HomeMy WebLinkAbout1981-12-08 Park Board PacketEDINA PARK BOARD MEETING
TUESDAY, DECEMBER 8, 1981
is 7:30 p.m.
EDINA CITY HALL
AGENDA
I. Approval of minutes from November 10, 1981
II. Walnut Ridge Walking Path
III. Braemar Park Walking Path
IV. Skating rink - McGuire Park
V. Up -date on Central Park (Proposed names)
VI. Golf Course Committee Report
VII. Recreation Report
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M E M O R A N D U M
TO: Robert Kojetin, Director of Parks and Recreation
FROM: Gordon Hughes, Director of Planning
SUBJECT: Minnehaha Creek Improvements
DATE: September 10, 1979
In response to your concerns, I have reviewed the history of the subject improve-
ments. As you know, I was the City's representative on the Minnehaha Creek
Governing Committee along with representatives of other municipalities in the
Watershed District.
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Attached is a memo from me dated January 16, 1976, which includes plans for the
various projects proposed for Edina. These plans were prepared pursuant to a
1973 petition from Edina and other cities in the District. These plans were then
submitted to the Park Board and the Environmental Quality Commission for review.
At that time, numerous property owners in the vicinity of Meadowbrook Lake objected
to plans for a nature center in this area.
On January 19, 1976, the Council and Park Board conducted a public hearing on the
proposed project and considered the objections of Meadowbrook residents. No other
residents of the City appeared in regard to the remainder of the proposed improve-
ments. On January 27, 1976, the Park Board met to consider the proposed projects.
The Park Board considered only.the Meadowbrook Project at that time. On February 23,
1976, the City Council conducted a hearing and reviewed the report of the Park
Board. The Council thereupon adopted a motion to delete all of the Meadowbrook
project with the exception of a parking lot proposed for the north end of Vander-
vork Avenue. The Council approved all of the additional projects proposed for
Edina including canoe landings, portage trails, picnic facilities, and maintenance
dredging. Copies of the minutes of the subject meetings are attached.
1976 -Present
Since the 1976 approvals, the Watershed District has spent three years in law
suits, Corp of Engineers hearings, and Department of Natural Resources hearings.
The District is now prepared to proceed with the project as approved by the City
in 1976.
Browndale Dam Canoe Portage
As originally proposed, this portage trail was to cross Brom dale and 50th Street.
Upon further review, the District has prepared a plan which allows canoes to be
placed in the creek immediately downstream of the dam. This eliminates the need
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to portage across 50th Street. From personal experience, portaging across 50th
Street is dangerous. The elimination of this portage is very desirable.
Memorandum: Bob Kojetin
September 10, 1979
page 2
41
l�I have coordinated the plans for the Edina Grist h1i11 Interpretive Center with
the District's plans for the Browndale portage. I am confident that this portage
will not interfere with the historic display. Also, based on past Park Board
concerns, I have requested that all picnic facilities proposed for Williams Park
be deleted. The Watershed District has agreed to this request.
I will be happy to supply additional information at your request.
GLH: j kt
attachments
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Gordon L. Hughes
January 16, 1976
MEMORANDUM
TO: City Council, Park Board, and City Manager
FROM: Gordon Hughes, Environmental Planner
SUBJECT: Proposed Minnehaha Creek Cooperative Projects
In September, 1973, the City of Edina along with the cities of
Minnetonka, Hopkins, St. Louis Park, Minneapolis, and the Minneapolis
Park Board petitioned the Minnehaha Creek Watershed District to under-
take a number of improvements along Minnehaha Creek. Among the
improvements requested were a headwaters control structure at Lake
Minnetonka, renovation of the Gray's Bay dam area, a number of creek
and shoreline improvements, development of the Oakes Lake area in
Hopkins, and development of a nature study area in the Meadowbrook
Marsh area of Edina and St. Louis Park.
The Watershed District subsequently prepared preliminary plans out-
lining the proposed improvements. These plans were presented -at a
public hearing held by the Watershed District in September of 1974.
Based on the results of this hearing, the Watershed District ordered
its engineers to prepare final plans detailing the proposed improve-
ments. Such plans were completed in October, 1975.
Edina Projects
Attached are graphics illustrating those proposed projects located in
Edina, as specified in the District's final plans.
1. Utley Park.
At Utley Park, four canoe landings and a portage trail are proposed
in order to allowcanoers to by-pass the Bro-,Tndale Dam. In
addition, several picnic facilities are proposed. Because of its
location halfway between Lake Minnetonka and Lake Nokomis, Utley
Park will serve,as a rest area and a starting/finishing point for
those canoeing only a portion of the creek.
2. Creekbed Maintenance.
Removal of accumulated sediments is proposed upstream and down-
stream of 44th Street.
3. 54th Street Portage.
IVo canoe landings and a portage trail are proposed which will allow
canoers to by-pass the existing weir upstream of 54th Street.
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Memo to Council, Park Board, and City Manager
January 16, 1976
*Page 2
4. France Avenue_ Dam. V
The Watershed District proposes to renovate a
stream of France Avenue such that passage of
possible.
5. Meadowbroo'k, Area. - -- -
small rock dam up -
canoes would be
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- The Watershed District proposes to develop a nature study area in
the Meadowbrook Marsh area. A small trail center is proposed for
the north end of Vandervork -Avenue and would include a 20 car
-parking lot, a display board, rest rooms, picnic facilities
- and a canoe landing. A similar center_ is proposed for the St.
-' Louis Park side of the marsh. A walking trail would encircle the
marsh area and would cross the creel: via a small bridge in the
vicinity of the Brookside Apartments. Two small trail shelters
would be located along the trail. -
.-PROJECT FINANICING -
All improvements Dronosed-by the Watershed District would be financed
as provided for in _1.5. Section 112.61 Subd. 3. This stat,ate alio-,...s
_the Watershed.District to levy up to one mill per year for 15 years
-over the entire watershed district for improvements of common benefit
to the entire district. Because of the size and value of the district,
.-a levy of less than one mill for only one year would raise the .funds
necessary to finance all of the proposed projects.
EQC REVIEW---
The
EVIEW---
The Environmental Quality Commission reviewed the final' plans for the
Minnehaha Creek Cooperative Projects at its last three meetings.
Representatives of the Watershed District as well as residents living
adjacent to the Meadowbrook Marsh area attended these meetings.
The EQC recommends that the walking trail, trail center, shelters and
canoe landings proposed in the Meadowbrook area be deleted from the
finial plans for -the cooperative projects. The EQC bases this
xecommendation on the relatively low benefits which would be derived
from these facilities in comparison to their costs.
Gil: In
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PARK ACREAGE
Arneson Acres
Alden
Arden
Beard
Birchcrest
Braemar
Browndale
Chowen
Lake Cornelia
Cornelia School
Countryside
Creek Valley
T. Lea Todd
Garden
Heights
Highlands
Dwight Williams
Grandview Parkwood
Lake Edina
McGuire
Normandale
Pamela
Tingdale
Utley
Walnut Ridge
Weber
York Park
Melody Lake
Yorktown
Sherwood Pump
Bredesen
Frank Tupa
William Wardwell Lewis
60th and St. Johns
Bristol
Fox Meadow and Blake Road
44th Street Property
OPEN SPACE
Krahl hill
Lincoln Drive Flood Plain
Moore Property
Nine Mile Creek Watershed
Minnehaha Creek Watershed
Acres
15.00
5.12
17.75
4.5
1.61
500.00
.82
.93
22.05
10.75
9.01
20.00
33.97
18.74
4.00
44.05
.02
41.76
22.14
2.00
10.06
62.00
.67
5.73
44.24
11.85
2.05
4.18
3.42
.94
206.00
1.00
21.04
.94
1.01
3.84
2.69
TOTAL 1,157.95
TOTAL 63.54
The parks and open space element of the Edina Comprehensive Plan is
subdivided into four areas. The four areas include the use of parkland and open
space, the manner in which parkland and open space are acquired, the means for
financing park development and maintenance and the degree to which Edina is linked
into the Hennepin County and Metropolitan Regional Park System.
CATEGORIZATION OF PARKLAND AND OPEN SPACE
Parkland
There are 1,286.91 acres of parkland and open space in Edina (see table
one). This amounts to approximately 11.02% of the land in the city. The park-
land and open_ space in Edina is classified according to the facilities included
in each park, .;the size of the park, and the intended purpose or use of each park
(see table two). Edina uses six basic designations in order to categorize its
1,157.95 acres of parkland.
The first designation is the mini -park. The mini -park is characterized by
a size of less than an acre and is primarily designed to serve the needs of preschool
age children. It is designed to be a substitute for the backyard and may also
provide facilities designed to serve the recreation needs of other age groups.
There are 16.75 acres of parkland in this classification scattered throughout
the city (see Map 2). It is anticipated that most of the additional
parkland that has not been dedicated to the city will be of the mini -park variety
acquired through tax forefeiture or fee simple acquisition of small parcels.
The second classification of parkland is the neighborhood playground. The
neighborhood playground is generally 4 to 7 acres in size and is primarily designed
® to serve the needs of children six to fourteen years old. Although the city of
Edina has no policy regulating the uniformity of facilities at neighborhood parks,
typical facilities include tennis courts, softball diamonds, basketball fields
and ice skating rinks. A total of 108.94 acres of parkland classified as neigh-
borhood playground presently exist in the city of Edina (see map 3). The
fee simple acquisition of land by the city might allow the designation and develop-
ment of additional neighborhood playgrounds.
The neighborhood park is a third classification of parkland in Edina. The
neighborhood park contains similar facilities to those found in the neighborhood
playground. However, the neighborhood park is generally larger than the neigh-
borhood playground and is usually designed to take advantage of some scenic
feature such as a valley, woodland, ridge or some body of water. Edina contains
three neighborhood parks totaling 95.96 acreas (see Map 4)• Two of these parks,
Todd and Arden utilize Minnehaha Creek as a scenic feature. Walnut Ridge Park
utilizes Nine Mile Creek and its floodplain as a scenic feature. The fully developed
nature of the city would appear to prohibit the acquisition and development of
additional land along these water bodies or adjacent to other scenic features
not already emcompassed by city parkland. The only means of acquiring additional
neighborhood parks would require the displacement of some other land use.
A fourth classification of parkland in Edina is the community playfield.
The community playfield is designed to provide facilities that make possible
diversified recreational activities for young people and adults, although a section
is generally set aside for neighborhood children-. Edina contains four community
playfields totaling 145.24 acres ranging in size from 19 to 62 acres. These four
parks are scattered in order to maximize access to the population of the city
(see Map 5). The fully developed nature of the city will not permit the acquisition
of land for community playfields unless another landuse is displaced.
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A fifth classification of parkland in Edina is the community park. The
community park is usually a large park of more than 100 acres or a smaller park of
unusual scenic interest and/or containing special community facilities. Edina
has developed two community parks (see Map 6). Lake Cornelia Park is a 22.5 acre
park containing two community facilities, an Olympic size swimming pool and the
Edina Art Center. In addition, Lake Cornelia Park contains -a bicycle and pedestrian
trail around a portion of the lake and is a sanctuary for migratory wildlife. The
park is centrally located and provides facilities for specialized sports and more
leisurely picnicing and family recreation.
Braemar Park (see Map 6) is a 500 acre community park providing facilities to serve
a number of specialized sports. A nine and eighteen hole gof course, an archery
range, a tennis court, a paddle court, and a gun range are included at Braemar.
In addition, the city skating arena and a complex of lighted softball and baseball
diamonds have been constructed. The large size of this park also permitted the
development of a wildflower sanctury.
The sixth and final parkland classification is the special purpose park. The
special purpose park provides a single or specific form of recreation. Edina has
3 parks that may classified as special purpose parks. Frank Tupa Park is a 1.0
acre park located adjacent to the the Municipal Hall. Tupa Park houses the Edina
Historical Center in the restored Grange Hall and is the location of the Cahill
School, a restored one -room school house.
Bredeson Park and Nature Center is an undeveloped park that will be left in an
.essentially natural state. The only improvement to the park has been the con-
struction of a pedestrian trail. A dwelling on the site that is owned by the city may
eventually be developed as a nature center.
• Arneson Acres is a 15.0 acre park that houses a green house and nursery and
in the future will develop into a scenic garden center.
Along with the 1157.95 acres of parkland, the city of Edina and the Edina
Park and Recreation Department have jurisdiction over open space and other muni-
cipally owned property. The open space is generally in the form of flood plain
along Nine Mile and Minnehaha Creeks or acres with steep and unbuildable slopes.
These areas comprise 63.54 acres of land and have generally been left in their
natural state.
Other municipal property includes plazas, squares, or boulevard islands.
The Edina Park and Recreation Department maintains 5.03 acres of these small
landscaped areas. The city should discourage the creation of additional such
properties since they may tend to become a maintenance nuisance.
The final open space category to be dealt
areas. The surface ponds make up 60.39 acres
Engineering Department and maintained by Publi
The drainage ponds are mentioned in this secti
as open space.
ACQUISITION OF PARK LAND AND OPEN SPACE
Parkland
with is the city storm water drainage
of land and are administered by the
c Works and the Park Department.
on since this land use can be categorized
Parkland in Edina has been acquired in one of two ways. At the time land is
platted and subdivided, the developer dedicates a parcel of land to the city for
park purposes, or provides the city with a cash dedication in lieu of land. A
dedication of land equal to five percent (5%) of the total subdivided acreage is
required if the proposed subdivision is
801-Al2). Otherwise, a cash dedication
® market value of the undeveloped land is
fund for the fee simple acquisition of
Open Space
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adjacent to an existing park(subdivision
equal to a reasonable amount of the
required. The cash is placed in a special
additional parkland and development.
Open space has been acquired in environmentally sensitive areas such as_
flood plains or areas with steep slopes. Areas with steep slopes have been de-
dicated to the city through the parkland dedication process, dedicated as unbuild-
able lots at the time of subdivision, or through the fee simple acquisition of
such land. Flood plain open space has been dedicated according to Edina Ordinances
801-A4 and 815 adopted pusuant to the authority granted by Minnesota Statues
Chapter 104 (1969) Flood plain open space exists along Nine Mile Creek and
Minnehaha Creek.
Financing
The purchase of park equipment and the actual construction of parks on raw
land is accomplished through the capital improvement budget. The capital
improvement budget is in the form of an $80,000 annual appropriation that is part
of the annual city budget. The capital improvement money is bankrolled and utilized
as expenditures become due. Annual park maintenance expenditures are included as
part of the Park and Recreation Department budget. Both the annual budget and the
capital improvement budget are items included in the annual municipal budget and no
indebtedness is incurred to provide funds for park development or acquisition. Funds
for the improvement and maintenance of parks will continue to be a part of the
annual municipal budget.
• LINKAGE OF PARK SYSTEM TO REGIONAL AND OTHER MUNICIPAL PARK SYSTEMS
Although no regional parks are found in Edina, "parts of the City are included
in the Hennepin County 200 mile Bicentennial Bicycle Trail System".1 The east and
south trails cross Edina in a generally north/south direction and traverse West 78th
Street, Cahill Road, West 70th Street, West Shore Drive, Lake Cornelia Park,
Wooddale Drive and West 50th Street. (See Map 7).
In addition to the Hennepin County Bicycle.Trail System, the Hennepin County
Park Reserve District has outlined a future system of regional trails for multi-
purpose trail uses such has hiking, horseback riding, cross-country skiing, bicycling
and snowmobiling. "Two such future corridors pass through Edina." One passes
through the southwestern most corner of Edina's Braemar Park along the southern
fork of Nine Mile Creek. The second future corridor follows Minnehaha Creek from
Xerxes Avenue to just west of Minnesota trunk highway 100. While designation of
corridor space through Braemar Park would appear to be a negotiable point between
the Edina Park Board and the Hennepin County Park Reserve District, the designation
and acquisition of corridor space along Minnehaha Creek appears to be a slim possibility.
Most of the land is privately owned and the owners have demonstrated no interest
in the granting of easements or the sale of land for such a corridor. The Edina
Park and Recreation Department and the Hennepin County Park Reserve District can be
expected to review any plans involving future regional park and corridor proposals
in Edina.
1. "Hennepin County 200 Bicentennial Biking", Hennepin County Park Reserve
District. Route 1, Box 32, Maple Plain; Minnesota 55359. 1976.
2. "A System of Parks", Hennepin County Park Reserve District, Route 1, Box 32
Maple Plain, Minnesota 55359. September 1976.
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The City of Edina is currently investigating the possibility of designing a
city wide bicycle and pedestrian system to mitigate the dependence of the population
on the automobile as a source of transportation. The system involves the construction
of sidewalks along many arterials and high volume local streets. The sidewalks are
designed to serve pedestrians and young bicyclists. Linkages to the cities of
Minneapolis, Richfield, Bloomington, Eden Prairie, Minnetonka, Hopkins, and St.
Louis Park are a consideration of the sidewalk -bikeway system.
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0 PARK AND OPEN SPACE PLANNING FMvIEWORK
UNIT OR AGENCY
Park and Recreation Dept.
Edina Park Board
City Council
RESPONSIBILITY
Formulate issues for discussion
and planning
Discuss issues formulated by
Park and Recreation Dept.
Formulate other issues
Invite citizen comment at public
hearings
Pass recommendations onto
City Council
Consider recommendations of the
Edina Park Board
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TABLE 1
Parkland and Open Space in Edina
Use Acres
Parkland 1,157.95
Floodplain and Open Space 63.54
Plazas, Triangles, Circles 5.03
Storm Water Drainage Areas 60.39
TOTAL 1,286.91
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