14.1. PRSR 05-11-2016 ilk Request for Action
River
To Item Number
Parks and Recreation Commission 14.1
Agenda Section Meeting Date Prepared by
Work Session May 11,2016 Michael Hecker,Parks and Recreation Director
Item Description Reviewed by
Woodland Trails Park Master Plan Cal Portner, City Administrator
Reviewed by
Action Requested
For discussion
Background/Discussion
We are now in the_process of preparing a more detailed master plan for Woodland Trails Park,including
the Great Northern Trail,in order to access Minnesota state Legacy funding. The city held an open
house on Thursday,April 14 to receive input and help shape the master plan. Over 25-attendees
provided their feedback and preferences. A summary of the open house and draft recommendations are
attached for your review.
HKGi staff will facilitate the work session on May 11. Please review the attached materials and make
sure to take some time before the work session to fill out the prioritization worksheet.
Financial Impact
None
Attachments
• HKGi Draft Recommendations and Worksheet
i�0IEREI it
NATURE
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OPEN HOUSE SUMMARY-APRIL 14TH, 2016 _ -•°:
City of Elk River
Woodland Trails Park Master Plan4.'-
05.11.2016
Approximately 25 attendees
High interest in natural resource restoration and
preservation 4 ., '\ I
Low interest in physical development within the park •, .I' '?"
4
Development preferences:
• Nature Center/ Park Building: Highest interest in Medium _ N
size nature center with moderate levet of programming
• Picnic Shelter: Highest interest in small enclosed picnic air-
shelter with restrooms *N1,1::
• Playground: Highest interest in large, nature based play area "Aria 4.
• Trails: Equal amount of interest in no additional trail li��11 #'fit �„
development and a lit ski trail -
• Restoration: Highest amount of interest overall in restoration. g6.-'-- 4
High interest in buckthorn removal,wetland restoration, oak
wilt, and clearing excessive debris.
z9_,: Comment Cards & Board
Comments:
• Woodland Trails Park is important
:. f # resource for access to nature
-_ • Best things about the park:walking/
• - • running/hiking on trails, being in
nature, skiing, and seeing wildlife
;; ;u,� • Opportunities include: park land
..
,_I ; �,1.�a t 1�`` expansion and acquisition, addition
r ` of a park building to support existing
�, ,� activities and education,wayfinding
=--,0...._.
,II rem, A
and interpretive signage, add park
�:' access on the east side, Great
- Northern Trait enhancement, and
snowmaking and lit ski trail
• Issues include: managing trail user
conflicts, and buckthorn management
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DRAFT RECOMMENDATIONS
City of Elk River
Woodland Trails Park Master Plan
05.11.2016
Park Development:
• Park Entry Improvements&Signage
» Add new park entry sign to follow guidelines in Elk River Wayfinding Plan
• Add new wayfinding and interpretive kiosk at parking lot near trail access,follow guidelines in Elk River Wayfinding
Plan
• Relocate storage/maintenance garage to be near golf course maintenance building,screen it with plantings
» Add improved trail access and wayfinding signs at park entrances on north,east,and south sides of the park
• Nature Center/ Park Building
» Year-round,enclosed building with restrooms
» Build small center(2,000-3,000 SF)in the short-term with the potential to expand the building footprint in the
long-term.
» Potential to be staffed on weekends and during events
» Use as warming house for winter activies
• Include rental space for meetings and small events
» Locate to be accessible from the existing parking lot,with views focused toward the woods
• Picnic Shelter
» Small to medium size picnic shelter for 25-50 people(1,000-1,200 SF)
» Open air structure
» Locate in the prairie,accessible from the existing parking lot
• Children's Nature Play Area
» Include large nature play area(.25- .5 acre)close to nature center/park building
» Use natural materials,such as logs, boulders,water features,and plants
• Biathlon /Archery Course
» Modify biathlon course to add archery targets(Include as high priority/potential CIP item)
» Improve and finish the biathlon building interior
• Park Land Acquisition
» In the short-term future,work to acquire northeast corner of Elk River Golf Club for trails.
» In the mid-term future,work to acquire land along the eastern edge of the Great Northern Trail, north of the park.
» Potential long-term acquisition includes existing mining areas to the east of the park, particularly for potential
water feature.
Programming:
• Environmental Education
• In the long-term future,the parks department could partner with local schools to provide outdoor/environmental
education programs.The parks department could also provide weekend and evening programming as well as
home school programming during the week.
» Provide natural resources interpretation displays and information in the nature center building.
» Add short, interpretive trails surrounding the nature center
• Archery/ Biathlon training
» Expand use of the biathlon course by providing archery and biathlon workshops/short training courses that are
open to the public.
4 image 3
• Concessions/ Equipment Rental
» Potential to include food/drink concessions in new park building
» Rent equipment from the new park building,such as skis,snowshoes,compass, binoculars,and other trail use
items.
Natural Resources / Ecological Stewardship:
• Manage and Treat Oak Wilt
>> Treatments include vibratory plowing to sever root grafts, pruning only during the dormant period(November-
March),and fungicide treatments(however these are not cost effective in a natural forest environment.
• Manage and Treat Bur Oak Blight
» Treatments include fungicide treatments(however these are not cost effective in a natural forest environment).
» Bur Oak Blight does not generally kill the tree outright, however stress caused by Bur Oak Blight can lead to other
infections resulting in the death of the tree.
• Control and Remove Buckthorn and Other Invasive Species
» Protect native plant species to maintain habitat and ecosystem functionality
» Manage invasive species,including buckthorn, honeysuckle,and Siberian elm
>> Use the following treatment methods:foliar spraying of seedlings with glyphosate,cut and stump treatment
with a tricloper based herbicide(Garton 3A or Garlon 4), basal treatments with a tricloper based herbicide mixed
with a bark penetrating oil(Garton 4 w/ Bark Oil Blue),or mechanical removal(mowing or hand pulling)however
mechanical is the least effective method and often requires years of follow-up treatments(also causes vast soil
disturbance which can result in better germination in the seed bank resulting in secondary infestations)
• Manage Emerald Ash Borer
» EAB affects all species of ash trees and is 100%fatal to ash trees once populations in a given area grow to a
capacity capable of dense infestation
» Treatments include injection of insecticides(however these are not cost effective in a native forest environment),
additionally bio-control insects have been approved for release however their effectiveness is minimal and
continual releases of bio-control insects may be required(survivability of the bio-control insects is reduced due to
extreme Minnesota winters).
» EAB has not been discovered in Sherburne County as of 2016, however it is likely a population exists and has
currently gone undetected; EAB has a population growth curve of approximately 10 years with identification
generally occurring around years 4-6;thus once it is identified there is likely only 4-6 years until a complete
infestation occurs and go%loss of ash trees can be expected during this period.
• Continue to Maintain Prairie Restoration Areas
» Increase species diversity to a site, mature reconstructed prairies can contain up to 40 species of native plants
» Vital for pollinator species and monarch butterfly reproduction
» Vital for stabilizing soils and retaining moisture on the landscape
» Important habitat for many species of wildlife providing nesting cover for waterfowl, upland game birds(turkey,
grouse, pheasant),and songbird species;also important cover for many mammal species, reptiles(Blanding's
turtles,eastern and western hognose snakes, bull snakes)and amphibians.
• Explore Wetland Restoration Potential
» Part of County ditch system to control flooding
• Vital for controlling flooding by capturing water from the landscape and slowly recharging the aquifers
» Rich in species diversity providing habitat for numerous species of reptiles,amphibians,waterfowl,and an
important water source for other wildlife species.
» Important for filtering sediment and contamination due to agricultural practices and manmade features such as
roads and parking lots.
• Restoration of the central wetland complex would assist in filtering water prior to it entering the Elk River and Lake
Orono thus improving water quality of these two bodies of water.
• * . . . . . . . . . • . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Page4
• • ° ° '
WOODLAND TRAILS PARK MASTER PLAN ' ' a ° •
PRIORITIZATION WORKSHEET
City of Elk River
Woodland Trails Park Master Plan
05.11.2016
PRIORITIZE PHASE
On the lines below, please rank On the Lines below, please
in order the following ideas as identify each idea as
how important they are for the Short-Term (1-5 years),
future of Woodland Trails Park. Mid-Term (6-15 years), or
Use the numbers 1-12. Vision/Long-Term(16+years)
Maintain the Great Northern Trail for year-round walking/biking
Add archery range to biathlon course
Finish building interior adjacent to biathlon course
Address natural resource issues
(Oak Wilt, Bur Oak Blight, Buckthorn, Downed Debris,etc.)
Acquire additional park land along the Great Northern Trait corridor
Restore wetland
Add park building/nature center
Add picnic shelter
Add children's nature play area
Add lit ski traiL and snowmaking equipment
Relocate and build new storage garage for maintenance equipment
Add new wayfinding and interpretive signage in the park
(entry sign, kiosk at parking lot,signs at other park entrances)
Enhance trail connections to the east
What do you see as the top 3 priorities for the future of Woodland Trails Park?
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2
3