HomeMy WebLinkAboutMN-PARKS-1996 City of Ithaca Parks Commission -January 9, 1996 -Minutes
Present: JoAnn Cornish, Rick Manning, Nina Bassuk, Margaret Hobe, Scott Whitham, Carol
Reeves, Andy Hillman, Heather Tait, Paul Stevenson, Mayor Cohen
It was agreed that the meetings of the Parks Commission would meet at 4:00 p.m. rather than
4:30 p.m.
Rick Manning was unanimously voted on for vice-chair. Rick accepted.
BPW Report-Carol Reeves: The revised City of Ithaca Parks list is completed and will be
handed out at the 2/13/96 meeting. The Engineering Department asked if tthe Parks Inventory
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survey could be done ASAP. February 13 was the agreed upon date. Andy Hillman sugested
that accessibility be added to the survey as well as the size of the park.
Shade Tree Advisory- Nina Bassuk reported that Bryant Park was slated to get new plant
materials in the spring.
City Forester-Andy Hillman reported that John Schroeder expressed concern over the new
City Park Map which shows Fall Creek as a City park which it is not. Discussion led to a
request for two maps, one showing official City parks and one showning City owned green
space. The map should coincide with the official list. Carol agreed to talk to Tom West about
this.
Hillman reported that the swans are doing fine in the boat house at Stewart Park. He estimates
the swans cost the City between $4,000.00 and$5,000.00 annually for labor and utilities.
There was no one representing Common Council. Reeves said she would remind Mayor Cohen
to appoint a representative.
Circle Greenway-John Ullburg was not present. No meetings have been held. Reeves
questioned the validity of Circle Greenway being incorporated into the Parks Commission. Pat
Kennedy is looking into it.
Youth Bureau -Heather Tait reported that there has not been any progress on the
skateboarding issue but that Mayor Cohen is in favor of the idea.
HUD- Paul Stevenson reported that CDBG projects currently underway include Wood Street
Park, Conway Park and Northside Park. The issue of a new handball wall at Wood Street Park
is still under consideration. The location is in question. Rick Manning agreed to meet on site
with Paul and report back to the Parks Commission. Stevenson reported that he is meeting with
residents of the Conway Park neighborhood on Sunday, January 14. Basketball is still an issue
but it is an established use and the courts are heavily used. The recommended location for the
new play equipment is in the same spot that it was located in originally. this will be built as a
community build in the spring. NOrthside Park will not be started until phase two of the Mutual
Housing project is completed. The park site is to be used as a staging area during construction.
The Adams ROW abandonment issue is still unresolved. Stevenson reported that over the next
three years, there is the potential for 3 million dollars for new projects. Park projects are
primarily to serve low income neighborhoods. Stevenson will attend a Citizens Advisory meeting
and report back to the Parks Commission.
The 1996 Plan of Work for the Parks Commission was discussed. The following was agreed
upon:
1. Complete Park Inventory Surveys by February 13, 1996.
2. Update Circle Greenway/Parks brocure and map.
3. Playground and play equipment recommendations for Stewart and Cass
Parks
4. Plantings at Stewart Park to include physically moving the plants around the
flag pole, moving the perennial gardens and moving the plants in the rose
garden. Design will be done on site. Work days to be in the spring.
Meeting was adjourned at 5:25.
City of Ithaca Parks Commission -February 13, 1996-Minutes
(by JoAnn Cornish)
Present: JoAnn Cornish, Rick Manning, Margaret Hobbie, Scott Whitham, Carol Reeves, Andy
Hillman, Heather Tait
Chairperson Cornish reported that Susan Blumenthal had agreed to be the liaison between
Common Council and the Parks Commission. Mayor Cohen has recommended Ann Look to
be the new Park Commission member replacing Lani Peck who has resigned.
BPW Report-Carol Reeves: The GIAC site is being considered for the skateboarding site.
May 1, 1996 is the target date for the Youth Bureau to move back into the Youth Bureau Building
on Gibbs Drive. The revised Park map has been put on hold while the work load of the
engineering department is being evaluated. First on the list of priorities are life/safety issues,
second are contractual agreements. The BPW will schedule a hearing for the abandonment of
the street ROW at the First Street Mutual Housing site. Reeves also reported on the issue of
dogs on the Commons. People who work on the commons are upset because they are not
allowed to bring their dogs to work with them. A resolution was passed to allow dogs on the
commons with a special permit. This also includes police dogs and seeing eye dogs.
Shade Tree Advisory-Nina Bassuk was absent.
City Forester-Andy Hillman reported on the Bryant Park Neighborhood Survey. Results
included requests for kickball, climbing trees, shade trees, and a vegetative buffer on Ithaca
Road. Andy brought up the idea of a Tree Trust or Friends of the Park Trust to cover costs, not
just for Bryant Park, but all City Parks. Money requested for trees for Alex Haley Pool, Cass
Park and the City Cemetery has been cut from the budget. Also reported, the crew at Stewart
Park is producing new picnic tables for Stewart Park. Reconstruction of the tennis courts has
been completed and as soon as the weather breaks, the nets will be put up. On the issue of
shore cleanup at Stewart Park, Andy reported that the DPW is considering using a tub grinder
which will be parked on the shore to grind up the vegetative debris for mulch to be used in the
park. FEMA monies may be available for the tub grinder. The help of volunteers may be used to
aid in the cleanup as well.
Circle Greenway-John Ullburg reported that he would like to present the Greenway slide
show to members of the Park Commission at some future date.
In Other Business: The location of the proposed handball wall has not been resolved. Wood
Street Park is still the preferred location but there is some concern that another structure will
encroach on the playing fields. Rick Manning will meet with Paul Stevenson of HUD to talk
about a possible location. Reeves mentioned that there is talk of lighting the new basketball
court at Wood Street Park. The issue of who pays for the lights and the times the lights will be
in use and for what group, were some of the concerns brought up with regards to this issue.
Scott Whitham reported that he had been contacted by a graduate student who has to build a
play structure as part of his thesis and wondered if the City would be interested in having it built
in one of its parks. Members were generally in agreement with the idea and asked Scott to
arrange for him to make a presentation to the Parks Commission at the March meeting.
Meeting was adjourned at 5:25.