The URL can be used to link to this page

Home My WebLink About6.a. Splash Pad4ROSEMOUNTEXECUTIVE SUMMARY PARKS AND RECREATION COMMISSION Parks and Recreation Commission Special Meeting: April 2, 2013 ISSUE During our regular meeting on February 25, 2013 staff reviewed a variety of locations for a splash pad that had been previously discussed by the Commission, including the Flint Hills site, Schwarz Pond Park and Central Park. Staff provided aerial views and maps of the sites and pointed out areas where the splash pad could be located and what existing amenities would need to be moved. There were several questions asked at the meeting regarding other locations. Listed below are the questions and responses from staff. Could Brockway Park and Meadows Park be alternatives to Central Park or Schwarz Pond Park? Staff response: Yes, but these parks were designed to function as neighborhood parks and do not currently have the parking and space set aside for a splash pad. If a splash pad in Rosemount ends up as popular as other communities, staff feels these two parks would be inadequate. - Could the land north of the fire station #2 near Meadows Park be a possibility? Staff response: Most likely not, this site was purchased by the City to be the site of a future water treatment plant. - Is the land across Hwy 3 from the high school and RCC an option for a splash pad? Staff response: Most likely not, this property has been developed fox multi- family housing and the streets and utilities are in place for future development of townhouses. The Commission asked if we have looked into doing a Request for Proposals (RFP) to hire a consultant /splash pad designer who could give us an idea of the size needed and what parks would be suitable for a splash pad. Staff response — We have looked into hiring a consultant but not until we have worked through the process of where we think the amenity should be located. We have discussed the design and placement of splash pads with other cities that have them and we have also discussed the same topics with consultants. Staff expects that once we narrow down our search to one or two locations we would then look into hiring someone to help with the details of the project. Some of the feedback we received from a splash pad designer is detailed in the Background section of this executive summary. [AGENDA ITEM: Splash Pad AGENDA SECTION: Old Business PREPARED BY: Dan Schultz, Parks & Recreation Director AGENDA NO. 6 a. ATTACHMENTS: Aerial Photos APPROVED BY: RECOMMENDED ACTION: Staff is recommending that we should move forward with a recommendation to the City Council that we look to further investigate Central Park and Schwarz Pond Park for the site of a future splash pad. ISSUE During our regular meeting on February 25, 2013 staff reviewed a variety of locations for a splash pad that had been previously discussed by the Commission, including the Flint Hills site, Schwarz Pond Park and Central Park. Staff provided aerial views and maps of the sites and pointed out areas where the splash pad could be located and what existing amenities would need to be moved. There were several questions asked at the meeting regarding other locations. Listed below are the questions and responses from staff. Could Brockway Park and Meadows Park be alternatives to Central Park or Schwarz Pond Park? Staff response: Yes, but these parks were designed to function as neighborhood parks and do not currently have the parking and space set aside for a splash pad. If a splash pad in Rosemount ends up as popular as other communities, staff feels these two parks would be inadequate. - Could the land north of the fire station #2 near Meadows Park be a possibility? Staff response: Most likely not, this site was purchased by the City to be the site of a future water treatment plant. - Is the land across Hwy 3 from the high school and RCC an option for a splash pad? Staff response: Most likely not, this property has been developed fox multi- family housing and the streets and utilities are in place for future development of townhouses. The Commission asked if we have looked into doing a Request for Proposals (RFP) to hire a consultant /splash pad designer who could give us an idea of the size needed and what parks would be suitable for a splash pad. Staff response — We have looked into hiring a consultant but not until we have worked through the process of where we think the amenity should be located. We have discussed the design and placement of splash pads with other cities that have them and we have also discussed the same topics with consultants. Staff expects that once we narrow down our search to one or two locations we would then look into hiring someone to help with the details of the project. Some of the feedback we received from a splash pad designer is detailed in the Background section of this executive summary. The Commission asked if there was any land available near high traffic areas such as Highway 3 and County Road 42. Staff response — Yes, there is land for sale near the intersection of Highway 3 and County Road 42. Staff feels that this land is a high demand location for the City to have future commercial development. A hotel and convenience store have been approved to be developed on this site. Staff feels that the use of existing parkland would be our most economical option and allow us to move forward more quickly. Staff feels that Central Park and Schwarz Pond Park are still the top two choices for park locations to add a splash pad. The two parks are community parks where one might expect to find a special use facility such as a splash pad. Both sites come with some issues but each site also has some positives. At Central Park there would be a need to relocate some existing amenities, the access off of 145`h Street and parking lot is used by emergency vehicles and the parking is limited. Central Park does have a shelter building with restrooms, a playground, many trails and other community amenities. At Schwarz Pond Park there is no sewer /water or a building with rest room facilities. Schwarz Pond Park does have ample parking that is not often used, large playground, a sun shelter and many trails in the area. BACKGROUND One of the City Council Goals for 2012 -2013 is to enhance the Downtown area with additional public amenities and improvements. One of the identified improvements in the goals for 2013 -2014 is a splash pad. A splash pad is an area for water play that has little or no standing water. Typically there are ground nozzles that spray water upwards out of the splash pad's deck. There may also be other water features such as a rainbow (semicircular pipe shower) or a mushroom shower. Some splash pads feature movable nozzles that allow users to spray others. The showers and ground nozzles are often controlled by a hand activated - motion sensor, and run for a limited time. Typically the water is either freshwater, or recycled and treated water. At the August 2012 Parks and Recreation Commission meeting, we discussed potential locations for a splash pad. The Commission asked staff to look into occupancy numbers for splash pads or amenities that are installed per square foot. Staff checked with splash pad owners and they did not have a set limit on how many users they could accommodate or an occupancy limit. They also did not have a square footage requirement for each splash pad amenity. Staff also spoke to a representative from USA Aquatics, which is a Minnesota firm that designs splash pads, and they recommended occupancy of 1 person /per 15 square feet. They estimated that Rosemount could use a splash pad that is roughly 3,000 square feet that could accommodate 200 users. They did not have a set number of amenities that are installed per square foot. SUMMARY Staff is recommending that we should move forward with a recommendation to the City Council that we look to further investigate Central Park and Schwarz Pond Park for the site of a future splash pad. Zk k1r, A 4. 1z", ROSEMOUNT Water Sanitary Storm W" eat Gravity --1w. A Fl—dEndS..— V.lv. 0 W .I. E Catch Basin Manhole MINNESOTA Central Park f r V, r -Z- L D )SEMOU NT Water Sanitary Storm - Main C-1 B.— .,. .1. Catch B.— Manacle A N MINNESOTA Schwarz Park - Utilities /�leadcws �Qr'� Map Title or Notes Disclaimer: Map and parcel data are believed to be accurate, but accuracy is not guaranteed. This is not a legal Map Scale document and should not be substituted for a title search, appraisal, survey, or for zoning verification. Dakota 3/19/2013 County assumes no legal responsibility for the information contained in this data. Yroe Kw f � K Dakota County, M ME s r 3 " jPFFIr In r r Disclaimer: Map and parcel data are believed to be accurate, but accuracy is not guaranteed. This is not a Map Scale legal document and should not be substituted for a title search, appraisal, survey, or for zoning verification. 1 inch = 99 feet Dakota County assumes no legal responsibility for the information contained in this data. 3/19/2013