City Council Meeting Date: April 2, 2024
To: Mayor and City Council
City Administrator
From: Charlie Fredericks, Streets and Parks Manager
Title
Consider Resolution Approving the Riverside Lions Park Master Plan.
Body
Action Requested:
Consider Resolution approving the Riverside Lions Park Master Plan.
Summary Report:
The Northfield City Council will receive a presentation from B2 regarding proposed Riverside Lions Park enhancements and final master plan.
This item is continuing work of the Strategic Plan related to implementation of the Riverfront Action Plan with a goal of increasing economic vitality. The original sequence chart includes master planning of the Riverside Lions Park so there could be a clear long-term plan to guide incremental improvements over time. The prioritization of improvements is contemplated to include not only benefit the community users but also be a value-added interest and use of visitors that draw added spending in the community and thus strengthening the economic vitality of the community.
The City has hired B2 to help with developing a master plan for Riverside Lions Park, Northfield Area Veterans Memorial Park, and Ames Park. These parks are connected to the riverfront and the goal is to get a shared vision of the final master plan that can be utilized to develop the parks.
B2 assisted with the community/stakeholder engagement as the master plans for the parks are developed. We have held individual stakeholder meetings with each group (Lions Club, Northfield Veterans Memorial volunteers, Garden Club, etc.) and have now met as a work group four (4) times, as well as held a public open house on January 25th.
Comments and feedback on the current status of the master plan at the open house were overwhelmingly positive; many attendees expressed support for improving the pavilion and playground area, as well as the other enhancements that are identified in the plan. The attendees asked several clarification questions about the project, as well as suggested a couple additional enhancements that were not shown in the plan (i.e. running water for the Farmer’s Market, lawn games and other recreation opportunities for seniors).
Two members of the Park and Recreation Advisory Board have been involved in the work group throughout the process; the full Board has received periodic updates, the most recent being on February 5th. Feedback from the Board has been supportive of the plan; members expressed support for the nature-based play area near 7th Street, the enhancements to the pavilion, and making the restroom universally accessible.
City Council reviewed the draft master plan at the February 13, 2024 work session. A couple of key changes related to Council input:
1. A bathroom was added by the riverside playground (off 7th Street) due the its heavy use and activity in the area.
2. All bathrooms (Lions and Riverside) will be unisex and provide changing tables, etc. to meet building code.
3. Moving the gateway/wayfinding as you come under the Hwy 3 Bridge on Mill Towns State Trail and the Downtown Spur up into the first phase of implementation.
PRAB passed a resolution at their March 4th meeting recommending that Council approve the Master Plan.
Staff is requesting that Council consider a resolution to approve the Final Master Plan.
Alternative Options:
NA
Financial Impacts:
See Plan
Tentative Timelines:
ü June-August, 2023 Individual Group Meetings
ü September, 2023 Working Group Meeting #1
ü November, 2023 Working Group Meeting #2 & #3
ü December 4, 2023 Park and Recreation Advisory Board Update
ü January, 2024 Working Group Meeting #4
ü January 25, 2024 Neighborhood Open House
ü February 5, 2024 Park and Recreation Advisory Board Update
ü February 13, 2024 Council Work Session
ü February 28, 2024 Working Group Meeting #5 - Approval of final plan
ü March 4, 2024 Park and Recreation Advisory Board Approval
• March 12, 2024 Council to vote on Riverside Lions Park Master Plan