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Commissioner Barnes stated she has some personal comments <br />shared with her. She indicated that this has been defined as a pocket park, which is a small park <br />surrounded by homes. Ford Brook park is not a pocket park; it is a neighborhood park. It <br />should serve as a focal point of the community. Forty years ago, Ford Brook received used <br />equipment from the City of Minneapolis. Now, this park will be updated with used equipment <br />from an Anoka park. A look should be taken as to whether Ramsey should continually provide its <br />citizens with second-hand equipment in its parks. As one citizen commented to her: if that is <br />true, watch property values plummet. Going forward, the City should focus not on The COR, but <br />rather on the Rest of Ramsey (ROR) where the citizens of Ramsey have chosen to build homes <br />and raise families. Signage change is nice, but it should only be the beginning. <br /> <br />Chair Bennett thanked Commissioner Barnes for input. He also asked to clarify whether the <br />estimated cost of the used equipment and installation is $21,000. <br /> <br />Parks & Assistant Public Works Superintendent Riverblood confirmed that figure, noting that the <br />equipment is $5,000, and the balance is installation and all new fasteners as required. <br /> <br />Chair Bennett asked about projected cost if all new equipment, with the upgrades the <br />neighborhood would like, were purchased. <br /> <br />Parks & Assistant Public Works Superintendent Riverblood responded there are comps included <br />in the packet. The play equipment itself (not the rest of the park) would be $100,000-$130,000 <br />plus installation of over 15 to 25% of that cost. Thus, it would be approximately $150,000 for <br />comparable play equipment. <br /> <br />Chair Bennett appreciated Commissioner ishes new equipment could be <br />placed everywhere in the city. Financially that is a challenge. This is a unique opportunity. The <br />alternative here is the removal for the safety concerns and the potential risk of not having a park <br />there at all. This is a creative solution for the City to provide the neighborhood the amenities they <br />wanted in a unique way. The original placeholder in the CIP was around $60,000. <br /> <br />Parks & Assistant Public Works Superintendent Riverblood concurred the CIP showed $50,000 <br />plus $20,000 from the city of Nowthen. He also noted that Ford Brook is a neighborhood park, <br />not a pocket park. <br /> <br />Commissioner Barnes clarified she is not saying the used equipment should not be installed. <br />Rather, if the County of Anoka can replace new equipment, surely Ramsey can provide new <br />equipment going forward. This should not be the standard. <br /> <br />Chair Bennett stated the parks developed in the City over the last few years have all had new <br />equipment. There are some aging parks in the City, and the alternative is how to continue to <br />update and maintain the equipment. Those are challenges that will be faced over the next several <br />years. <br /> <br />Commissioner Sis stated the question is whether to do something or to de-commission the park. <br />Doing something is the preferable option. In the case of Ford Brook, it is a park situated in the <br />Park and Recreation Commission/February 13, 2020 <br />Page 6 of 10 <br /> <br /> <br /> <br />