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Home My WebLink About2018-10-16 Parks and Trails Work Session Agenda Packet CITY OF CORCORAN Parks and Trails Commission Work Session Agenda October 16, 2018 – 6:00pm 1. Call to Order / Roll Call 2. Park Master Planning* 3. Unscheduled Items 4. Adjournment *Includes Materials - Materials relating to these agenda items can be found in the House Agenda Packet by Door. The work session will begin at 6:00 pm. At 7:00 pm the work session will be recessed in order to hold a quick regular meeting to conduct a few business items. The work session will then resume after the regular meeting. 2. 8200 County Road 116  Corcoran, MN 55340 763-420-2288  www.ci.corcoran.mn.us MEMO Meeting Date: October 16, 2018 Work Session To: Parks and Trails Commission From: Brad Martens, City Administrator Re: Park Master Planning ______________________________________________________________________ The purpose of the work session is to kick-off the park master planning process for the two adjacent City owned properties; City Park and the recently purchased land from the Rockford School District. Staff is interested in obtaining answers to the following specific questions: 1. Does the Parks and Trails Commission continue to agree with the previously discussed priorities for the athletic space park? 2. Does the Parks and Trails Commission feel that some or all of the existing amenities should remain in their current locations? 3. Does the Parks and Trails Commission wish to have the park “feel” a certain way? (full on athletic park, include natural features to soften, etc.) 4. Does the Parks and Trails Commission wish to re-engage with the community at large at some point in the design process? If these questions are answered, the next step would be to recommend the City Council authorize staff to seek proposals to assist in the park design process (similar to the Ravinia Park). Topic #1: Priorities for the athletic space park In October 2014 the Parks and Trails Commission took part in a ranking process to develop priorities for the previously proposed athletic space known as the Roehlke property. The ranking resulted in the following priorities:  Top priorities: baseball fields, soft ball fields, multi-purpose rectangular fields, park shelter, amphitheater  Secondary priorities: open area/picnic area, hockey/skating area, playground equipment, trails, concession stand 2.  Other items listed: Sledding hill, tennis courts, dome, cross country ski, sand volleyball, horseshoe pits, skate park, restrooms Guidance from the 2040 Comprehensive Plan: Community playfields, identified as “ASA-Athletic Search Area” on the system map, are areas for intense recreational facilities such as athletic fields and swimming pools. Playfields should be integrated into community parks or may be co-located with school athletic facilities. They may also include a neighborhood use. Guidance from the 2030 Comprehensive Plan: The Commission should discuss and recommend priorities for the proposed athletic space park. 2. Topic #2: Existing amenities The following is an overview of the existing amenities at the park location and some notes about them:  3 softball fields: Satisfactory condition  Multi-use field: Satisfactory condition  2 tennis courts: Cracked courts and drooping nets  Picnic shelter: Satisfactory condition  Playground: Dated with the color of the playground starting to fade  Volleyball court: Sagging net  4 t-ball fields: Satisfactory condition; fields 1 and 2 don’t withstand much water  Lion’s field: Satisfactory condition; only field with lights  Snyder field: Recently installed scoreboard and press box  Meister field: Newly installed fence and irrigation  2 Ice rinks: Satisfactory condition  Open skate ice: Satisfactory condition  Warming house: Structurally deficient  4 parking lots: Lots fill quickly on soccer and baseball nights  Veteran memorial: Satisfactory condition  Sheds: Satisfactory condition The Parks and Trails Commission should provide direction on whether existing amenities should stay in their current locations. Topic #3: Feel of the park Many athletic complexes have a crisp and clean look to them. The Commission should discuss whether there is a certain feel they would like to have for the park. Topic #4: Community engagement Staff and members of the Commission engaged with the public at Country Daze and the Night to Unite festival including a survey and fielding suggestions with post it notes on a map. The Commission should discuss the level of community engagement it would like to see during the planning process. Other information: Guidance on how much athletic space is needed: A previous study commission by the City of Corcoran recommended 10 acres of parks per 1,000 people. Of that amount 2-3 acres should be active per 1,000 people. The following chart shows projected populations and park needs through 2040. Year Population Acres Needed Active Acres 2018 5,933 59 12-18 2020 6,700 67 13-20 2030 8,900 89 18-27 2040 11,300 113 23-34 2. It should be noted this chart assumes only Corcoran residents. The existing baseball and soccer programs attract many individuals from adjacent communities and require significantly more acreage. Looking at the existing useable athletic space, approximately 22 acres is in use. Once the Commission has provided staff with recommendations on the above items, next steps should be discussed. Staff envisions drafting a proposal for services similar to the Ravinia neighborhood park process and ask two or more groups to provide quotes. Services would include site design and cost estimates. The Commission should consider a recommendation to the City Council to proceed with this next step. Attachments: None