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

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Revisions to the Regional Parks System Plan Minn. Stat. 473.147, subd. 1, states that: The Metropolitan Council, after consultation with the [Metropolitan] Parks and Open Space Commission... and after appropriate public hearings, shall prepare and adopt a long -range system policy plan for regional recreation open space as part of the Council's Metropolitan Development Guide...The policy plan shall identify generally the areas which should be acquired by a public agency to provide a system of regional recreation open space comprising park district, county and municipal facilities, which together with state facilities, reasonably will meet the outdoor recreation needs of the people of the metropolitan area and shall establish priorities for acquisition and development. Minn. Stat. 473.121, subd. 14 defines "regional recreation open space" as: ...land and water areas, or interests therein, and facilities determined by the Metropolitan Council to be of regional importance in providing for a balanced system of public outdoor recreation for the metropolitan area, including but not limited to park reserves, major linear parks and trails, large recreation parks, and conservatories, zoos, and other special use facilities. In response to these laws, the Council will evaluate proposed additions to the Regional Parks System to determine whether the general areas are of regional importance and will help provide a balanced system of public outdoor recreation for the metropolitan area. Additionally, the proposed additions must meet the applicable criteria described in Chapter 4 for regional parks, park reserves, special recreation features, or regional trails. 2040 Regional Trail Search Corridor Additions As part of the development of the 2040 Regional Parks Policy Plan in 2014, the Council provided an opportunity for regional park implementing agencies to propose additions to the Regional Parks System. Carver County and Three Rivers Park District submitted requests to consider several regional trail search corridors. The Metropolitan Parks and Open Space Commission and the Council's Community Development Committee reviewed the proposed regional trail search corridors based on state law described above and the criteria for regional trails described in Chapter 4. Ten regional trail search corridors, totaling approximately 111 miles, met the criteria and are recommended as System Additions to the 2040 Regional Parks Policy Plan. These System Additions are described in Table 3 -10 and shown in Figure 3 -10.