Como Park Master Plan
Don Ganje explained the Como Park Master Plan at a District 10 Community Council open house meeting held Mar. 30, 2009 at the Street Car Museum. The best way to view videos is to choose “HQ” full screen.
Read the Como Park Master Plan
To view full screen, double click and choose “slide show”
Can you explain how Como Park is financed?
When asked to explain how various parts of Como Park are financed, Mike Hahm did his best in this “off to cuff” reply at the District 10 Community Council “Como Park Master Plan” open house at the Street Car Museum, March 30, 2009.
The Como Park swimming pool replacement design process began with the the formation of a design task force made up of community members, city staff and external aquatic consultants.
The process to design a replacement for the Como Park swimming pool began Oct., 2008.
The design task force members brainstormed and voted on key concepts.
Project manager Don Ganje presented design concepts his team thought the group was asking for (4 pg PDF). The committee was told to voice their opinion, yes or no, as they went through these lists.
A 2 day design “charrette” was open for community input. Five design concepts were presented on day one. Based upon feedback and comments, two design concepts and 6 pool features were voted on during the second day.
Parking and traffic circulation was also addressed (Don Ganje presentation in video below).
Consultants from US Aquatics, Anthony Kell Architects, City Parks Design Staff, Lynn Waldorf, and others collaborated to come up with a draft schematic design which was presented at the March 26 meeting (video below). After comments the design was approved for further detailing.
Mayor Chris Coleman commented and took questions at the Como Park auditorium about budget cuts.
Alice Hauseman explaining how our Minnesota budget will be balanced at the Town Meeting held at the Como Park Pavilion Feb 28, 2009.
John Lesch addressed the community at the Town Hall Meeting about the Minnesota budget at Como Park Feb 28, 2009.
There was a town hall meeting at the Como Park Pavilion Sat. morning, Feb 28, 2009. Senator Ellen Anderson addressed the group, responded to questions, and made note of suggestions.
Town Hall Meeting, Ellen Anderson from Art Oglesby on Vimeo.
Last fall the City of Saint Paul explained the process for redeveloping the Como Park swimming pool. The adjacent Woodland Classroom and McMurray Field area along with their parking and traffic needs will be included. You can learn more by clicking the link below.
Como Park Swimming Pool Redevelopment
The Como Pool Planning Committee members are providing input to US Aquatics, Anthony Kell Architects, and the City Parks Design Staff & Planning Committee. One activity was to choose key words describing what they wanted. The twelve members were then told to “vote” for their top four choices via colored stickers. (Clicking on the photo makes it larger.)
At the third planning session, project manager Don Ganje presented design concepts his team thought the group was asking for. The committee was told to voice their opinion, yes or no, as they went through these lists. (These lists should show up on the city website soon)
Como Park swimming pool is closed
The City of Saint Paul Division of Parks and Recreation is planning a complete redevelopment of the Como Regional Park Pool and adjacent facilities located at Horton Avenue and Lexington Parkway in Como Regional Park, Saint Paul, Minnesota.
US Aquatics and Anthony Kell Architects will collaborate with the City Parks Design Staff & Planning Committee to design an aquatics facility “Master Plan” that Saint Paul Parks and Recreation and the Saint Paul community can support and be proud of.
Process
The city wishes to develop a comprehensive design beyond just the Como Pool area which includes other adjacent proposed areas and uses:
Proposed Como Woodland Classroom
McMurray Field area
Vehicular circulation improvements and impacts for the entire study area
Schedule
The overall project approach anticipates four (4) primary phases of work:
Phase I – Study area site analysis including traffic and circulation study, program development, preliminary design, and schematic design
Phase II – Design Development
Phase III – Construction Management
Phase I – October 2008 – March 2009
Budget
We currently have funding for phase I ($220,000) through Metro Parks but anticipate additional funding from 2010/11 CIB and Metro Parks.
Estimated Total Project Budget: $7.22 million
– Construction Budget: $5,921,220
– Design Engineering: $1,299,780
Planning Committee
The Como Pool Planning Committee will have a representative from each of the following groups.
Parks & Rec Comm
District 10 Communty Council
District 6 Community Council
Star Swim Club
Lap Swimmer
Lexington Pkwy Resident
Council Member Lee Helgen
Council Member Russ Stark
Municipal Athletics
Woodland Classroom
Youth Community – Regular User
Neighborhood Pool User
Click this link if you wish to fill out an application to be on the Como Pool Planning Committee
The Planning Committee recommendation goes to the Parks & Recreation Commission. The Parks & Recreation Commission then makes a recommendation to the Mayor of Saint Paul. The Mayor looks at it and judges whether it meets the Park’s Master Plan guidelines. The Mayor then sends the plan to the Saint Paul City Council who has the funding authority to pay for the project.
If all goes will ground breaking might happen in 2010.
The video below is from a public meeting presenting the Como Pool renovation process to the public. For more information, contact: City of St. Paul Park & Recreation Director, Bob Bierscheid, (bob.bierscheid@ci.stpaul.mn.us).
Como Park Swimming Pool Planning Committee from Art Oglesby on Vimeo.
Sholom Home for sale
The Sholom Home at 1554 Midway Parkway is currently for sale. RS Eden is exploring development of the current Shalom Home building into an affordable, supportive, sober, permanent rental housing option for individuals. The Sholom Home sits across from the State Fair Grounds entry gate on Snelling Ave. and is a few blocks West of Como Park.
RS Eden seeks community partnership
Dan Cain, President of RS Eden, wrote an open letter to the Como community (click link to read entire letter) from which I snipped these quotes.
We asked for a meeting with the community, not to propose a project, but to determine whether or not a project would work in Como and, if so, to solicit a partnership wherein the community would be involved in planning the project. We did not make a purchase offer on the property.
Our projects all had a lease expectation of the tenants that they live sober, both on and off the premises, and that they be productive. For most of them this last means work, for some, who are disabled, this means community volunteerism.
Our projects were developed with the neighborhood as a partner and, as a result, all of them had a covenant with their host neighborhood that there would be NO sex offenders, no arsonists and no predatory drug offenders.
Reaction to RS Eden makes the media
Websites provide information
Several websites hope to help you find information about RS Eden and the Sholom Home proposal. I recommend Sale of Sholom Facts (click link to go to their home page). Their navigation box (upper left) links you to these addition pages
The District 10 Como Community Council website at comopark.org has created a web page titled Sholom Home Reuse Information. This page includes a letter from the Land Use committee chair and the agenda for the land use committee meeting being held Oct 7 (7 pm) at the Street Car Museum located at Horton and Lexington Pkwy N. The process District 10 uses to evaluate land use issues is also explained.