09-16-25 - PTRC Minutes - Laserfiche WebLink

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Parks, Trails & Recreation Committee – September 16, 2025 Page 4 Committee Member Rogers said once the information is compiled, it should inform our website. Simple things like where parking is available vs. the physical address. She thinks this will make it more user friendly for residents. Committee Member Johnson is getting a sense that the trails aren’t priority in the Master Plan. She thinks it feels like the park equipment is more important than how you get there and the connection of the trails. She doesn’t understand how the two things will merge together. Parks and Recreation Manager Skalicky she said there was an open ended question on the survey, that received 461 responses, that asked if there were areas in Arden Hills where you would like to see better trail connections. The consultants made trails a big part of this. Committee Member Olson said the Steering Committee brought that up and the consultants said those responses will inform the final plan. Parks and Recreation Manager Skalicky said based on the Steering Committee’s feedback, we said we want trails to be a bigger part of it. Committee Member Jacobson said she lives in an area that is locked. There are no trails and just a tiny little park. Trails are very important for residents to get out and experience other parks. Parks and Recreation Manager Skalicky said the survey shows that, based on the number of people who responded to trails questions. Committee Member Johnson said she knows of people who chose not to purchase a home in her neighborhood based on the lack of trail access, specifically bike trail connections. Committee Member Olson said Councilmember Holden pointed out at the Steering Committee Meeting that trails cost a ton of money. She said we have to be mindful of setting realistic goals on how they will be paid for. Committee Member Johnson agrees. She just thinks need to get ahead of development and work with connecting cities as they make improvements. We just need to know what they are doing. PTRC needs to be ahead of the game in development. Discussion ensued about trail projects that have been pushed out due to other projects and there isn’t much we can do when other entities are not focused on planning trails. Parks and Recreation Manager Skalicky just got the raw data from the Park System Plan results today. She will have updated information for the next meeting. Committee Member Jacobson asked when the plan will be complete. Parks and Recreation Manager Skalicky said it will be next year. She pointed to the outline in the packet. The final City Council approval is anticipated to be in April of 2026. Chair Deitz pointed out that there is a section that outlines residential areas without park access. It isn’t clear if that means they can’t walk to a park or that the area isn’t connected by a trail.