Minutes - 1994/08/01 - Laserfiche WebLink

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Mounds View City Council Page Three • Special Meeting August 1, 1994 Mary Saarion spoke on behalf of the Park and Recreation Commission stating that the Commission saw the park as a benefit to the neighborhood because it would offer opportunities and activities to children similar to the opportunities and activities offered by the schools. The Commission felt that a park built community spirit, provided open space and would be a facility for use by the public forever. It is the Commission's purpose to look to the future of the community, recognizing that the future meant change and growth. The future meant new families, children and meeting the needs of those children. She doubted that there would be another opportunity like this for a park in the area. She commented that she had spoke with Audrey Malari who said that the grant could be implemented by the end of the third year, it did not have to be implemented a little each year. Mary suggested a Task Force be established, similar to the one that was created for Silver View Park, and study the issue of a park in the area. Trude noted that she felt badly that so much pressure had been . placed on Mr. Belisle by his neighbors and she too was concerned about his health. She questioned if it was worth it to locate a park in an area where people did not care about the park. She noted that she did not think that the people who were opposed to the park were representative of the City. People in other areas of the City view their parks as a valued place and work together to take care of the park and its children. She questioned if it was worth the risk to move forward with the grant application if people were not going to value the park. "It's pretty bad when you can't explain to your children why a park won't be built. How can anyone deny the next generation of children. " Trude noted_that once nei hborhoods were removed and remote, but now parks represent a place where people can connect with others. She had been pleased to hear about the petition in favor of the park because it had been very hard to hear negative comments about the future of children. "It doesn't pass the smell test". Amundson stated that it wasn't an us against them issue. She wasn't against children, but rather concerned for the safety of children playing around wooded areas. She did not want to be labeled as against children. Steve Larson asked Mary Saarion if calls were made to Fridley or Onans as to the number of times that police had been called to break up drug parties at the Fridley apartments. Mary responded • that such calls were not made.