Agenda - Parks and Recreation Commission - 05/09/1996

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APPROVAL OF FOX PARK BUDGET AND DEVELOPMENT PLAN By: Beth Malaby, Community Development Intern Background: Within the approved 1995 Capital Improvement Program is $73,302 for the development of Fox Park located in the Demerest Brook Park District. This amount is made up of $65,500 programmed from Landfill Trust interest earnings and $7,802 of existing park dedication funds in that district. Last summer a proposed plan was prepared, but surveys of neighborhood residents' preferences suggested some revisions to plan and budget. The neighborhood impacted by this park was surveyed twice and was specifically invited to a Park Commission meeting, held at the park, on their design preferences last summer. Additionally, one of the Park Commissioners currently resides in this subdivision and has conducted her own informal survey of the neighborhood. Pursuant to these comments, the attached plan and budget have been prepared by staff. This plan was reviewed by the Park Commission at their meeting on Thursday, May 1 I, 1995. They recommended approval of the plan with slight modifications to ensure grading expenditures are minimized and to reflect their preference that play equipment be concentrated in a single area. Observations: The survey of neighborhood residents indicated consensus on two priorities for park development: (a) playground equipment, and (b) prairie restoration. There was also some consensus among those expressing concerns that the natural environment should not be degraded. Thus, staff identified play equipment and environmental restoration/preservation as two key features for consideration. The attached plan calls for a play area for toddlers and older children, as well as restoration of natural prairie, new wildlife habitat (bluebird boxes and duck boxes), a boardwalk through one portion of the wetland, and educational signage describing the ecological communities within the Park. Sports facilities, such as basketball, volleyball, and tennis courts, were strongly favored by some residents and strongly opposed by others. The attached plan suggests development of one tennis court, as this facility is likely to be the least controversial of the sports facilities, and because the City of Ramsey had identified in the 1991 Parks Comprehensive Plan that it was severely lacking in tennis courts. Picnic shelters were not a favored item among survey respondents and have been withdrawn from the proposal. Residents of Fox Ridge continue to request park development. Attached for your information: · Fox Park budget proposal · Fox Park site location map and proposed site plans The following documents will also be available at the meeting, for review: Previous budget proposal with boardwalk breadown Previous site plans Previous park narrative