HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes - 1/31/2007 - Parks and Recreation Committee PARKS AND RECREATION COMMITTEE MEETING
Wednesday, January 31,2007
Municipal Center Council Chambers, 7:00 p.m.
`-- In Attendance: Committee Members: Chairman Alderman Peterson, Alderman Schaefer.
Absent: Alderman Santi.
Also in Attendance:
1. Steve Halberg, Bonestroo, Devery& Associates, Libertyville IL 60048
2. Pete Merkel, Director of Parks and Recreation
3. Kathleen Kunzer, Deputy Clerk
4. Bill Hobson, Assistant City Administrator
5. Cindy Witt, Superintendent of Recreation
6. Pattie Lunkenheimer, Athletic Program Coordinator
7. Tom Schmidt, Supt. Forestry and Park Planning
8. Jon Krajci, Bonestroo, Devery& Associates, Libertyville IL 60048
9. Ambrose Kittl, Supt. Parks Maintenance
10. Paul Nadeau, Planning and Zoning Comrnission.
11. Jack Proes�l, Parks Maintenance.
12. JefFDiedrich, MASF, 3908 W West Avenue, McHenry IL 60050
13. Val Hobson, 5112B Thornwood Drive, McHenry IL 60050
14. Dawn Anderson, 1019 N Oakwood Drive, McHenry IL 60050
15. Kevin Kutz, 1118 Front Royal Court, McHenry IL 60050
16. Mike Sikula,, P O Box 1471 McHenry IL 60051
17. Bill Oef�ling, 1513 N Freund Avenue, McHenry IL 60050
18. Todd King, 3711 Geneva Place, McHenry IL 60050
� 19. Arlene Kaspik, McHenry Public Library, 809 N Front Street, McHenry IL 60050
20. Kevin Harder, 2133 Hazelwood Drive, McHenry IL 60050
21. Vic Freund, McHenry Jr Youth League, 34642 Iroquois Trail, McHenry IL 60051
22. Maureen Andrews, 3120 Bre�tons Drive, McHenry IL 60050
23. Carrie Sabatka, 208 S Loch Glen Lane, McHenry IL 60050
24. Alderman Geri Condon, City of McHenry
25.Meghan Sullivan, Garden Quarter Resource Center, 4508 Garden Quarter Rd #36, McHenry
IL 60050
26. Gary Lechner, 3108 Beach Drive, McHenry II, 60050
27. Dennis Dreher, 7219 Millburne Court, McHenry IL 60050
28. Todd Marler, 5004 Bonner Drive, McHenry IL 60050
29. Father Robert Sherry, Church of Holy Apostles, 5211 Bull Valley Road, McHenry IL 60050
30. Ra,ndy Patterson, 6322 Chickaloon Drive, McHenry IL 60050
At 7:00 p.m. Director of Parks and Recreation Merkel welcomed everyone and stated the
purpose of the evening's meeting is to obtain public comment and input regarding the City's
Draft Parks and Recreation Master Plan prior to presentation to Council for approval in March.
Parks and Recreation Master Plan Discussion
Director Merkel invited Steve Halberg of Bonestroo Devery and Associates to make his opening
presentation of the Plan.
� Mr. Halberg nuted his firm has been working with the City since last March in planning and
developing a new Comprehensive Parks and Recreation Master Plan. Meetings have previously
been held where public input has been sought. The results of those meetings are contained in the
Parks and Recreation Committee Meeting
January 31, 2007
Page 2
``-- Plan being presented for further public comment this evening. It is anticipated the Draft Plan will
be presented to City Council for consideration in March 2007.
Mr. Halberg summarized the process to date, noting inventory has been taken of all City parks
and facilities and compared the results to Illinois Recreational Facility Inventory standards. A
determination has been made as to where the City is lacking in parks and/or services. All
standards are based on actual as well as projected future population.
Mr. Halberg explained the parameters and size of each of the following park service areas:
Mini Parks
Neighborhood Parks
Community Parks
Crreenway Parks
School Parks.
Mr. Halberg noted although the City owns 633 acres, certain acreage is designated open space,
and unusable for active park land. The ratio of park land per person is l lac/1,000 which falls
below the requirements of the Subdivision Control and Development Ordinance (SCDO) which
states 15ac/1,000 persons. Mr. Halberg suggested the City acquire additional land to meet the
standards of the SCDO.
Mr. Halberg stated the City has mature parks and recreation function, facilities and
� programming. The impact of surrounding areas outside of the corporate limits needs to be
considered, particularly as these areas have no organized recreational programming events and/or
facilities. Many of these residents would likely depend on City Parks and Recreation Department
for these activities.
Mr. Halberg presented visions created by public comment and charettes for each of the following
parks and noted Bonestroo Devery and Associates recommendations as well:
- Althoff Park
-Boulder Creek Park
- Cold Springs Park
-Fox Ridge Park
-Knox Park
-Miller Riverfront Park
-Pheasant Valley Pa.rk
-Petersen Park Waterfront
-Petersen Park Historic Farm
-Wheeler Fen Park
- Whispering Oaks Park
-Brookside Trail Park
- Center Street Park
- Creekside Trail Park
-East Beach Park
� -Fox Ridge Park connection to Whispering Oak Park
-Freund Field
- Jaycee Park
-Lakeland Park
Parks and Recreation Committee Meeting
January 31, 2007
Page 3
�-- -North Oak Park
-Pebble Creek Park
-Petersen Pazk Athletic Field
-Petersen Park Picnic Area
- West Beach Park
Mr. Halberg stated the Plan also includes recornmendation the City acquire additional park land,
for open space and active use areas. The land acquisition could include expanding the size of
some of the existing parks as well as creating new park facilities. The Plan targets �eneral areas
for need of further parkland in the northwest quadrant, the southwest quadrant, and the southeast
quadrant. Specific areas for location of these parks would be decided by City Council review,
consideration and action.
Lengthy discussion followed regarding the need for additional baseball fields, softball fields, and
soccer fields for�ames and practices. It was noted there are currently 60 teams in the McHenry
Jr Youth League. Park facilities are inadequate to support the practices and games. It was also
pointed out if the VFW ever rescinds their offer of allowing the Jr. Youth League to use their
fields, there would be nothing available to accommodate the league. Additionally, the only 90'
baseball diamonds in town are on the high school property.
Suggestion was made to create a large activity complex similar to Crystal Lake's Lippold Park.
A request was made that the next three developers who present subdivisions to the City for
�. approval be required to donate 20 acres of land designated for parks baseball fields. It was noted
off-street parking should also be included.
Mr. Halberg suggested the SCDO be amended to specify the qualities of the required land
donation so that the land is usable for park activities, such as ball diamonds, soccer fields, etc.
Noting the decentralization of park facilities, a suggestion was made to accept monetary
contributions in the next few years instead of land donations, in order to amass enough funds to
purchase a 60-100 acre site which could be turned into a"Lippold Park" type facility in town.
Referencing the District 156 land east of the Fox River, it was suggested the City partner with
the school district to construct softball fields, baseball diamonds and saccer fields along with
parking facilities which could be utilized by the City. If the District ultimately constructs a
school on the site, the amenities akeady constructed could be utilized by the school at that time.
Some discussion followed regardin� the City utilizing school facilities for parks and recreation
programming.
A sug�estion was made to liquidate the smaller pa.rks in town, sell the land for residential
development, and use the proceeds to purchase a larger park site for active recreation.
It was noted the soccer fields at Althoff Park are substandard due to the poor soil quality and it
� would be in the best interest of the soccer athletes to relocate them elsewhere.
Parks and Recreation Committee Meetin�
January 31, 2007
Page 4
L-- Residents of the McHenry Shores area requested McHenry Shores Beach Park be changed form
its cunent status as a passive park to active, and to include a playground, picnic benches and
fishing pier.
Mr. Halberg sought suggestions for recreational activity trends of the future. Activities such as
disc golf and lacrosse were suggested. It was also noted winter sports activities should be
reviewed and additional ones considered.
Director Merkel reminded everyone Bonestroo Devery and A,ssociates will take all input into
consideration and bring a revised draft of the Plan before the Parks and Recreation Committee at
its February 21, 2007 meeting. The Plan will then be considered for adoption by Council
sometime in March.
Director Merkel and Mr. Halberg thanked everyone for their attendance and participation in this
evening's discussion.
Adiournment
The meeting was adjourned at 9:00 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
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Robert J. Peterson, irman
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