HomeMy WebLinkAboutMeeting Minutes staff
City of Oshkosh
South Park
SITE MASTER PLAN MEETING MINUTES
Parks Department Staff Meeting
September 30, 2013
2:30-3:30 P.M.
DATE: September 30, 2013
PROJECT: South Park – Site Master Plan Study
Park Staff Input Meeting
PRESENT: Ray Maurer, Parks Director
Bill Sturm
Nick Simons
Bob Stein
Dennis Knickelbein
Michael Marx
Jerry Sitter
Aaron Fabiano
Jay Munig
Steve Bartels
Paul F Brown
Robert Schilcher
Tom Bauer
Jeff Bahling, Rettler Corporation
Rebecca Ramirez, Rettler Corporation
A meeting was held at the City of Oshkosh Parks & Forestry Office (805 Witzel Ave) regarding
the above stated project. The following items discussed and comments/input provided by
parks department employees unless indicated differently:
1. Keep weeds out of retention ponds
2. Walking trail accessibility- need wider paths
3. Jeff Bahling asked if it was possible to mow to the edge of the lagoon and for
opinions about riprap. Reply was vague. Situation not good presently.
4. The park has lost 10’-15’ of shoreline over the last 25 years.
5. Jeff Bahling mentioned that the master plan might look at deepening the lagoons.
6. Jeff Bahling asked about Shelter #3 usage. The reply was that it is used almost
every weekend.
7. Jeff Bahling asked for feedback about the trees. Comments were that there are
quite a few Ash trees in the park and some will have to go in the near future. There
are also many trees around the lagoon and there was some concern voiced about
changes in water features impacting the trees.
8. Would be nice to have a kitchen in the large shelter.
9. During big events, the city closes down the roads around the park and participants
park on the street.
10. Someone suggested putting basketball courts up by the ball diamond as it isn’t
much used
11. Jeff Bahling asked if a lot of people fish in the park. Answer was that DNR stocks
fish annually and people fish for carp in the park all year round.
12. There is a well head north of the basketball courts that needs to be removed.
13. Jeff Bahling asked when the tennis courts had been last resurfaced? Consensus
was about 5+ years ago.
14. Jeff Bahling asked about tennis court usage. Courts are used “some.”
15. Jeff Bahling asked if basketball courts are often used. Yes!
16. Jeff Bahling asked if there were any issues with interaction older and younger
children. Not really.
17. Jeff Bahling asked about the splash pad. Reply was that it is heavily used. It was
installed with a rubber mat surfacing, but that is gone now and it is plain concrete.
The concrete is a better surface however, due to being less slippery. Might want to
change/hardwire the buttons- features should all run independently.
18. The walking trails are well used.
19. Horseshoes are used on Thursday nights.
20. Jeff Bahling asked about neighbor issues. Apparently a few don’t care for the park.
21. Jeff Bahling asked if the park is open in the winter. Answer is yes. The City plows
everything. Visitors come to feed the ducks and geese. During good weather they
bring their children unto the fields. Trails are plowed.
22. Park soil is a silt loam.
23. The suggestion was made to add cross country skiing or snowshoe trails to the
park, however Jeff pointed out a lack of elevation difference. It would have to be a
beginner’s course.
24. Jeff Bahling asked how many people can fit in the large shelter. Answer was about
150.
25. There are quite a few weddings in the park.
26. Jeff asked about the white themed items by southwest corner of park. Apparently
used to be a bandshell that was torn down in the early 80’s. Corner sign on Ohio
Street came in the mid-late 80’s.
27. We should rebuild all shelters.
28. Might be the place to have a good ice rink if the large shelter is reconstructed.
29. Maybe should move shelter and put restrooms on shelter.
30. Maybe we should expand the road loop east around the tennis courts. Reactions
included wondering if bringing cars that far in the park was negative, noting that
there are some very nice trees in that area that would have to come down, etc
31. Jeff Bahling asked if the WWII memorial might need new flags, walks, or other
improvements. Concrete work needed.
32. South Park needs unisex bathroom to assist with inclusive playground use.
33. Ray Maurer asked for opinions on shelter #3. Should it be moved, renovated, or
removed? Someone mentioned switching from a shelter to a gazebo.
34. Lagoon water quality can be improved by dredging the lagoons and catching storm
water silt before it reaches the site.
35. Horseshoes only seems to be used Wednesday night by the league. League was
pressing hard to get them renovated several years ago.
36. Park should have bathrooms attached to every shelter- otherwise rental is useless.
37. Jeff Bahling asked about biker/rollerblader numbers. There are some.
38. A school occasionally uses the park for cross country practice.
39. Regarding the lagoons, Rettler Corp will look into riprap costs, cocoa fiber logs,
native vegetation in some areas, and limestone steppers at the biggest gouge
areas. Rettler will also need to know whether to add fountains and drill a well to add
water to the pond once the quarry closes.
The aforementioned constitutes my understanding of the observed and discussed items. If
any of the above items have been misinterpreted or omitted please contact our office as soon
as possible.
Sincerely,
(Rebecca Ramirez, for)
Jeff Bahling, ASLA Senior Landscape Architect