Chairman Woody Woodburn, Jennifer Young, Bryan Sykora, John Dupont, Charty Oliver, John Flynn, Jean Midthun, Lucy Hicks, Administrator Dana Young

Hans Larson, Council Liaison Jon Monson

The Committee approved the August 4, 2004 minutes on a motion by Lucy Hicks, seconded by Bryan Sykora. Motion declared carried.

Tim Summer and Reid Ringstead were present to propose the installation of a Frisbee golf course at Thorpe Park. Reid Ringstead explained that Frisbee golf is similar to regular golf with the exception that Frisbees are used instead of a golf ball and the object is to get the Frisbee into the basket. He stated Frisbee golf courses range anywhere from 9 – 36 holes and the baskets are installed permanently in the ground.

Tim Summer stated that the cost to install a Frisbee golf course includes $250 - $500 for each basket and a cement pad that is installed for each tee box. Reid Ringstead stated that the portion of Thorpe Park that they are interested in using for Frisbee golf would be from the area north of the playground area to around the pond. He stated that this area is not heavily used and would lay out well for a nine-hole course. He added that they are working on a video that will explain more about Frisbee golf and will show how the course would fit at Thorpe Park.

Woody Woodburn thanked both Tim Summer and Reid Ringstead for their excellent presentation. He requested that they mark out the proposed course, put together a petition of those individuals who would be interested in playing Frisbee golf and bring the completed petition and video back to the Committee at their October 6^th meeting.

John Flynn stated that he thought Frisbee golf was a neat concept but questioned whether the course would really be used and felt that Thorpe was too compact and heavily used to include a Frisbee golf course.

Woody Woodburn commented that the east side of Thorpe is not a high activity area and questioned how well a Frisbee golf course would fit in this area. Woody Woodburn again thanked Tim and Reid for their efforts and asked them to return next month with the additional requested information.

Woody Woodburn stated that he would like to take the majority of the meeting to discuss the input that was received during the August 12^th Town Hall meeting on parks, beaches and trails. Charty Oliver stated that she felt the attendance would have been much better if the meeting had not been held in August. Jennifer Young added that the poor attendance was also likely due to the fact that there was a six week lag between the notice of the meeting in the July Newsletter and the meeting.

Woody Woodburn stated that Kathe Flynn had suggested installing a canoe launch, moving the boardwalk further back to expand the beach area and relocating the sun arbor away from the beach to the grass area to the east. Lucy Hicks stated that she likes to sit in the sun arbor to get out of the sun and felt that parents would want the sun arbor close enough to the beach to watch their kids.

Further discussion was held on removing the boardwalk and asphalt path, and reinstalling the boardwalk where the asphalt path currently sits. Woody Woodburn stated that this would expand the beach and still retain the boardwalk, which appears to be a popular feature. The Committee decided to not act on this issue at this time but to continue to obtain feedback on this proposal for future consideration.

Further discussion was held on installing a canoe launch. Jennifer Young stated that the launch could go over the storm drains that are located on the north side of the slides. Dana Young stated that another temporary launch could be installed on the ramp. He added that a permit from the LMCD would likely be required to install the launches. Lucy Hicks questioned how many would actually use the launch? Woody Woodburn stated that he was unsure but felt it would be a nice amenity. Dana Young stated that the Boat Committee intends to consider the installation of a canoe launch at their next meeting and that funding for the project would come from the Marina Fund. The Committee recommended that the Boat Committee install a canoe launch over the culvert on the north side of the slides and one at the St. Louis Bay ramp, if possible, on a motion by Bryan Sykora, seconded by Woody Woodburn. Motion declared carried.

Woody Woodburn stated that he was also struck by the Mayor’s comments regarding storm water runoff. Discussion was held regarding the possibility of improving the drainage at Deephaven Beach and Nocomo Beach and of installing prairie grass in front of the slides at St. Louis Bay as recommended by Kathe Flynn.

Woody Woodburn stated that there was also some questions regarding the paddle tennis court area. John Dupont suggested that the Committee review the Amesbury Park area at next month’s meeting.

Discussion was held concerning ice rink maintenance and whether keys to the warming house could be issued prior to the arrival of warming house attendants. Dana Young stated that keys were issued to a couple of families last year with daycare businesses that wanted to use the Thorpe warming house during the day.

Discussion was held on whether to hold neighborhood meetings the first half-hour or so of the meeting to try to get input on neighborhood parks. Woody Woodburn stated that notices could be sent out prior to each meeting inviting residents to the meeting who reside within 300 feet of a particular park. Dana Young stated that it would be difficult for City staff to do this every month since the notices would have to be sent out manually. As an alternative, he suggested that one neighborhood park meeting be scheduled quarterly with the mailing of the City Newsletter providing notice of the meeting. The Park Committee recommended that an article be sent in the October Newsletter inviting residents to attend the October 6^th Park Committee meeting to discuss Village Hall Park.

Discussion was held regarding Ray William’s comment at the Town Hall meeting that too much mulch was used around each of the city trees. The Committee asked Dana Young to inform the Public Works Department to cut down on the amount of mulch that is used to border city trees. Jean Midthun expressed her concern regarding the health of three pine trees at Thorpe Park. The Committee recommended that a professional arborist be hired to provide an inventory on the health of the trees at Thorpe Park.

Woody Woodburn asked each Committee member to keep working on their wish lists for their assigned parks and beaches.

Bryan Sykora stated that his company is looking to improve the handgrips at the new climbing structure at Thorpe Park next week. The Committee thanked Bryan for all his work in obtaining the climbing structure for the City of Deephaven.

Discussion was held regarding improvements to the warming houses at Thorpe Park and Village Hall Park. The Committee recommended that two windows be installed on the north and east side of the warming house at Thorpe Park to give the warming house attendants a better view of the skating rinks on a motion by Bryan Sykora, seconded by Woody Woodburn. Motion declared carried.

The Committee further recommended that the warming house at Village Hall Park be re-sided or painted before the end of the year.

Woody Woodburn stated that work on the 2005 Park Improvement Budget will begin next month. Dana Young provided an update on the progress of 2004 projects.

Jean Midthun mentioned that grass was growing over the path at Thorpe Park.

Charty Oliver stated that a "Please announce yourself" sign should be posted on the LRT Trail.

Jennifer Young recommended that a notice on Buckthorne should be included in the October Newsletter. John Flynn added that warming house hours should also be included in the newsletter and recommended holding an open house at the Village Hall ice rinks the Saturday before Christmas.

John Dupont stated that he intends to attend a meeting regarding endowment programs and will provide an update to the Committee later this year.

Woody Woodburn asked the Committee how involved they would like to be in the landscaping design of the Fire Station? The Committee indicated that they were comfortable with the plans proposed by Clm. Paul Skrede prior to tonight’s meeting.

Woody Woodburn adjourned the meeting at 9:15 p.m. The next regularly scheduled meeting of the Park Committee will be held on Wednesday, October 6, 2004.