The Superior Express -

Bobbi Pettit of Five Rule Planning, reviewed the results of the Superior Parks and Recreation Survey at the Superior Public Library meeting room last Wednesday with only a handful of people present.

Superior has come a long way in the past 12 years, she said. “When I first started working with the city, we were debating whether or not tires could be piled in a front yard. Today as we entered town, we said ‘Wow, look at that new sidewalk.”

A goal of the survey has been to develop a 10 year plan, to prioritize which items are most important to the public and where to start developing a budget to finance the proposal.

Approximately 220 people completed the survey that was available on-line and at the City Office.

The first part of the of the report focused on the Superior City Park block which includes the swimming pool, museum and T-ball field east of the museum.

Most City Park amenities are concentrated in a half block area.

“Lots goes on in City Park,” Pettit said. “It is a place where people connect.”

Survey results indicate the swimming pool, band shell and modern play equipment are top priorities with the public. Other items people would like at the City Park are a sidewalk around the whole block for walking, a splash pad and a full basketball court. Also suggested was a modern performance center at the south end of the T-ball field so the whole field could be used by a large group of people, expanding the swimming pool with a zero entrance with more shade and better arrangement and cohesion of existing park features.

A zero entrance to the swimming pool would most likely do away with the baby pool and provide an area which could be used by the very young and those with disabilities to enter the pool with no steps.

Issues of concern focused on the swimming pool, safety and keeping the area clean. Vandalism is an ongoing issue at City Park.

Possible ways to address the issues included better lighting and art.

“Lincoln Park is a destination for people,” Pettit said.

Lincoln Park is where people camp, enjoy the shade and have picnics, relax near the pond or fish, watch the fountain and walk. People like the modern play equipment in Lincoln Park and the open space.

So what is missing in Lincoln Park? Defined walking and bicycle trails and a nature trail. People do not want a splash pad in Lincoln Park. It was at the bottom of the list.

“If a splash pad becomes a possibility, they want it to be at City Park,” Pettit said.

Questions related to how sales tax money should be used indicated the public considered the swimming pool to be top priority. Then they would prefer the skating rink be open before making improvements to the park.

The skating rink is not a city owned entity.

In communities similar to Superior, community block grants often provide funding for many of the projects, but they have to be matched by local funding.

The next step in the planning process is for an engineer to do rough cost estimates and to present the plan to the city council. Olson Associates will do cost projections for the swimming pool and splash pad.