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City Council Regular Meeting Minutes April 25, 2006 Page 4 1 recreational amenities not found in other parks. He noted the list of public agencies involved in 2 the Master Plan process. Mr. DeVeau explained the recommendation was made during the 3 master planning process to change the name of Silver Lake Special Recreational Feature to 4 Silverwood Park. 6 Michael Horn, Landscape Architect, read Section 11, Park Description and Background, for this 7 park that is located on the north shore of Silver Lake. He described the location of Silverwood 8 Park SRF as well as a description of the landscape, history, park boundaries, acquisition status, 9 and additional acquisition considerations. 10 11 Mr. DeVeau introduced Section 111, Public Process & Demand. He explained that Silverwood 12 Park will become the third SRF within the Park District's system of regional parks. Since a clear 13 direction for development was not present when the site was acquired, the public process was 14 defined. The Park District determined that the best way to obtain public input and created an 18 15 member Master Planning Group to solicit input from the City of St. Anthony and adjacent cities. 16 Mr. DeVeau advised of the series of seven meetings that the Master Planning Group conducted, 17 culminating with a presentation on September 14, 2004 before the St. Anthony City Council. 18 19 Tom McDowell, Director of Facilities and Program Services, completed the presentation of 20 Section III by reading the mission statement indicating: "Silverwood Park will serve as a 21 regional center for the arts and the environment, devoted to the integration of artistic creation, 22 appreciation and natural resources." He stated this conjures up a different mental picture to 23 different people. In Silverwood Park, they want to use the arts as a way to connect with natural 24 resources. This is done at the nature centers through environmental education and interpretation. 25 Also, a variety of recreational activities are used to help people connect with the natural world, 26 such as a farm setting with introduction to agriculture. With Silverwood Park they will pursue 27 and develop performing and visual fine art and craft occurring in or inspired by the natural 28 environment using on-site studio facilities and residency programs. Visual art will be created 29 and displayed in outdoor and indoor spaces and performing arts will include dance, theater, 30 music and spoken word. 31 32 Mr. McDowell reviewed the information utilized to determine the need for art facilities, 33 performance and practice space. He then presented a graph identifying what the public identifies 34 as the region's most attractive features. Mr. McDowell reviewed the findings of the Springboard 35 for the Arts assessment of the art community's interest and the McKnight Foundation report that 36 assessed the inventory and demand for arts opportunities in the suburbs. He explained that at the 37 open houses and meetings, staff fielded numerous questions indicating a concern that Silverwood 38 Park would be so specialized that it would not have the appeal in what people expect in a park 39 setting. Mr. McDowell stressed that Silverwood Park will be an arts inspired park setting and 40 will have many of the amenities people expect to find in a park setting like trails, picnic areas, 41 canoe rentals and fishing piers but in this setting they will be arts inspired. These art amenities 42 will be established with input from the art community and provide a unique park setting that will 43 draw from a regional area. 44 45 Don DeVeau introduced Section IV, Resource Assessment and Management, and described the 46 character of the land and topography. He stated the area most likely for development will be in 47 the center and center/southern portion of the site. The DNR does not recognize any rare or