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8.1 PRSR 09-08-2021 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 8.1 Agenda Section Action Item Meeting Date September 8, 2021 Prepared by Michael Hecker, Parks and Recreation Director Item Description City Comprehensive Plan Reviewed by Reviewed by Action Requested Discussion of the City Comprehensive Plan Background/Discussion Commission Chair Dave Williams has been the representative for the Parks and Recreation Commission on the City Comprehensive Plan Committee. Dave and Parks staff have provided input for Chapter 8 Parks, Open Space & Natural Resources Plan. The plan will be going to City Council for final approval at the September 20 meeting. Financial Impact N/A Attachments  City Comprehensive Draft – Chapter 8 Parks, Open Space and Natural Resources Plan DRAFT FOR REVIEW ONLY CHAPTER 8PARKS, OPEN SPACE & NATURAL RESOURCES PLAN Elk River is home to 44 parks and recreation facilities as well as over 1,000 acres of parkland. Parks are essential to the City’s high quality of life, offering recreational opportunities ranging from baseball and soccer fields, to cross country skiing and mountain biking trails. In addition, open space and natural resources in the City provide residents and visitors opportu- nities for leisure activities and a chance to connect with the natural environment and add to the overall attractiveness of the community. With the Elk River, Lake Orono, and the Mississippi River at its core, the City is home to an impressive assembly of assets grounded in nature, preserving and expanding access to these amenities is key to planning for growth in Elk River. The Parks, Open Space, and Natural Resources chapter provides guidance and recommendations on how the City can balance growth and expand access to parks, open space, and natural resources for all residents across the community. Elk River Comprehensive Plan • Parks, Open Space & Natural Resources Plan 105 DRAFT FOR REVIEW ONLY Parks, Open Space & Natural Resources Vision Statement Elk River will be a destination for outdoor recreation, offering a wide selection of trails for mountain biking, hiking, hunting, fishing, and more. The City will also continue to host recreation events at the Furniture and Things Community Event Center, YAC, and ERX that bolster the local economy. The City will expand recreational access to the Mississippi River, Elk River, and Lake Orono, adding parkland to create a cohesive riverfront trail and boardwalk that follows the rivers flow. Additional recreational improvements to the Downtown will also expand waterfront access and include the installation of a new ADA accessible floating dock system at Rivers Edge Commons Park. Goal 1: Continue to expand and enhance Elk River’s network of parks, trails, open space, and recreational facilities to support active and passive recreation throughout the community. Policies: • Provide access to neighborhood parks to all residents. • Close gaps in the City’s trail network. • Foster connections to the Elk and Mississippi Rivers. • Continue to keep Lake Orono and the Elk and Mississippi Rivers clean and safe for recreational activity. • Encourage wetland and native habitat preservation. 106 Parks, Open Space & Natural Resources Plan • Elk River Comprehensive Plan DRAFT FOR REVIEW ONLY The City of Elk River has two recently adopted plans that form the basis for much of the content in the Parks, Open Space, and Natural Resources Chapter: the Parks and Recreation Master Plan (2015) and Trails Master Plan (2018). While these plans address park and trail needs at a system-wide level, it is important to recognize that new projects and needs will arise as Elk River continues to grow. As such, this Chapter is intended to place these plans in the context of the Comprehensive Plan and reinforce relevant strategies and recommendations as they support the community led vision for the future of these assets in Elk River. Recent Plans Powered by Nature City of Elk River Parks and Recreation Master Plan (Adopted June 2015) The Parks and Recreation Master Plan provides a stra- tegic approach to protecting and cultivating the City’s park and recreational assets for future generations. This Plan, much like the Comprehensive Plan, is a tool to guide the City Council, Parks and Recreation Commission, and City staff in the allocation of resources for maintenance, trail construction, playground installation, riverfront protection, and program development based on community desires and needs into the future. The “big picture” priorities identified in the Parks and Recreation Master Plan for the future park system include: • Improve Existing Parks and Facilities. • Maintain Park Assets at a High Level. • Strengthen Trail Connections. • Visually and/or Physically Connect to the Elk and Missis- sippi Rivers. • Provide Engaging Recreational Programming for the Entire Community. • Preserve Natural Resources and Greenways. Trails Master Plan (Approved 2018) There are 47 miles of paved and natural surface trails throughout the City. The Trails Master Plan outlines the existing trail and sidewalk network in Elk River and identifies areas for proposed extensions and new trail/ walk corridors with the goal of creating a comprehen- sive trail network that weaves together neighborhoods in the City. Important connections to note in this Plan are the extension of the Mississippi River Trail and the Great Northern Trail which tie into both national and regional trail networks. Powered by Nature City of Elk River Parks and Recreation Master Plan Adopted June 2015 Elk River Comprehensive Plan • Parks, Open Space & Natural Resources Plan 107 DRAFT FOR REVIEW ONLY Park Inventory, Supply & Distribution The City of Elk River boasts 1,444 acres of park land that include six athletic and active recreation facilities, 15 neighborhood parks, three conservation/scenic areas, 13 open space/undeveloped parks, and two community parks. All City parks and recreation facilities are operated and maintained by the Parks and Recreation Department under the direction of the City Council and the Parks and Recreation Commis sion. The majority of established neighborhoods in Elk River are within a half-mile, roughly a 10- to 15-minute walk, of a neighborhood park. However, much of the rural residential areas in the northern portion of the City are not served by neighborhood parks. In the north, the pattern of rural subdivisions made it less feasible to provide smaller parks within a walkable distance from existing residences which lead the City to elect to further disperse parks in this area. The south of the City is better served by neighborhood parks and also has access to community parks with play- grounds and other neighborhood park features which helps to close gaps in service for this area. The southern portion of the City is primarily built out which limits oppor- tunity for additional parkland acquisition. The railroad tracks present a major barrier to accessing Meadowvale Park for residents living on the north side of Lake Orono, underscoring a need for improved access in the City. The accompanying map highlights residential areas that are underserved by the current park system as well as areas that are planned for future residential devel- opment. It is important to note that much of the land in the Urban Service Expansion Area is outside of the current neighborhood park service area which means any new residential development here will need to coincide with additional parkland designation. 108 Parks, Open Space & Natural Resources Plan • Elk River Comprehensive Plan DRAFT FOR REVIEW ONLY 165TH AVE NWJACKSONAVE NW MAIN ST N W MISSISSIPPI RD NW TYLER ST NWPROCTOR RD NWLANDERS T NWFILLMORE ST NWSCHOOL ST NW 193RDAVE N W 175TH AVE NW 221ST A V E N W TWINLAKESRD NWTWIN LAKES RD NWELK LA KERD NWUS H IG H WAY 1 0 N W PROCTORRDNW192ND AVE NWMEADOWVALE RD NW181ST AVE NWUS HIGHWAY 169 NW209TH AVE NW 221ST AVE NW US H I G H W A Y 1 0 N W RANCHRDNW ELK LAKE RD NWCLEVELANDSTNWBROOKRDNW35 44 32 32 1 12 121 33 13 40 33 101 10 169 169 10 Neighborhood Park Golf Course Community Park Athletic Complex Undeveloped Park Other Parks & Conservation Areas Playgrounds Neighborhood Park Half Mile Service Area Residential within Service Area Residential outside Service Area LAKEORONO 1 2 34 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 43 17 18 19 20 2122 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 4142 16 16 44 45 1. Lions Park 2. Kliever Lake Fields Park 3. Kliever Marsh Park 4. Kliever Point Park 5. Hillside City Park 6. Meadowvale Heights Park 7. Fox Haven 8. Woodland Trails Park 9. Ridgewood Park 10. Trott Brook Farms Park 11. Big Tooth Ridge Park 12. Windsor Park 13. Alba Ridge Park 14. Rice Lake Park 15. Harris Island Park 16. City Park 17. Youth Athletic Complex 18. West Oaks Park 19. Pullman Place Coop Green Space 20. Elk River Sportsman Club 21. Point Bailey Nature Preserve 22. William H Houlton Conservation Area 23. Orono Park 24. Pinewood Golf Course 25. Camp Cozy Park 26. Sedge Meadow Park 27. Highlands Park 28. Country Crossing Park 29. M.C. Park 30. Fresno Park 31. Oak Savanna Park 32. Dave Anderson Athletic Complex 33. River Place Park 34. Burr Oak Park 35. Elk River Golf Course 36. Oxbow Park 37. Babcock Park 38. Rivers Edge Commons Park 39. Deerfield Hill Park 40. Royal Valley Park 41. Birch Meadow Park 42. Barrington Park 43. Baldwin Park 44. North Terrace Park 45. Ranch Road Area Park Parks and Open Space Facilities MISSISSI PPI RI V ER Elk River Comprehensive Plan • Parks, Open Space & Natural Resources Plan 109 DRAFT FOR REVIEW ONLY Expand Access to Parks, Open Space & Natural Resources Expanding access to parks, open space, and natural resources is a top priority as the community is expected to see undeveloped land transition to residential and commercial use in the near future. The following strate- gies are intended to help the City meet current needs and future anticipated needs for park land and natural ameni- ties in the community. Modify Land Development Regulations to Encourage Developer Driven Park Creation As Elk River continues to see growth and development new parks must be established to ensure equitable access. Future densely developed subdivisions, particularly in the urban service expansion areas of the Gravel Mining area and along Twin Lakes Road, will need to include parks to serve these new neighborhoods. The City’s current subdivi- sion standards require the dedication of land or contribu- tion of cash for public purpose in every subdivision devel- oped for residential, commercial, or industrial uses, or as a planned unit development. While developers can provide a cash contribution in lieu of land dedication, the City should encourage parkland development be integrated into these sites to provide residents access to parks directly in the neighborhoods being developed. When accepting land as parkland, the City needs to ensure the land is appropriate for park us. This includes an evaluation of usable active parkland, access, visibility, and proximity to other parks. Park Amenities Menu To ensure that the smaller park sites adequately serve the recreation needs of neighborhood residents, the City should consider establishing a menu of park and open space activation items for the developer to choose from. A menu of items would also ensure a base level of park and open space activation while providing developers with the flexibility needed to customize parks and open space to their target market. This type of menu can be integrated into the City’s Code of Ordinances to help guide desired park and open space development in new subdivisions. Improve Athletic Fields to Expand Playability Soccer, lacrosse, football, softball, and baseball fields in the City have seen increased use as Elk River’s population has grown. As such, scheduling time and field space for sports teams has become more and more competitive and is further exacerbated when rain, snow, and night skies leave these fields unplayable. Improvements such as installing artificial turf fields and lighting can extend playability on existing fields in the City and should be considered especially in parks that see heavy use and are challenged by wetland/water drainage issues such as Lion John Weicht Park. Focus Resources The majority of neighborhood parks are located in the southern portion of the City, some of which have over- lapping service areas and may be redundant. The Parks Master Plan identified Baldwin, Meadow, North Terrance, Elk Hills Green Space, and the property south of Ridge- wood East on 191st Avenue as unnecessary from a system standpoint as they lack real public access, are prohibitively small for park use, and/or are difficult to maintain. If there are no legal issues related to the dedication/donation of these properties, the City should consider selling them to private owners to take the burden of maintenance off the Parks and Recreation Department. Selling these proper- ties would also provide funds for the purchase of lands in neighborhoods with limited access to parks especially in the north of the City. In evaluating the sale of such proper- ties, the City should also carefully consider neighborhood input and identify potential improvements to nearby parks and access routes to ensure local residents remain well- served. The City also needs to evaluate how the land was acquired (park dedication, donation, or purchase) and how to properly vacate ownership of these properties. Update the Parks Master Plan The Parks Master Plan was adopted in 2015 and many projects identified in the Plan such as the improvements to Orono Park are coming to completion. The City should consider updating the Plan to identify new parks and recre- ation needs in the community as it grows. The Plan update at a minimum should address service area needs of new developments in the expanded Urban Service District and supplement the Parks, Open Spaces & Natural Resources section of the Comprehensive Plan. 110 Parks, Open Space & Natural Resources Plan • Elk River Comprehensive Plan DRAFT FOR REVIEW ONLY 100%RequiredOpen Space 50%Active Uses 50%Passive Uses Community (Fill 2 circles below)(Fill 1 circle below) Community E E A R P Co Co Co Co Cr Pavilions Gazebos Community Garden Permanent Yard Games Fire Pit Hardscaped & Landscaped Squares Benches and/or seat walls Historic Resources* Private Greenway Neighborhood Amenities* Resort Style Pool Clubhouse Golf Course (Fill 1 circle below) Recreation Certified Safe Playground Equipment Tennis/Pickleball Courts Baseball/Softball Field Football/Soccer Field Multi-Use Hard Court Bocce Courts (Fill 1 circle below) Public Public Park Facility Public Greenway Public Plaza Environmental (Fill 1 circle below) Parkways* Preservation of Natural Resources Rain Garden Constructed Wetland Stream Restoration Cr Creative (Fill 1 circle below) Outdoor Display of Public Art Gateway Landscaping or Structure Enhanced Roadside Landscaping Must be distributed into the following uses Both uses must consist of the elements below. Fill the circles to indicate which elements to include A R P Open Space Menu Example A Park Amenities Menu like this Open Space Menu can be included in a Code of Ordinances or Zoning Code to help facilitate the integra- tion of open space and outdoor amenities into developer led subdivision design. It provides an easy to understand guide for “how much” and “what type” of uses should be included in a given development. Elk River Comprehensive Plan • Parks, Open Space & Natural Resources Plan 111 DRAFT FOR REVIEW ONLY Foster Connections and Close Gaps Elk River is home to over 47 miles of continuous trails throughout the City. Of these trails, 16 miles are paved and 25 miles are natural surface hiking trails in parks. The City also has eight miles of unpaved mountain bike trails. While many residents do not live far from trails in the City there are barriers and gaps in the trial network that limit access. The Trails Master Plan illustrates a comprehensive trail network that ties together neighborhoods, schools, and existing parks and trails as well as easements. Implemen- tation of this Plan is key in providing pedestrian and bike connections across the City. The City should be incremen- tally constructing segments of recommended Trails Master Plan routes as public infrastructure improvements are executed in the right-of-way and future developments are proposed. Further, the City should also explore state and federal funding opportunities for trails and pathways to help finance these types of projects when not easily incor- porated into Public Works infrastructure improvements. Remove Barriers to Trail and Parks Highway 169 is a notorious barrier between the east and west of the City, often forcing many residents to drive rather than walk or bike to access the Great Northern Trail. The planned Redefine 169 project will incorporate separated grade traffic at its east-west connections and sidewalks. These east-west crossings should be designed to complete streets standards to make them welcoming to pedestrians and bikes. In addition, the BNSF railroad also cuts off many residents’ access to parks and trails in the community. The addition of a separated grade crossing over the tracks in the south west of the City near Meadowvale Park should also be considered in any future Highway 10 studies, more on the impact of mobility across Highway 10 is included in the Transportation & Mobility chapter. Expand Waterfront Connections The Elk River, Mississippi River, and Lake Orono are major water recreation resources in the community. The City should foster greater connection to these water bodies through a waterfront trail and park system that connects the Mississippi River Trail to the Downtown Rivers Edge Commons Park and beyond to Lake Orono and the Great Northern Trail. The creation of an easement along the Mississippi River would provide continuous public access to the water and help create a riparian buffer that would protect native habitats and preserve wetlands and flood- plain areas along the river from development. 112 Parks, Open Space & Natural Resources Plan • Elk River Comprehensive Plan DRAFT FOR REVIEW ONLY 165TH AVE NWJACKSONAVE NW MAIN ST N W MISSISSIPPI RD NW TYLER ST NWPROCTOR RD NWLANDERS T NWFILLMORE ST NWSCHOOL ST NW 193RD AVENW 175TH AVE NW 221ST AVE NW TWINLAKESRD NWTWIN LAKES RD NWE LK LA KE RD NWUS H IG H WAY 1 0 N W PROCTORRDNW192ND AVE NWMEADOWVALE RD NW181ST AVE NWUS HIGHWAY 169 NW209TH AVE NW 221ST AVE NW US H I G H W A Y 1 0 N W RANCH R DNW ELKLAKERD NWCLEVELAND ST NWBROOKRDNW35 44 32 32 1 12 121 33 13 40 33 101 10 169 169 10 Mississippi River Trail Great Northern Trail Existing Trails Proposed Trails Parks Open Space LAKEORONO Trails MISSISSI PPI R IV E R Note: Proposed Trails as identified in the map are illustrative only and are intended to high- light potential trail alignments and easement locations that would support a robust network of accessible trails in the City. Elk River Comprehensive Plan • Parks, Open Space & Natural Resources Plan 113 DRAFT FOR REVIEW ONLY Preserve Natural Amenities Elk River is home to a diverse variety of natural landscapes including forests, wetlands, oak savanna, prairies, agricul- tural lands, the Elk and Mississippi Rivers, and Lake Orono. These incredible natural assets add to the beauty of the community and provide residents and visitors countless recreation and leisure opportunities that add to the high quality of life in Elk River. Preserving these natural ameni- ties is crucial to ensure they are available for generations to come. Key to this will be a balanced approach to develop- ment that is respectful of the existing native landscapes in the community. Promote Conservation Design The City of Elk River has over 5,650 acres of wetlands. Wetland ecosystems have many benefits including naturally improving water quality, protecting against flood damage, promoting diversity of life, and providing a variety of food sources to support the food chain. The City should work to preserve its existing wetlands and natural amenities, include riparian buffers around them, as well as integrates them into proposed developments by promoting conservation design. Additional detail on how the City can encourage and incentivize conservation development is included in the Chapter 2 Housing Plan. Improve Water Quality The Elk River watershed spans 613 square miles. The watershed has suffered from high levels of pollutants in the past and has seen roughly 275 water improve ment projects since 1994. Better water quality has been recorded in both Lake Orono and Elk River over the last 10 years, but the water bodies still exceed the state level for safe bacteria. To mitigate pollutants in Elk Rivers waterways, the City should continue to implement its Stormwater Pollu- tion Prevention Plan (SWPPP) to reduce pollutant run off. In addition, the City should also continue to work with the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources to improve and monitor water quality in the Elk and Mississippi Rivers and Lake Orono to ensure they are safe for recreational use. Utilize Green Infrastructure The Elk River and Lake Orono are within the Lower Elk River subwatershed of the Mississippi watershed. Roughly 30% of land in this subwatershed is used for crops, nearly twice the area as the St. Cloud subwatershed. Run off from agricultural chemicals and feedlots into waterways has been proven to negatively impact the quality of water bodies and can impact whether they are safe to use as a recreational amenity. To further protect water quality, the City should utilize green infrastructure throughout the community. Green infrastructure helps to naturally retain and filter water as it drains into the ground and re-enters the watershed, these strategies help to keep pollutants from washing directly into waterways and include: • Native landscaping; • Grassed swales; • Infiltration basins; • Bioretention facilities; • Rain gardens; • Green roofs; • Soil amendments; • Fertilizer application control;, and • Non-chloride (road salt) snow and ice controls. Additional detail on these strategies is included in the Chapter 4 Infrastructure & Urban Service Area Plan. 114 Parks, Open Space & Natural Resources Plan • Elk River Comprehensive Plan DRAFT FOR REVIEW ONLY 35 44 32 32 1 12 121 33 13 40 33 101 10 169 16910 Tree Canopy LAKEORONO Tree Canopy (US Forest Service, 2016) Preserve the Tree Canopy Any new residential development in the City, especially in the urban service expansion area, should be respectful of the mature tree canopy. Preserving trees and native land- scapes in new developments is important in maintaining the natural character that makes Elk River such a desirable place to live. Section 30-415 of the City’s Subdivision Design Standards includes provisions on the preservation of trees and other vegetation as well as tree planting requirements. The City should continue to enforce these requirements and encourage strategies such as clustering development or orienting development along established tree lines to protect trees as much as possible as growth occurs. Elk River Comprehensive Plan • Parks, Open Space & Natural Resources Plan 115 DRAFT FOR REVIEW ONLY