Laserfiche WebLink
January 7, 2015 Parks, Recreation and Environmental Commission Page 4 <br /> <br />on the east side of County 88 that we have had conversations of how to bring a trail <br />down through the southern part of New Brighton and connect with that Roseville trail. <br />Commissioner Fields stated that trail stops at County Road C. There is no trail from <br />County Road D to County Road C. If there could be a trail connection from the Jones <br />Lake area to the County Road E2/35W Bridge trail. That would be beneficial for New <br />Brighton and surrounding community residents. Maybe the Jones Lake area could <br />be a ski trail in the winter. <br /> <br />Council Member Strub stated it reminds him of walks around the Springbrook Nature <br />Center and the Harriet Alexander Nature Center. There are parts of these parks that <br />are solitude by nature. At Jones Lake you could snow shoe or ski or have a nature <br />interpretive center (like Roseville or Spring Lake Park). There are lots of different <br />opportunities for this area. <br /> <br />Chair Frischman stated that it seems the majority has an interest in continuing to <br />pursue something (big or small) with this property. <br /> <br />Director Breuer stated this item is mostly to educate the Commission. After the <br />Council reviews this again; they may send it back to this Commission. <br /> <br /> b. New Brighton Exchange Parks <br />Chair Frischman stated most Commissioners have had some involvement already <br />with the New Brighton Exchange Parks. Quite a few years ago, a strategic plan with <br />4 or 5 parks was put together for this area. The location is off of Old Hwy. 8 and <br />north of 694, near API and CSI. Now there is more business planned for the area. <br />We have the South Park near fishing pier. There are 2 water retention ponds and a <br />figure 8 asphalt loop. Nice walking and biking path. A wider path continues passed <br />API and the apartment buildings that would take you to a proposed central park and <br />North Park on the west side of Old Hwy. 8 and then another park on the east side of <br />Old Hwy. 8. These plans changed June 5, 2013. This Commission made the <br />changes to the New Brighton Exchange Parks. We changed the plan to be a more <br />active park than what was originally proposed. We talked about the need for athletic <br />fields such as softball and lacrosse. Our recommendation included both a regulation <br />size softball and lacrosse field. Both would be lighted, there would be a <br />neighborhood center and possibly a playground and walking trail. Currently there is <br />residential building taking place. We want to make sure we voice the resident’s <br />opinions to Council when determining what goes in the parks. At some point in time, <br />development will be complete and the residents there may not want lighted fields. <br />Chair Frischman stated she would like to educate people who may not have been <br />involved and there is a need to be proactive because the development is taking <br />place now. <br /> <br />Director Breuer stated this was on the Council Agenda for February, 2014, but <br />unfortunately the meeting was cancelled. Several PREC members were not on board <br />when these parks were discussed. The layout of park has changed but the features <br />in the park remain the same. No new recommendation needed. We have not yet <br />discussed what will happen on the east side. <br /> <br />Chair Frischman stated that there was an art piece that residents wanted to see that <br />has not yet happened in these parks. As the Commission thinks about what they <br />want to see on the east side park, keep that art piece in mind. We did have a public <br />hearing. There were representatives from Irondale Youth Baseball and the Mounds <br />View Youth Lacrosse. They expressed interest and need to have these fields <br />because New Brighton does not have this type of amenities that other communities