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HomeMy WebLinkAbout09-22-88 Agenda & Packet CITY OF MOUNDS VIEW PARKS AND RECREATION COMMISSION AGENDAIII September 22 , 1988 Mounds View City Hall Council Chambers 6: 30 p.m. 14/ CALL TO ORDER 1I . REVIEW OF AUGUST 25 , 1988 COMMISSION MINUTES 71. AGENDA ADDITIONS gaijitik 7 -f-.012.4.61J24 q- Or/I/O . PARK SECURITY PLAN • V. OLD BUSINESS: ►-ALL PROGRAM RIVIEW ✓L- KESIDE PARK UPDATE ELVER VIEW PARK UPDATE L-HILLVIEW PARK UPDATE VI'. MVCT REPORT VII . CHAIRPERSON' S REPORT VIII . COUNCILMEMBERS REPORT IX. ADJOURNMENT 411 MINUTES OF THE PROULLUINUb or lnn I PARKS AND RECREATION COMMISSION CITY OF MOUNDS VIEW -- * COUNTY OF RAMSEY STATE OF MINNESOTA • August 25, 1988 Mounds View City Hall Council Chambers 6: 30 p.m. CALL TO ORDER The meeting was called to order at 6: 33 p.m. by Chairperson Wayne Burmeister. ROLL CALL Commissioners present : Burmeister, Long , Stevenson, Silvis , Starr. Commissioners absent: Anderson, Rowley Councilmembers present: Wuori , Quick, Hankner. Staff present : Director Saarion, Adm. Asst. Linke. Presenters: Scott Carlstrom, Ronald Peterson and Edward Swain - Environmental Specialists. Guests : Bob and Kathy Carpenter - 2650 Lake / Court Dr. , John Larson - 2568 Mounds View Dr. , Beth Martin - 2638 Lake Court Dr. , David A. Lhotpa - 2656 Lake Court Dr. , Randy Miller - 7409 Parkview Dr. , Doug and Ardy Armstrong - 2554 Mounds View Dr. , Vern and Lily Greely - 2620 Lake Court Dr. , Mary Ann Holm - 2612 Lake Court Dr. , Tom and Wendy Fischer - 7317 Parkview Dr. , Laurie and Edd Trettel - 7401 Parkview Dr. , Kenny and Laura Peterson - 2556 Mounds View Dr. , Linda Paul - 2588 Mounds View Dr. , Jim Smith - 7427 Parkview Terrace, Lorraine Mitchell - 7429 Parkview Terrace , David and Susanne Rademacher - 7421 Parkview Dr. , Cliff and Milly Ash - 2664 Lake Court Dr. , Don Wethe - 2688 Lake Court Dr. PRESENTATION ON Mr. Ronald Peterson, Wildlife Biologist, SILVER VIEW PARK presented a proposal developed by himself POND MANAGEMENT and his associates regarding a management program for Silver View Park pond. The proposal was developed with the following management objectives : 1 . Maintenance or improvement of existing water quality. 2. Maintenance or improvement of existing wildlife habitat. M MEMO TO: PARKS AND RECREATION COMMISSIONERS FROM: MARY SAARION, DIkECTOR �\ • PARKS, RECREATION AND FORESTRY DATE: SEPTEMBER 14 , 1988 SUBJECT: SUPPORT INFORMATION REGARDING ISSUE OF PARK SECURITY The attached sheets provide information regarding issues included in a Park Security Plan. Hopefully, this information will be an aide during discussions at the meeting. ! If you have any questions between now and the meeting , please call me at 784-3055. E MS/SL Enclosures • • PARK SIGNS NEEDS OF THE PARKS . Park signs are an item on the Five Year Capital Improvement Plan scheduled for an 1989 purchase using monies ( $1 ,000 ) from the Everest Development park dedication fees. Park signs should be located in strategic areas where park users will most likely notice and read them. Caution must be taken to make sure that signs do not seem "restrictive" giving the impression that users are not welcome. Park signs should state the regulations of safe park use and welcome users. Currently park regulation signs are provided at Silver View and Greenfield Parks. All parks , except Random have a park name sign. The tennis court locations have signs outlining tennis court regulations ( Edgewood , Groveland and Greenfield) . I think that additional signs are needed at all access points of Silver View Park and Greenfield ( four total for Silver View and three total for Greenfield ) . In addition, I would like to see each neighborhood park have a sign • which welcomes users and states regulations including : Curfew: 6: 00 a.m. - 10 : 00 p.m. Golfing prohibited Vehicles prohibited in the park Unleashed pets prohibited Other signs such as "NO SWIMMING" or "THIN ICE" are specialized signs needed for both Ardan Park and Silver View Park ponds. These signs are required as a risk management accident prevention program. • PARKING LOT/PARK/DRIVEWAY SAFETY PAVED PARKINGLOTS AND DRIVEWAYS Currently two parks have paved driveways and parking lots , 411 Greenfield and Silver View. Discussion must include speed controls such as speed bumps and speed limits. The provision of parking lot lines , pattern of traffic flow and curbs makes these parking lots and drives easy to control. UNPAVED PARKING LOTS AND DRIVEWAYS Currently three parks have unpaved entries and parking lots: Random, Woodcrest and Lambert. Woodcrest and Random recently had posts installed to provide a parking barrier. Both lots have class 5 gravel as a base. Lambert has a parking space without boundaries and has a dirt base. The problem with these lots is that they are popular areas for young drivers to do spins and donuts providing wreckless driving and doing damage to the parking area. In the Five Year Capital Improvement Plan, Lambert is scheduled for a combined parking lot for winter and summer evening use and a hard court surface play area for summer daytime use at play centers. Woodcrest and Random Park parking lots are not scheduled at this time for permanent pavement. PARKS WITHOUT PARKING LOTS Three parks do not have parking lots and rely upon "on-street" parking. These parks include : Groveland, Hillview and Oakwood Parks. Parking takes a lot of precious space away from parkland and unfortunately our neighborhood parks are so very tiny that the space is a commodity of great value. There is a danger with "on-street" parking. That danger is low visibilty, children running into the street between cars. Also, parked cars sometimes pose a problem for residents living across from the park and alot of parked cars add to a "cluttered" feeling. The re-development of Oakwood Park has potential to include a parking lot. However, I believe Hillview and Groveland must continue to deal with "on-street" parking as best we can rather than give up precious space for parking. RULE VIOLATIONS AN OVERVIEW • Common violations of rules in the parks include: GOLFING - which tears up the turf and is a safety hazard to other park users. UNLEASHED PETS - which provides a health hazard due to pet excretions and is a threat to park users who may be afraid of animals or the possibility that animals may disturb other park users. VEHICLES - Four and three wheelers have been a terrible problem at Greenfield Park. Snowmobiles on occasion have been used in parks and turf damage by cars at Silver View has also been a problem. Curbs and entry point prohibitors seem to be a viable solution for easement entries. Curbs certainly provide a visual barrier. Wide open trail area entries such as Greenfield trail will take a lot of brainstorming to think of a solution. CURFEW - Curfew for all parks is 10 : 00 p.m. in the evening to 6 : 00 a.m. in the morning. More vandalism is done in the dark hours at parks which means after 10 : 00 p.m. in the summers and after 6: 00 - III 7 : 00 p.m. in the late fall , winter, and early spring. Because of the combination of dark evening hours and pleasant weather, most vandalism occurs during non-curfew hours in the late fall (around Halloween) and early spring (high school spring fever sets in) . Little vandalism occurs in the summer ( too light, too many people around ) and winter (too cold, parks are difficult to enter due to snow except for ski trails) . ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES - This rule violation occurs mostly by picnickers and adult softball players. I believe it can easily be enforced with a mandatory deposit assuring no alcoholic use for refund. (See attached form) . • PARK SECURITY LIGHTING AN OVERVIEW Park security lighting should be present at each park during all dark hours to deter vandalism. Here is an inventory of security lighting currently used in the parks: III LAMBERT - One lamp (Cobra) on a telephone pole located on the southwest side of the tot lot. GROVELAND - Two lamps (Cobra) , one on a telephone pole lighting the tot lot and the other attached to a tennis court pole lighting the center of the park. A photo cell security light is attached above the park building on the street side. WOODCREST - A photo cell security light is attached above the park building door on the street side. OAKWOOD - There are no security lights in Oakwood Park at this time nor are there any facilities. HILLVIEW - Plans include a photo cell lamp in the center of the park , off the northeast side of the building shining towards the building/tot lot area. Also, a security light will be attached above the park building doors on both sides. RANDOM - Two pairs of photo cell yard lights are attached to the building. The front lights next to the front door shines on the parking lot and one on the entry ramp. The other pair is attached 111 above the north side door and shines on the entry walk. CITY HALL PARK - City Hall park includes a light above the large shelter building. Also, the front of City Hall parking lot is lit when in use. Since the police department is so close to the tot lot , it really does not require security lighting. GREENFIELD - Greenfield has no security lighting. Once the tennis lights are off , it is as black as the night. SILVER VIEW - Silver View Park has no security lighting . . . nor lighting of any kind. It is dark ! Electricity to this park will be expensive since electrical connections must come from long distances. ARDAN - Ardan Park has no security lighting or lighting of any kind. I believe that the priority for park security lighting should be: Greenfield , and Silver View Park. Greenfield Park has had the most frequent vandalism and hoodlum incidences. The park has three access points. I suggest that at a minimum, security lighting be installed at all access points. (See map) . 411 Silver View is another dark park which has seen frequent vandalism. It ' s lack of facilities offers little to vandalize, but once facilities are installed, security must be offered. The parking lot must be lit in several locations. Also, all tour access points must be lit. This is security lighting at a minimum. VANDALISM AN OVERVIEW Here is a list of detected vandalism within the past couple of years. This will give you an indication of what needs to be given 411 greatest concern: TREE DAMAGE - Sawed, broken, chained, driven over trees - Stolen trees - Broken branches - Stripped bark TURF DAMAGE Most incidences occurred at Silver View Park. It will be interesting to see if the pavement and curb make a difference. PORTABLE RESTROOMS - Torched at Greenfield - Turned over - most parks have had this occur. Hopefully the new enclosures will help. BRIDGE DAMAGE - Bridge at Greenfield Park was burned. GRAFITTI 111 - Tennis bangboards - Lambert Park building - Greenfield play structure - Silver View parking lot curb TENNIS COURT - Broken tennis court meter at Greenfield Park. VOLLEYBALL COURT - Volleyball nets at City Hall Park were cut. PARK BUILDING DAMAGE - Carelessness or intentional - Tampering with locks. - Holes in ceiling tile. - Broken light fixtures. - Broken windows. - Broken security lights. - Holes in doors and walls. I have attended many conference sessions , workshops and seminars regarding vandalism. It seems that every city has vandalism, some worse than others. The City of Mounds View has relatively little 411 vandalism compared to many cities. I think this is attributable to the location ot our many small pocket neighborhood parks which are surrounded by homes and having streets running along at least two or three ot their perimeters. VANDALISM (CONT' D) PAGE TWO The most vulnerable parks are Greenfield and Silver View Parks. Although "foul play" can be detected by neighboring residents, apprehension is difficult because of the many access points, trail systems and size of the park. These parks will undoubtedly be targets for gross vandalism; security lighting is one way to deter it. Three factors seem to be important in curbing vandalism. 1. Signage - Let everyone know the rules to help enforce by peer pressure. 2. Lighting - Keep key areas lit to detract loiterers and potential vandals. 3. Keep the Park Beautiful - It has been found that beautiful areas of parks are vandalized less, such as flower beds, nice shelters , etc. Run-down parks invite vandalism, the rational is easier for vandals to harm run-down facilities than beautiful , maintained facilities. I think that education is a good tool for prevention of vandalism. Each year, I am given the opportunity to speak to the ninth grade Civics class at Irondale High School regarding vandalism in the parks. Information is given to them on the reasons people may vandalize. Examples of costs of vandalism are given ( i . e. in 1987 , $1. 4 million spent on the nations highways to pick up litter) , and slides of senseless vandalism are shown. They are divided into groups and given problems (attached) to solve. They must give reasons for their answers. It is an excellent opportunity to educate youth in the costs of time, labor, money and loss of facility usefulness , all due to vandalism.