HomeMy WebLinkAbout2002-10-02 Public Works Director Memo Re Trail @ 57th & 58th St. Intersection �ra`o2. r( 11 I�
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Oak Park Heights
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Interoffice Memo
To: Mayor and City Council Via Friday Packets October 4, 2002
From: Public Works Director, Jay Johnson, PE
cc: City Administrator
Date: 10/02/02
Re: Friday notes Trail at intersection of 57th and 58th Street in Valley View Estates
Trail at intersection of 57th and 58th Street in Valley View Estates which leads to the
west end of Valley View Park was ground down last week by Wright Tree Service as
part of their Xcel Energy contract to clear under the power lines. This trail is located
on Rayme Johnson property according to the county plat maps and the Valley View
Estates Phase II engineering drawings. The trail runs from the grass street ROW to
grass trails in Valley View Park. Wright Tree Service was not directed by the City to
grind the trail. I discovered the work after it was done. From a maintenance point of
view the grinding of the rotted boards and wood chip trail will produce a cost savings
to the City and result in a better maintained nature trail in this area. Now that the area
is cleared of the 2X8's and brush that had grown on it, we can smooth and plant the
area with a playfield grass seed mixture. Routine maintenance of both this segment
and the grass trails that it connects to can now be performed by our mowing
contractor on the same frequency that the parks are mowed.
Background: The trail in this area was reported to have been an Eagle Scout Project.
In fact it was constructed by Public Works personnel with directions from Roger
Benson on the design. Timbers were staked in the ground and wood chips placed
between the timbers. Unfortunately, the area below the woodchips was not lined with
a fiber blanket, was not sterilized with a chemical plant steriliant and the space
between the boards was to narrow to be maintained with the equipment the City owns.
The trail was also a hindrance to access the Valley View Park by maintenance
equipment. In the 4 to five years that the trail had been in existence the 2X8 wood
edges had rotted away in several spots and were broken in others. Due to having one
less staff member this summer this path was only mowed twice this summer. When
we mow the trail we have to lift the mower above the level of the timbers leaving
stubble.
TREE CITY U.S.A.