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Parks and Environmental Commission Regular Meeting Minutes March 9, 2020 Page 2 turf grass into Bee Lawns. Public Works will be asked to evaluate other areas within the parks 1 where the terrain is challenging to maintain and identify where Bee Lawns could be planted to 2 reduce risks in maintenance. Pollinator Plants will be introduced in current public plantings 3 such as outside city hall, Water Tower Park and Central Park bio-swale. It is recommended 4 that extra wildflower seeds be purchased to over-plant Central Park bio-swale and Silver Point 5 rain garden. A plant swap will be organized and gardeners will be asked to share native plant 6 divides to refresh park plantings. 7 8 Chair Bellinger stated she would support the plant share and suggested some of the current 9 plants might be divided. Ms. Doolan stated those plants could be divided in 2-3 years. Ms. 10 Doolan stated there is a facebook page for Friends of the Parks. 11 12 Commissioner Penner asked where the seeds are purchased and Ms. Doolan stated they were 13 referred by a Master Gardener, who has purchased from them before. It is a local company. 14 Commissioner Penner asked about mowing and Ms. Doolan explained the bee lawn which can 15 be mowed once a year. 16 17 Commissioner Niemi asked if the creeping thyme spreads into the other areas and Ms. Doolan 18 stated the spread is contained well. 19 20 Ms. Doolan explained the plantings on the steep areas. Ms. Palmer asked if there could be 21 information about the plantings available and Ms. Doolan stated there will be information on 22 the plantings. Ms. Palmer thanked Friends of the Parks. 23 24 B. Central Park/Stadium Field and Turf Feasibility Work 25 26 Mr. Troy Urdahl, representing St. Anthony/New Brighton School District provided updates. 27 Mr. Urdahl introduced Renee Corneille, Superintendent of Schools. She shared they have 28 three strategic directions Community, Students and Staff. She described her expertise on a 29 Friday night in the fall of 2019. The history of Central Park Use Park and Rec in St. Anthony 30 was described. There is no City run Park and Rec. Mr. Gary Goldsmith reviewed the logistical 31 challenges due to the increase in youth participating in sports. He noted the boosters are all 32 volunteers. There is a shortage of fields and every year one field needs to be closed. The 33 stadium field is being over-used as well as the field next to it. Ms. Corneille reviewed the 34 Central Park Stadium Needs being concession stand, ticket booth, accessible restrooms, press 35 box, stadium field turf surface and stadium running track. A feasibility study is being done. A 36 discussion of a turf field was held. 37 38 Mr. Urdahl reviewed the highlights of the feasibility study. Physical education programming 39 and co-curricular activities are negatively impacted by field accessibility and closing due to 40 overuse. Field conditions and safety have become a concern. No longer able to meet the 41 school/community’s demand for use while also providing safe/appropriate field spaces for 42 curricular, co-curricular, interscholastic, and booster programming. Concerns about field use 43 and availability have escalated public relations issues for the community and school district. 44 Turf would allow for greater use among current and new groups with use earlier in the spring 45 and later in the fall. There would be less negative pressure and stress on the school district and 46