051402 PK WS MIN
CITY OF SHOREWOOD 5755 COUNTRY CLUB ROAD
PARK COMMISSION WORK SESSION COUNCIL CHAMBERS
TUESDAY, MAY 14, 2002 FOLLOWING REGULAR MEETING
MINUTES
1. CONVENE PARK COMMISSION MEETING
Chair Arnst called the Work Session to order at 7:54 P.M.
A. Roll Call
Present: Chair Arnst; Commissioners Callies, Young, Bertlett, Meyer, and Palesch; City Engineer
Brown; City Council Liaison Lizée; and Mark Koegler of Hoisington Koegler
2. MASTER PLAN REVIEW - FREEMAN PARK
As part of the Shorewood Parks Master Plan Review, Chair Arnst introduced Mark Koegler, of Hoisington
Koegler Group, who conducted an exercise to bring focus to the discussion of Freeman Park from the last
meeting. He supplied each Commissioner with a worksheet including a draft of the park and its identified
users and facilities, sticker pages in both red and blue of the various activities that could be done at the
park, and then asked them to envision where it is they see the park in approximately ten years. Mr. Koegler
allowed the Commissioners approximately 15 minutes to place their red or blue stickers on their sheets
depending on their perceived level of importance and summarize in one to two sentences Freeman Park in
10 to 20 years.
After everyone was given an opportunity to complete their exercise, Koegler quickly tallied the responses.
Upon first glance, Koegler was able to identify several trends. Based on the Commissioners answers, it
appeared most everyone felt that active future use of the park outweighed passive uses. Each Commissioner
gave individual summaries of Freeman Park as follows:
Lizée viewed the Park as mainly open to large groups for its uses, offering hourly rental equipment for
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more passive use, and more overall use of the multi-use facilities and concessions.
Callies summarized the use of the Park as a multi-use park open to all ages.
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Chair Arnst felt the Park would offer a balance of the interests of all groups within the community.
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Bartlett felt the Park would be similar to what it is today, offering many of the same opportunities it
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currently offers, in addition it would benefit new groups/users like lacrosse, etc.
Young believed the Park will be a multi-use facility that draws a diverse user.
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Palesch viewed Freeman Park moving away from the current sports organization emphasis towards
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more of a family park, attractive to seniors as well. She felt baseball and softball would likely find a
new home, where they have fewer restrictions, more parking, and more fields. She believed the park
would offer a greater variety to the community, its families, and senior users. Palesch maintained that
the Park would become a recognizable gathering place in Shorewood, providing its identity.
PARK COMMISSION WORK SESSION MINUTES
April 23, 2002
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Meyer believed Freeman would be a place for all users, less active than it is now, with a little more
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emphasis on family use.
Koegler observed that no drastic changes were immenent, but merely adjustments were the recommended
course of action by most Commissioners. He stated that there seems to be a common interest in diversity
or balance, noting that currently, the seniors could be more adequately served in the future. Koegler
pointed out that there is great interest to market Freeman as the gathering place of Shorewood residents.
Chair Arnst explained that in her view, no sole activity should out shout any other activity. She maintained
that Park Management is the key to obtaining a proper balance within Freeman Park, upon which many of
these things hinge.
Callies stated that she disagreed with the elimination of some of the sports organizations. She maintained
that the park cannot and should not try to be everything to all audiences and that there needs to be a place
in Shorewood for its sports users. She continued that those users do consider sports as a social gathering.
Lizée pointed out that sports in general may trend in various directions over the years which would
naturally change the parks emphasis.
Koegler stated that he would make an outline for the Freeman Park Comprehensive Plan to examine at a
later date. As a Shorewood Community Park, if the Commission desires the gathering place concept most,
they will need to carve out a niche for it in the future plans. Chair Arnst asked Koegler to factor in formal
park management into his report as the Commission works on a recommendation. Koegler agreed,
maintaining that developing the criteria for management is the key.
Young voiced his concern over expanding activities at Freeman Park at the loss of those successful ones
that exist there currently. He added that before additional activities are considered, the City needs to solve
the current parking issues that exist first.
Koegler closed by pointing out that the City has a great place in Freeman, with great facilities, and
everyone wants to be there, but they don‘t all fit; its a mixed blessing.
3. ADJOURNMENT
The Commission will meet next on Saturday, June 8, 2002, at 8:30 A.M. at Silverwood Park for Park Tours.
The Commission will not meet again for a regular meeting until June 11, 2002, at 6:30 P.M. at Freeman Park
for a tour and meeting which Mark Koegler will attend.
Meyer moved, Bartlett seconded, adjourning the Park Commission Work Session of May 14, 2002, at
9:00 P.M. Motion passed 6/0.
RESPECTFULLY SUBMITTED,
Kristi Anderson
Recording Secretary