CCP 10-10-2000 - Laserfiche WebLink

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" -~, tit tit tit CITY OF ARDEN HILLS MEMORANDUM DATE: September 26, 2000 TO: Parks, Trails and Recreation Committee FROM: Joe Lynch, City Administrator SUBJECT: Ice Skating Rink Establishment and Operation I understand that the neighborhood group from the Valentine Hills area will be in attendance at the Parks, Trails and Recreation Committee meeting tonight, September 26th to discuss their petition and desire to re-establish the ice skating rink at Valentine Hills Park. I would like to take this opportunity to remind you of some point to consider while listening to what surely will be strong, emotional arguments for re-establishing this recreational opportunity at this park. The first thing to remember is not to be persuaded by strong, emotional argument. Obviously, these people feel very strongly about what they perceive to be bad judgment on the part of the City in taking away the ice skating rink at this park in 1999. I'm glad that they are so passionate about an important issue like this, but that enthusiasm and emotion should be tempered with fact. I understand that Mr. Moore, Ms. Olson and Mr. Winkel will be in attendance and will be presenting you with factual information about the costs, the time schedule and labor commitment to establish, operate and maintain the ice skating rink, as well as a warming house for all of our parks, and specifically at Valentine Hills. Please listen to their information carefully and weigh that to a greater percentage than the emotional argument that will be brought forward by the neighborhood. A second issue to consider is the fact that we will shortly be undergoing a comprehensive look at our parks and trail systems to evaluate how we have done in terms of location of parks, their connectivity to each other, the equipment provided, and what trends or recreational and programming needs are out there in the future to consider. The City has made some decisions in the past without the availability of such a document, and quite literally, was making decisions in the dark. Without a comprehensive plan for the future, decisions about equipment, amenities, capital improvements and even numbers and locations of parks shouldn't be dealt with until such time that more information is known about the future planning for the parks and trails in Arden Hills. A third issue to keep in mind is cost, convenience and participation. My understanding from Mr. Moore is that Valentine Hills Park has demonstrated that the skating rink at the park is the most difficult to establish in terms of manpower needed, and is the skating rink that also loses the ability to function soonest. Taken on a per day rate, this may turn out to be our highest cost skating rink.