03-26-1990 Countil Packet - Laserfiche WebLink

Home Browse Search

from the discussion above that this sort of use may not be appropriate at this site. THIS DEVELOPMENT IS NOT FULLY CONSISTENT WITH OUR CURRENT PARK AND OPEN SPACE POUCY. The current plan states, ’the citizens of Orono have determined that a long range planning objective of .he City is the permanent retention of the rural community ’. Also, it states, ’Orono will carefully locate active-use park and recreational facilities so as to benefit neighboring land uses. All park facilities, and especially community facilities that are expected to draw citizens from outside the immediate neighborhood, will be carefully designed and located so as to serve the best interests of all citizens without disrupting or disturbing established neighborhood lifestyles or traffic patterns’ (General Park and Open Space policy #5). I do not believe these goals and policies can be met by placing an organized athh ric facility in Bederwood Park. ORONO WILL COORDINATE RECREATIONAL FACILITIES AND PROGRAMS WITH OTHER GOVERNMENT AGENCIES. This is our General Park and Open Space policy #4. It goes on to say that duplication of programs and facilities should be avoided. Coordination with school districts is encouraged. Since the Orono school district has acquired a significant parcel of property for development. At this time we must begin efforts to coordinate with them to allow this property to better serve as a resource in our overall park plan. Little League has expressed interest in using this site as a permanent home for their operations. IT IS UNWISE TO ALLOW OUTSIDE FUNDS TO BE USED TO MAKE SPECIFIC PARK IMPROVEMENTS. Once a capital improvement and change has been allowed it is unlikely that the change can be removed. This caution was expressed by Clif French, the MRPA Executive Director. He cited that the Hennepin County Park Reserve Board instituted a policy specifically NOT to allow outside funds to be used to develop their property because once the investments were made, they sometimes lost the freedom to develop further those facilities according to their own plans This can be the case even when there is contractual assurance to the contraiy. Onte a major investment is placed, it has staying power. My specific concern on this matter is that ve must not allow ourselves to get into a position that might compromise future pa; evelopment plans at Bederwood. Considering the existing controversy, we must c er the possibility that the planned use for this park may change after the Pa mmission updates the City ’s Park and Open Space Plan. In summary, I think it is time to update our city ’s Park and Open Space Plan to address the changing times. As Phil Bradley commented at the last council meeting in his briefing to you, the reaction from the community over this issue is an indicator that it may be time to update the plan. The neighborhood park at Bederwood seems to service a growing number of users who value its present status. The NRPA savs that ’studies of children’s behavior and development have documented the importance of play, especially informal and unstructured play, not only in children’s physical development, but also in their social, intellectual, and creative growth.’ It is the neighborhood park that can provide an informal facility for such play. Also, the use periods for family activities have been moving to evening and weekend hours due to the presence of more working mother ?nd father households. Our park system must address these changing patterns and many others so as to provide the best possible service with the given resources. To develop Bederwood in the fasion proposed would be premature. We should not allow this development to occur Rather, we must work together to provide a solution to the Little League’s site problem in a fashion that will not interfere with proper park planning. Respectfully Submitted, Gary Connell