Consider the Sale of Peltzer Park (Lot 1, Block 5, Peltzer Addition)

As part of the City Owned Land Inventory project, Peltzer Park was identified as 'underutilized', which led to the concept of both selling it, and also moving the play equipment to North Commons.

For the March 12th, 2012 Mayor's Town Hall Meeting, the proposal of selling the park was communicated to Peltzer Park area residents via the first letter (attached), with the invitation to come to the meeting to learn more about the proposal and offer comment on the subject.  Those comments are summarized in the first portion of attachment entitled 'Feedback' (other comments and correspondence on this subject are also within this document).

Although no formal notification is required at this time, area residents of Pelzter Park were notified of the Work Session discussion.

One of the assertions against the proposed sale of Peltzer Park and the relocation of the play equipment was that the assessment that the park was 'underutilized' was both incorrect, and not quantified. To address this concern, a trail camera with motion sensor was placed above the play equipment in an ash tree viewing the play structure.

The camera was installed on a late Friday afternoon before a fairly decent (weather) weekend  and documented use during the weekend of the March 24th -25th.  The camera was programed to take images a maximum of every ten (10) minutes.  The park was the subject of use each day, with what appears to be approximately twenty (20) groups of people, with an average of about three (3) individual in each group.  Staff can show these 'snapshots' of park use at the meeting.

The camera recorded approximately 40+ photos, which equates to 400 minutes of play equipment use.  With an average of three (3) persons there each ten (10) minute interval, this would be twenty (20) hours of recreation during one (1) weekend in March (400/60 minutes = 6.7 hours. 6.7 hours x an average three [3] persons each ten [10] minute interval equates to about twenty [20] patron hours of play equipment activity).

Given these numbers, Staff would like Council consensus on whether or not to proceed with the proposed sale of Peltzer Park, and the relocation of the play structure.

The second letter sent to the Peltzer Park neighborhood was mailed March 27th, 2012 inviting comment or attendance at this work session meeting.

Funding is not required as part of this work session case; however the question is rather to:
 

1. Continue the approximate $1,000 in annual maintenance expenditures for the park - or-
2. Relocate the play equipment and sell the one-acre corner lot (with the proceeds returned to the park system).

Consensus discussion on whether to continue to organize for the sale of the one-acre lot known as Peltzer Park (and relocate the play structure), or take no further action at this time.