4.3. SR 01-21-2003 - Laserfiche WebLink

Home Browse Search

Memo to the Mayor and City Council Park and Recreation Update January 2 I, 2003 Page 2 Consider Petition for the Development of Highlands East Park The Commission accepted the attached petition from residents living around Highlands East Park (formerly Hillside 5th Park) supporting the development of the park in 2003. The Council may recall that the Commission adopted a Development Plan for Highlands East Park and its development was attempted in 1998/1999, however, the adjacent neighbors at that time presented a petition against the development of the park. If the Council concurs, staff has suggested that the Park and Recreation Commission hold a large neighborhood meeting on February 12, 2003 to discuss the possible development of Highlands East Park. If support can be demonstrated, monies for a playground could then be included in the 2003 Capital Improvements Budget, which will be presented to the City Council in late February or in March. Staff recommends that the City Council direct the Park and Recreation Commission to conduct a neighborhood meeting regarding the development of Highlands East Park and report the findings to the Council at the February update. Lions Park Master Plan As the Council is aware, the Elk River Star News displayed the draft Lions Park Master Plan in their January 8, 2003 edition. The proposed Master Plan is a compilation of comments received from the Park and Recreation Commission as well as the Lions organization. Staff met with the Lions organization on January 7, 2003 to review the final Master Plan and to inform the Lions of the skate park meeting that had occurred on January 2, 2003. The Lions had two major comments for consideration regarding the Master Plan: 1) They requested that the proposed parking lot expansion be moved up in the Phasing Plan from 2005 to 2004 and, 2) they also requested that additional lighting around the parking lot be installed. They appeared to concur with the remainder of the proposed park plan; however, they are concerned about additional water area in the park, due to its attractiveness to the local goose population. The Park and Recreation Commission approved the Master Plan with the acknowledgement that changes may occur in the future regarding amenities, phasing, and budgets and that these changes would be reviewed as needed by the Commission for approval. Skate Park A component of the Lions Park Master Plan includes a skate park. Proposed Phase 1 of the skate park is a paved area measuring 150'x120' located generally in the area of the existing skating rink. Half of that space would be devoted to a permanent hockey rink, which could be utilized for roller blade hockey or other similar activities. The remaining half of the paved area would be used as a "canvas" for the skate boarders to design a skate park facility.