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HomeMy WebLinkAbout10B Park Consolidation along 150th St Corridor Study4646 Dakota Street SE Prior Lake, MN 55372 CITY COUNCIL AGENDA REPORT MEETING DATE: November 21 AGENDA #: 10B PREPARED BY: Al Friedges, Natural Resources /Facilities /Fleet Manager PRESENTER: Al Friedges, Natural Resources /Facilities /Fleet Manager Katy Gehler, Public Works and Natural Resources Director AGENDA ITEM: Consider Approval of a Report Authorizing the Initiation of a Park Consolidation project along the 150 Street Corridor Study DISCUSSION: Introduction The purpose of this agenda item is to request City Council authorization to initiate the evaluation of park consolidation along the 150"' Street corridor and approve the proposed project process. History Prior Lake has some 1,000 acres of park land. The park system includes 6 community, 34 neighborhood, 7 passive /natural and 5 undeveloped for a total of 52 parks. Until now our primary focus has been on building and maintaining parks. Historically, existing park assets have been replaced with comparable equipment without much thought about how the demographics and, therefore, the needs, of the users have changed. The 2030 Vision and Strategic Plan identified goals and objectives to consider the evaluation of park replacement and content based upon future needs and demographics. In order to achieve this goal the Parks Utilization and Sustainability Study was developed. The objective of the Study is to evaluate park uses and identify infrastructure for the parks system that most cost effectively provides an acceptable level of service to our changing community. At the August 1, 2011 work session staff provided an update of the park utilization study and asked for direction on methodologies toward park utilization. One of the elements of the study is the consideration of the consolidation of uses and repurposing of parks that lie in close proximity. In particular, three parks along the 150th Street corridor were discussed. The Council was supportive of the concept but asked for more detail on the process of evaluation. Current Circumstances There are three parks that lie along the 150th Street corridor, Fish Point Park, Indian Ridge Park and Green Oaks Park. Each park was developed as a neighborhood park using the standard amenities such as play equipment, shelter, and fields or courts as space allowed. Specifically these parks have the following characteristics and amenities: 1) Indian Ridge —1.55 acre park with flat slopes and modest tree cover. The site is rectangular in shape and has access off of Fairlawn Shores Trail by sidewalk. The site currently houses a play structure appropriate for 5 -12 year old children, off street parking, and a pleasure rink during the winter months. 2) Fish Point — 9.0 acre park with rolling slopes and more significant tree cover in undeveloped portions. The site is irregular in shape with access to adjacent areas by trails. The site currently houses a play structure appropriate for 5 -12 year old children and a 20' x 40' shelter with picnic tables, and a half sized Basketball court. 3) Green Oaks — 2.0 acre park with flat slopes and little tree cover. The site currently houses a play structure appropriate for 5 -12 year old children, a 20' x 40' shelter with picnic tables, half sized basketball court and a small ball field that is utilized as a pleasure rink in the winter months. The three parks lie within 0.5 miles of each other and are connected by either trail or sidewalk making them good candidates for the discussion of repurposing. The original intent was to consider repurposing when the current amenities had served their lifespan. However, Northwood Meadows and Enclave at Cleary are two new park sites that are planned for development in the coming three years. The question was raised whether the consolidation at the 150th Street parks could begin now with the play structures and shelters being relocated to the new parks. Staff evaluated the potential cost impact of this approach. The following assumptions were made when evaluating costs: • Both capital and operational costs were considered over a 10 -year period. • Indian Ridge serves as a good site for play equipment. The service at this park would be expanded to include play equipment to serve 2 -5 year old children in addition to the 5 -12 equipment that currently exists. • Fish Point Park would be repurposed to a passive use with the play equipment and shelter being moved to Enclave or Northwood Meadows. • Green Oaks Park would be repurposed with an expansion of amenities that will allow the park to be more fully utilized. These amenities would include the addition of a small warming house and lights at the pleasure rink to allow this facility to be used after sundown on the weekdays. The existing play equipment and shelter would be relocated to Enclave or Northwood Meadows. The repurposing allows the Enclave and Northwood Meadows parks to be developed ahead of schedule while providing a higher level of service in the 150"' Street area. The accelerated repurposing and development of Enclave at Cleary and Northwood Meadows was presented at the October 27 t h, 2011 PAC along with the potential cost impacts. The PAC supports the approach including following a process to solicit feedback from the impacted residents. E The following is the proposed project process: Nov. 21, Project Authorization — Approval of project process and 2011 City Council Meeting authorization to initiate project. Mid -Dec. Neighborhood Meeting Provide concept of park use #1with users of all consolidation /Park repurposing three parks. with initial plan for 150 Street area. Receive feedback on amenities Dec. 15, PAC Workshop Discuss feedback from 2011 neighborhood meeting and provide recommendations to staff and City Council Late Develop final plan Consider feedback from Dec. neighborhood and PAC to develop final plan Early- Neighborhood Meeting Present final plan to neighborhood Jan. #2 with users of all and provide opportunity for final three parks. feedback Jan. 17, City Council Work Discuss the standard park 2012 Session amenities and final 150 Street Ian with the Council. Jan. 17, City Council Meeting Consider approval of final plan 2012 March/ Neighborhood Discuss park development and April Meetings with proposed amenities. 2012 Northwood Meadows and Enclave at Clea Conclusion Staff is recommending that the 150 Street Parks Project be initiated. This project will enable the city to receive feedback from impacted residents and define a process that can then be used to shape further conversations on park utilization. ISSUES: During the October 27 2011 PAC meeting additional discussion occurred relating to the 150 Street corridor Study and the potential to utilize existing play equipment and shelters at Northwood Meadows and Enclave at Cleary parks. Staff received recommendations from the PAC at this meeting that the following criteria should be considered when repurposing and developing parks: 1. Parks that are candidates for consolidation or repurposing should be connected by a trail or sidewalk. 2. Parks should not be consolidated if the park service zones cross over State, County or heavily utilized collector Streets. 3. Parks that are repurposed should offer an equal or higher level of service. 4. Feedback should be solicited from the 150 Street neighborhood residents on the current use and the proposed consolidation and repurposing. 5. Consideration should be given on adding elements to enhance the uses for the expanded service area. 6: What is the cost to refurbish and relocate the play structure and shelter to Northwood Meadows and Enclave at Cleary Parks? 3 FINANCIAL The costs were evaluated both for the existing approach to park IMPACT: development and the proposed repur osing. Option 1 considers replacement of equipment at the 150 Street parks as identified in the Parks Equipment Replacement Plan and the addition of new equipment at Northwood Meadows and Enclave at Cleary. Option 2 considers repurposing of the 150 Street parks as outlined above including relocation of equipment to Northwood Meadows and Enclave at Cleary. A ten -year operational period was considered. . The estimated $8,000 cost savings is less than 2% of the total costs. Repurposing of the parks is expected to be cost neutral considering the typical variability in the estimates. ALTERNATIVES: 1. Approve a resolution authorizing the initiation of the 150 Street Park Consolidation Project and process dated November 21, 2011. 2. Table this item for a specific reason. 3. Deny this item for a specific reason and provide staff with direction. RECOMMENDED Alternative 1. MOTION: 4 Staff will be prepared to discuss these estimates with the city council at the meeting.