Minutes - Parks and Recreation Commission - 05/14/1992

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Case ~2: Determine Feasibility and Vehicle for Resident (Individual r Group and Business) Participation and/or Donation for Parks f and Programs Mark ]~oos ~tated that in this difficult budget time the City is looking for a more effective way to~,~aain[tain it's parks and to also encourage residents to become involved with them. He add~l~thb 1993 improvement requests should include looking at each developable park and a!~ thelfact that there are many things that could be done through volunteer work. Mr. Bc~os st~ated that he and Kathi Peterson have been working on an Adopt-A-Park progra~ which may be a way to illicit volunteers. Currently, there are two parks that have been itfor~aly adopted, ,H, unters Hill, adopted by Ray Rennet, and the Ramsey Elementary ~School Prairie, 'adopted" by the Cheerful Chuggers 4-H group. He felt the voluntegrs d~served more recognition. He expressed a need to communicate that there are parks i~ Ra~ ey available for adoption. Comm~smn~r Swokowski suggested asking the residents what they would like done to the parks. The co~sens~s of the Commission was to draft a "wish list" for each park so the residents could sde what is be suggested. Mark Bpos f~lt that residents adopting parks may experience more pride in the parks and help pre~r~ ent Vandalism. CommiSSioner Prall suggested a "pilot park" to show appreciation for what has been done. Commi~ionqr Cook suggested placing an article in the Ramsey Resident suggesting certain things t~at cogld be done in the parks and asking for residents to volunteer. Kathl Pt~terso~ stated that she would hate to have th~s program come to an end and felt that owners~p anal recognition would make a big difference in the amount of volunteers. CommiS~ionex Gookin suggested having a booth at the EXPO explaining the Adopt-A-Park program~,"and asking for signatures of people who are interested. Chairma~ Hetland suggested doing some research in the surrounding areas to see what other citi~es ar~ doing and how successful their program is. Kathi Peterson informed the Commission that Anoka County is starting an Adopt-A-Park program hnd that these programs are in Nebraska, Texas and Kansas. Chairmalh Heltand expressed concern regarding the amount of volunteers the City would get becat~se of~ the economy. Commis~ionet Cook felt it was unrealistic to think the larger, thousand dollar or more proj.'ects,¢eoul~l be done with volunteer help and suggested thinking of several smaller projects. '. Commis~oner~ Florentius suggested that something visible be done for the "Adopt-A-Park" volunteer, R~y Renner and the Cheerful Chuggers 4-H Group. Al PearsOn, 14821 Bowers Drive N.W., stated that he has done a lot of volunteer park work an~didn~t feel he needed a sign dedicated to him. He received satisfaction in seeing the work ~et dbne. Mark Boqs r~pmmended that as the program develops the City could put a request for help on the cable!, mCssagesl and in the Ramsey Resident. PARK AND RECREATION COMMISSION / MAY 14, 1992 Page 3 of 5