03-26-1990 Countil Packet - Laserfiche WebLink

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•U-- I 4050 Bayside Rd. H Maple Plain, MN SS^jy 475-4050 March 20,1990 MAR E 2 1990 Mayor Graybek & Council Members Park Commission Members City of Orono Presently before the council is what I think is a very significant park development issue that may have a long range impact on Orono’s Recreation Park and Open Space development program. I am referring specifically to the proposed Little League ballfic id at Bederwood Park. As you are aware, there has been considerable opposition to u is development. >^y has this been so? Is there any merit in the opposition’s arguments? Also in the midst of this controversy, is the impending urgency to help provide our Little League kids with a place to play this year. You (the City Council and Park Commission) are being hard pressed to sift through the issues to make a decision on the development of Bederwood Park in a short period of time. May I offer my perspective of the issues involved in this matter? I think there are two distinct issues. First, does the city support the development of the OBA Little League program? Second, should Bederwood Park be developed as proposed? I think that all are in agreement that the OBA’s Little League program should be supported in Orono. There is no debate on this issue that I am aware of. On the second issue, however, there is considerable debate. Should Bederwood be developed as proposed? After reviewing the city ’s Park and Open Space Plan, Plymouth ’s Park System Plan, Eden Prairie s Comprehensive Park and Open Space Plan, the National Recreation and Park Association’s (NRPA) Recreation Park and Open Space Standards and Guidelines, and having some discussion with the Minnesota Recreation and Park Association’s (MRPA) executive director, both the Plymouth and Eden Prairie director of parks and Phil Bradley, I do not think this development should be allowed. Let me explain why. THE BEDERWOOD FACILITY DOES NOT MEET THE GENERALLY ACCEPTED STANDARDS NECFSSARY TO SUPPORT ORGANIZED ATHLETIC PROGRAMS. Bederwood is designated a neighborhood park in the city ’s park plan and meets the specifications in the above mentioned documents as such. Neighborhood parks are distinctive in that they are designated for ’active and informal use’. Community playfields are designated for ’athletic activities which may be organized or informal’. Little League and Babe Ruth play is considered to be an organized athletic activity and is recommended to be played on community playfields. The neighborhood park service area is one half mile, whereas the community playfields service area is community-wide. It is recommended that a community fie d should be located on either minor arterial or collector roadways and that it should NOT be placed in a residential area, however, if it is, it is recommended that buffering is provided between the use area and the adjacent residential properties. Bederwood is in a residential area and is eight acres in size. There is no room to provide any buffer between the use area and the adjacent properties to the south. Community playfields are recommended to have a minimum size of twenty acres. Our park plan h^ one community playfield that is located at the Orono school campus. A community the size of Orono can be serviced by one community playfield according to NRPA guidelines. It is common that neighborhood parks contain a ballfield. Over sixty percent of the neighborhood parlS in Eden Prairie contain a ballfield and they are not used for organized play. Even though a Babe Ruth size field has been developed at Bederwood, It has not been used for organized programs and it seems apparent