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Within the surrounding area, substantial amounts of open space or recreational areas <br />exist, including the Tamarack Nature Center and the Bald Eagle -Otter Lake Regional <br />Park, enormous parks located approximately one mile north of Gem Lake in White <br />Bear Township. Approximately two miles to the west are substantial forest preserve <br />lands owned by the City of St. Paul Water Utility and being developed by Vadnais <br />Heights as parkland. In addition, one mile to the southeast of Gem Lake is a large <br />community park, the Lakewood Hills Park, located within the City of White Bear. <br />Extensive walking/biking trails exist in the immediate area. For instance, there is a <br />trail that can be entered on Centerville Road in Vadnais Heights, which is located near <br />Gem Lake's western border, and a shorter trail located along County Road E near <br />Gem Lake's southern border, also in Vadnais Heights. <br />Comprehensive Plan and Development Characteristics in <br />Contiguous Municipalities <br />Due to the small size of Gem Lake, it is very important that the community monitor <br />and closely coordinate its development with the contiguous governmental units on its <br />boundaries. White Bear Lake and Vadnais Heights are the most developed of these. <br />Both cities exhibit a generally diversified development pattern. That portion of White <br />Bear Lake closest to Gem Lake is planned principally for commercial development. <br />The Vadnais Heights plan (based on the zoning map) calls for commercial <br />development along all but a small portion of the entire south and western portion of <br />the City of Gem Lake. White Bear Township is expanding an industrial district on <br />the northern border of Gem Lake. <br />3.0 community development: trends and detriments I page 10 <br />