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. . . ARDEN HILLS CITY COUNCIL - FEBRUARY 23.1998 6 rhubarb and strawberries. That farm and woodland is now the mowed grass and paved trails and gazebo covered picnic tables of New Brighton Regional Park. A large percent of the time it is unused, except for the occasional biker, jogger or rollerblader. The woods and farm fields that benefited and prepared most kids in town for the responsible working life are gone forever! We must ask ourselves, 'how much man made park do we need?' We in Arden Hills now have a unique opportunity to protect one of the last remaining natural woodland and wetland areas in tlle region. Do we need to excavate and 'modernize' every piece of natural ground left? To appreciate nature and wilderness, we must pave trails and transform woods into lawns? Why instead don't we leave the vast majority of the park natural to provide cover for the deer, fox, rabbits and birds, and let the walking paths evolve as people move naturally through the terrain? After all, excavated trails and paved walkways are found elsewhere - how many naturally occurring woods and wetlands are left? The so called 'improved' park areas not only negatively impact wildlife, they are also costly to build and maintain. Additional maintenance workers and equipment will be required to police paved walkways, including the proposed twelve foot wide paved main trail from the beach at Lake Johanna to New Brighton Regional Park. Is there a real need or desire on the part of the taxpayers to pay for this? I support the changes proposed for the Tony Schmidt Park Beach and boat launch areas for practical and safety reasons. However, I urge you not to let the last and largest open tract ofland in Ramsey County to become 'just another man made park.' If you have any questions or comments, please do not hesitate to call. Sincerely, Jerry Laumeyer, 3540 New Brighton Road" Councilmember Malone stated the letter addresses several issues but the main concern seems to be paved trails. Ms. Laumeyer stated this is correct. She reported they have seen wildlife and would like some of the trail areas left natural to encourage wildlife habitat. Bill Sanders, Sanders, Wacker, Bergly, Inc., presented a drawing identifying the trail alignments for paved and unpaved trails. He noted the trails being addressed by Mrs. Laumeyer are proposed in the Master Plan to remain unpaved. MOTION: Councilmember Malone moved and Councilmember Aplikowski seconded a motion to approve Planning Case #98-04, concept approval of Tony Schmidt Park, SUP, 3500 Lake Johanna Boulevard, subject to the conditions indicated above. The motion carried unanimously (3-0). Mayor Probst noted the Council approved a motion earlier tonight to encourage Ramsey County to move this project along as soon as possible. He requested that the City be notified of meetings that the Council should attend to promote the project. Mr. Mack requested this information so he can provide copies to the County Board Members and Capital Improvement Advisory Board.