CC 06-28-1999 - Laserfiche WebLink

Home Browse Search

ARDEN HILLS CITY COUNCIL - JUNE 28,1999 14 . also pointed out that the Regional Blueprint calls for containing growth and moving towards mass transit, not enlarging freeways. UNFINISHED AND NEW BUSINESS B. Arden Manor Park Project Mr. Fritsinger explained that tl1e discussion to improve the Arden Manor Park has been ongoing for several months. The Parks and Recreation Committee has spent a good portion of tl1e last six to eight months looking at the whole program for Arden Manor, including two items which were a part of this year's Capital Improvement Program, the playstructure and the basketball court. The Parks and Rccrcation Committee met witll residents of Arden Manor Mobile Home Park on March 16, 1999, to discuss the potential redevelopment oftl1e park. Prior to tl1is meeting, staff had sent surveys to each resident of the Mobile Home Park, soliciting input into the possible features of the redeveloped park. . Mr. Fritsinger presented drawings depicting the current layout of the park. He indicated that tl1e Parks and Recreation Committee Commission looked into the feasibility of an overall redevelopment. The Committee mcmbers discussed adding trails around tl1e play area, moving the playstructure, and generally improving tl1e overall sitc. This concept had a number of concerns, particularly with the trail area. There is an ongoing drainage problem within the park and constructing a trail around the perimeter ofthe park would present additional drainage problems. For these reasons, the Committee moved away from this concept and focused on the items, which are components of the Capital Improvement Program for this year. As the Committec looked into the options for the younger childrcn and spoke with the residents, the real need, which came up, was to provide an cnhanced playstructure and a basketball court for the older children. A third item, which came up, was the picnic shelter. The picnic shelter is currently located to thc far north, adjacent to thc pond. With the redesign, it was fclt tl1at moving tl1e picnic shelter in grcater proximity to the other activities taking place would enhance its usability by the residcnts. The one constant related to this redevelopment which has been a subject of discussion over the last six years has been the issue of drainage. The storm water improvemcnt being suggested is an enhanced drainagc swale tl1at would carry the water to thc existing outlet pipe. . Last year, the park owner had been granted City approval to construct a garage in the parking lot. One problem that did not come up when this approval had been granted was the fact tl1at it limited the City's ability to enter the park with maintenance equipment. Additionally, the City could not maintain a skating rink in tl1e park tl1is past winter, for the first time, because it could not access the site to flood the rink. The redevelopment of the park would also include an improved access, not only to the gencral area of the improvements bcing proposed, but also allowing access to the rest of thc park to perform gcneral maintenance.