Agenda - Parks and Recreation Commission - 02/12/2015

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As the Commission will recall, a similar invitation for ideas and public comment was issued for the lake feature in The COR, and the Commission held an open house explicitly for this purpose. Much planning and visioning for the park space called Lake Ramsey on the City's development plan remains. There is a strong beneficial value to commercial and residential properties that abut quality parks. For this reason, expressing what either of these two proposed parks ("Lake Ramsey" and Municipal Plaza) may look like is useful in attracting developers. Additionally there can be cross -easements and shared uses for certain amenities and infrastructure, e.g. a park may accommodate stormwater from an adjacent residential property, or a restaurant site may have public/private paths that lead customers to the business, or an adjoining park may provide seating or programming beneficial to a particular business. Parks & Assistant Public Works Superintendent Riverblood continued another reason that exploring concepts for the two proposed park together is timely, in that given their close geographic relationship (and eventual connection in some manner), the public spaces should be complimentary in opportunities for residents and visitors, and should have minimum redundancies in what they offer patrons in terms of programming and experience. Riverblood provided three alternatives for the proposed Municipal Plaza. Staff is seeking any and all feedback from the Commission, residents and the business community. This invitation shall be extended via the city's website, and each commission, board and City Council will be asked to engage as well. In the end, the park space may look and function like one of the concepts presented, a hybrid of the three — or something quite different. There is no timeline per se, however a buyer may be found for the land adjacent to the park(s) and a park development plan may be crafted that is synergistic with the new residential or commercial land use. Parks & Assistant Public Works Superintendent Riverblood stated Staff will continue to assimilate all comments on parks and public spaces within The COR — and it is Staff' s recommendation for Commissioners to have discussions with residents, friends and neighbors on these planning endeavors, and share the feedback with Staff, within or aside from the regular Commission meeting. Parks & Assistant Public Works Superintendent Riverblood showed the location of the Municipal Park. He provided a drawing of the Current Master Plan of the area. Concept 1 — To include a water feature with a large open field. This would provide an opportunity to have a tree lighting with the planting of a tree. This concept would be 1.8 acres. Concept 2 — This would be a different, more rectangular shape and more linear. There would be a green connection with the lake feature. A water feature may be at the entrance of the park. This would include a promenade, forest walk and a prominent entryway. Concept 3 — This concept would include a woonerf & commercial edge, fountain, iconic tree and open field and entryway. There would also be a shared street that could be closed to motorized traffic at certain times. Park and Recreation Commission/January 8, 2015 Page 3 of 6