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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMN-Parks-2015-11-10 1 CITY OF ITHACA PARKS COMMISSION Tuesday, November 10, 2015, Noon to 1:30 p.m. Cornell Cooperative Extension, 615 Willow Avenue, City of Ithaca MINUTES Present: Commissioners: Margart Hobbie Dan Krall Ellen Leventry Roberta Moudry Staff: Megan Wilson, City Planner Jeanne Grace, City Forester Teagen Barresi, Parks & Forestry Intern Josephine Martell, Common Council liaison Others: Randi Beckmann, Monica Lang, Daniel Breiman – Belle Sherman Elementary School; Holly Hollingsworth; Nancy Metzgar; Tom Hanna; Tammy Baker, Downtown Outreach Worker; Cynthia Brock, Common Council; Michael Thorne, Superintendent of Public Works MINUTES On a motion by Dan, seconded by Roberta, the August minutes were approved as revised. On a motion by Margaret, seconded by Dan, the September minutes were approved revised. ADDITIONS TO THE AGENDA Jeanne would like to talk about bench placement on the waterfront trail. PERSONS TO BE HEARD None. OLD BUSINESS CEMETERY SPRINT. Ellen reported that this year’s sprint was a huge success. There were more than double the number of participants from 2014. Ellen is working with Cynthia to 2 develop a proposal for bringing the cemetery under the purview of Parks Commission. NEW BUSINESS BELLE SHERMAN – POTENTIAL REVITALIZATION PROJECT FOR STRAWBERRY FIELDS Teachers are working with new standards and “case studies” initiatives that urge an integrated curriculum. This directs study to a larger project, something that connects with the larger community and across disciplines. Some teachers are interested in investigating animal life in “the back area.” So there is a proposal to develop pathways and seating areas in Strawberry Fields Park. The entrance would be from Cornell Street, although students would not enter from that point. Monica Lang, a Belle Sherman third grade teacher, presented her class’s detailed proposal for a natural trail. The proposal is the creation of an easy‐to‐follow path, using a deer path as a guide, by adding mulch. Over 60 parents have volunteered to build and maintain the trail. Different phases of this project were detailed, and a much later phase would involve creating a trail down to the creek. A statement “Building a Belle Sherman Nature Trail” was distributed, in which students outlined five major reasons that they and the community should join to build a Belle Sherman Nature Trail. Monica noted that she has been bringing her classes to natural areas for years. There are four discreet phases that involve construction and use of the space.  Phase one: create a walking path that is open to the public.  Phase two: create curriculum for this area  Phase three: create additional paths and benches  Phase four: create a path down to the stream Margaret asked if all of the property was parkland. Jeanne had checked this prior to our meeting and reported that the entire area is a single parcel that is parkland, with the exception of a small area around the water tower. Belle Sherman Principal Daniel Breiman noted that the school was seekinga Classroom Connection Grant and is also seeking donors. The school would also ask the school PTA to support and participate. The Ithaca City Scho ol District and the City could create a memorandum of understanding permitting use of the parkland by the school for educational purposes. Dan Krall would like to work with the group. He feels that access to the park from Cornell Street would be difficult. He suggested access from the northeast corner. He would also like to see the park be a great community park and a sked if the community has been part of this school‐driven initiative. Dan suggested talking to Rick Manning and perhaps forming a non‐profit “Friends of Strawberry Fields,” which would provide a non‐profit umbrella for donations. 3 Randi Beckmann, teacher, said she also lives in Belle Sherman and that the conversation has been ongoing about this space. The school wants to host a community meeting about the. Are there issues such as ADA that they need to think about? Dan said that we need to be careful not to get anything into the creek, such as an excess of mulch. Jeanne said that a trail to the creek would have to be professionally designed but that is a later phase of this project. Cynthia asked about how the school would feel about people walking through school property to access the trail or the park. Currently the entrance road said “no trespassing.” The principal said he would address signage. Ellen noted that there is no real entrance to the park, as a garage has been built over the original entry parcel. Margaret and Dan observe the steepness of the entrance from Cornell Street. Dan noted that the Town‐City line is right at the eastern edge of the park and perhaps the Town would be a participant in work on Strawberry Fields. He a dded that there might also be access from the East Hill Recreation Way. Dan noted that this could be a proposed capital project for the City’s budget cycle next year but not this year. It would be a proposal for 2017. Dan is envisioning a running path and drainage in the park somewhere in the future. On a motion by Margaret, seconded by Dan, the Parks Commission voted unanimously to support Phase One ‐‐ creation of a nature path. The Commission requested that all future phases be presented for further review. DEWITT PARK PROBLEMS AND SOLUTIONS There are two threads of conversation concerning the park – the social problems (drugs, smoking, behavior), and the physical and social health of the park. Dan noted that we need to address the problem and the people. Ellen noted that the Commission’s primary focus is to keep the parks safe and usable. Holly Hollingsworth, volunteer, stated that he is in favor of keeping the hedge on the Buffalo Street side. It helps to shield the park from car noise, pollution, and garbage. The hedge keeps leaves contained in the park. He understands that people may feel that visibility is important but feels the hedge is very important. He volunteers in the park as part of the veteran’s group that adopted the park. He feels that the drug problem in the park is quite bad and added that some people will no longer walk through the park. He suggested cameras in the park. The church will be putting cameras on their side of the park. His group has $3,000, and he believes the group would be willing to donate it for additional cameras. 4 He asked about lighting in the park. He said that Bill Gray had refused to add lighting in the park. Ithaca Plastics can fabricate light posts for $200 each. Friedman Electronics will provide up to $500 of materials. He believes that additional lighting might help the park be safer and more welcoming. He also suggested that a sign be visible with park hours – stating that the park is closed at 10pm and open at 7am. Presently, the police cannot fine people or ask them to leave. He believes patrolling could be better and that the hedge by the church parking lot could be removed, creating better sightlines for police. Tom Hanna stated that kicking people out of the park will not solve the problem. He also supports retention of the hedge along Buffalo Street, as it is an effective barrier between street and park (noise and visibility). It is a community park, not us vs. them. We would like to expand on what we are now doing. He also noted that there is a homeless and drug community and knows that there is important w ork to be done by local agencies. Nancy Metzger (Dewitt Park Neighborhood Association) urged more communication among stakeholders via listervs, etc. She suggested that the hedge could come down a bit. However, she is not sure if it would remedy the current problems. Tammy Baker is the community outreach worker for the area from the Commons to Rt.13, and from the library to Dewitt Park. She provides support, connects people with services in town. She does walk through the park and if she smells a lot of drugs, can text police. Some are homeless, some are from out of town. She is not an enforcer and can only tell people about smoking regulations. She noted that Jeanne has done trimming around Boardman House and that has helped. She added that the police are short‐staffed, resulting in a very limited presence. The no smoking signs are very high and not very visible. Would it be possible to put T‐free signs at eye level? Jeanne stated that this is possible. Nancy Metzger asked about Holly’s ideas of closing the park early. Tammy Baker asked if some of the lights from the Commons could be reused in the park. Jeanne noted that there is considerable bathroom use in the shrub area by Boardman House, in part due to the fact that there is no public bathrooms available downtown. A port‐a‐john does not work because they are vandalized or used for drug activity. Nancy Metzger questioned whether the construction at the site of the old library will that change the dynamic of the park? There will be more people there. 5 Tammy Baker said that the drug problem is large here. It is not just in the park, but all over. It takes the community, not just the police. There needs to be more of a human presence. She also feels that cameras might help. Jeanne is very happy with the work done near the Boardman House . It looks good and can be maintained. She thinks that vegetation in the park has not always been maintained. There are two boxwoods behind a bench that are now too large. There are juniper bushes behind the monuments and they have kept people off of the monuments. We could remove the boxwood and replace with junipers. Yews are difficult to cut back. She can see both arguments for the hedge – protection and definition, but it does impede visibility. Tom Hanna asked if the hedge could be trimmed in a few spots or opened by one access point? He also would like to see a greater police presence in the park. Cynthia noted that there is no space for people coming to town for services and appointments to sit and smoke. We have banned it everywhere. Nancy asked if we should create a space for these people? Cynthia thinks we should. She suggests that there is a type of lighting that operates on sensors and would be very bright for a period of time and deter people. Ellen noted that people clearly use the park at night. She advocated for a lower hedge and additional lighting. Ellen noted that the entrance to the park is problematic and also suggested that the bushes behind the benches be removed. Possible actions to recommend: Lower the hedge along Buffalo Street Lower existing no smoking signs. Increase lighting. Jeanne notes that the hedge can be lowered but will not regrow quickly. It will take two years to regrow. Jeanne suggests leaving the Buffalo Street hedge but removing the hedge near the church parking lot and the boxwoods by the bench. Jeanne notes that there are many needles there. Nancy Metzger also stated that there are New Roots students in the park. Tammy Baker has communicated with New Roots and passed on information about concerns about inappropriate uses of the park. Dan suggested involving the New Roots students in park improvements. Ellen summarizes the Commission’s recommendation: getting rid of the two boxwoods and the hedge along a portion of the park’s north edge that currently blocks sightlines into the park from the church parking lot. Jeanne will look into the lighting and will have the no smoking signs lowered. On a motion by Dan, seconded by Margaret, the recommendations summarized above passed unanimously. 6 It was noted that the change of hours is a bigger issue. The City Charter mandates park hours from 7am to 10pm, but the Commission has talked about dawn to dusk. This would be a City Code change. WATERFRONT BOAT STORAGE RECOMMENDATION Michael Thorne, Superintendent of Public Works, presented a recommendation from the Waterfront Recreation Committee. The key map created by Waterfront Recreation Committee shows nine possible sites for boat storage racks, concessions, and a storage shed. The racks would be similar to those used in State parks. Portable and permanent concessions would be provided by a vendor. Storage locations are listed. He would like to get the Parks Commission support before consideration by BPW. Common Council would also have to approve these sites. The Waterfront Recreation Committee would like to line up several for next season. Cornell Windsurfing Club would like to have a shed useable by license. A proposed solution would be to add sheds to the existing area by Ithaca Youth Bureau. Dan is not comfortable with site #8, by the large pavilion in Stewart Park. He asks about using more than one rack by the State park racks in the marina abutting Cass Park. Cynthia noted that there are different conditions necessary for different water uses. Ellen asks what is needed from the Parks Commission, and Mike responded that support for all locations would be ideal. However, only #1‐4 are on parkland; sites 5 and 6 are not. Sites 7 and 8 are preliminary and are proposals for some time in the future. Dan is concerned about ensuring good publicity to let people know about rental slips. Jim says there is a process in place that would simply be applied to the storage rack spaces. Mike noted that there is a company interested in a concession in the park. On a motion by Dan, seconded by Roberta, the Parks Commission voted unanimously to support locations 1‐4 of the Waterfront Recreation Committee’s recommendation. WATERFRONT TRAIL BENCH LOCATION Jeanne quickly noted that there is a request to move a Waterfront Trail bench by about 10 feet. The Commission viewed this as consistent with the originally approved placement and does not need further discussion. MEMBER AND STAFF REPORTS UPDATE ON SIGN INVENTORY – POSTPONED UNTIL NEXT MEETING