Agenda - Council - 02/27/1996 - Laserfiche WebLink

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I I I I I I I I I I I I I I 1996 CENTRAL PARK IMPROVEMENT MEETING SUMMARY AND DRAFT BUDGET On Thursday, Fobruary 1, 1996, representatives from the Ramsey Youth Athletic Association and Ramsey's Park and Recreation Commission met at Central's Park Center Building. The purpose was to discuss POtential improvements to Central Park for 1996 relating to the $105,000 Capital Improvement Budget and also to discuss athletic field needs for the near future. Meeting notices were published in the Anoka Union and on Cable TV. To date, there has been no comment with the exception of the Youth Association and the City. The most encotg'aging finding resulted from examination of the Youth Association's detailed games slot schematic [included] which included 1994 and 1995 actuals and an estimate for 1996 through 1998. The Youth Association has identified 48 existing game slots available for 1995. Their estimate of game slots required for 1996 is 46. In 1997, however, the game slot projection is 60, or 12 less than are currently available. The Youth Association estimates that lighting fields 3 and 4 at Central Park should carry them through the 1997 season. Projections for the 1998 softball/basebag season increase to 71. Ramsey Youth Athletic Association President Dave Baack pointed out that projections a couple of years out are difficult to make because of trend changes and also the fact thag by this time, the new elementary school will be in service and a lot of children are expected to play for Ramsey's Youth Association versus Anoka's because more peers are attending school in Ramsay and there will be a stronger community identity. City Staff presented some estimates of the relative value of ballfield lighting versus new field construction. It was apparent that there is a greater value per dollar for constructing fields versus lighting, however, maintenance cost would be higher. The Youth Association presented an eight point list of potantial improvements to Central Park. The Commission and the Youth Association engaged in a detailed examination of each of the items and noted that adding bleachers for fields 5 and 6 had been accommodated in 1995. Perhaps lowest on the list of priorities was adding a drinking fountain in the common area between fields 1 and 4. All were in agreement that the improvement may be problematic and didn't represent a high value to dollar ratio. Another proposed improvement was to bring the concession stand up to certain Health Department codes for food~ preparation etc. It was agreed that this improvement may not fit within the $105,000 budget, given the expected expense of the lighting. Also the improvements to concessions at Central perhaps should be directed at a centralized location, i.e. between fields 1 through 4, particularly if expansion occurs on the east 35 acres. Finally, it was noted that net revenue from the concession stand is nominal from the Youth Association practices and games and the primary income earning potential would exist for tournaments rental. The Youth Association intends on disci~ssing concession stand improvements with local philanthropic groups. One improvement that is not reflected in the attached draft budget is developing basketball and tennis courts within one of the lighted hockey rinks at Central. Everyone at the February 1, 1996, meeting was uhanimous in their support for this utilization of existing lighting and space. It was noted that a community southwest of the City may have actually constructed such a facility. Research is being conducted. It was also noted that the next ballfields created (particularly in a community park) may be designed as baseball fields with a larger in-field lime area. Vice-President Reid Droegemueller is identifying specifications for this type of multi-use field. There was also strong consensus for improved landscaping at Central, improved signage and also basketball standards perhaps in conjunct/on with the small overflow parking lot along 161st Avenue ff the hockey rink(s) concept is not feasible. There was also discussion regarding out-field fencing for softball fields 5 and 6 and possible replacing of out-field fencing on fields 3 and 4. It was agreed that this would be a future improvement.