Minutes_Park and Recreation Advisory Commission 4 20 10PARK AND RECREATION COMMISSION MEETING
Tuesday, April 20, 2010
4:30 p.m., Snack Bar, Bunker Hill Golf Course
PRESENT: Bob Blocker, Gary Hariehausen, Paul Hoffmann, Karen Lyness, Evelyn
Nadeau and Mark Noble
ABSENT: Torn Blocklinger
OTHERS: Staff present: Pat Prevenas, Bob Fritsch and Eileen Trimble
MINUTES It was moved by Lyness, seconded by Nadeau, seconded by Nadeau, to
APPROVED approve the minutes of the March 9, 201 0, meeting. The motion passed
VOTE: unanimously.
CHAIN Acting Leisure Services Manager Pat Prevenas told commissioners that a
REACTION BIKE representative of the mountain bike group that uses Roosevelt Park (without
CLUB USE OF permission) wanted to talk to the commission, probably about getting a formal
ROOSEVELT agreement for the area they currently use and developed trails at. The
PARK: representative called Monday and canceled; the were not read to do their
p y y y
presentation.
DOG PARK Mr. Prevenas said that IDOT contacted the department and said that the plan
DATE: to use part of the Dodge and Locust site for a training area has been
completely dropped so it is available for us to pursue as a pet park site. There
are two CIP projects in the budget — $95,000 on Terminal and $300,000 for
south side pet parks. Mr. Prevenas was directed to write a memo to the city
manager regarding the status of the I DOT property and see if we can proceed
with negotiations to add it as an addition to the existing pet park, and also ask
for a clarification from the city manager on money available.
Commissioners mentioned some comments they have received from citizens:
why are we charging a fee; feels like a way to have less people at
Grandview site to appease neighbors on Aspen Court; expect better
amenities since they are paying a specific fee for that park only; other cities
that charge for pet parks have better amenities; *are we going to offer a low
income pass? Mr. Prevenas said a resident would be able to get one for half
price; they would need to purchase it in the office and show proof of residency.
Commissioners asked that we put some kind of notice on the website to notify
people that they could ask for assistance.
PARK DIVISION Park Division Manager Bob Fritsch updated commissioners:
REPORT;
showed plan for Rockdale Park; meant to be a passive park so it will have a
courtyard with benches, annual plantings, small play structure and
landscaping. There will be a lot of area with mulch to minimize turf
maintenance. There is a low retaining wall in the southwest corner and we will
be adding some fill and raising the area so flowers can be seen better. We will
be using Purington pavers reclaimed pavers in the walkway. The plan has
April , 2010 meeting
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been discussed with both neighbors and other than a few small issues, they
liked it. The engineering estimate is $75,000; Mr. Falb donated $50,000 for
development but has asked the city manager for more ideas because he has
friends that would like to donate for development. Commissioners liked the
plan but had a few questions /comments: is lighting included; will need to put
up "no pets allowed" signs; can we leave out play structure and put in a rest
room instead? one commissioner has a lot of people ask him for that since
there are so many walkers and Joggers. Mr. Fritsch said at this point we were
relying on street lighting. As far as a rest room, it would cost around $75,000
and we have rest rooms at Murphy Park that are only a block away, available
from May through October. The daffodils have been planted at the bottom
of 3rd Street and at the Locust Street connecter. They were planted in pots
recessed in the ground and then we will take them out and place at the
greenhouse to water all winter. The trail at lDCW is done except for the
parking lot; signage will be going up for distances, et cetera. At Bergfeld:
doing some cleanup; changing the grade and improving access to the trail;
added concrete to connect sections of sidewalk; working on some drainage
issues with Med line.
RECREATION Acting Leisure Services Manager Pat Prevenas informed commissioners:
DIVISION .
REPORT: Golf: course opened March 17th and we had the best March since 2000.
After school track has 380 students registered — record number. Softball
has 162 teams registered which is close to 2009 numbers; we have more
mixed teams than in the past. Volleyball does not have very big numbers.
City Expo was last Tuesday. We gave out plants, et cetera; less people
than in the past. Video security has been installed at McAleece concession;
had two break -ins in 2009. we are trying for video security at the skate park
also but it will need to be solar powered.
OTHER Leisure Services Manager: new manager Marie Ware will be at the May
BUSINESS: meeting. Future meetings: Commissioners asked if we could have some of
the summer meetings at various department facilities. It was decided that the
May meeting would be at Prescott Resource Center; June at renovated bridge
complex; and Jul at Comiskey. Camping reservations; Commissioner
Blocker said his wife was in line at 7:30 p.m. the night before reservations were
accepted. Campground managers gave out numbers and it worked well. His
wife talked to other people and they like requiring a reservation. His wife had
number 12 and they didn't get their first choice of campsites but they still had
pretty good sites. Commissioner Lyness said maybe next year we could
alternate - take one in- person reservation, then one phone reservation, etc.