Agenda - Council - 03/25/2014 - Laserfiche WebLink

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Ramsey/Dayton south to Hastings. The river corridor is home to numerous terrestrial and acquatic species and is a flyway for a variety of bird species. This stretch of river is also designated as a Wild and Scenic River and part of the Mississippi River Corridor Critical Area by the State of Minnesota. In 1976 the Mississippi River Corridor through the Twin Cities Metropolitan Area was designated as one of the State's critical areas. Among the purposes for designating this part of the river as a critical area is "to preserve and enhance its natural, aesthetic, cultural and historical value for the public use." The trail also provides a direct connection to Mississippi West Regional Park, including a Mississippi River overlook, and the MnDOT Wayside Rest Area, also known as Daytonport Roadside Parking Area. The Wayside Rest Area, currently a popular canoe landing and shorefishing site, will become a terrific trail head as well, more fully utilizing this public investment. The Mississippi West Regional Park Master Plan includes a future Center for Sustainable Landscapes that will function as an interpretive center supplemented with restored natural landscapes and interpretive trails. This portion of U.S. Highway 10/169 is designated as part of the Great River Road, part of the National Scenic Byways program within the U.S. Department of Transportation, Federal Highway Administration. In addition to wayfinding to assist users in navigating the system, the project involves interpretative signage to enhance users' understanding of these surrounding natural resources. • What is the relationship to the Historic and Archaeological group? For example, how does the bike/ped project take advantage of or enhance historic and cultural resources or provide orientation/interpretation to users? RESPONSE: The Mississippi River Trail as discussed in this proposal is located in the area where the historic Red River ox car trails traversed between St. Paul/Mendota and the Red River region. Initially used by fur traders, the Red River Ox Car Trail served broader trading and emigration from the 1820s to the 1870s when rail transportation reached the Red River region. Within Anoka County's portion of the Mississippi River Regional Trail there will be interpretive displays with elements of public art. One of these interpretive displays will describe the history of transportation in this area - beginning with river travel by the earliest indigenous inhabitants of the state, progressing through the periods of the pre - settlement exploration, Red River ox cart trails, steamboat travel, the railroads, the so- called Military Highway, to our post-modern era leading up to the implementation of transit, commuter rail and concepts of sustainable transportation systems. The MnDOT Wayside Rest Area, also known as Daytonport Roadside Parking Area, contains a remnant of the Red River ox cart trails as well as highway roadside structures from the 1960s. Interpretative signage at key locations along the trail will narrate the history of the area for trail users. 21