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Parks Commission Meeting Minutes June 13, 2005 Page 2 2 Ms. Garbarini noted she worked on the WSBN, which won a landscape architecture award. Though it is 3 not a public facility, it was a difficult process to go through in terms of neighbors in the area. There 4 were a lot of native plants to work around, and it was an involved project. 5 6 Mr. Close added the notion of what everyone thought would be a storm water hole became a property 7 that actually raised values. 9 Ms. Garbarini displayed photos of Emerald Park. It is surrounded on three sides by homes. A lot of the 10 vegetation is valuable. The play equipment and water feature will be coming out. There are valuable 11 spaces existing that they would not want to remove such as the ball area and picnic area. She said they 12 understand some lighting may need to be added and they recognize it could be an issue with neighbors. 13 They will work with the neighbors on the parking spaces to determine whether they should stay or if it 14 should become green space. 15 16 Mr. Close indicated they are ready to enter discussions with the Board and the residents to move 17 forward. 18 19 Commissioner Ganley asked what kind of soils are at the park, and what unique challenges, if any, may 20 they present. Mr. Close answered the topography does nice things for containing the park. However, 22 they are not familiar with the soils yet. The plants seem to be doing well. 23 Commissioner Ganley questioned whether they use a lot of plants in their work. Mr. Close said it 24 depends on what is existing in the park. There are ways to be careful about valuable trees. 25 26 Commissioner Ganley inquired whether the elevations could be an issue. Mr. Close responded if the 27 existing plants are healthy, they are a given, and they work with them. In places where the plants are not 28 healthy, it would make sense to reshape the soil and they would work with that. 29 30 Chair Koehntop asked if in Mr. Close's experience with land of this size, would it be better to clear it off 31 and start from scratch. He mentioned the building is one of the issues, and it could use some updating. 32 33 Public Works Director Hartman stated to replace that building would be relatively cheap. It is 34 something we could look at in the planning. 35 36 Mr. Close said the building does seem to divide the park. It should be determined how long the park 37 should be renovated for. It is good to think big, he said, and work within the realities of budget. At the 38 outset, they will encourage the Commission to think big and of the long-range potential to this facility. 39 40 Ms. Garbarini noted they usually create several concepts and designs for consideration. 41 1 Commissioner Ganley asked how they would involve the neighbors in a dialog. Ms. Garbarini answered many times they have open houses and invite the residents, and ask them what they would like to see. 44 Also, many times mailers would be sent to people in the area or they would advertise in the local paper.