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HomeMy WebLinkAbout10-01-2018 Park Board Packet PARK BOARD AGENDA Monday, October 01, 2018 ******************* 6:30 PM – Council Chambers Park Board Members: Pat Huelman (Chair), Andrew Levi, Richard Jensen, John Nordlund, Clark Gooder, Abby Haworth, Andrea Schmidt Public Services Director: Rick DeGardner Administrative Assistant: Kellie Schmidt 1. Swearing in Andrea Schmidt 2. Call to Order and Roll Call 3. Setting Agenda 4. Approval of Minutes from May 7, 2018 5. Open Mike 6. Review Arena Acres Park Master Plan 7. New Business 8. Old Business 9. Next Scheduled Park Board Meeting – November 5, 2018 10. Adjourn If you are unable to attend the meeting please call Kellie at 651 982-2442 or email kellie.schmidt@ci.lino-lakes.mn.us Lino Lakes Parks and Recreation Department 600 Town Center Parkway Lino Lakes, MN 55014 (651) 982-2440 Fax (651) 982-2439 www.ci.lino-lakes.mn.us DRAFT September 10, 2018 Page 1 CITY OF LINO LAKES Park Board Minutes DATE: September 10, 2018 TIME STARTED: 6:40 PM TIME ENDED: 7:45 PM MEMBERS PRESENT: Pat Huelman, Abby Haworth, Andrew Levi John Nordlund, Richard Jensen, Clark Gooder, and Andrea Schmidt MEMBERS ABSENT: None STAFF PRESENT: Rick DeGardner (Public Services Director) & Kellie Schmidt (Administrative Assistant – Public Services) 1. Call to Order and Roll Call The September 10, 2018 City of Lino Lakes Park Board Meeting was called to order by Chair Pat Huelman. 2. Setting Agenda The Agenda was approved as presented. 3. Approval of Minutes April 2, 2018 Park Board Minutes Clark Gooder made a MOTION to approve the Meeting Minutes from May 7, 2018. Richard Jenson supported the MOTION. All in favor and MOTION carried. 4. Open Mike Ashley Swenson – (See attached PowerPoint Presentation) Ms. Swenson addressed the park board regarding accessibility issues to Birch and Brandywood parks. Main concerns being that there is no shoulder or trail at 12th street which leaves many families in her neighborhood cut off from Brandywood Park or they have to brave the busy traffic and unsafe road conditions to walk/bike to the park. She is concerned that kids are on the road trying to get to the park and could get seriously injured. Many people in the neighborhood like to bike and enjoying visiting the park however, not having a safe bike path/trail there hinders most of them from wanting to go. The other concern was the access to Birch Park. There is a steep set of stairs that leads to the board walk that connects you to the park. She states that the stairs are hazardous and hard to maneuver for those with strollers, wheelchairs, etc. States her son has a disability DRAFT September 10, 2018 Page 2 and she has a hard time getting him down the steps. She also had other testimonials from residents stating they also had a hard time maneuvering the steps with their young families when going to Birch Park (See attached PowerPoint for testimonials). One woman even stated that the stairs slow her down on her jogs. Ashley had invited with her 2 other neighbors to speak on the behalf of the neighborhood and their concerns regarding 12th Street access to Brandywood Park and the stairs to Birch Park (Brandy Eckman and Jessica Friedman). They all stated that the stairs were an issue as well as the busy street. Jessica stated that her house is on the other side of the neighborhood and her kids are easily able to participate in the fun Parks & Recreation programs offered at the park during the summer and that it broke her heart to hear that other families cannot take advantage and participate as easily, or at all, in these programs due to stairs and busy street. Jessica stated that kids should be able to safely bike .07 miles to play at a park with their friends without their parents worrying about them getting hit by a car. Rick DeGardner, Public Services Director and Pat Huelman, Park Board Chair spoke to the ladies concerns. They spoke about that park being on the docket during past meetings and the trail for 12th street, however funding for the trail just wasn’t there this year (not enough money to do all the updates to the park and put in a trail as a trail is very expensive). They addressed that a switch back/ramp for Birch Park is not possible due to the steep slope and narrow width of property that provides access to Birch Park , however they would continue to consider extending a trail on 12th avenue to Brandywood as funding became available. This would at least give their neighborhood safe access to a park. 5. New Business A. Discuss Park Signage – Park Board Members discussed uniformed park signage brought to their attention by Council Member Dale Stoesz. The overall consensus was that if they were going to put signs in the parks they wanted to do it and do it right. The idea of a metal sign did not appeal to them as they would want a more “warm and welcoming” type of sign like Clearwater Creek currently has with landscaping around it. Although they all agreed that these signs are needed and would be beneficial, it was not currently a high priority due to limited funds and more pressing issues such as the safety concerns along 12th street for residents trying to access to Brandywood Park. They agreed that they would put this in their notes for something to consider doing in the future when more funds were available and after other park issues such as equipment and trails were addressed. Park Board comments regarding signage: • Abby Haworth proposed finding more eagle scouts to build the rest of the signs for the parks as they did for some of our other parks. States the wood signs with the landscaping around it is very warm and inviting. DRAFT September 10, 2018 Page 3 • Andrew Levi stated that as a former Eagle Scout it is sad when projects you worked on are torn down. Looking to keep what we currently have and adding something similar to other parks. • Clark Gooder stated that signage at the parks would be great. Really likes the idea nevertheless compared to the other items around the city that need to be taken care, such as the concerns they just heard from open mic. speaker Ashley Swenson, signage might have to wait until bigger issues could be addressed but keeping the signage in mind as a future goal would be good. 9. Old Business There was no old business to review. 10. Next Scheduled Park Board Meeting – October 1, 2018 11. Adjourn Richard Jensen made a MOTION to adjourn, John Nordlund supported the MOTION. All in favor MOTION carried. Meeting was adjourned. Submitted by, Kellie Schmidt Administrative Assistant Lino Lakes Public Services Accessibility to Parks in Lino Lakes Brandywood and Birch Park Ashley Swenson and Brandy Eckman Swenson Family Brandywood and Birch Parks There are 2 parks within walking distance of North and South Trapper’s Crossing neighborhoods in Lino Lakes. Neither are accessible by wheelchair, bike, or stroller. We also do not have a full path to access to the Rice Creek Chain of Lakes. Brandywood Park Here is a picture of where the path abruptly ends on 12th avenue. This is where the path spits out onto 12th avenue, a fairly busy cross street between Birch and County J. The speed limit is 45 mph and the shoulder is very narrow. Way too narrow for a bike trailer, wheelchair, or stroller. It is so narrow even the speed limit sign has been hit several times. Here is where the trail continues on the North side of the road. There is no trail on the South side of the road. Only that tiny shoulder. To get to Brandywood Park you would turn right here on White Oak Drive and continue on the neighborhood streets to the park. This path that you see on the North side continues and connects with the Rice Creek Chain of Lakes by crossing Birch Street. Path on 12th Avenue Bonnie and Terry Moore Tom and Tammy Tom and Tammy live in Trappers Crossing. They have raised their kids in this neighborhood and have never felt comfortable with the safety on 12th Ave. Here they were running together as cars drive by on Labor Day. Thank you so much for your work to make 12th Ave more usable for residents. My husband, Dave, and I moved to Lino Lakes 4 years ago. One of the many things that drew us here is the extensive parks and trails network. We frequently bike, walk, run through the neighborhoods of Trappers Crossing, 12th Avenue and Birch Park. We, however, have never felt as comfortable along 12th Ave along the section with no path. And since having our daughter, 18 months ago, I won't use 12th Ave during rush hour due to the how dangerous it is with the lack of trail and traffic. This is especially difficult as we work full time so our opportunity to get outside is somewhat limited. In addition, we have greatly enjoyed birch park, but find it difficult to use with a stroller due to the steps. Please let me know if there's anything else I can do to help this effort. Thank you again! Liz and Mike Kaufenburg Benefits Everyone Accessibility benefits everyone involved: ➔Wheelchairs ➔Strollers ➔Dog walkers ➔Elderly ➔Runners ➔Walkers ➔Bikers We often see walkers, runners, or bikers as we drive down 12th Ave. Brandy Because of the narrow shoulder and the speed limit is 45 mph on Holly Drive and 12th Ave, I do not allow my daughter, aged 11, to ride her bike on her own to South Trappers or Brandywood Park. She also has a friend on White Tail Trail and cannot ride her bike there by herself. Ashley I have 2 girls in middle school that have a close friend near Brandywood Park, less than .7 mile from our house.. They cannot ride their bikes there because of this dangerous . 1 mile portion of road. Heather Hoecke 12th Avenue has always been a dangerous place for kids to ride their bikes from Peregrine Circle to White Oak Road. The bike path is incomplete between these two roads. Cars continually speed down 12th Avenue, which has a 45 mph speed limit to start with, especially young drivers. Cars drag race. Drivers are distracted while driving. And, our children are expected to share the road with these drivers. Our children should be given a safe alternative in the form of a completed bike path along 12th Avenue. Bonnie Moore We have lived in SouthTrappers Crossings nearly 19 years. We pushed getting access to trails and parks from the beginning. There was an assessment on all the lots for this access. Eventually portion one was completed. Portion 2 and 3 have not been completed with the assessment money since the money has been allocated to other city projects to my understanding. I walk my dogs nearly every day along 12 th avenue and have had to stand in the ditch to allow cars to pass that don’t wait for oncoming cars to pass. There are always a few who think it’s funny to come right me and bear off at the end. This is not possible to maneuver if I had a stroller or bicycle or had kiddos with me. The other unsafe area is at the corner if 12 th and Birch. If I’m walking against traffic then it is difficult to see cars that are turning into the lane because the ditch is deep and the weeds are tall. Drivers are not looking for pedestrians to be around the corner. Continuous accessible paths for the many pedestrians is imperative for our development before an accident or worse happens. Birch Park When our family goes to Birch Park, we have to stop and carry our bikes down or leave them out at the top. For my son, we have to take him out of his wheelchair, carry him down and carry the wheelchair, stroller or trailer down. I can’t go to this park by myself. Brandywood and Birch Parks Eckman Family Eckman Family My family moved to North Trappers over 4 years ago. We bought this house because it was so close to the park, but then we realized that we are unable to utilize either park near us due to the accessibility issues. We feel that updating the boardwalk, dropping the speed limit to 35 on both roads, and/or updating the path/shoulder along 12th avenue will raise our property values, and afford the neighbors a safer way to enjoy the park system. Joel and Jamie Eckman My family often bikes during the spring, summer, and fall. Our son has cerebral palsy and autism and weighs 120 pounds. We have difficulty getting to Birch Park, unless we go north on 12th Ave, cross Birch Ave to get on the path, cross Birch Ave again to get to Birch Park, then do it the other way to get home. Our property actually backs up to Birch Park as we own ¾ of an acre at North Trappers Xing. The boardwalk is unaccessible for our family. Jamie uses a walker Jamie cannot navigate the stairs to get to Birch Park, which is the closest park to our home. With all of the money just spent to update that park, no accessibility was updated. Stairs at Trappers Ct and Birch Park There are 25 steps to navigate to get to Birch Park from my neighborhood. For anyone with mobility issues, this is a non-starter. Families with children in strollers, grandparents taking their grandkids to the park, families with special needs, none of us can utilize Birch Park. Stairs to Birch Park This is a view of the stairs looking down from the top. The steps are steep and there is no handicap accessibility. Julie Cutts I'm so glad you're doing this and I really hope they listen! We do use those stairs. I use that route for running and I would SO prefer a ramp there over the stairs. I feel like it always slows me down and I lose momentum. The time I could use it most, however, is on our family walks when we always have a stroller or wagon with us. We've started taking different routes because it has become so difficult to haul the baby and transportation up and down the stairs. We would love a ramp! I'm certain others in our neighborhood would too. There are many walkers with children in strollers, and those stairs limit us all. Jessica Friedman Our family loves biking from our home on Killdeer Drive around the neighborhood and over to Birch Park. We would love to get a connection to the neighborhood behind Birch Park. The only way to get there on bikes is to cross busy Birch St and go down to 12th St., Cross Birch and to get on the path that goes back into that neighborhood. A connection behind Birch Park would be safe and connect the neighborhoods and enable access to Birch Park for all residents. Benefits Everyone Accessibility benefits everyone involved: ➔Wheelchairs ➔Strollers ➔Dog walkers ➔Elderly ➔Runners ➔Walkers ➔Bikers C:\Users\kellie.schmidt\Desktop\Kellie's Folder\Rick Stuff\9-26-18\PARK BOARD MEMO Oct 2018 Arena Acres Master Plan.doc DATE: October 1, 2018 TO: Park Board Members FROM: Rick DeGardner, Public Services Director RE: Arena Acres Park Master Plan On September 10, 2018 the Park Board, City staff, and Candace Amberg, Senior Landscape Architect with WSB Engineering, met with area residents of Arena Acres Park to review conceptual plans and solicit feedback. Attached is the master plan that was developed as a result of the September 10 discussion. This plan is being presented to the Park Board this evening for approval. The tennis court amenity was strongly supported by residents attending the September 10 meeting. In order to expedite the construction of the tennis court, staff will be requesting City Council consideration to allow the installation of the class 5 aggregate base material and non-wear course bituminous this Fall. This will allow the base and non-wear course layers to experience a freeze/thaw cycle prior to the installation of the wear course layer. This should provide a better end product. Funding for this project was included in the Park Board’s recommendation of 2018 Parks and Trails Capital Projects that was presented at the May 7, 2018 work session. Attachments Arena Acres Master Plan INSERT CLIENT LOGO ARENA ACRES MASTER PLAN 20’ SCALE IN FEET 10’0’40’ Project Number: 012396-000 September 17, 2018 K:\012396-000\Cad\Exhibits\012396-000 Arena Acres ConceptsEXISTING BASKETBALL COURT EXISTING PLAYGROUND EXISTING WOODED AREA OPEN LAWN 6’ CONCRETE WALK PICNIC SHELTER PROPOSED SHADE TREE (TYP) PREFERRED CONCEPT PLAN TENNIS COURT PREFERRED CONCEPT PLAN SUMMARY PRIMARY PRIORITIES: • SINGLE TENNIS COURT • OPEN LAWN AREA • BITUMINOUS ACCESS TRAIL ESTIMATE OF PROBABLE COSTS TOTAL: $110,000*ANDALL STREETWOOD DUCK TRAIL EXISTING TREE (TYP) *ESTIMATE OF PROBABLE COSTS ARE PRELIMINARY AND BASED ON A CONCEPTUAL SITE PLAN AND DO NOT REFLECT ANY UNKNOWN SITE CONDITIONS OR POTENTIAL SOIL CORRECTIONS THAT WOULD AFFECT THE FINAL CONSTRUCTION COSTS. 8’ BITUMINOUS TRAIL FUTURE PRIORITIES • PICNIC SHELTER • CONCRETE WALKS (FORM LOOP) • REPLACE EXISTING PLAYGROUND EQUIPMENT ESTIMATE OF PROBABLE COSTS TOTAL: $127,000*