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Orono Park Commission Regular Meeting <br />November 1, 2021 (Alisa Benson presenting) <br />Summit Beach Park <br />●4.8 acres donated by Bruce and Ruth Dayton, who had a long history of preserving and <br />protecting Minnesota’s scientific and natural areas through financial support as well as <br />gifts of land. <br />●Orono’s largest swimming beach used by all ages. No docks or manmade structures. <br />Very pristine and natural. <br />●Mature trees, hillside, grassy areas used by children and adults. <br />●Natural areas that have been gifted come with responsibility to preserve and protect. It is <br />easy to build, it’s more difficult to do it thoughtfully. The legacy of Summit Park and its <br />location on the water requires careful consideration. <br />Current proposal for Summit Park playground: <br />●Last meeting on September 1, 2021 addressed the addition of a “natural looking” <br />playground structure, locating a vendor and accessing grants/funding to help offset <br />costs. <br />●Landscape Structures in Delano mentioned as a possibility. They have installed standard <br />structures in several other Orono parks to date. <br />Standard Playground structures currently in Orono parks: <br />●“Standard” is defined as man-made equipment typically fabricated of plastics and/or <br />metal. These structures typically include stairs, slides and other predetermined features <br />to encourage physical activity. Fabricated play structures dictate the manner in which <br />users interact with them. <br />●There are at least 6 standard structures in Orono parks currently, not including those <br />available at Orono Public Schools or those maintained by the City of Long Lake, such as <br />Nelson Park. <br />●These structures are limiting in terms of function and accessibility to all ages and <br />abilities. <br />●Standard structures are often unable to complement the beauty of natural areas in which <br />they are placed. <br />●Broken or damaged play structure equipment is not usable, yet in some cases it is not <br />removed or repaired. <br />Nature Play Area proposal for Summit Park: An Invitation to Reimagine what play areas <br />are and what they can become. <br />What is a Nature play area? <br />●Natural play areas or playscapes (these terms are used interchangeably) incorporate <br />surrounding landscape, vegetation and natural elements such as wood, boulders, logs,