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Home My WebLink About8A, Valentine Park Improvements 8A Request for Council Action Prepared By: Michelle Olson, Parks and Recreation ManagerCouncil Meeting Date: June 13, 2011 Terry Maurer, Public Works Director Valentine Park Improvements Budgeted Amount:Actual Amount:Funding Source: $310,000To Be DeterminedPIR Fund & Surface Water Mgmt Utility Fund Recommendation: Motion to authorize staff to move into design and budgeting analysis for Valentine Park improvements based on the draft concept plan recommended by the PTRC. Supporting Documents: 1.Memorandum dated June 13, 2011 from Michelle Olson, Parks and Recreation Manager. 2.Attachment A: Staff memo from January 31, 2011 City Council Meeting. 3.Attachment B: Results of Online Neighborhood/Resident Survey. 4.Attachment C: Open House Comments. 5.Attachment D: Existing Conditions, Concept One and Concept Two presented at open house. 6.Attachment E: HKGi Presentation/Summary for April 19, 2011 PTRC meeting. 7.Attachment F: Revised Draft Concept presented at April 19,2011 PTRC meeting for review. 8.Attachment G: Minutes from April 19, 2011 PTRC meeting. 9.Attachment H: Recommended Concept from PTRC. MEMORANDUM DATE: June 13, 2011 TO: Honorable Mayor and City Councilmembers Patrick Klaers, City Administrator FROM: Michelle Olson, Parks and Recreation Manager Terry Maurer, Public Works Director SUBJECT:Valentine Park Improvements Background In 2008, WSB was hired by the City to conduct a drainage analysis of the Valentine Park Area. The purpose of this study was to identify sources of flooding in Valentine Park and to provide solutions that would reduce or eliminate the flooding. The City Council retained Bolton and Menk, Inc. to render a “second opinion” on the WSB study. Staff presented the findings to the City Council and PTRC at meetings in December 2010. On January 31, 2011 the City Council approved a process with a tentative schedule on how to proceed with park improvements in conjunction with needed drainage enhancements. The staff memo presented is attached for your review (Attachment A). Public Input Hoisington Koegler Group Inc. (HKGi) was retained to lead the park improvement process. Apublic open house was held on April 7, 2011 at City Hall from 6:00-7:30 p.m. A total of 233 residents were mailed invitations and it was posted on the City website. An online survey wasavailable for all residents to give input on potential improvements. 53 residents completed the survey either online or at the open house. 28 people signed in at the open house. Attached are the results of the online survey (Attachment B) and comments received at the open house (Attachment C) for review. Existing conditions and two concepts (Attachment D) were shown at the open house with different park improvements. The concepts were shown with thevarious options of amenities and improvements to thepark.It was clear to the residents that the final concept could be a combination of the two concepts. The amenities and park features were the focus versus the design and layout of the park. The design and layout cannot be decided until surveys and drainage analysis is done. The concepts shown were only to demonstrate the general area where amenities maypossiblygo. PTRC Recommendation HKGi attended the April 19, 2011 Parks Trails and Recreation Committee (PTRC) Meeting to discuss the open house findings. Paul Paige from HKGi presented a summary of the \\Metro-inet.us\ardenhills\PR&PW\Parks\Memos\Council Memos\06132011 Valentine Park Improvements.doc 2 findings (Attachment E). He provided a revised draft concept based on feedback from residents (Attachment F)in orderto give the PTRC a concept to comment and make suggestions and changes to.The features included on this plan were: Grass play area Playground with swings Half court basketball court Small picnic shelter Small informal tree play area Interpretive signage along interior walking path Small 10 stall parking lot Portable restroom enclosure and a bike rack Rainwater gardens Bio-swale and footbridge Stormwater pond to mitigate flooding issues Adiscussion took place on the various comments and results from the open houseand the potential improvements to the park.Minutes from that meeting are attached for Council review (Attachment G). The PTRC discussed the inclusion ofan open grass play area versus a formal ag-lime baseball field. This would eliminatethe inclusion of a winter ice rink. The majority of the residents who attended the open house preferred a grass field to an ag-lime baseball field, even if that meant eliminating the ice rink. The PTRCconsensus was that the rink is small,underutilized and other parks are close by that can provide pleasure skating. In particular, Cummings Park is a pleasure rink (no hockey rink)that has a beautiful facilityand would be quiet for families to avoid the broomball and hockey users. After reviewing the information, the PTRC made a motion to recommendinclusion of all of the elements on the draft concept plan with the addition of: Drinking Fountain Trails along park perimeters that extendand connect north/south to County Road E2 and east/west to Glenview Ave. The motion carried unanimously. The PTRC recommended keeping the small informal tree play area in the concept. However, they listed this structure as a low priority due to concerns about this area being out of site and closer to residents. The comments on this play areaat the open house were mixed but seemed fairly positive. However, since the PTRC meeting, the neighbor closest to that structure has indicated they would not be in favor of the tree play area due to its secluded location and proximity to his house. HKGi revised the draft concept plan to include the recommendation from the PTRC and this is included for Council review (Attachment H). \\Metro-inet.us\ardenhills\PR&PW\Parks\Memos\Council Memos\06132011 Valentine Park Improvements.doc 3 Budget The 2011 CIP has a total of $310,000 for improvements to Valentine Park. Staff may have the opportunity to seek drainage improvement grant fundingthrough Rice Creek Watershed District. The next round for applications for this will be sometimein Marchof2012.The survey work and drainage plans will determine exact placement of park features and also project costs. The next step in the process would be to authorize staff to move into plan preparation. Once the plans, specifications and budget information is complete, it will be brought back to the PTRC and neighbors for review and then to the City Councilfor consideration to authorize staff to go out for bid. Council Action Requested Motion to authorize staff to move into design and budgeting analysis for Valentine Park improvements based on the draft concept plan recommended by the PTRC. \\Metro-inet.us\ardenhills\PR&PW\Parks\Memos\Council Memos\06132011 Valentine Park Improvements.doc A Attachment : Staff Memo from January 31, 2011 City Council Meeting MEMORANDUM DATE: January 31, 2011 TO: Honorable Mayor and City Councilmembers Patrick Klaers,City Administrator FROM: Terry Maurer, Public Works Director SUBJECT:Valentine Park Improvement Process Background In 2008,WSB was hired by the City to conduct a drainage analysis of the Valentine Park area. The Study was published on February 9, 2009.The purpose of the study was to identify sources of flooding in Valentine Park and to provide solutions that would reduce or eliminate the flooding. Due to some continued neighborhood concern about the conclusions contained in the WSB study,the City Council directed Staff in 2010 to retain a consultant to rendera “second opinion” on the WSB study. Quotes were obtained,and Bolton and Menk, Inc.was hired to review the WSB study.Bolton and Menk’s conclusions were contained in a letter dated November 2, 2010. Staff presented the findings to the City Council and Parks, Trails and Recreation Committee(PTRC)at meetings in December 2010. Improvement Process The 2011 CIP includesa total of $310,000 for improvements to Valentine Park.A new play structure is programmed at $50,000 and $260,000 is included for other types of improvements.Given the controversy over the drainage analysis that was performed for Valentine Park, Staff feels it is important to maintain as much control as possible over the remainder of the improvement process. Staff recommends that Roseville Engineering Staff be used for the site civil plan preparation, bidding and construction administration.Staff also feels it is very important that there be some form of neighborhood public participation regarding the types of park improvements included in the final plans.For this,Staff would recommend hiring a Park Planner to assist the City.The following is a tentative schedule for implementing the park improvements: City Council Meeting P:\Admin\Council\Agendas & Packet Information\2011\1-31-11 Regular\Packet Information\Valentine Park Improvement Process Page 1of 2 DATETASK January 31, 2011review improvement process with City Council February 7, 2011request quotes fromselected park planners March 15, 2011review park improvement options and public participation process with PTRC March/April, 2011implement public participationprocess April 19, 2011review publicinput and staff recommendations with PTRC April 25, 2011review PTRC recommendation regarding park improvements with City Council May-July, 2011plan preparation July 19, 2011review plan and specification with PTRC July 25, 2011review plan and specification and PTRC recommendation with City Council – authorization to proceed to bidding August 29,2011City Council consider Award of Construction Contract September- November, 2011construction June 1, 2012construction complete Council Action Requested The City Council is requested to review the proposed Valentine Park Improvement Project process, give comment and direct Staff to proceed with the improvements. City Council Meeting P:\Admin\Council\Agendas & Packet Information\2011\1-31-11 Regular\Packet Information\Valentine Park Improvement Process Page 2of 2 B Attachment : Results of Online Neighborhood/Resident Survey ûÊØ×ÎôÓÐÐÉæÛÐ×ÎÈÓÎ×ìÛÊÑ ûÌÌÊÍÄÓÏÛÈ×ÐÃÔÍÅÖÛÊÖÊÍÏæÛÐ×ÎÈÓÎ×ìÛÊÑØÍÃÍÇÐÓÆ×ý ê×ÉÌÍÎÉ×ê×ÉÌÍÎÉ× ì×ÊÙ×ÎÈùÍÇÎÈ Adjacent to the park17.0%9 Within 1 block13.2%7 åÓÈÔÓÎÚÐÍÙÑÉ More than 4 blocks7.5%4 ÛÎÉÅ×Ê×ØËÇ×ÉÈÓÍÎ ÉÑÓÌÌ×ØËÇ×ÉÈÓÍÎ ôÍÅÍÖÈ×ÎÔÛÆ×ÃÍÇÆÓÉÓÈ×ØæÛÐ×ÎÈÓÎ×ìÛÊÑÓÎÈÔ×ÐÛÉÈ ÏÍÎÈÔÉý ê×ÉÌÍÎÉ×ê×ÉÌÍÎÉ× ì×ÊÙ×ÎÈùÍÇÎÈ I have not visited the park3.8%2 1-3 visits13.2%7 4-10 visits28.3%15 ïÍÊ×ÈÔÛÎ ÆÓÉÓÈÉ ÛÎÉÅ×Ê×ØËÇ×ÉÈÓÍÎ ÉÑÓÌÌ×ØËÇ×ÉÈÓÍÎ 1 of 15 åÔ×ÎÆÓÉÓÈÓÎÕæÛÐ×ÎÈÓÎ×ìÛÊÑÅÔÛÈÓÉÃÍÇÊÌÊÓÏÛÊÃÏ×ÛÎÉÍÖÕ×ÈÈÓÎÕÈÔ×Ê×ý ê×ÉÌÍÎÉ×ê×ÉÌÍÎÉ× ì×ÊÙ×ÎÈùÍÇÎÈ åÛÐÑÓÎÕ Biking3.8%2 Automobile13.2%7 Not applicable3.8%2 ÛÎÉÅ×Ê×ØËÇ×ÉÈÓÍÎ ÉÑÓÌÌ×ØËÇ×ÉÈÓÍÎ åÔÛÈ×Ð×Ï×ÎÈÉÅÓÈÔÓÎÈÔ×ÌÛÊÑØÍÃÍÇÇÉ×ý ê×ÉÌÍÎÉ× î×Æ×ÊçÉ×ØçÉ×ØóÎÖÊ×ËÇ×ÎÈÐÃöÊ×ËÇ×ÎÈÐÃçÉ×Ø ùÍÇÎÈ Playground Structure17.6% (9)21.6% (11)51 Swings14.0% (7)24.0% (12)50 Basketball28.9% (13)15.6% (7)45 Baseball/Softball30.4% (14)30.4% (14)46 Ice Skating28.6% (14)30.6% (15)49 Open Field22.2% (10)24.4% (11)45 Parking25.0% (11)20.5% (9)44 Other (please specify) 16 ÛÎÉÅ×Ê×ØËÇ×ÉÈÓÍÎ ÉÑÓÌÌ×ØËÇ×ÉÈÓÍÎ 2 of 15 åÔÛÈÌÊÍÕÊÛÏ×Ð×Ï×ÎÈÉØÍÃÍÇÖ××ÐÛÊ×ÏÍÉÈÓÏÌÍÊÈÛÎÈÈÍÓÎÙÍÊÌÍÊÛÈ×ÓÎÈÔ×Ê×Ø×ÉÓÕÎÍÖæÛÐ×ÎÈÓÎ×ìÛÊÑý ê×ÉÌÍÎÉ×ê×ÉÌÍÎÉ× ì×ÊÙ×ÎÈùÍÇÎÈ ìÐÛÃÕÊÍÇÎØéÈÊÇÙÈÇÊ× Swing Set73.6%39 Picnic Shelter60.4%32 Basketball Court32.1%17 Trails60.4%32 Improved Parking - approximately 39.6%21 10 stalls Improved Parking - approximately 13.2%7 20 stalls Open Play Field67.9%36 Ice Skating54.7%29 Baseball Field with formal aglime 24.5%13 infield Baseball Field without aglime (simple backstop with grass only 28.3%15 infield to allow more multi-use such as soccer) Interpretive signage related to rain 17.0%9 garden and/or stormwater systems Boardwalk or small overlook 39.6%21 crossing water features Other (please specify) 16 ÛÎÉÅ×Ê×ØËÇ×ÉÈÓÍÎ ÉÑÓÌÌ×ØËÇ×ÉÈÓÍÎ 3 of 15 åÔÛÈÛÊ×ÃÍÇÊÌÊÓÏÛÊÃÙÍÎÙ×ÊÎÉÊ×ÐÛÈ×ØÈÍÖÇÈÇÊ×ÓÏÌÊÍÆ×Ï×ÎÈÉÓÎæÛÐ×ÎÈÓÎ×ìÛÊÑý ê×ÉÌÍÎÉ× ùÍÇÎÈ 43 ÛÎÉÅ×Ê×ØËÇ×ÉÈÓÍÎ ÉÑÓÌÌ×ØËÇ×ÉÈÓÍÎ øÍÃÍÇÔÛÆ×ÛÎÃÍÈÔ×ÊËÇ×ÉÈÓÍÎÉÍÊÙÍÏÏ×ÎÈÉÊ×ÐÛÈ×ØÈÍÈÔ×ÌÊÍÒ×ÙÈý ê×ÉÌÍÎÉ× ùÍÇÎÈ 22 ÛÎÉÅ×Ê×ØËÇ×ÉÈÓÍÎ ÉÑÓÌÌ×ØËÇ×ÉÈÓÍÎ ìÐ×ÛÉ××ÎÈ×ÊÃÍÇÊÎÛÏ×ÛÎØÛØØÊ×ÉÉíÌÈÓÍÎÛÐ ê×ÉÌÍÎÉ×ê×ÉÌÍÎÉ× ì×ÊÙ×ÎÈùÍÇÎÈ îÛÏ× ûØØÊ×ÉÉ ÛÎÉÅ×Ê×ØËÇ×ÉÈÓÍÎ ÉÑÓÌÌ×ØËÇ×ÉÈÓÍÎ 4 of 15 ëåÔÛÈ×Ð×Ï×ÎÈÉÅÓÈÔÓÎÈÔ×ÌÛÊÑØÍÃÍÇÇÉ×ý 1picnicking when our children were younger we used the playground equipment aApr 1, 2011 12:04 PM lot 2mostly just walk through when out with the dogsApr 1, 2011 1:08 PM 3neighborhood picnicApr 1, 2011 1:33 PM 4PicnickingApr 1, 2011 4:16 PM 5Just nice for a place to sit and to walk around.Apr 1, 2011 4:35 PM 6The basketball hoop at the park was heavily used in past years until it was left toApr 2, 2011 1:12 PM degrade. This should also be restored. 7My teenage son and his friends have never been able to play basketball hereApr 2, 2011 4:18 PM because the court is in such bad shape. I think a basketball court would be a draw for our neighborhood teens, nice if they don't have to go to another park. 8WeApr 2, 2011 7:25 PM 9We would use the basketball hoop if it was restored.Apr 3, 2011 11:07 AM 10My sons played baseball at the field last summer and the parking was veryApr 5, 2011 3:22 PM crowded. 11The park is also a good place for neighbors to meet, informally or for annualApr 7, 2011 8:30 AM picnics. 12Over the years, we have used the skating rink a great deal. Our children areApr 8, 2011 7:06 AM older now, so we do not use the playground. We have often used the open space when we have had large groups of people over. 13Live off Hamline AvenueApr 8, 2011 12:02 PM 14Have had picnics at parkApr 8, 2011 12:16 PM 15I like the tree house ideaApr 8, 2011 12:18 PM 16Have adult children now. We moved in when they were toddlers. We used theApr 8, 2011 12:38 PM playground A LOT. 5 of 15 ëåÔÛÈÌÊÍÕÊÛÏ×Ð×Ï×ÎÈÉØÍÃÍÇÖ××ÐÛÊ×ÏÍÉÈÓÏÌÍÊÈÛÎÈÈÍÓÎÙÍÊÌÍÊÛÈ×ÓÎÈÔ×Ê×Ø×ÉÓÕÎÍÖæÛÐ×ÎÈÓÎ×ìÛÊÑý 1Port-a-potty, but only if attractively constructed/shelteredApr 1, 2011 12:47 PM 2we need a drinking fountainApr 1, 2011 1:02 PM 3warming house/toilet structure; multiple elec. outlets in shelterApr 1, 2011 1:33 PM 4Low monkey bars, rock climbing wallApr 1, 2011 4:16 PM 5Benches for sittingApr 1, 2011 4:35 PM 6swinging benches looking at Lake ValentineApr 2, 2011 4:18 PM 7Would love a hocky rink in the winterApr 2, 2011 7:25 PM 8TreesApr 3, 2011 10:47 AM 9Picnic area, but not a shelter; crosswalk for those who park in the lot and use theApr 4, 2011 10:21 AM lake 10permanent bathroom rather than portable- last summer the portable was oftenApr 5, 2011 3:22 PM quite rancid. 11Boardwalk bridge makes more sense than overlookApr 7, 2011 8:30 AM 12Adult swing for watching children and reading a book.Apr 7, 2011 1:08 PM 13hockey rinkApr 8, 2011 7:06 AM 14I think the tree house idea is good tooApr 8, 2011 12:18 PM 15A small gazebo or shelter is significant. A large picnic shelter is not neededApr 8, 2011 12:20 PM 16a trail from E2 north to Lake Valentine Rd.Apr 11, 2011 9:12 PM 6 of 15 ëåÔÛÈÛÊ×ÃÍÇÊÌÊÓÏÛÊÃÙÍÎÙ×ÊÎÉÊ×ÐÛÈ×ØÈÍÖÇÈÇÊ×ÓÏÌÊÍÆ×Ï×ÎÈÉÓÎæÛÐ×ÎÈÓÎ×ìÛÊÑý 1It is unfortunate that the willow trees were cut down. I think they helped with theApr 1, 2011 12:04 PM drainage. I am hoping that your option re rain garden signage means that is being considered as an option for the park. It certainly is unattractive right now. If it could be made a nicer space, I would be interested in picnicking there more regularly. 21. Addressing the flooding/water saturation issues. 2. Attractiveness of design -Apr 1, 2011 12:47 PM the park serves as the "entrance" to this neighborhood and all elements (parking lot, trees, playground structure) are deteriorating. 3I think that wee need to take out the skating rink i have lived here for 15 yearsApr 1, 2011 1:02 PM and might have used it 3 times and every time I drive by that park in the winter I never see it used. It is not cost effective or a good use for money in a bad economy 4water level, lack of toilets, lack of signage = present problemsApr 1, 2011 1:33 PM 5As someone with kids who lives adjacent to the park I would like my opinionApr 1, 2011 4:16 PM more heavily weighed than people without kids who live away from the park. 6I would like the park to be welcoming and reflective of the neighborhood in that itApr 1, 2011 4:35 PM is warm and inviting. I would also like it to be a destination for the Valentine Hills School for picnics. 7water drainageApr 1, 2011 6:17 PM 8We live on the park 1677 Glenview Court. Our biggest concern is that byApr 2, 2011 8:05 AM "improving" the park is that there will be an influx of people who don't live in the neigborhood who will be in the park, making noise, havinng BBQ's, etc. in our backyard. Drive by Lake Johanna on a weeeknd for an example. Not many of the folks enjoying the park are from this area. We realize we purchased a home on the park and the park belongs to everyone however, we ask that you have some consideration when planning this project for those of us who actually have to deal with the increased activity in our very lliterral backyards. Installing a large picnic shelter and basketball courts etc. is going to increase the noise levels, the number of strangers in our neighborhood, and potentially even crime. We oppose all such plans. 9It really is literally in peoples backyards and when I think of Lake Johanna and allApr 2, 2011 8:53 AM the people not from around Arden Hills who use the park to barbeque, picnic, and litter, I am not really liking the idea of making it huge. It is a small piece of property and can not sustain a big picnic shelter, so I am not for that. Just a small park with a few improvements would be great. 10Increased traffic to the park. The park is literally in my back yard.Apr 2, 2011 10:08 AM 11The city should make sure there continues to be ice skating and a baseball fieldApr 2, 2011 1:12 PM at the park. There is no other open space in the Valentine neighborhood for this these activities. Mounds View High School does not allow public access to their baseball field. Access to other park fields requires crossing busy streets and is not something that kids can do safely. 121. Improved walking/bicycle access to park. 2. Environmentally friendly design.Apr 2, 2011 2:10 PM 3. Safe, graffitti-resistent playground structure. 4. Direct access from within Valentine Hills neighborhood. 7 of 15 ëåÔÛÈÛÊ×ÃÍÇÊÌÊÓÏÛÊÃÙÍÎÙ×ÊÎÉÊ×ÐÛÈ×ØÈÍÖÇÈÇÊ×ÓÏÌÊÍÆ×Ï×ÎÈÉÓÎæÛÐ×ÎÈÓÎ×ìÛÊÑý 13I am all for improving this park as it has become such an eyesore. I'd like it toApr 2, 2011 4:18 PM look pretty and inviting as people drive into our neighborhood. I would like for it to have a number of assets for different ages of kids and for there to be seated areas to enjoy the view of the lake. I don't think the picnic shelter needs to be very big as I envision this more as a neighborhood park. 141. Retain the trees. Good for the park and good for the environment. 2. It's aApr 3, 2011 10:47 AM small park. Let's not overdevelop it. Just leaving some open space would be good. 15It is important to have ice skating and baseball accomodations at Valentine ParkApr 3, 2011 11:07 AM because it is the only place within walking distance in this area. 16walking and biking accessible, availability benches (places to sit) &/or picnicApr 3, 2011 1:23 PM tables as well as bathroom 17- needs to be cleaned up and made to look nice and should be a cornerstone toApr 4, 2011 9:24 AM the neighborhood - needs to be maintained - should be multi-use >> play/swing system >> could a water holding pond double as an ice-rink. for pick up games/ice skating. not a formal hockey rink >> nice structures vs. portapotty's and temp warming house. The don't need to be large, just nice looking 18To fix it once and not have to fix it again.Apr 4, 2011 10:21 AM 19Utilize limited Parks and Rec funding for Multi-Purpose improvements. MaintainApr 4, 2011 4:15 PM an open field and "crown" for better drainage to allow for multiple activites by all ages. Eliminate the park's run-down image by raising and shrinking the pot-holed parking lot. Find a more discreet location for the porta-potty and enclose this on three sides. Enclose garbage receptacles. Relocate the play area away from housing, without enclosed "hangout tubes" and utilize more subtle colors. Install necessary stormwater ponds with black fencing to match a new fence along Old Snelling. Add a garden at the road intersection to match the exisiting garden across the street. Trails, benches, boardwalks and bridges in the center of the park would be costly, benefit few, and limit park activities for more users. Design safe walking paths around the perimeter of the park, not through the park. 20Water drainage new playground equipment fix up baseball fieldApr 4, 2011 5:58 PM 21Safety is our biggest concern.We walk from Janet Court to the park and once weApr 5, 2011 3:22 PM come down the hill there are some safety issues with walking on Valentine Road. It would be wonderful to see a sidewalk on the north side of the park alongside Valentine Rd. This would prevent us walking on the side of the street going with the cars- which is very unsafe, especially with children- and would also prevent us from having to cross the street closer to the park and risk cars coming around the corner not seeing us. A safer play structure that would be useful to all ages would be of huge importance to us. 22I'd love to see trail connections to the surrounding area. I'd also love to seeApr 6, 2011 6:28 PM accessability taken into account, for those with handicaps or walkers. 23I hope to see improvements completed as soon as possible so my familyApr 7, 2011 7:51 AM (children) can use the playground structure and play areas. We look forward to eliminating or improving the water drainage issue and having a more child- friendly playground structure. I have a toddler, so a toddler section of play equipment would be wonderful! 8 of 15 ëåÔÛÈÛÊ×ÃÍÇÊÌÊÓÏÛÊÃÙÍÎÙ×ÊÎÉÊ×ÐÛÈ×ØÈÍÖÇÈÇÊ×ÓÏÌÊÍÆ×Ï×ÎÈÉÓÎæÛÐ×ÎÈÓÎ×ìÛÊÑý 24Don't over-develop it. It's a small park and gets pretty good usage as is. (ExceptApr 7, 2011 8:30 AM the slow winter ice skating season.) 25Keeping the park neighborhood friendly.Apr 7, 2011 1:08 PM 26The tree area should remain as it is. I would be very concerned about aApr 8, 2011 7:06 AM permanent structure being put in place over the water so people could cross over the water. I'm not sure what the point would be. The mowers cannot cross over, I see no point in people having access to the wooded area. 27It is important for the Valentine area to have a baseball field in the neighborhood,Apr 8, 2011 10:22 AM and also an ice rink in winter. 28DrainageApr 8, 2011 12:02 PM 29Improvements and drainage issues way overdueApr 8, 2011 12:08 PM 30Flooding in the parkApr 8, 2011 12:10 PM 31Drainage! (I'm usually with twins - 9 months or 5 years - so 2 baby swings wouldApr 8, 2011 12:16 PM be nice so the young ones don't need to fight over. Hopefully H.S. kids won't destroy! 32I would enjoy a basketball court and a treehouseApr 8, 2011 12:18 PM 33Please so not over developed this park. It was to be a neighborhood kids park.Apr 8, 2011 12:22 PM Not a ball field with many vehicles attending 34Long overdue - Please conceal the porta pottyApr 8, 2011 12:24 PM 35It's a neighborhood playground. The land was set aside and developed for thatApr 8, 2011 12:26 PM purpose. 36- Eliminating flooding - More parking - Picnic shelterApr 8, 2011 12:27 PM 37Storm water management issuesApr 8, 2011 12:29 PM 38I don't want the playground or basketball court right outside by back doorApr 8, 2011 12:30 PM 39Needs monkey bars and swings!Apr 8, 2011 12:32 PM 40Looks like a dump now. Don't think we need a large parking lot without formalApr 8, 2011 12:35 PM ballfield. Either plan is a vast improvement 41Keep the neighborhood feel/use. Drainage - ability for ball field of some typeApr 8, 2011 12:38 PM 42The adjacent homeowners need to be protected/respected. Putting parking andApr 11, 2011 6:40 PM activitty closer to the homes needs to be considered very carefully. I like the idea, if there is a picnic structure that it is open-sided. There is too much "attractive nuisance" from the nearby highschool for graffitti and vandalism. Parking should have speed bumps or something ro prevent or discourage teen driving hijinks. Obviously the drainage has been terrible. Don't do anything without having a rock solid solution to the drainage. 9 of 15 ëåÔÛÈÛÊ×ÃÍÇÊÌÊÓÏÛÊÃÙÍÎÙ×ÊÎÉÊ×ÐÛÈ×ØÈÍÖÇÈÇÊ×ÓÏÌÊÍÆ×Ï×ÎÈÉÓÎæÛÐ×ÎÈÓÎ×ìÛÊÑý 43Any improvements to this park are MORE than welcome! Concerns: SafeApr 11, 2011 9:12 PM walking trails to/from the park are critical to incorporate into the plan. Having kids walk or bike on Old Hwy 10 to get there is clearly not safe. Any toilets at the park must be in an enclosed structure! If budget only allows for a portable, then I'd rather not have a toilet at the park at all. When considering the playground structure, please keep in mind that a range of ages will play on it -- not just little toddlers. 10 of 15 ëøÍÃÍÇÔÛÆ×ÛÎÃÍÈÔ×ÊËÇ×ÉÈÓÍÎÉÍÊÙÍÏÏ×ÎÈÉÊ×ÐÛÈ×ØÈÍÈÔ×ÌÊÍÒ×ÙÈý 1Very glad you are doing something there finally!Apr 1, 2011 12:04 PM 2I know eliminating the ice skating rink was controversial years ago. However,Apr 1, 2011 12:47 PM with the removal of the permanent warming house structure, the temporary trailer now used is very unattractive and the rink continues to see only minimal usage. I believe if the annual operating costs of the ice skating rink could instead be used toward park fixtures/beautification, and if that were clearly explained to residents, the concern re: elimination of the rink would diminish. 3i think that the park right now is a little bit of an eye sore and some plants orApr 1, 2011 1:02 PM something like that would really help it also the park needs some sort of holding pond or drainage ditch it has the worst water problem I have ever seen in the spring Thank You 4a few strategically placed, eco-friendly (re-cycled material??) benchesApr 1, 2011 1:33 PM 5I would like to thank the city for keeping this project moving since inhave movedApr 1, 2011 4:16 PM in six years ago. 6Please keep it small, in keeping with size of property... Please plan with quality inApr 2, 2011 8:53 AM mind and to be natural looking and pleasing to the eye...unlike some of the purple and bright blue park around :) 7Is it possible to connect the park with a bike/walking path directly to the ValentineApr 2, 2011 2:10 PM Hills neighborhood? It feels very unsafe to walk with my children along the side of Lake Valentine Road from Glenview/Crystal Ave to the entrance of the park. Even though we live 3 blocks from Valentine Park, we go to Lake Johanna (which is much farther) much more often. This is partly due to the difference in quality of play structures, but also to the presence of bike trails leading to Lake Johanna. Thank you for undertaking this project! 8I think clearly the flooding has been a huge issue and I feel the elevation has toApr 2, 2011 4:18 PM be raised. 9Thrilled to have updates to this park. It needs improvements as the outfield isApr 2, 2011 7:25 PM usually saturated in the spring and summer. It is not our first park to choose to go to as a family due to the the above. We would love to see a hockey rink as well, the ice skating rink is marginal and it never shoveled by the time the kids get out of school. The open hours of these winter faciilties starts after most kids are out of school, we choose other parks that are more well maintained. We have an active college community and many active families in this area and to encourage future community development and involvement we need to make these parks useful and well maintained. The parks and trails are a large part of why families choose to remain in the Arden Hills/Shoreview area. Lets keep the new families moving in to maintain our property values and make our community thrive. 11 of 15 ëøÍÃÍÇÔÛÆ×ÛÎÃÍÈÔ×ÊËÇ×ÉÈÓÍÎÉÍÊÙÍÏÏ×ÎÈÉÊ×ÐÛÈ×ØÈÍÈÔ×ÌÊÍÒ×ÙÈý 10- create a path from the park to the trail that runs behind the Valentine HillsApr 4, 2011 9:24 AM neighborhood. The current trail dumps onto old snelling. This is not safe. Plus it would help kids utilize the park more if they could safely bike or walk to the park - It would be nice if Valentine Lake and the park were tied together more. could a fishing/landing dock be placed on Valentine Lake with a cross walk placed on Old Snelling like the ones recently added to Cty E2 by the school. People could fish, land canoes and kayaks at the dock, and ultimately make this more of a feature of the area. Currently many people fish the lake and stand on the edge of old snelling. Also not safe. Plus I don't think any of the parks in Arden Hills currently offer this. 11Shouldn't a survey response be requested in conjunction with available budgetApr 4, 2011 4:15 PM information. Do not allow a skating rink to be an influence on the design or cost of improvements to the park. This may also apply to a ballfield. If a ballfield is included, it should be a formal aglime field for K-4th. A backstop only would be a seldom-used eyesore. 12Please keep neighborhood updated with plans and time-line.Apr 5, 2011 3:22 PM 13My kids really like the playground structure that is there now. They liked havingApr 7, 2011 1:08 PM sand and a slide and a place to let their imagination grow. A water fountain might be nice for refilling water bottles. An outhouse. Solar lights. 14I think the park would get a great deal more use in the winter if there were aApr 8, 2011 7:06 AM hockey rink in addition to the open rink. 15Both concept 1 and 2 look fabulous. Parking is not an issue @ the park. MostApr 8, 2011 12:16 PM people walk or bike - unless there is a baseball game. An open asrea to run and play would be nice. Sand - little boys love playing in sand. 16When will this project take place? How long will it take?Apr 8, 2011 12:18 PM 17Connect park via trails along old snelling and valentine lake roadApr 8, 2011 12:27 PM 18Great startApr 8, 2011 12:29 PM 19Need covered portapottyApr 8, 2011 12:35 PM 20Keep it child/family friendly Thanks for putting this together!Apr 8, 2011 12:38 PM 21May also want to keep in mind that quite a few cars park in existing lot so as toApr 11, 2011 6:40 PM access Valentine lake for fishing. Where will those cars park if the parking is moved further west. 22If budget is such that ice skating is discontinued, I will be sad. However, I'd beApr 11, 2011 9:12 PM willing to give that up just for an improved park. When people drive into our neighborhood, the park is the first "impression", and it's currently not a good one! Thanks for all your efforts, Parks & Rec Committee, in making the change happen. This survey is an excellent idea for allowing the neighborhood residents to provide feedback. Thanks. 12 of 15 C Attachment : Open House Comments