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<br /> <br />Item 8.3.B. <br /> <br />MEMORANDUM <br /> <br />TO: Mayor and Council <br /> <br />FROM: Bill Maertz, Director of Park$ and Recreation <br /> <br />DATE: June 2, 2005 <br /> <br />SUBJECT: Parks and Recreation Update <br /> <br />Lions Park Teen Programming <br />Lions Park is exceptionally well located to provide'programming for teens. Its proximity to <br />the schools, central location and the high density of rental housing nearby, combine to make <br />Lions Park a gathering spot for teenagers in Elk River. The addition of the skate park in <br />2004 added to the popularity of Lions Park with tt1ens. <br /> <br />Staff is exploring options for recreational programming at Lions Park in order to provide <br />alternatives to "hanging out" in an unsupervised eJ!lvironment. One option is the creation of <br />a new staff position titled Teen Programmer. This position would work under the <br />supervision of the Recreation Coordinator, Ross Demant, to provide supervision at the skate <br />park, supervise teen intramural sports, and organizie special events and field trips involving <br />teens. <br /> <br />Another option is the potential of creating indoor jtecreation space for teens at Lions Park <br />Center. Staff is examining options for enclosing th~ picnic pavilion attached to Lions Park <br />Center and creating a teen center/ warming house. This space could be staffed by the Teen <br />Coordinator and along with the skate park becomtt the beginning of Elk Rivers teen <br />outreach infrastructure. Additional concepts include an outdoor climbing rock and a <br />towrope for snowboarding. <br /> <br />Staff believes that every avenue for involving and valuing teenagers in Elk River needs to be <br />explored .The potential of Lions Park Center to plflY a role in teen development is <br />phenomenal and needs to be enhanced as much as possible. <br /> <br />Trail Master Plan Amendment <br />The Parks and Recreation Commission will be clOidering making a recommendation to <br />amend the trail master plan on June 8, 2005. The urrent trail master plan specifies future <br />widened shoulder along County Roads 1, 77, 35, 3 ,40, 13,21 and 33. In addition, the plan <br />specifies future widened shoulder along the follo . g city roads, Jarvis St, Upland St., <br />Lander St. and 221st Ave. I <br />