Agenda - Parks and Recreation Commission - 10/09/2014

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Regional Parks Policy Plan Managing a Regional Parks System that involves a number of different local entities, in addition to the Council, requires coordinated policies and strategies. The 2040 Regional Parks Policy Plan lays out the goals for the development of the Regional Parks System and the strategies designed to meet these goals. Over the past 40 years, the Regional Parks System has made significant strides toward achieving the Thrive outcomes of stewardship, prosperity, livability, and sustainability. By protecting high quality natural resources and providing a world -class system of recreational opportunities, the Regional Parks System has strongly contributed to the high quality of life in the region. The policies laid out in the 2040 Regional Parks Policy Plan reflect the Council's commitment to support and protect the Regional Parks System. The equity outcome as described in Thrive is a new direction for the Council. The regional park implementing agencies have various programs and practices to help reach and serve their diverse base of users. The 2040 Regional Parks Policy Plan strives to build upon the good work that the regional park implementing agencies have been doing to advance equity. The Council seeks to strengthen equitable usage of the Regional Parks System, which is a key theme of this plan. Planning for 2040 The metropolitan area has historically made a substantial investment in conserving green spaces by establishing regional parks, park reserves and trails. Federal, state, and local governments have invested in parks, natural areas, and wildlife refuges that provide additional habitat and recreational activities. Local communities have invested millions of dollars in community and neighborhood parks and recreation areas. Protecting remaining high quality natural resource lands in the metropolitan area builds on past investments and offers an excellent opportunity for further investment in the Regional Parks System as the region grows by 824,000 more people in the next 25 years. To that end, the vision for the Regional Parks System includes expanding it to nearly 70,000 acres and tripling the trail system from 340 miles today to more than 1,100 miles by 2040. New regional trails and greenway corridors will link regional parks and park reserves. Also planned are two new regional parks in Carver County and a regional park in the northwest corner of Anoka County - a park that has been proposed since 1974. These planned regional parks and trails will enable residents to enjoy a variety of new park experiences throughout the region. In the 1880s, Horace Cleveland said: "Look forward for a century, to the time when the city has a population of a million, and think what will be their wants. They will have wealth enough to purchase all that money can buy, but all their wealth cannot purchase a lost opportunity, or restore natural features of grandeur and beauty, which would then possess priceless value..." 22