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06-11-2014 PRSR SPECIAL AGENDA 5.0 Ailava Work Session Meeting of the l Parks & Recreation Wednesday,June 11, 2014 j_', •...- 5:30-6:25 p.m. River Commission Elk River City Hall AGENDA Upper Town Conference Room I. CALL MEETING TO ORDER 2. NEEDS ASSESSMENT SUMMARY DISSCUSSION 3. FRAMEWORK PLAN DISSCUSSION 4. ADJOURNMENT This agenda is available in alternate formats upon a 72 hour advanced notice. Auxiliary aids and services are also available upon a 72 hour advanced notice.Please contact the City Clerk at 763.635.1000 to make a request.Examples of alternate formats may include:large print, Braille,audio tape,etc. Examples of auxiliary aids may include a sign language interpreter,assistive listening device,etc. PDNERE0 er NATURE Elk River Parks and Recreation Master Plan Parks and Recreation Advisory Commission Work Sesssion 5:30 PM- 6:30 PM Wednesday June 11, 2014 Elk River City Hall Meeting Purpose: Obtain Parks and Recreation Commission input and feedback on the Draft Needs Assessment and Draft Framework Plans. The Framework plan will be the foundation for upcoming master plan recommendations and focus area plans. AGENDA 1. Draft Needs Assessment Summary (25 min.) • Presentation and Discussion 2. Draft Framework Plan (25 min.) • Presentation and Discussion 3. Next Steps MEMORANDUM Hoisington Koegler Group Inc. ®© To: City of Elk River Parks and Recreation Commission From: Lil Leatham,HKGi Subject: Park and Recreation Master Plan—Needs Assessment and Framework Plan Summary Date: Draft 6/4/14 Needs Assessment Summary Through the process of surveying the community,meeting with identified stakeholders,discussions with City staff,and site visits,the following needs were identified in the Elk River Park and Recreation System. Needs generally fall into the following categories: • Quality over quantity • Trail gaps • Access to the Mississippi River, Elk River, and other water bodies • Improving existing parks Quality over quantity The preference in the community is for"high quality destination"type parks.People are willing to drive to a good park. For example,residents travel from all over the city to use the new playground at Orono Park. • Parks with potential to become city or even regional destinations by offering unique activities o Woodland—biathlon o Hillside—mountain biking o Rivers Edge Commons—concerts/downtown/river views o Youth Athletic Complex(YAC)—athletes from around the metro and beyond in tournaments o Lions—community activities o Orono/Dave Anderson Athletic Complex (DAAC)—mix of community activities and athletics • High quality athletic facilities are desired.The City and School District currently work together to provide these services and should continue to do so. Needs for athletic facilities include: o Indoor field house facility o Artificial turf o School fields should be consistence in quality and maintenance as city fields o Lighting o Ice arena improvements 123 North Third Street,Suite 100,Minneapolis,MN 55401-1659 Ph(612)338-3800 Fx(612)338-6838 www.hkgi.com Page 2 Trail gaps The Great Northern Trail(GNT)and trails within parks provide a range of trail related recreation and experiences. Trails are very popular with Elk River residents but there are gaps and there is a need for a better connected trail system.Trail needs and issues include: • Development and dimensional challenges have left some trails unconnected • Highway 169 is a significant E/W barrier • Some destinations are unconnected o Schools o Downtown o River(s) Access to the River/Water Elk River is at the confluence of the Elk and Mississippi Rivers yet there are relatively few public access points to the rivers.There is a need to better connect to the rivers. Needs and issues include: • Lack of public connectivity along the rivers • ROW/roadway design constraints to developing a riverfront trail in downtown • Uncertainty Babcock Park and the boat launch long term when Highway 10 is reconstructed • Potential for river more based recreation Improving existing parks Overall,Elk River has a high quality,well maintained park system. Yet there are needs for specific parks. • Youth Athletic Complex o Support amenities(parking,restrooms,concessions)are lacking and should be improved o There is a need for better wayfinding,both to and within the park o As the city grows,facilities need to be added to keep up with demand • Woodland Trails Park o The City should continue to support volunteer efforts and there is a need to better understand the staffing/hours that would go into maintaining the park if volunteer labor were not available. • Some parks have features that are at the end of their functional life-span and need to be updated or replaced. Examples of this include: o The need to remove the playground at Baldwin Park due to condition o Outdated play equipment at Barrington Park • There are difficulties maintaining some parks due to access issues. These include: o Parks with no public access(Baldwin Park,North Terrace Park) o Northern parks are dispersed and create challenges due to travel times for routine maintenance • Undeveloped City parkland. Some of this parkland will be developed as the city grows,other parts will be very difficult to develop due to environmental or access constraints. o Rice Lake Park • Neighborhood desires a playground o Birch Meadow Park • Internal access issues due to wetlands • Connection to school desired Page 3 o Big Tooth Ridge Park • May be added on to Woodland Trails Parkland via GNT Corridor • Water quality/perceived water quality at Orono is a concern • There are some small parks with overlapping service areas that may be redundant o Baldwin o Barrington o Meadow o North Terrace o Elk Hills Green Space Draft Framework Plan The Draft Framework Plan is a summary of`big picture' priorities for the future and sets the direction for master plan recommendations and the development of focus area plans. Addressing the key needs identified in the System Needs Assessment,there are four overarching priorities for the future: 1. Connect to the River(s) 2. Develop Signature Parks 3. Strengthen Trail Connections 4. Improve Existing Parks Connect to the Rivers • Acquire Holton Farm o Create a master plan for developing a park • Improve Riverfront Connections o This may be in the form of linear connections along the rivers,or additional access points and parks on the rivers • Develop a Riverfront Trail o Where feasible,provide trails along the Elk and Mississippi Rivers Develop Signature Parks • Develop signature community park(s) o Develop the park as a community gathering space/destination for all residents • Potential locations: Orono Park,DAAC,Lions Park,Woodland Trails,YAC • Continue to develop YAC as the City's premiere youth athletic complex o Expand as needed with population growth o Program and promote the YAC for regional tournaments o Improve wayfinding to and within the park o Improve support facilities(parking,concessions,restrooms) o Lighting o Artificial turf • Promote Woodland Trails Park as a regional destination o Look into Greater Minnesota Regional Park(District 4)designations and funding possibilities o Examine potential of connecting Big Tooth Ridge Park into Woodland Trails I Page 4 Strengthen Trail Connections • Strengthen GNT as a linear recreation spine o Make connections to GNT across 169 and County Road 1 o Connect GNT to area neighborhoods • Work with Zimmerman and Sherburne County to continue the GNT to Princeton. • Link GNT to Downtown and the Mississippi River. Connections need to be made to: o Schools o Oak Knoll Athletic Complex o Lions Park o Main Street • Close gaps in the trail system o Connect to isolated trail segments o Connect to neighborhood trail systems whether they are private or public o Connect to schools to improve safe routes to school,pedestrian safety,and experience for students Improve Existing Parks and Facilities • Maintain existing parks&recreation facilities(playgrounds,tennis courts etc.)when feasible o Maintain neighborhood parks o Replace facilities as they reach the end of their lifespan • Continue to make improvements to parks to respond to community needs and recreation trends o Utilize undeveloped parks as new development creates needs for additional developed parkland o Remain flexible to emerging needs and trends(splash pad,skate park,alternative sports) o Community gathering space • Develop strategies for private ownership or lease of properties with poor access and overlapping services o North Terrace Park o Baldwin Park o Meadow Park o Elk Hills Green Space • Integrate Arts into new park infrastructure(bridges,shelters,benches,etc.) • Arena o Repair and update(roof in older section,update mechanicals/refrigeration,expand common space to support tournaments/playoffs,add seating)or consider relocation • Activity Center o ADA upgrades o Potential expansion/reconfiguration for efficient use of space