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HomeMy WebLinkAbout12-10-87 Agenda & Packet i ' K • • S' .,� ► 0 OUI1 S fQ l► RAMSEY COUNTY,MINNESOTA GATEWAY TO THE NORTH 2401 HIGHWAY 10 MOUNDS VIEW,MINN. 55112 DEPARTMENT OF PARKS, 784-3055 RECREATION AND FORESTRY November 10 , 1987 Dear Parks and Recreation Commissioners : The regular November Parks and Recreation Commission meeting has been postponed because of my later-than-calculated delivery date and the Thanksgiving Holiday. Since November and December are such busy times for people, I suggest that we have a combined November/ December meeting to be held Thursday, December 10 , 1987 at 6 : 30 p.m. in the City Hall Council Chambers. • The main topic on the agenda will be the commencement of a five-year capital improvement plan. I have enclosed the last two plans which can be used as a guide or reference. The first step is to discuss leisure recreational activities which we wish to see occurring in the parks. Two Parks and Recreation related meetings are being held the third week in November. On November 17 a meeting with City Forester Rick' Wriskey and the Silver View pond homeowners will be held to discuss plans for plantings along the park land surrounding Silver View pond and fertilizing practices. This meeting will be held at 7: 00 p.m. in the City Hall Council Chambers. It would be great if you could attend this meeting as a representative of the Park and Recreation Commission. Pinewood Elementary School playground structure open meeting will be held Wednesday, November 18 at Pinewood School at 7 : 30 p.m. Your attendance at this meeting is strongly encouraged also. It you are unable to attend the November/December Commission Meeting on Thursday, December 10 please notify Sharie at 784-3055. Sincerely, Mary Saarion, Director Parks, Recreation and Forestry MS/sl Enclosure CITY OF MOUNDS VIEW PARKS AND RECREATION COMMISSION AGENDA December 10, 1987 6:30 p.m. Mounds View City Hall Council Chambers VI/. CALL TO ORDER ✓I . REVIEW OF OCTOBER 22, 1987 COMMISSION MINUTES ✓ia. AGENDA ADDITIONS /IV. CHAIRPERSON'S REPORT ✓ V. COUNCILMEMBER'S REPORT oVL PARKS - FIVE YEAR CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PLAN PA. REVIEW OLD PLANS • v B. DISCUSSION RECREATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES CURRENT AND FUTURE vVII. OLD BUSINESS "A. PARK PROJECTS UPDATE 113. PROGRAM UPDATE VIIL ADJOURNMENT TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 17 - PUBLIC MEETING WITH RICK WRISKEY AND SILVER VIEW POND HOMEOWNERS WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 18 - PUBLIC MEETING AT PINEWOOD DESIGN DAY • MINUTES OF THE PROCEEDINGS OF THE PARKS AND RECREATION COMMISSION CITY OF MOUNDS VIEW COUNTY OF RAMSEY • STATE OF MINNESOTA October 22 , 1987 Mounds View City Hall Council Chambers 6 : 30 p.m. CALL TO ORDER The meeting was called to order at 6:40 p.m. by Chairperson Wayne Burmeister. ROLL CALL Commissioners present: Silvis, Long , Anderson, Rowley, Daniels and Chairperson Burmeister. Commissioners absent : Starr Staff present: Director Saarion, Administrative Assistant Linke and Aquatics Supervisor Lindquist. Visitors present: Jay McCluskey, Director of Parks and Recreation in Spring Lake Park and Gordy Kurella, Chairperson of the Spring Lake Park, Parks and Recreation Commission. • AGENDA ADDITIONS Presentation by Mary Bradley. CHAIRPERSON ' S REPORT None COUNCILMEMBER' S REPORT None AQUATICS SUPERVISOR REPORT Aquatics Supervisor Kelly Lindquist gave the Commission an overview of the 1987 Lakeside Beach season. He also distributed copies of the yearend summary for the beach noting that the staff was excellent and that there were no major injuries. Approximately 15 ,000 swimmers were in attendance during the season. Aquatics Supervisor Lindquist had the following suggestions for improvements to the beach in 1988 . 1. Due to the vandalism of the beachhouse which destroyed 4-5 megaphones , replacements will be needed. 2. Because the water level of the lake is • down considerably, more sand is needed in the swimming area. 3. Due to the age of the present docks , a floating dock system is suggested. -2- 4. Trash can covers are needed to help eliminate the number of bees on the beach. • 5. Staff sweat suits with "GUARD" on the back are proposed. 6. A movable sign stating "OPEN or CLOSED" is needed in case the beach is forced to close due to inclement weather. 7 . New picnic tables and playground equipment for park area is needed. 8. The retaining wall is showing wear and will need to be rebuilt within a few years. It was suggested that a service organization such as Jaycees or Lions be contacted for assistance. A video of the vandalism done to the beachhouse was presented. Gordy Kurella asked when the clean-up and repair of the beachhouse would be done. Aquatics Supervisor Lindquist stated that the work will be done in the spring by the beach staff. Mr. Kurella suggested that a person doing restitution time be used, thus saving the cities the cost of staff time. Staff • will look into the possibility. The proposed 1988 budget is $10 ,500 from each city. The Commissions directed Aquatics Supervisor Lindquist to meet with Director Saarion and Director McCluskey to prioritize the improvements at Lakeside and present it to the Commissions at the spring joint meeting. PRESENTATION BY MARY BRADLEY Mary Bradley, Co-Chairperson of the Pinewood Playground Design Committee presented information on the proposed playground for Pinewood School. She invited the Commissioners to attend the Pinewood "Design Day" on November 18 and asked for their endorsement of the project. Chairperson Burmeister directed staff to draft a letter of endorsement of the project by the Parks and Recreation Commission. APPROVAL OF MINUTES A motion was made by Commissioner Silvis , seconded by Commissioner Long to approve the. August 27 , 1987 minutes as written. The motion passed unanimously, 6 ayes , 0 nayes. r ' -3- The minutes of the unofficial September meeting were reviewed. • STAFF REPORT Director Saarion reported that the construction of the trail around Silver View Pond was discontinued by the City Council until more information could be gathered from outside consultants. Commissioners and staff expressed concern with the cutting down of trees and brush around the Silver View Pond by residents. Staff stated that a letter was sent to the homeowners, but she would follow up on it once again. Director Saarion stated that a licensed trapper would begin trapping muskrats in Silver View Park as soon as the season opened. Staff reported that the Mounds View Lion ' s Club had donated mini-blinds, tables , chairs and cupboards for the new Random Park Classroom building. The building is being used regularly by scouts, pre-school , seniors, and youth groups. OTHER BUSINESS Commissioner Silvis stated that the path at • Greenfield Park needed addtional maintenance. Staff indicated that weekly maintenance to the trail is needed but unfortunately, staff is not available at this time. Statt asked for a Commissioner to act as liaison to the Mounds View Community Theater Board. Commissioner Silvis was appointed. ADJOURNMENT A motion was made by Commissioner Long , seconded by Commissioner Silvis to adjourn the meeting at 8 : 25 p.m. Respectfully submitted, arie Lin e, Administrative Assistant Parks , Recreation and Forestry /sl • MEMO TO: Mounds View City Council FROM: Wayne Burmeister, Chairperson Mounds View Parks and Recreation Commission • DATE: September 28, 1986 RE: 1987 Capital Improvement Plan During the past six months, the Mounds View Parks and Recreation Commission has been reviewing the comprehensive parks and open space plan that was developed in 1980, to determine how the plan could be implemented within the City' s current fiscal structure. To that end , we have reviewed our five year capital improvement f annual for parks and have revised it to reflect a n expenditure of $72,000 - $96,000 for 1988 through 1992. The Park Commission directed staff , approximately four months ago, to develop cost estimates including detailed breakdowns for all the capital improvements proposed within the City park system. Following a detailed review of each of those documents, we prioritized the park projects based on the following items: 1 . Environmental concerns and preservation of existing park resources. 2 . Safety concerns and health concerns. 3. Current community voids and/or deficiencies as outlined in the City-wide parks system master plan. • 4. Aesthetics and/or general park improvements. Based on this prioritization of needs and values, we hereby submit our proposed capital improvement plan for the next five years. 1986 CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PLANS • 1988 ,.;9= , Silver View Park Parking Lot $ 96,000 1989 General Skating (Greenfield ) $ 8,000 Oakwood Mult-purpose Court 18 , 400 Woodcrest Regrading 18,700 Ardan Park Play Structure 8 ,000 Building Improvements at 4 sites 20,000 $ 73, 100 • 1990 Silver View Bridge $ 16 ,000 Silver View Tot Lot 20,000 • Random Multi-purpose Court 13, 000 Woodcrest Multi-purpose Court 13,000 72" Rotary Lawn Mower 10,000 $ 72,000 $ 6,000 53,000 8 ,000 13,000 $ 80,000 $ 20,000 1991 Greenfield Archery Range Lights at Silver View Park Oakwood Picnic Shelter City Hall Multi-purpose Court 1992 Woodcrest Park Tot Lot Lambert Multi-purpose Court 13,000 Hockey Lights at Hillview -2- 12,000 Oakwood Park Play Area 15,000 Floating Boardwalk at Silver View 16,000 $ 76 ,000 A brief background on each of the capital improvement plans is as • follows: . 1988 1 . Silver View Park parking lot. Paving of the Silver View Park parking lot was ranked as the number one priority by the Park Commission based on the current destruction and vandalism that is occurring at Silver View Park due to our lack of bar- riers and control in the parking lot area. The Park Commis- sion feels strongly that Silver View is the central focus of our park system and that based on environmental andsafety concerns, as well as fulfilling community voids, it is our highest priority. With the paving of the parking lotand concrete' curb and gutter to define the parking area, we will be able to preserve the park in its natural state. It should be noted that Silver View Park is the most heavily used facility due to the extensive adult athletic play and we feel that in addition to the reasons stated, pure numbers justify the need for this improvement. 411 -3- 1989 • 1 . General skating - Greenfield Park. When Greenfield Park was recently renovated , the general skating area which was locat- ed on the west end of the park was relocated to the southeast corner. The Greenfield Park skating facility serves both the Oakwood and Greenfield Park areas. The $8 ,000 is to regrade the site and place permanent light fixtures at the facility to serve the residents in the northeast quadrant of the City. This project ranked extremely high on both safety concerns; as well as fulfilling a void of pleasure skating in this quadrant of the City. 2. Oakwood Park multi-purpose court. This item was ranked high due to the major community void centering around multi- purpose courts. We currently do not have a multi-purpose court other than Greenfield Park. Multi-purpose courts provide a variety of recreational activities including bas- ketball , _ other hard court surface four square, hop scotch and of with its Park, high concen- tration We feel that Oakwood tration of young people, is an ideal location to develop our first City multi-purpose court. 3. Woodcrest Park regrading. Woodcrest is currently in the worst condition of any of the existing parks and is greatly in need of general regrading and turf establishment. It is the recommendation of the Park Commission that the storm • sewer ditch currently running adjacent to the park on the west and southern boundaries would also be completed at this time with S.W.M. funds to give the park a more finished look. The site is currently an eyesore and in need of general land- scaping and turf establishment. 4. Ardan Park playstructure. This is an item that has been requested by residents for a number of years due to the lack of any type of park activity for young people in the area . We feel that a small wooden play structure (above ground ) would fit well into the park area and will serve the immedi- ate needs of the residents. In addition, the Park Commission feels that site has been used exclusively for the City-wide compost program and some type of facility for local residents would be beneficial. 5. Building ' improvements at four sites. As you are aware, we purchased three used school classroom facilities four years ago and have been utilizing them extensively for not only our winter skating program, but also our summer playground pro- grams. It is our recommendation that the buildings be upgraded from an energy conservation standpoint to include the replacement of the existing single pane windows, caulking of the frames, and installation of new windows at Woodcrest Park. In addition, we would purchase a permanent floor sur- face for each of the buildings to serve both the winter skat- • ing and summer usage. It should also be noted that City recreation staff is now utilizing the buildings on a year- round basis with a pre-school program at Groveland Park. -4- - 1990 1. Silver View bridge. This was ranked high due to the need for • a complete trail around the Silver View Park pond. In addi- tion to completing the trail loop, it would also allow access from the residents in the Mary Anderson single family homes to the developed park area on the north side . The bridge would also serve a functional purpoase as a fishing pier when the pond is stocked by the DNR. 2. Silver View tot lot. As Silver View Park is the major com- munity park within the City, we feel that some type of major tot lot equipment should be installed to complete the devel- opment of facilities for all age groups. We currently do not have any creative play area for the young people at Silver View Park and it would be ideal due to the athletic use, family hikes and walking that occurs throughout the site. 3. Random Park multi-purpose court. The multi-purpose court at Random Park would be located in the southern half of the park and would complete the development of Random Park. As you are aware, staff installed a new play structure three years • ago at Random Park along with regrading the site. By installing a multi-purpose court, we would be able to increase the use of that site in a heavy residential area. 4. Woodcrest multi-purpose court. This would provide our third multi-purpose court within the City and serve the southwest corner of the City. It is our goal to have seven multi-pur- 111 pose courts located throughout each of the City parks which would still be twenty-two short of the national standards of having one multi-purpose court per 500 people. The Mounds View City Parks and Open Space Plan recommended nine, and with the seven proposed, we feel we could meet the needs within the City park system. 5. 72 inch rotary lawn mower. Two 72 inch rotary lawn mowers were purchased in 1985 and it is staff 's recommendation that one of the mowers be replaced every five years and $18,000 has been budgeted to replace one of the two new mowing units. 1991 1. Greenfield Park archery range . This project was listed as a high priority in the Citywide parks and open space plan. We have an ideal location in the northwest corner of Green- field Park. This proposed project will include the develop- ment of four archery butts as well as a security fence around the entire area. 2. Lights at Silver View Park. This is a major capital improve- ment which would serve the adult softball fields at Silver View Park which is currently the largest recreation program within the City. With the addition of lights at Silver View, we would not need to add additional ballfields within the • City. In addition, we would be able to have evening play for both youth soccer and football at Silver View Park. -5- 3. Oakwoodipicnic shelter. A small open air picnic shelter is proposed at Oakwood Park to encourage use of the site and • allow people an opportunity to picnic in a relatively densely populated residential area. 4. City Hall multi-purpose court. This multi-purpose court would complete the City Hall Park grounds and provide one last amenity for the large community picnics and festival celebrations that are held at City Hall Park. 1992 1 . Woodcrest tot lot. The tot lot equipment is currently 12 years old at Woodcrest Park and in 1992 will be 17 years old and in need of replacement. 2. Lambert multi-purpose court. This is the last multi-purpose court proposed in the City park system and would complete the development at Lambert Park. 3. Hockey lights at Hillview Park. The current hockey lights at Hillview Park are in extremely poor condition and are over 15 years old which will make them 20 years old in 1992. The new system that we propose would be energy efficient and not only would it greatly decrease our electrical costs, but it would provide a higher level of "foot candles" in the rink area. 4. Oakwood Park play area. The play equipment at Oakwood Park • is eight years old in great need of repair and replacement. This was the last wood system that we have in the City and would be replaced with a metal, steel or aluminum system. 5. Floating boardwalk at Silver View Park. This item would place the entire trail at Silver View Park on park property and would greatly enhance the trail experience . The board- walk that we would be looking at would be similar to the walkway at the Springbrook Nature Center or Roseville Central Park. By adding this dimension at Silver View Park, we would able to expand the program possibilities to include bird observation decks and other areas for nature identification alongthe trail area . In addition, we would like to recommend that a joint meeting be established with the City Council so that we can identify specific funding sources to meeting the capital improvement plan as out- lined . As you are aware, we have been unsuccessful with our past park referendums and it is our recommendation that the City Coun- cil begin to look at a permanent, long range solution to funding park improvements. That recommendation was formalized at the July 21 Commission meeting. At that meeting, a formal motion was passed unanimously recommending that the Park Commission recom- mends to the City Council that a goal of $500 ,000 be established for the park dedication fund with the dollars to be accumulated over the next five years. Interest from the park dedication fund, • in the amount of $35,000 - $40,000, would then be used to supple- ment other City funding sources for developing long range capital improvement projects. Possible methods for establishing the park dedication fund over the next five years would be: -6- . 1 . Dedicate a one mill levy over the next five years. 2. Establish the fund which could then be built up to utilize • monies from the existing City fund balance reserves. 3. Dedicate the yearend general fund balance to the park dedica- tion account. 4. Utilize interest from the special projects fund. 5. Utilize monies from park dedications projects on a two-thirds/ one third basis, with two-thirds of all park dedication sub- division monies being allocated for park improvements in the next five years. 6 . Establish City sponsored fund raising programs through neigh- borhood park foundations with a goal of raising $100,000. 7. Corporate gifts from local and surrounding community business- es. . 8. Explore any other City fund dollars, including revenue shar- ing, should they become available again. In addition to the formal submission of this report, the Park Commission would like to again request a meeting be established with the City Council , City Finance Brager, City Administrator Pauley and Acting Parks and Recreation Director Saarion to review and identify specific funding sources so that the enclosed capital III plan will become a reality. We appreciate your review of this project, and look forward to successful implementation over the next two years. BKA/sll cc: Mounds View Parks & Recreation Commissioners .. . • Sounders-Thalden &Associates, Inc. 6440 Flying Cloud Dr., Minneapolis, MN 55344, 612-944-727 O AL LTi Ire. —ems— Or WOODCREST PARK COST ESTIMATE June 26 , 1980 FACILITY COSTS 1. Landscaping and Earth Berms $ 33 ,200 2 . Bicycle Path $ 9 , 700 3. Picnic and Free Play Areas $ 18 , 700 4 . Walking Path $ X900 5 . General Skating/Multi Purpose Court $ 13,000 6 . Play Areas $ 46 , 800 7. Shelter $ 37, 400 411 8. Softball Field $ 26 , 400 9. Horseshoe Pits $ 500 10 . Site Amenities $ 8 ,200 (Parking, Park Sign, Benches , Trash Recepticles, Bike Posts , Etc. ) TOTAL $194 , 800 • y Sounders-Thalden&Associates, Inc. 6440 Flying Cloud Dr., Minneapolis, MN 55344, 612 -7279 ill ..STI Ir2... \/ RANDOM PARK COST ESTIMATE June 26 , 1980 FACILITY COSTS 1 . Landscaping and Earth Berms $ 22 , 750 2 . Picnic and Free Play Areas $ 22 ,550 3. Walking Paths $ 1, 025 4. Play Areas $ 41 ,550 5 . Multi-Purpose Court $ 13, 000 6 . Site Amenities $ 2 , 600 ( Park Sign , Benches , Trash IIIRecepticles , Bike Posts , Etc. ) TOTAL $103, 475 • Sounders-Thalden &Associates, Inc. 6440 Flying Cloud Dr., Minneapolis, MN 55344, 612-944-7279 • AL _511 ITS. jl urs- NI I OAKWOOD PARK COST ESTIBATE June 26 , 1980 FACILITY COSTS 1. Landscaping and Earth Berms $ 42 ,000 2 . Bicycle Path $ 4 , 750 3. Picnic Area $ 32 , 000 4 . Walking Path $ 3 , 050 5. Play Area $ 7, 350 6 . Shelter $ 26 , 300 7. Multi-Purpose Court $ 18 , 400 • 8. Softball Field $ 10 , 200 9. Site Amenities $ 2 , 700 (Park Sign, Benches , Trash Recepticles , Bike Posts , Etc. ) TOTAL $146 , 750 Sounders-Thoiden&Associates, Inc. 6440 Flying Cloud Dr., Minneapolis, MN 55344, 612-944-7279 4► • ITS. X115" .. LAMBERT PARK COST ESTIMATE June 26 , 1980 FACILITY COSTS 1. Landscaping and Earth Berms $ 36 , 500 2 . Bicycle Path $ 4 ,550 3. Picnic Area $ 14 , 800 4. Walking Path $ 3, 200 5. General Skating $ 1 , 300 6 . Play Areas $ 58 , 800 7. Shelter $ 35 , 400 8. Multi-Purpose Court $ 13, 000 9 . Softball and Free Play $ 6 , 300 Soccer/Football • 10 . Hockey $ 14 , 950 11. Site Amenities $ 15 , 100 (Parking, Park Sign , Utility Development, Trash Recepticles , Bike Posts, Etc. ) TOTAL $203, 900 S Sounders-Tholden &Associates, Inc. 6440 Flying Cloud Dr., Minneapolis, MN 55344, 612-944-7279 • AI sT T2 '5— HILLVIEW PARK COST ESTIMATE June 26 , 1980 FACILITY COSTS 1. Landscaping and Earth Berms $ 43, 400 2 . Bicycle and Walking Path $ 7, 050 3. Picnic Area $ 20 ,200 4 . General Skating $ 3 , 300 5 . Play Area $ 57 ,550 6 . Shelter $ 35 , 400 7 . Multi Purpose Court $ 13, 000 8. Softball and Free Play • Soccer/Football $ 6 , 300 9 . Hockey $ 27, 100 10 . Site Amenities $ 10 , 700 (Park Sign , Parking, Benches , Trash Recepticles , Bike Posts , Etc. ) TOTAL $224 ,000 • Sounders-Thalden G Associates, Inc. 6440 Flying Cloud Dr., Minneapolis, MN 55344, 612-944-7279 • Ak \/ GROVELAND PARK COST ESTIMATE June 26 , 1980 FACILITY COSTS 1 . Landscaping and Earth Berms $ 40 , 100 2 . Bicycle Paths $ 4 , 800 3. Tennis Courts $ 50 , 800 4. Picnic and Volleyball Areas $ 19 , 900 5 . Walking Path $ 1, 500 6 . General Skating $ 2 ,900 7 . Play Areas $ 50 ,600 8. Shelter $ 35 , 400 9 . Softball Field $ 5 , 150 • 10 . Uorseshoe Pits $ 500 11. Site Amenities $ 5 , 650 (Parking, Benches , Park Signs , Trash Recepticles , Bike Posts , Etc. ) TOTAL $21 / , 300 i, , ) (V , I I • • Sounders-Tholden&Associates, Inc. 6440 Flying Cloud Dr., Minneapolis, MN 55344, 612-944.7279 IR \I GREENFIELD PARK COST ESTIMATE JUNE 26 , 1980 FACILITY COSTS 1. Landscaping and Earth Berms $105 , 800 2 . Bicycle Path $ 42 , 600 3. Tennis Courts $ 50 , 800 4 . Picnic and Free Play Areas $182 , 800 5 . Walking Path $ 1,500 6. Marked Nature 'Path $ 29 , 800 7. General Skatting $ 23 , 350 • 8. Play Areas $ 85 ,950 9 . Shelters (?) $ 85 ,900 10 . Multi-Purpose Court $ 13 , 000 11. Softball/Baseball Field $ 42 , 100 12 . Archery Range $ 7 , 100 13 . Hockey $ 600 14. Site Amenities $ 88 , 650 (Parking, Park Signs , Benches , Trash Recepticles , Bike Posts , Creek Development , Lighting, Etc. ) TOTAL $759 , 951 • Sounders-Thalden &Associates, Inc. 6440 Flying Cloud Dr., Minneapolis, MN 55344, 612-944-7279 .. 0 a5TIra. '2.11 Iii" .. CITY HALL PARC COST ESTIMATE June 26 , 1980 FACILITY COSTS 1. Landscaping and Earth Berms $121 . 950 2 . Bicycle Path $ 19 , 300 3. Picnic and Free Play Areas $ 31 , 700 4 . Walking and Exercise Path $ 19 , 500 5 . Play Areas $ 85 , 804) 6. Multi-Purpose Court $ 13, 000 7. Softball/Baseball Fields $ 42 ,500 8. Volley Ball $ 1 , 150 • 9 . Horseshoe Pits $ 500 10 . Site Amenities $ 5 ,950 (Park Signs, Benches , Utilities, Trash Recepticles, Bike Posts, Etc. ) TOTAL $341 , 350 Saunders-Thalden&Associates, Inc. 6440 Flying Cloud Dr., Minneapolis, MN 55344, 612-944-7279 • AL ARDAN PARK COST ESTIMATE June 26 , 1980 FACILITY COSTS 1. Landscaping and Earth Berms $ 83 ,200 2 . Bicycle Path $ 18, 900 3. Picnic and Free Play Areas $ 78, 500 4 . Walking Path and Nature 41: 0100/ Study Areas $ 7, 10 5 . Play Area $ 57, 300 • 6. Picnic Shelter $ 26 , 300 7. Horseshoe Pits $ 500 8 . Site Amenities $ 90, 200 (Parking, Park Sign, Benches, Trash Recepticles , Bike Posts , Pond Development, Etc. ) TOTAL $362 , 000 • 41 Sounders-Thalden &Associates, Inc. 6440 Flying Cloud Dr., Minneapolis, MN 55344, 612-944-7279 Ak • '2T 115- \I MOUNDS VIEW PARKS GRAND TOTAL COST ESTIMATE JUNE 26 , 1980 PARK TOTAL COSTS ARDAN PARK $ 362 ,000 GREENFIELD PARK $ 759 , 050 GROVELAND PARK $ 217 , 300 HILLVIEW PARK $ 224 , 0.0 LAMBERT PARK $ 203, 900 OAKWOOD PARK $ 146 , 750 RANDOM PARK $ 103 , 475 WOODCREST PARK $ 194 , 800 CITY HALL PARK $ 341 , 350 • GRAND TOTAL $2 ,553, 525 . 00 111 i r- ` BuildIng Support Urban Trails BY STUART H. MACDONALD • :.,,.. - .A,• ',e 0 VIr h ~ i ., .;: •• k . „ ript. „, , • 6111 ` +t � --',+� `.. 411110 t � t ii �/'tl•\* / rfl d. i ,, 1 p ._ 4. R 1 -. is '"� n 0 i. a�t, i . ..: tt - r 't. 1 • �, ci L ; I F . 9, e . 1 • i .'� o 26/NOVEMBER 1987/P&R uilding urban trails has11111111111111 • changed dramatically in this post-urban renewal era. No longer do we hear the voice of the federal agency looking for a few good fundable projects. The new 4 big issues are funding, user fees, •• 't= I UHMEC.Eanon and private sector involvement,not • . N„, + � Because of public planning, programs, and social re- :. � and nd Pete coo a- and search. As we examine ways to get ' • suPoi7' trails built under uncertain circum "''►f' r ig ii _ Publicity, cyclists of t � 1 m F ,}yti all ages can use stances, there is one fact we must t , :' k�. r,_ I..• urban trails in Col- face: no urban trail is going to get i "� j " w orado. Pictured at built without solid political and )1, , `1,: left and on the pre- , community ort. su >w ,x A ceding page is the PP . s Arapahoe Green- Another fact we must face is that fi • t Y 5 v '.�'1, way/Platte River in a society so committed to moto ,� '�i I � . �} y #' {f i �� `' i.:• Trail, which runs for rized transportation, urban trails a �, :! �7,1'•�y'C - : > ten miles within the and pedestrian facilities are seen as — Denver, CO city a luxury. People expect trails in the .r - ' n �;#` : -R= ;3 ,w 'r -*- limits. mountains and parks for the"pure" recreation of weekend trips and urban trails. trail plan identifies available cord- vacation time. Much has been writ- Urban trails are different from dors, so trail development means ten about the trend toward urban other types of pedestrian facilities picking the top priority and pursu- recreation, but we are still waiting because they are separated from ing it. Sometimes an opportunity for the energy crisis that actually roadways. Emphasizing landscap- comes along, like a major flood- • forces people to go to a city park ing or natural environments, es- control project or railroad instead of a national park. In fact, sentially they are linear parks using abandonment, to which the trail records are set every year for a wide variety of corridors. The project may be tied.Multiple use of wilderness and back-country trail three projects discussed here use a corridor is especially appropriate use. stream corridors, which in Col- in urban areas and is often a way to What has changed is the increas- orado are as attractive on the arid enhance funding and public sup- ing numbers of people using urban plains as in mountain towns. There port. Other opportunities for mov- trails.The number of cyclists in the is hardly a town here of any size that ing a trail project to the head of the U.S. is about 80 million, or 31 per- does not have a river or creek run- prioritylist are a new park and rec- cent cent of the population (Wall Street Hing through it, providing an reation study, new land, develop- Journal,April 21, 1986,p. 5D).The opportunity for some kind of trail ment, highway improvement, in- 1982-1983 Nationwide Recreation development. Other suitable cord- volvement of a major firm, urban Survey of the U.S.Department of the dors include power lines and pipe- redevelopment, and changes in Interior shows a rise in bicycling lines, road rights-of-way, irrigation political leadership.The complexity from nine percent of respondents canals, drainageways, and aban- of these projects usually means that to 28 percent in 1982. While the doned railroads. it can take years for a trail to get study indicates 26 percent run or When establishing a trail, one of built,and a project that has already jog,in 1960"running was limited to the main concerns is the complexity gathered political and community a relatively few young athletes. It of the route's ownership.Neighbor-. support will be the one that goes was considered so insignificant as hood linkages, access to open ahead rapidly when the right oppor- not to warrant inclusion in the 1960 space,and scenery are also criteria, tunity emerges. In almost all cases National Recreation Survey (which but in the urban setting these quasi- there is a local jurisdiction—town, included rock climbing)!" Finally, industrial corridors are attractive city, park district or county- 53 percent were found to walk for alternatives. pushing the project.While state and • pleasure,compared with 14 percent How do urban trails get built? federal agencies may be of great involved in day hiking. All of these Selecting a suitable trail route is the help, in urban areas you need a activities increase the demand for first step. In many areas,a regional specific local agency committed to P&R/NOVEMBER 1987/27 the project. Finally, active citizens' • Using an existing non-profit ter along the river. Further south, advocate groups participating on group. This is a chicken-and-egg three development corporation the local level are essential. question, whether one creates an are cooperating with the City of Lite organization to build a trail,or cre- tleton in a riverfront master plan to ates a trail project for an existing blend residential, office, and corn- Case Study: _ organization.Whichever came first, mercial developments with over a Arapahoe Greenway/ the group provides leadership, a mile of the Arapahoe Greenway. Platte River Trail focus for support,and a vehicle for • Bringing key people to the trail contributions. corridor. The foundation has held The Platte River Greenway has be- • Having a definite goal. The several tours to show elected offi- come a well known example of an goal was simple—to reach Chatfield cials and project sponsors the com- urban river recreation project. Pub- reservoir—but specific. Progress pleted and planned trail. Showing lic support developed the ten miles can be measured, and participants off accomplishments gives a feeling of trail within the Denver city limits feel they are part of an accomplish- of continual progress and clarifies as part of a complex project of flood ment rather than a concept. the trail's benefits. control and urban rehabilitation • Tying in with larger projects. • Involving legislators. Founda- along the river corridor.As a spine The Colorado.Greenway Project tion board members never miss an for a series of loop trails and access loop trail and the Army Corps of opportunity to lobby the area's state along tributary streams and canals, Engineers flood-control project,for legislators. These officials also vote the Platte River Greenway is the example. on the lottery allocation for trails most important trail in the Denver • Working with existing trail funding, state highway funds, and metropolitan area. The South Sub- plans. The Arapahoe County exten- outdoor recreation legislation. urban Park Foundation,established sion of the Platte River trail has been Keeping successful projects in view in 1979"to enrich the environment on trail master plans for years, in- of the legislature helps build sup- and improve open space and rec- cluding the 1974, 1980, and 1985 port for trails at the highest political" reational amenities for residents in State Recreational Trails Master level. the South Suburban communities Plans. No one needed to be con- • Using an appropriate consul Ak of metropolitan Denver," de- vinced of the importance of the tant. While the consulting firm termined that extending the trail project. Urban Edges,Inc.,has considerable was critical. • Building on previous efforts. trail-development experience, it In addition, the state legislature As in other endeavors,continuing a subcontracts working drawings, contributed $300,000 of Colorado successful trails effort is easier than water engineering, and other tech- Lottery revenue. None of this fund- starting a new one.Acknowledging nical work. As part of the contract, ing, however, went toward South previous efforts, of course, is es- however, the consultant assists in Suburban's project.The foundation sential. fundraising presentations, public- felt it was important to keep its sep- • Breaking the project into man- ity,trail tours,and what amounts to arate visibility and to clarify its own ageable pieces. Rather than solicit community development work. goal of extending the Platte River funds for a giant, multi-million- • Making the most of publicity. trail to Chatfield State Recreation dollar project,organizers identified The foundation publishes a news- Area. In the same way that 22 agen- sections of a mile or less and tied letter quarterly, speaks on the cies and municipalities gave funds them into other efforts.The first link project, and sends out news re- and support to the loop trail, the reached Bear Creek in concert with leases regularly. While publicity South Suburban Park Foundation the loop trail; the second helped costs money and time, it is a good solicited funds from every town in complete one town's open space investment. its area. In addition to a $125,000 plan;the third was planned with the I challenge grant from the Gates Corps of Engineers channelization; Case Study: Foundation, more than 100 in- the fourth involves commercial Mesa County/Colorado dividuals, associations, and busi- riverfront development. River Trail nesses gave to the effort. • Seeking cooperation from de- Following is a summary of the velopers. The first trail link involved A serious effort was made in the efforts involved in building political donations of both right-of-way and early 1970s to develop a trail along and community support for the Ara- cash from the Phillip Nolan Corn- the magnificent Colorado Rive. pahoe Greenway/Platte River Trail: pany,developers of a business cen- through Grand Junction in western 28/NOVEMBER 1987/P&R • gloom of the economic boom- turned-bust, the county abolished 1111 Fourteen own parks department and cut i Fourteen Ways to Develop, Fund, back on others. When the dust had and Maintain Your Urban Trail(s) settled,it was clear that political sup- port for the river trail was nonexis- • Put together a citizens'coni- and publicizing the good tent,except for a couple of survivors mittee. The group's make-up works of others. in the Planning Department. These will change over time, but • Use the talents and resources people picked up the trail project committee citizens;and in- of others. Attract a wide vari yet again,and this time started with fluential community leaders ety of supporters to the the determination to build enough are essential. project,put them to work at citizen and government support to • Examine the feasibility of the what they know best, and ensure success. project. Research land provide opportunities for The Colorado River Trail has ownership, physical and so- volunteers. reached the construction phase af- cial concerns, and communi ter three years of widespread effort. ■ Exploit every publicity oppor- Many of the old problems have been ty needs. tunic,. Be shameless about • Idem y funding sources. overcome as new ones surface. Federal, state, local, business, using publicity; your project Some lessons from this project in must become part of the building political and community foundations, and the public. common knowledge of the support are summarized below: • Identt potential supporters. There are many groups, in- entire community. • Overcoming past problems. ■ Get key people to visit the Negative feelings left over from past dividuals, agencies, and busi- site. No slide show, presenta-local andP failures can sink the most de national—that are interested tion or appeal is as convinc- termined effort.The problems were ing as a walk along the trail identified, acknowledged, and ad- in civic improvement proj- corridor. ects. dressed with new ideas. Circum • ■ Sell the concept. Make per- • Create a realistic develop- stances do change, but obstacles sonal contacts, try to reach ment plan. Agree on a clear may endure. everyone, have all the an goal, establish a level of de- • Involving state agencies. swers, and make others be- velopment appropriate to Three state agencies were inter- your resources, and commit ested in the project.The Division of lieve in the project as strong - everything as you do. everything to actually build- Local Affairs helped plan and coor- • Make the connections. Es- ing the trail. dinate low-cost student research tablish the project in every ■ Develop a management and design projects.The Division of known planning effort, fit it plan. Agree on who covers Wildlife wanted to build trails at its into other projects, and build liability, who will maintain wildlife refuge on the river and sup on past accomplishments. the trail, and how it will be ported other trails as part of habitat ■ Emphasize the positive. Stress used and managed. improvement.The Division of Parks the benefits of the project, ■ Be flexible and tenacious. and Outdoor Recreation had es make it irresistible to those Sheer energy and will are a tablished a State Trails Program who need to be identified must, but sometimes a con- with the goal of helping local corn with positive achievements, cept needs years to take munities plan and build trails. Most and listen to their good root. You must keep the states now have similar programs ideas, project alive, establish it through their Department of Nat- ■ Acknowledge support and firmly in the minds of com ural Resources.Investigating the re assistance. Create good will munity and political leaders, sources of state government may by giving recognition, and be prepared to take turn up interest in surprising places. encouraging cooperation advantage of any opportunity • Becoming a leader in trails de among groups and agencies, that comes along. velopment. Mesa County's persist ence with its project has encour- • aged latent trail projects with Grand Junction and the Division of Wild- 30/NOVEMBER 1987/P&R • AO 4 .` .r J'la gym .. a # • +r :; 1 , f , $ , ,,,,;......4irio:, s X 1.- /144 1 -. I _ ` r.. 111 .,r - Y • .. Colorado. A Greenbelt Foundation planning at every level of govern- nunciation of the entire greenbelt was formed which gathered con- ment,we may forget the importance concept. It may be that the time for siderable public interest, including of planning as an orderly way of the trail project had not yet arrived, a board of directors composed of reaching a goal. that not enough broad-based sup- influential local citizens. Ten years Another problem was mainte- port was in place.Certainly the sim- later, however, only a short, little- nance. With the migrations of the ple idea of public access to the river used section of trail was in place, late 1960s came transients who took had been buried in a plan that and the county-owned parkland up residence along the river. What turned out to be too vague and along the river was closed to the efforts the county made at law ambitious for the time. In any case, public. How had such a well- enforcement are no longer remem- people continued to ignore the riv- organized effort faded into a bad bered, but the result was a per- er through the oil-shale boom years memory? One problem was failing manent closure of all the public when resources were available for to establish the greenbelt system open space.A final,blow to the foun- many other public works projects. firmly in city and county master dation was its widely-publicized in- It was not until 1984 that another plans. tent to acquire a strip of parkland for attempt at establishing the Colorado Ineffective long-term planning miles along the river. As innocent River Trail was made. Mesa County for the entire region hurt trails as and logical as that idea may be, it applied for and received a grant for much as any fault of the Greenbelt shocked farmers, landowners, and trail construction through the state's Foundation. Today, after the last anyone with a vague distrust of gov- Division of Parks and Outdoor Re - decade's frenzy of planning and re- ernment into an emotional de- reation.However,in the deepeniip P&R/NOVEMBER 1987/29 life, and inspired other towns in depressed areas is "economic de- an effective sales device. Each trip, western Colorado.Becoming an ac- velopment." The trail, especially however,was seen as a fun event in • knowledged leader brings a great through the city, is tied in to river- itself, with hiking, birdwatching, deal of pride and continued politi- front rehabilitation. One design socializing, a chance to enjoy the cal support. shows a linear park along the river outdoors. To celebrate receiving a • Identifying a demonstration as part of redeveloping the city's in- trail construction grant, trail sup- project. A project linking two sec- dustrial zone. The success of these porters joined the State Parks Board - tions of existing bikeways will be a kinds of projects throughout the for a picnic.Such events are a good major contribution and an example country can help convince political lure for television coverage. for future efforts. It also establishes and business leaders that trails and a specific goal for fundraising. parks are important to urban Case Study: • Finding a corridor that works. revitalization and improving a city's Canon City/Arkansas River Planners originally envisioned the image. Trail trail along the river bank,but prob- • Stimulating volunteer partici- lems with easements led to a new pation. The local Audubon Society For 25 years, Wes Carhartt has • route through a scenic wildlife area became a project sponsor, and thought about a trail along the on the right-of-way of an adjacent when it became clear that the coun- Arkansas River through Canon City canal. Flood plain zoning will give ty needed help, offered to help in south central Colorado. In 1980, the county more control over the build and maintain the trail as an- several Canon City citizens met to riverfront in the future as develop- other Aubudon group had done in walk along the river, research the ment takes place.The City of Grand the City of Pueblo. Finding a strong corridor's ownership, and put Junction, however, has established core group can provide the neces- together a plan for a trail. The ownership of the flood-control sary focus for public participation. following year the group presented levees and is not as limited by pri- • Bringing the public into the their plan,now known as the Arkan- vate ownership.Willingness to com- project.Planners conducted a series sas Riverwalk,to the Canon City Met- promise and find creative trail of public meetings to increase the ropolitan Park and Recreation Dis- routes can make the difference in a project's visibility.Invitations to key trict. Continuing to publicize the • project's success. people, radio and newspaper plan, the Steering Committee • Encouraging cooperation notices, and the Audubon Society's obtained endorsements for the trail from business interests. PepsiCo, grapevine achieved the best results. from the Recreation Board,the Lin- Inc., the local utility company, and Presenting the trail plans and asking coln Park Sanitation District, the two construction firms along the for ideas stirred up excitement and Daily Record newspaper,and mem- trail route granted free trail ease- generated a list of active trail sup- hers of the city council, County ments. A business along the trail porters.A special meeting with the Board of Commissioners, and the may welcome the exposure and county commissioners enabled school district. positive association. Other firms supporters to speak directly to their The sanitation district, which contribute as a community service elected officials. owns land along the river,agreed to and encourage political support. • Creating a project strategy. As a greenbelt on their property if the • Using tourism to sell the trail. too many meetings can burn out the recreation district would manage it. As a tourist attraction, the river is brightest idea, organizers decided In 1982, the two agencies signed a simply unknown. Approaching the to form a steering committee of a lease agreement, followed by an city across the bridges, visitors are few dependable supporters. This agreement to purchase a 3-1/2-mile dismayed by junked cars lining group worked directly with the right-of-way owned by the Santa Fe 1 parts of the river and by its in- project sponsors, providing input, Railway.The price of$15,000 for the accessibility elsewhere. Emphasiz- critiquing design ideas, selecting a ten-acre parcel depended on com- ing recreation and tourism poten- consultant, and reporting on prog- pleting the purchase by year-end for tial helped gain the assistance of the ress.They established timelines and tax purposes.Citizen support,com- visitor and convention bureau, recruited new supporters. mitted local officials and agencies, which has ties with the chamber of • Publicizing the trail through and a Colorado Greenway Project commerce and business interests. field trips.One very successful effort trail construction grant are making • Participating in urban was a series of field trips along the the Arkansas Riverwalk a reality. • redevelopment efforts. The magic trail corridor.Getting key people to Following is a summary of the phrase in Mesa County and other see the beauty of the river area was project: MR/NOVEMBER 1987/31 a. a `� P ei$* fiv - •• 1 r ,•' aft,{ ` '� , . �.. . -A i }M1r .E 'fi %- - �' 4'1, 24< X t"'4 'E v fir -,'','-''0' '', - _ 3 3 "-' Fx a. Pro•. '� -t' "�a' z-"i ,- 4 ?s ''‘,4-'..c4-411,T ,rte _ ' iii��� 1 _ , ►'�4 -A,-1 --'' Al - . 1 - " ' Y. ,i,..4„,--;„- M"!, 4 .ms14- .,,,rt: � q* Wit --... �. " :r." . kl,\',,,`7 '''' 1:''% ,‘,. "` 4 ;/ ,, 4,i s '' ' a'.41i , \ ,'. 4 .,\ ,,,,,,, , f‘., .- 1. 1-., - - ' , '" --A-- ''s ''' I r ''''L - ' ' ''''' 'et 4' 02 r ,----.',4-1:, r Y ,1„, , , ,1',.:,;,1-'''4,.,,,. ', it ',.•,,,,,t ,......'_4.1,,i.,.„'t tl:',',,,s.c0,1, / s k/ i''''''''' ak e�iuiC T I �`Y l �{ ^ `- 'Y I'. td } i�• i "; �'t ,x ' ;�fvt' 7IV -' .f , f y.• ""w j7•:,,-- x,-. , i, , . „,.: :- , ,,t...,-4.'fili,S:V't .0-io.: 1,1,.-). - tfr : 7"qx� 1 ♦ , uti Z ` ! `ry` t,,,,„:„,,,,,,,,..,,.,.• - 1 yjti' �'4'. . V*;$4- -90: t ii, -•"'"' 'T . -4. ', V-•" ' "tril',,' t 1 t ' -Or, 4111,41AIVAVIi,f'IX '-'-f‘ i' ,14‘, at,ki- 4.,...*,..A.*t „,,,Vi 4- - .,,, 4 -. ,k.,,,,,,,, ,,7.1,- • Developing a core group. The that could benefit from the trail and _ and Rotary Clubs, high school shop number of people who began the be useful politically. classes, scouts, and the state peni- project was very small,but they had • Developing good media rela- tentiary promised labor and Ion- a clear idea of what they wanted to tions. By including local newspaper struction. The city,county,U.S. For- accomplish and a commitment to people and convincing them of the est Service, and agricultural exten- the trail over the long term. value of the trail,the committee en- Sion office contributed tools, • Organizing formal support. sured good publicity for project machinery,and technical assistance. Putting together a citizen's steering events. Perhaps more important, • Assessing broad public septi committee was the first step. As because the editors understood the ment.A recreation facility question- ect, they supported it during naire sent to a large sample of the more groups and individuals be- proj came involved and the recreation periods of controversy. The com- city's population included the trail district became the leading agency, mittee also enlisted a local radio sta- project.The high level of interest in planners grouped participants into tion and cable TV station as support- the project revealed by the ques- several action units: Long-Range ers. tionnaire helped convince political Planning and Engineering;Finance, • Gearing development to the leaders of the trail's importance. Land Acquisition, and Legal; Public available resources. Limited cash • Recognizing the concerns of Involvement and Publicity; and was available for the project,but the adjacent landowners. The classic Construction and Maintenance. extensive community support made problem of trail development is the • Reaching the larger communi- it possible to secure donations of hostility of adjacent residents who ty. Early on,the steering committee labor and materials. The County envision a loss of property values identified all the possible groups Homebuilders Association, Lions safety,and privacy.Evidence linking 32/NOVEMBER 1987/P&R problems to trail construction is ex- tremely rare, but an axiom of trail development is that existing resi- dents• will always protest,while new purchasers of housing along the trail see it as an amenity. - • Continuing the project in the face of opposition. Because trails are linear parks, they can affect more people and run into more physical and legal obstacles than the 1. average park project. While criti- cized as an inappropriate tax dollar expenditure, the trail won out as a • priority. Trails are an investment in the future and their value to the community becomes readily appar- ent as they become a reality. As you can see from these case studies, each trail project has unique opportunities and prob- lems. Building a critical mass of political and community support is like foreign diplomacy: you must explore unknown territory,find out who is important and why,learn the bewildering rituals and customs of the native organizations, and find a • mutual benefit with each of them. Some important issues in trails development are only briefly men- tioned here: fundraising, managing boards and committees, securing easements,liability,trail design,and trail operation. There are many good sources of information for each of these issues.On page 30 is a checklist of actions for cultivating public support of an urban trail project. Included are ideas from Mary Carter of the South Suburban Park Foundation and Kari Van Meter of the Loveland Planning Depart- ' ment. ❑ 1i EDITOR'S NOTE:A list of currently available references that are good sources of information on develop- ing an urban trail project is avail- able from the author at the Division of Parks & Outdoor Recreation, 1313 Sherman, Rm. 618, Denver, • CO 80203. 0 MEMO TO: PARKS AND RECREATION COMMISSIONERS FROM: MARY SAARION, DIRECTOR • PARKS, RECREATION AND FORESTRY DATE: OCTOBER 28 , 1987 RE: VISIONS FOR THE FUTURE OF PARKS AND RECREATION A presentation was given to the City Council describing my fanciful visions for the future of parks and recreation in the City of Mounds View. They are described on the following pages. I think that you too must think of what you would like to envision for the future of parks and recreation programming in the City of Mounds View. As we discuss these visions for the future, our job of prioritizing capital improvements will be easier. MS/sl Enclosures FUTURE PARK IDEAS, PROJECTS AND VISIONS FOR 1988 PARK PLANS During the year 1988, my idea for Mounds View Parks is to expand the number of various activity facilities in the parks in order to provide greater opportunities for community people to participate in leisure activity. It is my hope to provide each neighborhood park with at least one new activity opportunity. OAKWOOD PARK Oakwood Park needs new playground equipment desperately. The old equipment is deteriorating and has little safe play ability. Oakwood Park currently offers only two leisure experiences namely a ballfield and dilapidated play structure. In my opinion, this park has a high priority for renovation. HILLVIEW PARK Hillview Park with the addition of picnic tables, grill and drinking fountain is probably as developed as space allows. It is a priority to provide a permanent foundation, entries and landscaping for the park building. LAMBERT PARK Lambert Park, like Hillview Park, is as developed as space allows. Amenities such as a drinking fountain, picnic table and grill will provide a few additional leisure activities. Improvements to be made include timbering a border around the tot lot and renovations to the park building. • WOODCREST PARK Woodcrest Park having had new play equipment, picnic tables, grills and bicycle rack installed in 1987 is becoming more active with users. The drinking fountain needs to be installed and plantings need to be done in the spring of 1988. RANDOM PARK Random Park having a unique classroom facility, offers many indoor activity opportunities as well as a playground and grass court area. Permanent picnic tables, benches and grills are anticipated to lure the passive leisure park user such as Senior Citizens, youth groups and other meeting groups. ARDAN PARK Ardan Park currently similar to a nature park designation, offers a passive park user with peaceful surroundings. To expand on this resource, a pathway and benches around and among the park area would be a nice asset to the park and would offer more walking usership. SILVER VIEW PARK A high priority for Silver View Park is curb, gutter and surfacing of the parking lot. An additional activity facility which could be added at little cost would be a twin sandlot volleyball court. To be futuristic beyond 1988, • this park needs tennis courts, large picnic shelter, and softball field and tennis court lighting. -2— GREENFIELD PARK Greenfield Park is one of two parks in Mounds View which offers a good selection of various leisure activity opportunities. s ark offers 111 basketball, tennis, playground structures, hiking trail,llhorsehoes, baseball field and spectatorship with benches and bleachers. Permanent picnic tables, grills and drinking fountain would finish this park off nicely. The area that needs development is actually the tail end of the Greenfield trail. It is an open area that is directly across Hillview Road from Oakwood Park. It has four horseshoe pits. This area should provide permanent picnic tables and grills under the large poplar trees and a sandlot volleyball court. The area is low and needs to have an engineer's opinion as to its usability for other activity facilities. GROVELAND PARK Groveland Park is the other fully developed park in Mounds View. This park offers tennis, basketball, softball, playground structure, sandlot volleyball court, picnic area, skating and park building. The other possible requests for this park may be a drinking fountain, pathway among the facilities or around the park perimeter with a vita exercise course and picnic shelter. CITY HALL PARK City Hall Park also offers a myriad of activity opportunties including soccer, softball, sandlot volleyball, picnicking, fire ring, playground exploration and spectatorship. Adequate parking is available and the water fountain is a convenient feature. City Hall Park has a good number of various activity opportunities. • wishes to be futuristic beyond 1988, the addition of luxury items suchfasne softball field lights and sprinkling system would finish the park off nicely. 111 PARK PROJECTS As always, park projects are great and achievement is slow due to the restrictions that a two man park crew can accomplish. My probably over— ambitious list of park projects is listed below. Many of these projects are designed to make the parks more maintenance free. These projects are not prioritized. 1. Timber the perimeters of bleacher areas and put rec rock underneath, along with a good dose of weed killer. This needs to take place in six bleacher areas. 2. Finish building the toilet facility enclosures at each park. 3. Installation of four drinking fountains at Lambert, Woodcrest, Hillview and Groveland Parks. 4. Installation of permanent footings for Hillview Park building including concrete entries and landscaping. 5. Installation of picnic tables and grills on concrete pads at various park sites. 6. Removal of the old Oakwood play structure and the installation of a new • one. 7. Development of a twin sandlot volleyball court at Silver View Park. 8. Re—alignment of the end of the Greenfield path to connect to the Quincy Street sidewalk. 9. Establish a weekly schedule of Silver View Park pathway maintenance that will include the replenishment of chips where needed, the filling in of washouts or holes, the removal of weeds, the pruning of trees, the removal of trail garbage and other necessary maintenance tasks. 10. Establish a routine practice of playground equipment inspection every six weeks at which time equipment deficiencies would be rectified immediately. 11. Continue to perform a weekly schedule of daily tasks including: Mowing, trash collection, field lining, and building cleaning. • VISIONS OF 1988 AND BEYOND ... . • My ultimate vision and hope for the Mounds View Park System is to be able to drive by each and every park in Mounds View and see as many people using the park as one currently sees at Groveland Park. This means that each and every park in Mounds View must be equipped with a number of various leisure recreational activity opportunities and facilities. It is my vision that the neighborhood parks become the gathering place or focal point of each neighborhood and that the larger community parks offer special opportunities for leisure recreation that lends a community spirit to the people. Such activities may be festivals, spectator tournaments, or large picnic opportunities. I fully realize the monetary restrictions for park development in the City of Mounds View. A strategy to achieve "the vision" is to continue to provide small additions to parks at a steady rate in order to provide quality leisure experiences for the best price. Even though luxury or expensive items may be beyond Mounds View's pocketbook, surely alternative lower cost facilities can • be suggested. • October . . Special Projects INfo.nday Tuesday WednesdayThursdav Friday RANDOM PARK BUILDING September 28 September 29 September 30 (1) T(2) Railings Sod Berm Parking Lot Bring in base Trash Line Fields Landscaping and painting Silver View Path boxes RANDOM PARK BUILDING (5) (6) (7) (8) i (9) Parking lot boundaries Railings Park sign ! Landscaping and painting Silver View Path Trash ! Line Fields WOODCREST PARK (12) (13) f (14) (15) (16) Pleasure Rink Parking lot and boundaries Silver View Path Bring in all fie! baseboxes I Check Random Trash • Line Fields GROVELAND PARK '(19) (20) (21) 1(22) (23) Redo Tot Lot/New Lock Silver View Path Check Random Trash Line Fields LAMBERT PARK (26) (27) ' (28) (29) (30) Timber Tot Lot Silver View Path • Check Random Trash ( Line Fields • • • • • No &mber_ _ _ Special Projects j Monday ;Tuesday i y ;Wednesday Thursday i Friday _ Re-roof City Hall picnic shelters (2) t (3) (4) (5) (6) I l • . Silver View Path Check Random . Line Lambert Check Warming Houses (12) for needed repairs: (9) (10) (11) (13) Lights, furnaces, doors, windows, VETERANS DAY etc. CITY HALL CLOSED Silver View Pathw Trash/Check Rand m Line Lambert Repair/rebuild goals (Baroomball & (16) ' (17) (18) (19) r hockey) ' (20) Check boards, gates, etc. Silver View Path Check Random w I I (23) (24) 2 1 (26) . Re-do Lambert Shelter: (27) Take out divider Chalk to garage THANKSGIVING HOLIDAY Goard up doors CITY OFFIC S CLOSED Silver View Path Trash/Check Random, - Silver View Fath 1 r % c . . . e December Special Projects desday FWedn- • - Thursda Friday_ � Monay ; 2 (3) Begin Flooding r) ( I Bring in Volley- ! ball & tennis 1 nets I Check Random 1 (7) 1 (8) (9) (10) 1 (11) Flooding 1 1 l I Silver View Path Check Random _--. I Flooding (14) (15) (16 (17) (18) c •Silver View Path Check Random (21) (22) (23) c 2 t Flooding XC ski trails - CHRISTMAS DAY Clean rink houses OFFICES CLOSED Silver View Path Check Random (2a) (29) (30) (31) Flooding/XC Ski trails Clean Rink Houses • 41,` - • • FUTURE RECREATION IDEAS AND VISIONS FOR 1988 RECREATION IDEAS In this coming year the recreation staff would like to provide a • weekend of outdoor activities in the parks which would include all ages and especially families. This weekend of winter weather fun would be a nice organized way to break up the winter months and put a spark of excitement into the doldrums of a long, winter season. This weekend affair will be called "Snow Spectacular" and may include: Snoball Tournament, XC Ski-by-Moonlight, family sliding contests, co-rec broomball tournament, old fashioned community pleasure skating with music, snow sculpture contest, co-rec snow volleyball tournament and sleighrides. The dates for this weekend is January 22 - 24 . Community groups and organizations will be asked to participate in the "Snow Spectacular" . Mounds View leisure programs are assessed as providing quality activities, are reasonably priced, are convenient and provide a wide variety of interest activities. These attributes are required criteria for municipal recreation programs. The benefits of a municipal recreation program for community residents is the opportunity of providing programs and activities at moderate prices in the convenient vicinity of their community. The challenge of municipal recreation is the provision of high quality programs at moderate prices. The philosophy behind moderate prices is the belief that all people should be given the opportunity to participate in leisure recreational activities whether rich or poor. For this reason, municipal recreation has • been subsidized with tax funds as well as user fees. The day that user fees become the sole source of recreation program funding is the same day that the program fees will become so high that they will resemblerivate club fees that hat are available to the wealthly and exclude the poor. It is therefore the priority of this department to provide a variety of interest programs and activities as inexpensively p sively as possible while stillrovidinquality. P g The core recreational programs which are popular forever and will continue to provide stability and resources to the total program include adult athletics and swimming. It is our responsibility to ensure that these programs continue to remain strong by offering competitive facilities , services and fees. Instruction programs such as dance, exercise and gymnastics hold their own financially but require a conscientious effort to provide high quality instructors for both risk management reasons and to compete with other municipal and private programs. Youth athletics is a program that is very popular. It is also a program that takes an exorbitant amount of time to administer because it implements the use of volunteer coaches. The City of Mounds View is committed to the philosophy of youth sports as presented by the National Youth Sports Coaches Association. The City is a certified chapter with a certified staff clinician. The education, training and supervision of volunteer youth coaches is • time consuming but it also offers the opportunity to educate the public in the recreational philosophy of youth sports. This benefit alone supercedes all the hardships of administering volunteer coaches. -2- Special population group activity programs frequently are not self- sufficient financially. These programs include Senior Citizen programs, pre-school programs and programs for the handicapped. Although these programs do not always hold their own financially, • they are very important to those they serve. As a service to the people it is our obligation to serve the minority as well as the majority. For this reason, programs for special populations are implemented at reasonable costs with the intention of subsidizing deficits with other funding alternatives such as donations , other program subsidies, or the general fund as in the case of Senior Citizen programming. Traditional programs offering participation to large numbers without fee requirements include summer playground programs, puppet wagon and skating rinks. These programs are truly municipal programs because they offer the same opportunity to the people without a user fee . . . a gift from the tax payers. Summer playgrounds and skating rinks cost the City $23 , 633. 00 in supervision alone. Certainly they are not inexpensive programs. However, the concept of "opportunity for all" resounds in the user statistics and the democratic user benefits can be witnessed. Special events such as "Festival in the Park" , trips, "Snow Spectacular" and others are sometimes financially sufficient but more often than not they are subsidized by other program profits. Even so, the spirit of enjoyment by so many people who participate in such activities is seen to outweigh the financial burden imposed. There is a vision that every municipal recreational professional • strives to accomplish. That vision is the provision of leisure recreation opportunities to all people, young and old, rich and poor, skilled and unskilled. Opportunities include organized and unorganized activities. It is hoped that through leisure recreation education people learn to balance their free time in leisure activity that offers enjoyment, laughter, physical and mental exercise and rejuvenation of spirit. All too often people obligate themselves to activities and the benefits to be derived are lost in the stress of competition and stringent discipline. In other words, play becomes work. To help combat this easy leisure trap, I wish to continue to pursue the programming of low-organized activities which offer participation regardless of skill and does not obligate the participant to stringent discipline. Also, with the addition of self-directed facilities in the parks, people will have the opportunity to participate in leisure pursuits that need not be organized and can be done at their convenience. Such facilities would include biking, walking and ski trails, vita or exercise courses, skating rinks, bang boards, basketball courts, horseshoe pits, bocce ball courts, archery ranges, playgrounds, picnic areas and tetherball. The vision is that everyone participates in leisure recreation daily . . . that the benefit of recreation can be experienced and enjoyed by all. • • r1r MO TO: MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL FROM: I.IARY SAARION, DIRECTOR PARKS, RECREATION AND FORESTRY MATE: OC'l'013ER 12 , 1987 RE: BRINGING WALKWAYS TO MOUNDS VIEW I:t may be a pipedream, but then again, maybe not. The City of Mounds View is a perfect candidate for a city-wide walkway system. It is a small city of 4. 2 square miles, peppered with parks and two schools, community center and places of business. The benefits of a walkway system as described in the attached article are certainly applicable to Mounds View. Such a system would provide a Linkage to the community 's schools, residential , shopping and recreational areas and would give Mounds View the distinction of being a "walkable" community. Funding sources are also suggested in this article. As a future ,• vision for the City of Mounds View, I encourage the City Council, staff , Planning Commission and Parks and Recreation Commission to keep the vision aflame so that continued development of the city wi I l include greenways, bikeways and walkways. t MS;sl Attachment . MEMO TO: MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL FROM: MARY SAARION, DIRECTOR PARKS, RECREATION AND FORESTRY • DATE: NOVEMBER 5, 1987 RE: LAMBERT PARK LIGHTING I consulted with Carl from Gopher Electric regarding opinions for lighting options at Lambert Park. Councilmember Quick had mentioned that a resident had expressed her concern that the pleasure skating rink is too dimly lit. Lambert pleasure rink is currently lighted by a small quartz light which is attached to one of the hockey rink poles. This light must penetrate past the tot lot and the penetration is very minimal. A second light is a fixture from the old Greenfield lights. This light is attached to a near hockey rink pole and shines over the parking lot to the pleasure rink. This lighting effect is minimal also because it is on a pole which is really too short for the lights effectiveness. I contacted NSP about installing a narrow range 400 watt high • pressure system sodium flood light and attach it to a far electrical pole located on the center boundary of center field. This light would penetrate the back of the skating rink area which is currently dark. The beauty of this light source is that NSP takes care of the installation, repair and vandalism whereas the City is obligated only to a $15. 15 monthly charge. However, Milt Anderson from NSP thought that the distance was too far. A second option is to have NSP bring in a pole, wire and fixture and set it behind the backstop. The cost would be a monthly charge of $24. 00 per for the pole, wire and fixture. Another option is to use an old pole currently sitting at Oakwood Park and an old Greenfield light fixture and place it between the building and the players bench. This option would require electrical work to feed juice to this source. Electrical work at most of our parks is piecemeal and is minimally adequate for lighting needs. Gopher Electric will be notifying me with an estimate for this electrical work. I will present the costs at a later date to • determine whether or not the council wishes to pursue the lighting. MS/sl MEMO TO: MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL FROM: MARY SAARION, DIRECTOR • PARKS, RECREATION AND FORESTRY DATE: NOVEMBER 4, 1987 RE: SECURITY LIGHTING AT GROVELAND This is just a note to inform you about the security lighting plans for Groveland Park as per the petition request by residents and approved by the City Council. NSP has already placed a street light on Fairchild midway between the park boundary property. Gopher Electric has been consulted regarding the in-the-park security lighting. The electrical work done at Groveland regarding the rink lights was only done on a temporary basis in 1985 because the ground was frozen at the time of installation. For this reason, the connections of additional electrical needs means bringing the Groveland electrical system up to code. This would have to be done regardless if another security light is added or not. An overhead electrical wire from the building to the near pole needs to be placed underground. The wires fed from the near pole to the far • pole are not sufficient to feed a security light on the far pole. Therefore, another wire would have to be laid and a separate box would have to be placed on the far pole and the on-oft switch for rink lights would have to be by hand from the pole rather than by a switch in the building. Also, a security light on the far pole would shine mostly on the neighbors yard and would not light up a strategic area of the park . . . only the barren outfield area. The expense for this work done would be significant. It is necessary to go ahead and bury the overhead line and provide adequate electrical needs for a high pressure sodium light placed towards the tot lot and attached to the existing near pole. This light request is the easy part. The minimum cost of this work as quoted by Gopher Electric is $490. 00. This includes the upgrading of the electrical work to code, burying the overhead wire, installation and purchase of the security light. The installation of the mid-park area is more difficult. One possibility is to have a flood light installed onto the new • northeast tennis light pole. This light would shine towards the ballfield and open field area and would illuminate the center of the park. -2- • Still another option is to use one of the new tennis court fixtures and shine it towards the field area and hook it up to a photo-cell connection so that it illuminates all night. The lighting of the tennis courts is so good that the fixture light would probably not be missed. At this time, Gopher Electric is looking into this option. A third option is to have NSP install a pole, wire, and 400 watt medium range high pressure sodium light centered in the middle of the park near the portable toilet facility area. The cost of this would be $24. 00/month including the monthly cost of pole, wire and fixture. As you can see, staff is still pursuing many options and will hope 1 to choose the best quality and cost effective method of lighting at Groveland Park. Please call me if you have opinions , suggestions or questions regarding this matter. MS/sl • Attachment