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MINUTES OF THE <br /> ORONO PARK COMMISSION <br /> May 1,2023 <br /> 6:00 o'clock p.m. <br /> Berg said the larger group of pickleball players had expressed an interest in fundraising for the courts. I <br /> think we should engage them again. <br /> Porter said the committee has met with some of the people who have attended meetings one on one. The <br /> next two Park Commission meetings are work sessions and the next formal meeting will be Aug. 7. <br /> Janie Delaney 1315 Woodhill Ave,. asked how many courts are being considered at Bederwood Park. She <br /> pointed out most of Orono parks are in neighborhoods so she really likes the idea of continuing to talk to <br /> the school district because Bederwood has houses nearby. <br /> Porter said they would be looking at four to six courts.Research shows when you build two courts they <br /> are not used. It's not the way the sport is played. It's kind of like building a six-hole golf course. To <br /> facilitate the type of play pickleball warrants,you need a destination that people know other people will <br /> be there to play.He added the commission is at the point of being ready to open it up to talking with the <br /> residents. <br /> Delaney asked about the Donation Garden site. <br /> Lemons said the City would not do a construction project around a temporary object.A garden is <br /> temporary in that it can expand and contract over time.He also said the site would be pretty tight and the <br /> City doesn't own the parking lot. <br /> Delaney reiterated that she would not like to see pickleball go into any of the neighborhood parks.It's just <br /> too intrusive. <br /> Porter said Bederwood is a heavily-used recreation area with baseball and soccer fields. <br /> Delaney said when there is a baseball game they play for an hour and they are gone. Pickleball players <br /> come in the morning early,and they play all day till dusk. You're gonna talk about some really increased <br /> activity in a neighborhood. <br /> STAFF REPORT <br /> 2. PARKS DEPARTMENT UPDATE <br /> Lemons reported the golf course is now open. We had another crummy April,which is disappointing. We <br /> were really excited to get out early but Mother Nature had other plans. He said this section of Minnesota <br /> is completely out of a drought with more rain coming this weekend. The golf course is doing well. We did <br /> have quite a bit of damage in some of our fairways from snow mold. It's always disappointing to see that <br /> but that's one more reason why we are starting our own pesticide program to maintain the golf course the <br /> way it needs to be maintained. Lemons said there are a lot of kids using the golf course and the schools <br /> have come out for practice.He said right now his department is working on park transitions getting the <br /> biffs and trash cans out at the parks, doing park inspections and the Big Island docks are in place. Our <br /> Page 3 of 4 <br />