Agenda - Parks and Recreation Commission - 06/13/1996

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PARK IMPROVEMENTS The City of Ramsey has been divided into 17 districts which constitute neighborhoods. Each neighborhood district is intended to receive the full realm of park services within, or readily accessible to, the district. It is intended that this can be achieved by either development of one fully comprehensive park within each district or development of various types of park and recreation amenities in various district locations with development of trail systems leading to and between each of these park facilities. Within the 1996-2001 time frame, the proposed Capital Improvements Program includes development within ten of the 17 park districts, The City Council has noted that the most pressing need for park development is in those areas of most rapid population growth and most concentrated housing densities. Therefore, programmed park development within the 1996-2001 time frame is generally in the southern half of the community. The five northern most districts are not programmed for park expenditures within this planning document (although funds were directed towards these areas within the 1991-1995 time frame). Two additional park districts within central Ramsey do not currently have developable park property and therefore have not received a planning allocation. This plan directs significant revenues toward continued development of Community Parks and active recreational areas. As has been the case since 1992, the plan also provides for neighborhood park development concurrent with development of infrasu-ucture within residential subdivisions with a park planned as part of the neighborhood. The plan also continues the allocation of resources toward connection of parks and neighborhoods to Community parks by trail systems. This program allows for development of fewer park spaces than would be necessary without safe pedestrian access between parks and from one neighborhood to the next. P-1 - Autumn Heights District Central Park Expansion. The 1996 $105,000 expenditure from the Landfill Trust Fund is intended to facilitate the purchase and/or development of the 35 acres east of the existing Central Park, or fund the fighting of ballfields 3 and 4 and other improvements to Central Park which could include additional parking and tennis courts. In 1998 another allocation is provided for additional improvements to either this or Alpine Park. The $80,000 County Road #83 Trail's primary purpose wiI1 be connecting the Ermine, Lake Itasca, and Autumn Heights Park Districts. The construction will be funded by the Landfill Trust Fund. The trail, originating at the lake Itasca trail west of County Road//83 near 167th Lane, will travel the length of County Road//83 within the road right-of-way to 153rd Avenue. Connection to Central Park is also an impetus for the improvement. County signed crosswalks should be planned at 161st Avenue and/or 153rd Avenue, or possibly at 167th Lane, depending on which side the trail is on. The 153rd/155th trail, in association with this project also scheduled for 1997, wiI1 result in a looped trail comprising about five miles.