HomeMy WebLinkAbout1976-01-16 Park Board PacketJanuary 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 allow canoers to by-pass the Browndale 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.
Two canoe landings and a portage trail are proposed which will allow
canoers to by-pass the existing weir upstream of 54th Street.
Memo to Council, Park Board, and City Manager
January 16, 1976
Page 2
4. France Avenue Dam.
The Watershed District proposes to renovate a small rock dam up-
stream of France Avenue such that passage of canoes would be
possible.
5. Meadowbrook Area.
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 creek via a small bridge in the
vicinity of the Brookside Apartments. Two small trail shelters
would be located along the trail.
PROJECT FINANCING
All improvements proposed by the Watershed District would be financed
as provided for in M.S. Section 112.61 Subd. 3. This statute allows
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 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
final plans for the cooperative projects. The EQC bases this
recommendation on the relatively low benefits which would be derived
from these facilities in comparison to their costs.
GH:ln
�.� ;''� �T"" �� ;,,..M'a*n; �.-*—^�,.•�---�-J"" ..-yam-- . � •—" �.-.. ar T.�_ �.
Zr
rrpt "1J1 t
jo
��„�.�..,.r. ,,,/s. t�-�'^�^� � r� �''-<-.. (-_r,-nr� �.-:+•rte,, '� -- • l�, � ' ` � 1; =s s ,-.
t�N_Pf�,'N'
LU
�� - '�rY...�� ti`s ~ ~ i. :.+ � �•v
71.
77
�77s 1omm
L
left
kX
` L
w
f m `3
CL
Z-7 CL
V � '\; �'�-s_,..a - /. `�� � •fir A�S .... i ?�� ayi�Rt !� � r• i '
ip
\.i `�.l �.. j i •. "`•tet ( 3 � y �
i11} {i
Lu `-
j� .._ ' ,4�-- �', •..- rte- •„� - : LU
IL
{l�ty�—
V\�2sv��,.:d� _ ; �.,• �yj ; � � wR
-\ ~ N?WCC
U F—
U
zt
�^U d
ui
F
i
El
O O O O
Z �
Q v x
L
U
CD p
►— J
0
0
0 0
i l I d
U.
F- O
LL LL LL�
OO N 00 O N w
O m
J
O
= F x F >
a3 LL Fa -
J O J O
w w 0
z z z z ~
a p
= w N= w w w
y U a _N U a F-
W 0 O J W 0 Q
a z a J Z¢ N
cc w a w w F -
Z O ul j p Z O O fn
t 4) J Z < ?] w
O
CL
W
3AV N Ntl
ON ♦^
(� p F 3AV ranvi v,
El
L ED
"�\.� �__- �`� I 0 3AV )IOOtl81S3M
_.� C Obi .vvv�:.vvvvvy
= 3AV N3131H1
Zo
. � w ►-
0 Q
O?
o <
O U
¢ x
�•L\ G' W
\SV=9
a 3AV 301SMOOkIS
O �
°
Y A �
O
O c
a
0 CI0
a� g
PA
Tt*
•
m
0
rr
CC
CL
Pz—
W UJ
fit
ui A A/
3t
Clf)
w (L
ug
LLJ
0
0 jv
LIJ � Ai
cc L)
cl CO
CO z
Lu
LLJ
OU
isli I t
Z o
O a
J
a w
Z p
aZ
J <
a �
X a
LU
0
U)
r •>
a1Aito_ a8 -,j anv are>ro
-I -_ 1 n
W
acr_
Lo
11tW
7777
E
w
,u
Z
Pit
PA
W
3nN3AV 3ONvul
p
0
Ili
W16
0
<
Cc
a—
ItA
,u
Z
Pit
PA
W
3nN3AV 3ONvul
p
0
Ili
W16
0
<
Cc
a—
<
C)Lu
z
<
U_
VU„
IE
LL
w 0
0
CcL
Lu
n
�=
U
JAY YV4vavlv
3KV-90 MSNnus
f fl
w
—
(.) Y.
Cc
LLJ
)
<
o,
CL,
0
0
Ei
Z z
2 w
F-
< Lj -J
Z0
z
<
G <
x
w
f fl
w
—
(.) Y.
Cc
LLJ
)
<
o,
CL,
0
0
co
z
W
m
0
0 q
OV
44
- W
c f wIN
f=
i } CC y.
W Q
CV)
1 f ) .,w o
w
LU Y H
N
a.
cc}
i
rF ; ;a-
I
MEMORANDUM
TO: Park Board
FROM: Ken Rosland, Director of Parks and Recreation
SUBJECT: Meadowbrook Area Plans
Enclosed are copies of the revised plan for the Meadowbrook Area
as presented by the Watershed District at the January 19, 1976
Council meeting. Hopefully, these graphics will be of assistance
as you review the proposal for this area.
As was agreed upon last night, the Park Board will meet on
January 27, 1976 at 7:00 P.M. to prepare a recommendation regarding
the Meadowbrook Area.
H:KR: In
1/20/76
E
ADO
WB
r
I )K GOLd COURSE 't
us -
'ILK#tfG
'I TRAM
z U f
TRAIL CENTER
OW E*4 LINE
>
UEADOWBROOK' LAKE
<
<
N,
EXPLANATI
CANOE LAND`
41. QSATELLITA E
TRAIL SHELTE'
.. . . .........
e•-
7-1 .......... 0
C.,
.0 TRAIL CENTEF'
SOUTII
LL
It I P
V 200 400 FEET
S TE PLAN
CF, V) MW
I
,CV/I-,O/NC"7
45
69 f