ITEM 3.10 Davis Preserve ParkRequest for
se� Ot - o City Council Action
MINNESOTA
AGENDA ITEM DETAILS
RECOMMENDATION:
Staff recommends that the City Council name the park located in the Davis Mississippi
Development `Davis Preserve Park' and the park located at the Waterfront East Development
`Carrick Waterfront Park.'
ARE YOU SEEKING APPROVAL OF A CONTRACT? 1 IS A PUBLIC HEARING REQUIRED?
No 1 No
BACKGROUNDIJUSTIFICATION:
At their meeting on October 2013, the Parks and Recreation Commission directed staff to work
with the Heritage Preservation Commission (HPC) to research names for the parks located in
the Davis Mississippi Coves development and the Waterfront East development and present
recommendation. Below is history that the Otsego Heritage Preservation Commission
researched regarding both parks.
Park within Waterfront East:
The earliest commerce was a trading post operated by Samuel Carrick across the Mississippi
from Elk River from 1850-1854. His customers were the Winnebago Indians who camped in the
area. He also established a ferry at the same location in 1854 and the area became known as
'Carrick's Prairie.'
In 1851 Carrick had taken a claim and started a farm, the first farm in Wright County. By 1554
he was operating Carrick's Ferry by his trading post and was so well known in the area that the
open land just south of his claim was called Carrick's Prairie.... Samuel Carrick never
married. When President Lincoln called for volunteers during the War Between the States, he
responded. During the 4th Minnesota's advance on Atlanta he was captured. When he died in
Andersonville [prison] in 1554 he was 31 years old." Also, the area is known as Waterfront Park
so we thought it would be good to keep that in the title along with a historical designation.
"Landing" may be the City's designation for any park on the river.
The HPC and Parks and Recreation Commission both recommended incorporating the historical
name `Carrick's Prairie with the name that people currently refer to the park has `waterfront
East'.
Park within the Davis Mississi i Cove Development:
Joseph Davis was a native of Lowell, Penobscot county, Maine, born in the year 1523 who
reached manhood on a farm in his native state. At age 30 he carne to Minnesota where he
engaged in farming, lumbering and was a fireman on the first steamboat that ran on the Upper
Mississippi called the "Governor Ramsey" and commanded by Captain Rollins. Joseph and his
wife Emeline (Spencer) Davis had 13 children. Orion, one of their sons, left home at age 15 and
engaged in farming, lumbering, and river driving. In 1894 he returned to the home farm with
his wife and children and operated the farm and looked after his parents until their death,
when he inherited the farm. Many of Joseph and Emeline Davis' descendants still live in the
area and are active in the community.
The HPC and Parks and Recreation Commission felt using the Davis name and Nature Preserve
were important when naming this park.
Staff recommends that the City Council name the park located in the Davis Mississippi
Development `Davis Preserve Park' and the park located at the waterfront East Development
`Carrick Waterfront Park.'
SUPPORTING DOCUMENTS: ATTACHED x NONE
MOTION: (Please word motion as you would like it to appear in the minutes.)
Motion to approve naming the park located in the Davis/Mississippi Development `Davis
Preserve Park' and the park located at the waterfront East Business Development `Carrick
Waterfront Park.'
BUDGET INFORMATION
FUNDING: I BUDGETED: ❑ YES
■ ■ e,