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HomeMy WebLinkAbout4.A. Acceptance of Community Built Playground Donation, Res. No. 6315 'ff}, CITY OF SHAKOPEE MEMORANDUM 'To: Mayor and City Council Mark McNeill, City Administrator From: Mark Themig, Parks, Recreation and Facilities Director Meeting Date: October 18, 2005 Subject: Acceptance of Community Built Playground Donation, Resolution No. 6315 INTRODUCTION City Council is asked to adopt Resolution No. 6315, A Resolution of the City of Shakopee,Minnesota, Accepting Donation of A Playground from the Shakopee Community Built Playground Committee. BACKGROUND AND DISCUSSION City Council is asked to authorize acceptance of the Community Built Playground, which was authorized'for construction at Huber Park on August 3,2005. The playground is the outcome of several years of work by the Community Built Playground Committee, which is chaired by Dee Joos and Corky Mars. The playground was designed by Leathers and Associates in October 2004 with ideas from 3,000 Shakopee elementary school students. The committee worked tirelessly over the past year to raise over $190,000 in cash donations for materials, and countless in-kind donations of time, equipment, and food. Over 700 volunteers participated in the build, which began on October 3 and reached substantial completion on October 16. The City's Public Works department also contributed valuable time and equipment to prepare the site for the build, and should be commended for their work. Loss Control and Safety Inspection The playground opening is scheduled for this Saturday. Prior to use of any playground, it is important to ensure that it is safe. Today, Andrea Weber and I conducted a loss control inspection with Loss Control Specialist Bernie Szczesniak from the League of Minnesota Cities. Mr. Szczesniak was pleased with the quality of the playground and the surfacing material that was used. His recommendations primarily focused on verifying that the playground and its components are designed and constructed to playground safety standards. In addition, he is verifying the League's position on two spring rocking horses in the playground. In order to verify safety standards, Ms. Weber and I performed a safety auditof the playground based on the National. Safety Playground Institute's playground safety audit. (We are both certified playground inspectors.) This inspection checks for possible entrapment, impalement, and strangulation hazards, and verifies that the playground is constructed to playground safety standards for clearance zones, surfacing material, and heights. Our inspection identified approximately 12 corrections that need to be made before the playground can be opened. All the corrections relatively minor and will be completed this week and reinspected before the opening. Once the playground is open for use, it will be added to the City's weekly playground inspection program that Public Works has developed. There may be some additional work that the Committee will continue on, such as routing additional pickets and painting portions of the playground. REQUESTED ACTION If City Council concurs, it should, by motion adopt Resolution No. 6315, A Resolution of the City of Shakopee, Minnesota, Accepting Donation of A Playground from the Shakopee Community Built Playground Committee. RESOLUTION NO. 6315 A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY OF SHAKOPEE, MINNESOTA ACCEPTING DONATION OF A PLAYGROUND FROM THE SHAKOPEE COMMUNITY BUILT PLAYGROUND COMMITTEE WHEREAS, Resolution No 5794 specifies that donations of real property shall be accepted by resolution of the City Council, and shall require a two-thirds majority of the Council for acceptance; and WHEREAS, on September 21,2004, the City Council approved a concept plan for Huber Riverfront Park that provided space for a future community built playground; and WHEREAS, the Shakopee Community Built Playground Committee formed in 2004 to begin work on a community funded and volunteer built playground; and WHEREAS, on October 28, 2004, over 3,000 Shakopee elementary school students provided ideas for the playground design; and WHEREAS, the design reflects the many valued characteristics that makes Shakopee truly a unique place to live, work, and play; and WHEREAS, the Community Built Playground Committee worked tirelessly to raise over $190,000 for the playground and received donations from nearly 70 businesses and individuals inShakopee and the surrounding area; and WHEREAS, over 700 volunteers participated in the playground build from October 3 through October 16; and WHEREAS, the City's Public Works department contributed valuable time and equipment to prepare the site for the playground build; and WHEREAS, on August 3, 2005, the City Council authorized construction of the playground; and WHEREAS, the residents of Shakopee will have a truly unique playground that will provide play and exploration opportunities for years to come. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SHAKOPEE, MINNESOTA, that the donation of a Playground from the Shakop~e Community Built Playground Committee is gratefully accepted; and FURTHER, the City and its residents are grateful to the work of the Community Built Playground Committee and the many volunteers and sponsors that worked together to build a playground for the benefit of all of Shakopee's residents. FURTHER, the City staff is directed to send a letter to the Committee, acknowledging receipt of the gift and expressing the appreciation of the City Council. Adopted in adjourned regular session of the City Council of the City of Shakopee, Minnesota, held this 18th Day of October, 2005. John J. Schmitt Mayor of the City of Shakopee ATTEST: Judith Cox City Clerk