05-21-2018 Minutes CITY OF HOPKINS
PARK BOARD MEETING MINUTES
May 21, 2018
A regular meeting of the Hopkins Park Board was held on May 21, 2018.
I. CALL TO ORDER
Kyle Kaczmarek, Park Board Vice-Chair called the meeting to order at 6:40 pm.
Il. ROLL CALL
Present were Park Board members: Emma Figgins, Kyle Kaczmarek, Laura Santiago and Mohamed
Warsame. Caroline Rinker was absent. Also present was Steve Stadler, PW Director/Park Board City
staff liaison.
III. APPROVAL OF MINUTES
Minutes for the March 26, 2018 Park Board Meeting:
Laura Santiago made a motion to approve the minutes, seconded by Emma Figgins. The motion passed
with a 3-0 vote. Mohamed Warsame arrived at the meeting just after approval of the minutes.
IV. BUSINESS
A. Park Board Action Items &Updates—Stadler provided the following updates:
- Burnes Park Improvements—Work is underway to complete the splash pad and pavilion to
be open for the Memorial Day holiday weekend.
2018 Hopkins Pavilion Upgrade/Central Park warminghouse—construction is underway,
and progressing on schedule. The mid-April blizzard created a couple lost days but overall
the schedule looks good. Schedule is for construction completion and ice skating on the new
indoor rink by Sept 10, 2018.
Elmo Park Park Valley Playground, Central Park Pickleball courts—these are planned 2018
park improvements. The Pickleball court construction is underway. Completion is
anticipated in late July/early August. Work on the play equipment replacements and the
sport court at Elmo Park should start in early June.
Update/Discussion: Oakes Park Cricket field up rg ade—Masaood Yunus, Strykers Cricket
Club was introduced to the Park Board members and presented an educational video on
Cricket play. Afterward, there was a wide-ranging discussion on the state of Cricket in the
Metro area, Cricket pitch area upgrade options and how Oakes Park could be developed,
given its somewhat limited playing area, into a possible youth Cricket hub for the area.
There is currently a strong emphasis on expanding the sport to include more youth, children
and women. The Park Board will continue to gather relevant information and consider the
possibility of Cricket field development at Oakes Park and its impact on the park and its
users.
- 2 -
B. Central Park planning
There was discussion on the public outreach component of the Central Park Improvement project,
including on-line options, social media along with a couple public meetings similar to what was done
while designing the Burnes Park improvements. It was agreed that the timing of the outreach could
begin possibly this coming fall—this is currently a proposed 2021 project.
C. Other topics of interest
Kyle Kaczmarek requested that the Board relook at the park assignments.
There was a question regarding the adequacy of bike racks at the parks. Stadler will look into the
current status and report back.
Emma Figgins mentioned the community clean-up event recently held at Valley Park—very
successful with a lot of junk collected from the park areas and creekside.
Laura Santiago mentioned that she is planning on moving out of the city this coming fall.
D. Park Area Assignment Report—.no park assignment reports this meeting.
Kyle Kaczmarek: Harley Hopkins Park, Hilltop Park, Interlachen Park, Shady Oak Nature
Area
Emma Figgins: Cottageville Park, Oakes Park, Maetzold Field, Hiawatha Oaks
Caroline Rinker: Shady Oak Beach, Minnehaha Creek Preserve, Elmo Park
Mohamed Warsame: Buffer Park, Park Valley Playground, Valley Park
Laura Santiago: Burnes Park, Downtown Park, Central Park
V. NEXT SCHEDULED MEETING:
The next regular Park Board Meeting is 6:30 pm on Monday, June 25, 2018.
VI. ADJOURNMENT
Emma Figgins moved to adjourn the meeting, seconded by Laura Santiago. The motion passed 4-0.
The meeting adjourned at 7 5 p.m.
Attest:
r
/ , Chairperson