3/24/83 Agenda & Packet - Laserfiche WebLink

Home Browse Search

/Irr MEMO TO: Mounds View Parks and Recreation Commission 4111 FROM: Bruce K. Anderson, Director Parks, Recreation and Forestry DATE: March 17 , 1983 RE: New directions "It is the duty of a Park Commission to open the way to new, not to follow old customs , to lead public opinion and not to tag after it. If it is not prepared to move in advance of the people of whose interests it is placed in charge, nothing is more certain than that after a few years its labors will be regarded very ungratefully and the question will often be asked, why could they not have used a little more foresight and go a little more out of the inherited ruts?" The significance of this statement is appropriate in any generation for it keynotes responsibilities which agencies have to engender the well being of society . Foresightedness and willingness to keep pace with the times are essential attributes which agencies must possess if they are to properly guide development of an ever changing society. To this end, the Mounds View Parks and Recreation Department staff and Commission must periodically reevaluate their basic goals and objectives in light of new conditions. 4111 During the past five years the Mounds View Parks and Recreation Commission has spent a great deal of energy and time preparing for the future of the Mounds View parks and open space system. The outgrowth of that planning has been the development of the citywide comprehensive parks and open space master plan, the acquisition, development of Silver View Park and a joint powers agreement with the school district which allows for joint develop- ment of park/school playgrounds as well as reducing program duplication. To help better meet the ever changing years ahead , staff has broken our planning process into two separate dimensions . The first being a short range or operational focus and the second being long range or strategic focus . The Park Commission has already taken great strides in the long range strategic planning efforts through the development of the comprehensive parks and open space plan which provides a good reference for the next two to five years of long range planning . Staff would recommend that the Parks and Recreation Commission set an annual meeting in the spring of each year with the Mounds View Cit Council to review the lone range park and recreation, .arks and open space plan with a tour of the .arks on a Saturda morning . At that time , we could observe recent park development and revise or update the comprehensive plan. It should be noted that throughout the planning process , both short and long range planning goals and objectives need to be reviewed on a regular basis . To that end, staff would recommend that a joint meeting be established with the Cit Council to review the Cit ' s lone ranee caeital im.rovement plan and parks and open space plan on Saturday , April 30 , 1983 .