Posted: 5/21/03

Capital improvement plan signals change at FL parks

Jessica Foster
Staff Writer

As summer changes into fall, residents will see marked improvements in Forest Lake parks.

The Forest Lake City Council recently approved the park boardís 2003 capital improvement plan.

The plan, which comes with a price tag of more than $230,000 of improvements will be funded from parkland donation fees.

Funds will be used for site furnishings, equipment, shelters, signage and other miscellaneous items.

Park Coordinator Stacy Pearson and the park board created the plan in an attempt to map out the changes for the next year.

Several changes will be made at Lakeside Park. In the midst of a downtown development project, the park has been affected by the construction of The Plaza, Park Place and future developments.

To steer changes, a master plan is being completed, with consulting fees budgeted at $10,000. The budget calls for $15,000 in landscaping, $50,000 for site furnishings and shelter and $45,000 for a playground, later to be offset by the Forest Lake Lions.

ìThe master plan helps us to coordinate so the right hand knows what the left hand is doing,î Pearson said.

Plans include turning the swale created by construction into a water feature flanked with rose bushes and red barberryóprickly scrubs to keep children at bay.

ìIt will be modeled after Maplewoodís water pond model,î Pearson said.

Also at Lakeside Park, landscaping will be redone around the beach house and the gazebo.

Tables at Lakeside Park will be relocated to other parks in the city and replaced with maintenance free plastic vandal resistant tables. Trash cans also will be replaced and permanently mounted in the ground on a post.

ìTheyíre a wood slatted design with dome lids to deter bees and raccoons,î Pearson said.

Like the tables, the trash receptacles will be maintenance free.

ìEvery step of the way weíre minimizing maintenance,î Pearson said.

The Lions shelter, often used for birthday parties and picnics, will be removed and replaced by a new shelter. The budget has enough funds for a second shelter, if the master plan considers it necessary.

ìWe hope to start on Lakeside Park soon,î Pearson said.

The Forest Lake Lions Club has submitted a proposal to provide a new, safe playground.

The swing sets now in place will be removed. The boat play structure on the beach will stay and be revamped with a $6000 face lift. The $6000 is not coming from city funds, however. The parts are coming from a program with the manufacturer.

And starting on the park will involve the community. All of the tables and trash receptacles will need to be assembled. Pearson said she is looking for volunteer labor from service groups to assist in the assembly.

ìWhat weíre trying to do is tap into community service organizations,î Pearson said.

Working with community members and community organizations is beneficial to the city, Pearson said.

Itís about being able to do more with less.

ìIf you tap into someoneís passion they will give you far more than youíd ask,î Pearson said.

For information about getting involved, call Stacy Pearson at 651-464-3550.

Ice rink

The outdoor ice rinks near the blue water tower will be revamped from the ground up. With a $26,000 price sticker, the rinks will be outfitted with new, interlocking plastic ìboardsî and a sand base to alleviate the flooding which has plagued the area. With talk of a community center on the airport land, the rink would be able to move, since the boards go together like Legos.

ìWeíre going to grade and base, add maybe granular fill and clay to build it up a bit,î Pearson said.

The rink also will be bermed.

Shields Lake

The Forest Lake Rotary is planning to make $10,000 of improvements to Shieldís Lake, including a fishing pier. Some of the tables from Lakeside Park will be relocated to Shields lake. The city has budgeted $8000 for the project.

Summerfield Devt.

The Landings at Summerfield Development will feature a park used not only by residents of Summerfield, but neighboring developments as well. In addition to the furnishings provided by Bruggeman Development, the builder, the city is using parkland money from neighboring developments to enhance the facility.

Plans for the park include a maintenance free gazebo, picnic areas with grills, tables and trash cans. While the city is footing the $22,000 bill through park dedication monies, the developer has agreed to handle the installation.

Other plans

Also included in the Capital Improvement Plan are:

ï 11 park signs totaling $28,000. The signs will be made by a vendor and installed by city staff.

ï 70 two color banners to flank US-61 and Broadway at $5000. The design has not been selected and a hanging date is unknown.

ï $1968 for grills at various parks and $3800 for 11 trash cans at various parks.

Big plans?

With a price tag of nearly a quarter million dollars and projects planned throughout the city, some may speculate whether the park board bit off more than the community can chew in one fiscally-tight year.

Pearson disagrees.

ìWe still are leaving a very healthy balance,î she said. ìThis is not taxpayer dollars. We canít use parkland donations for operating expenses.î

Money for the improvements comes from park dedication fees. When developers build in this community, they have to give either land or the equivalent in cash. The parkland donations balance, before any of the above dollars are spent, is $429,151.

The balance, after the improvements are paid for, will be $194,383. That figure includes $50,000 earmarked for FLAAA projects, leaving the available balance at $144,383 after all is spent.

However, the above figure does not include this yearís projected parkland revenues, estimated at $600,000.

ìItís really, I think a very frugal plan and in the long run it reduces taxpayerís cost,î Pearson added.

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