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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1976 10-19 PRMMINUTES OF THE PROCEEDINGS OF THE PARK AND RECREATION COMMISSION FOR THE CITY OF BROOKLYN CENTER IN THE COUNTY OF HENNEPIN AND THE STATE OF MINNESOTA REGULAR SESSION OCTOBER 19, 1976 CITY HALL Call to Order The Brooklyn Center Park and Recreation Commission met in regular' session and was called to order by Chairman Johnson at 7:05 p.m. Roll Call Chairman Johnson, Commissioners Bogle, Whittaker, Nyquist, and Schroeder. Also present were Council- man Tony Kuefler, Landscape Technician Bob Hill, and Administrative Assistants Leon Beasley and Ronald Warren. Chairman Johnson reported that Commissioner Hickman would be unable to attend this evening's meeting and was excused, and that Director of Park and Recreation Gene Hagel;.would also not be present because he was out of town. Approval of Minutes Motion by Commissioner Whittaker, seconded by 9-21-76 Commissioner Schroeder to approve the minutes of the September 21, 1976 meeting as submitted. The motion I passed unanimously. Preliminary Plans Chairman Johnson introduced the next item of business t for Central Park on the agenda, that of a continued review of the pre- liminary plans for the proposed Central Park. He explained that there have been some modifications to the Central Park plans reviewed by the Commission at the September 21 meeting. He suggested that the drawings for Central Park be constantly reviewed by the Commission as modifications are made. The Chairman then recognized Landscape Technician Bob Hill who proceeded to review the preliminary park plans for Central Park, explaining- the additions made since the previous Commission meeting. He stated that the proposed trails in the park are now more defined, and that a community picnic area is now ' proposed for Central Park rather than at the Palmer Lake area which had originally been comprehended. i -1- 10-19-76 He also stated that it is proposed that Central Park also contain an amphitheater which would be located in the vicinity of the community picnic area to be used for a variety of functions. Mr. Hill next distributed an informational sheet regarding the proposed community picnic area and requested the Commissioners to make suggestions relating to the picnic area and to return it to him. A lengthy question and answer session ensued relative to the Central Park pre- liminary drawing. The Park and Recreation Commission recessed at 7:50 p.m. and resumed at 8:10 p.m. Chairman Johnson introduced the next item of business, that of prioritizing the system deficiencies of the park system. He explained that Commission members had been requested to review the deficiencies in the overall park system and to be prepared to establish a priority system at this evening's meeting. Commissioner Schroeder was of the opinion that the major deficiency in the overall park system was the lack of paved parking lots for all City parks and that this item should be addressed to before any other item. He stated that he felt the next priority should be the development of Central Park and that the third priority should be neighborhood park development. He further stated that the matter of the Shingle Creek trailway system ranked as his fourth priority and that beyond this point he had no strong feelings regarding a priority for other system deficiencies, Commissioner Nyquist commented that she felt that neighborhood park development and improvement was the top priority system deficiency followed by the development of Central Park and the need for a bikeway and walkway system. Commissioner Bogle stated that he agrees somewhat with Commissioner Schroeder regarding the need for paved parking lots in all City parks, but that he considers this to bean item that would be addressed to under neighborhood park development which he prioritized as the No. 1 system deficiency. He added that he sees the development of Central Park as the No. 2 priority and had ranked the development Recess System Deficiency Priorities -2- 10-19-76 • of a community picnic area as the third priority. He noted the proposal, reviewed earlier, to include a community picnic area in Central Park and stated that he supports this concept as an important aspect of the development of Central Park and,. therefore, does not see the need to have the development of a community picnic area as a priority in and of itself. Commissioner Whittaker listed her priorities as neigh- borhood park development, the development of Central Park, followed by the improvement to nature areas and development of a bikeway and walkway system. Chairman Johnson ranked neighborhood park development as the No. 1 priority and stated that he feels addressing this deficiency first best relates to the overall goal of the park policy plan which is to provide a well balanced park and recreation system that will reasonably meet the local recreational needs of, and be accessible to, all segments of the community. He further stated that he is of the opinion that the development of Central Park should be the No. 2 priority. Chairman Johnson reported that Commissioner Hickman had conveyed to him her feeling that neighborhood park development was the first priority that should be ad dressed to. A lengthy discussion ensued relative to prioritizing deficiencies of the overall park and recreation system. Following the discussion it was the consensus of the Commission that the following be established as the top two priorities for addressing system deficiencies: (1) Neighborhood Park Development; (2) Development of Central Park. It was also the consensus of the Commission to further prioritize remaining system deficiencies following further review of the overall park and recreation system. Chairman Johnson commented that the best way for the Commission to now proceed, after establishing the priorities, is to take one step at a time in the Com- mission's review of the development of neighborhood parks. He noted that neighborhood parks are categorizes as playlots, playgrounds, and playfields, and he suggested reviewing one category at a time. A brief discussion ensued among the Commissioners as to how to proceed with its review and recommendations. • -3- 10-19-76 Following the discussion it was the consensus of the Commission to first review the needed improvements for playfields and that Park Service Area Committee members should be utilized in the review process. The following is a list of playfields by Park Service Areas which will be reviewed first by the Commission: Park Service Area I - Grandview Park; Park Service Area II - Evergreen Park; Park Service Area III - West Palmer Lake and Willow Lane Parks; Park Service Area IV - Garden City and Kylawn Parks; Park Service Area V - Northport Park. A lengthy discussion ensued relative to the utilization Utilization of Park of Park Service Area Committee members in the forthcoming Service Area review of neighborhood park development. It was agreed Committee Members that each Commissioner representing a Park Service Area should contact their respective Park Service Area Com- mittee members and inquire as to the Committee members` willingness to actively participate in the review process. It was further agreed that Park Service Area Committees would be brought up to full membership strength and that committee members would be invited to forthcoming Com- mission meetings for the purpose of soliciting input and comment relative to the continuing review of neighborhood parks. Commissioner Schroeder inquired if it would be possible to have the various park drawings available during the upcoming Commission meetings. Chairman Johnson stated that the next Park and Recreation November Meeting Commission meeting would be at 7:00 p.m. on November 16, 1976 at which time the Commission would break up into Park Service Area groups for the purpose of reviewing and making recommendations for neighborhood park improvements. Motion by Commissioner Bogle, seconded by Commissioner Adjournment Schroeder to adjourn the meeting. The motion passed unanimously. The Brooklyn Center Park and Recreation Commission adjourned at 9:40 p.m. Cha irma n -4- 10-19-76