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<br />January 2, 2007 <br /> <br />Michelle Olson <br />City of Arden Hills <br />1245 Highway 96 <br />Arden Hills, MN 55112 <br /> <br />RE: Valentine Park and Ice Rink <br /> <br />Dear Michelle, <br /> <br />I am writing this letter to you as a stroug supporter of the Ardeu Hills Parks and <br />Recreatiou Department, the City of Arden Hills willingness to support parks and <br />recreation, and the work that you have done. Having said this, I believe that the funding <br />of an ice rink at Valentine Park benefits few, and is a very poor use of Arden Hills' <br />limited parks and recreation money. <br /> <br />Our family has lived in Arden Hills for nearly twenty years and our home overlooks <br />Valentine Park. Every day, night and weekend in December, January and February, we <br />view an ice rink that has few, and more often, no skaters during ideal conditions of 10 to <br />30 degrees. The size, shape and location of the ice rink limits usage to the very young <br />that rarely utilize the rink unless they are accompanied by a parent or adult who has <br />driven them to the park, or, only when the temperature is ideal. Few walk to the rink <br />which supports the idea of driving the extra one to two minutes to better facilities at <br />Freeway or Perry Parks. <br /> <br />I am a supporter of the transfer of the former Valentine Park "warming house/storage <br />building" to Freeway Park. Previous to the last extensive park improvements, many ofus <br />in the neighborhood attempted to forewarn the City and its planners that this building <br />would be flooded annually at the elevation and location that the planners had chosen. <br />Unfortuuately, Ardeu Hills has replaced the building with a large, temporary trailer that is <br />out of proportion with the park and leaves the fIrst impression of a "jobsite trailer" or rail <br />coutainer. Every day and night, thousands from throughout the Twin Cities must pass <br />Valentine Park to travel to Mounds View High School for school, evening or weekend <br />activities. A temporary trailer and portable toilet placed in the middle of the park do not <br />present a very strong fIrst impression of Arden Hills to those visiting our City. <br />