Comp Parks/Open Space Plan '91 - Laserfiche WebLink

Home

Centralized Development Due to the sandy soils with high permeability, developed athletic fields which experience heavy use tend to lose their turf very quickly. Establishment or re- establishment of a thick, lasting turf cover is nearly impossible without irrigation. Since many of the parks system playfields are outside the urban area, irrigation wells are required at parks intended for organized athletic facilities. This obviously increases costs of park development and is not cost effective. The City has concentrated development of organized facilities in few parks which can be irrigated with a large well rather than pursuing wide spread development necessitating many smaller wells to serve each developed park. This type of development also provides the advantage of lowering maintenance costs by grouping similar facilities with like maintenance requirements in a few places. This is more cost effective than moving maintenance equipment and personnel throughout the City on a frequent basis. Lastly, the grouping of these developed facilities is more responsive to league and organized play where the preference is to have several ballfields available at one location. This, however, has to be balanced with the community needs for neighborhood park development. Central Park Expansion It has been recommended that Central Park be expanded to the east. Approximately 35 acres is undeveloped and provides a logical expansion area for additional soccer, football, softball and baseball fields in addition to other park facilities. Sunfish Lake/153rd Area WMMI has entered into an agreement with the City to develop a ski area using approximately 10 acres of the landfill. If this is not viable, the development agreement provides for WMMI to dedicate approximately 50 acres north of the landfill to the City for recreation purposes. If this area is made available, the City should develop organized athletic facilities and hard surfaced courts on this parcel. The development agreement stipulates that development of the ski area or alternatively dedication of the recreation area would be completed by March 1, 1994. If the 50 acres are not available, the City should acquire an area east of Sunfish Lake Boulevard which would extend to the elementary school property. This acreage is somewhat larger (approximately 70 acres) due to lowlands associated with the drainage ditch. Preliminary evaluation of the parcel indicates that the property can be linked to the elementary school property. This offers the advantage of providing a more natural area for outdoor environmental education, trails and providing area for developed athletic facilities. The City should consider acquiring an option on this parcel through 1994 by which time a decision should be reached. 25