7.1 PRSR 01-15-2020
The Elk River Vision
A welcoming community with revolutionary and spirited resourcefulness, exceptional
service, and community engagement that encourages and inspires prosperity
Request for Action
To
Parks and Recreation Commission
Item Number
7.1
Agenda Section
Action Items
Meeting Date
January 15, 2020
Prepared by
Michael Hecker, Parks and Recreation Director
Item Description
County State Aid Highway 12/181st Avenue
Improvements and the proposed Hillside Park
access change
Reviewed by
Jenna Fabish, Assistant City Engineer
Reviewed by
Cal Portner, City Administrator
Action Requested
Discussion of the proposed CSAH 12 road access to Hillside Park
Recommend, by motion, relocating Hillside Park’s CSAH 12 access to retain full access to the Park.
Background/Discussion
Sherburne County is proposing to reconstruct County State Aid Highway (CSAH) 12 (181st Avenue) from
its connection with the Redefine 169 project (near Zane and Line Avenues) east to the Sherburne/Anoka
County line. The project includes a modified, divided 4-lane roadway from Hwy 169 to Nixon
Street/181st Lane and a divided, 2-lane roadway from Nixon Street/181st Lane to the county line.
Currently, the segment of CSAH 12 adjacent to Hillside Park is an undivided, 4-lane roadway. The
proposed project will construct a concrete median that will restrict left turning movements into and out
of the park. Per Sherburne County’s access spacing policy, the current location of Hillside Park does not
meet access spacing guidelines to remain full access.
The county held an open house for the project on Wednesday January 8, 2020, at the Sherburne County
Government Center. Several Commissioners and MORC members attended the open house. The county
received several concerns restricting access to Hillside Park. Comments from attendees, including a letter
from MORC included:
1. Making U-turn movements on an already busy road to access the park is not safe
2. Currently, when leaving the park, it is difficult to see or find an opportunity to enter 181st Avenue
3. Restricting access makes it challenging to locate the park
Financial Impact
Potential costs for relocating full access to Hillside Park.
Attachments
CASH 12 (181st Avenue) county road plans
MORC letter to county
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CSAH 12 Improvements
SHERBURNE COUNTY
Minnesota
169
13
C UO TNY
12
C UO TNY
40
UOC YTN
SCALE IN FEET
50 1000
Park
Trott Brook
City Park
Hillside
Athletic Fields
Spectrum High School
Walmart
Depot
Home TWIN LAKES RD NWTYLER DR NW CLEVELAND AVE NWLINE AVE NWZANE ST SWNIXON STJOHNSON ST NWFILLMORE ST NWTROTT BROOK PKWY NW
Minnesota Off-Road Cyclists
PO Box 19520, Minneapolis, MN 55419 218-270-8252 www.morcmtb.org
Andrew Witter, P.E.
Sherburne County Public Works Director
13880 Business Center Drive NW
Elk River, MN 55330
Dear Andrew Witter,
During our annual meeting with the City of Elk River, Minnesota Off-Road Cyclists
(MORC) was updated on future projects within the city. One of the projects involves
Sherburne County reconstructing County State Aid Highway (CSAH) 12 (181 st Avenue)
from Line Avenue/Zane Street East to the Sherburne/Anoka County border in 2020. As
part of the project, the county is proposing a change in access to Hillside Park (the city’s
only mountain bike park). The new proposed access will be a right in, right out.
MORC is very concerned with the proposed change in access to Hillside Park. It is
difficult to access 181st Avenue, especially during peak travel times. For park visitors
wishing to access the park from westbound 181st Avenue or exit the park to westbound
181st Avenue, the proposed access change will require a U-turn movement. Being
regulars to the park, we have seen fewer opportunities to enter 181 st Avenue in its current
configuration and have seen an increase in truck traffic along this segment. These factors
will likely make it difficult for park users to safely make the U-turn movement.
MORC respectfully requests that Sherburne County maintain a full access to Hillside
Park by considering other options that would retain full access to the Park which could
include realigning the access.
Sincerely,
Graydon Betts
Treasurer – Minnesota Off-Road Cyclists