Parks and Recreation - 06/07/1965 i
1965
JUNE 7
MINUTES
CITY OF EDEN PRAIRIE
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EDEN PRAIRIE PARK AND RECREATION COMMISSION 14EETING
June 7, 1965, 8s00 p.m.
Eden Prairie village Hall
Present: Don Nygaard, Ken Anderson, Howard Merriman, Frances Blacklock
Guests: Bill Holte, Cliff Whitehill, Otto Christensen
MAlerriman, S/Anderson that the minutes of the last meeting as printed
be approved.
Summer Rec Prog. Pon Nygaard reported that the Village Council approved a payment
to Linda Brekke as Asst. Dir. of $75 in addition to the .475 she
receives from the Suburban Recreation Assn.
Bill Holte does not think the supervision of the noon hour should
be left to student help, but said that he and Linda would work out
their hours. He said that he saw no problem to getting student
help, arrl that the three 1pirls who will be working on the dramatic
period are willing to do it without pay.
Schedule - Bill distributed copies of the Summer Recreation Schedule
`- as it has been worked out so far. Additions or changes will be made
as the summer progresses. (Copy attached)
Cliff Whitehill, president of the Sterling Field Association was
present to discuss the anticipated program for the Sterling held
neighborhood park, and to see how his association could cooperate.
Rumors had reached him that buses were going to bring children fran
all over Eden Prairie to their area. To answer questions, and to
explain the purpose of bringing a small, experimental program to
a neighborhood, Bill Holte and Linda Brelcke will attend the Assn.
meeting on June 15. So for the Assn. has cleaned up the park and
mowed the grass, built two portable backstops for a softball diamond,
and have plans for blacktopping a "Sports Arena" to accommodate a
tennis court, basbetball court or skating rink.
Otto Christensen, Park Supt. in charge of Park Planning and Devel-
opment far Bloomington, offered to go over the Sterling Field Park
and suggest possible uses of the space. He will make arrangements
for this with Cliff Whitehill, and the Board expressed ita appreciation
for)us offer.
Cliff Whitehill ark-i the S.F. Assn. with Bill Holte will decide what
requests for equipment and facilities should be made to the Park Board
and ultimately tl'le Village for the development of Sterling r'ield.
Park and Recreation Commission Meeting, June 7, 1965, Page 2
Arrangements for the use of a school bus have not been finalized.
The Council has OK'd125 for insurance. Bill Holte will attend the
next School "oard meeting to complete arrangements.
Planning �.c It is hoped that a joint meeting with the Planning and °oning
Zoning Commission can be arranged soon to discuss mutual goals.
Bloomington Otto Christensen appeared as a guest of theBoard to discuss
Park Exper- Bloomington' s experiences in developing their park system that might
fence be helpful to Eden Prairie. Otto was first employed as Park Director
lY in 1954 when Bloomington had three playgrounds. It now has 21, with
bond issues of 1?1,500,000 for land acquisition and development. The
lLli first bond issue was passed when the population was 22,,000, the second
Q when it was 34,000. (Copies of brochures and promotional material
on file.) PIe said in each case there was a definite purpose for the
v bonyl issue th-t would appeal to the residents -- such as a swimming
beach.
How can we acquire park land when we have no budget to buy it?
To this question, he cited Bloomington's ordinance that requires all
builders of night or more unite to donate 10% of the land for park
purposes. ?-,'here there is lik-acre zoning, they can give 10% of land
C W cost, as do apartment-house builders. (He will send Bloomington's
Ordinance.) In the case the land donation is not acceptable for
CM park, the builder must donate 10;o in cash before his permit is approved.
Ui.11 this ordinance hold up in court/?; (The following day, Mr. C.
called with this information: Senate File #648 of the 1965 Legislature
says it is within the jurisdiction of municipalities' rights to ask
for donations from developers for public purposes.) Builders have
found theia houses sell faster when there is a playground. (Eliasons
Additcbon at 106th and Bessie Road in Bloomington could have sold three
times the number of houses they had after the park was completed.)
At first builders' reactions are negative, but they usually become
enthusiastic about such a progran. It works to everyone 's advantage.
The need for a Master Plan He emphasized the need for an over-ai.L
community master plan before trying to make decisions. For example,
plans are n-eded for a house before you start building. He recommended
that we call in the servi^.es of a park consultant now, on a retaJ.ner fee,
to collaborate with our Village Planner, Mr. Hawes.
Methods of Acqui-rinP_ Land, other than b developer donation.
ong-term purc"i se-w uF ere oy op -it on, tax breakc;payments set up over
ten-yaar rnriod nal then the balance, could be arranged.
Life estate
(C) Buy Finall Iarcel each year of a large piece, by arrangement with owner.
To slow dorm honsin- develo mant and ease the burden of school taxes -
B oominn on requires Vie developer to put in all utilities and improve-
ments such as streets, curb, Putters, storm sewers etc. This also
makes it more feasible to build better quality homes so the developer '
;r� nets a better return on his work on improvements - he has a better
,� workin margin on a '';`25,000 home thin wi th an i 18,000 one.
V
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PArk and Recreation Commission Meeting,-June 7, 1965, Page 3
Other Methods of AcquirinZ Land
Donation - There might be several reasons for a donation, community
spirit, memorial, tax deduction etc., but we should be alert to '
these possibilities. For instance, Rosemount Engineering might find
.it to their advantage, esthetically and tax-wise, to donate the land
on the far side of the pond as parli land. The Board was told it never j
hurts to ask. A doctor in Bloomington donated 40 acres, which, with i
land acquired by the village, is being made into a golf course.
Government agencies are looking for land for specific purposes.
Wet Lands Acquisition Program - for duck breeding grounds and to main-
tain water tables.
Conservation Dept. (Steve Sekolic) Contact for acquisition of boat
launching sites, public access etc.
Nature Bonservancy - a private organization for the purpose of pre-
serving special areas.
Open Space Program - Will provide 20 to 30N of thel-nd cost on an
L approved parcel, providing we have a Master Plan.
- Community Development Section, may be
a' J available for help in the cost of making a Master Plan.
Bureau of Outdoor Recreation - Federal Bur au (na�r) which helps finance
picnic grounds e c. P` a
Organizations that it might be helpful to join:
Mid. Continent Park and Recreation Assn.
Contact Mrs. Margaret Boise, Renn. Cty. Park Reserve fist.
American Assn. Of Parlt Executives
Get further information from Otto Christensen
National Recreation Assn.
Their convention will be held early in October in Minneapolis.
Park Board members are welcome. First day - in depth, second,
buzz sessions.
Materials for Ref hence -- on file with Secretary
Community Facilities (temporary loan) Bloomington 's comprehensive
plan report with maps of existin,, and proposed facilities.
Madison Is Plan for Parks and Open Spaces (temporary loan) Master Plan
for Madison, 14iscon7in
Bloomington 's Development Plan Map showing how each neighborhood
will be developed.
Smith Park Plan - Map showing cooperative planning between school
a rd Park Doerd in Bloomington - a very important trend toward ti-e
best use of land and funds of the taxpayer.
M/Merrinkzn, S/Anderson that the meeting be adjourned. Carried.
Respectfully submitted,
Frances Blacklock, Secretary Next meeting, Tuesday, July 6