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t ~~ <br />~cY or <br />lk~ River <br />Item 6.7. <br />MEMORANDUM <br />TO: Mayor & City Council <br />FROM: Pat Klaers, City Ad strator <br />~~ <br />~,, . - -. <br />DATE: May 22, 1995 <br />r <br />SUBJECT: Review Park Development Issues <br />Attached for your review is the April 19, 1995, Park and Recreation <br />Commission minutes. At this meeting the commission reviewed its long term <br />goals for arecreation-athletic complex, and the immediate need for soccer <br />fields. Also attached for your review is a memo from Street/Park <br />Superintendent Phil Hals on the soccer field issue. <br />Regarding this immediate need for soccer facilities, it should be noted that <br />through a more thorough evaluation of the soccer needs and scheduling <br />issues, it has been determined that the organization can get by in 1995 with <br />only one additional field. This field is temporary and it is hoped that a more <br />permanent field and complex can be started and in operation in 1996. This <br />temporary field is already striped and is immediately northwest of City Hall. <br />The Park and Recreation Commission will continue its evaluation for <br />appropriate recreation uses of the vacant 3.3 acres of land that is southeast of <br />City Hall. <br />The Council requested that the topic of an athletic complex be back before <br />them for discussion following the school bond referendum. As everyone <br />knows, this school referendum was defeated and therefore, it will be some <br />time in the future before the city could combine its efforts with the school for <br />athletic fields around a new school facility. Accordingly, the city should look <br />at its options, independent of the School District, for creating athletic fields to <br />meet local needs. <br />Construction on new soccer fields needs to begin in early July if these fields <br />are to be seeded in 1995 and usable for soccer in May, 1996. At this time, our <br />best option appears to be utilizing 12.5 acres of WWTP land that was <br />originally purchased for the disposal of sludge. However, it is also proposed <br />• that we go very slowly from a financial point of view in developing this <br />property. It is appropriate to move forward with the construction of two <br />13065 Orono Parkway • P.O. Box 490 • Elk River, MN 55330 • (612) 441-7420 • Fax: (612) 441-7425 <br />