Agenda - Parks and Recreation Commission - 07/11/1996 - Joint with Finance Committee

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Case #2 Dl~SIGN INTENT OF THE LAKE ITASCA TRAILHEAD By: David Chmielewski, Community Development Intern Background: We are near completion of the trail head and we would like to let everyone know what it is about. The design is probably not what would be considered typical as far as maintenance and storm water management. We have seeded tl/e trailhead with native prairie grasses and forbs instead of traditional blue grass. The native plants h.'ave evolved over thousands of years to live in the harsh, droughty conditions of the Anoka Sand Plain- conditions that Kentucky Blue Grass and other non- native turf grasses have not performed well in without constant irrigation, fertilization and pest control. Establishment of the native vegetation is critical for soil stabilization and maintenance of a clean stand. It can take several years for the native plants to be considered established and performing in a continual reprodactive pattern. Some additional maintenance is required to help the native plants to establish, such ~as weed control and a monthly mowing, at least for the first season. Once established, the n~tive vegetation will only have to be mowed or burned once per year and will outcompete most it~vasive weeds. It will not require irrigation or fertilization. Some concerns about the 'wild look' that comes with a native prairie planting are that it looks unkempt or messy: While this may be the case for some, it is in the eye of the beholder. We have seeded the trailhead heavily with native forbs (flowers) in hopes that the pattern of color will revive a portion of the tr~itional aesthetic that so many individuals have come to expect. Hackberry will be planted as overstory trees along the access drive along with interplantings of Bur and White Oak throughout the design. Sumac, in conjunction with berming, will serve as additional screening for adjacent residential properties, as well as a blast of color in the fall. Storm water management at the trailhead has also been a concern. As with any paving or creation of impervious surfaces, there is storm water runoff. Instead of treating the paved surfaces with curb and gutter, we chose to leave the lot open-sided, pitching it to drain into shallow collection basins located 'adjaCent to the lot. These basins are seeded with a mesic or wet prakie mix which are adapted to su~ive in such moist conditions. We will be monitoring these basins to see if moisture levels are~,stabile enough to support the mesic vegetation. Signage and an information Kiosk are also planned for the trail head and the trail system. Placards informing people about what types of vegetation they are seeing and why are planned, as well as maps of the trail s3istems and current events. Our goals for the trail head are that it serves the recreational needs of the community, that it is not a continual and excessive burden on the City's physical, mechanical and chemical resources, and that it may maintain some wildlife that might otherwise be lost with traditional practices. Our greatest hope would be that families and businesses alike can take note of this native landscape treatment and incorporate it into their personal practices. Reviewed by: Copies also distributed to: Community Development Intern Parks/Utilities Supervisor P&R: 7/11/96 q