Agenda - Council Work Session - 09/29/2009

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Outdoor classrooms and water resource studies are intended to be incorporated into PACT's and Bethel's science curricula to increase the students' involvement with their natural environment. Commission, City Council, Ramsey Town Center residents and business owners and other City of Ramsey residents. We will build on our existing relationships with City staff and elected officials to move this project forward and will creatively seek input from all of the stakeholders to promote wide, communitysupport. Our understanding of the project resulting from our significant experience in Ramsey Town Center and our experience with the public process in other communities will lead to a viable and implementable design for East Meandering Commons Park. To this end, we are partnered with the PACT Charter School and their authorizing school, Bethel University, to help incorporate sustainable design elements and educational elements into the park. This is a unique opportunity to create true interaction between Ramsey Town Center components. This interactive outdoor classroom setting will foster the mixed-use mentality needed to make this a successful project. Community Design Partnership Through our overall Ramsey Town Center re-visioning efforts, we have had considerable discussions with the existing and potential users of the project. It is critical as we move forward to foster the true mixed-use aspects of a successful urban setting - whether this environment has existed for generations or is newly created. To make a truly memorable place, there must be ownership of the environment by the local residents and businesses that live or work there daily. One of the best ways to create this ownership is to involve these key stakeholders in the visioning and design process. We are very excited to propose this unique partnership opportunity for the park design process. PACT Charter School and Bethel University have a stake in the success of Ramsey Town Center and have already established relationships with the City and the Medical Examiners office to integrate their environment into their curricula. During the feedback efforts, we realized the benefit of this relationship as they expressed particular interest in the East Meandering Commons Park and, most importantly, the wetland complex on the far east end of the park. Realizing the inherent value in the energy this creates for the project, we have partnered with PACT Charter School and Bethel University to collaborate on the design of the interpretive aspects of the wetland, stormwater management and water recycle components of the park. It is their intention to incorporate outdoor classroom and water resource studies in the science curriculum and involve students as active participants in this process. We believe that this is a fantastic partnership. Ramsey Town Center was envisioned to bring together community in a location where people can live, work, learn and play. In 2004, PACT Charter School was the first organization to move into the Town Center. This K~ 12 public charter school with 540+ students brings many opportunities 3