1996 CAFR - Laserfiche WebLink

Home

MAJOR I1~IITIATIVES ~ontinuedl Parks (continued) Several different neighborhood parks received improvements during 1996. These projects began with the City's oldest neighborhood park, Tittered, located at the 16100 block of Ramsey Boulevard. Both parking lots at the park were paved and the tennis court was resurfaced. In addition, a digital court-lighting timer was installed. Ramsey Elementary School, another public recreational space, had its hockey rinks and warming house improved in a cooperative agreement between the school district and the City. Neighborhood park development continued outside of the City's urban area including the construction of a donated 25-foot slide installed at Rabbit Park located in the extreme northwestern portion of the City. In addition, Fox Park, one block south of 172nd Avenue on Potassium Street, was largely completed in 1996. The park now contains a new playground, tennis court, nature paths and boardwalk with viewing platform. The 13:5 acre Emerald Pond Park, north of County Road #116 at the 6000 block of 142nd Avenue, conrinued to receive improvements unique to many urban parks. In 1996, construction began of a pergola which will function as an outdoor seating area covered with vines and surrounded by flowering shrubs. Because the park is bordered by ponds on all sides, water quality is an issue. To improve the aquatic environment and for the visual benefits, the City is designing an outdoor water fountain, to be installed in the spring of 1997. An irrigation system was installed in the fall of 1996, which will water the turf and trees to insure their survival from their intense use. The smallest neighborhood park is the 1.8-acre Solstice Park situated east of County Road #5 and south of Sunwood Drive. In 1996, Solstice Park received the donation of labor by twenty-one high school football players whose landscape project was to build a 135-foot path. In addition, an Eagle Scout began a 1,350 square foot wildflower planting complete with identification placards. Also added in 1996, was a concrete game table for the gazebo. The second tennis court constructed in the City in 1996 was at Riverdale Park, just south of Highway 10 at Feldspar Street. The park is connected by a trail to the Mississippi West County Park, which in the fall of 1996, was added to the Metropolitan Council's Regional Park System. Staff and volunteers also completed the installation of a new playground for Flintwood Terrace Park. The park, approximately 1000 feet southwest of the water tower, serves the most densely populated neighborhood in the City. Finally, in concert with new development, trails were added within the road right-of--way along Sunwood Drive in the residential area of Sunfish Lake Boulevard, 153rd Avenue, and Potassium Street into the neighborhood north of Emerald Pond Park. Anew path, a half mile in length, was added to connect the residential streets south of Sunwood Drive and west of County Road #5 to Flintwood Terrace Park. Public Safety During 1996, the staffmg level remained constant with 13 sworn officers in the Police Department. The Department responed to 7,682 incidents in 1996, compared to 7,818 for 1995. For the two years, this activity is broken down into the following categories: 1995 1996 Traffic/Driving Under Influence/Accidents 1,202 1,223 Burglary 74 75 Domestics/Animal Complaints/Neighborhood Complaints 5,582 5,373 Motorist Aid/Lockouts/Alarms 800 855 Gun Permits/Other Licenses and Permits 160 156 vi