Minutes - Parks and Recreation Commission - 05/04/1982

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RAMSEY PARK AND RECREATION COMMISSION Regular Meeting of May 4, 1982 Members Present: Members Absent: Others Present: Dennis Donovan, Ron Hetland, John Lichter Terry McLean, Don Lokker, Janice Johnson Jean Schlueter, A1 Kemp, Bob Peterson, Ted and Mary Kay Rouse This meeting was called to discuss a recommendation by the Council at their last meeting to meet with representatives of RYAA and discuss their needs and present our findings back to the Council. The Council requested RYAA repre- sentatives to locate an area for development and a cost estimate. There are five ballfields at present with no 90' baseball fields, no football fields, no soccer fields and no lighted facilities for fall sports. Existing fields do not allow for any practice. Last year a field at Wilson was a home field for Ramsey teams. RYAA is frustrated that they are so dependent on Anoka for facilities. Anoka has discussed user charges for Ramsey teams. Elk River is already doing this. Options with land for park development are: 1) Riverfront Park - status unknown 2) Further development of school property. This would not include a baseball field. There are questions about liability to the school district. This would only partially serve football and soccer teams. Question - Should the City further invest in non-municipal land? 3) Federal Cartridge Property 4) Lighting and irrigation for Titterud Park. This would only serve a small portion of the need. 5) Other land acquisition (City Hall area?) RYAA is not able to raise the needed capital as they are a volunteer organization. After discussions, a concensus was reached that suggested development of additional fields be without irrigation, if necessary. The existing fields only serve a portion of the current needs. As a start towards meeting these needs, the RYAA suggests four ballfields which would provide two football and two soccer fields in the fall. One baseball field is also necessary at present. In 1982, RYAA representatives suggested grading, seeding and ag-liming the four fields probably at the Federal Cartridge property. RYAA officials will assemble a statement of need for the Council. They will present the concensus of this meeting to the Council. A recommendation of funding levels was not reached as cost data was not available. John Lichter was instructed to follow-up with a complaint about the Ramsey Terrace Park. Commission Lichter moved to approved the minutes of the April 15, 1982 meeting and was seconded by Commissioner Hetland. Motion carried. The meeting was adjourned at 9:30 p.m. Respectfully submitted, John Lichter Secretary