Agenda - Council - 01/22/2008 - Laserfiche WebLink

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CASE # AUTHORIZE PLANS AND SPECIFICATIONS FOR PARK BUILDNG AND PLAYGROUND FOR ELMCREST PARK By: Mark Riverblood, Parks Supervisor Background: The Park's Capital Improvement Program (CIP) discusses two improvements shown for 2008 at Elmcrest Park - afull-service park building, and accompanying- playground. Both of these projects relate to Elmcrest's value to the neighborhood -but especially to the park's prominence as a community park in Ramsey. Observations: The 100 + acre Elmcrest. Park is popular and used year-around.. During the winter, the site is one of two snowmobile staging points within the City (the other being Central Park), and is also used by cross country skiers and bituminous trail users. During the other three seasons, the park is popular for joggers, dog walkers and trainers, and kite flyers, as well as a picnic destination for day care providers. Elmcrest is perhaps best known for the spring and fall youth soccer program. However, even in the summer, the site is used by trainers for soccer skills development. And, the last two years, Elmcrest has been the site of the July Minnesota Boys Minnesota Youth Soccer Association tournament playoffs.. This event sees literally thousands of visitors to the park. To many of these visitors, Elmcrest Park is their primary exposure to City of Ramsey. In addition to the $100,000 grant that initiated development in the park, a significant amount of time and money has been invested leading up to the park's prominence as Ramsey's soccer facility. Two items are notably absent in the park -and both are needed for the park to serve its intended purpose. The first, a park building that -would provide restrooms and serve for concessions, as well as a community meeting space. The other improvement, the playground element, is also very important for neighborhood use and especially within community parks. It is very common for families to bring children to soccer events that are not participating in games or practice with their siblings. As both the improvements discussed have demonstrated need and have been requested by the community, staff proposes moving forward with research and design for these improvements.- This process will also determine specific costs and potential project partners. Staff recommendation/work plan: The following highlights the initial steps in the project's development: o Meet with youth association representatives and other stakeholders to define their building and concession needs. o .Explore partnerships for funding the park. building. -241-