Boulder Town Park Committee Meeting Notes – November 1, 2006

In Attendance: Committee Members: Scott Brodie, Walt Gove, Tom Jerome, Gladys LeFevre, Mark Nelson and Peg Smith. Landscape design team liaison: Tim Clarke.
This meeting was called to choose specific projects for inclusion in the future Boulder Town Park development and to decide which projects should be given priority.

Current Business:
The meeting was opened with a discussion of Town Park options based on the assumption that the Boulder Town Council would vote against participating in the UDOT plan for a restrooms and a rest stop.

Although there is still approximately $50,000 available for work on the Town Park, some of these funds may be used to pay a portion of the design costs of the UDOT plan. Funds that remain will be used for town park projects. There is also approximately $39,000 in a planning grant that must be used for the planning process. Tim Clark stated that this amount should be sufficient for planning of the proposed projects (see below). And, any planning will be done as needed over an extended period of time.

The committee agreed that projects for the immediate future should be located in the higher use area around the Town Hall and Post Office buildings. Concern was raised over the need to plan for any Town Hall Renovation and Post Office Expansion, so fund that are spent will have lasting value.

Parking issues were discussed. At this time it seems that there is adequate space for parking. There may also be space on the east side of the street across from the post office, depending on the street easement. More parking should be planned in the future development of the parkland to the south of the present town complex.

The committee agreed that further planning will be needed for town park development, but it is important that some projects be completed in the near future. It was agreed that the priority for projects should be the area around the Boulder Town buildings, with development of the open land to the south reserved for later. The present consensus for development is that the area around the Town Buildings should be more formal for community activities; while the open space should be a less formal area.

The committee agreed upon the following projects as priorities:
New information kiosks near the Post Office.
Sitting area/benches near Post Office.
Landscaping of the corner west of the fire house.
Sprinklers and grass for field north of the town hall for general use.
Upgrading the children’s play area and equipment.

These projects were chosen with the understanding that Boulder Town is currently considering renovation/expansion of the Town Hall building and there may be need for a Post Office building expansion in the future. The Park Committee will request information on a footprint for the proposed town hall building, so that any work performed will not be affected by future building projects.

The possibility of moving the chain link fence on the west side of the town land was discussed. This would add additional land for Town Hall expansion and activities areas.

Any projects that are planned need to be performed with an appreciation for maintenance costs.

During the discussion of planning the formal park area recommendations came from the Park Committee concerning aspects of the Town Hall/Community Building:

Inclusion of indoor and outdoor entrances into common restrooms. This would provide access to a restroom for the community without it becoming a roadside rest stop.
Remodeling of the kitchen with access to a covered veranda area for serving outdoor meals during community activities.

The Park Committee reviewed a large array of items to be considered for inclusion into any future park development. These are listed below in a general order of priority.
Formal Park Area (around present town buildings):
Items listed above.
Outdoor cooking facilities with increased tables for picnicking/town activities.
Ramada (covered/shaded area)
Horseshoe pits
Fire pit
Open space park (field east of Route 12 & south of C Street):
Restroom (basic pit toilet type)
Open ditch waterway landscaped with local rock.
Naturalistic amphitheatre.
Naturalistic play area.
Informal picnic area.
Trees for shade.
Shallow pond area (could also be used for ice skating in winter).
Other:
Horse/bike/walking path on town property along Route 12.