Receive Status of Decommissioning Titterud Park's Tennis Courts

As part of the August 13th, 2013 City Council case to refurbish six tennis courts at Central, Fox, and Riverdale Parks, Council also authorized Staff to remove the fencing and broken pavement that was part of Titterud Park's tennis courts.  This removal has not taken place yet.

Earlier this winter, two residents conceived of re-using the pavement and fencing at the park as a proposed, raised bed community garden site. (The fencing would provide deer protection, and the pavement would provide ADA wheelchair accessibility to the raised beds.)

Because City Council direction was to remove the courts from the park, the purpose of this case is to receive Council acknowledgement that the removals are not scheduled yet, to allow for a spot in the Ramsey Resident about the proposed community garden - to ascertain potential interest in the concept and location.  The following is the aforementioned 'spot' that would be placed in the next Ramsey Resident (space permitting):

'Proposed Raised-Bed Community Garden in Ramsey
Residents in the vicinity of Titterud Park are inviting other interested residents of Ramsey to explore a collaborative to build a gardening site by converting the current Titterud tennis court location into a protected, raised-bed garden site.  If you would like to learn more and be a part of the planning of this resource that could be used by Individuals, families  and groups within our community, please come to a meeting [details…], or contact _______at 763-xxx-xxxx or email  xxxxx@_______for  additional information'.


 

There are several issues that would be need to be addressed before the former tennis court site could be converted to a community garden site - most notably a water source (well) and funding. Rather than invest time into detailed planning and developing a proposed budget, Staff is recommending an incremental approach in supporting the two resident's request - first and foremost, determining if there is enough interest in the community (receiving feedback from the article, and a Facebook post as well).

If there is not a viable number of people to support and sustain the proposal, there is no further action required, and Staff will proceed with the fencing and asphalt removal as time allows.

No funding is required at this time.

Staff recommends approval of this consent agenda item, to authorize retaining the Titterud Tennis Court surface and fencing to allow staff to explore creation of a community raised-bed garden and the placement of the Ramsey Resident article in an upcoming edition.

Authorize retaining the Titterud Tennis Court surface and fencing to allow staff to explore creation of a community raised-bed garden.