HomeMy WebLinkAbout2.A. Splash PadIN11()ISEMOLINT EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
CITY COUNCIL
City Council Work Session Meeting: August 14, 2013
AGENDA ITEM: Splash Pad
AGENDA SECTION:
Discussion
PREPARED BY: Dan Schultz, Parks and Recreation
AGENDA NO.
Z, 6.
Director
ATTACHMENTS: Concept Plan and Stakeholder Feedback
APPROVED BY:
RECOMMENDED ACTION: Discussion only.
ISSUE
At the City Council work session meeting on August 14, 2013, the City Council reviewed a revised
concept plan for the splash pad project. The City Council supported the concept plan and moving forward
with that plan. Attached is the concept plan that was reviewed.
Staff recently held a meeting with several stakeholders from Leprechaun Days, Halloween - Haunted Trail,
RAAC, Rosemount Veteran's Memorial and the Rosemount Veteran's Memorial Walk We started the
meeting with staff giving an update about the project, then asked the stakeholders for input and finished
the meeting with a walking tour of the site. Staff feels the walking tour helped the stakeholders see how
the splash pad might impact other park users. Many of the concerns that were voiced earlier in the
meeting were calmed after the tour. One of the main concerns we heard was that noise from the splash
pad would disrupt the use of the amphitheater. Once the stakeholders saw the distance from the
amphitheater to the splash pad they were much less concerned.
A written summary of the meeting with the stakeholders is attached for the City Council to review.
At the last work session meeting, staff were asked if we could put in some stakes and mark where the
future amenities from the concept plan might be located. Staff has marked where the amenities will most
likely be located and ask that the City Council tour the park to review the site.
SUMMARY
Staff would like for the City Council to review the proposed location of amenities in the park and provide
feedback to staff.
The next steps for this project would take place in October and would include reviewing the submittals for
the RFP (request for proposals) or RFQ (request for qualifications) from splash pad vendors and to
approve a scope of work for the architect and engineering services needed for this project.
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Splash Pad meeting
August 29, 2013
In attendance: Steve Ball, Maureen Bouchard, Dianne Wellman, Jeanne Schwartz, Ken Talbert, Susan
Nivala, Ed McMenomy, Dwight Johnson, Dan Schultz, Tom Schuster
The meeting began with Dan Schultz showing a map of Central Park and a discussion about placing the
splash pad at the north end of the east rink. He explained that the concept plan for the site also
included a new, larger, playground being constructed north of the proposed splash pad.
Dan explained that there could be a new island in the northwest corner of the existing parking lot and
that the MNDOT building would remain in the park for now but would eventually be removed and the
area used for additional parking.
It is expected /hoped that the construction would begin next spring and the splash pad would be ready
for use early next summer. Dan explained that the east hockey rink would be removed and relocated to
a different park next summer. The west rink, or parts of it (such as the asphalt pad), may remain after
the splash pad is constructed. Dan said that a skating trail may be constructed in the area of the west
rink and that this may provide the opportunity to add trees to this area of the park. The concept plan
for the park renovations also provides for several hard surfaced pads which could be used for picnic
tables throughout the year but also could be used for vendor booths during events such as Leprechaun
Days.
There was a discussion about the use of the park for Leprechaun Days. One of the biggest impacts of
this project will be the use of the space for the Leprechaun Days Beer Garden. A question came up
about the necessity of enclosing the Beer Garden in a fenced area. If fencing is not required this may
not be an issue but if the Beer Garden needs to be fenced in we need to provide space for it and enough
fencing to contain it.
Maureen Bouchard commented that she feels Central Park is the wrong spot for the splash pad. There is
already too much activity in Central Park and that the layout of the park, and the gardens and trails in
the park, currently offer quiet spots and provide solitude to park users. A splash pad would drastically
and negatively change the character of Central Park. Maureen added that the agreement to shut down
the splash pad during other events in the park (Leprechaun Days, concerts, etc.) would be problematic
because it may not seem fair to people expecting to use the splash pad only to find after they had
arrived that the splash pad is not operating.
Maureen added that the MNDOT shed is ideally located and very convenient for use by the Leprechaun
Days and the Halloween event committees. Many props and supplies are stored there, one of the most
important being a chest freezer used for storage of ice during Leprechaun days. She mentioned that the
parking lot at Central Park is often quite full now and she asked if there will be adequate parking there
when the splash pad opens. She is also concerned with safety in the parking lot. In addition to
numerous park users' vehicles in the parking lot, the police have no option but to drive through the lot
coming and going from their offices. The splash pad will encourage many more people, especially
excited your children, to be walking /running through the parking lot.
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Maureen said she understands that Schwarz Pond Park lacks the infrastructure to support a splash pad
but that Central Park would require an equal amount of improvements to make it suitable for the splash
pad.
She reminded the group how popular Leprechaun Days is and how well suited Central Park is to host it.
Maureen said that it really is much more than "Just a 3 day event ". She finished with "Can Leprechaun
Days move — Yes; Should Leprechaun Days move — No ".
Steve Ball asked Dan if Leprechaun Days will be asked to move out of Central Park and find another site.
Dan answered no, that the expectation was that Central Park would still be the site for Leprechaun Days.
Dianne Wellman asked if the plan for the splash pad and the decision to locate it at Central Park had
been formally approved by the City Council. Both Dan and Dwight said no, that the council was still
gathering information and discussing the project and no formal decisions had yet been made.
Both Dianne and Maureen reminded the group that for many of the local clubs and churches that have
booths at Leprechaun Days, that booth is one of their main fundraisers. If Leprechaun Days is
discontinued, how will these groups make up this loss of income? They also asked where the
Leprechaun Days bathtub races could be held if the west rink was removed?
Jeanne Schwartz commented that the splash pad is a great idea for the community but agreed that it
does not have to be in Central Park and should be at Schwarz Pond Park. She agreed that Central Park is
a place of serenity and that this is important to a large number of park users. She is concerned that
noise from the splash pad will interfere with musical acts performing in the band shell. Jeanne is also
concerned that there may be a conflict or incompatibility between the theme or atmosphere of the
splash pad and some of the programs being offered at the amphitheater. She suggested that if a
production of Shakespeare was going on in the amphitheater, the noise from the splash pad and people
running around in bathing suits may not add to the ambiance of the event.
Both Ed McMenomy and Ken Talbert commented that the proposed changes to Central Park would not
impact either of the Veteran's memorials (the walk or the monument) in the park.
At this point in the discussion the group went outside to look at the existing rinks and to see the area
being considered for the splash pad. Dan and Tom pointed out to the group that because of topography
and the need for hockey rink boards, that the stage of the band shell can currently only be seen by
people in the western 1/3 of the west rink. Anyone in the east rink or the eastern 2/3 of the west rink
cannot currently see the stage. Removal of the hockey boards and any increase in elevation of the
hockey rink area will make the band shell visible to more people.
Dan showed the group that area in the east rink that is being considered for the splash pad and the area
north of that being considered for the new playground.
When the group was in the east rink Jeanne commented that now that she had seen the distance
between the band shell and the proposed splash pad site, she had less concerns about the noise issues
but she still had concerns about the serenity issues. Ken offered that he did not think the construction
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of the splash pad would have any negative effect on the park. Ed said that nothing that was discussed
at the meeting would impact plans for the Rosemount Veteran's Memorial Walk. Steve offered that the
proposed changes to Central Park would offer challenges to Leprechaun Days but that these could be
handled and that he felt they also offered new opportunities. There is still a concern among the
Leprechaun Days representatives about where the Beer Garden can be located and where the bathtub
races can be held.
C:\ Users \ddj \AppData \Local \Microsoft\ Windows \Temporary Internet Files \Content.Outlook \3N3RC8DD \Notes from the Splash Pad meeting
August 29.docx