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HomeMy WebLinkAbout3.A. Overview of Recent PRAB Discussions 3. A CITY OF SHAKOPEE MEMORANDUM To: Mayor and City Council Shakopee Parks and Recreation Advisory Board Mark McNeill, City Administrator From: Jamie Polley, Parks, Recreation and Natural Resources Director Date: July 10, 2012 Subject: Overview of Recent PRAB Discussions INTRODUCTION The Parks and Recreation Advisory Board is asked to provide the City Council with an overview of the recent discussions of the PRAB pertaining to field usage, potential projects and park development. BACKGROUND AND DISCUSSION Field Usage and Potential Projects: Beginning in February of 2012 the PRAB began discussing park projects for 2012. They evaluated the needs of the City and the Youth Affiliated Sports Associations. The City currently has eleven City affiliated youth athletic associations. Each year the associations grow in participation and with the increase in participation come a high demand for indoor and outdoor facility space. The joint powers agreement between the City and the school district provides the City the ability to use the district facilities and vice versa. However, with the high level of use in many of the facilities use is limited. Over the past two years the City has been approached by four (football, soccer, baseball and lacrosse) of our six outdoor youth athletic associations for the need for more facility space. When the 2030 Comp Plan was completed in 2007, it anticipated the need for an additional seven ballfields, four football fields, nine soccer fields and four lacrosse fields by 2030. Since 2007, there have been 2 ballfields (Jackson Elementary and Green Meadows Park)and one combined natural turf field (will accommodate soccer, football or lacrosse) constructed (Green Meadows Park). The Park Reserve CIP has identifies the development and enhancement of City facilities. With the slowdown in development we have been very careful of the projects we schedule each year. Many projects are scheduled for 2015 or beyond. The PRAB chose to consider the City owned parkland that has not yet been established and does not have a definite plan for development. The parkland included: 1) Shutrop Park 2) Tahpah West 3) 17 Avenue Sports Complex 4) Sr. High School Site Shutrop Park This 52 acre of undeveloped parkland is located on the north side of Eagle Creek Boulevard. Only the most southern part of the property would be able to be developed due to the bluff line that runs through the property. This park is listed in our current CIP as a future unfunded park. There is no master plan for this property. Tahpah West This parcel is located directly adjacent to the west side of Tahpah Park. The area was originally intended for two baseball fields. The area was rough graded when the western parking lot was constructed. This park is listed in the current CIP as a 2015/2016 project funded by the park reserve /donations and grants. Staff did roughly measure the area and there is room for the two baseball fields or two football /lacrosse fields. Shakopee Youth Baseball Association and the Shakopee Football Association have submitted proposals for this parcel to be used for their purposes. 17 Avenue Sports Complex This 40 acre park was completed in 2007. This park is predominantly scheduled as a soccer facility. There is potential for 7 full size soccer fields. The facility is currently scheduled as four full size fields, two U11/12 fields, four U9/10 fields and also 12 small sided fields. The park was designed and built to include the lighting fields 1 & 2 in the future. Sr. High Site This site is the Northeast corner of the existing Sr. High School. There have been initial discussions on the future use of the land and how it could be developed into fields for football /soccer and lacrosse. This site would require a joint financial venture between the School District and the City. The first three sites listed have varies levels of additional fields that would help us move forward in meeting the 2030 Comp Plan. Below is a table of the Pros and Cons of each site. Site PROS CONS Shutrop Park • Large Community Park on • No infrastructure present eastern side of town. • Not funded until 2016 or • Could be developed into later. several play fields and amenities. Tahpah West • Adjacent to developed park • Space would work for • No need for additional baseball or parking (regular events only) football /lacrosse /soccer but • Park already has lighted fields not all four. • Majority of football programs • Large tournaments would are scheduled at Tahpah. lose this area for overflow • Can fit 2 turf fields that can parking. be used for three • Concession and /or associations. bathrooms facilities may • Can fit 2 baseball fields. need to be constructed. • Ability to connect to existing irrigation system and extend to new fields. 17 Avenue Sports Complex • Lighting infrastructure was • Increases the number of planned and conduit installed users on the field. when park shelter was • Fields would be used from constructed. April — November. No rest • Multiple sports would utilize time. the sports complex as • Does not increase the intended. number of playing fields. • Large parking area, • Possible require installation concession stand and of artificial turf in high traffic bathrooms areas • Possible need for artificial turf installation at a high cost. Artificial Turf Many communities are moving forward with the construction of artificial turf fields that can be used for multiple sports during the same season. Staff had done some initial research on artificial turf fields. If the 17 Avenue Sports Complex undergoes a lighting project and thus the increase of traffic on the fields, could warrant the installation of artificial turf on parts of the playing surface or the entire two fields. Further study on natural turf and artificial turf would need to be completed. On March 26, 2012 the outdoor youth sports associations presented to the Advisory Board their current numbers, project growth, current facility uses, current facility needs and future facility needs. A summary of each association's presentation is below: Football: • Need for lighted fields for their travel /tackle programs • Growth has doubled since 2009 with the addition of the 1st grade and 7th /8th grade program. • Concerns with parking at Tahpah West if developed. • Potentially has $80,000 towards funding. Baseball: • Need for intermediate specialized fields (grass infield, pitching mounds and 75' bases) • Steady growth based on community growth • Ideal location for additional fields is Tahpah West • Interested in converting existing fields if possible • Have helped fund multiple improvements in the past and would be willing to assist now Soccer: • Need for additional fields • Steady growth base on community growth • Potentially have $100,000 towards funding • Current field use is very heavy. Tennis: • Very unique proposal for an indoor 8 court tennis facility. • Desired location is Shutrop Park and would like to lease land from the City. • The Association would fund the construction and operations of the facility. • Are currently working on a business plan. • Proposed indoor facility would be the only one in this area. Closest one is in Minnetonka. Lacrosse: • New program in the last two years. • Will be adding a youth component this summer. • Need for additional fields (fields are very large and get beat up) Softball: • Interested in City partnering with the association and school district to light two of the Vierling fields. It was determined that Tahpah West and Shutrop Park sites can accommodate two fields (ball fields, grass turf or combination). The high school site can roughly fit three large grass turf fields north of the driveway and two large grass turf fields to the south of the driveway (the south area currently has a skinned ball field that would remain). The PRAB held a work session on Monday, April 16, 2012 to discuss in depth the properties available, the association's needs and which needs are more immediate. After much discussion the PRAB felt that; • fields 1 and 2 at the 17 Avenue Sports Complex should be lit and football should be worked into the use of these two fields in the fall • Tahpah Park should include one or two future ball fields • The City should work jointly with the School District to develop additional grass turf fields (possibly lit) at the high school site. On June 19 the City Council approved the lighting of the two fields at the 17 Avenue Sports Complex. The project is scheduled to be complete by August 1 prior to the start of football season. Staff is currently communicating with the school district on the process to complete a joint project. In addition, the PRAB discussed the use of Shutrop Park and were intrigued by the tennis association's proposal (a copy of their proposal is attached). The board held a work session with the Tennis Association on May 21, 2012 where they obtained more information regarding the facility, the business plan and time frame needed to get the project complete. The PRAB agreed to give the Tennis Association some time to further research the facility and the business plan. If the Tennis Association feels the facility can still be successful upon further research they will bring the proposal back to the PRAB and City Council for support of the concept. They then plan to hire a professional consultant to double check that their business plan is realistic. Park Development: On May 21, 2012 the PRAB and the EAC held a joint meeting to discuss the development of Parcel 75. Staff proposed the attached plan for Parcel 75 that included a dog park, parking area, trails, hockey rink and allocated the spot for the future 3rd fire station. After extensive discussion the two boards voted 8 -3 to recommend the proposed plan to the City Council with the changes of moving the hockey rink to the south side of Southbridge Parkway and reducing the parking lot to minimize impact. The two boards then voted 6 -5 to have staff obtain quotes to complete an Environmental Impact Review of the proposed development plans on the native species prior to recommending the plan to the City Council. The Environmental Impact Review will cover the following items: 1. Determine the quality of the native plants currently found on the site. 2. Evaluate the environmental impacts of the proposed uses on the native plants. 3. Compare the environmental impacts of different trail surfacing (gravel, paved, wood chipped) for the site. 4. Determine the presence of the rare species or species of concern on the site. 5. Determine the presence of wildlife on the site. 6. Evaluate the environmental impact of the proposed use on the wildlife including the rare species or species of concern (i.e. habitat, connectivity to other natural areas, etc.). The EAC will be reviewing the quotes on July 11, 2012 to determine if they want to recommend that the natural resources budget fund the study. REQUESTED ACTION The City Council is asked to provide staff and the Parks and Recreation Advisory Board with feedback on the projects that the PRAB has been discussing as listed in the memo.