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MINUTES OF THE <br />ORONO PARK COMMISSION MEETING <br />Monday, May 1, 2017 <br />6:30 o'clock p.m. <br />4. SPORTS FIELD USE <br />Edwards stated the Orono Youth Football Association has requested use of space at Hackberry Park <br />during the fall of 2017 for their flag football program. The Orono Thunder Soccer Club has also <br />expressed an interest in using some Orono park space for practices. Edwards noted the City does not <br />have a formal policy for reserving park space for athletics and that construction at the school will <br />eliminate some of the practice fields for the short term. <br />Edwards requested the Park Commission discuss the Orono Youth Football Association's request as well <br />as the concept of sports teams using park space for practice. Hackberry and Bederwood Parks have had <br />sports teams use them in the past and that Crystal Bay Park is also a possibility. Edwards stated in his <br />view none of the city parks are sufficient for high school use but that they have been used in the past for <br />younger teams. <br />Williams stated there is also a flat space at Antoine Park that could be used. <br />Edwards noted available parking would also need to be taken into consideration. Edwards stated the <br />advantage to allowing this is that people will be using the parks, but the negative is the impact on the <br />immediate neighborhood if there is a lot of traffic and congestion being created. Edwards noted use of <br />the parks for practice would result in people dropping their kids off rather than people staying for a game. <br />Roath stated the amount of use, the impact on the neighborhood, and the parking needs to be taken into <br />consideration. Roath stated on the surface the proposal from the Orono Youth Football Association <br />appears to be fine and would increase the possibility of obtaining grants if the City can demonstrate they <br />are partnering with other groups. Roath stated in his view Hackberry Park would be good for practice and <br />that he does not have a problem with it. <br />Brenda Johnson stated the Park Commission could also perhaps explore whether there are nearby cities <br />that Orono can partner with for practice sessions. Johnson stated parking is an issue as well as impacts to <br />the neighborhood and that those may need to be dealt with at some point but that she is in favor of <br />partnering with the Orono Youth Football Association. <br />Berg stated she likes the idea since it increases use of the parks and keeps the youth in the community but <br />that they have to ensure the use is not imposing on the neighborhood. <br />Bryce Johnson stated Bederwood is underutilized and that the residents in the area understand they are <br />active parks. Johnson stated he can understand the issue about the impact to the neighborhood but that in <br />his view the parks should be used. <br />Beth Meyers stated she is in favor of the request. <br />Williams indicated she also feels it is a good idea. <br />Meyers noted no PA system would be used, no lights would be installed, and that it would be a temporary <br />thing. Meyers stated perhaps an ending time could be imposed to help limit the impact on the <br />neighborhood. <br />Williams noted these sports are not year-round either <br />Page 4 of 9 <br />