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RICE CREEK NORTH REGIONAL TRAIL MASTER PLAN | 7 in 2019. As a part or this amendment the county also identified an easement to be obtained for the recreational use of a 15-acre parcel from the United States. Recreational development within the corridor has also been relatively recent and staggered as funding was available. The first trail section was built in the northern section from Lexington Avenue to County Road I in 2002, in addition to a trail head established along County Road I in 2004. The next trail development occurred in the central section from County Road I to County Road H in 2009, with a trail head parking lot and entry drive anticipated in 2019. The final section of trail from County Road H to Long Lake Regional Park was constructed in 2016. Several major natural resource related projects have also occurred within the corridor, the most dramatic being the re-meandering of the creek by the Rice Creek Watershed district completed in 2015. CITIZEN PARTICIPATION AND MUNICIPAL SUPPORT The development of the Rice Creek North Regional Trail Corridor has been evolving since the 1970’s when Ramsey County first developed a preservation and recreation concept for the Rice Creek Corridor. Specific planning around the Rice Creek North Regional Trail Corridor became more extensive once the decommissioning and redevelopment of TCAAP became a reality. Additional planning has been required since the 2013 master plan amendment as several changes have occurred including further planning of Rice Creek Commons, access, recreational needs throughout the corridor, and boundary adjustments. Numerous opportunities for public involvement have occurred as part of the ongoing Ramsey County Parks & Recreation planning efforts for the park corridor, and with the development plan for Rice Creek Commons. Ramsey County Parks & Recreation organized a series of public engagement meetings and online surveys to gather feedback on the proposed master plan for Rice Creek North Regional Trail. In an effort to reach the widest possible audience various forms of communication were used to alert the public to these events. • Approximately 3,740 mailings were sent out to residents in the immediate area surrounding Rice Creek North Regional Trail • Twitter, Facebook and other social media was used to announce meetings and online surveys • Ramsey County Communications reached out to individual County Commissioners so that they had the opportunity to attend and let their constituents know of the events • Ramsey County Communications alerted targeted engagement partners, this list may be found in the appendix • Ramsey County Communications alerted public partners including municipalities, AHATS, local park boards, and the Minnesota Amateur Sports Commission to the public engagement events for their input and support Public Engagement Meeting #1 The first public engagement meeting for the Rice Creek North Regional Trail Corridor Master Plan was held on Tuesday, June 26, 2018 at the Ramsey County Public Works building Marsden Room. This first meeting was largely held to introduce the project to interested stakeholders and community members. Parks & Recreations staff gave a brief presentation to explain some of the history and context of the site as well as walk the public through an inventory and analysis of the trail corridor. Project goals for the master plan were presented at this meeting and included: • Examine the entire corridor for future recreational development opportunities • Provide universally accessible features in compliance with the ADA • Use sustainable design elements in buildings and site design that are energy and water efficient and provide enhanced storm water management • Facilitate public involvement in conceptual design and master planning processes