Minutes - Parks and Recreation Commission - 01/12/2012

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An improvement that hasn't been discussed as a Commission as part of the CIP is located on the west side of The Draw. It is the beginning of another water feature which will deliver water from what looks like a rock and also has a well to add water to it if there is not enough precipitation. This year a holiday tree was placed at the Amphitheatre sight. Connexus assisted in the set up and donated the LED lights. Kinghorn Construction and Christian Legacy Academy provided the tree. In wrapping up the 2011 review Parks Supervisor Riverblood wanted to announce Chairperson Shryock receiving the 2011 Board and Commission award from the Minnesota Recreation Park Association which is a state wide award. Six awards were given away, Chairperson Shryock was the only one given the award for board and commission leadership. Chairperson Shryock commented she had a good predecessor in Jill Johns, she was a great leader. She thanked the Commission also. Chairperson Shryock thinks we did have a lot going on and a lot of exciting projects finally coming to completion. One to look forward to is the waterfall at the COR. The new location for the farmers market, works well by the amphitheatre. In review Chairperson Shryock discussed that there are a lot of key trail connections going on this year. For anyone who doesn't know how we do a lot of our projects, we are mindful of how we finance our projects; we try to look for creative ways and economical ways to do things, and commends our staff for doing that. Parks Supervisor Riverblood and staff looks for economical ways to do things in leveraging our work with the scout groups, football players, youth and athletic associations and the Lions. Of course most of our projects are done through grant monies and development dollars and lawful gambling funds., Chairperson Shryock explained that we try to work within our budget best that we can rather than taking of funds which is something we are always working hard to during the economic times and we will continue to be mindful of that as a park board. She would like to thank the Ramsey Foundation with all the work that staff has done with them in the past and with the upcoming events. We wouldn't be able to provide all the activities that we do with the free events. One of the quaint terms we have been using lately is staycation, we are really working to give people that opportunity using the canoes and bikes, the free concerts and movies and we really don't have to leave home. Residents just have to hop on their bikes or take a hike to find lots of great opportunities here in Ramsey. Vice Chair Olsen added that the first free event of 2012 was the skate mob at The Draw. It was a lot of fun with glow sticks and music. Park and Recreation Commission /January 12, 2012 Page4of5