Minutes - Parks and Recreation Commission - 07/12/2018

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Motion carried. Voting Yes: Chair Bennett; Commissioners Leistico, Andrusko, Trappen, Sis. Voting No: None. Absent: Commissioner Tchuinkwa and Commissioner Bayer. 5. COMMISSION BUSINESS 5.01: Approve Concept Plans for Municipal Plaza and The Waterfront Parks & Assistant Public Works Superintendent Riverblood presented the concept plans for Municipal Plaza and the Waterfont. In 2014, staff did a lot of work on what park spaces could look like in the COR. He reviewed the public involvement process. One unifying, almost unanimous thought was the idea of a splash pad. Thus, it is set up with a water-centric park, and the concept plans have ratified that concept. He pointed out the elongated shape for Municipal Plaza and compared it to the proposed nearby apartment building. The apartment building will be breaking ground this month commitment to build a park in the area. The apartment complex will house a lot of folks 55 and over. More than likely, a lot of grandparents will live here, so the park spaces will be heavily utilized by grandchildren visiting. Parks & Assistant Public Works Superintendent Riverblood continued that Municipal Plaza has a couple defining themes; it is a contiguous programmable space, but there is a lot of park roaming capability. The parks are really the defining features of the COR. Wayfinding features are also significant in defining the quality of life in downtown. He pointed out several spaces in the Plaza. Vendors will be able to bring in refrigerated ice sheets for ice skating, which is also near where the tree lighting will happen. Along Centre Street, parallel parking on both sides will probably be built. All or part of Centre Street can be closed off for large events, to be used for programmable space. Solar panels will be incorporated as well, for bicycle stations, laptop stations, et cetera. The hardscape will be pervious, so storm water will enter. There will be great locations for a potential brew pub or a wine bar. Alongside the apartment, he envisions a series of stone walls that are seat walls for both the park users as well as the apartment residents. In response to a question by Chair Bennett, he also pointed out the stormwater plans, noting it is intended to be smart and sustainable in design. There are drinking water protection zones in the COR, so the City cannot allow in many areas infiltration. The stormwater has to be captured and brought to a different pond for reuse. The storm pond in the waterfront will be clay-lined so as not to allow that connection to the ground water. He also presented unique outdoor hearth setups. From the very beginning, Fire and Ice has been a theme of the COR. These propane hearths can make a chilly evening very enjoyable as people gather around. Commissioner Trappe asked how the hearths work. Parks & Assistant Public Works Superintendent Riverblood explained there may be a motion- detector system that triggers the hearths, though there may be other new technologies available in the next couple of years. He also is envisioning movable furniture. If someone is sharing a hearth and need more chairs, they can easily be moved. These hearths will really make the park space a fun gathering spot in all seasons. Park and Recreation Commission/July 12, 2018 Page 2 of 5