Aspen Ridge’s Christensen Park to feature splash pad, four pickleball courts

Does a splash pad outweigh playground equipment?

That was the main topic of discussion at the April 17 Brandon Park Advisory Board meeting. 

Russ Adkins, representing Christensen Development Partners, presented designs for the planned neighborhood park – Christensen Park – in the Aspen Ridge development. The park design – put together by Earthscapes – includes a splash pad, four pickleball courts, greenspace, hard-surfaced pedestrian paths and multiple varieties of trees, plants and shrubs. What the design does not include is a building for the necessary splash pad equipment, bathroom facilities or playground structures.

“That area is outlined as well as a hard-surfaced path that would go from the patio homes from the southeast part of the area all the way to and tying into the actual pickleball court area,” Adkins said. “Then we do have a ‘bike path’ on the north side of the park that’s not part of the park improvements, it’s part of the development improvements. But, nonetheless, it adds to connectivity for residents to get around and then there will be another five-foot sidewalk that is part of the park development that will be on the western portion of that 3.5 acres.”

Adkins said the developers earmarked $600,000 for the neighborhood park. He said as product prices have continued to escalate, the playground equipment and bathrooms were scrapped from the initial concept. Atkins said the park cost is now near $670,000.

Adkins presented two different splash pad designs, and said developers favored the more-expensive option that would appeal to a wider age group.

As for the pickleball courts, Adkins said their research led them to favoring sport court surfacing.

“The research we’ve done for maintenance costs has a sport court on the concrete slab where it’s not painted with lines because that requires more maintenance,” he said.

If an area of the sport court is damaged, Adkins explained the panel could be removed and replaced at a more affordable cost.

Park Advisory Board chairman Jon Jacobson asked about ‘gifting’ the park to the city upon its completion. City Engineer Tami Jansma said that is currently under review since the city has not had a developer build a park before.

Jacobson said he favors a playground in lieu of the splash pad.

“We have certain elements in neighborhood parks. My concern now is I would rather see a playground than a splash pad. While it’s really nice, it’s a nice additional amenity, but playgrounds are standard of what we put in our neighborhood parks,” he said.

Expressing gratitude to the Aspen Ridge developer’s desire to put in a neighborhood park, he said the city is not financially positioned to cover the cost of restrooms or playground equipment anytime soon.

“A splash pad makes a park more of a ‘destination park’ than a playground,” Jacobson said, adding that it could ramp up traffic going to that park. “It’s a good addition for a playground, but it shouldn’t be a substitution for a playground.” 

Adkins said the development has been marketed with a splash pad, adding it’s a desirable amenity.

“We’re getting overwhelming support for a splash pad,” he said … “It has really spurred interest.”

Jacobson said if a playground is not put in, he predicts the city would be pressured to put playground equipment in Christensen Park. A basic/minimum playground is estimated at $350,000.

The city’s goal is to have a park located within a half-mile of every residence. Park Advisory Board member Adam Rothenberger said that Sunrise Park is within that half-mile concept, but did cite children crossing Aspen Boulevard to get to the park as a safety concern.

McHardy Park is also within the half-mile proximity.

Board member Al Kirkeby said the pickleball courts would also make Christensen Park a “destination park.”

Adkins said the courts will not be lit, but said there have been requests for “lower lighting” in the park area for security purposes.

Ward I Alderwoman Barb Fish said she was excited to see the splash pad in the plans, but is struggling with no playground equipment in the park.

“I was thinking we could have it all, but I totally get your budget,” she said. “If we said, ‘Russ, we’ve got to have playground equipment.’ What would that do to your plans?”

Adkins said he would need to put pencil to paper. Taking on that much extra cost, he said, would require further exploration, such as installing a combination playground and splash pad, where some of the play equipment is used for both.

Jacobson said he feels the combination playground equipment would be worth exploring.

If the developer elects to forgo a playground, Jacobson said it would be added to the park department’s ever-growing CIP list.

“At this time, we have nothing in the ’25 or ’26 budgets for capital improvements,” Fish reminded.

Adkins said they plan to get moving on the park construction soon. Their intention, he said, is to have it completed by the fall Parade of Homes.

“We’re giving away golf carts to people who are buying up front as an incentive to get things going,” he said, “So, we felt it’s worth putting in the park now.”

Park Advisory member Mindy Hansen complimented the developer’s willingness to provide a neighborhood park.

“If this is your plan and you are donating it, we appreciate it,” she said. “Long-term, it’s (splash pad) probably not what the community would utilize the most. That being said, the splash pad is great and the pickleball courts are going to be used so much … I do agree that we will probably have pushback, maybe not this year, maybe not next year … but within five years we are going to hear, ‘Hey, we need a playground.’ That is something that we need to bring up and make sure the council and mayor are aware that in five years this is going to need money.”

Hansen was also adamant about having bathroom facilities.

“The bathrooms, we’ve set the standard, so if you’re going to have a splash pad, people will want a place … otherwise you’ll have people ‘peeing’ in the splash pad, which I think is just gross,” Hansen said. 

Jansma said if the consensus is to move forward with the splash pad, she suggested that park fees be waived.

“Because the development has a TIF, it has been the consensus that they have to pay park fees,” she said.

City park fees are $1,000 per acre and $250 on the building permit (per dwelling unit), which are responsibility of the property owner, not the developer.

To date, Jansma said Christensen Development Partners have paid a little over $20,000 in park fees. Waiving those fees, she said, would be about $65,000.

“That would be one of those ways in finding the money right away in making a recommendation to the council … it will still be over-budget, but at least it’s a compromise, and that would be staff’s recommendation,” Jansma said. 

If the park fees are waived, Jacobson warned his peers about setting a precedent.

“Fees haven’t been increased in almost 15 years. From that perspective, it’s a reasonable cost. It’s something that hasn’t escalated along with all of the increased costs that we’ve seen over the last five years,” he said. 

Hansen made the motion to recommend the plan as shown for Christensen Park to the city council. She also motioned to waive the park fees as a way to assist with the building and bathroom costs.

Despite the higher cost, Adkins reminded the Park Board that  the developers favor the more expensive splash pad.

“The TIF is at $600,000. With the bathrooms, we’ll be in the $780,000-790,000 range, so we’re still spending far more considerable money. We’re all in this together, but I understand not setting precendent,” he said.

“Money is always our issue,” Park Advisory Board member Al Kirkeby summed up. “Our history on this board has been when we can partner with an organization, it benefits everyone. I certainly think that what Russ and his company are doing is just a reflection of that partnership.”

On a 5-1 vote, the Park Board’s recommendation now moves on to the Brandon City Council.

In other business, the Park Advisory Board:

• Approved a permit for Family Treats Homemade Ice Cream to set up shop in the city parks throughout the spring/summer season. The business, owned and operated by the Giles family, have sold their products in the past during softball and baseball tournaments, for example. 

• Parks Superintendent Devin Coughlin told the Advisory Board that the ash tree removal bids will be opened today, April 24.

“On the current neighborhood where you’ve marked everything … I just have a feeling there’s going to be pink ribbons for eternity, because some people don’t know what’s going on,” Jacobson said.

Coughlin said he’s talked with property owners who have indicated they are going to treat the ash tree(s) in their boulevard, and told them they cold remove the pink ribbons.

“I have seen marked trees with tags on them, so I know people have treated them,” Jacobson said. “I’ve been really happy with how that plan has evolved and the progress we’ve made as a community. If you look at places like Canton and smaller communities like us, they are really struggling with this issue. It’s being debated in Canton right now whether it’s a city cost or the homeowners’ cost. So, kudos to staff and council for helping us to get on the road when we did.”

• Adjourned until 5:15 p.m. Wednesday, May 15.