Minutes - Parks and Recreation Commission - 09/08/2016

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Motion carried. Voting Yes: Chair Bennett, Commissioners Logan, Mobry, Trappen and Troy. Voting No: None. Absent: Commissioner Fyten. 5. COMMISSION BUSINESS 5.01: Consider Policy for a Playground Replacement Schedule Parks & Assistant Public Works Superintendent Riverblood reviewed the City of Ramsey has 13+ municipal parks (neighborhood and community), with play equipment within them, and also other public locations like Rum River Central Park (Anoka Co. Parks) and the Ramsey Elementary School. The Commission is requested to develop a general policy of a replacement schedule for the play structures in City parks. A 2007 map showing the distribution of the municipal playgrounds in Ramsey was provided for Commission review. Mr. Riverblood stated over recent decades, Ramsey has replaced many play structures in addition to the new ones installed as part of new park development. A modest play structure was installed in Central Park in 1989 and then replaced 8 years later in 1997 with the used play structure relocated to Autumn Heights Park. Another community park, Rivers' Bend received a new playground in 1989, with a subsequent replacement 13 years later in 2002. Titterud Park had a new installation in 1986, and a replacement in 2007. Mr. Riverblood reviewed generally play equipment may be considered at some time after the equipment reaches 15 years of use. The Commission was requested to visit Rabbit Park, Ford Brook Park, and Emerald Pond Park prior to the meeting to enable them to compare the different conditions of play equipment to one another—in relationship to a replacement policy. Mr. Riverblood suggested a matrix be developed with conditions and cause for playground equipment. It could be a 100-point system on different conditions to develop a playground equipment replacement scale. The number of children residing close to the park would also be considered. Chair Bennett asked the Commission for their thoughts. He likes the concept of the matrix so the variables can be developed. He asked if perhaps there was a benchmark available that could be used as a base. The cost of replacement or repair should also be discussed. The demographics of neighborhoods may have changed so consideration should be made to look at not replacing playground equipment due to lack of children in the neighborhood. Mr. Riverblood reviewed the park locations on a map. It may be difficult to remove a playground structure from a park as the neighbors would consider it losing something. Chair Bennett stated there was a movement some time ago to residents putting large play structures in their own yards. The Commission needs to be smart about re-investing in some of the parks. Commissioner Logan stated the matrix would support the decisions. This is a statistical logical method for determining which equipment should be replaced. Park and Recreation Commission/September 8, 2016 Page 2 of 5