Agenda - Parks and Recreation Commission - 09/12/2002

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Anoka County Parks paid half of the approximately $400 project cost. Harris raised the balance from his church. He estimates he and his crew of nine volunteers will spend about :[35 person hours planning and building the blind, tn his free time, Harris golfs and plays the saxophone and piano. He plans to attend the University of Hinnesota and major in music performance in saxophone. Development At Soon Lake County Park Park Facility Landscaping :Improvements Several landscaping improvement projects have been implemented over I~e past few months at the Banfill-Locke Center for the Arts, the RJedell Farm Estate, and at the Islands of Peace Visitor Center. These projects involved a variety of new landscape designs and plant material installations that were intended to enhance the aesthetics of each park fadlity landscape and to improve the quality and function of selected gardens. Zn late July, P~rks btainten~nce staff began the 2002 portion of redevelopment at ~oon Lake, At i-his point staff completed the installation of ~ n~ playground ~nd voll~yb=ll cou~, and h~ b~gun th~ cons~ction of ~ n~ picnic p=vilion. n~r ~e b~ch or~ in 2000, ~nd reploc~ ~ old s~[e metal shelter, which st~ff h~ re~ved. ::..At this point, mainl:enance stuff has completed the installation · :~: ;' .~:.....:.. of a new playgrOund and volleyball court, -,:,]: :;i'i' and has begun the construction ora new picnic pavilion. '. i. Prior to -<taft involvement in the Coon Lake redevelopment, contract°rs~ have been· very bu~; Because of their efforts, visitors coz~ now enjoy paved roadways and parking lots. 'small Jot ha~ been cre~ted to accommodate the users of the .new '~helte?. ~ontmct°rs also Poured 'concrete perimeters a~oUnd.' the plaYgroi~ncl '~d be~ch are~ to ~e~e :o~ m~intenance edge.' A Comfort station similar to the previous facilitY ho~ .been rec0ns~ucted.on the some site. This one, t~oweVer .'.'is built largely of concrete and should bearer withst~ndvandalism. · :' ' '-."'. " :i'":-/.:i 'i '. ' ' . - ' ' .' .':': Much work remains for m~inten~nce'staff. After'the pavilion construction is complete, staff will be busy with "re~°wti°n, roadway shouldering, sign installation and cle~rin~ for new recreational trail corridors. These impeovememts at Coon L~ke are consistent in style with recemt development at 0the/~unty o~d ~¢9ional parks ~nd offer a comfortable new feel to the~e fpoces. Several hndsc~pe irrrproverr~nt projects have becn · irnplern~ted over th~ past few months. · At the BanfilI-Locke center for the Arts, a new shade garden with a stepping stone path was installed along the l~ail down to the gazebo and picnic area. Also, the front hedge and adjaCent lily garden were removed in an effort to enhance the entrance views of the facility and to better.display'the colorful gardens near the ' front of the Art Center;-.The lilies that surrounded' the former hedge were transplanted along the driveway to add color and interest to l~e entrance 'into the facility~ . In addition~ new sod.. was JnstalJed and a white oak bee was pJanted in front of the Art Center to add the final touches. A big thanks goes out to all of the garden dubs that provide several VOlunteer gardeners and. many hours of hard work each year to maintain the gardens. Without question, bhe garden at the Banfill-Locke Center for the Arts is the premier show-case garden in the Anoka County Parks - At the Riedell Farm Estate; new plant materials were installed around the facility founda§on, around the new deck, and around the arbor to improve the overall aesthetics of the facility's landscape. Several varieties of flowering shrubs," perennials, hostas, and lilies were planted to add color and texture to the landscape. A generous donation from United Defense (Fridley based company)was received to purchase the plant materials for this landscape improvement project · Pag¢4