06/09/1969 - Advisory Parks & Recreation Commission
EAGAN TONNSHIP PARK COMMITTEE
June 9, 1969 P%ce of Meeting: Eagan Town Hall
Dakota County
Members Present: Joe Harrison Al Shadduck Minnesota
Paul Allison Helen Scott
Neil Coates Charlotte McPherson
Koren Maxfield
ALSO: Paul Uselmsn, Town Board Member
Mr. Harrison chaired the meeting in the absence of Mr. Thorpe.
Mr. Allison reported no further contact with General Beverages concerning
land in the McKee area that the Park Cbmmittee would like to see used for a Township
ball diamond and/or recreation area.
Mr. Ferguson reported via proxy that six new schools are bein built in
(1) Sagan Township by the three School Districts affecting the Township or TO the
three school districts portions of which are in Eagan Township. This information is
necessary to the Committees overall reereathn facility survey and park plan for
Eagan. Perhaps Mr. Ferguson can clear this up at our next meeting.
No new developments were reported by Mrs. McPherson on the stump removal
project at Cedar Pond.
Mr. Coates reported contacting officials regarding the comprehensive
plans of the villages of Inver Grove Heights and Mendota Heights, their use of these
plans, and their appraisals after such plans were put into operation. Mr. Coates will
continue this comprehensive plan research and will report more details as they are
available to him.
Mr. Harrison reported on his talked with Mr. Northrop of Burnsville
regarding the leasing of land for park purposes. He said it was strictly a temporary
measure and that Burnsville is no longer operating its recreation and park land acqui.
sition in this manner.
Mr. Harrison also reported his meeting with Mr. Rohe, Superintendent of
Parks for Minneapolis who was of the opinion that a comprehensive plan for Eagan is
not mandatory to qualify for HUD and IAWCON funds, however he believes that an extensive
and carefully detailed Park Plan is extremely necessary.
Mr. Harrison said that the MC predicted 91,000 population for Eagan by
the year 2000 indicating that estimate is probably on the low side. The Committee
agreed this prediction underscores and lends even more importance to the obtaining
of desirable park and recreation land immediately before it has disappeared and Eagan
becomes a megalapolis with no public land for the use of its hvAdred thousand residents.
Mr. Harrison has set September as a deadline for the building of a 20•-30
year Park Plan by this Committee. The plan will include but will not necessarily be
limited to:
16 specific areas (by legal description) of suitable and desirable
park land.`
2. details of the land itself, water accessibility, pedestrian accessi.•
bility, portions that are wooded, aesthetic values,, eta.
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3. the amount of money involved in the ultimate acquisition of this
land,
-4. the specific purposes of each parcel of land when acquired., i.e.
su:emaer and/ror winter sports., hiking trails, rest and relaxation,
ball diamonds, multiple-use.
Mrs. Scott volunteered to take over the hockey rink painting project
and will be asking organizations and individuals to volunteer painters.
Nr, llselman reported in his conversation with Mr. Hauge, attorney on
retainer by ga$an Township.. that in Mr. Hauge's opinion if park land is bought with
money acquired as a result of a bond issue and thereafter land more suitable or desirable
becomes available, the first parcel may be sold in order to acquire the second parcel.
The monies, in Mr. Hauge's opinion, could not be used for other than the acquisition
of park land. Mr. Harrison reiterated that the June 23rd meeting of this Committee
with Rr. Olson and Mr. Hauge will be an important one and will cover #aany aspects of
bonding and the financing of a park program, and many more of our questions can be
answered at that time.
Mr. Uselman suggested this Committee work closely with the Planning
Committee in preserving sites for parks close to new housing developments. The Como.
mittee unanimously agreed that as park sites are chosen in areas being engineeredfor
water and sewer service, that these services should be brought into the park sites
immediately instead of waiting until a later date when the engineering and installation
costs would be much greater.
Mr.-Uselman suggested copies of the agenda and minutes of the Planning
Committee miPt be useful to the Park Committee in keeping cognisant of the develop-
ment df the ownship. Mr. Harrison will look into the possibility of the acquisition,
of such minutes. A schedule (shown below) was set up whereby teams of Park Committee
members will attend the Planning Committee's meetings:
June 24: Loren Maxfield and Mrs. McPherson
July 24: Paul Allison and Mrs. Scott
August 28: Joe Harrison and Al Shadduck
Sept. 25: Neil Coates and one other volunteer
Mr, Uselman suggested the members of .this committee prepare a plan `
with some specific sites and approximate costs on neighborhood type parks before the
meting with Mr. Olson and Mr. Hauge June 23rd.
Mr. Harrison suggested he together with another member of this committee,
and Mr. Wittman, Dakota County Planner, meet with someone on the MC to help prepare
the detailed Park Plan so vital to Eagan. A Committee member to join Mr. Harrison
in this meeting can volunteer at the June 23rd meeting.
Ea n Township
Mr. Jack' Consoer was unanimously voted by the Committee to be7bbal,l«-field
coordinator for the balance of this ball season.
Meeting was adjourned. Respectfully submitted
Mrs, Charlotte B. McPherson,
Acting Secretary
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