July 23, 2014 at 2:10 p.m.
Wetland study is finished (05/03/06)
Portland Park Board
By By RACHELLE HAUGHN-
The results of a survey doused the spirits of some board members.
The findings of a wetland study recently completed for Hudson Family Park were announced Tuesday night. Members of the Portland Park Board appeared to be disappointed with the results, which show that location of existing wetlands could complicate development of the park.
Nola Albrecht, landscape architect for The Schneider Corporation, told board members that areas designated as wetlands can only be disturbed if permission is granted by the Indiana Department of Natural Resources.
Albrecht showed park board members where the wetlands are located. The largest wetland is in a wooded area and its outskirts, consisting of about five acres at the north end of the park, adjacent to existing nature trails.
The pond was planned to be built adjacent to the woods. If the pond is built as planned, it would overlap with the wetlands, which could only be allowed with permission from DNR, she said.
“(The large wetland) is smack dab in the middle of everything, it looks like,” said board member Kent McClung.
“We lose a lot of the park by not using the wetlands for the pond or at least part of the pond,” said Neil Medler, park board president.
There also are two other small wetlands. One is located near the center of the more than 30-acre park, and the other is at the south side of the park, Albrecht said.
Because of the location of the wetlands, some of the park features may need to be moved or altered, Albrecht said.
The edge of the pond will have to be reshaped so it doesn’t overlap with the large wetland. Also, the trail head will have to be moved.
This was planned to be built where a small wetland currently is located, near the center of the park. It will have to be shifted east, she said.
The city could get a permit to use the wetlands, but other wetlands would have to be created to replace the ones used, Albrecht said. Board members gave no input on whether they want to use the wetlands or work around them.
In a related matter, Albrecht announced that the first design review for the park is expected to be submitted to the Indiana Department of Transportation by the end of May or beginning of June.
This set of preliminary plans for the park’s trail system will include expected elevations of the trails. Such information must be submitted to INDOT at least three times because INDOT is funding the trail system work through a grant.
In other business, board members gave Jeff Harker, street and park department superintendent, permission to ask for a ban on alcohol in all city parks.
Harker asked the board to consider the ban because he has received a complaint from a member of the board of directors for the Portland Junior League.
Linda Kennedy, city clerk-treasurer, said this morning, there currently is no ordinance in place which bans alcohol in parks.
Harker, who said Tuesday he would first review the city ordinances to see if there currently is one which bans alcohol in parks, said he would request action by the Portland City Council.
Also Tuesday, board members heard Harker say he recently had short poles installed along First and Hayes street, near Portland Pool, to keep vehicles out of the grass. He also had no parking signs erected.
People have been parking in the grass and tearing it up, he said. The poles and signs were installed last week.
Board member Larry Freyburgher asked if people were parking in the grass for Portland Junior League baseball games because there aren’t enough parking spaces.
“We never do” have enough parking, Harker said. If a new street and park department building is constructed at Hudson Family Park as planned, the current building could be razed to make more parking spaces, he said.
Freyburgher also said he has received complaints that there are not enough handicapped parking spaces in the recently paved lots at Weiler-Wilson Park.
Harker said two spots were created, but he wasn’t sure if there are guidelines on how many handicapped spaces are required in a lot.
Albrecht said there are guidelines in place. She said she would look into the matter and let Harker know what they are.[[In-content Ad]]
The findings of a wetland study recently completed for Hudson Family Park were announced Tuesday night. Members of the Portland Park Board appeared to be disappointed with the results, which show that location of existing wetlands could complicate development of the park.
Nola Albrecht, landscape architect for The Schneider Corporation, told board members that areas designated as wetlands can only be disturbed if permission is granted by the Indiana Department of Natural Resources.
Albrecht showed park board members where the wetlands are located. The largest wetland is in a wooded area and its outskirts, consisting of about five acres at the north end of the park, adjacent to existing nature trails.
The pond was planned to be built adjacent to the woods. If the pond is built as planned, it would overlap with the wetlands, which could only be allowed with permission from DNR, she said.
“(The large wetland) is smack dab in the middle of everything, it looks like,” said board member Kent McClung.
“We lose a lot of the park by not using the wetlands for the pond or at least part of the pond,” said Neil Medler, park board president.
There also are two other small wetlands. One is located near the center of the more than 30-acre park, and the other is at the south side of the park, Albrecht said.
Because of the location of the wetlands, some of the park features may need to be moved or altered, Albrecht said.
The edge of the pond will have to be reshaped so it doesn’t overlap with the large wetland. Also, the trail head will have to be moved.
This was planned to be built where a small wetland currently is located, near the center of the park. It will have to be shifted east, she said.
The city could get a permit to use the wetlands, but other wetlands would have to be created to replace the ones used, Albrecht said. Board members gave no input on whether they want to use the wetlands or work around them.
In a related matter, Albrecht announced that the first design review for the park is expected to be submitted to the Indiana Department of Transportation by the end of May or beginning of June.
This set of preliminary plans for the park’s trail system will include expected elevations of the trails. Such information must be submitted to INDOT at least three times because INDOT is funding the trail system work through a grant.
In other business, board members gave Jeff Harker, street and park department superintendent, permission to ask for a ban on alcohol in all city parks.
Harker asked the board to consider the ban because he has received a complaint from a member of the board of directors for the Portland Junior League.
Linda Kennedy, city clerk-treasurer, said this morning, there currently is no ordinance in place which bans alcohol in parks.
Harker, who said Tuesday he would first review the city ordinances to see if there currently is one which bans alcohol in parks, said he would request action by the Portland City Council.
Also Tuesday, board members heard Harker say he recently had short poles installed along First and Hayes street, near Portland Pool, to keep vehicles out of the grass. He also had no parking signs erected.
People have been parking in the grass and tearing it up, he said. The poles and signs were installed last week.
Board member Larry Freyburgher asked if people were parking in the grass for Portland Junior League baseball games because there aren’t enough parking spaces.
“We never do” have enough parking, Harker said. If a new street and park department building is constructed at Hudson Family Park as planned, the current building could be razed to make more parking spaces, he said.
Freyburgher also said he has received complaints that there are not enough handicapped parking spaces in the recently paved lots at Weiler-Wilson Park.
Harker said two spots were created, but he wasn’t sure if there are guidelines on how many handicapped spaces are required in a lot.
Albrecht said there are guidelines in place. She said she would look into the matter and let Harker know what they are.[[In-content Ad]]
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