Agenda - Parks and Recreation Commission - 09/08/1994

Home

June 15, 1994 Heidi Welsch Community Development Intern City of Ramsey 15153 Nowthen Boulevard N,W. Ramsey, MN 55303 Re: Proposed Fox Ridge Neighborhood Park Dear Heidi: I am in receipt of your letter and survey regarding the proposed park project for our Fox Ridge neighborhood. Al~ough we are pleased to learn of the city's efforts to further improve our neighborhood withithe addition of a proposed park, I would like to offer a number of alternatives to enhance our fine neighborhood. The designated land set aside for a neighborhood park in the Fox Ridge Estates area is indeed a challenge. Predominantly wetland, the area offers httle possibilities for creative use of the space. In discussing the proposed park with neighbors, it is evident that many residents are apprehensive about the proxirrfity to the high voltage power Iines directly over head. Our neighborhood consists of residential lots one to four acres in dimension. We enjoy the wide spaces of our properties and we use our properties as we would a park. Most homes have placed swing sets and vari~0us climbing smacmres for their children on their lots. Our roadways are quiet and conducive to ls~e r/ding, walking, running, rollerblading and many other similar activities. The addition of a p~k which includes playground-type equ/pment would be redundant and seldom used. Similarly, it is evident as one su:olls through our neighborhood that most homes enjoy cooking and eating outdoors on their decks and patios. Picnic shelters/tables would not offer a unique alternative for our families. An emphasis towar~l wildlife-hewing with a marsh boardwalk.'.- may be a better suggested use of the land area proposed ;as a park. But again, our families really appear to enjoy spending time in their own lovely yards, rClearing the area around the marsh would certainly make the area more accessible and perliaps am-act curious nature lovers. The marsh offers a wide variety of birds, waterfowl and other interesing animals. My suggestion for the funds ascribed to a proposed park are these: *install a nuraber of waterfowl/bird "houses" and other similar structures for other animals to maintain the active wildlife ii1 the a.re~ that we ail enjoy (create a wildlife sanctum3,) *install str~tlights in the Fox Ridge Estates neighborhood to promote safety and to add to the Iigh?.xl accessib/.1/ry of our neighborhood streets *assist in the consmaction/rn~ntenance of an entrance marker to our neighborhood We at our house s/.gcerely appreciate the city's efforts to address the outdoor recreation needs of our neighborhood residents. However, given the unique qual/ties of our neighborhood, perhaps art alternative plan may be in order. Thank you for the oppommity to provide some input to the city's plans for a neighbor, hood park. I do hope that the city does ira'.homework before proceeding with a project that may perhaps fall to a wasted effort. ". S/ncerely, Mark E. Anderson 6060 173rd Ave N.W. Ramsey, MN 55303