04-22-2019 Council Packet - Laserfiche WebLink

Home Browse Search

Big Island Nature Park Management Plan November 2011 ____________________________________________________________________________ 34 Utilities and Other Infrastructure At the time the remaining buildings were demolished in 2011 a determination was made to deactivate the electrical lines serving the property. The main line serving the property was deactivated in March 2011 and the electric meter returned to Xcel. There is no electrical service to the Park at this time. Electrical service could be reestablished in the future if necessary. The property is not served by telephone service, natural gas, or cable television. Site and Facilities Security Buildings. The City initially intended to permanently retain the two main pavilions or park shelter buildings, the toilet building on the south hill, one or two storage buildings, and the small entrance building by the docks. By 2007 these basic facilities had been placed in serviceable condition, the north pavilion and its toilet facility were operational, the south toilet building had functional facilities, and the south pavilion was serving the Big Island Institute as a base of operation. Unfortunately, during the winter of 2007-8 the Park facilities began to experience what was to become ongoing vandalism. The toilet facilities in the north pavilion were ransacked in 2008, and the City made plans to ‗armor‘ that portion of the building by replacing the wood frame walls with concrete blocks and an impenetrable doorway system. Before that work could be commenced, the south toilet building was trashed. After many debates over the long-term feasibility of maintaining sanitary facilities at the Park, the City eventually determined that provision of permanent toilet facilities was no longer a possibility, and the potential for use of portable toilets was seen as an open invitation to vandalism and not advisable. All toilet facilities were subsequently removed, and the south toilet building demolished. The feasibility of maintaining the remaining buildings continued to be a constant concern. The entry building near the docks had its windows broken; the pavilions were left open to discourage vandalism. Over the winter of 2009-10, picnic tables on the property were dragged out onto the lake, where they became a hazard and had to be retrieved. Many other tables have disappeared over the years. The fire that destroyed the south shelter in 2011 resulted in decisions to remove all remaining buildings at the park, with the exception of the small office structure near the docks. That building is not currently secured, and its future use as an entry portal to the Park remains to be established. An additional item of concern has been how to preserve historical man-made and architectural elements remaining on the property. The most visually prominent remnant is the promenade staircase near the docks, the original entryway to the Amusement Park constructed more than a century ago. The concrete staircase is deteriorating badly due in part to vandalism by vehicles as well as the ravages of time. Future discussions are expected to consider whether and how this should be restored.