[This transcript was generated automatically from audio using AI and hasn't been reviewed by a person -- it can contain mistakes, including plausible-sounding sentences that were never actually said. Treat it as a starting point, not a verbatim record.]

[0:02] Good started. Thank you for coming tonight. We have two different sessions this evening. The first one we're going to be looking at William McFarlane Park, the concept plans we have for that, and then at 7 o'clock we'll be doing the Arnold Larson Park. Tonight, I'm Lee Ego, I'm the Director of Public Works, Amy Irwin. She's the assistant to the director, James O'Reilly. He's a park superintendent, Matt Shanky.
[0:32] the administrator.
[0:35] Back in the room, again, our village president, Stephanie Brassantin,
[0:42] Kathy, and Lowe, and the other trustees here.
[0:50] And tonight, Blake from Park Architecture will be given the presentations on the concept plans.
[0:57] We're going to hold questions till the end of his presentation,
[1:00] And then we'll we'll ask questions on individual areas that you have questions on or comments.
[1:08] Not type of thing.
[1:09] So we are recording this tonight.
[1:11] So we will need you to speak into the microphone so that we get the recording properly.
[1:17] And the people online can also hear the questions and the answers.
[1:22] So Blake, you'll have to talk into the mic also.
[1:27] So without further ado, Blake from Park Architecture is here.
[1:31] Thanks, guys. I'm a bit of a walker, so this is really going to grant my style here tonight, but we'll do my best.
[1:38] Thank you for being here, so tonight we're going to start off by talking about Wayne McFarlane Park.
[1:44] As some of you are probably aware, we went through a master plan process about five years ago for this site, and that set in motion a series of dominoes that allowed us to
[1:57] make some moves into the new space on the east side, which is community park.
[2:02] Five years later, those dominoes are all now fully in motion, and we need to circle back
[2:07] and revisit this space.
[2:10] And so what we're going to go through tonight is the evolution of that concept plan from
[2:16] the version five years ago into what we're now proposing.
[2:19] This process has been informed by a lot of input from stakeholders who use this space.
[2:25] So we have engaged discussions with pretty much all of the major players in the park
[2:32] Curling, ice arena, hockey, bachi, pickleball, baseball,
[2:39] Well, it's my forgetting
[2:42] If I forgot new in the crowd I apologize, but there's been a lot of discussion over the last few months
[2:47] I'm trying to make sure that we're not leaving anyone out of the process and the next chapter fully in my silent park
[2:54] So obviously there are a few large foot prints here that jump off the page, obviously that
[3:02] occupy some of the space.
[3:04] Most of you are used to seeing this park occupied by soccer fields, which of course will
[3:10] be moving out to community park.
[3:15] So the largest foot prints that you're seeing here are those diamonds and when we had our
[3:21] discussions with baseball, it became clear that we needed more and larger diamonds to accommodate
[3:27] the community's needs. And we looked at all of the other parts within the community and
[3:34] really this was the best home for a baseball oriented facility. So what you're seeing for
[3:40] some of the oriented here, the north is plan right, so that way. So just rotate your internal
[3:47] if you will for me. Baseball Diamonds have a preferred solar orientation so they want to face
[3:56] sour north east. All right, so again north is that way so this diamond would be the preferred
[4:05] the optimal orientation followed second by a southeast orientation and that gives us the the best
[4:11] benefit for all of our players not staring into the sun when you're either pitching or
[4:20] So the three diamonds that you see here are all 290 foot from home plate to center field outfield,
[4:29] which is a very flexible size.
[4:31] It allows us to have a wide age range of use.
[4:35] We've also set up the infields for multiple length base paths,
[4:39] which again gives us flexibility to have a huge age range in use.
[4:43] It also allows for with the two 90 outfields a lot of flexible open space in those outfields.
[4:52] If we decided we wanted to have other functions in that space, the gates can be opened up and we have lots of green space.
[5:00] So currently these fields are shown with artificial turf in field, which again gives us that flexibility to change our base path, base path links.
[5:10] We did explore the option for movable outfield fencing on these diamonds and if anyone
[5:18] has played the deforest complex they have that scenario where the outfield fence is movable
[5:24] and ultimately we are not recommending that as the path to move forward. They while they
[5:30] seem great in theory they're actually hard to maneuver to store and it's not a great
[5:38] back. So we are proposing fixed out field fencing if you needed to shrink your fields for temporary
[5:44] tournaments you can do so with no fencing or other temp fence. The two south diamonds are anchored
[5:50] by a central pathway getting you from the parking back to a gathering plaza with a small
[5:56] shelter, some seating and dugouts and spectator benches. We're also showing batting cages for each diamond
[6:06] Along the west side there, the dashed dark line that runs around the entire perimeter of the park would be a new walking path.
[6:18] Part of the term community park is providing amenities for everyone in the community.
[6:23] We know that a lot of people are looking for a safe place to do laps for their circeting and their fitness loops.
[6:30] And this provides a really great opportunity to leverage some of the existing infrastructure in the park and connect all of our new proposed uses while providing that additional amenity.
[6:41] I'll talk about the North Diamond here for a second.
[6:44] The current location or current orientation is facing Southwest, which is not ideal.
[6:48] I remember I've told you North East is ideal, so that's actually opposite of what we want.
[6:53] So long term, I would like to see that third diamond actually rotate 180 degrees.
[6:59] Now, that said, if we looked at a phasing plan, that would probably be the last piece of the
[7:05] puzzle in this park because it could function the way it is.
[7:09] It could also be replaced if we determined that the two south diamonds are sufficient for
[7:16] what the community needs.
[7:18] We may re-invision that north, west corner, the park for something else.
[7:22] So, I'm going to look for some feedback from these guys over here tonight and the rest
[7:26] you on what that corner might want to be.
[7:30] Two other baseball related facilities you see here, we've shown two T-ball-sized fields, which would really be a small backstop and nothing else, to allow those spaces to function as open flexible green space, but give our T-ballers a home that they don't really have right now.
[7:50] I mentioned all the existing infrastructure within the park that we've been building out over the years, right?
[7:55] The pickleball courts got done, the skate park got done, we want to make sure that we're giving all those facilities breathing room in the access that they need while looking at our new facilities.
[8:07] So we've maintained access and actually tried to improve circulation around those facilities.
[8:13] You'll see on the west side of the courts I'm showing a new day-use area which has a playground.
[8:21] The baseball-shaped space to the north of the playground is a potential splash pad.
[8:26] There's been a lot of dialogue in the community for many years about an aquatic facility.
[8:31] While the master plan five years ago showed that northwest corner as the potential home for a large scale,
[8:38] or larger scale, I should say, pool or other aquatic facility, that still could happen. Again,
[8:44] if that time doesn't work, but right now we are showing a smaller aquatic element in the form
[8:50] of a splash pad, which we often will group with a traditional playground. So that's activated
[8:56] that space which has been or will be vacated by soccer. Still allows a fairly good size open space
[9:05] just to the west of that, as a buffer over to the west trail.
[9:13] Some of the other pieces that we know are in play, obviously the isorina has just recently
[9:18] expanded to the east out towards the marsh road, so that is reflected here with their
[9:22] new parking and their new building expansion.
[9:25] We don't anticipate any further expansion plans from them in the near term.
[9:31] Bachi has expressed interest in developing two potentially three more pitches, so that is
[9:38] shown in that yellow square that would represent two. We did explore a potential expansion
[9:46] to the west to give them one more pitch on the west but it is pretty tight once you get
[9:50] up against the skatepark and again we're trying to leave some buffer space in between some
[9:54] of these designated uses. In discussions with curling initially five years ago there was
[10:01] some desire to potentially explore expanding to the west. I think that desire has cooled
[10:07] a bit, and so we are not showing that expansion as an imminent opportunity, however, by keeping
[10:16] that that table space as flexible green space that could certainly happen in the future if
[10:22] that came to fruition.
[10:26] Again, just to stress, we are looking at a pathway to stretch all the way
[10:30] around the perimeter, and then some bisecting paths to get you to your desired locations within
[10:35] in the park from the parking spaces.
[10:40] Guys, it's table done in Miss any major elements here.
[10:47] You're ready to go.
[10:48] Okay.
[10:51] Any general questions on the concept that we're showing tonight?
[10:59] The cost is still working through that.
[11:00] I think that's going to be tied in with whatever we look at for phasing.
[11:04] We want to make sure that whatever the proposal is,
[11:07] doesn't exceed what the village has for their annual CIP
[11:11] in the parks program.
[11:13] So that'll be something we sort of go through
[11:15] we iteratively,
[11:18] to the mind, oh yeah, I'm sorry.
[11:20] I forgot to remind you.
[11:21] Thank you.
[11:21] And I'm microphone.
[11:27] You mentioned something about swimming pool that
[11:29] it's been the thought for a number of years.
[11:32] It sounds like, why not, how much more would that be?
[11:38] How much more is it?
[11:39] Yeah, how much does it cost to put in a swimming pool?
[11:42] Well, there's a huge range depending on what you want.
[11:44] Right.
[11:45] I think at a minimum, you're looking at 7 to 8 million on the low end, you know, we have a lot of experience with other pools and communities to fulfill the needs of what we're hearing for people who are interested in Aquatics, you're probably somewhere in that price range.
[12:02] You could certainly do something a lot smaller, but you know, we're hearing a request if we're going to do it.
[12:09] we want, enough lap lanes that have swim meets and swim team and all that, so that starts
[12:13] to push you into it.
[12:15] Well, what if it's just recreational instead of swim teams doing laps? I mean, you
[12:20] look at Manona pool and that's been around forever. Something like that where kids can
[12:26] just enjoy the pool instead of worrying about laps swimming or team racing and that type
[12:33] of thing.
[12:34] Yeah, it's a build manona right now would be about 7 million.
[12:37] Wow.
[12:37] Okay, how much is this splash pad,
[12:44] splash pad,
[12:46] splash pad is,
[13:19] yeah, I mean if you look at Blue Mountain State Park, for example,
[13:22] that's a great project that had a very small pool and a splash pad tied in.
[13:26] Now there's no lap lanes, it's just a shape, but yeah, that could be an option.
[13:33] Okay, does there pool, do they have lifeguards there or everything they do?
[13:38] So that would be paid by the village.
[13:39] Correct.
[13:40] Okay. And along with, I should say along with just the pool of vessel comes all the support
[13:45] infrastructure. So you'd have a building with showers, lots of toilets. The Wisconsin
[13:50] pool code is quite robust and is a mathematical conundrum when you try to figure out how
[13:56] many toilets and showers need to go with every square foot of pool water.
[14:04] Is there any lighting
[14:06] proposed for these diamond areas? Any lighting? Yeah. Currently, no, but I suppose if there
[14:13] was desired to do that. I could be done. I think what we're showing with the number of fields
[14:19] will hopefully accommodate the amount of play that's desired right now. Now someone else could
[14:25] tell me I'm wrong, but I think that's where we're projecting it. Good question.
[14:31] Hi, we were recently
[14:33] at Blue Bounds and there were no light cards. The state may have changed their stance on that
[14:39] when we built it in 2010, they definitely have worked.
[14:44] Yeah, that we were our own, but it's still quite busy there.
[14:50] The other question I had, how many baseball diamonds are in the village right now?
[14:59] Two.
[15:03] 3, 3, the two at Brandt, which is baseball softball. And then the one at Volley McFarland, then the school district has, I don't know the exact number in there.
[15:14] Who's part two? Who's part two? Who's part two? Who's part two? Who's part two? And then there's, it softball at Wabi Saur, what are those diamonds softball only?
[15:24] Those are district on though. I don't know that you guys have any control over what happens on those fields don't
[15:31] Okay, all right. Thank you, but they are dedicated to software. Yeah
[15:37] Good questions
[15:40] What else do you have?
[15:50] What is the walking path going to is it going to be paved or gravel?
[15:55] Good question. Yeah, I would see that as a paved pathway around the perimeter. We want to make sure that
[16:00] anything we do years fully, Haiti accessible, easy to maintain, and I think the paved surface
[16:05] would be the best option for both of those.
[16:08] And one more question on the, so there's looks to be like a line of trees on the south side.
[16:18] Do you have any plan on all the water runoff that comes down, that now makes that just like
[16:24] a muddy, like how are you going to grow trees down there?
[16:29] Yeah, good question.
[16:30] So, as part of this project, we would try and fix some of those drainage issues along that
[16:35] South line.
[16:35] We know it's been a problem, especially in that Southwest corner for soccer.
[16:38] It's plagued them for a long time.
[16:40] So as part of this, we would look at under-drained systems, you know, maybe a small base
[16:44] into a collect and treat it.
[16:46] We are not showing other than the pathways, a lot of new impervious, so we wouldn't be generating
[16:52] a lot of new stormwater, which is good.
[16:54] But I think with these improvements we would definitely try and fix some of those muddy issues.
[17:00] Are you a neighbor right there?
[17:03] Yeah, I wondered based on your questions.
[17:06] Do you want the lights?
[17:08] No lights.
[17:17] So the one on the far north you currently have, but you're switching it.
[17:22] So it's the way the baseball.
[17:26] And then you add the two new ones, you also have one at a brand, and I'll get the other ones are at the high schools.
[17:35] How many teams do you have for baseball?
[17:39] I may defer that question to one of our friends in the audience here.
[17:46] So yeah, we riff my file on youth baseball we had 165 players this year.
[17:55] We had teams, see, I think we had 14 teams for like our lead play.
[18:03] We have tournament teams starting this year and now we'll go from second grade through high school.
[18:13] Yeah, and then we do fall ball as well.
[18:16] Again, that's fifth grade through high school.
[18:20] So yeah, we've been growing, right now we've played against from, let's see, third grade
[18:30] through sixth grade development at Brant.
[18:32] And then we've shared the high school fields for seventh grade twice.
[19:03] I know that just to expand on there is
[19:38] about the geometry, do you see a need,
[20:09] give you better
[20:10] answer to that point?
[20:11] But yeah, I mean, I'm certainly not going to,
[20:13] we find use for it is a very politician answer if you think that would I expect it so yeah I think again that would be if we're looking at a phasing plan that would probably be the last thing we touch let's grow into the space on the south end and see if we really need it and then you know reimagined.
[20:36] Since I have them, I might call Pepper you back a little bit.
[20:41] Just as far as lights go, would there be a plan,
[20:45] even if they're not installed right away,
[20:46] where they could be wired for lack of a better term,
[20:52] if they eventually, something that would be added?
[20:55] So I think the way this layout is set up,
[20:58] there's the flexibility to do that in the future,
[21:00] if you wanted.
[21:00] The power would have to come out of the existing building,
[21:03] which is right in the middle of the park,
[21:05] that space would could be accessible. So again, you know, thinking about how to grow into this
[21:12] space, I would suggest we make this move and see how it goes and see if it accommodates your
[21:18] need for play.
[21:22] I would imagine this room might be more full if we put lights in right away.
[21:35] I was just asking him, what piece, I know my granddaughter played T-ball there, it just
[21:43] said, you know, grassy field and what would be wrong with continuing to do that, rather
[21:49] than building a separate area for T-ball.
[21:53] I mean, you're talking about kids that are four or five, six years old.
[21:57] Yeah, really good question.
[21:58] So when I say building something for T-ball, really, it's just a single panel, yep, of
[22:03] the back side.
[22:03] So, it would just look as open grass, yeah. Good question. How much does each of those ball diamonds cost?
[22:12] Really good. What year are all focused on money? I am.
[22:15] So it really depends on what we end up doing. Right now we're showing those in fields as artificial turf
[22:21] with natural turf outfield. The good news is those fields are already growing grass.
[22:27] We may have to do some slight grading to make the drainage systems.
[22:30] It's improved, but right now each field is if we did it in turf a new channelling fencing, you're probably looking
[22:39] at 250 or so per field. 250,000, 250,000. Rough estimate?
[22:46] Yeah. Well, I mean, I guess I'm concerned because those were hockey, or an ad hockey soccer
[22:50] fields, they're all these kids played on and then they're building new soccer fields. I mean,
[22:56] I'm talking about more money going into all of this.
[23:00] I don't even know how much soccer feels out of A.B.
[23:04] or it's costing, but just keep thinking more money.
[23:12] Well, there's always a demand for more recreation facility.
[23:15] So we have to balance with the dollar spent, yep.
[23:20] Okay.
[23:21] I have some questions from Zac Online, Zac.
[23:24] like to unmute yourself, you can go ahead and ask your questions.
[23:27] All right, can you hear me?
[23:29] Yep.
[23:30] I guess I'm just curious that this seems to be pretty far along in the planning process as far as the baseball is concerned.
[23:37] It also seems like there's a pretty small amount of people with a highly vested interest in this being a baseball dominated park.
[23:46] But I also believe that there's a huge appetite in this community or a swimming pool.
[23:50] not a laugh swimming pool, not a splash band, just her recreational swimming pool. What you mentioned about
[23:54] blue mountains is exactly right. That would be perfect. That would be enough. I just don't know how we've
[24:02] gotten to this point without that discussion being had. Was there a point where that discussion was had and
[24:09] and cool good and taken away or is this decision that made or where we go from here?
[24:14] Great question. I'm going to defer this one to Matt.
[24:18] Yeah, thank you, Zach.
[24:20] So the Aquatics have been studied in this village in a number of different ways.
[24:25] About eight or so years ago, we did a feasibility study that looked at multiple different
[24:30] opportunities for all things Aquatics, big facility, small facilities, splash pads.
[24:36] Looked at a number of different locations.
[24:38] And then that plan was followed up with the master plan update or the master plan that
[24:45] created from the site which originally when the community park site was purchased had an idea
[24:52] to be an outlet for other uses and so we could create space like for Aquatics and Aquatics
[24:58] was kind of had a home here in McFarlane Park and that we have data on the cost for that.
[25:06] We have information on what it would take to run that facility. That's the other part that's
[25:11] complicated with the QuadEx. The presence here is not necessarily changed. The previous plan
[25:20] showed a pool or a splash pad, but there is green space that's left there. There's a future
[25:26] park, sorry, a ball field to the north, that could be a variable in this conversation. That's
[25:34] the location where it's always been planned. If we want to continue to have a presence here,
[25:40] certainly the final plan recommendation can show that because a lot of that's not set and
[25:46] stomp. But the cost is significant and that's even with a even with a smaller pool we're
[25:52] still talking millions of dollars and a pool on the operating side is only paying for about
[25:58] two thirds of its cost through fees that might be a little generous and the tax of these got to
[26:09] to figure out how to introduce an element like that
[26:13] with some of the obstacles.
[26:16] But is it possible here?
[26:17] It is.
[26:17] And it can stay in the plant.
[26:19] And we can keep working on it.
[26:22] But ultimately, trying to fit a lot of these things
[26:26] and maybe three fields is too much.
[26:28] And getting two fields off the ground
[26:31] and seeing what our experience is.
[26:33] And maybe by then, there's more progress in Aquatics.
[26:37] We can make that, we can make that turn up page.
[26:41] Yeah, Zack, just to build on that, the footprint that you see for that north diamond
[26:44] is roughly equivalent to what we would need for a pool vessel, the surrounding deck,
[26:50] the mechanical building with all the support showers, toilets, et cetera,
[26:54] and some parking addition.
[26:57] So to me, that footprint is very interchangeable.
[27:01] Should the desire come back, that really wants to be a quarter.
[27:06] Does that help answer your question?
[27:08] Yeah, thank you. I guess I'm just curious how do you get the desire back. What is that process look like?
[27:16] The friends of McFarlane Park is a group that has been working on this more recently.
[27:21] They're a collection of residents trying to build some fundraising capacity.
[27:25] Kind of figure out how to get something like that off the ground.
[27:30] The village board has discussed this and is keeping that in its goals for the next year.
[27:34] to answer that question as well. If we're going to do this, what does this actually look like?
[27:40] Because we don't want to pay more taxes, which is where borrowing comes from impact fees help,
[27:47] but not to the fullest extent. So there's a lot of questions that would have to be
[27:52] washed out, but those are a couple areas where there's definitely some interest.
[27:57] I appreciate it. Thank you.
[27:58] Well,
[28:03] I represent the four Lake Spatio Association, and I just wanted to speak in support of the concept of expanding the the Baji courts, in particular, we're in favor of adding two courts, I wanted to clarify, however, in the previous master plan, I believe it also called for the lighting of the four existing courts and at the time of construction of the two new ones lighting those also,
[28:30] which would essentially double the capacity of the of the courts because we'd be able to play two games
[28:37] in the evening instead of the one that we're limited to by daylight.
[28:44] I'd also like to in your phasing plan advocate for the early construction of those courts in 2027 if at all possible.
[28:54] And I say that for a couple of reasons,
[28:59] the other large bachi facility in the Madison area,
[29:04] and this is, he's bachi courts are very much a regional draw, because they're the only
[29:10] regulation-sized bachi courts with a complex of four that exist in the state outside of
[29:17] Milwaukee area are leagues of which we have seven draw players literally from all over the
[29:24] Madison area and we're just commencing a partnership with the Italian working men's club
[29:31] to hold more tournaments which will also bring more people into the into the McFarlane community.
[29:38] So, on a smaller scale, I see this as having similarities to the curling facility in the
[29:47] isorina, which are regional draws in themselves.
[29:53] But the concern about the East Side businessmen's club, which is the other Batchi,
[29:59] That's...
[30:00] Center is that that site has been sold and is anticipated to be redeveloped. It's a beautiful site on the shores of Lake
[30:09] Manona and so we anticipate that those leagues will be displaced and there will be a considerable increase in demand on our courts.
[30:23] The other thing that could mitigate in favor of an earlier construction is that this is a type of project that the Bachi Association can assist with in the construction.
[30:39] In fact, we spearheaded the construction of the existing courts.
[30:43] And we do the majority of maintenance on the existing courts.
[30:48] We have partnered financially with the village in the past for different types of improvements
[30:54] to the courts.
[30:56] And we would be willing to make a sizable financial commitment toward the construction
[31:02] of these two new courts also.
[31:05] So we just hope that it might be possible to schedule the time table for those projects as early as possible.
[31:16] I'd also like to speak on a couple of other things, including the idea of an outdoor swimming pool.
[31:25] I've worked in municipal administration in two other communities, besides
[31:29] McCarland, that had outdoors swimming pools, and the best way that I can describe them
[31:36] is that they're a money pit in this climate where they operate for at most three months out
[31:44] the year,
[31:47] to my mind, they just don't make sense, and I think that the construction
[31:55] costs is considerable as they are, are oftentimes dwarfed by the maintenance headaches and
[32:02] the maintenance costs for an outdoor pool in this climate.
[32:06] And, you know, I think Matt used the term generously for his estimate, my experience has
[32:14] been that operating revenues cover less than 50% of operating costs on a pool.
[32:21] And as they age, that only gets worse.
[32:25] The other general comment I'd like to make, and you know, sometimes we're so close to
[32:30] that we lose a side of it, but I just want to point out how unique in many ways, willing
[32:39] with Farland Park, is, in that it has a really ideal balance between warm weather and cold
[32:48] weather that uses, which oftentimes you don't find in a municipal park.
[32:53] And the fact that those uses the iserina and curling are off season from in the past.
[33:02] It's been soccer.
[33:04] Now it'll be primarily baseball along with Thucobal and skateboard.
[33:08] It allows the sizable parking areas to be used because the usage doesn't overlap by season.
[33:16] And so I'm very supportive in general of the plan, and I think we should kind of ourselves
[33:24] fortunate as a community to have this kind of recreational facility and the variety available
[33:31] to us.
[33:34] Thank you for this comments.
[33:35] I want to address a couple of them and probably reverse order.
[33:38] First of all, your comment about partnering with the village to get expedited construction.
[33:44] I think is a great offer. I would suggest your first step would be to talk with Lee or Matt to see how that mechanic might work.
[33:51] I don't know where you guys are at in the budget approval process for 27.
[33:56] I know it's probably right around the corner here.
[33:58] But that would be a conversation you should probably have sooner rather than later.
[34:03] Second point about this being a very unique park.
[34:06] It's extremely unique.
[34:08] I cannot think of another space that I've engaged with that has had so many private and specialized uses in one container and to find the balance of how you mix the public use and the private use is really been interesting over the last few years we've worked on it.
[34:27] I think that the term community part to me means a space that everyone in the community can use.
[34:34] And usually that is a lot of flexible space.
[34:39] This is very different.
[34:40] These are all very specialized uses.
[34:42] Yet it touches on so many sectors of community use.
[34:46] And so I can still support that term of community park instead of
[34:50] special use park for lots of different uses.
[34:54] But I think you're right.
[34:54] The seasonality is also a very unique piece here where we do have
[34:58] a lot of opportunity for shared use of park.
[35:01] So, you have great comments.
[35:04] Anybody else?
[35:05] I have a question online. Where is the current T-ball diamond and why is it going away?
[35:13] Well, I believe Wabisa uses some of the spaces we alluded to here tonight.
[35:19] There's also a very small space to the primary school,
[35:24] and that is going to be replaced with other recreation uses by the district.
[35:29] Usually the way T-ball operates is they need two fields or two areas to function to
[35:34] team split up and that's what we were trying to do.
[35:38] We'll still work on that because there are no ups and downs of the ups and downs of the
[35:42] park.
[35:43] But the idea was trying to create some identity there and for T-ball.
[35:49] So it kind of had a home.
[35:51] Because yes, it's split time between the primary school and with.
[35:55] and that's just grass. There's not, there's nothing set up there except at the primary school's
[36:01] couple of fences. Yeah, I mean one of their opportunity might be this other in green space,
[36:05] while it's not currently owned by the village, that would be or could be a great home for the
[36:10] tea ball program to get two fields close together if we can't find any other reasonable solutions.
[36:23] Any other questions or comments?
[36:33] If not, I can be floating around back here by the boards in the
[36:37] the back left corner. It would be the southeast corner of the room, I believe. Since we're
[36:42] talking about orientation. And yeah, happy to have any dialogue with you that you would
[36:46] like. We will continue to post information, and we spend a great job getting out as the
[36:52] plans evolve here. So we'll continue to keep you informed, but I appreciate you guys being here
[36:58] tonight. For those of you who want to stay in about 20 minutes, we'll do this again for
[37:04] some part, a little different theme but anyway yeah thank you guys please if you did
[37:12] not sign in please sign in over here on the table.
[38:33] Thank you for all of you coming. This is the second PIM of the evening for Arnold Larson Park.
[38:42] Tonight, Blake will be presenting once again, and we'll do the questions afterwards.
[38:49] For those of you who were not here earlier, I'll go ahead and introduce some of us.
[38:54] I am Liagled, the Director of Public Works.
[38:57] Next to me is Amy Irwin, Assistant to the Director of Public Works.
[39:01] Sheamus O'Reilly, Park's Superintendent, Matt Shanky, Village Administrator.
[39:08] Let's see, Lowell Pro is her trustee in Kathy Annand, trustee also.
[39:17] She's online.
[39:18] Oh, she should be.
[39:18] Oh, she should be.
[39:18] Oh, she should be.
[39:18] Oh, she should be.
[39:19] Oh, she should be.
[39:21] Oh, she should be.
[39:22] talking to us through the concept plan for Arnold Larson Park, after he's done with his presentation,
[39:28] we will go through questions and comments and hear what you have to say.
[39:34] So thank you Blake.
[39:36] Thanks, Lee.
[39:37] Thanks for staying, guys.
[39:40] So we'll talk about Arnold Larson Park here and very different topic in content than our last session,
[39:48] but equally as important.
[39:49] So, the proposed uses at Larson really are building on the successes of what we have working
[40:00] well in the park now.
[40:01] If most of you have poked around here on the boards in the back of the room and seen some
[40:05] of the content, but I'll go through some of these highlights here.
[40:09] I'm actually going to start on the far right of the page.
[40:13] If anyone has been out to the park lately, you've probably seen what we in the industry
[40:18] call it cow path and that's the the desire line where everyone walks where there isn't a path
[40:24] of of improved surface and so we are going to attempt to fix that so what you see there is
[40:32] a new asphalt pathway pretty much mimicking our cow path that we have in the park now we know
[40:38] it's an issue so let's go ahead and solve it so that doesn't change the alignment or the flow of any
[40:45] other pathways in the park, but it just gives the people what they want, which is always a good thing.
[40:52] As we move to the west, we'll go to the arc, your south of the gazebo right along far
[40:59] well. You start to see some shapes showing up in there, and that is a new signage program
[41:05] that is underway. I don't know if you guys want to elaborate on that matter, leave your
[41:10] Other historical markers, giving information about the village, we'll be putting those up
[41:16] probably within the next month or so. The historical society has determined what was
[41:25] going to be put on them. I have not seen them yet, so I don't have much more information.
[41:29] Lane March's Commission.
[41:31] Yeah,
[41:34] so those, those shapes are now shown in the approximate locations that they'll go.
[41:38] So that's going to activate that, that walkway even further than it is.
[41:42] I should have also mentioned in the lower right-hand corner, you see the, I think that's a number one.
[41:47] Yes, number one.
[41:50] That is a new park sign and potential LED reader to announce events in the community.
[41:56] And we're also doing one here.
[41:59] What?
[42:00] Number seven.
[42:01] Thank you.
[42:02] My glasses are up here and none of my eyes.
[42:03] So number seven would be a new park sign with a leader to announce activities happening in the community and further engage our residents.
[42:15] So before I get into the pretty green stuff on the left, I want to talk about the gazebo a little bit.
[42:20] Through the analysis of the park, we've noticed that some of the structure of the old gazebo is showing its age, showing some rot.
[42:28] We think that it has an important piece and place in the park and so you'll see we have some
[42:34] rendering of a replacement structure very much in keeping with the style and architecture of that
[42:39] existing structure but bringing up to current standards and we might look at a metal structure
[42:45] instead of wood structure but then have wood tongue and groove ceiling, railings and all that nice
[42:51] softer aesthetic that I think we all appreciate about the structure. So I have some drawings in the
[42:58] a wholesale change, just an upgrade in materials and longevity. Does that all make sense?
[43:05] Okay, let's go to the bike path here and as we move to the northwest,
[43:10] what you start to see is a little bit different alignment. The current alignment kind of takes a
[43:16] crescent moon, a lear, you drive it. Yeah, there you go. So right underneath what I'm showing
[43:22] as a new restroom structure is how the bike path works now. We're proposing to realign that to give
[43:28] the opportunity to add a restroom structure in the park.
[43:31] We know what the special use is in the other engagements that happen in the park.
[43:35] That's a very welcome amenity.
[43:38] I'm sure most people don't love the Port of Patti vibe in the park, so we wanted to give
[43:45] this a little bit more permanence and pleasing aesthetic and function in this space.
[43:51] So the existing storage shed that's out there in the fence theory would be removed and
[43:56] new path line and essentially goes right through where the old shed is. So next time you go out there,
[44:01] you can stand there and imagine that new path going right through the Christmas light storage shed.
[44:08] That then aligns with the drive apron that's out there. So if anyone needs to get access or a
[44:13] delivery to the gazebo, we've improved that flow and access as well. One of the other things that we are
[44:21] suggesting to improve accessibility would be the addition of a dedicated ADA parking stall
[44:28] just the north of that dry bio and that would then tie directly into the existing pathway
[44:33] and get you into the park. That doesn't currently exist so that's an important piece to add.
[44:41] Let's continue south down Taylor Road and we'll talk a little bit about those funny purple and gold
[44:46] colored vehicles, they are not Minnesota Vikings vans.
[44:51] They are representing potential food trucks in the space
[44:55] or other special event programming vehicles.
[45:00] We've been able to carve out sufficient space for three full-size food trucks or truck and trailers, if depending on the opportunity.
[45:08] We think that's a great improvement over the gravel shoulder that's there now.
[45:13] And that would then flush up against that pathway. So again, we'd have ADA friendly access to potential food vendors.
[45:21] Let's go back up to the restroom here for a second.
[45:23] And what we are showing is a two-stall structure, so it would be two family-style or
[45:30] unisex restrooms, one on either end, and then that center space in the building would be
[45:37] storage to help carry any park amenities that might need to be inside.
[45:45] And then we have a concrete walkway around.
[45:47] We would also look to do ADA accessible drinking fountain on the exterior of that building,
[45:52] which is again right along the pathway.
[45:56] We'd probably also look to do some bicycle parking along the path by the building
[46:00] just to again solidify an anchor that corner of the park.
[46:05] So the other corner of the park we should talk about.
[46:08] You start to see that gray circle that is envisioned to be a concrete flat concrete pad
[46:13] and then the west side with those dashed lines would be an elevated berm
[46:19] with some landscaping to create a backdrop.
[46:21] What we're trying to do is find a way to build in a performance space.
[46:29] So if you have a small group who wants to perform in the park, we know that that is a very active space.
[46:35] We've given them a home with some power, some dedicated power outlets built into that berm in the landscape.
[46:41] And that also, with that berm, gives a little bit of buffering from the intersection into the park,
[46:46] for some noise attenuation and help focus your attention on the performance space.
[46:52] The other thing that that space will double is a home for the winter-fast fire pit.
[46:59] Right now it's just kind of a burn as we go every year and restore the grass.
[47:05] We'd like to try and clean that up a little bit and we're not going to have an exposed pit
[47:09] over the year that would be a covered space so it is a flat functional space throughout the rest of the year.
[47:15] All the existing open green space we are going to maintain.
[47:19] We're going to try and save all those trees and the activities planned underneath those existing
[47:23] mature trees.
[47:24] We know that's a huge asset for the park that we want to preserve.
[47:31] What else?
[47:34] Shame is, excuse me, the approval thumb, okay.
[47:37] Any questions on any of that content or why we're doing what we're doing?
[47:42] And reminder, we have a microphone for you.
[47:46] Is the berm, like, if that could have been built for seating, is that what you mean by that, or the berm?
[47:54] Behind there? Yeah, how about that? It's certainly could be, depending on which way the space is being programmed.
[48:01] I think I have it drawn at a four foot top right now, so it would be a gradual slope up to about four feet, but that's a pretty good rise.
[48:09] You could certainly sit on that if there was an activity in the central green space.
[48:13] But it also gives a nice buffer. If I'm performing on that concrete pad, you know, the headlights and other cars are not streaming at me.
[48:24] So, good question.
[48:30] You need to get them and then the microphone, please.
[48:35] The train is up, you can see the tracks up there. So, unfortunately, I don't have the power to alter the train track alignment.
[48:42] They always win every battle, but yeah, the train tracks will stay.
[48:52] It's the same. So the only thing that we're changing is the path alignment and it wouldn't be any closer to the tracks and the rest of the path.
[49:00] In fact, it's probably further away than done the other pieces.
[49:05] Yeah. Yeah, the railroad always wins. So I don't even try.
[49:10] question, where you're putting in the new fire pit, performing area, you said it'd be like
[49:16] four feet high? That's not going to, anybody on Taylor Road trying to take a left is not going
[49:23] to have an issue that it's too high, right? No, so you can add into consideration.
[49:27] You really get a question? Yep, so there's in the design world, there's a thing called a vision
[49:31] triangle. And so we run the geometry in every intersection to see where those sight lines are,
[49:35] when you're cueing behind a stop sign,
[49:38] and that is outside of that vision triangle.
[49:40] Good, really good technical question.
[49:42] Thank you.
[49:48] We had another vision triangle questionnaire, really?
[49:52] In sight, because that's a busy intersection.
[49:55] There's a lot of kids that go through there with a daycare.
[49:59] I'd be really afraid.
[50:00] I mean, I think it's great, but I'd be worried
[50:03] about visibility.
[50:06] Yeah, I mean, when I would think that the park sign
[50:09] would be more of an obstruction than this berm,
[50:12] It's going to be a gentle slope up, and the top of it may be four feet, but really the rest of it is
[50:17] Slope down. So I don't we will double check all those vision triangles, but I don't see that as a visual issue.
[50:31] I don't believe that's been designed yet. It's a placeholder, but I mean, you've probably seen other
[50:37] LED signs, you know, their locations. I would imagine would have some sort of
[50:41] Hardened base, whether it's stone or masonry or something, so it would be perched up a little bit.
[50:47] We have.
[50:49] We don't have to do anything, but I think there's an opportunity.
[50:54] E-correct.
[50:55] There's an opportunity to do both corners.
[50:57] Whether you want to or not.
[50:59] I just did.
[51:04] Yes.
[51:05] Okay.
[51:06] Let's start first.
[51:08] Is there only one ADA parking spot up in that upper left hand corner?
[51:12] Is that what you were saying?
[51:13] Yes.
[51:14] Well, right now there's zero.
[51:15] So we are proposing to add one.
[51:18] We might be.
[51:19] If you could add two, that would be better.
[51:20] I can look, yeah, it's a good question.
[51:23] It gets pretty tight.
[51:24] We might be able to adjust the alignment of the path there,
[51:26] to buy some more space between the road and the path,
[51:29] but it is pretty tight up there.
[51:31] Well, I know when people come for things like band concerts,
[51:34] some things, it's really nice if you, for the older folks,
[51:37] if you can get something closer.
[51:38] My other suggestion here, this is something I hit every time I
[51:42] made an architect, put an extra stall in the women's room.
[51:45] Please, please, please.
[51:46] Because if you have events there and one of the toilets, the only toilet gets plugged and you've got a lot of kids going back and forth and who knows what they might do.
[51:57] Really, every woman's room deserves at least two stalls.
[52:01] We really, really need it and it looks like you've got room to, you know, fudge the walls a little bit bigger if you can do that.
[52:07] Anyway, I would put in a big plea for that.
[52:09] Flip to the building plan for me.
[52:13] Let's dive deeper on that.
[52:18] Hold on, microphone, please.
[52:21] Follow the rules, please.
[52:23] Just go back on the ADA spot.
[52:25] I thought at one point we had discussed putting ADA parking in where the food trucks would go.
[52:30] And so those would be available when the food trucks are not there.
[52:33] Yes, yep. That space could be multifunction. And who knows you may not, garnered three food trucks at a time.
[52:40] And then we can use those other striped zones for 88 parking.
[52:43] Yeah. But I do think it's important to have at least one permanently dedicated ADA stall.
[52:50] Sorry, we're looking for the building plans. And then we can, I can show you how the interior might lay out.
[52:56] And see if we can gain another stall.
[52:59] I'm not going to make any promises, but we'll look at
[53:11] it.
[53:12] The roadway.
[53:15] Right on the map, it looks like it's right on the top of each other.
[53:19] What's the distance that you need to have for the food trucks to park with the road along the side?
[53:28] You mean the width or in between the trucks?
[53:30] Between the trucks and the road.
[53:34] It looks like it's right up against the truck.
[53:37] No there's there's a shoulder there. I don't remember offhand what the dimension is but
[53:42] usually we'll make that a typical drive lane is 11 or 12 feet wide. And so we'll usually accommodate
[53:49] at least that for food trucks. Now the other piece of that question, food trucks when they align up in
[53:58] a group will often park tip to tail so that we don't have people walking through because then we have
[54:05] visual issue, you can't see what's coming around the corner. So yeah. Okay. So let's talk
[54:10] about a little bit about the building here. What I'm currently proposing is two unisex
[54:16] restroom. So men, women, anyone can use those. We could look at a scenario where we have
[54:23] dedicated men's and women's interiors. That could be a scenario. The building would have to
[54:30] a bigger to do that, and it costs more.
[54:34] Is that a changing area on the left-hand side of the one restaurant?
[54:38] No, what it is is my code dimensions because a restroom has certain, I know someone who's
[54:45] complaining about codes and regulations are there, I'll complain about it now, ADA restrooms
[54:50] have very strict codes and offsets for turn movements inside, and so that left restroom
[54:56] is just the interior dimensions and dimension string lines. But no, there would not be an interior
[55:04] partition. Okay, even if you just had a shelf in each one that people could use is a changing
[55:10] area and I'd say put them in both of them because you get a lot of single dads going out with
[55:15] our kids too. It will be nice. Yes, there would be baby changing stations in both. Yes, sorry. I didn't
[55:22] understand your question first, but for sure.
[55:30] Anybody else?
[55:33] This is a restroom, is similar to the restroom we put in
[55:37] high one oaks. It's a structure that's just brought in whole and
[55:42] placed on the site. So they're kind of designed before they get here.
[55:49] There are, yeah, they're constructed in a factory off site and they come in on a
[55:54] truck and they crane it in. And actually that'd be a really good
[55:56] is at the park. It's pretty amazing to watch. Basically you go from a flat slab with pipes sticking
[56:02] up out of the ground to a fully functional restroom in about four hours. It's pretty amazing.
[56:08] The technology, so the nice thing about that is it really minimizes your site disturbance time,
[56:13] where otherwise you might have four months to build this out of wood frame or masonry frame,
[56:19] literally in a day. You have an operational bathroom.
[56:23] Why do we wait for the mic?
[56:25] Wait for the mic.
[56:29] Are those doors are they timed?
[56:32] I mean, it would be open seven days a week, all year long.
[56:37] But then the doors to get into the bathrooms are timed.
[56:41] Like from 8 to 5.
[56:43] The parks close at 10 and they would lock at that time.
[56:46] Kind of like a brand park has.
[56:49] They also probably would not be open in the winter.
[56:51] Unless we were to temp heat them.
[56:53] but usually our facilities get winterized.
[56:58] Which doesn't work great for winter-fest.
[56:59] Now that I'm thinking about that.
[57:06] You're alone.
[57:08] Yeah, the issue is that it's a lot of energy spent
[57:11] to keep those pipes from freezing.
[57:14] So we'd have to think through that one.
[57:17] Good comment though.
[57:20] Like I said, I don't promise anything here tonight.
[57:21] I just listen.
[57:27] Hi, the toilets are flushable, right?
[57:30] Yeah.
[57:31] So all the infrastructure for that gets put.
[57:35] is done first and then they just pop that on the top. Correct. Yep. We have the sanitary sewer
[57:39] put in and the water service put in and we know where all the floor holes have to be and that
[57:45] because it comes with a floor actually in the building, a concrete plant slab. So we would coordinate
[57:50] all the penetrations for those pipes in the floor and it comes and literally it just sleeves right
[57:57] over all those pipes coming out of the ground. Pretty amazing.
[58:03] But I've never seen one miss yet.
[58:04] I don't know what.
[58:10] Yes, well, hang on.
[58:13] Microphone holding.
[58:15] The question was, is there a ramp to the gazebo?
[58:19] I don't believe it is currently ramped.
[58:20] Is it? There's the steps in the papers.
[58:23] We would probably look at that at the time of the replacement.
[58:27] Because that would be a great idea.
[58:38] It's only 20 minutes in guys. We got 40 more minutes, so I don't.
[58:43] I'm not a good dancer, so we might as well talk.
[58:57] Okay, don't have any costs yet.
[59:00] Correct.
[59:02] Yep.
[59:02] We're working on it.
[59:04] I really want to hear what you guys think about the ideas before we start to formulate all
[59:08] that.
[59:10] And that is our next step, is to look at, you know, what is the, what are all these chunks
[59:15] cost and how do we spread it out over a reasonable time period and not have
[59:19] construction in the park forever?
[59:22] You know, that doesn't feel great either.
[59:23] So we want to make sure we're doing it in a sensible manner.
[59:35] I'm questioning the need for the LED signs.
[59:42] I don't know what people drive in by.
[59:45] They're going to quickly actually see what might be on there and there might be a distraction.
[59:50] But also, it appears to me that maybe a bit tacky that these LED signs.
[59:56] And so, I think if we could do without those, I'd be...
[1:00:00] Okay.
[1:00:13] Part of it is trying to figure out ways to more efficiently share a community information that groups and events are looking to do versus it's kind of a free for all right now. If we don't do the signs, we don't do the signs, but it's just an idea and if that's ultimately not something we want to pursue, then.
[1:00:39] So, the nothings in the budget now, but you'd be building it into the budget.
[1:00:46] All this.
[1:00:47] Yeah, I don't know.
[1:00:48] Yeah, let's first.
[1:00:49] Yeah, the plan, the plan elements will create recommendations for improvements.
[1:00:54] And then we'll look at that to see sort of what we may or may not want to implement in one.
[1:00:59] Like the public restroom, that could be something that is like a first phase if that's a priority.
[1:01:03] and ultimately, then we can look and see how that fits.
[1:01:07] Capital improvement plan does use some parks funds money, which is paid through
[1:01:11] impact fees, through growth, and that could be used as a first phase.
[1:01:16] As an example, we'll take a look during the budget process.
[1:01:19] So we'll be bringing these plans to the Park and REC, a park committee here in
[1:01:24] September, right?
[1:01:26] Yes.
[1:01:28] And so at that point, we'll have some ideas on cost, and we'll have a discussion
[1:01:33] about the phasing and, you know, if we want to go all of it at once or if we want to
[1:01:37] try and break it up into smaller pieces, so that'll be coming up next month.
[1:01:42] We'll be breaking it up into smaller pieces.
[1:01:43] We'll be breaking it up into smaller pieces, I'm told.
[1:01:47] Thank you, Matt.
[1:01:51] Anything else I missed, Matt?
[1:01:55] If there are no other questions, I do have all these same graphics back here.
[1:01:58] I'm happy to float around back there and chat with you guys about other questions.
[1:02:02] Otherwise, make sure you do sign in for those of you who did not sign in on the way
[1:02:06] sign in on the way out and I will make sure that you guys are in the loop here as things
[1:02:11] progress.
[1:02:13] I'm Alda. Thank you all for suffering through an hour and a half of me.