P'111LUP5POOL&GYM 8MSf'H CEDAR AVENUE FELD LOCATON AND HSTORY Cedar Avenue sts on a porton of a block between Cedar and 18th Avenues n the East Phllps neghborhood. mmedately to the north s the Lttle Earth Resdents Assocaton (LERA) buldng and the Lttle Earth of Unted Trbes Communty s located across Cedar Avenue to the east. Cedar Avenue serves as the prmary publc park for the Lttle Earth Communty. n the summer of 1916 MPRB receved pettons from area resdents for a neghborhood park. MPRB reached out to Davd Stewart of St. Albans, Mane, who had.:;,. l...... 1, _,... -11.-r m,u,vou dt rho'l!...... c1t..., r MCRAE... L,ke t t...,.. LO -,1,...m L,...,.,,v,«m fell:l.o b...,..!..,,......!.. Mnneapols N prevously donated land and funds to create Stewart Park farther west. n October of 1916 Stewart donated 1.89 acres of land (about one-half block) across 25th Street from the orgnal South Hgh School. n response to requests for mprovng the land n 1919, the park board authorzed spendng up to $1,000 to mprove the empty ground for a small combnaton baseball and football feld. The acton came n response to several requests, ncludng one from the coach at South Hgh School for hs teams to be able to use the feld. Ths was part of an overall plan for the park, featured n the 1919 annual report, whch ncluded a playground for chldren, a small shelter and wadng pool. The estmated cost of the plan was $30,000, whch would have been assessed aganst property owners n the area. The park s named for the street that runs alongsde t. Wthout assessment, the park board could only mplement the ballfeld, so n 1920 the feld was graded and a backstop and benches were nstalled, as well as a sandbox for chldren. ground equpment was nstalled n 1921. n 1973, the 212-unt housng development Lttle Earth was constructed east of Cedar Avenue and on the land occuped by the orgnal South Hgh School. Lttle Earth s the only Amercan ndan preference project-based Secton 8 rental assstance communty n the Unted States. Cedar Avenue was upgraded n 1969 wth the nstallaton of playground equpment and creaton of a hard-surfaced play area. The park was renovated agan n 2003 wth new playground equpment, a basketball court, and landscapng mprovements. The hard courts were resurfaced n 2011. EXSTNG CONDTONS AND CHARACTER Cedar currently contans a play area, a basketball court wth two back-to-back hoops, and an nformal MNNEOLS PARK AND RECREATON BOARD SOUTH SERVCE AREA MASTER PLAN 83 open feld that s used for baseball practce and other lawn actvtes. Pathways wander through the park, wth benches and pcnc tables scattered throughout. The park s protected from busy Cedar Avenue by a low berm and fence. Addtonal fencng along the southern edge of the park separates t from housng and an alley. Yet another fence defnes the northern boundary of the park and creates a separaton between the Lttle Earth buldngs and the park. Near the northeastern corner of the park, a pedestran brdge wth swtchback ramps allows pedestrans to cross over Cedar Avenue to other areas of Lttle Earth. Durng the communty engagement process for Cedar Avenue, safety concerns were frequently expressed. Specfcally stated was the fact that the park may be servng as a safe haven for llegal actvty. As descrbed repeatedly by communty members, the Lttle Earth Communty, beng prvate, can patrol for and evct trespassers anywhere untl they enter the publc land of the park. An ongong dscusson about makng the park more safe, potentally through nvolvement by Lttle Earth, s warranted. Overall, the park s a shady greenspace wthn a dense urban communty. t s only a few blocks from East Phllps Park but has a much dfferent user group and a much dfferent feel. Cedar Avenue seems more relaxed and passve than East Phllps more casual and cool. The amentes wthn the park are n moderate condton, though several safety concerns were rased related to specfc park assets. The communty notes regular sale of llegal drugs from cars parked for extensve perods of tme along 18th Avenue. Those drugs are often used mmedately n the park, on the benches and tables along 18th, and paraphernala s often dsposed of n the playground sand. Chldren and parents regularly fnd needles and other materals n the playground, and currently MPRB s mantenance staff sft the sand regularly to remove them. The benches and tables are n very poor condton and the playground surfacng should be reconsdered. CH 4 NEGHBORHOOD PARK PLANS CEDAR AVENUE FELD
CONNECTONS BETWEEN PARKS Wayfndng and connectons from Cedar Avenue should focus on: Exstng Condtons: Cedar Avenue MNNEOLS PARK AND RECREATON BOARD SOUTH SERVCE AREA MASTER PLAN 84 The Cty of Mnneapols 18th Avenue bkeway, whch connects north to East Phllps Park and south to the Mdtown Greenway.
MC Structure E 25TH ST Swmmng Nature Premer Group Shelter Structure footbrdge Exstng Swmmng Swmmng Swmmng Work wth Cty to explore parkng restrctons / lmtatons Group Shelter Gatherng Structure Gatherng Swmmng Nature NOTE: ATHLETC FELDS Basketball Basketball Lawn / Walkng Nature Dsc Golf Nature Cout Restroom/ Buldng ATHLETC FEL MC Walkng Structure Nature Structure Structure Tenns Communty Adult Ftness Urban Nature Agrculture (many tmes overlappngsports wth Structure Premer Structure Gatherng Structure Gatherng Structure Dsc Golf Gatherng WalkngSports UPDATE EXSTNG ATHLETC FELDS Wadng Dog Park MC Communty Premer Swmmng Dsc Golf Lawn / WNTER USE NEW/ ADDED multuse feld quantty shown) LANDSCE (many tmes overlappng wth Sleddng Hll Beach Access Restroom/ Buldng multuse feld quantty shown) Premer Nature Sports Gatherng Gatherng Premer Skatng Splash Pad Communty Dsc Golf Tenns Nature Swmmng Structure Gatherng Lawn / Dog Park Communty Basketball Sports Tenns Communty Adult Ftness LANDSCE Hockey Restroom/ Buldng Communty Cout Dsc Golf Lawn / Basketball Nature GroupShelter Shelter Lawn / Group Premer Swmmng (many tmes overlappng wth Structure Year-round Lawn / Restroom/ Buldng Restroom/ Buldng Tenns Tenns GatherngCout Premer ATHLETCPremer FELDS Tenns Beach Access Structure Lnear Park SkateSkate Park Warmng House Basketball Restroom/ Buldng Communty Wadng BasketballSports Premer WNTER USE Basketball LANDSCE Nature Structure Cout Swmmng Lawn / Sleddng Hll Cout Dsc GolfWNTER USE Sports Nature GatherngCout LANDSCE ATHLETC FELDS E 26TH ST LANDSCE Restroom/ Buldng Skatng Sleddng Hll Tenns Premer LANDSCEDsc Golf ATHLETC FELDS Nature Basketball Skatng WNTER USE Tenns WNTER USEStructure Tenns Communty WNTER USE (many tmes overlappng wth 1:20 1:20 Sleddng Hll 0 10 20 40 10 20 40 Hockey Sleddng Hll0 Cout multuse feld quantty shown) FELDS Tenns ATHLETC Basketball Basketball Lawn / Sleddng Hll Exstng Condtons: Cedar Avenue LANDSCE Communty Premer (many tmes 1:30 1:30 overlappng wth Skatng Year-round Skatng multuse feld quantty shown) 0 20 40 0 60 20 40 60 Dsc GolfHockey Basketball Cout Nature Skatng Restroom/ Buldng Cout MNNEOLS PARK AND RECREATON BOARD SOUTH AREA MASTER PLAN LawnSERVCE / Premer Structure Warmng House overlappng Year-round Cout(many tmestenns wth 1:40 1:40 0 84-1 20 40 80 40 80 WNTER USE 0 20 Restroom/ Buldng Swmmng Dsc Golf Premer Dsc Golf Nature CEDAR AVE S MC MC CH 4 NEGHBORHOOD PARK PLANS CEDAR AVENUE FELD D 18TH AVE S P Swmmng Walkng Gatherng wth (many tmes overlappng multuse feld quantty shown) Premer Skate Park
THE PROPOSED DESGN The desgn for Cedar Avenue s meant to mprove safety n the park whle also brngng new and unque amentes for a larger age range of youth n the neghborhood. The playground s retaned n ts same general locaton though refurbshed at the end of ts useful lfe. The playground area has a full reslent rubber surface (or equvalent), whch wll prevent the dsposal of drug paraphernala. As ths s a crtcal concern for the communty, t would be possble and recommended to replace the surfacng n the short term, even f the playground equpment tself s not mmedately replaced. Another change meant to mprove safety s the removal of all seatng on the 18th Avenue sde of the park. A new pcnc area, wth tables, grlls, and a small open-ar shelter, s located n the northeast corner of the park. Ths area though closer to Cedar Avenue wll allow for the desred use of the park for pcnckng, but create less of a convenent grounds for drug purchase and use. n addton, MPRB should work wth the cty and communty to advocate for restrcted parkng along 18th Avenue, to prevent longterm stagng of drug sale vehcles. Overall the park features a curvng path wth more actve uses on one sde and open green space on the other. The green space accommodates a practce baseball feld wth backstop but can also be used for pck-up soccer, kte-flyng, lawn games, gatherngs, and other uses. The actve sde ncludes the playground, a new full-court basketball court (whch could nclude multple baskets at varyng heghts along the sdelnes for mult-age play) and a paved volleyball court. A skate tral snakes along the eastern edge of the park, between the courts and the Cedar Avenue fence. Ths lnear skate faclty wll attract a varety of age groups to the park and mprove safety through ncreased actvty. The tral should be hard surfaced and nclude a varety of banked curves, jumps, rals, and other exctng features. At the northern end of the park, adjacent to the Lttle Earth buldngs, the desgn breaks down the barrer between park and Lttle Earth, n order to facltate more delberate use of the park by youth and adults n the communty. A new plaza stretches from the southern buldng entrance nto the park. The plaza could feature large tables for games and homework, permanent png-pong tables, large-scale chess and checkers, and other fun deas for play. Ths space s meant to be very flexble, to be used for outdoor classes, kds hangng out, famles havng lunch together, formal ceremones, and whatever else the communty can thnk of. To the sde of ths s a small water-jet play area. Ths feature wll help actvate the plaza, provde a lovely backdrop for the park as a whole, and also offer a small scale water play zone. The jets can be turned off and the area converted to a small stage for performances, gatherngs, and ceremones. The programmng of the plaza and water play spaces should be consdered an open dscusson wth the Lttle Earth Communty and larger neghborhood. Regular nvolvement n and use of the park by the mmedately adjacent communty wll ncrease safety n the park and make t more fun for all users. MPRB should contnue dscussons wth the communty about management and programmng of the space, for the mutual beneft of communty youth and MPRB mantenance and publc safety staff. OPERATONS ESTMATE Throughout the dscussons of the desgn concepts, the communty had many suggestons and deas related to lghtng and fencng. These dscussons should be contnued durng detaled desgn. Lghtng n the park s mportant for safety reasons, and permanent cameras should be consdered. Fencng along 18th Avenue s not recommended, except where necessary for the baseball damond. Fencng along Cedar Avenue and the southern property lne s retaned, but the northern fencng between the park and Lttle Earth s removed to allow mproved connectvty. KNOWN LAND USE AND COORDNATON SSUES Coordnaton wth Lttle Earth of Unted Trbes wll be necessary durng mplementaton of the northern plaza space, as t wll cross the MPRB property lne. Lttle Earth was nvolved n the master plannng process and communty members endorse ths concept. Coordnaton wth the Cty of Mnneapols and advocacy from the East Phllps mprovement Coalton (EPC) and Lttle Earth wll be necessary to mplement parkng restrctons along 18th Avenue. Total Per Unt FACLTES Operatons Cost Qty Cost $ 15,000 1 $ 15,000 Half Basketball $ 1,000 2 $ (2,000) Full Basketball $ 1,500 1 $ 1,500 Gatherng $ 10,000 1 $ 10,000 $ 4,000 1 $ 4,000 $ 7,500 1 $ 7,500 Dfference $ 36,000 MNNEOLS PARK AND RECREATON BOARD SOUTH SERVCE AREA MASTER PLAN 84-2
PROCESSES 1: General nput 2: ntal Concepts 3: The Preferred Concept Fall-Wnter 2016 Wnter-Sprng 2017 Now nput themes pror to ntal concepts nput themes on ntal concepts Key elements of the concept courts athletcs play aquatcs wnter Want a water feature n the park: a pool or splash pad equpment sn t very nce and needs renovaton Sand surface s a major safety problem: drug paraphernala s often hdden n the sand Open feld space s mportant, for baseball practce and general play Basketball very mportant n the park would be nce Lke water-jet plaza Prefer play area n same general locaton, not nearer to 18th Avenue Strongly support playground wth all reslent surfacng Real need expressed for baseball practce feld, about same sze as today Lke full court basketball Hard-court volleyball wll be used Addton of water-jet plaza as flexble play space play area renovated n generally the same locaton as exstng Commtment to playground wth reslent surfacng, for safety reasons, grass-nfeld baseball feld renovated n generally the same locaton as exstng, wth mproved backstop and fencng Replacement of small half-court basketball wth full-court, n same general locaton as exstng Addton of hard-court volleyball no comments no comments No formal wnter facltes planned for ths park CH 4 NEGHBORHOOD PARK PLANS CEDAR AVENUE FELD MNNEOLS PARK AND RECREATON BOARD SOUTH SERVCE AREA MASTER PLAN 84-3
PROCESSES (CONTNUED) landscape other 1: General nput 2: ntal Concepts 3: The Preferred Concept Fall-Wnter 2016 Wnter-Sprng 2017 Now nput themes pror to ntal concepts nput themes on ntal concepts Key elements of the concept no comments specfc to Cedar; many comments want more natural areas n parks Safety at the park s a major concern, consder addtonal lghtng, earler park closure, more actvty to brng people n Concern about lack of connecton between park and Lttle Earth communty 18th Avenue frontage s a major concern: the area attracts crme and drug use Concern that park s a "safe haven" for perpetrators of crme, because t can't be managed the same way as the rest of Lttle Earth no comments specfc to Cedar; many comments want more natural areas n parks Suggest enhanced lghtng and cameras Lke plaza space reachng north to LERA buldng Prefer removal of seatng and other actvtes from 18th Avenue sde, as opposed to ncreasng actvty there wth play area Some desre to retan pcnckng on 18th Avenue sde, or return t n the future Suggeston to restrct parkng along 18th Avenue Naturalzed landscape on Cedar Avenue sde of park Though not ncluded at the level of the concept plan, enhanced securty should be consdered n operatons dscussons Addton of northern plaza space ncludng gatherng areas, games, and seatng Tables and grlls relocated to eastern sde of park Addton of a group pcnc shelter Recommendaton to work wth cty to restrct parkng on 18th Avenue Recommendaton contnued coordnaton between Lttle Earth and MPRB on programmng and actvaton of the park MNNEOLS PARK AND RECREATON BOARD SOUTH SERVCE AREA MASTER PLAN 84-4
COST ESTMATE Asset Type Project 2017 ESTMATED COST mplementaton Sequence Prortzaton Category Applcable SSAMP Actons Aquatcs Plaza ncludng pavement and programmable jets $ 328,545 stand-alone (requres some walk renovaton) PLANNED 16, 20a Structure n same general locaton, all reslent surfacng $ 872,698 stand-alone PLANNED 16, 23b, 23d Athletcs Athletc feld renovaton ncludng turf renovaton and backstop $ 386,040 stand-alone PLANNED 16, 21b s Basketball : full court $ 106,777 stand-alone (requres some walk renovaton) PLANNED 16, 22a s : paved $ 65,709 stand-alone PLANNED 16 Landscape Naturalzed areas wthn park $ 6,571 wth skate tral PLANNED 26, 29 gatherng space : plaza wth tables and Other actvtes $ 249,694 stand-alone PLANNED 16 Other Skate Tral: lnear skate park $ 246,409 wth or after basketball PLANNED 16, 18 Other Group pcnc shelter $ 90,350 stand-alone PLANNED 16, 18 Other Renovate walkng paths $ 82,793 wth other projects PLANNED 16 Other Mscl. sgns, trees, furnture $ 15,604 wth other projects PLANNED 9 TOTAL $ 2,385,481 CH 4 NEGHBORHOOD PARK PLANS PARK NAME MNNEOLS PARK AND RECREATON BOARD SOUTH SERVCE AREA MASTER PLAN 84-5