HomeMy WebLinkAbout09-20 CITY OF LAKEVILZE
PARKS AND RECREATION ADVISORY C~O~M~IITrEE NQIVUTE`S
• SEPZ'II~IDER 20, 1989
This was a combined meeting of the Parks and Recreation Advisory Committee
and the City Council for the purpose of hearing presentations on the Parks
and Open Space System Plan update being conducted by Barry Warner of
Barton-Aschman Associates and Donn Wiski of Resolution, Inc.
Steve Michaud welcomed a group of about 30 people who had gathered in the
council chamber's to hear the presentations by Barry Warner, a landscape
architect and Donn Wiski, who had conducted the co~m~unity survey on needs
assessment.
Barry Warner explained the benefits of park planning:
to identify current inadequacies in the system;
to identify future needs;
to solicit input and gain community support;
to establish public policy
to acl~owledge future parcels for acquisition and development;
to determine a logical time frame for future development;
to complete master plans, and
to resolve issues of facility maintenance and management.
The planning task is to grow upon the 1985 Park and Open Space System
Plan, which is now outdated. Phase I will review the community
• characteristics and needs, and prioritize them. Phase II will list the
community needs and develop a plan for completing them. Mr. Warner felt
that the demographics and conununity implications directly affect the Parks
and Open Space Plan. Lakeville is experiencing rapid development and
sites for preservation must be identified soon. The MUSA line changes
wily affect the Park and Open Space needs. Lakeville's population falls
into the children and middle aged categories, with fewer young adults.
The housing values are rapidly increasing in the City. The actual and
projected population figures of Lakeville in comparison to Dakota County
and the Metro area were shown to the group.
The I~keville facility inventory took into account other facilities which
are available to the citizens of Lakeville including regional park and
open space facilities, abutting comnnznities' facilities, school district
facilities and ccmunercial recreational facilities. The study looked at
athletic and park classifications of each of the city's facilities. Each
park was also given an individual inventory list of existing and proposed
facilities. These were then compared to the needs and demands analysis.
Methods used for comparison were the connnunity survey, regional
recreational demands, comparison to national standards, the park service
area and use trends, and user group input.
Donn Wiski of Resolution, Inc. explained how he had broken down the City
into four districts so that the 6,500 households could be polled. He
looked at such things as years of residence, household income, age of
respondents and use of facilities. It was found that the most popular
• activities in Lakeville were walking and reading. 37% of Lakeville
residents responding belong to same type of a league and people are
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September 20, 1989 -2-
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generally satisfied with the maintenance and upkeep of the park
properties. People polled stated they felt it was very important to
preserve the natural park areas. Acquisition and development proved to be
very important to people, more so than the addition of indoor facilities
to the park system. 67% said future additional park lands are needed.
82% felt natural areas should be acquired and preserved by the park
department. Strong support was also shown for biking and walking trails.
When asked about funding for facilities and acquisition, 66% said they
would be willing to pay program fees. People also see a good park system
as an economic benefit to their property values. 85% of citizens said
they received information on park properties through the Life and Times,
followed by the City newsletter, recreation bulletins, and public schools.
Barry Warner discussed some findings in the needs analysis of specific
types of parks which will be needed in the future. Community parks are
needed almost immediately. Facilities needed by 1990 will be basketball/
hardcourt surfaces (which are already planned for installation), and by
1995 more lighted softball fields, baseball fields, soccer fields and
skating facilities will be needed.
Some specific recommendations from Barry Warner were:
1, Develop Casperson Park.
• 2. Acquire land for a comnriunity park / playfield.
3. Continue to develop and improve existing neighborhood parks.
4. Acquire additional neighborhood park land in anticipation of
residential development.
5. Establish and develop a linear park trail system.
6. Continue Ritter Farm Park development.
7. Develop community park land which has been acquired. (see #2)
8. Develop neighborhood parks as residential development occurs.
Some Park and Open Space future vision would include a parkway treatment
on Highview Avenue from 202nd Street/Holyoke, north to the Burnsville and
Apple Valley border. Other future corridors should also be developed.
The search should continue for an area for the future comamanity playfield
somewhere in the northeast section of Lakeville. He feels the city is
responding well to the co~mnanity needs and the general maintenance of the
park system is good. The Park Watch and ranger programs have provided
safety and a sense of security in the parks for the residents.
Steve Michaud contributed the success of the current system to the support
of the City Council, assistance from the park dedication fund, the passage
of the bond referendum in 1986 and the foresightedness of past conununity
leaders and the parks and recreation advisory committee members.
Betty Sindt asked about meeting the needs as the population ages. Barry
Warner answered that the park system offers some passive recreational
needs such as picnicking, walking and nature enjoyment.
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September 20, 1989 -3-
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A question was also asked about the future of Ritter Farm Park and how it
.will be preserved. Staff explained that the master plan identifies
specific areas that will be developed for active areas but much of the
park will be preserved. It was also explained that because of the
acquisition of Casperson Park, the original intent of the development of
Ritter Farm Park had changed.
Wenzel Ruhmann asked about a possible library for the area. It was stated
by Betty Sindt that an auxiliary branch is planned for Apple Valley and it
is felt by Dakota County that, along with the branches in Burnsville and
Farmington, that should be adequate.
Staff. thanked the group for attending the presentation and refreshments
were served.
89.96 Motion was made by Illa, seconded by Messinger, to approve the minutes of
the Parks and Recreation Advisory Committee of September 6, 1989.
Motion passed.
It was reported that the boy who had been injured at Valley Fake Park had
a concussion, but no broken bones.
Staff reported the Meadows playground installation was going slow as other
• projects have kept the maintenance crews busy. The grass cutting is still.
going strong due to all the rains.
The punch list on North Park and Foxborough Park buildings is about 80%
complete. A couple of items are ordered and will be installed upon
arrival. A letter was received from Braun Engineering stating that the
cracks in the cement floor are superficial and not structural. Committee
asked about a particular gap in some of the siding which is being
installed on the warming houses. Staff will check on this. The 1989 Park
dedication fund budget .update is not yet complete and staff will keep the
conrnittee apprised. Authorized and enctinnbered funds still remain. The
exercise course orders were put on hold until a fund balance is
determined.
Staff reported that he had attended the Dakota County Physical Development
Committee meeting where the pros and cons of on or off street trails was
discussed with the conrnission members. Certain members are more
supportive than others of the construction aril funding of off street
trails. A 45/55 split was suggested as opposed to the current policy of
the county paying 100% construction and the city paying 1000 maintenance.
In the end, the matter was tabled once again. Staff feels a task force
from the cities should be formed to deal with trail issues in the county.
such as surfacing, uniform signage, etc.
The presentations by Barry Warner and Donn Wiski were discussed. Staff is
proud of the involvement of the Parks and Recreation Advisory Committee
• and feels designing Phase II of the system plan and development of
Casperson Park are the main priorities of the park department at this
time.
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September 20, 1989 -4-
The next meeting of the Parks and Recreation Advisory Conanittee will be to
.discuss the Orchard Lake. area trails and traffic study.
89.97 Since there was no further business, it was moved by Iulf, seconded by
Messinger, to adjourn the meeting.
Motion passed. Meeting adjourned at 10:00 PM.
Respectfully submitt ,
Je f Larson, Chairman
A'IrI'EST:
Larry Lulf, etary
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