7.B. (3) PRSR 5-13-1998 r-Q
Item# 7.b. (3)
t y of MEMORANDUM
lk RiverTO: Park and Recreation Commission
FROM: Stephen Wensman, Planning Intern
DATE: May 13, 1998
SUBJECT: Hillside City Park
Classification
Area wide park
Description
Hillside City Park, the former city dump, is approximately 80 acres of rolling,
wooded Maple and Oak forest with some lowland trees. The main dump area
is located in the south central portion of the park. The dump area is mostly
clear of trees and is mostly flat. A smaller dump area is near the entrance
• road by County Road 12 and consists mainly of asphalt debris. Another area
along County Road 12 seems to have been a small gravel or sand mine. The
site is accessed by the existing gravel drive off of County Road 12. The gravel
entrance drive has an old spur off it that is now obscured by scrub trees. Also
within the site is a smaller road or path that winds through the southeast
quarter of the site. There are two East-West powerline easements that cross
the site, one bisecting at the center and the other at the southern edge. Both
corridors could serve future trails connecting the site to other amenities in
the city.
Site Issues
• Dump site clean-up
• Continued contaminant testing
• Preservation of woods
• Making connections to other amenities through future development
Concept A
This concept maximizes the active recreation opportunities in and through
the park. This will require the removal of some of the lowland and scrub
• (disturbance) trees around the dump site and near the main entrance. The
13065 Orono Parkway • P.O. Box 490 • Elk River, MN 55330 • TDD&Phone: (612)441-7420 • Fax: (612)441-7425
• activities considered include: biking, walking, baseball, soccer, hockey,
tennis, sand volleyball, sliding, interpretive area, and picnicking. A 12' bike
trail, adjacent the entrance drive, connects County Road 12 to the first of two
trail corridors, then to a loop through the woods to the second power line
easement to county Road 13 and Kliever's Marsh.
Concept B
This concept is promotes passive, quiet recreation and takes advantage of the
wooded nature of the park and minimizes the change to the existing
character. The activities here would be: walking, observing nature,
picnicking, interpretive/nature area. A 12' bike trail adjacent the entrance
drive connects County Road 12 to a loop through the woods then to the
southern most power line easement that connects to County Road 13 and
Kliever's Marsh.
Concept C
This concept provides a home for the BMX bicycle riders with in the city. The
former dump site is the center of activity for the BMX activities. To
accommodate the facility, the adjacent hill is cleared of trees to create a
sloped starting line for the track. The facility will most likely require more
• parking than some of the other concepts with more of a regional draw. The
additional parking will necessitate the removal of more trees. The northern
portion of the park is dedicated primarily for walking with gravel or wood-
chip trails through the woods. As with the other concepts, the park links up
with future development and to the neighboring county roads. A 12' bike
trail, adjacent the entrance drive, connects County Road 12 to a loop through
the woods and around the BMX site to the southern trail to county Road 13
and Kliever's Marsh.
Attachments
• Park and Recreation Master plan for the site
•
\\elkriver\sys\shrdoc\planning\stevewen\hlsdemmo.doc
0 HILLSIDE PARK MAP KEY: 9
CLASSIFICATION: Area-Wide Park
OWNER: City of Elk River
DESCRIPTION:
Hillside Park is an 80 acre parcel of rolling,wooded land located southeast of downtown
Elk River about a mile. The woodland is predominantly mature deciduous trees ranging
from Maples to Oaks.
FACILITIES:
- None _S 1 L H
'. • POSSIBLE FUTURE FACILITIES.' \` r,4 I \ • I-,p�_.
- Walking/Hiking Trails 4 � �r — 1
g g �+ „Ti r
- Biking Trails J F , , '
Interpretive Center z� t( I , '" 1'' -`
- Picnicking I .,tA = •, .' a i :,-
- Camping _ h s. �. , / l ,:
- Parking - . _` Wi -'k . IN h
�ti
ISSUES: :'�,,`y V
y " \J-J,,, •-. yam/ l 4 ,--
- Dump-site Cleanup ,` ' ' )
- Entrance and Parking �� `
- Testing for Contaminants 1;1.:�
at Dump Site i', ,
N:,-_ - -- .
- 10 .
30