8.e. PRSR 11-18-1998 .'ty of
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River Item# 8.e.
MEMORANDUM
TO: Park and Recreation Commission
FROM: Stephen Wensman, Planner (�
DATE: November 18, 1998
SUBJECT: Memorial Donations Update
Request
Staff requests that the Park and Recreation Commission consider the
creation of a policy on memorial donations in the form of park benches or
other site amenities.
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Overview
An Elk River resident is interested in creating a memorial to her parents in
the form of a park bench to be donated and installed at Woodland Trails
Park. She has seen elderly residents use the trails and feels this would be a
benefit to the park and serve the public.
Other cities have memorial benches in parks or other such programs which
can defer costs for site improvements and personalize the experience in public
spaces.
The City of Minneapolis has a program run by a nonprofit called People For
Parks which presently allows donation/memorials in the form of trees,
benches or daffodils. The program has run into some difficulty and will be
revised early next year. Some of the issues are as follows:
Issues
• Demand greater than ability to supply memorials.
• Memorials are a low priority for the public works department.
• Too many memorials/too many benches in some parks.
• • Not charging enough for the memorials.
13065 Orono Parkway • P.O.Box 490 • Elk River, MN 55330 • TDD&Phone: (612)441-7420 • Fax: (612)441-7425
• • Not enough choice of memorials.
• Plaques are discouraged by Park Commissioners, yet people want
them and will place their own if they donate.
• What park amenities should be allowed for memorials?
• What design or style of should the benches or other amenities be
(material, style, etc.)?
• Where should a memorial be allowed?
• What should a memorial plaque look like?
• What is the process to create a memorial?
• Should this be publicized to encourage more such memorials?
• Warrantee or guarantee for the donors of memorials.
• Private vrs. public ownership of amenities with plaques on them?
Recommendation
Staff recommends waiting for Minneapolis to review its policies on donations
before enacting one for Elk River.
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