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EDINA PARK BOARD
Tuesday, May 14, 1996
7:30 p.m.
Manager's Conference Room
Edina City Hall
A G E N D A
City of Edina
* 1. Approval of March 12, 1996, Park Board meeting minutes.
* 2. Lewis Park Basketball Court.
is 3. Lake Edina Park Playground Equipment.
4. Park Referenda Review.
5. Other.
* 6. Adjournment.
* These are agenda items that require or request Park Board
action.
City Hall (612) 927-8861
4801 WEST 50TH STREET FAX (612) 927-7645
EDINA, MINNESOTA 55424-1394 TDD (612) 927-5461
CITY OF EDINA
PARK AND RECREATION DEPARTMENT
MEMORANDUM
DATE: April 30, 1996
TO: All Park Board Members
�,'
FROM: John Keprios, Directo 1
,J 6
SUBJECT: Staff report for upcoming Park Board meeting.
Enclosed you should find the following items:
1. May 14, 1996, Park Board Agenda.
2. Lake Edina Park playground equipment petition.
3. Letter from Les and Mary Robison.
4. Letter from A.G. Lowell.
5. Letter from Donna E. Hanbery.
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 in case last minute
items come up between now and the Park Board meeting, plus,
cover any other concerns of Park Board members and/or
attendees.
LEWIS PARK BASKETBALL COURT
Mr. Bill Lykken, a resident who lives near Lewis Park, has
requested that this item be on the Park Board agenda for
discussion. Mr. Lykken is requesting that an outdoor basketball
court be built at Lewis Park. There are currently no plans to
add an outdoor basketball court facility at that park.
There is a plan to build an outdoor basketball court facility at
Wooddale Park as part of the park referendum.
For some background on Edina's outdoor basketball court
facilities, there are currently eight parks that have a
basketball court:
1. Alden Park (1/2 court)
2. Chowen Park
3. Countryside Park
4. Heights Park (1/2 court)
5. Normandale Park
6. Strachauer Park
7. Todd Park
8. Weber Park
In addition, there are also outdoor basketball courts at Edina's
Elementary Schools.
According to a local contractor, a new basketball court costs
approximately $10,000 to build.
-2-
Although the park improvement bond referendum plan does not
include the addition of a basketball court at Lewis Park, there
is ample funding in the Developer's Fund to cover such an
expense.
In staff's opinion, this is more of a park use issue than a
financial resource issue. In other words, should a permanent
basketball court take precedence over a softball/baseball field
that also doubles as a soccer field. The only reasonable space
available for a permanent basketball court at Lewis Park would be
on the far west side of the park near the pathway and just west
of the soccer field.
When Lewis Park was planned and developed in the early 1980's,
the master plan called for two soccer/football fields and one
softball/baseball field. Because of the rapid growth in the
soccer program, the master plan was altered to include a third
soccer field on the west end. A basketball court was not part of
the original master plan. This is not to suggest that a
basketball court should never be considered for Lewis Park.
In making the decision to add permanent amenities to parks,
please remember that it is more difficult and unpopular to remove
amenities once they are in place than it is to not construct them
in the first place.
If the park improvement bond issue passes, it is reasonable to
expect several requests in the near future from residents all
throughout the community to add particular amenities in parks
closest to their homes. I would expect several similar requests
for a variety of amenities once residents begin to see
improvements throughout the park system. The truth is that there
is a limit to what we can and should add to Edina's park system.
Even though there may be enough funding currently to add certain
things, we should be concerned about future operating expenses
and availability of resources to adequately maintain additional
amenities in the future.
The addition of a basketball court at Lewis Park is worthy of
discussion, however, it is staff's recommendation that the
request be denied.
Park Board action is requested on this matter.
LAKE EDINA PLAYGROUND EOUIPNE;NT
When the City of Edina purchased and expanded the Normandale Golf
Course, we promised residents of that area that the City would be
replacing the playground equipment at Lake Edina Park. In order
to expand the Normandale Golf Course, it was necessary to remove
the existing playground equipment. There was no organized
opposition towards replacing the equipment at that time, only
supporters.
This year we expect to have funding to place new playground
equipment in the park's new location, where a concrete border
ring was installed four years ago. However, there has been some
strong opposition, particularly by those whose properties are
immediately adjacent to the park. Copies of two letters and a
petition with 26 signatures who are opposed are enclosed in this
packet for your review.
-3 -
Those who oppose the playground equipment object for a variety of
reasons, however, their main concern is having children walking
across their private property to access the park. Other reasons
for their opposition include:
-Lack of adequate parking.
-Lack of demonstrated need for playground equipment.
-Safety hazard due to arrant golf balls.
Knowing that there are some residents who are in favor of
installing playground equipment, I will soon be mailing a notice
to all residents within a two block radius of the park to invite
them to attend a meeting on Wednesday, May 22, 1996, 7:00 p.m.,
Edina City Hall Council Room.
Staff is not requesting any Park Board action at this time,
however, it would be helpful if a Park Board member would be
available and willing to attend the meeting on May 22. This may
be an agenda item requesting action at the June Park Board
meeting.
PARK REFERENDA REVIEW
Staff will provide the results of the special election by
precinct for each referendum. Staff will also be giving a report
as to the park improvement plan for 1996 based on the outcome of
each park referendum.
If the $5.5 million bond issue passes, I intend to form a task
force committee to design new replacement warming houses at:
1. Cornelia School Park
2. Todd Park
3. Walnut Ridge Park
4. Weber Park
I would also like a Park Board member to serve on this task
force. It is my intention to have this task force committee
visit warming house facilities in other communities and give
staff input as to the design of each shelter building. This task
force would consist of 11 people; two from each park area, two
staff and one Park Board member.
Duties of this task force committee might also include
interviewing architects for the projects. If the bond issue
passes, the design process would begin in 1996 and the
construction process would begin in 1997.
If the $5.5 million bond issue and/or the $2.5 million bond issue
does not pass, staff will be prepared to discuss alternative
plans.
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To: The Edina Parkboard 6/20/95
A few comments on the play area currently being developed in the Lake Edina
Park. As stated in the letter a few years back, before the Normandale golf course
development, I am opposed to this public play area, located 150 feet from my back yard.
My home is located at 7505 Kellogg Ave. and I also own the apartment buildings
located at 4350 and 4380 Parklawn Ave. My kids are in college, and as I have no
grandchildren, I leave it to you to consider the source in this matter.
My basis for opposition is as follows:
1) The need is not apparent to me. A brief tour of the neighborhood reveals that those
with children have play equipment in their own backyards.
2) Access is limited to two narrow corridors at the south end of the park. Trespassing
through private home yards and my apartments on Parklawn Ave. should be anticipated
and accepted with our eyes wide open. Let's not act surprised later.
3) Parking is limited to street curb side at the two south ends. I am trying to come up
with ideas as to how to keep cars out of my apartment lot. I already get the "Oh, isn't this
park property?" from the golfers using the park now.
4) The demographics of the area, in my opinion, will change. This is probably viewed as
positive by many, and maybe all but me. This is a small park, with restricted access and
limited capacity. There are large, nearby facilities available such as Lake Cornelia Park,
which were engineered to serve the community. The more than 500 apartments east of
Parklawn Avenue are best served by such a facility. My desire to not have strangers in my
back yard, will not deprive any child of a suitable and accessible play area.
5) The play area is rather far from the streets, and not readily visible from Kellogg or from
Parklawn Ave. Given this seclusion, we can expect the usual 12-16 year olds
congregating at the late hours of the night. This occurred at the old location, but was a
long ways away, and thus tolerable.
So what do I suggest? Create a "back to nature" island in the center park area. A
couple of areas 50 feet long by 15 feet wide, planted with a few small trees and bushes.
Put some tree trunks and logs in them, let the grass grow, and let the kids build forts,
caves, and so forth. The rabbits, birds, etc. will love it and this should cost little, and have
minimal up -keep. If properly located over the present cement outcropping, these more
natural play areas could be a solution to the damage the cement causes to mowing
equipment.
Given that the play area will proceed, please consider equipment with earth
friendly colors such that it will blend with the existing green environment. Please avoid
bright reds and yellows, etc.
A few questions:
--Will there be a night light?
--Will the play area be handicap accessible? If so, will paths be constructed? And, if so,
where will these be located?
So much for a "few" comments.
Sincerely yours
c- ./A.G.fow_erz�
LES & MARY ROBISON
7421 KELLOGG AVENUE SOUTH
EDINA, MINNESOTA 55435
June 22, 1995
John Keprios
Chairman
Edina Park Board
4801 W. 50th Street
Edina, MN 55424
Dear Mr. Kaprios,
We are writing to voice our objection to the proposal to install playground equipment in the
Lake Edina Park. The planned placement is in close proximity to our backyard at 7421
Kellogg Avenue South.
Our opposition to the proposed playground equipment is based on:
♦ The lack of demonstrated need for another playground in the area, given the
excellent facilities available at Cornelia school and Lake Cornelia.
♦ Our concern that the lack of access to the park will increase the likelihood that
individuals will walk through private yards to enter the park.
♦ The lack of sufficient and designed parking.
♦ The suitability of the area as a playground, since this is an area where geese
aggregate in the spring and fall and leave droppings which essentially make the area
non -usable.
♦ The close location to the city golf cokirse. where stray balls could iriure children and
result in liability to the city and taxpayers.
If the city wants to modify the existing park, we would favor an open discussion of possible
options which would include increasing the number of trees and upgraded maintenance. We
would however, strongly oppose creating an environment which would foster late-night
aggregation of teens and young adults.
We join our fellow neighbors to urge you and the Edina Park Board to abandon the
proposed installation of a playground and consider better uses of the taxpayer's money.
Sincerely,
DONNA E. HANBERY
4705 SUNNYSIDE ROAD
EDINA, MN 55424
926-0610 (H)
340-9350 (W)
April 16, 1996
John Keprios, Park Director
Edina Park and Recreation Department
4801 West 50th Street
Edina, MN 55424
d
�Kndy Montgomery, Park Board Chairperson
Edina Park and Recreation Department
4801 West 50th Street
Edina, MN 55424
Gentlemen:
I am an Edina resident. On May 7, I will be supporting the bond referendum to improve
Edina parks.
I want to take this opportunity, however, to address a growing need in the City of Edina that
is not being addressed by the referendum or any present plans relating to Edina parks.
There is a crying need in our city for soccer fields that can be made available to adults. I
play on a team called "The Young and the Rest of Us." It is an adult women's soccer team
that is made up primarily of adult women in their 30s, 40s, and 50s. Most of us live or work
in Edina.
For the last three years, we have been fortunate enough to be given the chance to rent field
space at Pamela Park. But every year when we put in our request to rent park space, we
are told that space may not be available. The youth and traveling soccer teams generally
come first and there is a scarcity of field space in the city.
Last year, I supported a move by some representatives of the Park and Recreation staff and
the Edina Youth Soccer Association to convert a field at Lewis into a full-time adult field.
It is my understanding that this proposal was defeated so that the use of this space for the
bandy rink could be continued. It remains a puzzle to me that Edina provides a large, high
cost to maintain, ice rink for a few weeks out of each year for use primarily by non -Edina
residents.
John Keprios, Park Director
Andy Montgomery, Park Board Chairperson
April 16, 1996
Page 2
I did not like being involved in a contest that seemed to pit one adult sport against another.
But I would like to stress that adults deserve equal opportunity and access to the community
soccer fields.
I also serve on the Board of the Minnesota Women's Soccer League. There are
approximately 35 teams in the Twin Cities metropolitan area in the league and field use is
a dilemma in all communities. I hope that the Park and Recreation planners in the City of
Edina would consider the needs of adult players in future planning. Our league plays on
Mondav to Thursday etenings and thus competes Arith the youth leagues. It is not workable
to ask the adult leagues to switch their game times to weekends or Friday evenings as these
are prime times for busy mothers to be addressing family and other responsibilities.
Edina has done a fine job encouraging its youth to appreciate soccer as a life sport. As
these people become adults, they want an opportunity to continue the sport. Several of the
women on our team grew up in Edina and were introduced to the sport in high school.
As I look forward to the Edina referendum, and making my own property tax payment, I
hope the needs of adult soccer players for field time can be one of the objectives for future
planning purposes. One idea, or perhaps I should say source of frustration, that comes to
mind is the number of facilities controlled by the Edina schools that do not seem to be well
utilized in the summer months. As a single person with a big property tax bill each year,
it does not seem like a lot to expect that the Edina school system could share some of its
resources with programs operated by the Edina Park and Recreation Department so that
all citizens of Edina would have better access to the community's facilities.
Thank you for this opportunity to present my concerns. On behalf of myself and my team,
I hope that we are able to continue to rent an Edina field as our home field this year and
in years to come.
Vel truly yours,
DONNA E. HANBERY �.
1995 OAK WILT
CONTROL
�
THE CITY OF EDINA
Submitted by:
Kunde Co., Inc.
Forestry Consultants
• 1995 Oak Wilt Control Program
A comprehensive urban forestry program is a desirable feature for
any city. The needs of a city vary according to size, age, and
makeup of its urban forest. The Kunde Co., Inc. is working to
provide a program that will meet Edina's urban forestry needs.
Oak wilt is found in the upper midwest and as far south as Texas.
However, the highest incidence of oak wilt in the country occurs in
the seven county metropolitan area. Oak wilt established itself in
this area long ago, and destroys thousands of trees every year.
The Kunde Co.,Inc. has more than 18 years of experience in the
management and control of oak wilt in Minnesota. Our continuing
work in several cities is showing a dramatic reduction in the
incidence of oak wilt.
We look forward to making 1996 an even better year for oak wilt
control in Edina. Oak trees provide us with cooling shade, wind
protection, noise abatement, wildlife habitat, oxygen, visual
screening, and aesthetic beauty. Considering these attributes of
trees, it is easy to see the intrinsic and economical value of a
program designed to keep these trees alive. we believe that, with
the help of the citizens and City Officials of Edina, together we
can do even more to help keep Edina' s oak trees healthy and growing
for the future.
As always, Kunde Co., Inc. strives to keep program costs as low as
possible. By reducing the disease numbers over the years and
efficiently handling homeowner calls and inspections, we have been
able to keep costs down. Certain parameters and costs exists which
remain fairly constant. For an effective program, the entire
forested area must be ground inspected, along with a review of past
infection centers.
• Kunde Co., Inc. - Forestry Consultants 1
Facts About the Program
• An complete oak wilt inspection of the city was performed in
1995.
• This program was conducted by identifying diseased trees from
the regular ground inspections, and the answering of direct
calls from homeowners.
• 35 red oaks and 2 white were identified as having Oak Wilt at
15 private addresses and 3 public locations.
• The oak wilt program was initiated in 1989, with oak wilt
being found at 110 different sites. Since we were dealing with
large infection centers, the numbers of trees at each
infection center was not recorded.
• In 1990, the number of infection centers had dropped to 55
sites, with 249 red oaks, 15 bur oaks, and 4 white oaks being
identified as having oak wilt.
• There has been a steady drop in the number of infected trees
each year, with 37 infected oaks at 18 different sites being
identified in 1995. Most of the sites contained only 1 or 2
infected trees.
• With regular yearly inspections, oak wilt can t� kept to low
levels. In the absence of an effective program, the number of
new oak wilt infections will increase steadily each year.
0 Kunde Co., Inc. - Forestry Consultants 2
Kunde Co., Inc.
Forestry Consultants
City of Edina
1995 Oak Wilt Control Program
Report of Diseased Oaks by Infection Center
Report Summaries
Number of Infection Centers : 18
Number of Individual Addresses 18
Total Number of - Red Oaks : 35 White or Bur Oaks 2
Infection Center Number Date Measured
Address
Number of Infected Trees and Species Name
Infection Center : 1 07/14/95
7012 Antrim Drive
1 - Northern Red Oak
Infection Center : 2 07/17/95
6412 Timber Ridge
1 - Northern Red Oak
Infection Center 3 07/17/95
6913 Valley View Road
5 - Northern Red Oak
Infection Center : 4 07/17/95
6216 Braeburn Circle
8 - Northern Red Oak
Infection Center 5
6939 Mark Terrace Circle
1 —Northern Red Oak
07/17/95
Infection Center : 6 07/17/95
6908 Gleason Road
1 - Northern Red Oak
Infection Center : 7
42 Bello Drive
1 - Northern Red Oak
07/17/95
Infection Center : 8 07/17/95
6629 Dakota Trail
3 - Northern Red Oak
Infection Center : 9
6320 Post Lane
2 - Northern Red Oak
e
07/17/95
Kunde Co., Inc. - Forestry Consultants 3
Infection
Center : 10
07/18/95
Braemar Golf Course
1 - Northern
Red
Oak
Infection
Center 11
07/18/95
Braemar Park
1 - Northern
Red
Oak
Infection
Center 12
07/19/95
5808 Garden Avenue
2 - Northern
Red
Oak
Infection
Center 13
07/19/95
6207 South Knoll Drive
4 - Northern
Red
Oak
Infection
Center 14
07/19/95
Parkwood Rd & Londonderry
2 - Northern
Red
Oak
Infection
Center 15
08/10/95
5220 Blake Road
1 - Northern
Red
Oak
Infection
Center 16
08/10/95
5702 Blake Road
1 - Bur Oak
Infection
Center 17
08/10/95
5417 Malibu Drive
1 - White Oak
Iii -action
Center 18
08/10/95
6315 Timber Trail
1 - Northern
Red
Oak
Kunde Co., Inc. - Forestry Consultants 4
Appendices
The Cause and Spread of Oak Wilt
Oak wilt is a disease caused by the fungus Ceratocystis fagacearum.
Once a tree becomes infected, it rapidly declines as the disease
spreads throughout the tree's vascular system. The presence of the
fungus stimulates the tree to produce gums and resins (called
tyloses) to block the spread of the disease. In red oaks, the
tree's attempt to block the spread of the disease fails, but not
before the production of the gums and resins cuts off the tree's
own water supply, resulting in death. Once an infected red oak
begins to wilt, complete death can be expected in two to four
weeks. Red oaks never recover from the disease. The white oaks are
more resistant to oak wilt and can survive for several years before
succumbing to the disease.
Oaks are infected with oak wilt in two different ways. Insects can
start new infections by carrying spores from wilted trees to fresh
wounds on healthy oaks in the spring. The disease is most often
spread through the roots, from diseased oaks to healthy oaks
sharing common interconnected root systems.
The overland spread of the disease (insect carried spores) is a
problem only in the springtime, from April 15 to July 1. Trees that
wilted the previous July and August are most likely to produce
spores during this hazardous time of year. Sap feeding "picnic
• beetles" (Nitidulidae) carry spores from the spores mats on wilted
trees to healthy trees. Because these beetles are unable to chew
through the bark, fresh wounds (1 or 2 days old) are necessary for
infection. Only about 10% of the wilted trees in a season are
attributable to this form of infection.
Root -graft infections occur when diseased trees share root systems
(the roots actually graft together as they grow) with adjacent
healthy trees. The fungus spreads from tree to tree through these
common root systems. The spread of oak wilt through root grafts
accounts for 90% of the wilted trees in a season and explains the
contiguous areas of dead oaks that represent infection centers.
These infection centers grow exponentially in size from year to
year. It is important to remember that while most trees are
infected through root grafts, the first tree that wilted in the
middle of an oak wilt infection center was always infected by an
insect feeding on a fresh wound between April 15 to July 1.
Kunde Co., Inc. - Forestry Consultants 5
An Effective Oak Wilt Control Program
There is no known cure for oak wilt once a tree is infected. The
spread of oak wilt can be controlled with an effective oak wilt
control program.An effective control program consists of three main
parts: inspection and identification of diseased oaks, root graft
disruption and, a spring sporulation check.
Oak trees infected with oak wilt will die during the spring and
summer months. Inspection and detection of diseased trees is an
important part of a disease control program. Wilted trees serve as
a potential source of spores for the insect -borne transmission of
oak wilt. Additionally, roots of infected trees are usually grafted
with roots of adjacent healthy trees (of the same species). The
fungus can spread from the diseased oak to those healthy oaks
through these common root systems.
Control of oak wilt by disrupting common root systems with a
vibratory plow is accomplished in the summer and fall. The goal is
to separate the roots of diseased trees from those of adjacent
healthy trees. Ninety percent of tree loss due to oak wilt is the
result of the spread of the disease through shared root systems.
Root graft disruption is essential to controlling the growth of oak
wilt infection centers and to minimizing tree loss.
• The final portion of an effective disease program is the spring
sporulation check. About 10% of the oaks dying of oak wilt one year
will produce spore mats the following spring. Identification of
those oaks that are producing mats and removal of those trees will
help to reduce the incidence of new infections. Without this spring
check, it would be necessary to require the removal and disposal of
all diseased oaks. In addition to burdening the homeowner with the
cost of removal and disposal, this requirement also would cause the
loss of potential wildlife trees and, the loss of valuable
firewood. New oak wilt. infections occur only in the spring when
insects feed on spore mats and carry the disease to fresh wounds on
healthy oaks. It is imperative that people do not cut, prune, or
otherwise injure oak trees from April 15 to July 1. If a wound does
occur, it should be covered immediately with tree wound dressing.
Kunde Co., Inc. - Forestry Consultants 6