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