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HomeMy WebLinkAbout05-16-06 PTRC i ,-A EN HILLS PARKS, TRAILS, & RECREATION COMMITTEE TUESDAY, MAY 169 2006 **7:00 P.M. MEETING** ARDEN HILLS CITY HALL 1245 WEST HIGHWAY 96 AGENDA 1. Call to Order and Roll Call 2. Approve April 18, 2006 Minutes 3. Council Update — Gregg Larson 4. Parks, Trails, and Recreation Update — Michelle Olson • 5. PTRC Vision Plan - Strategies (Council Agenda Item for May 22nd _ work session following the Regular City Council Meeting) 6. Dog Park, Disc Golf, and Bocce Ball Discussion 7. Ramsey County Parks Review—Rich Straumann 8. Governor Anderson Naming Policy Discussion 9. PTRC Agenda Packet Distribution Discussion 10. Adjourn Attachments: April 18, 2006 minutes PTRC Strategies for Parks and Trails PTRC Vision Email from City Administrator re: Dog Parks and Disc Golf 2005-2009 Priorities • A quorum of the City Council may be present at this meeting. PARKS, TRAILS AND RECREATION COMMITTEE STRATEGIES FOR PARKS AND TRAILS STRATEGIES FOR PARKS 1. Disk golf course at Ingerson Park The PTRC gather information on the popularity of disk golf and found it to be increasingly popular. Therefore, as one of our strategies,we recommend development of a disk golf course at Ingerson. The estimated cost is $7,500. 2. Fenced dog park at Parkshore This currently undeveloped land south of Round Lake would well-serve those who need a place to run their dogs off-leash. Staff estimates the cost of this development at$15,000. 3. Portable warming houses at Freeway and Valentine Parks These parks see increased use during the winter months and the current warming houses are inadequate. We recommend new houses for the 2007 skating season at an estimated cost of ' $9,000 for installation plus $1,800 per year for continued maintenance. STRATEGIES FOR TRAILS Trail development has lagged behind our investment in park facilities for a number of years. The PTRC recommends development of an arterial or"core"trail system that provides access to all areas of the community and in addition,provides badly needed access to the trail systems in adjacent communities and to the regional trail system. But more than that, these trail segments become an integral part of the overall transportation network. 1. Tony Schmidt Park Railroad underpass This improvement has been scheduled for construction this year and will provide improved access to the Park from neighborhoods to the north utilizing already completed portions of the Arden Hills trail network. It will also form a strong connection with other recommended arterial trails. 2. West side of Old Snelling from Highway 51 on the south to County Road E on the north. We understand that this portion of highway is scheduled for improvement during 2007. We urge the council to allocate funds for a trail as part of that reconstruction. This trail segment is a key link in the major north-south arterial through the city which will eventually connect . the existing Arden Hills with the new TCAAP development. This trail may be eligible for municipal state-aid funding. In the future, we envision extending this trail to the south along the west side of Highway 51. PTRC Strategies for Parks and Trails Page 2 • 3. South side of County Road E from Old Snelling to Connelly You'll remember this is the sidewalk that was before the Council a year or so ago and included the grant application to MnDOT for completing the walkway over Highway 51. Unfortunately, the grant application was not re-submitted this past December but we urge the Council to reapply next year and earmark funds for completing this very important trail link. In addition to serving as a link to Freeway Park and the commercial development to the east, this walkway is an important park of a longer east-west arterial transversing the city from west to east. 4. East side of Old Snelling from County Road E to Highway 96 This is a continuation of trail segment 2 and would include reworking of the railroad underpass north of Lindey's as well as a grade separation at Highway 10 and 96 to the north. Again,we feel that this segment is crucial to improved circulation between the existing and new portions of Arden Hills. 5. North side of Lake Johanna Boulevard from County Road E on the west to Old Snelling on the east. • Development of this trail segment would complete the southern east-west arterial through the city. It is heavily used now—year round—by residents and student from Bethel College and that use is likely to increase with the growing popularity of Tony Schmidt Park and the County's completion of the trail link under the railroad(Segment 1). Ramsey County has requested the Metropolitan Council to designate Tony Schmidt as a regional park which will further increase its visitor use. As a result, Arden Hills may be eligible for regional park funds to improve this trail and provide safe access to the park. 6. Traffic signals at County Road E and Old Snelling This intersection becomes a major connector in the arterial trails system and trails approach and leave the intersection form different sides of the street. For example, we recommend a trail on the west side of Old Snelling south of County Road E but on the east side to the north of County Road E. This same is true of the east-west connector. For this reason, and because of the high vehicular traffic count, we recommend signalization of this intersection. 7. South side of Highway 96 from North Heights Church on the east to Old Highway 8 and Long Lake Regional Park on the west. This rail segment would complete the northern east-west arterial through the city by linking with the existing trails along Highway 96. It would provide better access to city hall and the development in TCAAP as well as providing safe access to the land and water-based recreational opportunities afforded by Long Lake Regional Park and the Rice Creek trail system leading to the Mississippi River. • VISION For Parks and Trails in Arden Hills Parks and trails in Arden Hills enhance the health and well-being of citizens, improve the value of citizens' property, and increase the desirability of the city as a place to live or work. The city's parks and trails compose a coherent network that: • Provides land and water-based recreation, as well as convenient and safe access to parks, trails and recreation facilities in the region. • Develops and maintains a system of neighborhood parks and trails. • Encourages non-motorized transportation and commuting. • Supports and encourages access to lakes, marshes and wooded areas. • Provides connections between the portions of Arden Hills south of Highway 96 and new development to the north, as well as among other neighborhoods otherwise separated by roads. • Provides important resources to schools, colleges, employers and other organizations in the region. • Strengthens community among citizens. This vision will be achieved with the leadership of the City Council and the support of the community. That leadership and support are critical to generating the financial resources necessary to develop, operate and maintain Arden Hills' parks and trails. Michelle Olson Dom: Michelle Wolfe nt: Friday, April 14, 2006 4:18 PM o: Tom Moore Cc: Michelle Olson; Schawn Johnson Subject: Disc Golf and Dog Parks When PTRC presented their Vision they mentioned both of the above. I know you said the committee has done a lot of research, but for my own background I contacted my old stomping grounds because I knew we had a disc golf course and had researched the dog park. Below is the response from the City Administrator. "The disc golf was put in primarily by volunteers, it was volunteer designed as well. We supplied capital costs for the concrete and baskets and I'd guess we spent under $5,000. However, now that we are redoing Oakwood Park we are redesigning the course and it turns out that in my opinion it was very poorly designed the first time. . .used too much of the park needlessly. . .although that is probably because we didn't care about Oakwood at that time so they probably thought they could use the whole thing. Among the costs, however, ongoing litter and tree damage is kind of a big deal. On the dog Park there is a town in Oregon that has 3 dog parks and last year they closed one down to totally reconstruct it due to over use, damage and had to reconstruct the park so I think costs are under estimated on those as well. We don't have good Vs I don't think and have estimated something in the $10-$20,000 range for fencing and the like. We have said it has to be completely volunteer generated and fund raised before we will consider it. There is an extensive network of dog park enthusiasts as well as disc organizations. . .google them both and you will be amazed. I have a bunch of stuff I could end you on the disc stuff but it would be more educational if you just surfed for a uple of hours. " Also - Schawn had a done a little follow-up as well which I believe he forwarded to you. My hope is that this information could be added to that already done and be helpful to staff and the committee. I saw the item was on the agenda which reminded me to forward the info to you. Michelle Wolfe City Administrator City of Arden Hills, MN 1245 West Highway 96 Arden Hills, MN 55112 Office: (651) 634 5127 Cell: (612) 716-3295 1 2005-2009 PRIORITIES Priority Cost Completion Date 1. Elmer Anderson Trail Naming Policy $1,500 Completed in 2005 2. Walkway under railroad connecting Tony Schmidt Park to Perry Pak and $32,000 Completed in 2005 trails None 3. Trail along Old Snelling from County (if State Aid is used) Road E to Highway 51,Highway 51 to Highway 96 $168,000 if State Aid is not used) 4. Trail through Northwestern College $101,000 5. Trail from Northwestern College to Old Snelling $72,000 6. Trails within the Highway 10 and None. Highway 96 re-construction 7. Trail/sidewalk along west side of Lexington from County Road E to $98,000 Interstate 694 8. Trail along North Snelling from $79,000 Briarknoll to Highway 96 9. Bridge and trail on County Road E (State Aid Funding) North side $465,000 South side $250,000 10. Off Leash Dog Park $25,000 11. Trail along Lake Valentine Road (Valentine Park to Mounds View High $74,000 School) 12. Trail from upper/lower Freeway Park $330,000 13. Buckthorn Removal Program $5,000 Cost Estimates reflect current(2006)prices.