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News from Around the Town: <br />Arden Hills Service Directory <br />PTRC assesses results of parks and trails survey <br />1245 West Highway 96 <br />By Susan Cathey and Nancy O’Malley <br />Arden Hills, MN 55112-5734 <br />T <br />he Arden Hills Park, Trails, and Recreation Committee (PTRC) con <br />volunteer residents, a City Council liaison, and a staff liaison <br />- <br />ment includes the phrase: “represents the interests of Arden Hil <br />8:00 a.m.--4:30 p.m. <br />- <br />ing the continuing development, expansion, and improvement of (n <br />651-792-7800 <br />Rather than guess at what Arden Hills citizens <br />want, the PTRC asked them. Last summer the <br />committee did a community parks and trails <br />survey. A notice regarding the survey was sent to <br />911 <br />all residents in their water bills, directing them to <br />an online survey or to call for a hard copy which <br />651-767-0640 <br />could be returned by mail. Eighty-six people <br />responded and wrote 281 comments. <br />651-481-7024 <br />The survey consisted of 15 questions. When <br />asked to rate importance of possible initiatives, the two highes <br />651-767-9640 <br />listed were: 1) connect existing trails to trails in surrounding <br />develop more trails. Most respondents rated our parks and trails <br />David Grant 651-538-0747 <br />majority of respondents felt that our facilities and amenities a <br />were many and varied suggestions written in, such as amenities t <br />parks and a desire for more and/or newer playground equipment. <br />Two repeating themes in the responses were safety and connectivi <br />for safety for pedestrians and bicyclists. The comments regardin <br />- <br />ing safer routes for kids to get to schools, parks, the YMCA, an <br />The PTRC has compiled and reviews annually a list of wanted trai <br />- <br />vey results support the PTRC’s recommendations to the City Counc <br />trail segments should be a high priority for safety reasons. Cit <br />spots over and over again as being unsafe. Cited multiple times <br />between Lake Valentine Road and Lindey’s, the County Road E brid <br />Avenue, Lake Valentine Road between New Brighton and Old Highway <br />Brighton Road, especially under the railroad overpass. <br />Cathey <br />there was trash dumped. The Parks and Recreation Department acte <br />quickly. Residents wrote of wanting better handicapped access i <br />Department had already begun that process by removing the gates <br />leading into Floral, Hazelnut, Cummings, and Sampson Parks and c <br />Council meetings are held at City Hall <br />accessible entries. <br />on the second and last Monday of the <br />month at 7 p.m. Meetings are televised <br />The PTRC plans to continue to use these results as a guide in <br />live on Cable Channel 16. Meetings of <br />deciding priorities. The Committee feels it is important for <br />the Planning Commission are televised <br />the citizens of Arden Hills, who support and use the parks <br />and trails, to have input on what they would like to see. <br />the month. <br />Read the survey results on the City website. Most comments <br />Visit www.cityofardenhills.org for <br />were positive and showed the passion citizens have for <br />information about taped meeting <br />nature, parks, trails and how to best use them. If you have <br />playbacks. <br />ideas or opinions, contact a City Council member or a PTRC <br />member. <br />- <br />letter of the City of Arden Hills, an <br />equal-opportunity employer. <br />2 <br />