Parks Commission Minutes 09-28-1994L
NaNuTEs
SPECIAL MEETING - MONTICELLO PARKS COMMISSION
Wednesday, September 88.1994 - 4:80 p.m.
Members: Dick Frie, Fran Fair, Larry Nolan, Roger Carslon
Members Absent: Bruce Thielen
As suggested at the September 21, 1994 meeting, the purpose of the special
meeting was to tour eristing and future park sites to get a better idea of land use
and terrain.
E & K future Dark site.
The first stop on the tour was the future park site on 160 acres being developed by
E & K Jay Johnson, the developer and Chris Klein, the land owner, met the
parks commission at the site to discuss the park location. The first park site
discussed was the proposed pasture site containing about 16 acres. The site was
ideal for a passive park because it contained a large pond and numerous large oak
trees. Dick Frie expressed the main concern of the commission was that the area
needed an active park, a place for a ball field and, if room, playground equipment
at one location.. E & K was very willing to work with the committee and agreed
to change the location, split the park area, or have less land dedicated to park and
supplement with cash. The commission was not in favor of the cash supplement.
There is a need for park land in the area. The school is close but cannot provide
all the recreational f cilitiea that will be needed for future residents.
After discussing the possible locations, everyone was in agreement that the
northwest corner of the south 80 acres would better serve the recreation needs
because it is a large level section of land perfect for a ball field. The original
proposed park area will make excellent residential lots.
A motion was made by Fran Fak to concentrate the whole 16 acres of park land to
an active park in the northwest quadrant of the south 80 acres of the subdivision.
Second by Nolan. Motion carried unanimously.
Cardinal Hills Basketball Court
Next, was a stop at the future basketball court in Cardinal Hills. Roger Mack,
park superintendent, explained where the 60'x38' court would be. There are plans
to finish it this fall. The commission noted that the new volleyball court also
looked well used.
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Rivermill
The third stop was the future park site at the Rivermill Development. The
commission was enthused about the site but expressed concerns over the amount
of dirt work that would need to be completed. Beraum it had bwpn s gm -vel p±S
the site was unusual. The commission agreed it would enhance the city by
developing an unusable gravel pit site into a city park with a large sliding hill for
winter sports.
4th Street Park
After Rivermill, 4th Street Park was inspected. The new basketball court was
formed and Roger Mack informed the group the court would be poured the next
day. A note was made of the deteriorating hockey area. The backboards on the
hockey rink are in need of paint and repair.
Bridee Park
Bridge Park was the next tour site. The existing concession stand was the major
topic at this location. The City Council recommended keeping the building but
remodeling it to be an open shelter. Roger Mark, Park Superintendent, stated by
removing the windows and doors the building will deteriorate further because the
blocks will fill with water and crack. The Parks Commission were all in
agreement that the building should be removed because; the building is an eyesore
to the existing park, reserving three shelters in the park "overloads" the picnic
and restroom facilities, the park size is adequately covered with the two shelters
that would be still there, the view of the river, the main attribute of the park, is
blocked, a basketball court cannot be put elsewhere in the park. The city
council's concern for keeping the building was for events in the park where
concessions were sold. The group agreed that this does work out very well for
selling concessions but this is not the main function of the park. The space would
be better used for a basketball court and improved view of the river. It was
suggested that the new enclosed shelter could be utilized to sell concessions.
Also at Bridge Park, expanding the skating rink was discussed with suggestions of
lighting the trees. Mack said lights were used last year but because of all the
street lighting it did not have much effect. For the 94-95 season the rink could be
expanded to the west of the warming house. The area to the front or south could
be expanded at a future date. It does involve moving a large amount of dirt which
would not be feasible this year.
A motion was made by RnaPr Carlson to expand Bridge Park skating rink west of
the warming house by approximately 60:75 feet. Motion carried unanimously.
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C'
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The last stop was to look at a site off the parking lot in East Bridge Park to place
a war memorial for Monticello veterans. Fran Fair and Dick Frio discussed the
upcoming meeting with the VFW and American Legion to place a war memorial
for Monticello veterans in a park location. It was agreed to wait an the site
suggestion until after the October 6th meeting to see if the VFW or the American
Legion has a site in mind.
being no further discussion, the meeting adjourned
Wanda Kraemer
Development Services Technician
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