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Home My WebLink AboutParks And Recreation Board - Minutes - 03/01/1995CITY OF FORT COLLINS CULTURAL, LIBRARY, AND RECREATIONAL SERVICES PARKS AND RECREATION BOARD CITY COUNCIL LIAISON TO THE BOARD: Councilman Bob McCluskey, Jr. STAFF SUPPORT TO THE BOARD: Jackie Rael, Administrative Aide and Jerry P. Brown, Assistant to the Director MINUTES: Special Meeting -- March 1, 1995 CALL MEETING TO ORDER: The special meeting was called to order at 6:30 p.m. by Board President Roger Tarum. Marilyn Barnes called to say she would not be able to attend tonight's meeting. AGENDA REVIEW: No changes to the printed agenda. PARKS AND RECREATION MASTER PLAN Roger Tarum suggested that the Board go through the existing plan and use that as a guide for the next master plan. He organized the plan into seven categories: Neighborhood Parks, Community Parks, Regional Parks, Open Space Areas, Trails, Special Facilities, and Miscellaneous Improvements/Facilities. The Board then brainstormed their ideas as follows: Neighborhood Parks --should have picnic, play, open areas, paved path on perimeter of parks (small fitness component). The developer should have some responsibility in the park development/buffering/green space, i.e., OakRidge and Paragon Point; require developer to help fund a trail to the neighborhood park in the housing developments where there is less density; educational, interpretation of water conservation, horticultural; should be fitted to the neighborhood needs; look at alternate 'parks' for areas with larger lots and lower density. Randy Balok said we are now looking at development on the fringes of the City/urban growth areas and we need to explore alternative park options; should be easily access by foot or bike. Community Parks --Coordinate the Strauss Cabin along with the Poudre River plan; Southwest Community Park; Fossil Creek Community Park; and Northwest Community Park. Regional Park -- more passive than organized sports fields; water surface for non -motorized boats. Use GO CO money to fund the regional park; park system connecting the community parks. Parks and Recreation Special Meeting March 1, 1995 Page 2 Do the community parks have the right elements in them? Adopt idea of an outdoor natural skating pond for winter months (2-4 months maximum) be incorporated as in Fossil Creek Community Park design. Have a rink in every community park, sunken in to be used for volleyball, stage, skateboarding, rollerblading and flood in the winter for ice skating. Recreation building as an integration of equipment to be checked out, tennis racquets, activities; place to go, no scheduled activities, i.e., Loveland complex. Incorporate a sunken stage and botanic gardens, library, and museum, surrounded by 100 acres of park. Open Space -- Acquire more along the foothills; along the Poudre River in the 100-year flood plain; along I-25 to keep Fort Collins the Choice City; passive trails in the open spaces with management plans with public input (per Citizen Kelly Ohlsen); management plan among Loveland, Windsor, Greeley, and Fort Collins. Trails -- system that would circle all of Fort Collins; multi -use trail system; wood chip (shoulder trail); wide enough right-of-ways; avoid crossing roads have continuous flow; avoid dangerous curves; loop around parks with spurs; Special Facilities -- youth center with game room; hang out room; communities in schools; lighted basketball courts; use schools for drop -in centers; another sheet of ice; indoor pool; outdoor pool; add backboards to community parks; toddler play areas/at youth center prior to youth activities begin (during school); play areas for disabled, blind, deaf, all use for all children. What are the biggest needs? total connecting trail system trails that inter -link the surrounding communities passive (disorganized, drop in activities) for youth user friendly parks, trails areas for spontaneous ball games for non-scheduled play sledding hill 18-hole public golf course explore partnerships with private/public track around perimeter of the golf course for cross country skiing Tom Keith spoke about developing the plan and how these ideas culminate into the new master plan. Neighborhood Park -- In the northern portion of the community, there will be a need for four neighborhood parks of 8 to 10 acres each. Parks and Recreation Special Meeting March 1, 1995 Page 3 In terms of community parks, beyond Southwest Community Park and Fossil Creek Community Park, a more traditional community park will be needed in the north east. That site should be targeted into the next 10 year plan. Still looking at a park site at Strauss Cabin area for open space for historical value, natural area, and an amphitheater. Looking at a connection plan with the surrounding communities. Should community parks be the traditional community park or a balance of a non-traditional community park with a more natural theme? Roger added that the Poudre River has a definite recreational value, although it needs so much work and add the trail along it. Jessica said that could be an area that could use volunteers, i.e. youth volunteers. Citizen Kelly Ohlson spoke to the Board tonight because after 12 years of government interest, Parks and Recreation is his immediate focus. He said all of the surveys indicate passive use, special interest groups come out and dictate overly developed park use. He referred to the Fossil Creek Community Park 21 ft trail surrounding it and how ridiculous this is. He added, as for Park Maintenance, do not do such a good job of mowing and have a management plan for natural areas. Don't play so much to the few voices of the community. He talked about the Natural areas and the Fromme Prairie. With regards to narrow trails complaints, make the trails away from the wildlife habitat by branch off to hard or soft trails for wider uses that don't affect the wildlife. Be careful with the lighted ballfields and soccer fields at Fossil Creek Community Park and don't alter them to satisfy the developer and disrupt the terrain of the park. Rich Feller suggested the recreational loop be built around the CSU stadium or the Landfill or at a regional park. Roger wrapped up the discussion, asking what is the deadline for input? Janet Meisel said 30 or 40 days. The staff will return at the regular March meeting with the funding phase of this plan. All through the month of April will be the public process including the mall and library. Natural Resources, Transportation, Stormwater Drainage, and P and Z Boards will give their input and then staff will bring the plan to the Parks and Recreation Board at the March 22 meeting, and then to City Council worksession on March 28. Jessica MacMillan said that the staff and consultant are doing an excellent job. Randy said that Jerry Brown suggested that somewhere in the beginning of the plan, we need to state what this plan is not. Parks and Recreation Special Meeting March 1, 1995 Page 4 OTHER BUSINESS Randy Balok spoke about the purchase of the 103 acres for Southwest Community Park/Youth Sports Complex and 70 additional acres as a natural area. He added that we nee! water for this land and we are proposing to City Council t purchase 83 percent of water rights from Dixon Reservoir. We are proposing Conservation Trust money and prior year capital fund money for the purchase of this water. The meeting was adjourned at 8:20 p.m. Respe tfull}� submitt d, J ie Rael, A mistrative Aide II Meetina Attendance BOARD MEMBERS STAFF GUEST Roger Tarum Mike Powers Tom Keith, EDAW Mary Ness Randy Balok Jana McKenzie, EDAW Sylvia Cranmer Janet Meisel Kelly Ohlson Rich Feller Jackie Rael Jess- MacMillan Eric Diana. ._ies