2001-04-04 Agenda Packet - Laserfiche WebLink

Home Browse Search

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY: REGIONAL RECREATION OPEN SPACE POLICY PL and to plan, finance and coardinate a regional network of parks and natural areas interconnected by ecological and recreational corridors. System Protection Issues and Policies A new policy on watershed management was added. Policy E-1 provides guidance for managing watersheds in units of the regional park system. It promotes enhancing native vegetation, the use of best management practices (BMPs), implementation of shoreland management guidelines, the use of water surface use regulations where appropriate, and encourages park implementing agencies to educate the general public about water resource management issues. �y�t�t7� ��all The system plan recommends the acquisition and development of a regional park system composed of 40 regional parks, 12 park reserves, 49 trails, and three freestanding special recreation features. The total area in the regional park system for those units with completed master plans is 55,000 acres, with about 50 of those acres acquired by the implementing agencies as of mid-2000. Recreatior� System Analysis A recreation system analysis was performed as part of the system plan update. The analysis shows that the residents of the region are well served by the system with regard to providing recreation opportunities. The regional park system has been well planned and the aggressive acquisition of lands over the past 25 years have created a well-distributed recreation resource base that provides multiple recreation choices for the vast majority of residents. However, the expected population growth in the region over the next 50 years will require some additions to the system to meet the needs of residents in the outer edge of areas with significant growth forecasts. The analysis identified additional recreation needs for regional park units in the Lakeville/Farmington area, the Cottage Grove/Woodbury area, and the Rosemount area. Additions to the Regional Park System There are a total of nine additions, expansions and realignments to the regional park system proposed in the 2000 policy plan. They include one new regional park, one new special recreation feature, four new regional trails, two major extensions of regional trails already in the system plan and one significant realignment of a trail already in the system plan. Specifically, they are: 1. Crow River Regional Park (Carver County) ?. Gale Woods Special Recreation Feature (Hennepin County) 3. Bunker-Chain Regional Trail (Anoka County) 4. Dakota Rail Line Regional Trail (Carver County) 5. Twin City & Western Rail Line Regional Trail (Carver County) , 6. St. Croix Regional Trail (Washington County) 7. Central Anoka Regional Trail extension (A.noka Coun h') �. North Anoka County Regional Trail extension (Anoka County) 9. Rum River Regional Trail realignment (Anoka County) 5