HomeMy WebLinkAbout2002-09-11 Park Board PacketCity of Edina
EDINA PARK BOARD
WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 11, 2002
7:00 P.M.
COUNCIL CHAMBERS
EDINA CITY HALL
AGENDA
* 1. Edinborough Park Playground and Park User Fee Proposal — Tom Shirley.
*2. Appointment to Community Education Services Advisory Board.
3. Updates.
A. Edina Aquatic Center Improvements.
B. Fox Meadow Park Development Project.
C. Skate Park.
D. Off -Leash Dog Park.
E. Disc Golf Course
F. Teen Night at Edina Aquatic Center.
4. Other
*5. Adjournment.
*These are agenda items that require or request Park Board action.
City Hall (952) 927-8861
4801 WEST 50TH STREET FAX (952) 826-0390
EDINA, MINNESOTA 55424-1394 TDD (952) 826-0379
Memo
To: Edina Park Board.
From: John Keprios, Direct.
Edina Park and Recreat on Department
Date: August 30, 2002
Re: September 11, 2002, PARK BOARD MEETING STAFF REPORT.
Enclosed you should find the following items:
1. Wednesday, September 11, 2002, Park Board Agenda.
2. Newspaper article about Town Square Park in St. Paul.
STAFF REPORT
The following is the monthly staff report concerning each item on the agenda with the
exception of Approval of the Minutes and Other. "Other" is listed on the agenda for other
information items (not requiring formal action), last minute items that may come up
between now and the Park Board meeting, plus, cover any other concerns of Park Board
members and/or attendees.
PARK BOARD MEETING ON
WEDNESDAY. SEPTEMBER 11, 2002
The September Park Board meeting will be on Wednesday, September 11, because of
primary elections taking place on Tuesday, September 10. It is unlawful for us to conduct
any public meetings during elections. The meeting will be held in the Council Chambers
in City Hall.
If you are unable to attend, please call either Office Coordinator, Janet Canton, at 826-
0435 or me at 826-0430. We were unable to conduct any official business at the August
meeting because only five Park Board members showed up. We need at least six members
to constitute a quorum.
APPOINTMENT TO COMMUNITY EDUCATION SERVICES
ADVISORY BOARD
The Edina Park Board appoints a liaison advisor from the Park Board to serve on the Edina
Community Education Services Board. Linda Presthus has been serving in that capacity
for the past two years and is willing to be reappointed. I recommend that the Park Board
reappoint Linda Presthus to the Edina Community Education Services Board.
Formal Park Board action is requested on this agenda item.
EDINBOROUGH PARK PLAYGROUND AND PARK USER FEE
PROPOSAL - TOM SHIRLEY
In an effort to make Edinborough Park operate financially on a break-even basis, staff is
proposing to eliminate the small indoor skating rink at Edinborough Park and in its place
install a playground equipment structure. There are a number of reasons why staff is
proposing this alteration in the park's program offering:
• Edinborough Park currently operates at deficit of approximately 150,000 per year and
tax increment money is no longer available to fund improvements or repairs.
• Recent surveys have shown that 7 out of 10 people using Edinborough Park reside
outside of Edina.
• There is not a built-in inflation factor for Edinborough/Centennial Lakes residents to
pay any more each year towards the maintenance and operation of the park. They have
a lifetime fixed rate fee that grants them free use of the pool and track areas only.
• • The current small playground structure is significantly undersized for the demand; is
out-of-date to where it does not meet current safety zone standards and thus cannot get
replacement parts; is not handicapped accessible; is free to the public for use; and does
not generate any revenues to the City of Edina, only costs.
• A new state-of-the-art playground structure placed on the skating rink will generate
revenues by charging park users to get into the lower level area of Edinborough Park.
• Maintaining a playground structure is significantly less expensive to operate and
maintain than a small ice skating area.
• Recent surveys show that people are willing to pay for access to an improved indoor
park setting.
• All other communities charge for the use of their indoor play areas: Chaska
$3/resident, $4/non-resident; maple Grove $3/resident, $4/non-resident; New Brighton
$2.25/resident, $3.25/non-resident. People are paying to use the play areas at
Playworks, Leap & Bounds, Discover Zone, and Grand Slam. In addition, people are
used to paying for food and beverage to use the "free" play structures at McDonalds,
Burger King, Chuckie Cheese and other restaurants.
• Having an entrance fee as a control mechanism would help keep the park from being
overwhelmed by large crowds. On many days, there are too many people in the Great
Hall or tot lot, making the park experience less fun for everyone and causes safety
concerns.
2
• An entrance fee would also help control professional photographers from coming into
the park to shoot wedding photos without a paid permit. This happens at least twice a
week.
• There are significant repairs and replacements in need to continue to operate the skating
rink in the near future; i.e. the small ice resurfacing machine needs replacement next
year (approximately $30,000), and the refrigeration pipes are suspect to be leaking
coolant under ground which runs under the current playground equipment structure
(potentially a significant expense to repair), and lastly, the compressors will need to be
replaced within three years at a cost of approximately $80,000.
• Adding doors and charging admission would give us the ability to hold more events
like the Midwinter Beach Party and charge fees for them. In addition, doors would
greatly improve our security during events and hours when the park is closed. We
regularly have problems with people from the hotel walking through our events.
The main drawbacks of placing a playground structure over the small studio ice rink are:
• Significantly changes the aesthetic character of the park (Some may argue that the
change may enhance the character while others may be of the opposite opinion).
• Eliminates a successful aesthetic venue for small toddlers to skate (lessons, programs
and open skating).
• Eliminates the space for multi-purpose floor activities (i.e., set-up for silent auctions,
sales boutiques, intimate seating and dining area and/or dance floor), however, the
multi -purposes dry floor uses have been very limited.
There are more than two choices of playground equipment that could be considered for
placement over the skating rink. Staff has secured plans, drawings, and some quotes for
consideration. One approach would be to install traditional climbing playground
equipment, similar to many of existing indoor play structures. Another approach would be
to install a more aesthetically creative and interesting theme -style play structure, similar to
the approach used for the dry -land play equipment at the Edina Aquatic Center. Staff will
have plans to show the Park Board at the meeting.
If we go forward with this park improvement/renovation, it is also staff's recommendation
that we install a door or gate system to control access to the lower level of Edinborough
Park. This will allow us to charge a fee (daily admission or season pass) to gain access to
the Great Hall, grotto area, and new playground structure. Currently, access to the Great
Hall, small play structure and grotto area are free to the public year-round.
If the skating rink were replaced by a large playground structure, then the old small
structure would be removed and turned into a small picnic area that could also be rented
for small private parties (youth birthday parties, etc.). Another approach could include
placement of small swings for toddlers in that space.
Tom Shirley, Manager of Edinborough/Centennial Lakes Park, and Ann Kattreh, Assistant
Manager of Edinborough/Centennial Lakes Park, will be at the meeting to present their
recommendations with more financial and plan details.
It is my recommendation that the Park Board approve the concept of purchasing and
installing permanent playground equipment on the skating rink at Edinborough Park,
convert the small playground area into a picnic area, and make necessary renovations to
charge an entrance fee to use the lower level area. We are currently in the process of
notifying all residents of Edinborough/Centennial Lakes Park (and others who may have a
vested interest in this proposal) and inviting them to view plans for the park and ask
questions of staff. Some residents may be present at the September Park Board meeting.
Formal Park Board action is requested on this agenda item.
UPDATES
is I will give the Park Board a verbal update on the following projects.
A. Edina Aquatic Center Improvements.
B. Fox Meadow Park Development Project.
C. Skate Park.
D. Off -Leash Dog Park.
E. Disc Golf Course.
F. Teen Night at Edina Aquatic Center.
No formal Park Board action is requested on this agenda item.
OTHER
This is an opportunity for Park Board members and residents to address other concerns.
0
St. Paul agrees to eau i.,,�
A caterer who has . n our nark
been leasing the
downtown space
had the winning bid.
The St. Paul City Council
agreed Wednesday to sell the
downtown indoor park at
Town Square to caterer Mi-
chael Wong, who has hosted
more than 30 banquets there
since leasing the space in
April.
The city closed the park
last year after dwindling as-
sessments from nearby busi-
nesses could no longer sup-
port its $440,000 annual bud-
get. Another factor was the
prospect of having to replac
the overhead windows, a job
that some estimates put at $1
million.
The city received two pur-
chase bids
', $101,500 from
Wongs Town Square Garden
Inc. and another of about
$70,000 from Sentinel Acqui-
sition Corp., which manages
the Town Square complex.
City officials recommend-
ed that the council accept
Wong's bid for the park, which
occupies the top, floor of the
Town Square building.
But Tom Fabel, Sentinel's
attorney, argued Wednesday
that the city should fix the
leaking windows and make
e other necessary repairs before
losing control of the property.
Othmayebelforcedtinel tenants
to leave, he
said.
Wong said that he has al-
ready made significant im-
provements and that the win-
dows require no more than
sealing. He said ownership
will enable him to build a
commercial kitchen on-site
and take reservations for ban-
quet events next year. The
venue has been especially
Popular with Asian -American
groups.
— Kevin Duchschere
Proposal: Charge admission to general "Park" area. "Park" would
be defined as the entire lower level of Edinborough Park excluding
the pool and Amphitheater areas.
• Lower level would need to be secured by adding doorways at the tops of
three sets of stairs; two on the south side by Park Plaza and one by the
Tot Lot.
• Secure Great Hall by adding doors at the two entrances, plus adding an
8' tall, 10' long glass wall by the drinking fountain.
• Add a gym divider curtain in the Great Hall to break the Gym in half to
allow us to have two separate activities going on in the Hall at the same
time. I.e. jumper on one side, open play on the other. Great Hall
activities would include balls, jump ropes, hula hoops, scooters,
inflatable jumper, tumble mats, kid's basketball, possible climbing wall,
etc. We would still use the Hall for adult basketball, volleyball, and
special events as needed.
• We would eliminate the existing Ice Skating rink and install a large play
structure with 5-6 slides, climbing structures, catwalks, tunnels, and
activity panels. The capacity of this structure would be 125+ kids ages
5-12.
• The existing Tot Lot could stay in place for use as a toddlers play area,
with some minor modifications. The structure works well for the under 5
crowd and would give the smallest kids an area of their own in which to
play. Another option would be to remove this structure and use the space
as a picnic area that could be rented out to groups.
• Eliminate Friday evening Special Event rentals from November through
March. This would allow us to keep the Park open on Friday evenings
until 9pm, letting people swim, use the track, playground and gym. It
would also allow us to keep the Great Hall open on Friday afternoons
and on Saturday mornings, when it is traditionally closed for event set-
up/tear-down. This would help keep our winter focus on being an indoor
Park instead of a rental facility.
• There would be two admission charges: 1. Pool/track admission of $4
resident/$ 5non-resident. 2. Park admission of $2.50 resident/$3.50
non-resident. We could offer discounted or complimentary admissions
to adults and seniors. There would still not be any admissions charge for
concerts or entertainment.
•
Projected Revenues:
Daily Admissions $102,600
Based on average of 150 people per day November -April, and 40 people per
day from May -October at $3 per person. Additional revenues could be
generated through Birthday party packages, concessions and special events.
Expenses:
Start-up Costs:
Installation of doors $25,000
Play items for Great Hall $ 75000
Gym divider $ 6,000
Play Structure $56,000
Flooring for play structure $20,000
Other expenses:
Lost Friday Rental revenues $ 8,000*
*Net after deducting labor savings.
Edinborough Park Survey Results
A survey was undertaken of the users of Edinborough Park so as to better understand the
customer base at the park. In addition, we wanted to gauge the public reaction to the
possibility of a user fee for some of the areas of the Park that have traditionally been
complimentary. Highlights of the results are as follows:
• Of the 485 park patrons that listed their hometown, 69% were non-residents,
approximately 15% were "members" of the development, and 15% were Edina
residents.
• The two park amenities that draw the most people to Edinborough Park are the
Tot Lot and the Great Hall, both of which are free.
• A larger Tot Lot was the # 1 requested amenity by a nearly 3-1 margin over the
next most requested amenity — food.
• Out of approximately 500 responses, 74% of people surveyed would pay a user
fee to use the Tot Lot and/or Great Hall at Edinborough Park. This number would
probably be higher, but many people incorrectly assume that they are already
paying for the use of these areas in the form of taxes or association fees.
• Of 124 Edina residents expressing an opinion on user fees, 68% said that they
would pay to use the park's "free" areas.
Paid Admissions 1997
17,706
Paid Admissions 1998
14,346
Paid Admissions 1999
12,136
Paid Admissions 2000
11,458
Paid Admissions 2001
10,255
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Edinborough Park Ice Skating Rink
2001 EOY Status report
Revenues:
Admissions
Skate Rental
Lesson Income
Total Revenues
Expenses:
Repair & Maintenance
Labor
General Supplies
Energy useage
Depreciation on machinery/equipment
Total Expenses
$12,340
$ 7,345
$10,992
$30,677
$ 9,219
$ 4,800
$ 2,600
$ 8,500+
$ 6,070
$31,189
The Zambom, kickplates and ice edger are scheduled for replacement in 2004 at a cost of
$32,000.
The Ice Rink chiller system has experienced numerous problems over the past few years
and has been recommended for replacement by 2005 at an estimated cost of $100,000.