HomeMy WebLinkAbout1985-01-22 Park Board MinutesEDINA PARK BOARD
January 22, 1985 - Special Meeting
6:30 p.m.
Edina City Hall
PRESENT: Joan Lonsbury, Bob Christianson, George Warner,Virginia Shaw,
Jim Fee, Jean Rydell, Marilyn Wooldridge, Andy Montgomery,
Bill Lord
NOT PRESENT: Don Wineberg, Mack Thayer
STAFF PRESENT: Bob Kojetin, Rick Jacobson, John Keprios, Ken Rosland, Madelyn
Krinke, Harold Sand
OTHERS PRESENT: Bev Casserly, Joe Price, Faith and Yngve Magnuson, Mary and Al
Kluesner and Jane Bennett
SPECIAL MEETING - WOODDALE SCHOOL/UTLEY PARK
Bob Kojetin reviewed the plans from BRW briefly for all present. He also reviewed
the attached staff report which was compiled October 24, 1983. The staff reported
that at the present time there is a need for space for the Edina Gymnastics Associ-
ation due to limited space at the hut. Other current programs presently have adequate
facilities through the schools. A gymnasium with a stage would be a highly used
facility if it were available, and if more space was available, the current athletic
programs could be expanded more in years to come.
Some questions asked by Park Board Members were, "If plan C was adopted, how would
the Historical Society be able to afford the building?", "What would the cost be
to complete the park if the building is removed?", "Any idea what it would cost
to erect a gym with an auditorium?", "Would the council take extra expense from the
current Park budget?".
Ken Rosland remarked that the Park Board and staff would have to show a very strong
need to keep the building to justify the expense of using it.
Harold Sand of the Planning Department commented on the historical significance of
Wooddale School. He expressed concern that the building might be saved and restora-
tion might be done less expensively than quoted.
Joe Price, a neighbor of Wooddale, stated that the proposed alternatives A, B and
C are not acceptable to many of the neighbors of Wooddale. The cost factor of all
three of the plans is unacceptable to them. The parking provisions if the building
is kept would mean a lot more pavement and the neighborhood representatives feel
that as much open space and passive area should be left as possible with a minimum
of pavement. Mr. Price urged the Park Board to recommend to the City Council the
same recommendation they made in 1981 and 1983 to demolish the building.
F,
Al Kluesner affirmed what Mr. Price said, that they want to keep Wooddale Park as
a neighborhood park. Mr. Magnuson and Jane Bennett also concurred with the comments
of Joe Price and affirmed what he said. Mary Kluesner stated that she has not heard
any common sense ideas for the use of the building and agrees that the building
should be removed and the park left as a neighborhood park.
The alternatives suggested by BRW for Wooddale School in brief summary are: Alt. A -
Renovation of the present building; Alt. B - Demolition of part of the building,
leaving the gym. Renovation of the remaining structure; Alt. C - Demolition of part
of the building, removing the gym and renovation of remaining structure; Alt. D -
Demolition of all of the building except the two story front entrance which would
be left as a monument ; Alt. E - Total demolition of the buiding.
A ballot vote was called for to determine what the first and second choice of alter-
natives was of the Park Board members. The results were as follows: for first choice
7 voted for Alt. E, 1 for Alt. D, 1 for Alt. C, one for Alt. B. For second choice,
8 voted for Alt. D, 1 for Alt. E and 1 for Alt. B.
Mr. Magnuson asked if there would be more hearings to decide what would happen with
the park development. Bob Kojetin replied that the Wooddale Park would be handled
as we do any other development in the City whereas we would have a rendering from an
architect based on input from the Park and Recreation staff. We would then have a
special meeting with the neighborhood to get their input to the recommended design.
After we receive the input from the neighbors, we would then have a final design made
and have another neighborhood meeting for final approval of an ultimate plan for the
park. Also, at this meeting, recommendations would be made as to how much of the
park could be completed with the present funding and what phases of the park would
be constructed over the next couple of years. Most of the parks in the city have
been done on a schedule of phases over several years as funds have been allocated for
that park in the Capital Improvements Budget.
The BRW design has the basic faciliites that we would recommend for a neighborhood
park, which include a large open space play area, a hard surface area for court games,
a playground equipment area and a parking lot to accommodate somewhere around 42 cars
for activities that the local neighbors might drive to. All of these park facilities
are in the present design, but the location of these items has not been discussed by
the staff yet. Also being considered is a passive area within the Wooddale Park site
which was not included in all of the designs because the final decision has not yet
been made about the building.
Other considerations which were mentioned included the need to look very carefully
at the location of the parking spaces and entrance to parking lot once the determina-
tion has been made about the building.
Utley Park possibilities were also discussed as Bob Kojetin showed the diagrams by
BRW. Attention was drawn to the proposed lagoon and canoe dock which appears in
each of the 5 plans and also the tunnel under 50th Street was pointed out. Bob
Kojetin indicated that some of the sketches include the two historical buildings,
because one of the possibilities is to move them to Utley Park. Joan Lonsbury com-
mented that Don Wineberg had been present for the meeting at Wooddale School on
January 15 and had seen the proposed plans and he feels very strongly that an under-
ground room would not be desirable for storage, particularly at that location because
of the creek being in such close proximity.
Mrs. Kluesner expressed the concern that two additional buildings in Utley Park
would be overcrowding the park.
3
Bob Christianson commented that if the two historical buildings are going to be
moved, it would be his suggestion to move them to the Parbury property.
Mr. Price expressed concern about the tunnel creating a problem of youngsters
congregating and causing trouble. Bob Kojetin felt it would not be enough of
a problem to prevent putting the tunnel in because of the merit of having a
pedestrian underpass.
Bob Christianson MOVED THAT THE CITY NOT MOVE THE GRANGE HALL AND OLD CAHILL
SCHOOL TO UTLEY PARK. Marilyn Wooldridge SECONDED THE MOTION. MOTION CARRIED.
Jim Fee MOVED TO RECOMMEND TO THE COUNCIL TO CONSIDER THE LAGOON FOR A PUBLIC
SKATING AREA. MOTION WAS SECONDED. THREE VOTED IN FAVOR OF THE MOTION, THREE
VOTED AGAINST THE MOTION AND TWO ABSTAINED.
Virginia Shaw stated that she felt it is inappropriate to make recommendations about
what should be in the park at this time.
Bob Christianson MOVED THAT WE RECOMMEND TO THE CITY COUNCIL THAT THE WOODDALE
SCHOOL BE RAZED IN ITS ENTIRETY (ALT. E), AND THAT THE SITE BE UTILIZED FOR
OPTIMUM PARK PURPOSES. JEAN RYDELL SECONDED THE MOTION. MOTION PASSED UNANIMOUSLY.
Virginia Shaw MOVED FOR ADJOURNMENT OF THE MEETING. BOB CHRISTIANSON SECONDED.
The meeting adjourned at 8:30 P.M.
ITEMS FOR CONSIDERATION BY CITY COUNCIL:
MOTION CARRIED: TO RECOMMEND THAT THE CITY NOT MOVE THE GRANGE HALL AND OLD
CAHILL SCHOOL TO UTLEY PARK.
MOTION MADE, 3 VOTES FOR, 3 VOTES AGAINST, 2 ABSTENTIONS:
TO RECOMMEND TO THE COUNCIL TO CONSIDER THE LAGOON FOR A PUBLIC
SKATING AREA.
MOTION CARRIED TO RAZEDCOINMEND TO THE ITSS ENTIRETYITY (ALT. E)IANDHAT THATHTHEOSITELBESUTOOL E
ILLIZED FOR
OPTIMUM PARK PURPOSES.