Home Page

Isanti develops Wickstrom farm site into park

Posted Online: 11/13/02

By Rachel Weddig

Six years ago, the city of Isanti obtained property from Marlys and Charles Wickstrom and designated it for park purposes.

During that time, members of the Isanti Park and Recreation Board and city staff have been working on different designs and trying to find funds to develop the land into a park. Now they have a concept plan and funding.

At the Isanti City Council meeting, Wednesday, Nov. 6, council members approved the Bluebird Park concept plan and gave city staff permission to continue with the feasibility study to determine the costs and different stages of developing the park. The park will be located along Third Avenue, behind the soccer fields.

"This has been a long time coming," said Isanti Park and Recreation Board member Irene Bauer, in an interview following the meeting. "Everyone on the board is very excited. This is great for the community; for those who live in the community and for those who are moving in."

Over the summer and early fall, the Park and Recreation Board, along with City Planner/EDA Coordinator, Carla Vita, have been working with consultants from the city's engineering firm, McCombs Frank Roos Associates, Inc. to develop the concept plan.

The park is proposed to have 150 spaces for parking, two softball fields, three sand volleyball courts, an outdoor band shell area, two tennis courts, a concession stand, picnic shelters, a horseshoe area and play areas.

Bauer said she estimates the first phase of the park will be developed in the spring or summer of 2003 and hopes the park will be finished in six years.

At an earlier City Council meeting, council members authorized $4,500 for McCombs Frank Roos Associates, to perform the feasibility study.

Concepts to be analyzed in the feasibility report include a utility plan and site improvements such as miscellaneous site removal and athletic turf seeding that will be used for the softball fields.

Other aspects of the study will include the costs of picnic tables, benches, signage, horseshoe pits, tennis and volleyball courts, picnic shelters and more.

Trail Ordinance

Vita explained the Park and Recreation board has been working on a trail ordinance and a trail map. She said the ordinance was to address concerns that city staff, the board and citizens have expressed on maintenance, uses on the trails and the ability for law enforcement personnel to prevent unwanted uses on the trails.

The council approved the trail ordinance that prohibits the use of mopeds, four-wheelers, snowmobiles or similar types of of motorized transportation on city trails, due to the wear on the trail and the noise they make to adjoining property owners.

Vita pointed out that snow removal on the trails is the responsibility of the city's public works department.

The ordinance also clarifies the construction of a trail so developers know what materials have to be used.

In other action the council:

-- hired Patrick Meyer as the new public works director. The position is a salaried position and Meyer will be paid $4,175 per month.

-- Good news update! City Planner/EDA Coordinator Carla Vita had a baby boy, Friday evening, Nov. 8. Vita and her husband Joe named him Angelo John. He weighed 7 lbs. 11 oz. and was 19 1/2 inches long. Congratulations Carla and Joe!