to implement the 67 -acre community athletic complex. 2 of 14