Park Commissioner John Erwin wrote: >> No decision has been made about DeLaSalle having a new football field on Nicollet Island. All Commissioners have seen plans for a facility mostly using the existing football field that is already there. The general proposal simply was to upgrade the existing field (make it bigger and re-grade/surface), add some seating (hardly a stadium), and possibly add lighting. They proposed at that point that Minneapolis Park Users would be able to use this facility for soccer and other sports activities when not being used by the kids, thus providing a new field for general use. Nothing is being sold. All Commissioners suggested that neighbor support would be critical to the project and no cost to the Park Board. Also, as this was acquired through regional dollars there are other issues, as mentioned by another post, that would have to be resolved.<<
Barry Clegg responds: The plans we saw (I have a copy if anyone is interested) involve significantly more than "upgrading" the existing field. They involve turning the existing field, which runs parallel to the main building, so that it runs perpedicular to the building, crosses the street (which would be permanently closed) and covers several acres of Park land (recently planted with trees pursuant to the master plan finalized only 10 years ago)up to the railroad tracks. The plans we saw included bleachers, lights, a concessions stand, a softball field and other unnmamed facilities (potentially batting cages and practice areas). To me, this is significantly more than "upgrading" and just making the existing facility "bigger." While maybe nothing will be sold, it will at least be transferred via long term lease, likely 99 years, which is the same as a sale, at least as far as everyone reading this is concerned and for purposes of the Park Board's own rules. While the fact that the field will be available for use by city kids when DeLaSalle is not using it, assuming the gate is unlocked, has some value, the questions for our Park Commissioners are - What is the best and highest use for this Park land that benefits the citizens and park users of Minneapolis? Is it a football field primarily intended to serve a private institution? How many other football fields do we have in this town and how many better places are there to build them if we need more(see previous posts)? Is this the highest and best use of one of the gems of the City's Park system? Barry Clegg Nicollet Island REMINDERS: 1. Think a member has violated the rules? Email the list manager at [EMAIL PROTECTED] before continuing it on the list. 2. Don't feed the troll! Ignore obvious flame-bait. For state and national discussions see: http://e-democracy.org/discuss.html For external forums, see: http://e-democracy.org/mninteract ________________________________ Minneapolis Issues Forum - A City-focused Civic Discussion - Mn E-Democracy Post messages to: mailto:[email protected] Subscribe, Un-subscribe, etc. at: http://e-democracy.org/mpls
