20/20 Cold Spring Vision Team

2005 Cold Spring 20/20 IF Pre-Grant Inquiry (6/4/2005)

Contact Info:

Organization Name: City of Cold Spring: 20/20 Vision Team
Contact Name: Nadine Schnettler (Grants Committee)
Address: Cold Spring City Offices
27 Red River Avenue South
Cold Spring, MN 56320
Phone: 320.597.3201
Email: Schnettler@meltel.net

PROJECT DESCRIPTION:

Each of the 20/20 projects has been identified with a number and brief project identifier. Information relating to each project will track throughout this submission using the same identifier. Projects are not prioritized in any order for this initial inquiry.

1. Cold Spring Hiking Trails and Lookout Park: Abandoned trails within the Cold Spring community and the aging Lookout Park (built during the WPA era) will be refurbished and reopened due to the efforts of Cold Spring volunteers.

2. Lions Park Rain Gardens: “Rain gardens” will be built by the Stearns Soil & Water Conservation District and local volunteers to protect the Sauk River from impervious surface runoff.

3. Intercity Trails and Paths: Resurfacing and connecting existing trails and paths within Cold Spring and construction of a new trail between the three cities of Cold Spring, Richmond, and Rockville are planned to provide fitness opportunities and connectivity within and between the tri-city community.

4. Updated Land Use Plan: This project is focused on helping Cold Spring update their 1999 Comprehensive Plan as Cold Spring is expected to double its size within the next 20 years and community members (per the MDT visioning session of June/2004) want Cold Spring to be proactive instead of reactive to the projected growth.

5. 20/20 Website: A comprehensive website was developed to make the Cold Spring community aware of 20/20, HCP and MDT activities that were happening during 2004. The website has received much praise and continues to receive many “hits” as 20/20 activities continue to be published. It is desirable for the website to continue indefinitely, as long as activities continue to be coordinated. Ongoing sustainability (when grant funds are exhausted) will depend on 20/20’s ability to sell advertising on the website.

6. Design Standards: A 20/20 committee has worked feverishly over the last year to develop a comprehensive set of design standards for new construction and major reconstruction projects in Cold Spring. Funding is needed for additional consultation to help complete and formalize the process.

7. 20/20 Publicity and Administration: Throughout the last year, 20/20 activities have sprung up as a result of the community visioning sessions in June 2004. As a result, infrastructure is needed to support the group’s sustainability and increase their effectiveness and efficiency in meeting the needs that continue to evolve as a result of IF’s Healthy Communities Partnership grant and the MDT visit last summer.

PURPOSE OF GRANT:

1. Cold Spring Hiking Trails and Lookout Park: Lookout Park is a diamond in the rough within the Cold Spring community. It was built during the WPA era and is not widely known by newcomers to the community. Refurbishing the park and nearby trails provides an excellent opportunity to get volunteers working together as well as increasing tourism and recreational opportunities within Cold Spring.

2. Lions Park Rain Gardens: Conserving our natural resources, specifically the Sauk River, was also emphasized during the visioning sessions. Having volunteers working together to construct gardens specifically designed to protect the river from potentially-polluting runoff from a very popular park accomplishes one of our many natural resource goals. The beauty of these gardens should also bring more visitors to our community, further enhancing our tourism opportunities.

3. Intercity Trails and Paths: Providing additional recreational opportunities for youth and families was emphasized during our visioning sessions. Building a trail connecting Cold Spring with Richmond and Rockville should also strengthen the bond between the three cities that comprise the Rocori school district.

4. Updated Land Use Plan: One of the issues resoundingly heard during the visioning sessions was Cold Spring residents wanted planned growth. Having a comprehensive plan that is six years old doesn’t adequately help us prepare for this growth and that’s why we need to update our plan.

5. 20/20 website: We want to “keep a good thing going”. The website was crucial to our success of getting the word out prior to, during, and after our MDT visit in June, 2004. The website helps us keep community members informed, which in turn, helps us recruit new volunteers. Potential visitors and/or residents can also link to our website and see that Cold Spring is a progressive community with many forward-thinking projects.

6. Design Standards: As Cold Spring continues to grow at a rapid pace, remembering that residents voiced their desires to keep the small-town look at the visioning sessions, remains an important focus for 20/20. Updating old standards and adding new ones in response to the community’s voice has been an exciting process which now needs to be completed, formalized by city government, and communicated.

7. 20/20 Publicity and Administration: 20/20 has so many important projects currently happening or planned and a great base of volunteers and we don’t want to lose our momentum due to details falling through the cracks. Sharing a part-time administrative staff member with the local chamber of commerce would ensure accountability for project follow-through and deadlines being met. This request also includes funding for volunteer expenses such as mileage, hospitality, training, etc.

LOCATION:
All of the projects are located within the Rocori school district, primarily the Cold Spring area community, including Wakefield township, and the cities of Rockville and Richmond (with respect to paths and walkways).


PROJECT TIMELINE:
Most of the projects are expected to be completed over the next three to six months, with the exception of a path between Cold Spring, Rockville, and Richmond. That is projected for the next two to three years, as additional funding is available from other government sources and/or private donors.


TOTAL PROJECT BUDGET: $123,925

1. Cold Spring Hiking Trails and Lookout Park: $20,000
2. Lions Park Rain Gardens: $3,500
3. Intercity Trails and Paths: $80,000
4. Updated Land Use Plan: $7,300
5. 20/20 Website: $1,200
6. Design Standards: $8,600
7. 20/20 Publicity & Administration: $3,325


AMOUNT REQUESTED OF INITIATIVE FOUNDATION: $10,000


USE OF INITIATIVE FOUNDATION DOLLARS:

1. Cold Spring Hiking Trails and Lookout Park: $2,250 ($2000 consultant/design fee, $250 feed volunteers & opening celebration)
2. Lions Park Rain Gardens: $750 ($500 consultant/design fee, $250 feed volunteers and opening celebration)
3. Intercity Trails and Paths: $750 engineering/design fee
4. Updated Land Use Plan: $1,500 (consulting fees)
5. 20/20 Website: $600 (website hosting fee and webmaster stipend)
6. Design Standards: $2,500 (consulting and legal fees)
7. 20/20 Publicity & Administration: $1,650 ($900 administrator stipend [$150/month for 6 months], $150 admin & volunteer mileage, $200 meeting hospitality, $125 training, $75 mailings, $75 office supplies, $125 expenses for MDT one-year return visit)


OTHER SOURCES OF FUNDING: (Tentative)

1. Cold Spring Hiking Trails and Lookout Park: Local cash and in-kind donations, City of Cold Spring, MnDOT, Stearns Soil/Water Conservation District (SWCD)
2. Lions Park Rain Gardens: Local cash and in-kind donations, City of Cold Spring, SWCD
3. Intercity Trails and Paths: Local cash and in-kind donations, City of Cold Spring and other government granting agencies and environmental associations (MnDOT & DNR), charitable gambling
4. Updated Land Use Plan: City of Cold Spring
5. 20/20 Website: Local cash and in-kind donations, advertising on website
6. Design Standards: City of Cold Spring
7. 20/20 Publicity & Administration: Chamber of Commerce, local cash and in-kind donations