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<br />The proposed recreational trail is a missing link to connect Tony Schmidt Regional Park <br />with Perry Park. The existing arterial trails pass under working railroad tracks and <br />navigate through a natural and scenic area of Arden Hills. The proposed trail will be <br />located within a beautifully wooded, naturally vegetated, and open space area. <br /> <br />40. Accessibility: <br />After a field visit and evaluation of the site, staff determined a location to construct a trail <br />that would allow us to meet ADA requirements. The grade in Perry Park is extremely <br />challenging and therefore, the route chosen for segment A is the most feasible location. <br />Currently, this area is utilized by walkers who have created an unofficial, unpaved path. <br />However, it has an extremely steep grade and is not accessible to persons with disabilities. <br />The proposed trail will be constructed with a grade and cross slope that is in compliance <br />with Federal ADA regulations. The location of segment B is along a rough road that is <br />not ADA compliant. This proposed trail made up of segment A and B is the missing link <br />to a fully accessible! ADA compliant recreational trail connection from Perry Park to Tony <br />Schmidt Regional Park. The existing trail (green)leading through the railroad underpass <br />and to Tony Schmidt Regional Park was recently paved and is accessible to people with <br />disablitities. <br /> <br />41. Public Need for and Benefit of Project: <br />The proposed project provides the missing link to establishing a key regional connection <br />within Arden Hills and Ramsey County. The trail will provide an aesthetically pleasing <br />experience for all those who utilize it. Both Ramsey County Parks and Recreation and the <br />City of Arden Hills continue to be proactive in developing a comprehensive trail network. <br />Ramsey County recently completed a Regional Trail Network Vision (available on their <br />website at www.co.ramsey.mn.us). Their vision is to create a network of regional trails <br />that provide safe pedestrian and bicycle transportation routes linking communities and <br />neighborhoods within and adjacent to Ramsey County. The proposed trail from Perry <br />Park to Tony Schmidt Regional Park will add to this network vision. <br /> <br />The existing unofficial (unpaved) foot path where segment A of the trail has been <br />proposed to be located has a very steep grade and does not provide a safe passage from <br />Perry Park to Tony Schmidt Regional Park. Currently, the grade is difficult to climb. <br />Walkers and hikers can easily lose their footing and slip or fall. Bikers and persons with <br />disabilities are unable to utilize this unofficial foot path. The proposed trail will resolve <br />this safety issue by constructing a trail with a solid, smooth surface and an improved <br />grade. The proposed recreational trail (segment A and B) will not only provide a safe <br />regional connection, but will also provide safe year round recreation use for walkers, <br />hikers, and bikers. <br /> <br />Ramsey County recently finished construction ofthe Tony Schmidt Underpass trail that <br />leads to the proposed trail location. The Tony Schmidt Regional Park Master Plan has <br />recently been completed and numerous future improvements have been identified. The <br />timing to construct this trail would be ideal in the near future, in order to establish this <br />regional connection. The Ramsey County Tony Schmidt Regional Park Master Plan <br />(Attachment G) stated that in the 2005 Regional Park Visit Estimate Report, the park had <br /> <br />Page 7 <br />