Agenda - Parks and Recreation Commission - 04/09/1992

Home

City of Ramsey 15183 NOWTHEN BOULEVARD N.W., RAMSEY, MINNESOTA 55303 · (612) 427-1410 lviarch 27, 1992 Jo Anne Wright : Anoka CountyiC0,urthouse 325 E. Main S~:¢et. Anoka, MN 55303 Dear Ms. Wright: :i The purpose of, t~,.s letter is to clarify the rationale for use of CDBG dollars for Ramsey Terrace and FlintwoodiH. ills Parks. These two adjoining parks, hereafter referred to as the "park", have several feature~, of';COnditions that necessitate the use of CDBG funds for accessibility reasons. The park is saitlble for and is used for two primary functions, wildlife viewing and play equipment use.i; NSighbors of this park have been constructing' bird boxes and placing items like salt blocks in t~e ~ark for wildlife observation for many years. Access to these locations, though, has been available :only to those able to brave the brambles and terrain. As a result of c!eahng and restoration for a sanitary sewer trunk line, obstacles preventing many from using the l~ar~,' like--brush and the rough terrain, have been removed or made level. Knowing that this activit~¢ Was to occur, the Park and Recreation Commission and staff prepared to make accessible this .~k's virtues to all, not just Ramsey residents and not just those with athletic abilities. The first step ~as ¢o prepare a concept plan. This included a bituminous path through the park linking the City's iurban and rural residential areas. HoweVer, an obstacle, a swampy ditch, remained. Whom th? plan and its benefits was shown to Royal Concrete Products, they agreed to donate a massiv~ 30~ culvert, thus allowing for a paved surface through this low area. The plan identified the play equipment within the park as unsuitable for use by folks with any degree of~disabilit7. Arrangements were made for removal of this equipment with the intent of using CDBG furlds ;to replace it with a handicap accessible play structure in a level location near the urban side of the park. Given the Amer~. aris with Disabilities Act, the Park and Recreation Commission felt that this was an opportune ti[ne, to provide this park's unique features to all of Anoka County residents, regardless of disabi~ty, through accessibility improvements. This would be accomplished by: 1. Paving ai~ eight foot wide path completely through this park with a maximum slope of 5%; and : Constructing handicap accessible play equipment adjoining the path and within the City's Urban A.rea;ieand With volunteer labor erecting a simple disability sensitive shelter to provide shade adjacent to the play equipment.