2013.09.11 Parks Packet - Laserfiche WebLink

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*uf;ach Pulls Plug on Hugo Cross Country Track- Press Publications... http://www.presspubs.com/citizen/news/article (262654-0 done, but we can't delegate the accountability," he said. "We're willing to take risks, but we need some questions answered to make sure that the risk is a calculated risk. We were on the road to do that," Weidt said, "but there was nothing that couldn't be worked through. "The word `no' was never said." "Champion -Caliber" The idea of locating a "champion -caliber" cross country track at Hugo's newest park was first presented to the members of the Parks, Recreation and Open Space Advisory Commission on April 13. Wilson, accompanied to that meeting by U of M men's cross country head coach Steve Plasencia, had characterized the vision as one that would address the lack of a single "championship -caliber, spectator -friendly cross country course in the entire state of Minnesota." The ultimate goal, Wilson said, was to accommodate the annual Roy Griak Invitational, the U of M's major cross country meet that attracts thousands of participants and spectators each fall from across the nation. Currently, the event is held at the U of M's Les Bolstad Golf Course. The pair said that they did not represent the U of M officially and were not expecting any money from the ,city, were willing to flex to accommodate other visions for the property -which might include soccer/lacrosse fields, softball and baseball diamonds or playgrounds -and that private parties would fund the first stage of site preparation. This course has been designed to insure that it will not interfere with any future development that might be planned for this piece of property," said a mission statement prepared Oct. 5 by Wilson and Percival. "Our dream for years has been to build a cross country running and ski course that can become a home for not only the University of Minnesota but also for high schools and other colleges in the state of Minnesota." The two coaches addressed the full council at its June 20 meeting. Council members decided to form a stakeholder subcommittee to consider the proposal in more detail. The subcommittee eventually included two council members -Haas and Weidt-various commission members, a neighborhood citizen, and Wilson and Percival. Its first meeting did not take place until last month. Haas did not attend. But the councilmember's Nov. 15 email suggested that track proponents had not provided enough detail to move the project along. "... (I)t's time to move on from excitement about an idea," Haas's email to Wilson said. "And it's not time for you and Dave to only be prepared to answer our questions. L,