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1999 PARK IMPROVEMENTS Lake Itasca Park Phase I Development $66,000 Essentially there is no neighborhood level parks in the western one-third of Ramsey. Nearest exceptions would be Rabbit Park in the extreme northwest and Central Park in the west-central area of the City. Neither park is in the Recreation Districts of Lake Itasca or the Ermine District. While the Northfork Homeowners Association's Park does serve their neighborhood, it is not available to others, nor does it have a ball field. Lake Itasca Park, however, will not only serve "neighborhood" needs but will function as a community park somewhat unique from our others. The park ultimately will have the usual community park amenities and will have access off from 153rd Avenue. In addition, connection to the Lake Itasca Trail and views of the lake will make it our most spacious (developed) and scenic park site. Phase I development would consist of grading, ball field, parking, and access drive development, in addition to basic landscaping. The playground and potential shelter is scheduled for the year 2002, also from the Landfill Trust Fund interest earnings. Readers of this CIP narrative will note that the two largest development projects within the CIP, Alpine and Lake Itasca Park, alternate with new funding~improvements occurring every one to two years. This recognizes the one to two year process of public participation, design, bidding and construction. This also spreads staff's workload more evenly, in addition to the public receiving improvements in different areas of the City. It is also hoped that, in this same time frame, the City may receive additional park land, adjacent to 153rd Avenue, from North Fork Inc. This space is much better suited for active use such as ball fields and playgrounds. Surveys of residents in this area seem to indicate support for concentrating active use nearer 153rd Avenue than existing park land allows. 83-Acre "Community Park No. 5" Purchase $111,125 For many years the City's Park and Trail Plan has called for the fifth community park occurring nearing the 16400 block of T.H. #47. This last community park provides for an even distribution of parks of this purpose and adequate active use space for the City. Receipt of park dedication dollars (largely from Apple Ridge) provide for most of the acquisition costs. General Fund dollars, $40,000, are also proposed as needed. No actual development is contemplated in the same year as the purchase. Given 1997's youth soccer participation, it is proposed that some emphasis may be given to soccer field development at this park versus Alpine Park which has emphasis on baseball fields. Central Park's Community-Built Playground $48,000 Central Park has been referred to as our "Flagship Park". It also receives the most visits by residents. This often is entire families, a part of which are the children actually participating in