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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2012 Parks Annual ReportCreek Regional Trail coordinated by Washing- ton County. Public Works continues to make improvements of the trails at Clearwater Creek Preserve Park and Irish Avenue Park. The Parks, Recreation and Open Space Commission undertook a large master planning effort for Lions Park. As one of the primary community parks in the City of Hugo, the park is very well known to residents. The planning process was timely as proposals have been brought to the City to develop the LaValle properties adjacent to the park. Discussions on the development and how it relates to Lions Park will continue in 2013. In 2012 Parks Commission heard presentations from two separate Hugo residents proposing their ideas for park develop- ment. The Parks Commis- sion continues to encour- age resident participation in park development. The Parks, Recreation and Open Space Commission welcomed two new mem- bers on the nine member Commission at the start of 2012. It was a busy year for the Parks, Recreation and Open Space commis- sion as they accomplished several goals in 2012 that have been in discussion for multiple years. The con- cession stand at Hanifl Fields Athletic Park was open during the summer and fall soccer seasons. This was made possible by a partnership between the Hugo Lions Club and the White Bear Soccer Club. Recreation programming continued to expand with the addition of the geocaching program, Skyhawks Sports Camps, Kidcreate Studio Art Camps, Fee Comfort Yoga Session, and Park Play Days. Continued programs included Movie Nights in the Gym, Golden Spike Contest Sponsorship, Sledding Party, Snow Jam, Tour de Hugo, Tot Time, Family Time, Open Gym, and 3rd Lair Skate Camps. As recreation program- ming continues to grow, new marketing efforts have been used. The City of Hugo maintains a success- ful facebook presence and has made enhancements to the City’s website. In the area of park devel- opment, large trees that were likely to fall down were replaced in Arbre Park. Landscaping was improved at Heritage Ponds Park in an ongoing effort to provide a park in keeping with the rest of Hugo’s park system for the neighborhood. The City continues to support projects that are underway to master plan and improve the Hardwood A Year in Review Inside this issue: Two Parks Beautified 2 Geocaching Grows 2 Facebook Takes Offf 2 Playground Program 3 Lions Park Planning 3 Looking to 2013 4 2012 Annual Report Parks, Recreation and Open Space Commission 2012 Parks Commissioners Jim Taylor, Chair Rachel Berger, Vice Chair Roger Clarke Tom Windisch Kris Birch Matthew Rauschendorfer David Strub Christian Boland Joan Benner Page 2 “Thanks for placing this series - we had a great time in Hugo! TFTC*” ~Moose5485 Arbre Park’s trees and land- scaping was improved. Geocaching Grows Facebook Takes Off Two Parks Beautified The Parks Commission included planting trees in Arbre Park and develop- ing a landscaping plan for Heritage Ponds Park in their 2012 goals. In the spring and summer, the improvements were made at both parks. In Arbre Park, hazardous trees were removed. New trees were planted that will be more suitable to the area and that will provide shade to the play areas of the park. A local Boy Scout assisted with the planting project to qualify for the Eagle Scout Rank. At Heritage Ponds Park, plants and shrubs were planted around the shel- ter and other park elements. Thanks to generous donations by individual Parks Com- missioners, birch trees were planted at Heritage Ponds Park that will provide shade to the newly installed playground area. The improvements at each of the parks reflect an ongoing priority of the Parks Commission to provide enjoyable parks for all residents in Hugo. more and more to promote recreation programs, community events and help spread the word about things going on in the City of Hugo. As of late, a The City of Hugo joined facebook in late 2009. As social media grows in popular- ity, the City has used facebook handful of new people “like” the City of Hugo’s page each week. People are able to comment on, ask questions about and share the posts that are made public. beginning of the summer. Each of the caches have 50-85 “finds” logged the official website geocach- ing.com. Dozens of enthusiastic geocachers young and old claimed the trackable prize upon completion of the series. One geocacher noted: “All in all, another great geocaching day, complete with plenty of new trails to hike, flowing water to follow, and beautiful warm sunshine to keep my coat off! Today I explored a chunk of Hugo I'd never been to before. Thanks for the beauti- fully crafted and main- tained caches. TFTC! I really liked this little park... :)” *TFTC is short for Thanks for the Cache. It has been logged online by many geocachers from all over the state about the new geocaches placed by the City of Hugo. Eight caches were placed in Hugo parks as a part of the Geocaching Adventure Passport Series launched at the The City of Hugo’s facebook page has 521 “likes”. 2012 Playground Program Starts Page 3 Parks, Recreation In discussions of recreation programming in Hugo, a playground program has always been of interest. As the City continues to build additional recreation programming, Park Play Days was launched in the summer of 2012. One 2 hour session each week was held at Beaver Ponds Park, Oak Shore Park, Diamond Point Park and Arbre Park. The program was well attended and each park developed a group of kids who regularly participated. A variety of games and sports were played, based on the interests of, abilities and number of kids attended. Water games were a huge hit with the kids as well as the bounce castle. The program is sure to continue to grow in popularity as more families look to the City of Hugo for more recreation options. able for community gather- ings is desirable. Future planning phases will look at the design of the shelter itself. Large open spaces, playgrounds, a skate park, a water feature, court sport play area, amphitheater and a skating area shall also be planned for. A centrally located focal point, informal landscaping and pedestrian connections to Hugo city Hall were also envisioned. In May 2012, the hiring of Brauer and Associates to master plan Lions Park was approved. The Parks Commission had started the process by holding public workshops and establishing the Lions Park Master Plan Guidelines in the fall and winter of 2011. In the most recent phase of planning, the landscape consultant hired worked with stakeholders to put together a master plan document that details what and where park features are preferred as the park may develop in the future. The outcomes show that a large park shelter suit- Program Partici- pants at Beaver Ponds Park. Stakeholders Plan Lions Park “Lions Park will be a jewel in the Hugo Parks System and will continue to serve for community gatherings” to Lions Park. While no changes to the Lions Park Master Plan are recommended at this time, the Parks Com- mission will make changes and additions to the park plan as needed as plans are estab- lished for development of the The Parks, Recreation and Open Space Commission approved participation in an Athletic Facility Study by White Bear Lake Area Schools which is planned to start in January 2013. The study allows cities, athletic groups and the school district to part- ner in facility development and planning. The study will provide the Parks Commission with information that may be useful in future park planning. The Parks Commission has also committed to continue working with the developers of the Lavalle properties adjacent adjacent properties. The Parks Commission also continues trail planning and takes advantage of opportuni- ties for local trail connections to be made. A public master planning process is underway, hosted by Washington County, for the Hardwood Creek Regional Trail. Local connec- tions to the regional trail con- tinue to be an ongoing priority as well. The Parks Commission is likely to include new recreation programs in their 2013 goals. Hugo City Hall 14669 Fitzgerald Avenue Hugo, MN 55038 651-762-6300 Parks Commission Staff Contact: Shayla Syverson 651-762-6342 ssyverson@ci.hugo.mn.us Thank you to the Hugo Parks, Recreation, and Open Space Commission, who works to provide immediate and long-term strategic guidance and direction for the development of parks and recreation programming for the citizens of the City of Hugo. The nine member Commission is made up of volunteers appointed by the Hugo City Council. The Commission meets once a month on the second Wednesday of every month at 7:00 p.m. The meetings are open to the public and held at Hugo City Hall. City of Hugo Looking Ahead to 2013: www.ci.hugo.mn.us Irish Avenue Park is Planned to Develop into an Athletic Park in the Future