11-22-05 PTRC - Laserfiche WebLink

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TO: PT RC FR:Visioning Subcommittee (Roger Williams [chair],Jim Crassweller,Cindy Wheeler,Joani Werner, Rich Straumann, Bill Henry) For the last few months,we have met several times to draft a vision for parks and trails in Arden Hills. In this memo,we present this draft to the PTRC for discussion and,we hope,approval and recommendation to the city council. Our work has been directed to the following charge: The PTRC visioning subcommittee is charged with a)articulating a vision that leads to parks and trails that enhance the health and well-being of Arden Hills citizens,and provide access to natural and recreational resources in the city and the region,and b) recommending strategies for bringing this vision into reality. The draft vision builds on recommendations in the 2001 Comprehensive Plan for Parks, Trails and Open Space. After discussion and revision as necessary, it is hoped that the PTRC will recommend the vision for adoption by the city council. Our work on the vision derived from the following considerations: 1. Interest in parks and trails is strong among Arden Hills citizens. 2. Arden Hills is blessed with a broad array of natural resources,but the lack of adequate public access to these resources limits their value. 3. Expanding access to natural resources in Arden Hills can enhance the well-being of citizens and the value of their property,and increase the desirability of the city as a place to live and work. 4. Arden Hills' trail system is currently disjointed and not conducive to walking or cycling. Further, significant safety issues are posed by the use of increasingly busy city streets as connectors between trails or between residences and natural areas/trails. 5. Arden Hills is at the hub of several significant trails that extend for miles throughout the metropolitan region. However,the fragmented nature of Arden Hills trails severely restricts access to these regional resources. 6. Approaches to developing or improving Arden Hills' parks and trails have been ad hoc. With a real vision for those resources there is greater likelihood of effective planning and efficient use of resources. 7. It is important that there be a unified vision for parks and trails that applies across all areas of the city. Development plans for Arden Hills north of Highway 96-both TCAAP and AHATS-will include specific park and trail elements. Discussion between the city and representatives of the county,developers, National Guard and others can lead to collaborative opportunities for public recreation.