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03-25-85 Parks Advisory Committee MinutesMarch 25, 1985 PARKS ADVISORY COMMITTEE 7:30 P.M. Chairman Manning and Councilmen Nystul and Schindler present. Also in attendance were DPW Hammer, Peiter Drent, Gail Downey, Lillian Topp, Dave Downey, Gary Sakahara, Larry Schulz, Lil Laidlaw, Phil Dahl, Jerry Jones, Dale Haarr, Brad Walterskirchen, Pat Gyrion, Tim Gard, Richard Kuhl, Tom Smith, Duane Morast, Danny Bolls, and Roger Hopkins, reporter from the Daily Interlake. Chairman Manning called the meeting to order. CIVIC CENTER PROPOSAL Tim Gard, representing Flathead Recreation Association and the Class of 72 presented a plan for a multi -purpose covered structure 100' x 200' with the possibility of enclosing it at a later date. He indicated innumerable possibilities for use covering sports, civic, recreation, and all age groups. Having a Legion field in connection with the center was a possibility. Location is a problem at this point. Mr. Gard indicated there is $50,000.00 available from the Teen Center and there is access to other funds. The center would stress youth, nominal fees, and availability. There was some discussion of location requisites, city needs and combining this project with ballfields. Cost sharing with another group would be an option. C. Manning indicated that specifics about the structure are premature at this point and said he would take the proposal to the Parks Committee and will work with Flathead Recreation Association in conjunction with city lands. BASEBALL Nine proposals (of 12 to 160 acres) have come in response to ads in the paper requesting land available within or close to the city. Discussion of Griffin Field included support sources for a new facility, the figuring of fair market value and the sale of the field or problems if it doesn't sell, replacement and/or salvaging of the physical plant. C. Manning indicated that Haven Field would revert back to park land if baseball was moved, and he was against selling Haven to finance a complex elsewhere. Pieter Drent proposed smaller and more areas rather than one large complex and indicated Parks would accept proposals for land for one more week. Jerry Jones (Flathead County Parks and Recreation) reported on the multiple -use concept at Conrad Complex and indicated that congestion was a severe problem at certain times. Also there are conflicts of interest in mixing different age groups. He recommended using available areas to keep compatible groups together, and therefore also spreading out the traffic. . C. Manning indicated using in-house sites could stretch dollars toward facilities. r March 25, 1985 PARKS ADVISORY COMMITTEE Page 2 SOFTBALL Discussion of trading property with Peterson School (3.3 acres) for 9 acres elsewhere with the possibility of 4 fields on the new site. LAWRENCE PARK C. Manning gave a basic overview of considerations at this point: Golf Association proposal for south of Old Lawrence Park, City Council desires that Lawrence Park area not have the hi -density use of baseball, and city use concerns (dumping of snow and leaves and some fill, compost, gravel use which saves the city a considerable amount each year.) Gail Downey, representing several environmental groups presented a proposal for the development of Lawrence Park representing a multi -use, family oriented park, utilizing the largest remaining open city -owned land within the Kalispell city limits. The proposal includes a picnic area containing a picnic pavillion, playground equipment, and horseshoe pits, informal play -fields, interpretive nature trails, two access points into the park, wheelchair accessible paths, limiting of vehicular access into Old Lawrence Park, and jogging trails and tennis courts. Realizing that funding may be available only over a period of years the project is divided up into six stages, offering a useful and attractive park at each stage. Downey indicated the possibility of funding through both Bureau of Outdoor Recreation and coal tax money. Volunteer labor for development has also been offered. Downey also offered a background document Wildlife Values is at Lawrence Park, prepared by Daniel Casey and Craig Hess, Flathead Audubon Society, and a detailed map of the area showing the proposed stages of development. Questions and discussion included the following points: -Question about present city line. Wilkin land that has been offered to the Golf Association included in proposal (Haarr) -Can this park be maintained? City would maintain. This would take some of the over -use off Woodland Park. -Questions concerning roads and accessablity to Old Lawrence Park if the golf course goes in. -Concern that public land should be available for public use. Discussion of "public use" of golf course lands. -Golf course has lease on that piece of ground (Tom Smith, representative of Golf Asso.) DPW Hammer disagreed. -Golf course makes improvements at no cost toi.the city, which improvements then belong to the city (Smith). Membership is willing to pay for improvements. -C. Manning reaffirmed that compatability is the aim and that we need to look at it from a NEED view rather than simply specific sites. -Is there a time limit? This group is to have a recommendation for Parks Committee at 4:00 P.M. Wednesday, March 27, who then must recommend to City Council on Monday, April 1. The new proposal will be • considered. (Manning) -What is the best long-range use of the land- golf course or multiple use? -Stage 1 of the Downey proposal could be done in-house in one season, could get figures for doing one phase per year (DPW Hammer). r ' March 25, 1985 PARKS ADVISORY COMMITTEE • Page 3 -What about replacement of city use of the land? At what cost? (Manning) -Consideration of how much extra income golf course will draw to city. (J.. Jones) -Use of open'parkland in area (Leisure Island, Lone Pine, Heron Park) should be considered. -Economic advantages of both golf course and parks and sports discussed considering both residents and tourists. -Security problem at Lawrence Park: decent access and day use only would improve security. -Consideration of golf course saturation point. Another 9 holes would provide essentially 3 courses, approximately 1/3 more in revenue. -Present amount of city land in use: Golf course - 180 acres, Parks - 180 acres. -Army Corps of Engineers: Can golf course proposal even be done? Discussion of meeting criteria. C. Manning said a resolution of intent to lease listing conditions (including permit from Corps) would be possible answer. -Parks Department and Community Development developing check list for change of use or access of land. Would provide system of review of all lands. (Manning) -Consideration that the golf course should contribute tocther areas of need the value of Lawrence Park land leased to them, in order to fulfill . the needs of other users. Golf Association indicated they don't want to BUY land. -How to make the decision? 1) Councilmen here to represent people (Haarr) 2) Philosophy of city for future being decided and the people should be allowed to make this decision (S. Schindler, Downey) -Can the two proposals work together? -Quality of life here is important. -Neighborhood concerns about large complex at Lawrence Park: lights, loudspeakers, traffic, thru-way from Whitefish Stage. -Public play fields would still need scheduling. FUTURE CONCERNS - INPUT NEEDED National Guard looking for more airport property (Losing 3-4 girls solftball fields) Land swap with District 5. Rugby -soccer needs. Chairman. Manning closed the meeting at 10:00 P.M. 0 0 Flathead Recreation Association Civic Center Proposal Members Dan Roe - - - - - - - - - - - - -- Chairman Brad Walterskirchen - - - - - - - - Treasurer Tim Gard - - - - - - - - - - - - -- Secretary All FRA members are graduates of the Class of 1972, FHS. In June of 1982 an offer in the form of a challenge was given to the Class of 1972 from the Senior Board of Trustees of the Kalispell Teen Center. The challenge was to take funds placed in their care resulting from the sale of the Teen Center and put these funds to maximum use for the youth and citizens 'of Kalispell. We contacted various agencies since 19B2 and considered several ideas very carefully. It was decided we would favor no one group or special interest, but concentrate on a plan for a multi -purpose facility withn the city of Kalispell designed for year round recreation, sports, arts and civic use. It was from this concept that the Civic Center became the focus point for our project. The concept, plans and proposal is the result of years of planning, investigation, and preparation. Basic Project Outline The Civic CenterProposal is a plan which will allow for a multi -use covered floor area which will cover 20,000 square feet. Phase 1 of the project will include the engineering labor and materials necessary to construct a 100 x 200 foot covered concrete floor with a free span steel roof. Phase 2 would provide for a total enclosed walled building that could be heated or refrigerated according to need. Activities or Events The Civic Center would allow for year round use. The facility will be able to provide a full three months of ice skating and related activities because of the roof cover. In addition we are planning fora variety of other activities in- cluding yearly fair use, tennis, dances, gymnastics, art shows, handicapped sports, meetings, basketball, flea markets, roller skating, plays, boxing, graduation exercises, car shows and just about any special event. Its use would be virtually unlimited. these services would be provided at a nominal fee for the use of the youth and aged of the Flathead Valley. Special interest groups would also pay a fee for usage. The location is as yet to be determined. A m let rn A r' • Q Lawrence Park Proposal Presented by Gail Downey, representing the Flathead Group of the Sierra Club, the Audubon Society, and Flathead Wildlife Incorporated. My name is Gail Downey and I represent the Flathead Group of the Sierra Club, the Audubon Society and Flathead Wildlife Incorporated. I would like to present a proposal for the development of Lawrence Park. I will present a map of the proposal, describe the features of the proposal and discuss several merits of the proposal. This proposal represents a mulltple-use, family oriented park, utilizing the largest remaining open city -owned land within the Kalispell city limits. The proposal includes a picnic area containing a picnic pavilion, playground equip- ment, and horseshoe pits, informal play -fields, interpretive nature trails, two access points into the park, wheel -chair accessible paths , limiting of vehicular access into Old Lawrence Park, jogging trails and tennis courts. What I have briefly described represents our ultimate vision for the development and resto ration of Lawrence Park. However, we recognize that funding for such a project may be available only over a period of years, For this reason, we propose development in a series of steps, designed such that Lawrence Park will present an attractive multiple -use open space at each stage. I wculd like to describe each stage of development we envision, and direct your attention to each feature as it appears on the map. Stage 1: Stage 1 will include the clearing, landscaping, and reseeding of the large open area, shown here. This area will contain informal play -fields, approxi- mately the size of two football fields placed side by side. -he portion of the area not containing play -fields will seeded to natural grasses and wildflowers. During this stage, the present road running just south of the large 'tank will be se,arated from the open fields either through landscaping and barking, fencing or guard-rails. Such a barrier would protect the play -fields from encroachment b: off -road vehicles. Stage 2: During Stage 2, a picnic area will be bu_lt. This area will contain picnic tables, fire grates, a playground, horse -shoe pits and restrooms. The picnic area will be located in the shaded area adjacent to the the river. Nature trails with interpretive signs will be established, -tinning between the natural area and the playfields. Backstops will be constructed in the play -fields. stage Prior to Stage 3, access to this park is limited to that from North Main. We propose to use available city land located between Whitefish Stage Road and the Stillwater River as a second access point. This access would consist of a parking area and a footbridge crossing the Stillwater River. in conjunction with the footbridge, a wheel -chair accessible trail will lead from the bridge to both the new picnic and play -field area and to Old Lawrence Park. At the point where the footbridge adjoins the path, a directional and informational sign will be placed. Also during Stage 3, a picnic pavilion will be constructed in the picnic area, to accomadate use by large groups. Sta<:e 4: -Stage 4 will include placement of a parking area in this location., and a gate to limit public vehicular access into Old Lawrence Park. The location of the gate may be determined by the City Parks Department, but we feel tliat it would be best located somewhat south of the footbridge access, to prevent car - pedestrian. conflicts. J Stage 5 After limiting of vehicular access into Old. Lawrence Park, Stage 5 will con- sist of restoration of Old Lawrence Park. The details of this restoration will be determined by the City Parks Department, but it has been suggested that this portion of the park could be restored in a manner similar to 'Woodland Park, with consideration for the historical nature of the present park. Stage 6: During Stage 6, tennis courts and jogging trails will be constructed and located in the areas indicated on the map. We believe that this proposal contains mnay positive qualities and con- siderations. Some of these aspects include: A. The use of Lawrence Park as a multiple -use, family oriented public park. B. Potential uses include picnicking, walking, jogging, cross-country skiing, bind -watching, wildlife observation, informal baseball, soccer, and soft'call, frisbee, tennis, play for children, school field trips, and enjoyment of plants and flowers. C. Usage by a wide age span, ranging from families with small children to the elderly. D. A park for the use of residents from the rapidly developing 'Whitefish Stage area. E. Development which can proceed in stages, offering a useful and attractive park at each stage. F. Two access points into Lawrence Park, without creating a "through" street and ensuing traffic problems. G. Restoration and protection of Gld Lawrence Park, historically one of Kalispell's finest parks. H. The possibility of funding through both Bureau of Outdoor Recreation and coal tax money. I. Volunteer labor for development has been offered by all three groups present- ing this proposal. J. Preservation of unique urban wildlife habitat, containing over 100 bird species and numerous wildlife species. This habitat and its species has been assessed in a report by Dan Casey and Craig hessj copies of this report are available.. I and the groups which I represent thank you for the opportunity to present this proposal and ask you to thoughtfully consider its merits. 0