Ely City Park Survey Results

The Ely City Council and Park/Recreation Committee are working to build a first rate park in Ely that would include recreational fields & trails, playground, shelters, an aquatic center, and many other features. Ely recently commissioned a Park Development Plan that shows the likely layout of the park’s various features, options for staging the construction of the park over several years, and cost estimates. A copy of the general layout schematic is on the other side of this sheet.

The Ely City Park is roughly 20 acres at the north end of Hillcrest St. and east of Northgate Drive, and when fully developed would have: 2 combination baseball/soccer fields, 2 tennis courts, 2 full size basketball courts, sand volleyball, horseshoe pits, a concession stand, a recreational trail that meanders throughout the park and a swimming pool/aquatic center. The estimated cost to build the park with all features but the aquatic center is $1,915,000, the aquatic center is expected to cost $2,600,000, so the estimated cost to build everything shown in the overall park development plan is $4,515,000.

Survey Questions & Results:

To me, having a park in Ely with all the facilities shown in the Ely City Park Plan (ball fields, basketball & tennis courts, shelters, playground, trails and aquatic center) would be:

30% (38) Very Important 17% (22) Kind of Important 53% (67) Not Really Important 4 - No Response

To me, a park in Ely with softball/soccer fields, playground, basketball & tennis courts, shelters and trails would be:

35% (44) Very Important 30% (37) Kind of Important 35% (44) Not Really Important 6 - No Response

To me, an “Aquatic Center” in Ely with swimming pool, splash pads, water slides and other features would be:

25% (31) Very Important 16% (20) Kind of Important 59% (73) Not Really Important 7 – No Response

I would prefer a full swimming pool 59% (41) I would prefer a “splash pad” if built sooner 41% (28) No Response- 62

I think my family, children and/or grandchildren and I would use the park:

25% (30) A lot (more than 3 times a week)

17% (20) Frequently (about once a week)

12% (14) Occasionally (between once a month and once a week)

13% (16) Once in a while (less than once a month)

34% (41) I don’t think we would use the park much at all.

1 No Response

If necessary for Ely to build a park with softball/soccer fields, playground, basketball and tennis courts, shelters and trails, but not the aquatic center and swimming pool I would be willing to pay:

37% (46)$155 more property taxes per year 10% (13) $310 more property taxes per year

53% (66) This is not important enough for me to be willing to pay more property taxes. 6 No Response

If necessary for Ely to build only an “Aquatic Center” with swimming pool, splash pads, water slides and other aquatic features I would be willing to pay:

21% (26) $205 more property taxes per year 9% (11) $410 more property taxes per year

70% (85) This is not important enough for me to be willing to pay more property taxes. 9 No Response

If necessary for Ely to build a park with all the facilities shown in the overall Ely City Park plan (aquatic center, ball fields, trails, shelters, etc) I would be willing to pay:

27% (33) $355 more property taxes per year 7% (8) $720 more property taxes per year

67% (82) This is not important enough for me to be willing to pay more property taxes. 8 No Response

I would be willing to volunteer to*:

22% (32) Help raise money, solicit donations, work at fundraisers, etc to raise money for the park.

22% (32) Help build shelters, playgrounds or work on other construction type stuff.

17% (24) Help coach a baseball/softball or soccer team; organize a league, or participate in similar stuff after the park is built.

10% (14) I would help, but I just don’t have time or ability.

30% (43) I would not be willing to volunteer to help with these types of activities.

13 No Response

* Multiple responses were allowed for this question on paper survey.

Results include all paper responses received as of noon Monday September 10, 2007; and results of online survey as of noon Monday September 10, 2007.

Park Survey Written Comments

Neither a pool or splash a pad. No more taxes, reassessment has put me way over the top. Looks neat but my tax reassessment is ridiculous now. Can’t afford more taxes.

Waste of taxpayer’s funds! What are the yearly upkeep costs above and beyond construction?

Already have a tennis court. Trails will be going thru Ely soon. Ely is too small for an aquatic center, your are within 10 miles of a pool the upkeep alone will be too expensive. Are you people out of your minds? Lets take care of our needs and less of our wants. Time to live within our means. This would be irresponsible for the City to do this. People in Ely have all this within a few miles. How about the people on a fixed income.

Residents in Ely are already paying tax rates that are comparable to Cedar Rapids. Our tax dollars could be used for more useful projects that are needed. This is a small town where people chose to live to get away from the hustle and bustle of the big city. Why do we need to act like a metropolis?

Make a street from North Drive to Northgate Drive instead of a park, so people on the northeast side of Ely have another way out of Ely. Thank you and no more taxes.

How many years on taxes are we talking?

Soccer and softball should not share a field.

We are close enough to Cedar Rapids to use their pools and the park in Southbrook is rarely used. I think tax increases will drive families out of the community.

The city council needs to get its priorities in order. Water, sewer, and drainage problems need to be taken care of before this kind of money is spent of entertainment.

I think instead of a park, Walker, Main and other streets need to be fixed with curb and gutter and sidewalk. Nothing in this area gets improved. We are kind of left out. I don’t think we need any more parks at this time. I think Ely should focus on other important things. We could also use a new and nicer Welcome to Ely sign.

Ely needs to build up their commercial tax base before tackling a project like this. Ely does not have the population to adequately fund this without a huge burden to homeowners and what will this to do our water rates? They are already high.

I do not want to pay increased taxes for a park that I would not use or use very little.

This seems to beyond what is necessary at this time for the residents of Ely. There are vital issues that need to be addressed.

We feel our taxes are already high enough.

We would like to see a gazebo, benches around a walking track and a few pavilions for picnics.

Lighted diamonds for night games.

Positively against taxes being raised for this. That only a few in town will use.

NO NO NO!! Way too much. No new taxes. Stop the extravagant thinking. Start small, build when the dollars available. A pool that might me used 3 months of the year- NO.

Aquatic center more important. Would enjoy a splash pad. We have been hoping that something like this would come to Ely. Wonderful for all of the young families and kids here.

I think a splash pad is a waste of money. They don’t seem to be used much.

Would like to see horseshoe pits. No pool or splash pad.

Thank you for proposing this. I think an aquatic center would greatly benefit the city of Ely.

How could/would taxpayers know their extra taxes are going towards the park and not streets etc? How long would extra taxes last? 5 year? 10 year? Are people applying for grants for city improvement? If the aquatic center is not built now would the park allow for future development of one? Would there be a large enough population to fund the staff of an aquatic center? As a community member I feel having city leagues for softball, soccer, volleyball is important, even if it is simple scrimmages. The tweens and teens need to have an outlet for fun. I think the aquatic center would be nice, but we are still a fairly small community to support operational costs. Leave plans and infrastructure for future addition of aquatic center.

Can Ely afford the price and upkeep of aquatic center? Pool/splash pad last. Need outlets for children, games, and picnic areas.

I do not have children but am willing to help with those that do.

No tennis courts/ already have one. One full size baseball/softball field one smaller one for younger ages. Separate soccer/football field.

Playground should not be between ball fields. Should not have to pay for pool once built. How long will taxes be higher?

How much will fees be after pool is built? It would be helpful/interesting to know how much it might cost for residents to purchase an annual pool pass. Also splash pad inside the pool facility? Or just in the park and can be used for free like Cedar Rapids?

In regards to the suggestion of having a swimming pool or aquatic center it would be very unadvisable, as the City of Ely would be pressed very hard to keep up the maintenance and personnel that it would take to maintain a venture such as this. Currently the city cannot take care of the streets, signs, water and sewer in the manner that it needs to.

A soccer field should be developed and maintained at the Community Center. A regulation baseball diamond and softball diamond should be considered as a high priority (and soon) at the new park along with the parking (even gravel for now) and the concession stand. It is my understanding that the Rotary club already has the financing already in the works to fence and provide lighting for these diamonds.

Swimming pool in five years. I have been asked how many years would the increased taxes would in effect. The answers to these would impact my choices.

Between the property taxes and this high priced school district you are about to force me out of this area!!! PS I pay over $4,000.00 a year in taxes. Give me a break!!!Please.

Ely does not have the population base to support a 4 million dollar project. The 1,915,000 project would need to be approached piece meal, to be affordable.

Are you insane? Our taxes are high enough! Let a commercial company build it if it would be used enough.

It is a nice thought but the kids that grew up here got buy all these years.

An absolute no on the aquatic center. Jones Park is closer than your nearest Hy -Vee A pool in Ely is overkill.

A picnic area we already have is all I would use.

New water tower and sewer plant should be done first.

There must be an east and south entrance too.

A splash pad while waiting for pool to get done.

We currently drive to North Liberty for swimming lessons and drive into Cedar Rapids to go to parks. Our property values should rise to offset the higher taxes.

Would it be possible to build the park in phases? Looking at some of the parks in neighboring towns, Swisher park, Walford, Fairfax, perhaps start with one baseball diamond, playground, restrooms, walking trail (unpaved) parking area. Why build a tennis court and basketball court when they are already at City Hall? Perhaps years down the road as Ely grows an aquatic center could be supported.