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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1954-03-13 Park Board MinutesMinutes of the Regular Meeting of the Advisory Edina Park Board Committee September 131 1954 A Meeting of the Advisory EdiPark VillageBoard HallCommittee Septand 13�the 195�at8 t Park Board was held in heEdina 8 P.M. Those present were: Mr. Hermann Strachauer Mr. W. Claude Stevenseng Mr. Howard Merriman Mrs. Alan Charbonneau Mr. Bower Hawthorne Mr. Phillip Neville Mrs. George M. Posselt Mrs. James E Scholefield Mr. S. S-. Thorpe Jr. Mr. Harold Utley Mr. Richard D. Furber Mr. Austin D. Norton Mrs. C. H. Patterson Those absent were: Mr. WM. Lewis Jr:. Mr. John E. Bryan Mr. Pat Clausen Mrs. J. B. Gilfillan Mr. Henry Gregg Mr. E. W. Ir -onside Rev. Paul Keller Mr. Richard W. Whitten Mr. Harry K. Wrench Mr. Richard W. Giertsen Mrs.. S. J. Eh.illippi Mr. Bower Hawthorn' the chairman, presided. Mr. Strachauer introduced Mr. Claude Stevenson as the new member of the park Board replacing Mr. Jim Ritchay. Mr. Strachauer gave a 2rasume of the Park Board's ideas since the last meeting of this committee. These proposals were presented to oCthe Village Council at a meeting immedig poolawasydefinitel rior to this meeting. too expensive: and also opposed il felt that the swimming p 3' p the idea of acquiring park propery by issuing a general revenue bond. The Council proposed passing a resolution using 50 to6Q thousand dollars from the liquor fund for acquxowever otheark liquorpstoreand fundsthe willrnotmbet of present park properties. , available till 1955• Steps have already been taken forthe acquisition of new park property. The Council was also given a writt6n report on a five year plan that the: Park Board had prepared. Mr. Hawthorn read a copy of this plan to the committee. After discussion and questions on this five year plan Mr. Neville made the following resolution. 1. That the Park Board be commended for the work they have done on this five year plan. 2. That tris committee havir examined the plan wholeheartedly approve of it. 3. That we urge the Council to act upon it. This resolution is to be sent to the council. Mr. Stevensen Mentioned that the Council seemed willing to appropriate money for land acquisition but questioned whether the salary for a ME recreational supervisor should come out of the liquor fund. They felt that the liquor fund should be used for land acquisition and improvement of present properties. W. Haw,thornesuggested we refer to the general fund rather than liquor fund ast"r-e money fftm the liquor store goes into the general fund. Mr-. Stra.ebauer presented the idea of a joint Village -School Cooperative Recreational project to the school board. The School Board was not in favor of it at that time. Mr. Merriman told of the necessity of hiring a full time professional recreation dirktor. This will be the main business of the October 11th meeting. It was agreed that this committee meet the 2nd Monday of the month. The meeting was adjouned at 9:30 p.m. Respectfully submitted VILLAGE OF EDINA 4801 WEST FIFTIETH STREET • EDINA, MINNESOTA September 133. 1954 Edina Village Council Edina Minnesota Gentlemen: The Edina Board of Park Commissioners desires, with the cooperation of the Edina Village Council, to create an adequate Park system for the citizens of Edina. Memy meetings and considerable research over a long period of time have been conducted in order to formulate a plan to accomplish this objective. The basic structure of this plan is to develop, eventually, a series of recreational Park areas and a recreation program which will serve the entire village. The Park Board is fully cognizant of the fact that a Park and Recreation system cannot be created o7ernight and has, therefore, formulated a long range plan which initially covers a period of five years, starting with the calendar year 19550 The acceptance of this plan creates three problems. 1. Acquisition of additional'Park properties and the money to finance such purchases. 2. The finances necessary to develop the presently owned Park areas and the additional properties after they have been procurred. 3. The employment of a. full—time Park and.Reereation Supervisor. I. We have selected six separate areas as suitable locations for the acquisition of additional Park property. (See attached map.) These six new locations, totaling approximately 200 acres, combined with the presently meed Park properties will, in our opinion, provide adequate Park and Recreation areas for the entire Village in the foreseeable future. The total estimated cost of procurement of these six new properties plus additional land in the Normandale and Lake Pamela areas is between $1250000 and $150,000• These appraisals have been made by Mr. Roy H. Petersaai, realtor, who is serving as con— sultant to the Park Board without charge. purchases would be made wherever possible by five-year contracts for deed. This amount of money for land acquisition, depending upon availability of specific properties and Council action, would be spread as evenly as possible over the next five-year period, making an estimated annual expenditure for land acquisition of between $25,000 and. $30,000• Edina Village Council Page 2 September 13, 1954 II. We believe it is necessary to spend a like amount of money ($25,000 to X30,000) each year for the progressive development of the several Park areas as the growth of the Village dictates. Our Plan provides for the development of a Park and Recreation area or areas each year during the next five years, depending on availability of funds. The Park Board plans for 1955 call for the development of the following areas: 1. The west half of Wooddale Park$, approximately $10,000. 2. 52nd to 54th and ,Arden ( Minnehaha Creek ), approximately $3500. 3. 57th and Chowen, approximately $1000. L,. Normandale Park, approximately $6000. 5. 55th and Zenith, approximately $1000. We also consider it desirable to make a start on the Iake Pamela area --at least to the extent of drag line work in the amodnt of $3500. Park area developments for 1956 and later would be recommended to the Council according to Village needs. III. Daring the pest year we have had to expand Edina's Youth Activities programs to a tremendous degree in order to meet the interests and desires of the people. These programs need to be even more greatly expanded to provide adequate recreation for our ever—increasing population. Because of this situation, and also from the results of surveys made relative to our plan, we believe that it is absolutely necessary to employ a fall time Park and Recreation Supervisor at this time. This person would take charge of and expand our recreation programs to meet the needs of the community. He would also supervise the development of our proposed Park and Playground system. We have been informed that a qualified 'Park and recreation supervisor can be obtained for a salary of approximately $5500 a year. Mr. Howard. Merriman, who has served for some years as Recreation Director for the Village on a part—time basis, has notified the Board that, due to the expansion of the present recreation program, he is unable to continue working for the Park Board. He would like to be relieved from this position as soon as possible, but definitely cannot continue in 1955. This plan makes a total expenditure each year, including salary for Park and Recreation Supervisor, of fifty to sixty thousand dollars over and above the monies received from the Park Board 2 -mi n tax levy. Edina Village Council Page 3 September 13, 1954 It is suggested that the Village Council appropriate the necessary monies each year from the Municipal Liquor store receipts to carry out this plan. Your Park Board urges favorable consideration with hope and confidence that the Village Council will accept this plan and will pass the necessary resolutions to Pat it into effect. We sincerely believe that a Park and Recreation system, which all the residents of the Village of Edina can use and of which they may be justly proud, can be developed within the next five years with the cooperation of the Village Council. Respectfully submitted, ED11TA BOARD OF PARS C OWISS IONERS