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14. To a practical extent, the Planning and Zoning commission should adhere to the policies of land acquisition, parks and open spaces and trailways (greenbelts, waterways, bike trails, hiking trails, ski trails, snowmobile trails, walkways, etc.) as recommended by the Park and Recreation Commission. 18. As called for by the Mississippi River Critical Area Designation, a continuous trail will be provided along the Mississippi River for pedestrian and bicycle use. Where direct access is not possible, existing streets will be used as part of the trail system and identified with signs. The proposed trail is identified in Ordinance 89-11. 20. A component of the City's trail system should be to provide neighborhood access to developed parks while minimizing the number of major road crossings and providing a trail system separate from roadways. 22. In an effort to stretch park development funds, the city should aggressively pursue park [and trail] development grant funds as available and other alternative funding sources (e.g. tax increment financing and CDBG funds). On review, the goals are complete and sufficient for the City's recreational trail system, but inadequate in the area of commuter trails. The commuter trail system should be designed to link residential areas with places of employment, shopping, educational and social/community services, and transit facilities and services. The commuter trail system could also be linked to the City's recreational trail system. As part of the process for developing the Trail System element of the Comprehensive Plan, the list of goals will be expanded to include commuter trails. Efforts will be made to relate the commuter trail system to transit services and other alternative travel modes. NEED AND SPECIFICATIONS FOR TRAIL FACILITIES Need The 1991 Plan included a comparison of the City's trail facilities against facility standards accepted in Minnesota. The comparison indicated the following: 1 mile of hiking trail needed for every 4,000 population 1 mile of nature or interpretive trail needed for every 2,500 population 1 mile of equestrian trail needed for every 3,000 to 6,500 population • 1 mile of bicycle/jogging trail needed for every 2,000 population • 1 mile of exercise trail need for every 7,500 population Source: Time Saver Standards for Landscape Architecture and KCMR Outdoor Recreational Study With a forecast population of 14,600 cited in the 1991 Plan, the number of then existing recreational trail facilities was found to be deficient.