Manhattan Park District’s Round Barn Farm Park received approval, pending final attorney review, for annexation into the Village of Manhattan after park board approval on August 14.
The annexation agreement had been under review for months by both parties as they worked out the details, and Executive Director Jay Kelly said the agreement is 99 percent of the way there. This allows the lawyers to make any finishing touches that will enable the village to proceed with the process of formally annexing the property.
The formal annexation process will require publication and a public hearing held by the village after the two parties’ lawyers formalize details of the agreement.
Formal annexation would merely put the park district’s property within village limits; it would allow for tax revenue to go to the village versus the county, as well as benefits for the park district to access and tap into the village’s water and sewer system. The park district will continue to maintain ownership of the Round Barn Farm property.
Round Barn Farm and the round barn itself continue to undergo significant renovations. The board formally approved a resolution accepting an agreement with Arete 3 for architecture work for interior renovation.
Last month, the board had approved an agreement for architectural services for the same work with architect Jon Ditter; however, due to unforeseen circumstances, Ditter advised the district he would not be able to adhere to the timeline and recommended Arete 3, which the park district already has worked with on other projects.
The ground-floor buildout is anticipated to include restrooms, a storage room, a serving bar area with walk-in cooler/storage, an ADA lift and elevator room, a mechanical room, a catering/warming space, a coat room, and an interpretation space. The space will have ground-floor radiant heat and electricity.
Kelly explained the goal is to keep as much of the raw character and original lumber of the historic Round Barn intact, while providing must-have services, such as bathrooms, sprinklers, and electricity, for example.
The board also reviewed the possibility of engaging in a site plan fee agreement with Arete Design Studio for a 57,000-square-foot sports complex to be constructed on a 10-acre site owned by a private landowner adjacent to the existing Round Barn Farm.
However, the board was split with a 2-2 vote and one abstention, so the park district will not move forward with pursuing this development at this time.
Kelly advised that the conversation was primarily to explore potential opportunities, but given the ongoing renovations at Round Barn Farm, it was sensible for the board to wait.
Fees for the site plan were set at $5,000, with a $2,500 retainer required. The board felt that, should this property be developed, the developer should at the very least split the cost of a site plan with the park district, and the burden should not be on taxpayers.
If it had passed, the site plan would have included the 57,000-square-foot sports facility, combination football/soccer/lacrosse fields, parking for 100 to 150 vehicles, a combination softball/hardball field, a connection to Round Barn Farm to the west, and off-site detention.
In other news, summer programming is winding down, with fall programming coming up.
The park district’s maintenance department installed a 30-foot flagpole at Round Barn Farm. Water main installation preparations were made at the construction site, along with water main installation at the barn. Drainage pipe around the barn to the Blacksmith building was completed.
Maintenance also removed a fallen tree at the park, completed several general grounds cleanup items, and cleaned up debris from an unauthorized fire at the future building site at Round Barn Farm. The pickleball net also was repaired on the Round Barn Farm grounds.
Formal land dedication of two subdivision parks, Stonegate and Prairie Trails, was approved by the board, which formally transfers ownership, responsibility, and maintenance to the park district.
Kelly explained that Prairie Trails was a unique case, which ultimately is preferred, as the impact fees were paid up front, allowing the park district to immediately move forward with park construction before the subdivision was fully built out. Stonegate did not have that same agreement, which is why its park has yet to be constructed. The intention is for the Stonegate park to be developed at some point in the future.
Ivanhoe subdivision’s park construction has begun, and the playground equipment is expected to be installed the week of August 18, at the time of this article’s publication.
Bills totalling $396,878.46 were approved. A complete breakdown of expenses was provided in the packet. Additionally, a fund summary detailed $91,891.20 was from the corporate fund, $288,910.10 from the capital fund, and $16,067.16 from the recreation fund.
The park district is preparing for a site visit from PDRMA, which provides insurance and risk management services. A safety committee has been formed within the park district, and its first meeting will be held in August to review policies and procedures ahead of the visit. Kelly advised this is a biannual review, and he is proud they’ve consistently had high marks, showing they make safety a priority.
Stephanie Irvine is a freelance reporter.