Laserfiche WebLink
MINUTES OF THE <br /> ORONO PARK COMMISSION <br /> Monday February 7,2022 <br /> 6:00 o'clock p.m. <br /> of 2020 in coordination with the Orono Parks Department,the Orono Bike West Tonka MTB team had a <br /> 6-week trial period of using mountain bikes in Lowry Woods. Mr.Knapp said to his knowledge there was <br /> no notice given to the public about the matter.He would like to see more transparency between the Parks <br /> Department and the neighbors in the area so when there are meetings,proposals,etc.,they are advised of <br /> it and can read them.He purchased his property and built the house in 1996—just a couple of years after <br /> the nature conservancy had given the property to the City of Orono with contingencies.Mr.Knapp read a <br /> few sentences from a document: the land shall be permanently maintained as a park or natural area in its <br /> predominantly natural and wooded condition. Use of the land shall be restricted to scientific, <br /> educational, recreational, and aesthetic uses, not in conflict with the land's natural and wooded <br /> condition. Mr.Knapp noted the term"natural condition" is used six times in the letter and they can see it <br /> is very important to the nature conservancy that it is adhered to.He noted it does not seem to be what <br /> mountain biking is all about because the proposal calls for making trails and moving earth to make <br /> banked, sharp corners. Mr.Knapp has not seen natural trails in a walking park that are natural sharp <br /> corners.He is asking for more transparency and to talk about it because neighbors on the east side of the <br /> park are very interested in keeping the nature of it. <br /> Eleanor Winston, 765 Spring Hill Road,would like to talk about Summit Beach Park. In 2019 she was at <br /> a Park Commission meeting when it was brought up to allow the Long Lake Rowing Club (LLRC)to put <br /> in a building or clubhouse. She re-read the minutes from that meeting today and noted it was a <br /> preliminary meeting and residents expected to have more time to hear about it and bring input but have <br /> heard little about it until about a month ago when it was at the Planning Commission.Ms. Winston cannot <br /> remember whether the Park Commission heard enough about it to pass it up the line,but her <br /> understanding was that this was preliminary. She knows the Orono City Council is interested in planning <br /> for the parks,planning for the use,public-private partnerships; however all parks in Orono are not the <br /> same. While Bederwood lends itself to playing baseball and structured activities, some of the parks are <br /> more natural areas,especially the Summit Beach Park which is very small. When the LLRC wants to set a <br /> huge building into the hill,Ms. Winston noted there are several ecosystems there and it is a very quiet and <br /> popular place in the summer for picnics, swimming, and enjoying the lake.Ms. Winston is concerned that <br /> letting a group that is quite active in the summer with classes that the little park cannot take that use. She <br /> thought that residents would have a more time to talk, develop, and hear the plans for the LLRC and see <br /> how they could come to some kind of an agreement and that never happened which is upsetting. <br /> Jim Dustrude, 2001 Arbor Lane in Mound,heard about Summit Park and has a strong desire to keep it as <br /> close to what it currently is as possible.It seems like a big building and parking lot would pretty much <br /> decimate that small area.Part of his concern is the amount of traffic it would attract and he feels it would <br /> be fairly catastrophic to the park and to two of his favorite roads: Old Long Lake Road and East Long <br /> Lake Road. He would like to help find another place for LLRC and thinks the current place they are using <br /> would be a good multi-use option or alternative. <br /> Elizabeth Weir, 725 Bridgewater Drive, is here regarding Summit Park and would urge the <br /> Commissioners to think about the spirit in which the park was donated to the people of Orono.In 1980, <br /> Bruce Dayton gave the park to help keep the east end of Long Lake peaceful and in its natural condition <br /> which is all attested to by his brothers and the younger generation of the Dayton family. What might be <br /> legal is one thing and what might the appropriate thing to do is another.Ms. Weir knows the role is to <br /> make sure the parks are well-used and noted this little park has been well-used for a generation or two. <br /> Yelena, 10886 Glacier Lane North,Maple Grove,would like to repeat what Ms. Weir said noting her <br /> family has used the park for 30+years and her mother swims at the park every morning and evening in <br /> Page 2 of 6 <br />