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Home My WebLink About02-15-1977 Park Commission Minutes r , � � Cit;� of Orono Regular Meeting of the Orono Park Commission, 7 :�.0 P.M. February 15, 1977 The Orono Park Commisaion met on the above date with the following members present : Chairman Lathrop, Berglund and Hurr. Absent : Kelly and Kallestad. Also in attendance were the following members of' the community: Jay Richards, Quentin Johnson, Patricia M. Diegre, Lucille Garner, Delores Gomez, Gloria Dotzenroth, Hilda Muenck, Eckard Muenck, Laura Sullivan, Dennis Sullivan and Kent Swanson. The public wished to be heard concerning improvements to Casco Circle Park. Jay Richards came to express concerns and CASCO CIRCLE PARK objections of the people in the irrnnediate Development Discussion area to any development in Casco Circle Park. Kent Swanson wants a natural site---they al- ready have two parks within their immediate area. (See attached letter by Mrs. Swanson) Mrs. Johnson---concern for natural state, for increased traffic on this dead end street and beer parties held there. "One thing leads to another, like toilets, etc . " The Park Commission directed these citizens to survey the area in regard to the number of children, their ages, etc. (Information avail- able from the Mound School District) . The legal question of a structure needs to be STRUCTURE DEFINITION defined. Chairman Lathrop will check the deed restrictions, etc. and report back. The increase in Community Development Block BLOCK G�NT FUNDS, 1977 Grant Funds, 1977, was discussed. In regard to the attached letter: Hurr felt some reservation in increasing the monies for bike routes, as this is an area where we might be part of a larger grant. Monies for general park development may be more difficult in the future. Meeting adjourned. ADJOURNMENT Respectfully submitted, �%�c� J'd�c.�j o Ellen Hurr, Secretary i I ' , � , , , ; ? ? � ;- � � 1 ! � � � ' � � � � . I ' � I ' � - � � � `� � + { . . - �. � �i �� .. � ' � ' ` � � ' i � � � � a � 1 . 'ti.� � � . . ' V � ; , � C.� � j , � ,, � � , � � , � I i � i , I \. � e, \��, � � ; i ! I i � ; V S � , , I � ; � �. . � C� Q� � � I : - � i � � � i f ' � �� , , ; ; � � ; ; � � � � � � � � ;. i � I � � � . i . , � . I I I � . i. � '� f � � ,� � . � ' � � j ' . r. � I � i ! � �'' .�; � �' i ►'� �� ' � ; � '�-� N: � � � i ; �� ; M � � '', m � ; !�� i i i � � � � \ � ' � \ � � i ' j I � ; � � � � � ; (�, i ; i ; " a i i ' , ; i ; � , � , � � 3 ; � '� ' I � ; ; i i � � { ! ' I i i � i ' ; � i i i i i� ! � ; � ! � i i ; I : � � � ; a : I i i ' ' � � ,r, � i � i ! � i � � i ; ; � , � ; � � � , � i � � � ! t I � � i i ; I � i �. � i � � .- ; � ': � '. ' i � � � I _ W � j i 1 � i i . � C� � �' � . i . � , � i � � ' I ! � � I � , � `� � � r� � � ; � , � �� ; j i ' ; ` � '�` ; � ' � ; i �' i i , � ; � � ' , ; ; , I , I ; � � � � 3 ; ; , � � � � � I i � � i �� ' � ! � ' t ' ! � � � �� ; � � ; ! i , � : - � � � - . � , : �.. �-: -' ,-.:, .. : - . I � . . , . . ._..._:._ .__" . . �' . .. ' . " ' . .' ' _ . -. .t._ .-}._ ' ."__t -.. . . �. � ._� . . I . . . O . ". .�' _'._. . . __..__ .. _.�. - _..__'_—�_ � � i r O.' �'. �� D_ D �� ; O D( .i ; i j! ; i � ,. Y ;� � .. � J � :�'� �. . � � I �. • - '. . � - �� • ' � ' + . . � � 1 c. � � . . . . �'� .. ' . ' � • , . : . � � � .. E .. . . ��y'��t: . � . y '.i 4 �1. a� 1 •7" . � +`� . +g� ^f ^F�Y�4 F � � � `r � .. +e,�J � 4��t� . . ��Y CP �� t . `.� G��F1,.� . . . 1 e::.,w-: ;;;. b k �� . � : W. R. Benson, Adminis��ra�ar {��. : - � ;. FROM. John R. Gorhardson, P�.�blic Glor�r: Su�orvisor DATE: FeUruary �, 1 y77 SUBJEc�'I': INCREASE IN CO1�t�iITNITY ULV'��,;.l,c)YM�:t i' IjLOGK GP�AN" - x � 1977 Yr�� 4yj 4y r�� A p � y� %�; ��. ;�:.�! On February !�, 1977, thc� City o,f' Ox•ono recoived a letter Y� �` �� from Hennepin County in regarc� ta Cammunit;y llevelop- � ,� �,t� men� Block Grant, � 977. I� was noted �hat the City of � � '" Orono ' s allooation had been increased b y $i6,22�.66. �� `w�� On Monday, February 7, Mr. Benson �nd m self �``" y met t�.i�h k `�" :; �� Larry Blackstad to discuss the bes� me�an� of r�llocating ��,��:' this amount with tYie least amount o�' paper work sa that r�; '�� this oan be inaluded in the application whiah mu�t be submitted by February 23, 1977. -��3«r��fi �s,: , � �.'��- It waa agreed that Punda approved for 1976 2'or HQokberry � � � `� Park, Px►a�ect #68; An�oine Park Pro,�eat #�u6; Cas�o Oircle r 1': �' ��fi. Park, Pro,�ect #69 and the Bike Hike Trail an Willow Dr�ve, Pro�eot #?0, wera 1aw in estimai;es; and du� to inereaspd °�� ' �' ` costs in playgraund oquipmen�, �nd the f+�c t that we would �' �'��, , t � purchase the equipment inatallecl, there would not be �� "� '" enough �aonies in eaah Pro�eot to complet� them. We all. �� N'{ . , agreed �hat the best solution would be to drop Bederwood � � �.� . �� x �y , � Park Improvement Pro�ect #65 �'rom the 1�76 program and use the remaining monies for aompleting Pro,�ects �#66, #68 " and #69. �, �.T:� f�AS'-. � ' . n The increase of $16,22�.b6 for � 977 would be used for �F' BederWood Park improvements and additional cogts for com- `�'�"°�= pleting the Bike Hike Trai.1 on Wi17.aw llriv�. ,!�� ;�i�f, �9 �'t'fd . .� , 1' I fti `*?"1 � ,ya4 . .+♦ ;�t • � .. �*�;'- . ' • . ..�}"e�" .. . Q' f : S ��- � �- � � ... . .. .. . . . . . .. .- � . ., i 1 { :� h� �Y'.. " - ,.'. ... � . . � . . . �� .e { . � , . 31� M1`� �k'i. � � � . . � � � . . . . � �, . � T�Y�� _ . . . . �. � x„ . .. . . � . .� . - �,:. � y . . . x�� _ . . . . . � . 'j .r: . . . . _ . . � ;� f�yp . . . . . - . .7 .S4 . . - .. � . . .. . , . � . . . . .. � � . . . . , . • � _ February 15, 1977 ORONO PARKS COTl�:TISSION ORONO PLAIvi�lING CO'�ISSION ORONO COUI��CIL Dear 5irs; It has come to rr�y attention that you are currently disc�.assing various possibilities for land—usage of that part of Casco Yoint known as "The Park." I am a third—generation Casco Point resident� currently enga�;ed in rearing a fourth generation� and would like to offer my own ideas for consideration, based upon a life—long love affair with this small bit of land. Formerly a haven for songbirds and gamebirds alike� small animals such as raccoons and even foxes, The Park has come under rather more "cultiva.tion" in the past 5 years under Orono ownership, and this wild population has nearly disappeared. ��y last si�hting of a ruffed grouse was in 1975. (There was also a buck whitetail deer t:r.at year, too:) I have seen no pheasants or foxes for years. But wildflowers still aboun�. in reckless prnfusion each spring� despite the destruction brou�;ht on by motorcyclists and snowmobilers. Tt is r►�y opinion that Orono has a singular opportunity for the creation of a very unique park given this lovely raw material: a semi—wild bird and wildflower parkland. I see the advantages of this type of usa�;e as being: -- A completely unique park, offering what no other park in this area now offers; nature study -- A park �vhich caters to ALL AGES, including the middle—aged and senior citizen� nearly always excluded from recreational park planning -- An opportunity to carry out conservation ideals so often voiced today but seldom acted upon -- Low maintenance. That large area noz�v mowed several times yearly could be reduced or even eliminated and pathways created instead. School field trips using such footpaths might than be planned without causing damage to the ecosystem -- Bird fanciers might be persuaded to stock The Park with pheasant and their more exotic and hardy cousins, making the area interesting also to local birdwatching groups -- I�ei�hborhood involvement. One area aesident, Ray Stock, has suggested the observance of Arbor De.y each year, with� a nei�hborhood clean—up and tree—planting event in celebration. Area garden clubs might be invited to participate in wild— flower transplanting and bulb p�anting. � � � page 2 ef� These exciting possibiiities seem to me to be far more interesting and worth�vhile than the proposed play�;round. Such construction would be wastefully expensive and unnecessary. The large playground at Elizabeth Gardner School, even more centrally located within Orono, stands empty except during school hours. On Casco Circle its��f� it is not possible to go more than � few hundred feet between swing sets� tree swings, trampolines, tennis courts and jun�le gyms. Docks� beaches, water slides and rafts abound. There are two public beaches tivithin walking distance at which the Upper Tonka Council offers swimming lessons each sumr.ier. In the winter time several families maintain large, floodlit sk�ting rinks for the enjoyment of their neighbors, and the city maintains a �ood hockey and skating rink on Casco Avenue. The lots are large and many h�.ve room for football and softball games. In short� recreation for this a.�;e group is prof.usely available. Oddly, while under—use would be the main problem I see for a play— ground, the one—season yearly (school field trip time) over—use might be an equal burden. Both from the standpoints of what the land can stand and where the busses or cars would park, such usage would destroy all p�ssibilities for the Park to be preserved or maintained in a natural state. I suggest that the funds allocated for the purchase of playground equ'Ypment �vould be better spent on a naturalist' s plan for land use as a nature area� includin� his su�gestions for the mapp�ng out of footpaths. City maintainence might be re�uced to tree— trimming. The council should alBro act now to enforce its regulations ag�.inst mo�orized vehicles within the boundries of The Park, incl— uding taggin� those residents who now use its perimiters as parking lots. Should your interest in maximum resAect for the land and maximum use by the widest ages of people be such that you are willin� to persue this idea I would be happy to help e�tablish a neig•hborhood co�runittee to be of what help it could. "vVith such a plan in the works you could count on area residents to back you enthusiasticly and to help �vith the labor. Take care in your deliberations not to fall into the trap of thinking that a piece of land is not valueable if it is not "used." I fondly remember Farmer 0'b2alley from Navarre cutting The Park each year with his horse—drawn mower, treating the nei�;hborhood kids to horseback rides as he went. And of catching fireflies in a jar from the s�v�rms of them that set a sumraer' s ni�ht a—blinking. And of living in delicious fear of garter snakes and foxes. I want the same for r�y children, growing up in the same place I did and only 20 years later. There are some thin�s that shouldn't change so much so fast. . . . . , �� -� 1�:Tr . Kent E. Swanson c.c. �1[ary Butler 3��9—B Casco Circle