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1 <br /> MINUTES OF THE <br /> ORONO PARK COMMISSION <br /> • <br /> Monday,August 1,2022 <br /> 6:00 o'clock p.m. <br /> Berg would like to see buoys at Casco as well as the cleaning up of weeds. <br /> PICKLEBALL COURTS <br /> Rasmussen gave a presentation on pickleball courts noting at the end of 2021 a fair number of community <br /> members came to her to talk about promoting the development of pickleball facilities within Orono.Right <br /> now there is a single pickleball court in Navarre Park and it is not currently utilized because the footprint <br /> does not extend beyond the immediate boundaries of the pickleball courts and it is not safe. She noted <br /> they added it to the project list and a group has been looking at all Orono parks to see viable options. In <br /> looking outside the community, development is happening everywhere such as Long Lake and she noted <br /> many Orono residents will drive there because they are looking for that kind of play and facilities. She <br /> said they were looking at what makes the most sense for Orono which leads to a phased approach. <br /> Rasmussen spoke about criteria including accessibility, lights,parking,how many courts could be <br /> accommodated,trails, and multi-use options. While virtually all are viable sites, some are more <br /> immediate, and while one site was favored,feasibility has not yet been completed so it is not at the public <br /> comment stage.Another important component is the Orono Youth Hockey Association which has an <br /> interest in more sheets of ice throughout the community and an interested in public/private partnership <br /> with Orono. Rasmussen noted a number of communities are taking hockey rinks in the winter and putting <br /> pickleball courts inside of them in the summer for a dual use. Rasmussen spoke about Casco Point which <br /> is under-utilized in the summer,noting dual-use,of the hockey rink, limited parking, lights, it is close to <br /> the Dakota Trail,many trees which create a natural wind-barrier, nearby housing and noise abatement, <br /> and a wetland buffer limitation which is being looked at. She noted there is interest by the Hockey <br /> Association and part of the budget in the Capital Plan for leveling the area for ice skating.Rasmussen <br /> spoke about another site at the Orono Golf Course noting a maintenance shed may have to be moved, <br /> however the great things include a place for food and drinks,parking, lights,and the added draw of <br /> having ice skating in the winter with pickleball in the summer. The Hockey Association is also very <br /> interested in this location and Rasmussen noted this is a great option but the moving of the maintenance <br /> shed may not make it as viable in 2023. She noted they also looked at Hackberry Park which has potential <br /> but needs a Master Plan and is not viable for 2023 or 2024 and stated there is no parking, lights,and a <br /> house that needs to be dealt with. They also looked near the Long Lake Fire Department near the <br /> community garden and while it is a great space, it was not one of the more immediate relative to the <br /> others. Rasmussen spoke about the existing structure of the public works facility and noted with the talk <br /> of a new facility in the future, and if anyone has been to Lucky Shots or indoor-warehouse pickleball <br /> courts, it really is a nice building that could be repurposed for pickleball and other community facilities. <br /> However that would be more into 2025. She spoke about next steps noting they would need to know that <br /> Casco Point is feasible and what costs would be.In August the Commission would need to be sure they <br /> are thinking about how this fits into the budget noting the CIP is earmarking dollars and the planning can <br /> continue. She asked Lemons and Edwards in terms of the cost estimates,what is important to be refined <br /> or considered before the CIP goes to the City Council. <br /> Edwards replied they have some placeholder dollars and the most important thing for the CIP process is, <br /> if they are looking at breaking ground in 2023 they need to be doing preliminary design work right now <br /> before it gets cold. <br /> Rasmussen asked if the Orono Golf Course is even viable for 2023. <br /> Edwards replied it could be and is as viable as any other location. <br /> Page 4 of 6 <br />