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7.1 PRSR 02-11-2009REQUEST FOR ACTION To Item Number Parks and Recreation Commission 7.1. Agenda Section Meeting Date Prepared by Action/Discussion Items February 11, 2009 Bill Maertz, Parks and Recreation Director Item Description Reviewed by Woodland Trails Park Winter Trail Usage Reviewed by Action Requested Adjustment to Woodland Trails Park Winter Trail Use Policies Background/Discussion Woodland Trails Park comprises nearly 400 acres and includes a well developed system of trails that are heavily used year around. Both in the summer and winter, the ski and walking trails are maintained by the same volunteer group that has been instrumental in their development. Combined with their year round trail maintenance, those volunteers save the City in excess of a full time position. As the trails were developed for winter use a decision was made to accommodate multiple uses on the same trail system. As winter park use increased by both skiers and walkers, some conflicts developed between the two uses. In an effort to resolve those conflicts, a separate trail groomed for winter walking and snowshoeing was developed. That trail is in its 4`'' season and approximately 90% ofnon-skiers use that trail. While there have been some conflicts in recent years the walking trail has served to nununize them. As year round and especially winter park use increases, there have again been concerns raised by both skiers and walkers regarding winter trail use at Woodland Trails Park. With the increased use, staff is recommending a review and change in the policy regarding winter trail use at Woodland Trails Park. Concerns include: Many walkers have dogs. There have been instances where the dog has crossed to the opposite side of the trail as the owner, resulting in a skier being tripped by the leash. 2. Skiers travel at speed up to 45km per hour on some of the downhill trails sections raising the concern of a skier/walker collision. 3. Youth have been sliding down the steepest hills on the trails creating a hazard for both themselves and skiers. S:\P.9RIi.4 & RECREATION\U2 11 O9 PRC Packet\Authorization to Adjust Woodland Hills Winter Trail Use.doc 4. Wallcing on groomed snow disturbs and compacts the groomed surface. This increases grooming demands and in extreme circumstances such as foot traffic on trails softened by warm temps, the foot prints can later freeze creating a trip hazard for skiers and an unpleasant surface for walkers. Other Information to Consider A survey conducted of other regional cross country ski areas indicated that they do not allow walking along cross country ski trails due to safety concerns. The agencies contacted included Ramsey County, Anoka County, the Three Rivers Park District, and Highland Hills in Bloomington. Staff Recommendations 1. The east edge of the Great Northern Trail, for its entire length from County Road 1, north to County Road 33, be designated as "Winter Walking Trail". The.grade along with the designated route from the grade to the parking lot will continue to be shared by skiers. This establishes a critical North/South link for walkers. 2. The groomed wallcing trail be extended to the east utilizing the corridor between Ridgewood and Lafayette Woods to at least the point where the access trail from Tipton intersects this corridor. The trail portion along the Ridgewood ski hill will be reviewed by staff because of its steep grade. 3. Starting in the 2009-2010 winter season, skiing will only be allowed on all other trails in Woodland Trails Park when "snow covered". 4. Trails east of the grade should remain closed to walking when snow covered for the remainder of this season. Attachments Woodland Trails Winter Map Action Motion by Second by Vote FOllow Up S:\PARKS & RECREATION\0211 09 PRC Packet\Authorization to Adjust Woodland Hills Winter Trail Use.doc ~ ~~ 4 ~r, ~t.~ ~i. ~ ~ ~i~y N ~ ~ ~ ~ i/ ~ 71 ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~jN` .. , ~~ ' • Ci of EIk R ~ - ~" ~-/~'; ~,~' ~ .. _ Pat~ks .~ Recreation . ~, lid i '. Rcse~rirlgx~s ip~t r~qufred ~~ gawps of ~,-; ~ ~ 15 of mote and tam all's{d events and sid ~~ E t1..,..~ ~~ .. team prictica. ,~G~ ~btl~ltt ~~ f hr'lt5 ~ REGM2130f1 ©lQattmlttt Parks artd at 7b3.b35. 1150 far PYrk Shelter and Park Eacititr lise Appticatba f~eC~Ciun and Woodland Tamils 3k3 Team f~sserntion Fo[iry. wwsnr.ci.elk-rriver;rt~trs..ras Please v~l1$ our webaite www.ci.elk•rnermn.ua FOR YQ~,INFOI~j?~TIQN e i".023~ Ski 4Q ~rO4rtt0d Srailg 4?flly r 5 ~ i aaisly as there 6s no ski pstrol art duty o f)vgs ane allowed ami must comply v~th the ~k Fl,ver Cary C7rdinance • Dvys mvgt fle k,ashed fMox d' kmh~ at a~ tines a,~d must de skankd uy a(ttr + I]ogx moat stay ~ Cry ed • Id~%+~t#r13tA) out Oji1~SSi{ Irk • U08i r7AAat I4 i~i!!5 • Please ebey .~ Mot Enter` an one~way ua'Is • V~alking It sxowshoeing are allowed art trail edges only f ' , iappa:~te C aasit #rRka if SCSI and IYatr s molt yicfd r~ghcxrrf-vray to akicrs. Flo walking tsr ~'iowshoang wet trays pa:t~ecl as'51~o''Irtalki~tg A~paw®tl" ~' e Mistorixed Yaloi~let are ~t a~c+wed art trials ssr la the ' park area l`trsdutling electric & gas parwered scootersi s tease na winter 6iioing an the trails M~snesora State Ski Isass is nett regcwred _ ~ • Horseback rwding is pctsti~triccsl on the tni~ t • Thank Yea iOr r+catr COC r+L r3[~C~~ +~ '~ r~~R'rrt ,y,,_ CRO~fitHG ~.::. "'~f~K~ ~ ~ Y~~l L] a PstAIHfE L{JC~ ~ « r~ arr A ~ scs;rN E caa~.w+c R~e~~ r G iat ' ~r d. 3 R F a~ ~ t ~ ~ 1 ~~ I Z H ` ~, aware rw ro s:, . (kD SOU'iM iYCF'!,F ~ t:u*'fRT V T MJliO1V {C Y:1 &k: ~ ~~J'"R w o~~,n trix u+E vrr~~ Y Et_K kIl`FR -'' n GOE.F COURSE ro~~ r ?~. ~~, ,~ J,l, G is y~ y LONGEST CpNTit+iUOlfS SKI 7r ON 1~.lTER LQOP 14.3 K (A-A) !• ~ ~ ~ 4A k t Q.S k ici&irnet~s t 0 ~ _. •~ .. 0.4 rrb ~ O.S mi QAA~7TV rr_. r:: erf~ ~f~~r{~ 8111 TRAll.3 O~~ ~ , ~ ~. \.' EASIER ~~1t7Ft£ Dif'FICU~T ,' rrrrcwn•~-, t~10STt3fFFIGl1LT WALI5ING TR,WLS C,ROOMED ht[ 7- w~` T N M t.tl ~~x nr r~u. wr:~c:a -r~ -x'- ~~~ ~. ro- ~ ~~,,``~~~ 6~ This paper has i09o pose consumer- recycled fiber and is Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) certified - www.fscus.org Please Recycle Elk River'' Eti~i'gy City --- Phutes: Sk~nnyski.com