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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1994-06-14 Park Board PacketCity of Edina EDINA PARK BOARD 7:00 p.m. - Park Tour (depart from City Hall) 8:15 p.m. - Meeting (Manager's Conference Room) June 14, 1994 P A R K T 0 U R Leave City Hall at 7:00 p.m. (Senior Citizen Bus) Visit park sites in the following order: 1. Lake Cornelia Park 2. Normandale Park 3. Todd Park 4. Weber Park 5. Return to City Hall approximately 8:15 p.m. A G E N D A * 1. Approval of May 10, 1994, Park Board meeting minutes. * 2. Approval of outdoor skating rink letter - John Keprios. 3. Tennis courts (use study update and condition report) - Andrew Montgomery and Jean Rydell. 4. Other. * 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: June 9, 1994 TO: All Park Board Members. FROM: John Keprios, Director\w SUBJECT: Enclosed information for the upcoming Park Board meeting and staff report. Enclosed you should find the following items: 1. Tuesday, June 14, 1994 Edina Park Board tour schedule and agenda. 2. May 10, 1994, Park Board meeting minutes. 3. Recommended outdoor skating rink letter to Edina Sun Current. 4. Hockey rink construction and replacement schedule. 5. Tennis court inspection report by Andrew Montgomery and Jean Rydell. 6. Playground equipment site list. 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. OUTDOOR SKATING RINK LEITER The enclosed proposed letter to the Edina Sun Current suggests that the Edina Park Board request letters of opinion from the community at large before making a recommendation to the City Council. The main issues that need to be resolved are: 1. What recommendation does the Edina Park Board have to the Edina City Council concerning the number of maintained outdoor skating areas for the 1993-94 season? 2. What process of community input does the Edina Park Board wish to pursue? It is staff's recommendation that the Edina Park Board receive more community input before making any recommendations to the Edina City Council. M TENNIS COURTS Andrew Montgomery and Jean Rydell have spent a great deal of time to also inspect Edina's tennis court facilities. They have prepared an excellent report on their view of the current conditions of the tennis courts. At this time, staff is in the process of requesting bids from contractors to repair and resurface a select number of tennis court sites and hard -surface sites. The cost of repair/resurface per site will determine the amount of work that can be accomplished this year. There is no action requested on this agenda item. PLAYGROUND EOUIPMENT SITE LIST The enclosed list of sites that have playground equipment is strictly an informational item. Staff was asked at the April Park Board meeting to provide a playground equipment study. This list is the first step in addressing the playground equipment needs in our park system. There is no action requested on this agenda item. As always, if you have any questions or concerns that you would like to discuss with me before the Park Board meeting, feel free to call me at 927-8861 ext. 231.. Many thanks. El CITY OF EDINA PARK AND RECREATION DEPARTMENT MEMORANDUM DATE: June 14, 1994 TO: Edina Sun Current FROM: John Keprios, Director SUBJECT: Outdoor skating rink closings. Please accept this memo as a letter for publication in your next Edina Sun Current newspaper edition. The Edina Park Board would like to inform Edina residents of an important issue that is under consideration and ask for their input by mail. The Edina Park Board is considering a Park and Recreation Department staff recommendation to close (not maintain) four specific outdoor skating rinks for the 1994-95 outdoor skating season. The four rinks that are currently being considered to close for the upcoming outdoor skating rink season are at the following locations: 1. Normandale Park 2. Pamela Park 3. Strachauer Park 4. Walnut Ridge Park The current staff recommendation is based on the following criteria: 1. Attendance figures at each location. 2. Meeting the demand for scheduled activities (hockey, broomball etc.) 3. Cost of maintenance on a per skater basis (fiscal responsibility). 4. Location of rinks throughout the City. 5. Other winter park maintenance needs. 6. Maintained cross-country ski trails. ATTENDANCE FIGURES To summarize the attendance figures, in the late 1970's annual attendance figures totaled over 100,000 outdoor skaters per season (total number of all skaters on Edina's maintained supervised outdoor skating areas). When the Edina Hockey Association moved all scheduled hockey games to indoor ice in the early 19801s, attendance figures dropped dramatically to 30,000-40,000 skaters each season. Over the 1993-94 outdoor skating season, there were a total of only 24,094 skaters. These figures do not include Centennial Lakes outdoor skating attendance. Another reason for a drop in attendance at the local skating rinks is due to the development of the most beautiful outdoor skating facility in the Twin Cities, Centennial Lakes Park. In fact, Centennial Lakes Park alone had over 19,000 skaters during the 1993-94 skating season. Centennial Lakes Park is strictly an outdoor pleasure skating rink does not have a hockey rink and prohibits the use of hockey sticks and pucks. -2 - DEMAND FOR SCHEDULED ACTIVITIES Based on current demand for scheduled outdoor ice activities, the closing of four rinks would not significantly hinder the demand. In 1993-94, the Edina Hockey Association used only 140 of all available outdoor ice (483 total outdoor ice hours). By eliminating three hockey rinks (Strachauer Park does not have a hockey rink), the demand for outdoor hockey rinks would still be met. COST PER SKATER In 1978, outdoor ice was provided at a cost of $.62 per skater. In 1994, it cost $3.69 per skater to provide outdoor skating facilities. Even with the cost of inflation as an added factor, the cost per outdoor skater has increased dramatically over the past several years due to the lack of attendance. OUTDOOR SKATING RINK LOCATIONS Another factor in deciding which four rinks to close includes location. By closing the four rinks mentioned above, there would still be two (2) outdoor skating facilities in each quadrant of the City that would be maintained throughout the outdoor skating season, as shown below: Northeast Southeast Northwest Southwest Arden Centennial Lakes Highlands Creek Valley Weber Cornelia Countryside Lewis • WINTER PARK MAINTENANCE NEEDS By closing four outdoor skating rink facilities, park maintenance personnel would have the opportunity to accomplish other much needed and desired winter maintenance tasks, such as: a. Tree trimming, which must be done during cold weather months to avoid tree infection. b. Indoor building maintenance and repair. c. Cross-country ski trail maintenance. d. Comprehensive park system garbage collection program. CROSS-COUNTRY SKI TRAILS By making more maintenance personnel available for duties other than maintaining outdoor skating rinks, additional winter recreation activities could be offered. Professionally groomed cross-country ski trails could be provided a various sites in the Edina park system throughout the winter months. If resources (funding and manpower) were abundant, the Edina Park Board would have a professionally maintained outdoor skating rink at every neighborhood park. However, with limited resources, the Edina Park Board is concerned that Edina's tax supported resources are allocated effectively, responsibly and fairly for the community at large. Allocation of resources and policies are ultimately the decision of the Edina City Council, however, the Edina Park Board is responsible for providing the Edina City • Council with recommendations on Park and Recreation matters that reflect the voice of (and for the betterment of) the community at large. -3 - Therefore, at this point in the process, the Edina Park Board is very concerned about one more criteria, which is the community's response to this recommendation. Therefore, the Edina Park Board is asking for input from Edina's residents. If you have a recommendation, concern, idea or opinion that you would like to share on this important subject, the Edina Park Board asks that you send a letter to: The Edina Park Board Outdoor Skating Rinks c/o Edina Park and Recreation Department 4801 West 50th Street Edina, MN 55424 The Edina Park Board will be considering this recommendation at their July 12, 1994, monthly meeting. Their recommendation will then be forwarded to the Edina City Council, who will ultimately accept, modify or reject the recommendation. If you have questions concerning this subject, please call the Edina Park and Recreation Department office at 927-8861. Thank you in advance for your valuable input! EDINA PARK AND RECREATION DEPARTMENT HOCKEY RINKS CONSTRUCTION AND REPLACEMENT DATES Rink Location Year Constructed 1. Weber 1986 2. Lewis 1986 3. Normandale 1987 4. Walnut Ridge 1987 5. Countryside 1988 6. Creek Valley 1989 7. Arden 1993 8. Highlands 1982 9. Pamela 1983 10. Cornelia School 1984 11. Strachauer Removed 12. Todd Removed Replacement Year 1996 1996 1997 1997 1998 1999 2003 1994 1995 1996 Note: Life expectancy of a hockey rink is 10 years. DATE: TO: FROM: RE: CITY OF EDINA PARK AND RECREATION DEPARTMENT MEMORANDUM June 9, 1994 Park Board Commission Members Andrew Montgomery and Jean Rydell Tennis Court Inspection During the evening of May 17, 1994, we visited the fifteen parks that have tennis facilities. We observed limited use of the courts during a beautiful evening. Our observations of the courts' conditions were as follows: PARK COMMENTS Pamela Park Many cracks in the surface. Several drainage problems. Fencing and nets were good. Condition - Poor. Lake Cornelia Large cracks in service areas. Needs major dose of "weed killer." Fencing and nets were good. Condition - Poor. Cornelia School Limited cracks but surface peeling. Has it been cut from roller blading? Fencing and nets in good condition. Condition - Fair. Yorktown Park Large cracks in surface. No belt on west court net. Fencing on north of west court. Allows balls to go outside. Condition - Fair Minus. Lewis Park Court surface appears to be cut. Similar to Cornelia School. Nets and fencing good. Condition - Good. Braemar Park The condition of these courts is embarrassing. Grass growing in large cracks. Fencing and nets good. Condition - Very Poor. Creek Valley One of three excellent facilities. Noted cracks along paving seams. Condition - Excellent. Walnut Ridge Major peeling of surface. Suffered major deterioration over the winter. Nets and fencing good. Condition - Poor. • Highlands Park East court worse than west court. Fencing on south side allows balls to go through. Weeds in cracks. Condition - Fair Minus. Todd Park Surface peeling. West court poor. Tie down on west court missing. East net has hole. Condition - Fair Plus. Garden Park Courts and fencing in excellent shape. Needs small fence by east entrance. Condition - Excellent. Noted limited playground equipment. Countryside West Court much better than east court. Prior patching has deteriorated. Condition - Fair Plus. Normandale Fencing on south side of west court allows balls to pass under fencing. Surface is very good. Condition - Excellent. One crank not there and second damaged. Net cable should be checked. Weber Park Many cracks in playing surfaces. No net tie down on east court. Condition - Poor. Utley Park Lots of cracks. Drainage problems. Nets and fencing good. Condition - Poor Plus. General Comments - The state of tennis courts in Edina does not meet acceptable levels for above average tennis players. There are only three facilities out of fifteen where you could run any type of tournament. The tennis facilities at Edina High School (seven courts) and Community Center (seven courts) provide good surfaces for the more serious players. In addition, the northwest indoor tennis facilities provide "free" courts for the summer months of June -August which include four outdoor facilities within Edina (Midwest and Normandale). Tennis appears to be on the decrease as a recreational activity. Conclusion - Some tough decisions must be made by the Park Board related to expending the necessary dollars to reconstruct facilities. It does not appear that $30,000 is a prudent expenditure of funds which could be better spent for playground equipment, paving facilities for basketball, etc. courts, if not repaired, should be dismantled and fences removed. 1994 MAINTENANCE PRIORITIES Repair and resurface the following tennis courts: PARKS 1. Lake Cornelia Pool 2. Pamela 3. Todd 4. Utley 5. Walnut Ridge 6. Weber ESTIMATED COST $3,000 $5,000 $6,000 $3,000 $6,000 $3,000 $26,000 Rebuild the following hard surface courts: 1. Todd $20,000 (1993 capital plan) 2. Normandale $20,000 (paths/hard surface) 3. Weber $20,000 (Edina Basketball Assoc.) $60,000 Rebuild the following playground equipment sites: 1. Lewis 2. Lake Cornelia $20,000 (capital plan) $300,000 (fund raising) $320,000 Re -lamp lighting at Courtney Fields: 1. Field #1 $7,200 Replace living room carpet in Arneson Acres park building: 0 1. Living room only $820 Replace Wooddale merry-go-round with see -saw structure: 1. Wooddale playground $1,200 Rebuild/repair as many of the following rotted roofs as possible, listed in priority (must stay within $55,000 budget): 1. Normandale $12,000 2. Weber $30,000 3. *Pamela $25,000 4. Highlands 5. Arden 6. Countryside 7. Strachauer 8. *Creek Valley * = 1/2 paid by Utility Dept. Note concerning roof repair: Cost is estimated between $7.00 - $15.00/square foot, depending upon amount of interior structural repair is needed. r - PLAYGROUND EQUIPMENT Year Installed 1. Alden Park 1987 2. Arden Park ? *3. Birchest Park 1979 *4. Braemar Park ? 5. Chowen Park 1991 *6. Countryside Park 1979 *7. Garden Park 1979 8. Heights Park 1987 9. Highlands Park ? *10. Lake Cornelia Park 1979-1988 *11. Lewis Park ? 12. McGuire Park 1989 13. Normandale Park 1986 14. Pamela Park 1990 15. Sherwood Park 1992 *16. Strachauer Park 1979 *17. Tingdale Park 1979 *18. Todd Park 1979 *19. Walnut Ridge Park ? *20. Weber Park ? 21. Wooddale Park 1986 22. York Park 1990 23. 44th St. Park 1991 Purchase Price $14,950.00 $21,583.00 $11,871.00 $10,116.00 $19,226.00 $24,318.66 $24,651.30 $15,633.34 $12,553.00 NOTE: ? = All playground equipment areas that have "?" listed under year installed were installed between 1970 and 1986. * = These playground equipment sites are currently in need of replacement. Playground equipment areas that are planned to be installed within the next five years: 1. Lake Edina Park 2. Van Valkenburg Park • Kristine McKeon-Rohman 7301 Oaklawn Avenue Edina, MN 55435 Mr. Fred Richards Mayor City of Edina 4801 West 50th Street Edina, MN 55424 Dear Mr. Richards: As you may know, the Edina School District has decided to ban the application of all pesticides (herbicides, insecticides, etc.) on school grounds. This action is a reflection of an administration that values a child's health over a lawn's aesthetic value. The ban is endorsed by the National PTA which states that our nation's children should not be put at an increased risk of cancer or other health problems as a result of an exposure to pesticides. This commendable policy, however, is severely compromised because the City of Edina does treat the City parks with herbicides. On May 19, 1994, I walked with my children across the Cornelia School fields with other neighborhood children on their way to school. Unknown to us, the wet grass at our feet was actually a fresh herbicide application. No signs were posted at this time and we did not see the tractor and sprayer until we reached the upper level of the school grounds. I contacted John Keprios and inquired about any hazards of the herbicide exposure. He assured me that the herbicide was absolutely "safe" for children. I also contacted the manufacturer of the herbicide. The manufacturer's representative told me that the herbicide had been tested extensively and that no dangers had been found. He also told me that the label instructions clearly stated that no one but the protected handler should be allowed in the direct area or any areas affected by drift during application. Noncompliance with the label requirement is a violation of federal law. The City of Edina at the very least should have been expected to wait until the 8:30 a.m. commencement of school before beginning the herbicide application. I contacted independent research centers and received information about the specific herbicide used by the City of Edina and herbicides in general. The herbicide used by Edina contains the chemicals 2,4-D, mecoprop and dicamba. The U.S. General Accounting Office reports that 2,4-D was on Special Review at the EPA from 1986 - 1989 based on evidence of increased cancer risk among farmers handling similar herbicides, phenoxys. In 1989 the EPA decided not to act on 2,4-D until two epidemiological studies in progress at the National Cancer Institute were complete and reviewed. The EPA has considered suspending 2,4-D and in the interim has moved toward voluntary risk reduction. A National Cancer Institute study found that when parents used herbicides or insecticides outdoors, their children were 6.5 times more likely to get leukemia. Children are at an especially high risk of exposure due to their playing habits. Exposure to herbicides/insecticides tends to be more hazardous to children than to the average adult because children's cells are dividing more rapidly and adolescent organ systems are still developing. According to Dr. Theo Colburn of the World Wildlife Fund, 2,4-D had been associated with endocrin (hormonal) disrupting effects. Increased risk of cancer for dogs whose owners use 2,4-D four or more times a year is two times greater. Also, some studies have found 2,4-D to be a water cor" pant. It is my understanding that the Minneapolis Park ana _ rrreation Board has banned 2,4-D since 1991. The Rachel Carson Council told me that herbicide manufacturers and the Government, e.g. EPA and City of Edina/John Keprios are not allowed to state that herbicides are "safe". The FDA can call certain food and drugs "safe", but the EPA lacks sufficient testing to offer proof for such a claim for herbicides. The Federal Government's own General Accounting Office (GAO) has issued a report stating that the EPA has made little progress in assessing the health risks of widely used lawn -care chemicals. In December of 1991, the GAO issued a report criticizing the U.S. Department of Agriculture's testing and quality control methods, claiming they don't adequately protect consumers. The EPA fails to warn of other items, such as breakdown products which can become 50 times more toxic according to the World Health Organization. Inerts, considered trade secrets by manufacturers, are excluded from testing in setting of tolerance levels, yet are often the highest percentage of "non-active" ingredients on the label of lawn care products. Some inerts identified by the EPA are the carcinogens: DDT, Dioxin, lead, chloroform, benzine, mercury, asbestos, formaldehyde and carbon tetrachloride. There are eight hundred to nine hundred unknown inerts. The herbicide used by the City of Edina contains up to 50% inert ingredients. Understanding inert ingredients is key to recognizing the risk to our children of chemical lawn applications. There is simply no way to determine when and if a chemically treated area is safe to expose to the children. The bottom line between opponents and advocates of herbicides is that no one can be absolutely sure about the effect of herbicides on our children. We should be willing to err on the conservative side when our childrens' health is at risk. Even if a person were comfortable with the risk of the herbicides to children, the incident on May 19 should convey that it is difficult for the City of Edina to ensure that herbicide applications will be in compliance with label instructions. Another risk is that applicators frustrated with the effect of the label mandated "herbicide -to -water" ratios may change formulas for more significant results. I would like the City of Edina to ban the use of herbicides and insecticides near and on the play areas in City parks. Such a proud step might be considered progressive today but certainly is inevitable considering the growing public awareness of pesticide dangers. I spoke to Mr. Keprios about this request and he stated that the City of Edina treats the City parks with herbicides because it is felt that this is what the citizens of Edina desire based on the number of complaints the City of Edina receives about weeds. I have written a letter to the editor of the Sun Current in hopes that citizens of Edina will call City Hall with concerns about the use of herbicides. I would very much like to hear from you as to how a herbicide ban to Edina's city parks could be enacted. I hope I can have your support. My home phone number is 844-0837 and my work number is 721-9819. CC: John Keprios v Edina City Council Edina Park Board Vincent Cockriel • Sincerely, `=�)//l cid 1,P CHLL o�� 1PLa-A� Kristine McKeon-Rohman L 6 keI� � 88� r P j� jpQp�� aa 8 is EL a x it Aw IN LF BbS q.nJE g OgtBog=8 Y $0lie ug�10 a a�99 s ". W W 5 WC. a� J W d. I QU. o 0 o:E 2c LL N O C O CC 2C m W W y 0 M W LAJ x W CL b Q U i �:� � i : : stgb i. d C b ts i'O U 00 ?3 i Uri, ub o ! o IY �� o�� Zo iE y�vi�n� d osY � ul Th d nq 4•- w crmm worocc C7 G�� L �d N O O S LU E N N M LU a 2 v_oi H W W 5 WC. a� J W d. I QU. o 0 o:E 2c LL N O C O CC 2C m W W y 0 M W LAJ x W