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11-06-1985 Special ~..~ \ f (.) ~ ~. CITY OF EDGEWATER PARKS AND RECREATION BOARD NOVEMBER 6, 1985 7:00 p.m. SPECIAL MEETING MINUTES The Chairman called the special meeting to order at 7:00 p.m. in the Chambers of City Hall. ROLL CALL Members present were: Messrs. Jones, Sheridan and Montgomery. Mrs. Curry was excused. Mrs. Gilchrist has resigned. Also present: Mr. Dave Garrett, Parks and Recreation Director; Mr. Sidney Corhern, Architect; Mr. Jack 'Corder; Mr. Frank Opal. Mr. JOnes announced this sp~cial meeting was called as, at the last meeting, it was decided to get on with the Umbrella Tree Park development. He also stated Mrs. Gilchrist was to have prepared a sketch of some sort but since she is resigning, we will have to get something constructive started. A discussion was started on securing playground equipment but Mr. Sheridan asked when they were goinv, to clear the land first, and Mr. Garrett answered DaveMcCa~lister is supposed to get started the next week or so, and Mr. Copeland is going to start the filling. Mr. Sheridan stated the Council had asked him when we are getting started on this Park and Mr. Jones suggested we send a letter to Council showing what we want in the Park and then Council could urge Mr. Copeland to go ahead and get the landfill started. Mr. Sheridan suggested we have h~d the land surveyed, we have the plat, it should be cleared and filled, determine what trees can be saved, then start with the playground equipment. Mr. Montgomery added we will have to have approval of Council no matter what we plan. Mr. Jones stated if we had a sketch tonight, which we thoughtwe would have to show the placement of various ideas, it throws us back a little. Mr. Jones then suggested we could sketch a plan of some sort on the plat we have here tonight, and asked for any ideas. Mr. Montgomery then started off with a half-basketball court; (; the dimensions are 40 x 40 and should be placed where the sun would not get in the eyes. Mr. Jones said we could then secure some playground equipment, a swing set, perhaps a section where we could add on in the future. Mr. Sheridan said to keep in mind this is the first park this Board is going to help develop and this is the one the rest are going to be judged by.. Mr. Montgomery stated we could put any size swing set, sliding board, circular or spiral. Mr. Garrett stated what is basically needed is a plan to Council showing what is going in there; playground equipment, shuffleboard, tennis, basketball, whatever. Mr. Montgomery suggested Council may be happy knowing we want a half-basketball court 40 x 40; a set of swings, perhaps four; a little tot-lot consisting of three spring animals; ,a teeter-totter; a sliding board; a couple tables; a norseshoe'pit, arld,:list them all. He suggested Council may want to go out and change it, but this is what we would like to put on there, a little bit for everybody. Mr. Jones then stated the two lots next to Umbrella Tree Park are for sale. Mr. GarrEtt, said $6,500 for those two lots. Mr. Jones also said the property at Twelfth Street and Fifteenth would make a bigger area to plan, but we should wait and work on what we have. . ~ ~ ~ After a discussion as to the amount of fill needed, etc., Mr. Jones suggested we list what we want and what areas they will be placed and asked the secretary to read back what they had suggested, which listed: a half-basketball court 40x40; a set of swings which can be added on to later, and Mr. Sheridan asked what size, with Mr. Montgomery answering about a 20 x 30 area; a tot-lot with about 3 spring animals, taking up about 16 x 8; a teeter-totter, taking about 8 x 16; a sliding board which could be placed along side the swings. There was a discussion regarding a new slide of fiberglass as aluminum gets too hot. It was brought up ~he swings would take about 7x,23. The secretary then read from the suggested list a horse shoe pit about 6x46, includes boxes, and the last thing on the list was tables and benches, about four sets, along with two grills, two tables to one grill. Mr. Sheridan then introduced Mr.Sidney Corhern to the Board, stating he is an architect with a very good background in park development. Mr. Jones thanked him for coming down and stated we appreciate the help. Mr. Sheridan explained to Mr. Corhern the lots we are planning, that is, four lots at 16th Street. Mr. Jones explained the list we have at this time, including future plans for frisbee playing, etc. Mr. Sheridan asked if there would be fencing around the basketball court and Mr. Garrett said we probably should have some fencing there. Mr. Jones also suggested posts be put in the front every so many feet to keep cars from going into the park right at the basketball courts. Mr. Sheridan also suggested leaving a space large enough to have a truck pass through and put a chain across. Mr. Montgomery suggested bike racks five feet long would hold eight bikes, about 4x15, the extra holding around fifteen bikes. A discussion followed as to the cost of bike racks from the catalogue, and any other costs are to be discussed later on. Mr. Corhern gave some excellent ideas for separating tot areas, putting basketball area off to the side, and the placement of picnic tables off to the side of certain areas. Mr. Sheridan stated we do/want to consider landscaping and Mr. Corhern stated you could have a lot of grass and plants that have to be maintained daily, or deal with a series of sand areas which are very good for children who will not be hurt if they fall. Mr. Jones said low mainteance would be best at this time. Mr. Corhern stated this is a prototype park, a very important park, a key park, and must be done properly. Mr. Sheridan stated this is going to be a model, and Mr. Jones answered absolutely, we have the ideas and could use Mr. Corhern's help in catagorizing the areas. Mr. Jones then suggested we send a memo to the Mayor and Council and asked Mr. Sheridan if he would present it at Council's meeting the next day. Mr. Sheridan said he would since Mr. Garrett cannot make it. Mr. Jones then asked Mr. Corhern to help in listing the various activities. Mr. Jones then suggested Council be asked to set this all in motion at once by having the land cleared and filled after presenting our plans. Mr. Corhern asked the secretary for the list the Board hID compiled and stated he would work with it and have a schematic design ready to present to Council before 1:30 the next afternoon. Mr. Corhern also asked what kind of a budget the Board had and Mr. Sheridan asked Mr. Garrett who stated it will come out of the recreation impact fee. Mr. Corhern stated he had spoken to someone who informed him Magnuson Corporation were to talk with the Board and the City about possbily donating some lots for parks, which again emphasis the importance of doing a good ,job here. Parks and Recreation Board November 6, 1985 Minutes Special Meeting -2- .. . ., # .; ~ ~ Mr. Jones then asked for ideas in drafting a letter to the Mayor and Council and the Board agreed with Mr. Sheridan suggesting "In compliance with the request of the Mayor and City Council we are submitting a schematic design of activities for Umbrella Tree Park". A discussion then followed as to various costs of equipment and Mr. Corhern said to keep in mind this is to be a model park, and not too cut ourselves too short. He also added to try and get the maximum in the beginning; to tpy~_and'..:bUild a very nice, low maintenance park, and it will be successful from all sides. He believes the people will like it, the City will like it, and Mr. Sheridan added the people in that area are very, very anxious, as there are close to forty children living in that area. Mr. Corhern stated he had studied the population figures and approximately 130 to 150 new kids coming into the schools eaeh year with about 80% coming to Florida Shores. Mr. Corhern also added the public should be made aware this is not a park just for children, but for everyone. Mr. Jones then asked if we can't go on to Roberts Road plans. Mr. Garrett stated briefly that he and Mr.Corder ahd worked up a scale model, including tennis courts, racquet ball courts, swimming pool, an all-purpose gym, parking, pavillions, some rest .rooms. Mr. Corder stated this project is a large area and not a small, one year project, that there is a large project here that has to be laid out for years to accommodate a swimming pool ,and an all-purpose gymnasium~: He would s~ggest when it is cleared we get an idea of what goes where, so that nothing is destroyed of natural beauty. Mr. Corhern stated this is speaking of a master plan, and he would go a little further and plan for tennis courts, racquetball courts, shuffleboaord courts. Mr. Garrett stated what we need right now is tennis courts and racquet ball courts. A discussion followed as to shuffleboard leagues, etc. and that Edgewater's shuffleboard court seems to be the meeting place. Mr. Montgomery told of a development in West Virginia where there is one stretch on 79 where the high school, then the football field, tennis courts, swimming pool and then. the baseball field is really laid out nicely. The Board all agreed a gymnasium would be nice as there is nothing here in Edgewater at this time except County owned ones which cannot be used at just any time. A discussion then followed as to various activities such as fitness trails, bike. paths, hiking trails, tennis court and handball court, some shelters and picnic tables and a few grills. Mr. Corhern suggested the cheapest way is to get it opened up first then start to put in activities. Mr. Sheridan stated that by 1988 every County and City s going to have to have a Comprehensive Plan, and that I s going to include parks and recreation. Mr. Corhern suggested the land be cleared now that is open and plant it, then come back and plan the areas. A discussion followed as to the various activites the Board would like to present and it was decided to send a memo to the Mayor and Council, st at ing "What we would like to do immediately is as follows: 1) tennis and racquetball courts 2) rest room facilities 3) shelters, tables and grills 4) full cour~ basketball court 5) clear all existing open spaces. A discussion of access roads followed and Mr.Corder stated a road could be brought right in through activities and Mr. Jones suggested having parking at each end and walk into the park. Park~ and Recreation Board November 6, 1985 Minutes Special Meeting -3- . ., , . . , .' ~ u Another discussion followed as to what should be developed first and Mr. Jones asked what is in the impact fee, if it is over $100,000, and Mr. Sheridan stated $18,000 has been taken out and we are figuring on another $35,000 to $40,000; so according to that we will have about $42,000 to work with. Mr. Sheridan did state if we need more money all we have to do is go to Council and ask for it, as it is in the general fund and is earmarked for parks and recreation. Mr. Jones stated that the above figures do not include Umbrella Tree Park, either. Mr. Montgomery expressed an idea which had been proven useful where the community got together and donated a baseball park, the power company set the light poles, they even had dugouts. Mr. Sheridan stated trying to get public participation is very difficult. Mr. Corhern stated the question of lighting for the tennis and racquetball courts should be discussed and Mr. Sheridan stated perhaps they could be used in the beginning just in daylight and then work out long range plans which could include lighting. Mr. Jones thanked Mr. Corhern for appearing at the Board meeting. Mr. Montgomery then made a motion to adjourn the meeting, seconded by Mr. Sheridan. The meeting was then adjourned at 8:40 p.m. Minutes prepared by Dorothy C. Garrity Parks and Recreation Board November 6, 1985 Minutes Special Meeting. -4-