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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1994-09-13 Park Board PacketCity of Edina EDINA PARK BOARD 8:00 p.m. NOTE: THE MEETING WILL START Manager's Conference Room AT 8:00 P.M. BECAUSE OF THE September 13, 1994 PRIMARY ELECTION A G E N D A 1. Approval of the July 12, 1994 Park Board Minutes * 2. Arneson Park Gazebo Plan - Mary Brindle, President of the Edina Garden Council. * 3. Outdoor Skating Rink Recommendation - John Keprios 4. Braemar Arena Report - Larry Thayer, Manager of Braemar Arena 5. Park Bond Referendum Process - Jon Gurban, Executive Director of the Minnesota Recreation and Park Association 6. NRPA Park and Recreation Board Member Publication 7. Annual Park Board Agenda Items 8. 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: September 7, 1994 TO: All Park Board Members. FROM: John Keprios, Directo SUBJECT: Enclosed information for the upcoming Park Board meeting and staff report. Enclosed you should find the following items: 1. July 12, 1994, Park Board meeting minutes. 2. September 13, 1994, Park Board Agenda. 3. Arneson Acres Park historical information and "Tree of Life for Morton Arneson." 4. Park improvements Plan A and Plan B. 5. NRPA Park and Recreation Board Member publication. 6. Suggested annual Park Board agenda items. 7. Tabulation of petitions and letters received on keeping outdoor rinks open. 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. ARNESON PARR GAZEBO PLAN Mary Brindle, Edina Garden Council President, will be presenting the Garden Council's gazebo building proposal for your approval. The Edina Garden Council has been raising funds to design and build the gazebo. I ask that Bob Kojetin be first to present some of the history behind the project. After Bob's presentation, Mary Brindle will then be making her presentation on behalf of the Edina Garden Council. The current gazebo plan is slightly altered from the original proposed gazebo that was first presented to the Edina Park Board and City Council. The enclosed information on Arneson Acres Park and Tree of Life plan outlines some of the history behind the master plan for Arneson Acres Park. It is staff's recommendation that the Edina Park Board first analyze the history of the project (based on Bob Kojetin's presentation). Secondly, I ask that the Park Board review the current recommendation from the Edina Garden Council (based on Mary Brindle's presentation) and make a recommendation to the City Council as to whether or not you approve of the new design. -2 - OUTDOOR SKATING RINK RECONII41KNDATION Based on the input from the community and the results of the July 12, 1994, Park Board meeting, staff is recommending that the Edina Park and Recreation Department maintain all of the same outdoor skating facilities that were maintained during the 1993-94 season with the exception of Strachauer Park. Staff still maintains that it is financially prudent to close more than one outdoor skating rink facility, however, the community has clearly communicated the following concerns: 1. The neighborhood park concept is vitally important to the growth and development of our youth. 2. The community is concerned about the unknown future demands that may be put on outdoor hockey rinks due to the promotion and development of girls hockey and the Edina Hockey Association's desire to use more scheduled outdoor hockey rink time. 3. Residents expressed a willingness to pay more taxes if it were necessary to keep the remaining outdoor rinks maintained. 4. Residents have stated that, in this case, they do not want fiscal responsibility to be carried out at the expense of the growth and development of their children. 5. The outdoor skating rink facilities are an extremely valuable neighborhood recreational opportunity for both 1%W youth and adults. Staff recommends that the Edina Park and Recreation Department not maintain Strachauer Park outdoor skating area for the 1994-95 season for three reasons: 1. Low attendance in 1993-94 season (only 533). 2. No hockey rink at the site. 3. Very little community input/demand from that area. Therefore, staff is recommending that the Edina Park Board recommend to the Edina City Council to direct staff to maintain all of the same outdoor skating facilities that were maintained during the 1993-94 season with the exception of Strachauer Park_ BRA04AR ARENA REPORT Mr. Larry Thayer, Braemar Arena Manager, will be giving the Edina Park Board the annual report on Braemar Arena. The report will be a recap of the past year's operations and activities that have taken place at Braemar Arena as well as upcoming activities and/or issues concerning Braemar Arena. PARK BOND REFERENDUM PROCESS The City of Edina has one of the finest Park Systems in the world, in which everyone takes great pride. Unfortunately, a good share of the infrastructure is over twenty (20) years old and is in need of repair and/or replacement at this time. Edina Park Board members took a park tour in June to visit some of the park areas in need of improvements. In addition, I hope to have a slide presentation of some of our existing park system to help visualize some (and not all) of the park improvement needs. -3- Enclosed is a first draft of the park improvement needs and desires of the community as perceived by staff. The dollar figures are staff's rough estimates at this time in an attempt to outline the overall statement of problem. With the current budget restraints regarding capital and operational funding, it appears as though we need to consider an alternate means of funding park improvements. One alternative to funding park improvements is through a general obligation bond. Mr. Jon Gurban, Executive Director of the Minnesota Recreation and Park Association, has accepted my invitation to volunteer an evening of his time to give the Edina Park Board a presentation on the process of funding park improvements through a bond referendum process. Mr. Gurban has extensive knowledge in this area and I am very grateful for willingness to help educate all of us on this process. I am sure that you will find his presentation educational and enlightening. Our goal is to educate the Park Board members on this process to ensure that you don't feel overwhelmed by the magnitude of the issues at hand. Please know that this is simply the beginning of a very long process. There are many facts and figures that staff will be providing to the Park Board for several months ahead before any action will be recommended by staff. We are at the infancy stage of an exciting process which will may ultimately involve all Park Board members, staff, and the community. NRPA PARR AND RECREATION BOARD MEMBER PUBLICATION A copy of the NRPA Park and Recreation Board Member publication is enclosed for your review. I hope that this publication offers you some helpful information as it relates to your important volunteer service as a Park Board Member. ANNUAL PARK BOARD AGENDA ITEMS Enclosed is a list of suggested Park Board agenda items that could be addressed on an annual basis. Arneson Acres 8/10/93 On January 2nd 1969 Morton and Katherine Arneson donated "Arneson Acres" to the Citizens of Edina. In his dedication speech, Mort Arneson described how he would like to see the park developed. - a mall 500 feet long and 100 feet wide - the mall will have walks and benches - a fountain as the central object of interest - statuary - anything that may add interest He then went on to describe his loves of flowers and the hope that Edina would one day be known as the "Garden City of the State of Minnesota". - There is nothing in the world so beautiful as a flower His goes on to cite examples of historic landscapes which have most inspired him:- -The Garden of Eden. Its shrubs, trees and flowers were a place for repose and tranquility. - You've also heard of the Hanging gardens of babylon - a fantastic undertaking Nebakanesar, the king of Babylon, noted that his Persian wife was was very unhappy and very lonely for her native country, Persia. She missed the hills, the lakes , the woods, the flowers; and he tried to do something about it. It must have been a garden of extreme size. It was built on terraces, one on top of another. It had fountains, it had lakes, it had lagoons, it had pavillions, and it was the center of the social life of that day. He went on to describe Nature Religions, in particular the Zaroastrians. - They worshipped the sun, stars, the moon, even lightening; trees shrubs, plants and animals of every kind. For thousands of years they built some of the most beautiful gardens in the world. In his concluding remarks he continues his revery for flowers: - When I was home in Norway a couple of years ago, it seemed that there were flowers everywhere. Not only in front of the small houses, in the parks, but even poor communities have special boxes where flowers are planted. The same is true in almost all parts of the world outside of the United States. -Well, we haven't reached that stage yet in the United States But it is clearly his hope with the dedication of Arneson Acres that, and indeed recent years have proved, that there is a fast growing interest in the apprecaition , and cultivation, of all kinds of plants and flowers. Mission Statement To .create a design which would embody Mort Arneso4dream for an ideal garden. A garden that would be worthy of his immense generosity and vision. A garden that would recall to his Norwegian ancestary. A garden that would remind us all of our connectedness with nature. A nature relgion of sorts. The Tree of Life. Trees were the first plants worshipped by humankind. Their longevity spanned generations making them living landmarks that accrued associations and myths. They seemed immortal to the generations of humans whose brief lives passed by in the shade of their leaves. They became Nature's perfect examples of the miracle of reproduction and eternity. It is believed that the conception of the Tree of Life (Arbor vitae) started in ancient Assyria and Babylonia, spread into Arabia, Egypt and Asia Minor. and through Central asia into the Far East and Central America. The Tree of Life symbols were adopted by all beliefs and religions in the western and eastern worlds. From the palm and cedars of the Hebrews and Christians to the oak and ash trees of the Celts, Druids and Norsemen. The Nordic Tree of Life A Tree of Life for Morton Arneson The Myth of the Yggdrasill The Norse mythological world tree, Yggdrasill is an evergreen ash tree which overshadows the whole universe. Its roots, trunk and branches bind together Heaven, Earth and the Netherworld. The trunk rooted in the primordial abyss of "Hel", the subterranean source of matter, bears three stems. The center stem runs up through "Midgard", the earth, which it supports. It issues out of the mountain "Asgard" where the gods assemble at the base of "Valhalla". This heaven of the Norse heroes can only be reached by "Bifrost", the bridge of the rainbow. The stem spreads its branches over the entire sky; their leaves are the clouds, their fruits the stars. Four stags, "Dain" "Dvalin" " Dune r" and Durathor" , which symbolize the cardinal winds, live in these branches, feeding on the flower -buds and dripping dew from their antlers to earth. Upon the top branch perches the eagle, symbol of the air. On its head sits the falcon,"Vedfolnir", the watchful look -out for the gods. The squirrel,"Batatosk", signifying rain, snow, hail and the evaporating water, runs up and down the tree, trying to stir up" strife between the eagle and the serpent-monster,"Nidhogger". The monster, symbolizing the vulcanic powers, gnaws constantly on the roots of the tree, attempting to destroy the earth's foundation. • The second stem of the Yggdrasill springs up in the "Muspellsheim", the warm South where the three "Norns": "Urth", the Past, "Verdandi", the Present and "Skuld", the Future dwell and the gods sit -in judgement. The third stem rises in "Nifleheim", the cold North, where all the knowledge of mankind flows from the fountain of the Frost -giant, "Mimir", the personification of Wisdom. The ash tree )Fraxinus) itself is the Nordic Tree of Life, Symbol of strength and vigor, because the first Norseman "Ask", sprang from an ash tree according to Norse mythology. TABULATION OF PETITIONS AND LETTERS RECEIVED ON KEEPING OUTDOOR RINKS OPEN NORMANDALE PARK Letters 3 Petitions #1 - 23 #2 - 81 #3 - 53 #4 - 56 HIGHLANDS PARK Letters 2 Petitions 224 PAMELA PARK Letters 0 Petitions 0 STRACHAUER PARK Letters 0 Petitions 0 WALNUT RIDGE Letters 3 Petitions #1 - 113 #2 - 151 COUNTRYSIDE PARK Letters 3 Petitions 0 IN GENERAL FOR ALL RINKS Letters 2 Petitions 0 INTRODUCTION The City of Edina has one of the finest Park Systems in the world, in which everyone takes great pride. Unfortunately, a good share of the infrastructure is over twenty (20) years old and is in need of repair and/or replacement at this time. In addition, there are a considerable number of new capital improvements that will be needed to meet the needs and desires of the community. If the Edina Park Board and Edina City Council were to consider a general obligation to fund park improvements, there are (in staff's opinion) at least two approaches to determining the entire scope of the project, which are referred to as PLAN "A" and PLAN "B." PLAN "A" The objectives in PLAN "A" would be as follows: 1. Repair and/or replace existing worn infrastructure. 2. Build amenities to make parks more maintenance friendly. 3. Build amenities to improve safety. 4. Correct accessibility problems. The total cost to accomplish the objectives in PLAN "A" is approximately $4,314,000. The following budgetary figures are preliminary rough estimates that will require further analysis. The existing worn infrastructure that is need of repair or replacement is as follows: -Tennis courts -Hard surface courts -Playground equipment -Warming houses (roofs, furnaces etc.) -Safety fencing for 22 ballfields -Park amenities (benches, signs etc.) -Fencing -Paths -Hockey rinks -Lights -Revenue facilities -Accessibility issues (all parks) TOTAL $60,000 53,000 560,000 250,000 16,000 50,000 85,000 130,000 60,000 50,000 1,000,000 2,000,000 $4,314,000 The accessibility issues involve removal of all accessibility barriers in the park system. There will be partial funding available from the County to address the accessibility issues. PLAN "B" The objectives in PLAN "B" would be as follows: 1. Complete phase III of Edina Park System's master plan. 2. Construct new additional park facilities as needed and/or desired by the community. 3. Install more irrigation systems where needed. 4. Replace old and inefficient park facilities that no longer meet the needs and/or expectations of the community. -2 - The total cost to accomplish the objectives in PLAN "B" would be determined by the scope or magnitude of the plan. The following is a partial list of facilities and ideas that could be considered as part of PLAN "B." This list is considered to be only a partial list because there are most certainly many additional needs and desires that will be addressed in the needs assessment process: Edina Aquatic Center improvements New bath house Art Center improvements Braemar Arena Gun Range Park maintenance motorized equipment Girls fast -pitch softball complex Cornelia Park shelter building New park shelter building at Walnut Ridge New park shelter building at Weber Field New park shelter building at Todd Park Shade area oasis for tennis courts Additional batting cages Additional paths and park lighting Regrading of ballfields Free standing Senior Citizen building Park landscaping (to complete phase III) Arneson Acres Park master plan Additional basketball courts In-line skating/skateboard facility TOTAL 160,000 1,000,000 10,000 326,000 100,000 30,000 60,000 200,000 200,000 250,000 200,000 100,000 20,000 100,000 40,000 1,000,000 1,000,000 100,000 100,000 50,000 $5,046,000 There are most definitely some items and issues that are not included in the above list. In addition, there will very likely be several items that should be removed from the list as well. Hopefully, this list will inspire thoughts and ideas for the future of our great park system. SUGGESTED ANNUAL EDINA PARK BOARD AGENDA ITEMS JANUARY Art Center Annual Report FEBRUARY Adaptive Recreation Annual Report MARCH Athletic Association Presidents Meeting APRIL Senior Citizen Center and Historical Society Annual Reports MAY Aquatic Center and Gun Range Annual Report JUNE Park Tour JULY Braemar Inspection Tour AUGUST Braemar and Normandale Golf Courses Annual Report SEPTEMBER Braemar Arena Annual Report OCTOBER Park Maintenance Department Annual Report NOVEMBER Edinborough/Centennial Lakes Annual Report Fees and Charges DECEMBER Forestry Program Annual Report