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Home My WebLink About02-24-1998 PTRC Minutes AGENDA . PARKS & RECREATION COMMISSION TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 24, 1998 **6:30 P.M.** ARMY RESERVE CENTER I. Call to order and roll call 2. Approve January 27, 1998, Minutes 3. Oath of Office Lou Speggen & Dorothy McClung 4. Council Report 5. Comprehensive Plan 6. Joint Facility Plan Update 7. Reports a. Program • b. Directors 8. Adjourn to resident meetings Playground Structure Review 7:00 p.m. - 7:30 p.m. - Freeway Park 7:30 p.m. - 8:00 p.m. - Cummings Park *** Please Call Cindy or Lynette if you are unable to attend this meeting*** • CITY OF ARDEN HILLS • MEMORANDUM DATE: February 17, 1998 TO: Parks and Recreation Commission FROM: Cindy S. Walsh, Parks and Recreation Director (� G SUBJECT: February Agenda Report Comprehensive Plan I have enclosed copies of the preliminary trail and park map that will be included in the City's Comprehensive Plan. It is in rough draft form. Please take some time to review it for content rather than format. We will be discussing it in more detail at the March meeting. Joint Athletic Facility Plan I have been working with the School District and the Cities of New Brighton, Mounds View, and Shoreview on a plan for new athletic facilities. Since the most likely location is the TCAAP property, it appears that a joint facility will not happen in the near future. Consequently, we are looking possible upgrades and changes to our existing facilities. I have been meeting with the • youth associations to involve them in this process. I will keep you updated as we continue to develop a plan. A large part of the plan will have to include upgrading the school facilities. Some of the school facility sites are in such poor condition that the school teams do not even practice on site. Department Reports The Commission talked about having a member of the Public Safety Commission come to one of our meetings to talk about cross walk striping across trail area. Does the Commission want to invite someone to attend the March meeting? I have also received some request for the renaming of Lindey's Park area. The suggestions I have received are as follows: Hick's Park, Wagon Wheel Park, Joseph Hackney Park, and Arden Farms Park. Are there any other suggestions? This will be an item for discussion at the March meeting. A recommendation will then be forwarded to the City Council. As requested by the Commission members, I have enclosed a copy of the proposed Tony Schmidt Lake Johanna Park redevelopment plan for trails. • • MINUTES CITY OF ARDEN HILLS, MINNESOTA PARKS & RECREATION COMMISSION TUESDAY, JANUARY 27, 1998 7:00 - 9:00 P.M. ARMY RESERVE CENTER CALL TO ORDER Chair Kreidler called the meeting to order at 7:02 p.m. ROLL CALL Present were Megan Ricke, Anita Larson, Mary Robinson, Don Messerly, Jim Johnson, Council Liaison; Susan Keim, Tracy Petersen; Program Supervisor, Cindy Walsh; Parks and Recreation Director. Absent were Lou Speggen and Dorothy McClung. OATH OF OFFICE • The Oath of Office was given to Commission Members by Councilmember Keim. APPROVE MINUTES Minutes from November 25, 1998, were they approved by Don Messerly and seconded by Megan Ricke. The minutes were passed unanimously. PARK FUND SPENDIN Mayor Probst was present to give the Commission some background information on this topic and to also indicate that he feels the Council would be supportive of a plan to spend down the park fund over a period of time. Mayor Probst indicated that a 5, 7, or 10 year plan would work and that the Commission should prioritize its spending program and make a recommendation to the Council. It was mentioned that if ISTEA funding came through that no park fund money would be needed to construct a trail along Highway 96. Ms. Walsh also mentioned that playground structure replacements/general maintenance are now coming out of the general fund. • 1 COUNCIL REPORT • Councilmember Kelm reported that during viewing of the Stowe Avenue sewer lines, the equipment broke in the sewer because of tree root obstructions. Residents along Katie Lane will have to have their easement areas dug up so that they can get into the sewer line and fix it. The City Council authorized the sale of$3.1 million bonds for the Gateway Business District (GBD). The money will be used mainly for street improvements and soil corrections. City Hall planning. The land transfer between the City and Currently, plans are in the schematic phase of the National Guard should happen soon. The City will begin constriction this summer. The maintenance facility will be a separate building, possibly with Ramsey County. Plans or land issues have not been discussed for this structure. The City will only be leasing three acres for the City Hall facility. Comprehensive Plan Kathy O'Connell from MFRA was present to introduce the Comprehensive plan and what it entails. First, Ms. O'Connell listed what a comprehensive plan seeks to do. 1. Required by state law. • 2. Useful tool for City as a whole. 3. Opportunity for community to look at City as a whole. 4. Gives opportunity to prioritize. 5. Assists with capital improvement plans. 6. Assists with planning, maintenance and development issues. 7. Provides a one source document. 8. Assists City Staff and Developers. The Comprehensive Plan will look at future and existing needs as well as barriers. The Comprehensive Plan will also look at policies/goals: Policies/Goals 1. Community defined 2. Rep I ac ement/Restructuring Classification and Design Mini-Park - Services small area/average size = 1 acre. Neighborhood Park - No barriers; located every 1/4 mile contains both active and passive recreation. Community Park - Contains concentrated facilities; focal point for community. 2 • • Sports Complex - Just for sports activities. Nature/Conservation Area - contains natural/open area. Note: Ms. Connell suggested that even though Tony Schmidt Park is a County Park that it may operate as a community park for the City and should be noted so in the Comprehensive Plan. Trails Type I: Park Trail (within a park; paved or unpaved) Type II: Connector Trail (park to park; right-of-way) Type III: On-Street Bike Trails Comprehensive Plan Should: • List facilities • Identify potential facilities • Identify typical facilities for TCCAP area Trails • 4 Neighborhood parks in TCAAP area; should have access points into business. • City Hall/Community Park w/trail • Joint athletic facility connection • Trails in TCAAP would be identified as park trails (not on road right-of-way) • County Road E/Snelling Avenue bridge needs trail identified on Comprehensive Plan • Mounds View High School (east of high school to corner of County Road F and Old Highway 10) • Bethel trails • County Road E2 • Chatham Area • Crepeau Area * Not identify surface on Comprehensive Plans * Differentate between City and County trails * Use Park and and connector trail types TONY SCHMIDT PARK North Side of Lake Johanna Boulevard • Picnic Shelters (2) (accommodate 100-150 people) • Ballfield • Volleyball Court • Playstructure Monuments will be put up signifying that you are entering park area/Lake Johanna Boulevard. • 3 South side of Lake Johanna Boulevard • Boat access Picnic Areas • 2 playstructures (1 will incorporate water toys) Beach area Trail on the north side of Lake Johanna Boulevard is designated as unpaved. Parking Issues • Overflow/must have "No Parking" Signs on Lake Johanna Boulevard • Crosswalk between north and south side may need to be installed. Recommendation Jim Johnson made a motion to recommend a paved trail from the south east corner of Tony Schmidt Park moving parallel to Lake Johanna Boulevard on the north side to the corner of County Road E and Lake Johanna Boulevard. The motion was seconded by Megan Ricke and passes unanimously. Rice Creek Corridor - TCAAP area City Council approved the Rice Creek Corridor Ramsey County Master Plan PROGRAM REPORT • 1. Ms. Petersen handed out 1997 participation totals for programs. 2. Ms. Petersen passed out a Parents Introduction to Youth Sports pamphlet that Keith Bateman, the recreation intern, has put together. 3. Ms. Petersen indicated that the ice rinks had opened late. This season has been a rough winter with the warm weather. DIRECTORS REPORT 1. The February Parks and Recreation Commission meeting will invite residents to discuss both Freeway and Cummings Park playstructures. 2. The maintenance crew has been clearing trails this winter. There are some areas that staff is not able to do, due to hills. The Parks and Recreation staff has received many favorable comments regarding clearing. 3. Ms. Walsh continues to work on the trail around Road Lake in GBD. Ms.Walsh indicated that the City will either receive money to build the trail or that the developer will constrict it. ADJOURNMENT The meeting adjourned at 9:20 p.m. • 4 Site Criteria: Size -no requirements • Service Area-community wide or neighborhood based Typical Resources/Qualifies- • protected waters • biodiversity • wildlife corridor/habitat • forest/woodland • functioning ecosystem ll. Trail Classification & Design Standards io- The purpose of classifying Arden Hills trail systemAo describe it according to function and location: 1.)park trails that are used primarily for recreation purposes and allow relatively uninterrupted pedestrian movement to and through the city park system with an emphasis on the natural environment; or 2.) • connector trails"emphasize safe travel to city parks or other destination points, but are generally located within an e)dsting road right-of-way. These trail classification standards are based on the National Classification System for Parks, Open Space& Greenways and are intended to guide trail development at a local level with community needs taken into consideration. Both park and connector trails can provide access to regional destination points (schools, county or regional parks, open spaces outside the community)and should connect up with trail systems in the surrounding communities. A. Park Trails • 6 Park trails function as an adjunct to the existing park system by providing for access within a city park or natural resource area,as well as important • links between parks,while providing a park-like environment As links, they are typically within a greenway or corridor that retains or is developed as a natural resource amenity. The greenway or corridor width may vary considerably depending on available lands or the existence of easements_ They may be as narrow as 20' in places,but 50' is often a standard minimum. Park trails always accommodate pedestrians and usually accommodate bicycles and in-line skates. Cross country skiing can be a winter use. They can be grass or woodchip surfaced if used very infrequently and if pedestrian use only is the only one desired. Asphalt surfaced trails (� , are the{ciit�ty--'s goal in order to allow equal access to all user groups, as well as durability and maintenance reasons. STEPS TOWARD DEVELOPING A PARK TRAIL. SYSTEM: • • Prepare a comprehensive parks and trails plan that identifies desirable connections between parks and that offers natural resources within greenways or corridors. Acquire desirable trail easements early in the development/planning process for new developments. • Acquire trail easements in developed areas as redevelopment occurs or as opportunities arise, i.e.abandoned railroad right-of-way or in utility rights-of-way. • Establish development policies (backed by city ordinance)and park dedication requirements that require greenway and park trail corridors - 7 - to be incorporated into development plans and follows the city's • comprehensive trail plan. B. Connector Trails Connector trails are generally located within an existing right-of-way and offer a safe alternative for pedestrians and bicyclist that parallels existing roadways. By keeping pedestrians and bicyclists out of roadways designated for vehicles, an obvious conflict is avoided. Connector trails are often the only economically feasible alternative available in developed cities, that can be easily implemented when roads are upgraded or when utility work necessitates work within a right-of-way. Although they are often the only feasible trail connection between parks or • other destination points, they do not offer the uninterrupted travel that park trails do. Driveways, intersection crossings and the adjacent cars and trucks all add up to a more urban experience with the pedestrian or bicyclist focusing on these things,rather than natural resources. STEPS TOWARDS DEVELOPING A CONNECTOR TRAIL SYSTEM: • Prepare a comprehensive park and trails plan that identifies desirable connections between parks and other destination points,as well as connections to trail systems in surrounding communities. • Establish trail right-of-way easements early in the transportation planning efforts for new development or redevelopment and roadway upgrades. • -8- Facility Standards • Ill. Arden Hills is an established community that is fully developed. Existing parklands and facilities will be redeveloped and revised minimally and incrementally over the next decade due to demonstrated needs. An obvious exception is the TCAAP property of approximately 2,570 acres. 400 acres of that are presently planned to be residential. These numbers will surely change as the TCAAP plan is refined and revised,but it is due to this projected growth that facility standards should be addressed. The NRPA published standards in the past for the number of facilities needed in each community -rr 1000 residents. It has abandoned this method. These t standards were'artificial and did not fit many communities' needs or desires,I6 ev' abec.available lands or monies. NRPA now suggests a needs-based system to determine a level of service tailored to each community. With TCAAP property • development plans in its infancy,facility development standards would be prema will be needs-based ---_ --- .,_.,,,� rn light of then »nknnuw,.specific facility standards cannot be developed at this time - hey will likely involve residents through surveys and even directly ie the design processy'The following guidelines will assist that process at the appropriate time:? • Maintain or exceed the current standard of 9.4 acres of neighborhood parks per 1,000 population. • Provide a balance of active and passive recreational opportunities. • Develop larger neighborhood parks of between 10 and 30 acres,that would • increase efficiency, a.-id,accommodate the following facilities in each park: -park building(warming house,permanent restrooms,vending machines, summer programs) �event _ G - parking(25-35 picnic shelter -trails(walking,jogging,bicycling) - open turf area -feature(i.e. wading pool, ornamental gardens, nature area) -picnic tables -landscaping - play equipment(preschool to 6th grade) - court games(volleyball,basketball,tennis) -2-3 athletic fields(soccer/football, baseball&softball) - hockey rink(ice&roller) • • - 10 - D. INVENTORY • 1. Parks The Arden Hills park system includes both passive and active recreational opportunities in its neighborhood parks. It has eight mini parks of 5 acres or below that often act as neighborhood parks in established areas and contain athletic fields. These parks total 20 acres. In addition,the City has four neighborhood parks of 12-20 acres that.total 69.5 acres. Combined,these parklands represent 89.5 acres of parkland that provide both passive and active recreational opportunities that are heavily used by area residents, Two natural resource areas complete the park system with 55.5 acres dedicated for preservation,nature study and enjoyment,representing a variety of ecosystems. • All totaled there are 145 acres of City-owned parkland. Ramsey County's Tony Schmidt Park is located within City limits and adds an additional acres of parkland used by Arden Hills residents and surrounding communities. It adds a swimming beach, a boat launch facility and additional passive recreational opportunities as park components available to residents. II. Trails Arden Hills has approximately miles of paved and grass surface park and connector trails. One of the stated goals of the City is to expand the trail system - 11- • to include important pedestrian connections between all of the City future and • existing neighborhoods. Recreation Destination Points Arden Hills residents are also part of a region that offers many recreational opportunities within the City and also in surrounding communities. Como Park, Long Lake and White.Bear Lake are just a few of the destination points in surrounding communities and are shown below. A comprehensive plan that connects up with trails systems in surrounding communities,lxpands the residents recreational opportunities4opkhourld not be missed. IV. Recreation Program • - 12 - Arden Hills offers an array of community education and recreation programs. • Quarterly brochures are sent to all residents that detail these opportunities, including many summer recreation programs for school age children. • • 13 )" „ r 1 • "°kI'll-0,0018 PRELIMINARY TRAIL PLAN A }`_• t. _.... ./_� l ;.) �,rr � i� U i., ` 1.1 S '� 1, �t"`, �( 1 •MOUNDSVIEW AT to _ I� t� '• .II i 1. ._r - C RD.E: ~I ;6 A I. a \ - _/< •' • 0,VACCW&E HILL'S 1 SCHOOL • �+ LEGEND .CITY PARKI — MAIN TRAIL-PAVED ARK 1 ( ( t r 7 411IM0 SECONDARY TRAIL • , �— � L tI UNPAVED TRAIL I .:....�� "�H.aF ivlN vY �•'S� T� � I • L�l L� S U••E BOARDWALK �� ,•••••PER ARK . �-"'� - CITY TRAIL 60 LINT CD TRAILHEAD I_ C. .-' .. -. i 1 ••*• NEIGHBORHOOD CONNECTIONS OBSERVATION/ INTERPRETIVE AREA I e�i A C{� r I { v"�i .r OVERLOOK �,1 i `; d :-�i � sf.. < I � `• Il�� ',: t I.__ F jjti TONY SCHMIDT COUNTY PARK RAMSEY COUNIY . +r F SWDCES EACRE•EEIICLY WC. 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