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DATE: TO: CC: FROM: SUBJECT: ~ ! MEMORANDUM ~u~St 7' 1992 .~~~ / gudliet Committee ~ity~dministrator Ryan Schroeder Finite Officer Sandra Ashley Helling [Parkland Recreation Commission , Mar~ Boos, Parks/Utilities Coordinator ~arkland Recreanon Commission Capital Improvements Request for 1993 Ramsey's increase lin residential development has resulted in a greater need for recreational opportunities ahd a ~ider scope of recreational features. Fortunately, residential development has provided the ra~ l~d to meet most of the neighborhood level needs. Momentum lo'neighborhood park development is at its peak. Many of the public, Council and 1993 Capital Commission, a~n'ee[that neighborhood level improvements should be the focus of the Improvements~o~am (C.I.P.). In recent years,~ the ~ity has made substantial progress in its two diametric community parks. This was not a mist ~*,ifor the dollar/effort to individuals benefitted was and is great. However, in some respects, *xPOnditures at the community park level are easier because we assume that these expenditures m e av~filable to all residents and therefore, fair and equitable. With smaller stature, or less magnet!c Par.ks, the expenditures benefit specific populations. Clearly fairness and accountability ~ecc~me an issue. The City must not react to squeaky wheels but instead develop neighborhood ;~ark~ in an orderly, yet cost effective, manner. With dozens of undeveloped park spaces and hunilre~s of reasonable improvements to be made, a system is required. f THE PLAN One sn'ategy tc~ ensure developmental continuity is to measure need. Most agree that park districts (or areas of b~nefi~t) are a viable way to compare the overall level of recreation or open space quality of a "n_~ighl~0rhood". Knowing that individual parks will be vying for the same dollars and the proposed i/lapro?ements may be completely different, we see that a non-biased way of gauging the value of ~0,ements in each specific park is essential. This resource ~se~Sment will have many defining components and will certainly evolve as unique circumstances ~ffe~t its purpose and integrity. We can also expect that at least minor changes will occur each yea~ tha! will affect the individual improvements "standings". The followinglis a iist of definitions and a description of how point values may be assigned to the proposed imprOvement or park: An area ( no]ghbO~rhood ) of the City delineated by geographical barriers such as streams, major or wetlands or thqroughfares, by the distance to access a recreational resource. Recreational. R6Sourc~ Any substanfi,e sc or education t6 the Note: ~ s~ [ [ace or item that provides benefits of physical and mental health, entertainment public. earn, for instance, may provide benefits in each of the above areas.