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s . <br /> Arden Hills parks <br /> high ratin get g <br /> By LARRY JONES <br /> Staff Writer <br /> ARDEN HILLS—An evaluation study <br /> of Arden Hills parks suggests alternatives <br /> and improvements while generally giving TOOKER SPECIFICALLY noted that <br /> the neighborhood park system a high the city should do more for senior citizens, <br /> rating. <br /> including the development of more local <br /> The evaluation study, which was community education programs and <br /> rep;iewed Monday night by the Arden Hills trails. <br /> City Council and which will be the subject He suggested that the city should seek <br /> of a more thorough review by the parks options to locating an athletic complex of <br /> and recreation committee next week,was softball fields and the like "on a remote <br /> conducted by Charles Tooker, landscape site in the Arsenal property." <br /> architect at Mankato State University. Programming recommendations in- <br /> The study, noted Tooker, can not only cluded having the parks and recreation <br /> be used to help Arden Hills implement staff develop a list of specific program <br /> improvements in the future but also can objectives as an aid in program <br /> be the basis for some of his work with evaluation and having the parks and <br /> students at Mankato. recreation staff work with the advisory <br /> IN APPEARING before the council, committee on a long-range division of <br /> Tooker noted that Arden Hills could labor between the various agencies in the <br /> become a "showpiece" for parks and community which provide recreation <br /> open space by tying active recreation services. <br /> areas into a trail system, thereby Two other recommendations in the area <br /> avoiding traffic and conflicts with of personnel suggested that the city <br /> automobiles. council consider the future need for a <br /> One aspect of the study suggested that part-time recreation specialist fnr <br /> Arden Hills should give more thorough management of programming and that <br /> thought to how it can serve all different the council investigate the option of <br /> age groups that would like to use the contracting for park maintenance as an <br /> parks, including senior citizens. alternative to summer help. <br /> "We've got to be sure that the parks <br /> program serves all of the people,and the IN THE .AREA of areas and facilities, <br /> study suggests several steps we can Tooker's study recommended more at- <br /> take," noted Councilman Tom Mulcahy, tention to finding the best way to develop <br /> liaison to the parks and recreation active recreation space at Crepeau Park <br /> committee. near MSI Insurance. <br /> Other recommendations were broken Generally, the study also rated Arden <br /> down into the areas of administration, Hills parks high, saying such things as, <br /> programming, personnel and areas and "By every measure,the Arden Hills open <br /> facilities, in each case recommending space system exceeds recommended <br /> specific action. standards" and "The relationship bet- <br /> ween the total budget and the department <br /> IN THE AREA of administration, of parks and recreation budget appears to <br /> Tooker noted that the city should give be reasonable based on the services <br /> consideration to keeping social and provided." <br /> educational statistics on program par- <br /> ticipants as an aid in designing future <br /> programs and making department heads <br /> responsible to the clerk-administrator. <br />