05-01-2017 Park Commission Packet

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iLoNo PARK COMMISSION AGENDA ITEM l,,k gHOPt 4 Item No.: 4 Date: May 1', 2017 Item Description: Sports Field Use Presenter: Adam T. Edwards, P.E. Agenda Section: Staff Report Dir, Public Works/City Engineer 1. Purpose. The purpose of this item is to get a commission recommendation for allowing use of City park space for youth sports activities. 2. Background. The Orono Youth Football association has requested use of space at Hackberry Park during the fall of 2017 (see Exhibit A). In addition the Orono Thunder Soccer Club as expressed an interest in using some Orono Park Space for practices. With the exception of the Orono Youth Baseball Association, the City does not have a policy/ mechanism for reserving park space for athletics. The genesis for these requests is the pending Orono Schools Field house project which will reduce the number of outdoor fields available for rent by the various youth sports clubs. 3. Questions for consideration. a. Should the City allow The Orono Football Association to use field space at Hackberry Park as requested? b. More broadly, should the City make available for reservation sports fields at our parks? If so: (1). Which parks? (a). Hackberry and Bederwood Parks already have baseball fields and have been used for soccer and other field sports in the past. Both have parking areas. (b). Crystal Bay Park has a couple grassy level areas suitable for field sports and parking available. (2). Should we develop a feel reservation process? (3). What facilities/services should the city provide? Goals, striping, additional parking? 4. Cost. Initial costs will be minimal the first year as the clubs would do the striping and provide goals. The areas are already covered in the City's mowing contract. Cost over the long term would be higher if we need to regrade areas, perform more active turf management, provide goals, etc... 5. Funding. Additional maintenance requirements could be offset with reservation fees. Purchase of goals or other equipment or redevelopment of the fields could be funded thought grants, the Park Fund and partnership agreements with the sports organizations that use the fields. 6. Community Engagement. Should the commission recommend developing a system for reserving park space for youth activities, I recommend that we also develop a community engagement plan including a public hearing/open house. The use of these parks for organized sport would likely represent a change in the levels of activity at the subject parks and engaging the community and particularly the local neighborhoods would allow the city to address and mitigate any potential negative impacts to the surrounding neighborhoods. COMMISION ACTION REQUESTED • Recommendation on Orono Youth football Association's request. • Recommendations on way forward for on use/reservation of sports fields at City parks. Exhibits A. Request from Orono Football Association Prepared By: " Reviewed By: IE- Approved By: