8.0. PRSR 09 10 2014 'i('''*. .„
c"t °f Memorandum
River
To: Parks and Recreation Commission
From: Michael Hecker,Parks and Recreation Director
Date: September 10,2014
Subject: Director's Report
Summer Concert Series
The concert series had a successful season, even considering two of the concerts had to move
indoors. This included the last concert with a Beatles tribute band. The group Hard Day's night
wound up closing the 10-week run of the eighth summer of free Thursday night concerts.The threat
of rain forced the concert indoor to the Arena. However, the more than 800 people that turned up
made it the largest indoor crowd for the concert series.
The 2014 series included the Fabulous Armadillos, drawing the biggest crowd ever at the River's
Edge Commons Park. An estimated 2,500 people crammed the park to hear the St. Cloud group's
60's to 80's rock music on July 31 in their first appearance to Elk River. All of the band members
are full time professional musicians and this was noticed and highly praised by the crowd.
Total attendance was similar to last year's record breaking year of over 10,000 people.
Bailey Point Nature Preserve
We received positive feedback from the public at the July 9 work session for various park amenities
to the Bailey Point Nature Preserve. Paving of the current parking lot,road entrance and an
entrance trail was identified as a priority for the Bailey Point master plan. Therefore, City Council
did approve paving for the parking lot at the August 18 Council meeting.
The project cost will be offset by recent park donations received for Bailey Point Nature Preserve.
About a dozen members of the Bailey family donated$20,000 to be used for improvements. The
donations were acknowledged by City Council with a resolution. A list of the park improvements
identified at the July 9 work session will be presented to the Park Commission at an upcoming work
session.
Park Improvement Fund Work Session
Staff is recommending a work session on Wednesday, September 24 at 6:30 pm to discuss project
priorities for the Park Improvement Fund. The Parks and Recreation Master Plan process and
Commission work sessions should assist with this effort.
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N:\Departments\Parks and Recreation\Commission\Packets\2014\09-10-14 PRC Packet\Directors Report 9-10-14.docx NATURE