Agenda - Parks and Recreation Commission - 04/10/1997

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' Summary Report Mississippi West Regional Park_ The proposed Mississippi West Regional Park offers public park users a diversity of natural resource experiences associated with the prairie / oak savanna environment and offers a wide range of natural resource based recreational oppommities including small and large group picnicking, camping, nature interpretation, fishing, small boat access, and multi-use trails. The service area lacks adequate swimming facilities and Mississippi West Regional Park would benefit from the development of a swimming recreation area on the bluffs overlooking the river. A swimming recreation area would also provide a source of revenue for the park to operate and maintain itself. One of the criteria of qualification as a regional park is to be large enough to accommodate a variety of activities; preserve a pleasant, natural aspect; and buffer activities areas from each other and from the surrounding areas. 1 The proposed Mississippi West Regional Park is on the lower end of recommended 200 to 500 acres size. However, according to the Recreational Open Space Development Guide/Policy Plan of 1991, "Occasionally, because of the quality of the resource, an exception may be made and a regional park may be as small as I00 acres.''2 It is the belief of the Anoka County ?ark and Recreation Department that the proposed Mississippi West Regional Park does in fact offer such a quality resource - park land along the Mississippi River. The proposed Mississippi West Regional Park offers the regional park system two unique assets - Cloquet and Foster islands. One may discount their importance due to their being within the ten year flood zone. However, thek natural resource, wildlife, fiqheries, and recreational importance is increasing as the water quality of the Mississippi River continues to improve. Cloquet Island is suitable for river users to use as a shore lunch stop. Foster Island lends itself as a preserve with limited or no public use. The population study in this report on page 17 shows the growing population within the service area of the proposed Mississippi West Regional Park. The area is experiencing double digit population growth. The implementation potential for Mississippi West Regional Park is high. Anoka County already control all of the park site. Only seven and one-half acres of the property is currently restricted from use by a life long estate granted to the Husby's as a part ofthek gifting 133 acres to Anoka County. The Anoka County Park and Recreation Department and the Anoka County Board of Commissioners are in support of inclusion of Mississippi West as a part of the regional park system. They also have shown thek commitment to and understanding of regional parks by thek on-going development, programming, and maintenance of Lake George, Riverfront, Rice Creek-Chain of Lakes, Bunker I-r_dls, and Coon Rapids Dam Regional Parks.