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04/01/2024 Parks and Recreation Commission Meeting April 01, 2024 7:00 PM 7071 University Avenue NE Fridley, MN 55432 Agenda Call to Order Roll Call Approval of Agenda Approval of Meeting Minutes Open Forum The open forum allows the public to address the Commission on subjects that are not on the Regular Agenda. The Commission will accept feedback or questions from the public and asks that comments are limited to five minutes or less. New Business 1.Sylvan Hills Park Stormwater and Habitat Improvements 2.City of Fridley Park Bench Sponsorship Guidelines Old Business Staff Reports 3.Springbrook Nature Center Report 4.Fridley Parks and Recreation Division Report 5.Park Maintenance and Construction Report Adjournment Upon request, accommodation will be provided to allow individuals with disabilities to participate in any City of Fridley services, programs, or activities. Hearing impaired persons who need an interpreter orother persons who require auxiliary aids should contact the City at (763) 572-3450. 2 Jufn!2/ AGENDA REPORT Meeting Date:April1, 2024 Meeting Type:Parks and RecreationCommission Submitted By:Jim Kosluchar, Director of Public Works and Engineering Rachel Workin, Environmental Planner Title Sylvan Hills Park Stormwater and Habitat Improvements Background Sylvan Hills Park is a 2.6-acreneighborhood parkwithin the Sylvan Hills neighborhood. Approximately 77 acres drain tothe park or the storm sewer running adjacent to it.The park and surrounding neighborhood experience occasional floodingand untreated runoff from the area contributesto the water quality impairments of the Mississippi River. During the Park System Improvement Plan planning process, the Mississippi Watershed Management Organization(MWMO) identified Sylvan Hills as apotential location for regional stormwater treatment and flood mitigation. A stormwater storage area and treatment area were included in In partnership with the City, MWMO conducted a feasibility study to refine the concept plan to maximize recreational benefits, water quality and quantity improvements, and provide pollinator habitat. The project team worked with Houston Engineering Inc. and Davey Resource Group to develop the proposed plan which combines surface and underground stormwater features to provide regional as well as local stormwater treatment. The plan includes two small infiltration basins to capture surface runoff from an area immediately surrounding the park, a larger aspen basin near the playground, two bioswales that act as ephemeralstreams, and an underground infiltration tank that provides the majority of the stormwater treatment while allowing for a mowable green space above (similar to Summit Square Park). The bioswales and underutilized slopes will be vegetated with Pollinator Friendly Fridley resolution. It is expected that these improvements would provide 16.1 pounds of phosphorus removal and 5,000 pounds of sediment removalper year. It would also reduce flooding within the park and surrounding neighborhood during10-and 100-year events. There would be approximately 27,000 square feet of pollinator habitat as well as 24,000 square feet of contiguous open play space. The quantity and size of recreational amenities would not be impacted and additional opportunities for nature-based play would be introduced. Financial Impact TheMWMO has awarded the City a grant for the stormwaterand habitat improvements not to exceed $1,493,000 based on the costs identified in the feasibility study contribute to the construction of the southern infiltration basin.Additionally, MWMO has agreed to Vision Statement We believe Fridley will be a safe, vibrant, friendly and stable home for families and businesses. 3 Jufn!2/ fund the first three years of habitat maintenance. Planned recreational amenities would be funded through the Park System Improvement Plan fund as planned. No additional costs from the project are expected to the Park System Improvement Plan fund as a result of this project. Recommendation Staff recommends endorsement of the modified Sylvan Hills Concept Plan. Attachments and Other Resources !Original Sylvan Hills Concept Plan !Modified Sylvan Hills Concept Plan Vision Statement We believe Fridley will be a safe, vibrant, friendly and stable home for families and businesses. 4 Jufn!2/ Sylvan Hills Park 6204 JUPITER ROAD NE PARK TYPE: NEIGHBORHOOD PARK - SIZE: 2.6ACRES RESIDENTS SERVED: 824 SPECIAL USES: FLOOD STORAGE DESCRIPTION: Neighborhood park servicing neighborhood #24 but EXISTING with improved pedestrian access can also help alleviate PARK recreational needs for neighborhoods #31 and housing FEATURES: development area D as noted on the Service Area Analysis Map. This park contains a parking lot that is easily overlooked, playground at the northern road intersection. The park has water storage that sits in the southern portion of the park. 190191 5 Jufn!2/ RECOMMENDATIONS & ESTIMATE OF PROBABLE COSTS: General recommendations includes replacement of existing amenities with layout Recommendations include: ¤Landscape enhancements & screening ¤Add gateway feature (public art, ¤ small garden or or architectural grow lawn element) ¤New trails to create internal loop, ¤New full basketball court (replaces connect to amenities and connect to tennis court which is removed in crosswalks entirety) ¤New playground in more central ¤Site furnishings with common location for improved safety and characteristic (benches, tables, access from the parking lot to meet receptacles, bike racks, drinking varying age groups fountain, etc.) ¤ADA compliant playground surfacing ¤ ¤Additional park signs ¤Concrete playground border ¤Security light ¤Add unique or challenge equiment piece as focal point of park on the north The estimate of probable costs for completing the recommendations shown range from approximately $400,000 to $532,000. ¤Does not account for unknown site factors (poor soils, drainage concerns, etc.) ¤Does not include utilities PRIORITY LEVEL: LOWMEDIUMHIGH This park provides a broad range of recreation for multiple neighborhood service areas, some of which are underserviced, and is ranked high. 192193 6 Jufn!2/ FIGURE 2 - CONCEPT A 7 Jufn!3/ AGENDA REPORT Meeting Date:April 1, 2024 Meeting Type:Parks and RecreationCommission Submitted By:Mike Maher, Parks and Recreation Director Title City of Fridley Park Bench Sponsorship Guidelines Background City of Fridley Park Bench Sponsorship Guidelines have been updated after an initial review by the Parks and Recreation Commission in 2022. With the implementation of the Park System Improvement Plan, dozens of new benches will be installed in the park system over the coming years and the opportunity for community sponsorship of benches will offset costs and engage residents. Updated since 2022 have been examples of bench types selected for the park system as well as refinement of the periods of sponsorship and replacement based on initial feedback from the Commission. Financial Impact The recommended sponsorship amount for a memorial or tribute bench is $2,500 and the program has the potential to offset costs that would otherwise be charged to the Park System Improvement Plan. Recommendation Staff recommends that the Commission approve the park bench sponsorship program and guidelines. Attachments and Other Resources Park Bench Sponsorship Guidelines (DRAFT) forApril 1, 2024 meeting Vision Statement We believe Fridley will be a safe, vibrant, friendly and stable home for families and businesses. 8 Jufn!3/ Park Bench Sponsorship Guidelines DRAFT3/26/2024 9 Jufn!3/ Park Bench Sponsorship Guidelines DRAFT Guide to bench types, inscriptions,and locations. City of Fridley Memorial/Tribute Guidelines for Park System Memorial/Tribute Bench Guidelines for Fridley Park System The City of Fridley(City)Parks and Recreation Department has the following guidelines for management of personalized benches to be used within the City of Fridley Park Systemto memorialize or to pay tribute to a personor occasion: 1.Requests for a memorial/tribute bench will be submitted in writing to the Parks and Recreation Department through an official order formor online order form. Parks and Recreation staff will review ordersand work with sponsors to select locations that arecompatible with park maintenance, future improvements, and other activities. 2.The donor may request that a bench be installed in a specific park and may, in some cases,suggest a location withinthat park. Final placement of a bench is at the discretion of City of Fridley staff based on environmental conditions, utility locations and proximity of other bench amenities. 3.All costs related to a memorial/tribute bench purchase and installation mustbe paid in advance of bench purchase and installation of an inscribed plaque. Bench sponsorship may be made for a new or existing bench, depending upon the park and age or condition of existing available benches. Donations for bench sponsorship costs areas follows: a.New or existing bench to be installed or installed less than one year from sponsorship is $2,500 b.Existing bench (installed one year or more from sponsorship) sponsorship is $1,000 c.Swing bench sponsorship, new or existing is $4,000 4.At the request of the donor, an inscribed recognition plaqueby will be affixed to the park bench. Plaques will be centered horizontally on the bench backwith vertical alignment ensuring proper attachment.The City maintains standardized wording regulations for a memorial plaque and generally the inscription is limited to three lines of 18 characters per line. The donor may not place additional items on or around the bench such as flowers or photographs. 5.Memorial/tribute benches will be installed by the City Parks Division staffand/orits contractor. 1 : Jufn!3/ Park Bench Sponsorship Guidelines DRAFT Guide to bench types, inscriptions,and locations. 6.The City of Fridley will provide general monitoring of the condition of park benches, including those that have been sponsored with an attached plaque. Sponsored benches will be maintained to the same standards as other park system amenities. 7.The City is not responsible for damage to a bench or plaque due to vandalism, graffiti, accidents or weather. Reasonable accommodations will be made to repair or rfive threeyears after a bench is sponsored. After five threeyears, a donor may have the option to have the bench or bench or plaque at market rate. 8.A sponsorship of a bench will be valid for 10 yearsafter plaque installation. After this time, the City reserves the right to place a new sponsored bench in the same location. It will not be policy to replace a bench or actively seek new sponsors for a bench until the condition of the bench and/or plaque fall below minimum standards for a park amenity. A typical park bench life span is estimated at 20 years. 9.Benches will be placed in public parkland and use of the benchesare intended to be for the public. The donor or associated parties do not have preferential use of the bench for general use,gatherings or ceremonies. 10.The City of Fridley reserves the right to refuse inscriptions deemed to be offensive, inappropriate or of a divisive nature. The Fridley Parks and Recreation Commission shall review and approve/deny any inscriptions that staff deems reviewable. 11.Examples of standard wording for memorial/tribute bench plaques include: TH 12.Donations to Fridley Parks and Recreation for park bench sponsorship may be tax- deductibleand the City of Fridleywill provide a dated donation acknowledgment letter. 12.13.Bench and plaque type are subject to change. Current 20242standards will be as shown or of similar style and quality: 2 21 Jufn!3/ Park Bench Sponsorship Guidelines DRAFT Guide to bench types, inscriptions,and locations. Natural Resource Parks (Springbrook, Locke, Innsbruck, Meadowlands, Etc.) Neighborhood Parks (Ed Wilmes, Madsen, Skyline, Logan, Etc.) 3 22 Jufn!3/ Park Bench Sponsorship Guidelines DRAFT Guide to bench types, inscriptions,and locations. Community Parks (Commons, Community, Moore Lake) 4 23 Jufn!4/ AGENDA REPORT Meeting Date:April 1, 2024 Meeting Type:Parks and RecreationCommission Submitted By:Tara Rogness, Springbrook Nature Center Manager Title Springbrook Nature CenterReport Background Attached is the update from Springbrook Nature Centerfor the April 1, 2024 Parks and Recreation Commission meeting. Financial Impact None. Recommendation None. Attachments and Other Resources Springbrook Nature Center Updatefor April1, 2024 meeting Vision Statement We believe Fridley will be a safe, vibrant, friendly and stable home for families and businesses. 24 Jufn!4/ Springbrook Nature Center Park & Rec Commission Report March Environmental Education Programming rd Springbrook Naturalists taught all the Adams Elementary 3 graders. Typically, they would learn how to nature observation through a variety of activities. th Adams 4 graders learned how to operate a GPS unit and when on a GPS scavenger hunt. Great Things Co-Op came out for classes on Animal Tracks and Winter Ecology. Naturalist Cody taught all eight 45-year-old Preschool classes at Fridley PreK. They covered using their senses outdoors with a fun scent hike. All the of the Stevenson Elementary third grade classes learned about Growth, Survival and Reproduction through adaptation costumes and sorting activities. th Springbrook Naturalists taught all the FMS 8 graders about Heat Transfer using an experiment involving jars of warm water, and different kinds of insulators. th All the FMS 7 grade students are at the nature center to play an immersive Predator Prey game that helps them bring together all the basic ecology and ecological relationship information they covered in the classroom. Each sgroup and works together to find all of what they need outside (food, water, shelter) either through finding it in staff-placed buckets, or through simulated hunting (tagging). March Facility Rentals Grants We are waiting to hear about the status of the Xcel Energy Grant which we titled, ctions in A grant of $2,000 was received from the Minnesota Ornithological Union (MOU) for youth binoculars and field guides. Park & Building Maintenance The Kalwall ceiling has been cleaned and repaired! Springbrook is a brighter, and drier place now! The AV system in the classrooms have been upgraded with new equipment. There are new touch panels, processors, jack upgrades, and replacement of the SMART boards with flat screen displays. Events Summer Camp Registration started on Wednesday, February 21 at 8 am. We expect large numbers of camp parents to get their children signed up for some great summer programs. (See chart on last page for enrollment numbers as of March 8, 2024) 25 Jufn!4/ Volunteer Recognition Event took place at Springbrook on Saturday, March 2nd. Thank you to all who could attend, we had a great time playing Hollywood Squares while munching on theater snacks. MANY thanks to all volunteers who help whenever they can! Upcoming Events th Environmental Fun Fair will take place on Saturday, May 18. May 18, 2024 | 11 a.m. - 2 p.m. | Springbrook Nature Center Event Passport and Prizes Environmental and Educational exhibitors Pop-Up Community Toy Store Stock the Community Toy Store: Swap out your old, under-utilized toys this year. Help us promote reuse in our community by dropping off your lightly-loved children's toys, puzzles, games and art supplies to be distributed during the Pop-Up Community Toy Store at the Environmental Fun Fair. We will be collecting toys in the lobbies of Fridley City Hall and Springbrook Nature Center during business hours from April 16-May 16. Games, Crafts & Activities focused around Environmental Stewardship Bouncy Castle AND MORE! 26 Jufn!5/ AGENDA REPORT Meeting Date:April 1, 2024 Meeting Type:Parks and RecreationCommission Submitted By:Margo Numedahl, Recreation Division Manager Title Fridley Parks and Recreation Division Report Background Attached is the update from the Parks and Recreation Departmentfor the April 1, 2024 Parks and Recreation Commission meeting. Financial Impact None. Recommendation None. Attachments and Other Resources Attached is the update fromthe Parks and RecreationDepartment for theApril 1, 2024 Parks and Recreation Commission meeting. Vision Statement We believe Fridley will be a safe, vibrant, friendlyand stable home for families and businesses. 27 Jufn!5/ HIGHLIGHTS Recreation Division:March2024 SpringPrograms Below isa list of programs and participation numbersfor those taking place duringMarch. (Numbers captured on March 18,2024). Preschool: Ages 3-5 Sports of all Sorts(5sessions): Mar-Apr13 Floor Hockey(4sessions): Mar-Apr12 Elementary Middle School: Grades K-7 Sports of all SortsK-4(5sessions): Mar-Apr10 PaintingGr.K-4 (6sessions): Mar-Apr15 Field Trip toGrand Slam K-5: Mar 29 9 Adult Fitness and Athletics Zumba (2 classes/6 sessions each):Feb-Apr20 Aqua Zumba (5sessions): Feb-Mar7 Pickleball Live Play Coaching(4 sessions): Feb-Mar 14 6 Fridley; 8 -SLP Pickleball Intro Clinic (1 session): Mar 30 10 6 Fridley, 4 -SLP Pickleball Ladder League All Ages: Mar-May 45 23 Fridley, 22 SLP Pickleball Ladder League Ages 20-35: Mar-May 21 21Fridley, 0 SLP Volleyball Coed Rec League: Jan-Mar 15teams North Metro League*: Fridley 2teams Volleyball Coed Competitive League: Jan-Mar 12teams North Metro League*: Fridley 5 individuals -Mar 15teams North Metro League*: Fridley 1 team; 3 ind) Coed Bag Toss League: Feb-Apr 9 teams North Metro League*: Fridley 3teams *North Metro Leagues are offered in cooperation with Mounds View, New Brighton, and Spring Lake Park. Parks and Recreation Brochure Content for the May/June brochure is complete. The document is being designed and will be mailed to residents during the week of April 1. 28 Jufn!5/ Moore Lake Community Building We began taking reservations for the new Moore Lake Community Building on Wednesday, March 13 and received 11 reservations the first day. The Xplor system is set up for requests to be placed online and then confirmed by staff following the request. The process is working well and the majority of reservations have been placed online. The community is excited to use the new space! Mondays at Moore Update We will have four events at Moore Lake Park this summer! They include two live music concerts, a performance by the City Band, and a Bike Rodeo in partnership with Public Safety. We are excited to utilize this beautiful space this summer! ROCKS Registration ROCKS registration opened at 8 a.m. on March 6! Within one day, our K-1 class for all 9 weeks of ROCKS was full. Grades 4-6 class is currently full, and we are 98.5% full for the grades 2-3 class. The online registration system worked really well and we received positive feedback from participants and very few calls from people needing assistance. We look forward to a fun summer of ROCKS! Community Concert Series Update All bands have been booked for our summer concert series at Civic Campus and Springbrook Nature Center! Food trucks have also been booked for the Civic Campus events, and we have specialist, and will also highlight the edible gardens located next to the orchard. Locke Park Scavenger Hunt We were excited to use Locke Park for our annual scavenger hunt! Participants at this event were given a clue sheet to help them find the secret codes scattered throughout the park. When they found all of the codes they won a Fridley water bottle. Locke park is a great location for this program. 29 Jufn!5/ After-School & Preschool Classes Our after-school classes are in full swing! New classes started the last week of February and include Painting and Sports of All Sorts. Our painting class filled up right away, and we hope to offer more arts and crafts classes in the future. Winter Volleyball Our Winter indoor volleyball season concluded in March. Between 2 coed leagues North Metro Sports Group collected 42 team and 23 individual registrations! Teams played 10 weeks between the months of January March. Leagues concluded with a single elimination tournament to find the league champions. We are excited about this partnership and the opportunity it provides Fridley residents to participate in adult athletic programs! Bag Toss League The North Metro Bag Toss League began this March. We have moved the location of this league to the Mounds View Community Center to allow the league to run earlier in the evening as there were availability restrictions with Hayes Gym. Returning and new teams have registered for the spring season and we are excited for the continued growth of the program. Hiring Update Our Recreation Internship position received 11 applicants and offers have been accepted by two candidates. Our Seasonal Recreation Instructor position has 12 staff returning, and we received a total of 30 new applications through our job posting. Twenty of those were interviewed at Fridley High School as part of the partnership with Mr. Kiefer and the Get Ready Program, and 10 were interviewed here at City Hall. We hope to have job offers out the first week of April! Commons Park A grant application has been prepared for submission on th March 29 to the DNR Outdoor Recreation program for matching funds of $350,000 for the Commons Park splash pad. A series of stakeholder meetings have been held with community groups to discuss needs for athletic fields and HCM Architects have been brought on board to design the recreation builidng component of the project. 2: Jufn!6/ AGENDA REPORT Meeting Date:April 1, 2024 Meeting Type:Parks and RecreationCommission Submitted By:Jeff Jensen, Operations Manager Streets, Parks, and Facilities Title Park Maintenance and Construction Report Background Attached is the Park Maintenance and Construction report forthe April 1, 2024 meeting. Financial Impact None. Recommendation None. Attachments and Other Resources Park Maintenance Report for April 1, 2024 meeting Vision Statement We believe Fridley will be a safe, vibrant, friendly and stable home for families and businesses. 31 Jufn!6/ Memorandum Date:03/20/24 To:Mike Maher, Parks and Recreation Director From:Jeff Jensen, Operations Manager, Streets, Parks, Facilities DEPT:Public Works CC:Margo Numedahl, Parksand Recreation Manager RE:Parks and Recreation Commission Report for April 8th, 2024Meeting The Park Maintenance Divisionhas beendoing work at Moore Lake Park including assembling, and installing benches and tables, putting out all garbage and recycle cans, prepping for concrete work for bench pads, cleaning and prepping building for rentals and clearing brush and trees from the northern wooded section of park. Last winterwe assembled and installed benches and tablesand garbage at neighborhood parks. Work is being done on all parks with clean-up and installing all tennis and pickleball nets. We will be starting on replacing border at the volleyball courts at Moore Lake Park as well. We are in the process of hiring our seasonal staff and things are looking better than seasons in the past. Maintenance demands are going to be significantly higher this summer adding the new Moore Lake Park building and Locke Park restrooms for cleaning, general park maintenance and rental prep. 32 Jufn!6/ . 33