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MEMORANDUM <br />DATE: <br />March 28, 2011 <br />TO: <br /> Honorable Mayor and City Councilmembers <br /> Patrick Klaers, City Administrator <br />FROM: <br />Michelle Olson, Parks and Recreation Manager <br />SUBJECT: <br /> Resolution 2011-017: Supporting the Local Trail Connections Program <br />Grant Application made to the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources <br />Background <br />Staff has been preparing an application for a Local Trail Connections Program through the <br />Minnesota Department of Natural Resources for the creation of an off street shared use <br />path on the west side of Lexington Avenue from County Road E to Ingerson Park. A map <br />of the proposed project is included for Council review (Attachment A). The application <br />deadline is Thursday, March 31, 2011. The City was successful in acquiring this grant in <br />2008 for the Perry Park Pathway. <br />This pathway is listed low on the Parks Trails and Recreation Committee’s priorities for <br />proposed trails. However, staff feels this is the most appropriate segment for this grant <br />opportunity. This proposed pathway will provide a safe route for residents to Ingerson <br />Park and to County Road E and the Arden Plaza business area. The future proposed <br />upgrades to the B2 district and County Road E also make this proposed trail an important <br />connection. <br />The Local Trail Connections Program is intended to accelerate local trail connections to <br />planned and existing state trails and other public facilities, not to create significant new <br />recreational trails. Its primary purpose is to complete connections between where people <br />live (e.g. residential areas within cities, entire communities) and significant public <br />resources (e.g. historical areas, open space, parks and/or other trails). Grants are awarded <br />for the acquisition and development of connecting trails and for removal of barriers that <br />impede full access to these facilities. Priority has been given to projects that seek to <br />develop residential connections to state and regional facilities and to link existing trail <br />systems. <br />12 <br />Page of <br />P:\PR&PW\Parks\Memos\Council Memos\032811 Resolution 2011-017 Supporting DNR Local Trail Connections Program.doc <br /> <br />