HomeMy WebLinkAbout2016-02-17 PACKET 04.G. Cottage
J Grove
�hPre Pride ana P�pSperity MeQt
To: Honorable Mayor and City Council
From: Zac Dockter, Parks and Recreation Director
CC:
Date: February 11, 2016
Subject: Park Improvement Fund and CG Athletic Facilities Improvement Plan
Amendment
Introduction/Background
In consideration of the recently adopted South Washington County Athletic Facility Needs Study, staff
is recommending amendment to the Capital Improvement Plan as well at the Cottage Grove Athletic
Facilities Improvement Plan to incorporate both short and long term objectives noted in the study.
Attached with this report you'll find the Study recommendations as well as proposed amendments to
each plan.
Staff Recommendation
1. Consider accepting amendments to the Park Improvement Fund for the 2016-2020 Capital
Improvements Plan.
2. Consider accepting and placing on file the amended Cottage Grove Athletic Facilities
Improvement Plan.
Park Improvement Fund CIP
2014 $426,000 2017 $516,000
Lamar Water Filtration $10,000 Matching grants for field improvements $10,000
Matching grants for field improvements $20,000 Arbor Meadows Playground $45,000
Skateboard Park Improvements $13,000 Hamlet Skate Park Improvements $10,000
Fence Grey Cloud 48 $10,000
Fence CGMS(50/50 split with CG/ER) $15,000
CGMS 53/54 Temporary Fencing $5,000
Grey Cloud Shade Structure $50,000
2015 $328,000 2018 $378,000
Pool Demolition $20,000 Matching grants for field improvements $10,000
Woodridge Park Building Remodel $300,000 Pine Glen and Old CG Playgrounds $70,000
Park Property Posts Phase IV of V $20,000 Hamlet Skate Park Improvements $10,000
Hamlet Improvements $220,000 Hamlet Expansion Sewer/Water $367,000
Matching grants for field improvements $20,000 Hamlet Expansion Initial grading/seeding $41,000
Actual Revenue $474,000
Actual Expenditure $572,000
2016 $301,000 2019 $321,000
Kingston Playground Remodel $100,000 Matching grants for field improvements $10,000
Matching grants for field improvements $10,000 Hamlet Skate Park Improvements $10,000
Hamlet Expansion Improvements $188,000 Old Cottage Grove Rink Boards $17,000
Granada Park Improvements $50,000 Hamlet Expansion Ballfield Construction $380,000
Park Property Posts Phase V of V $17,000
Fence Grey Cloud 49/50 $20,000
Cap Rail all Grey Cloud $2,000
Projected Year End Balance
Actual Cash Balance Potential Post 2019 Projects:
Artificial turf(50/50 split with soccer/school)
Added after SWC Athletic Facility Needs Arena chiller dedication
Study Approved 1/20/16 Land acquisition/Future Middle School Fields
Indoor Play Center
Fitness Trail
Kingston Court Replacement
Pine Glen Shelter/Shade Structure
Woodridge Building Door Auto Locks
Arbor Meadows Irrigation/Shelter(pvmt mgmt
funding?)
Recommendations
The following list is a collection of the recommendations noted in the sport-by-sport
needs assessment chapter.
Timing
This Needs Assessment provides recommendations based on identified needs
and desires of Woodbury,Cottage Grove, ISD 833,and athletic associations.These
recommendations are not all immediately implen�entable.A timeline is identified as
�art of the recommendations table.Many of the higher cost recommendations may
take longer to come to fruition.For the purposes of this plan the following terminology
is used:
» Ongoing:Check in with users regularly,ensure new facilities are incorporated when
appropriate ai�d possible
» Short:0-S years, Planned to be completed by 2020
» Long:5+Years, May tal<e longer Yhan 2Q�0 to complete implementation, used more
for higher cost recommendaTions. Projects may be completed before 2020 if the
right opportunities are present earlier.
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Work to improve schetluling and field use efficiencies as well as flexi�ility across School District and City facilities. » All » Ongoing
Continue to monitor and upgrade gyms as neetled » Basketball „ Ongoing
» Volleyball
Continue to include voileyball appropriate gyms in new schools » Basketball ,> Ongoing
» Volleyball
Monitor demand of pickleball relative to tennis and consider conversion of additional neighborhood park tennis » Tennis » Ongoing
courts if demand merits. » Pickleball
MonitorWrestling to see if additional needs arise » Wrestling » Ongoing
Convert 60'fields to flex60'-75'fields where feasible » Baseball » Short
» Softball
Improve conditions of baseball antl softball fieltls,especially at Cottage 6rove Middle 5chool and"second tier"fieltls " Baseball n Short
» Softball
Coordinate with scheduling to determine the potential for an additional time slot at b0;75;and 90'halifieltls if they » Baseball » Short
were lighted » Softball
Add 3-4 fuil sized muiti-purpose fieltls » Lacrosse „ Short
» Football
Explore retrofitting existing gyms forvolleyball sleeves » Volleyball » Short
Coortlinate atlditional space for ERAA Youth Tennis within existing system if necessary » Tennis » Short
Add 6-8 full sized soccer fields » Soccer
» Short-Long for full
implementation
Light additional 75'and 90'fields and explore the potential for lighting 60'fields » Baseball » Long
» Softball
Provide 1-2 75'90'flex fields in the southern part ofthe district » Baseball » Long
Explore potential for lit artificial turf field » Lacrosse » �ong
» Football
Explore lighting at ERHSTennis Courts » Tennis » Long
Long term exploration of surfacing for one or more middle school tracks » Track » Long
Soirth Washin�ton Co�inty Athletic Facilities Study 39
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2014 Cotta e Grove Athletic Faci �ities��`
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Improvement Work Plan .
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(Adopted by City Council February 19,2014)
t�.n. (Amended February 17,2016)
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INTRODUCTION
The Cottage Grove Parks and Recreation Department recognizes the need to periodically evaluate their athletic
facilities to determine current and future needs. With a high percentage of Cottage Grove residents impacted
by youth athletics programming in any given year,these recreational facilities contribute heavily towards
building a healthy, active, social, livable and family-friendly community. The necessity of ensuring these facilities
are safe and well-maintained to meet the recreational needs of the community is the primary purpose of this
report.
The last Recreational Facility Needs Study was performed in 2005. It was composed by Ingraham &Associates, a
planning and design firm. The study put into place a solid framework for managing parks and recreational
growth. However, shortly after the study was completed,the economy slowed and delayed community growth
projections. Although many goals of the plan have been accomplished,the long-term vision of the plan remains
intact with fairly limited adjustments necessary. This Athletic Facility Improvements Plan is designed to act as an
addendum to the 2005 Recreation Facility Needs Study.
Within the City, athletic facilities are on both school and city owned properties. For that reason, a key element
to the success of this plan will be to gain support of the school district in delivering the desired results. This plan
will hopefully develop a positive relationship between the School and City by providing a joint mission of
improved play experiences in the community.
*This plan was amended in 2016 to reflect the recommendations of the 2015 South Washington County Athletic
Facility Needs Study. Accomplishments of tasks, reprioritization and additional projects have been inserted into
the "WORK SCHEDULE". The "ARTIFICIAL TURF" section was removed as it was installed at the Cottage Grove
Ice Arena in 2015. No other changes were made.
STUDY PROCESS
Staff presented the study process to the Cottage Grove Athletic Association (CGAA) board in November of 2013.
Shortly thereafter, staff inet with each youth athletic group representative(s) individually to discuss both short
and long term needs and desires. Both hockey and basketball divisions were invited to participate. Given their
unique situations,they chose not to be included in this report. Hockey benefits from the recent expansion of
the Cottage Grove Ice Arena that fulfills their current needs along with future growth potential for 10+years.
Basketball uses only school gymnasiums for their program with the exception of periodic off-season events on
outdoor courts. They did not propose any suggested changes to the City's basketball courts that would improve
their programming. Further, discussions with the Lacrosse group and East Ridge Athletic Association were held
as those groups are key users of athletic facilities but not part of CGAA.
TREND ANALYSIS
The past five years of youth athletic participation has shown a fairly neutral trend. Most of that can be
contributed to a recession in the economy which essentially limited community growth. Also,the formations of
the East Ridge Athletic Association, Club Programs and Lacrosse have changed the dynamics of community-
based youth athletics.
The East Ridge Athletic Association (ERAA) primarily focuses on traveling programs. Thus,their impact on CGAA
recreational programs remains minimal. However,traveling-age families are faced with the choice of playing for
the community or the high school boundary in which they reside. The facility use policy adopted by Cottage
Grove calls for the percentage of field access to ERAA to be directly equivalent to the percentage of Cottage
Grove residents registered in that given sport. To date, ERAA utilizes the current Cottage Grove facilities:
ERAA Baseball: Peter Thompson Park, CG Middle School #52, Hamlet Park#3 (periodic)
ERAA Softball: CG Elementary, Lamar (periodic)
ERAA Soccer: Kingston (periodic)
The depletion of community-based athletic programs also has an impact on program participation and facility
use. In sports such as soccer and softball, club-based programs have become very popular. Club-based
programs have no city or school based affiliation and can draw participants from anywhere. However,they
usually identify a home field/community for their given team(s). Currently, usage of Cottage Grove fields by
these groups is fairly minimal. However, it will likely become a larger portion of facility usage with each passing
season.
Lacrosse is the fastest growing youth sport in Minnesota. In the past four years, lacrosse has more than doubled
its registrations in Cottage Grove and is expected to continually rise as its popularity grows within the athletic
culture of MN. Lacrosse has just recently become a high school sport. Further,the formation of a girls program
will also generate more opportunity in the sport. Providing fields for the growth of lacrosse should be
considered a high priority.
MANAGING FOR GROWTH
Each of the sports needs to have a vision for managing the community's future growth. Below are the long-term
visions for each sport:
Baseball:The Hamlet Park expansion plan will support the growth of the traveling program for 10+years. Tball
through Pee Wee aged fields should be sought within future park and school development projects to support
the community-based programming.
Softball: Softball desires to work with the City and School District to identify its best opportunity for growth.
Proposals for expansion at Lamar Park as well as the Grey Cloud Elementary complex are viable options for the
ten-year growth cycle. Analysis of location, land acquisition, and development costs are all areas to study.
Soccer: Soccer is currently meeting its field needs. However,future growth should be identified in future park
development and perhaps as part of a Lamar Park expansion project. Further, artificial turf and lights on key
fields could provide the opportunity to maximize use on existing land thus eliminating the need to build
additional fields.
Lacrosse: Lacrosse has identified multiple opportunities for field growth. However, consideration also needs to
be made within each new community park that develops in the East Ravine. Overlapping use with soccer fields
is also a necessary consideration.
Football: Football is able to meet its needs within given facilities. However,football also needs to be prepared
for growth as well as field rest needs. They have identified several options that would support the long-term
development of the program.
WORK PLANS/PRIORITIES
A work plan for each sport was developed between staff and the appointed sport division representative. The
goal was to identify specific one to five-year needs as well as on-going and long-term needs. Through the report
compilation, staff made a point of prioritizing the problems or issues that each sport was hoping to address in
this effort. A summary of those priorities are as follows:
Baseball:Complete Hamlet Park expansion project, improve existing fields, and identify opportunities for indoor
practice space/artificial turf.
Softball: Improve existing facilities at Grey Cloud/CGMS, identify solution to long-term need for softball specific
complex, and identify opportunities for indoor practice space/artificial turf.
Football: Improve turf conditions at Hamlet to provide additional quality playing surfaces, and identify future
sites for program growth.
Soccer:Continued improvement of turf management practices, replace/fix goals, study feasibility of artificial turf
for one or two outdoor fields.
Lacrosse: Improve Hillside turf conditions, immediately accommodate program growth with addition of two or
more lacrosse fields in the community and identify opportunities for indoor practice space/artificial turf.
WORK SCHEDULE
Supplemental to the Work Plans,the detailed five year work schedule is provided below:
2013(completed work)
1. West Draw Park: aerate, seed and fill holes on soccer fields.
2. Kingston Park: aerate, seed goal mouths
3. Pine Coulee Park: install ag lime infield for baseball
4. Hamlet Park: repair lights on football/soccer field
5. Implementation of improved turf management plan across all parks
6. Hillside School: remove posts to accommodate adjustments to lacrosse field to improve turf
wear/management
7. Hillside School: patch holes and over-seed lacrosse field
8. Hearthside Park: concrete dugouts
2014(completed work)
1. Meet with School District grounds personnel to review work plan, set goals and identify opportunities
for partnerships
2. Pine Glen Park: concrete maintenance strips/pads
3. Lamar Park: Add power to field#27 light pole and consider power at#26 for machines
4. Grey Cloud School: re-grade fields#47 and#53 to reduce pooling
5. Grey Cloud School: re-arc#46 to extend infield
6. Grey Cloud School: develop turf maintenance/improvement plan with school district
7. Grey Cloud School: Plant trees near field#46-#50 for shading
8. CG Middle School: resolve field overlap issues with football/soccer on fields#53/54
9. Armstrong: removed player benches. School to replace.
10. Park High School: Regrade softball varsity and B-squad field
11. Lacrosse: Gained access to CG Middle School for Lacrosse use. Oltman MS is used for years CGMS is
under turf rehabilitation
2015(completed work)
1. Hamlet Park: Installed sleeve for future irrigation to north fields
2. Hamlet Park: removed old storage building
3. Hamlet Park:top dress and over-seed Hamlet football main field
4. Hamlet Park: Installed shelter between pinwheel, installed bullpens and windscreen on all fields
5. Grey Cloud/CG Middle Schools: continuance of improved turf management
6. Woodridge Park: cut infield line on small baseball field to reduce lip
7. CG Middle School:fixed irrigation, drainage, mound home plate, lips and began aggressive turf
management practices at baseball field #51
8. Lamar Park:fixed fencing and poured concrete along wings of#26 and#27
9. Hearthside Park: Installed dugout covers and windscreen (w/donation from CG Baseball)
10. Cottage Grove Ice Arena: Installed indoor turf on the west rink for community use
11. Completed the South Washington County Athletic Facility Needs Study
2016
1. Grey Cloud School: installation of outfield fencing on fields#49 and 50
2. Grey Cloud/CG Middle School: install fence capping on all fields
3. Belden Park: re-grade and add concrete maintenance strips/pads to field#10. Reseed outfield and rest
field until 2017 season
4. Hamlet Park: Fix fencing and pour concrete along field #3 wings. Regrade infield and bring to size.
5. Future Middle School: work with school to attain athletic facilities for community use at the future
middle school site. Specifically, multi-use rectangular fields for soccer and lacrosse should be sought.
2017
1. Grey Cloud School: install player bench covers on fields#46, 47, 53, 54 as CGAA cost share permits
2. Grey Cloud School: installation of outfield fencing on field#48
3. Grey Cloud School: construct shade pavilion near fields#49-50
4. CG Middle School: install temporary fencing for fields#53 and #54
5. CG Middle School:fence baseball field #51 (w/donation from ERAA and/or CGAA)
6. Belden Park: concrete maintenance strips/pads on fields 8/9
7. Arbor Meadows Park: install irrigation and expand parking lot (timed with pavement management
construction)
2018
1. Grey Cloud School: install player bench covers on fields#48-#50
2. Hamlet Park: install irrigation to north field for soccer/football. Grade/seed and rest until fall 2016
3. Hamlet Park: extend sewer/water to future ballfield complex and grade entire site.
4. Hillside School: concrete maintenance strips/pads/fence capping on fields#17-18
2019
1. Hillside School: concrete maintenance strips/pads/fence capping on fields#19-20
2. Hamlet Park: construct baseball fields. Rest turf until 2019.
3. Perform feasibility study for future softball complex
Long Term Objectives to be considered based on opportunity
Soccer 1. Analyze opportunity to expand parking at Arbor Meadows Park
2. Analyze opportunity for storage facility at Kingston Park
3. Analyze opportunity for an artificial turf field at Hamlet Park
Baseball 1. Replacement of Woodridge small field fencing
2. Make Hearthside a "premier"facility for younger players
3. Complete overhaul of Middle School field #51
Football 1. Identify field options for program growth
Softball 1. Identify future site of athletic complex and purchase land
2. Scoreboards on Grey Cloud/Middle School fields
3. Outfield fencing at Grey Cloud/Middle School fields
Lacrosse 1. Identify field options for program growth
FUNDING
Many of the tasks identified in this plan can be performed utilizing in-house labor with minimal impact to the
existing operational budgets. However, larger projects requiring more capital may be reallocated based on
funding availability or lack thereof. As part of the newly established Park Improvements Fund, dedicated
funding towards park improvements such as these is now available. However, it is presumed that the
benefactor(baseball, softball, soccer, etc.) should be prepared to provide at least 25-50%matching funds to
bring the project to completion. Projects that provide all or matching funds will likely be escalated in the work
schedule faster than those that do not. The groups have been made aware of this opportunity and the City is
prepared to work with the Parks Commission and City Council to review these requests as they are presented.
CONCLUSION
This work plan sets both goals and long-term visions for improved athletic facilities in Cottage Grove. Although
some of the goals appear to be concrete,the plan is designed to be malleable and should be reviewed annually
by all parties to assure continued progress. The work cannot be completed by the City of Cottage Grove alone.
Partners will be the athletic associations, School District and potential donors/sponsors. Further, support from
the Parks Commission and City Council is necessary to continue implementation of the plan by properly
budgeting and gaining approval of project expenditures.
Achieving the goals of this work plan strives to improve the pride in Cottage Grove athletic fields, assures
efficient use of existing facilities and prepares the City for growth.