12.0. PRSR 08-18-1994 ,.firItem No. 12
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City of MEMORANDUM
E lkPJ
Ver TO: MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL
FROM: STEPHEN ROHLF, BUILDING
AND ZONING ADMINISTRATOR
DATE: AUGUST 5, 1994
SUBJECT: PARK AND RECREATION
COMMISSION'S RECOMMENDATION
ON ACREAGE NEEDED FOR
COMMUNITY ATHLETIC FACILITIES
The chart attached to this memo is the Park and Recreation Commission's
recommendation to the City Council on how many additional athletic
facilities will be needed to accommodate Elk River's population at full
• development (currently estimated at 40,000). The Park and Recreation
Commission is recommending 114.5 acres be purchased by the City to
accommodate the additionally needed athletic facilities.
These recommendations are a product of numerous meetings and much
research. They are not felt to be excessive. The recommendations were
based on the current demand placed on existing facilities. It is understood
that as the demands on various types of facilities change in the future,
adjustments in the number of the facilities will need to be made.
Future school participation was also factored in. After discussion with school
personnel, it was assumed that the school would participate in future athletic
facilities at half the rate that they have participated in the past. The
facilities shown on the attached sheet represent those that need to be
constructed by the City.
Once the Growth Management Plan is updated, and a revised estimate of
Elk River's population at full development is available, the Park and
Recreation Commission will be presenting their recommendations to the
Council as an update to the Master Park Plan. Their recommendation on
future athletic facilities needed will be part of this update of the Master Park
Plan. However, the Park and Recreation Commission feels that it is
paramount that the City purchases at least 80 acres immediately to
accommodate future community athletic facilities.
P.O. Box 490 • 13065 Orono Parkway • Elk River, MN 55330 • (612) 441-7420 • Fax: (612) 441-7425
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Park&Rec Page 2
• Continued
The urgency is to acquire this land while it is still available and reasonably
priced. This land does not need to be located within the City sewer and water
district; nor does it need to be developed into athletic facilities immediately.
The timing of developing community athletic facilities to meet the immediate
needs of Elk River will be the subject of future Park and Recreation
Commission recommendations to the City Council.
The Park and Recreation Commission is also recommending that no more
than 40 acres in any one location be purchased for community athletic
facilities to prevent traffic congestion. They are also recommending that no
parcel of land for community athletics is smaller than 20 acres so
maintenance is not logistically hindered. The exception to this is adult
softball field complexes that could be 12 acre sites which would accommodate
softball four-plexes.
Lastly, the Park and Recreation Commission is asking the City Council's
permission to meet with the other jurisdictions that are encompassed within
School District 728 to spread the philosophy of a single entity responsible for
the administration of community athletic facilities throughout the school
district. That philosophy and the rational behind a single entity being
responsible for community athletics is expounded on in the attached memo
from Stephen Rohlf to the Park and Recreation Commission dated March 28,
1994.
P&R-SR/council
4
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COMMUNITY ATHLETICS
(1) (2)
ATHLETIC RECOMMENDED ADDITIONAL FACILITIES ACRES
ACTIVITY CITY OWNED FACILITIES TO PER CAPITA REQUIRED
SERVE A FULL DEVELOPMENT INCLUDING
POPULATION OF 40,000 PARKING
GOLF FUTURE FACILITY NEEDS MET
BY PRIVATE SECTOR .0 ACS.
BASKETBALL
(OUTDOOR) -ADD OUTDOOR COURTS TO .0 ACS.
NEIGHBORHOOD PARKS
(INDOOR) -CONSIDER INDOOR COURTS IN .0 ACS.
A FUTURE CIVIC CENTER
VOLLEYBALL
(OUTDOOR) -ADD OUTDOOR COURTS TO .0 ACS.
NEIGHBORHOOD PARKS
(INDOOR) -UTILIZE BASKETBALL COURTS .0 ACS.
IF ADDED TO A CIVIC CENTER
CROSS COUNTRY
SKIING AND ADD TRAILS TO CITY PARKS .0 ACS.
RUNNING
• SWIMMING 1/20,000
(INDOOR) 0 (COUNTING .0 ACS.
(OUTDOOR) 1 OUTDOOR POOL ORONO 3.0 ACS.
BEACH)
TENNIS 11 COURTS (LIGHTED) 1/1,500 1.5 ACS.
SKATING &
HOCKEY
(INDOOR) 1 INDOOR RINK(PROPOSED) 1/31,000 .0 ACS.
(OUTDOOR) 6 OUTDOOR RINKS (LIGHTED) 1/5,000 6.0 ACS.
FOOTBALL 3 FIELDS (LIGHTED) 1/6,150 9.0 ACS.
SOCCER 9 FIELDS 1/2,000 22.5 ACS.
SOFTBALL/
BASEBALL(YOUTH 13 FIELDS 1/1,200 32.5 ACS.
MULTI-PURPOSE
FIELDS)
SOFTBALL
(ADULT) 8 FIELDS 1/3,100 24.0 ACS.
BASEBALL(13
YEARS OLD AND 4 FIELDS (FULL SIZE) 1/4,400 16.0 ACS.
UP-TRAVEL)
(1) ASSUMES SCHOOL DISTRICT PARTICIPATES IN FUTURE
ATHLETIC FACILITIES AT ONE-HALF THEIR PAST RATE.
• (2) INCLUDES CURRENT AND PROPOSED CITY AND SCHOOL
ATHLETIC FACILITIES.
table-BZ
J.
ELK RIVER HOUSING AND REDEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY
August 18, 1994
Mr.Dave Anderson
Chair, Elk River Park and Recreation Commission
Elk River City Hall
Elk River, MN 55330
RE: PROPOSED 1995 RIVERFRONT TRAIL;
ELK RIVER CENTRAL BUSINESS DISTRICT
Dear Chair Anderson:
On August 11, 1994, the Elk River Housing and Redevelopment Authority (HRA)finalized its
1995 budget. An element of the budget includes an allocation of$17,000 towards the study;
• and perhaps the initial improvements of, a riverfront trail in Elk River's Central Business
District(CBD). Although the HRA's initial interest lies in funding a trail within the CBD,
numerous options on extending this trail come to mind. For example, the trail may one day
link the CBD to Babcock Park. The alley adjacent to the Sunshine Depot may be a link to
connect this trail with Main Street and north to Jackson Avenue. For these reasons, I am
asking that the Park and Recreation Commission consider an equal match of funds to help
support an initial effort of the CBD riverfront endeavor.
In addition, it may be appropriate for the Commission to consider one or two representatives
to serve on a yet-to-be-established committee for this project. Other members of the
committee may include HRA Commissioner(s), CBD property owners,and community
residents, etc.
All in all, an initial riverfront trail that begins in the CBD represents an exciting project. I
hope that the Park and Recreation Commission shares this enthusiasm and agrees to allocate
funds and to participate in the project in 1995.
Sincerely yours,
w -
William Rubin
Executive Director, Elk River HRA
•
P.O. Box 490 • 13065 Orono Parkway • Elk River, MN 55330-1743 • (612) 441-7420• Fax (612) 441-7425
Equal Opportunity Housing and Equal Opportunity Employment