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1 <br /> <br /> <br /> NEW BRIGHTON PARKS, RECREATION, AND ENVIRONMENTAL <br />COMMISSION MINUTES <br />June 1, 2016 <br /> <br />SPECIAL MEETING: PARKS TOUR <br />4:00 p.m. – 8:45 p.m. <br /> <br />Members Present: <br />Commissioners Brunell, Fields (departed group @ 5:45pm), Justin, Kunesh-Podein <br />(joined group @ 7:15pm), McEathron, Parker, Quade and Stenglein. <br /> <br />Members Absent: <br />Commissioner Eichen <br /> <br />Also Present: <br />Valerie Johnson, Mayor; Mary Burg, Council Liaison; Chris Wolla, Parks <br />Superintendent; Sandy Breuer, Director of Parks and Recreation. <br /> <br />The following locations were visited and the ensuing discussions occurred: <br /> <br />New Brighton Community Center: <br />Prior to the tour starting, it was shared that Parks and Recreation has nearly 200 assets <br />in the fleet/non-fleet Capital Improvement Plan. They total at approximately 9 million <br />dollars. Walked Boardwalk. The boardwalk was installed in 1997. Replacement is <br />slated for 2017. DNR grant funded the boardwalk. <br /> <br />Vermont Park: <br />The park was established in 1977. The playground was installed in 2009. Irrigation is <br />slated for 2018. Mayor Johnson discussed building a sense of place. This area of City <br />does not get a lot of attention. Ideas for improvements: Add trees to block visual of <br />barking dogs on nearby property; soccer nets need repair; add parking – perhaps an <br />angled parking lot; purchase property on the corner; businesses use parks picnic table <br />for smoking breaks; level & irrigate playing field (previous old estimate was $50,000 by <br />Peterson Companies); Chinese elms along fence need to come out; and remove <br />backstop fence. <br /> <br />Totem Pole Park: <br />The park was established in 1968. The playground was installed in 2015. The <br />Neighborhood Center was built in 2000. Discussion included: Tennis court <br />underutilized; Lots of activity on basketball court, New playground looks great; <br />playground underutilized; trees trimmed a few years back; this has greatly decreased <br />vandalism and beauty of the park. Ball field is being used as is the basketball court. <br />The group went inside to tour the Neighborhood Center. Discussed how fans have <br />improved circulation- suggestion to provide instructions for renters. The following items <br />are related to all four neighborhood centers and the upcoming needs for improvements: <br />new windows/screens needed; new back room cabinets needed; and replacement of <br />furnaces. Add fans at Freedom. Discussion included talks about keeping damage