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<br /> tional development (see accompanying map). would be erected within 200 feet of Rice Creek. The I
<br /> The new area propOsed as a park is the minimum size same facility would level 20 acres of oak woods,
<br /> Substantial additional traffic on County Road I wiil
<br /> needed to protect irreplaceable resources such as necessitate road upgrades that will result in significantly I
<br /> Blanding's turtle habitat, native prairie grasslands, more squashed Blanding's turtles.
<br /> mature oak woods, wetlands, Sunfish Lake, the kame,
<br /> trumpeter swan habitat, rare plant species, corridors for All these issues have been raised with Arden Hills, but
<br /> wildlife and human movement, and scenic vistas. Even they have been very resistant to change. To add Insult, I
<br /> minor ch",-,ges to !his proposal will degrade one or citizens have repeatedly and vOCiferously demanded
<br /> more of these components. more parkland, but only token adjustments have been
<br /> The plan incorporates other land uses in a manner !hat made. I
<br /> can enhance the proposed park, but provide economic If you are a citizen of Arden Hills, corrtact Mayor Probst
<br /> return that Arden Hills has said is essential. It presents and tell him the plan must be changed. Attend the
<br /> a mix of uses that is comparable to plans developed by meetings mentioned previously and voice your opposi- I
<br /> an Arden Hills task force and consultant group. tion to this plan. If this plan is approved, a few
<br /> We believe this Is a good-faith compromise. To date, developers will profit but you and the wildlife will lose.
<br /> the city of Arden Hills has been unwilling to com prom- POSSIBLE NATURE WALK, I
<br /> ise on their plan (see accompanying article). They need
<br /> to be reminded that re-use of the TCMP wiil have OcrOBER 21-22
<br /> impacts far beyond the borders of Arden Hills and that
<br /> It Is land currently owned by ail U.S. citizens. Their If enough volunteers can be found, an autumn nature I
<br /> planning process did not include input from citizens walk at the TCMP will be held on Saturday and
<br /> outside of Arden Hills, so does not reflect regional Sunday, 21-22 October. The walk will be sponsoled by
<br /> perspectives. We are hopeful that Vento's committee Audubon, POSE, Sierra Club, the lzaak Walton League, . I
<br /> will understand this and support the plan developed, and the Army. Previous autumn walks, blessed by
<br /> with regional input, by "Friends". beautiful weather, have been a resounding success.
<br /> Watch the local papers for an announcement
<br /> ARDEN HILLS PLAN MAXIM- SOME PARK STATISTICS I
<br /> IZES DEVELOPMENT
<br /> A plan for redevelopment of the TCMP has been Ramsey county is the most park-poor county in the I
<br /> developed by an Arden Hills task force in conjunction seven-county metro area, on a per-capita basis. Ram-
<br /> with a private consultant The plan calls for a 1000 acre say county has roughly 12 acres of regional park per
<br /> 1000 residents, versus the metro average of about 16
<br /> park, with the, remaining 1300 acres of TCMP develo- acres per 1000. The Metropolitan Council notes that I
<br /> ped for residential, government and commercial uses. most regional park development has been to !he south
<br /> While 1000 acres may sound like a lot, consider the and west of the metro centers, While people can drive
<br /> following. Of the 1000 acres, 500 acres is wetland that to other areas to use park facilities, most park users I
<br /> cannot be developed, 100 acres is gravel pit that again originate less than 10 miles from a specific park. Let's
<br /> can't be developed, 220 acres is roads, and roughly secure a regional park in Ramsey county that can serve
<br /> 100 acres is floodplain that can't be developed and is the entire north metro and central cities area!! I
<br /> difficult to use for any recreation. Therefore, some 90% I
<br /> of the Arden Hills proposal for a park is land that can't SHOREVIEW CITY COUNCIL
<br /> be developed anyways, and is virtualiy unusable for RACE
<br /> park visitors. What a deal! I
<br /> I he plan has many other disturbing features. A major This year, 2 seats on the Shoreview city council will be
<br /> road cuts up the west side to exit at County Road I. In open for election. If you are a Shoreview resident, and
<br /> the process, it bisects a major wildlife corridor. This will you care about the future of the TCMP, make sure you I
<br /> certainly be a disaster for the Blanding's turtle, deer, know where your candidates stand on the TCMP. At
<br /> and numerous other terrestrial wildlife. Substantial least one candidate, Tom landwehr, is an ardent .
<br /> development would OCCur on !he highly erodible kame. supporter of perk designation. Please support I
<br /> Much of the remnant prairie would be converted to candidates who support a regional park from the
<br /> residential housing. An existing wetlaJ'ld would be TeMP!!!
<br /> destroyed to create a stormwater basin. A joint city!
<br /> county maintenance faclUty, with Its requisite salt plies. I
<br /> FRIENDS OF THE TeMP NEWSLETTER, FALL 1995 PAGE 2
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