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

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Park and Recreation Commission Meeting Date: 10/09/2014 By: Jo Thieling, Administrative Services Notification: Information Title: Review and Recommend a Response to the Metropolitan Council Regional Parks Policy Plan 5. 1. Purpose /Background: The purpose of this case is to draft a response to the Metropolitan Council Parks Policy Plan for City Council Approval. Observations /Alternatives: As the Park and Recreation Commission is aware, the Metropolitan Council is in the process of updating Regional System Plans (Water Resources, Transportation, Parks, Housing). The Metropolitan Council has released the Parks Policy Plan for public comment. The Parks Policy Plan is an important policy document as it relates to Ramsey's goals and initiatives. This Plan serves as the policy document for key regional park investments across the region. The regional parks systems identified in Ramsey are; Rum River Central Regional Park, Mississippi West Regional Park, Rum River Trail, Central Anoka County Regional Trail, and the Anoka County Mississippi River Regional Trail. The Draft 2040 Regional Parks Policy Plan is attached. In summary, Staff recommends language on the following categories: 1. Alternate Alignment Study for Central Anoka County Regional Trail 2. Alternate Alignment Study for Rum River Regional Trail 3. Feasibility Analysis for Trott Brook Greenway as a Regional System The City is in the process of preliminary design for Mississippi Skyway, a grade - separated pedestrian crossing of Hwy's #10 & #169 and railroad corridor connecting to the existing Northstar Commuter Rail - Ramsey Station. As this improvement connects multiple regional systems (Northstar Commuter Rail, Mississippi West Regional Park, Anoka County Mississippi River Regional Trail), Staff feels that the Mississippi Skyway itself will serve as a regional system. The Alternate Alignment Study would explore moving this future connection /regional trail from Ramsey Boulevard to a connection point at the rail station. Additionally, Staff believes the Rum River Trail, which is proposed to run along 7th Avenue in the cities of Anoka and Andover, should be studied for an alternate alignment within Ramsey, generally along the Saint Francis Boulevard (TH 47) corridor. When looking at future land use plans for the impacted communities, Staff believes there is warrant to study further an alignment in Ramsey due to the multitude of origins and destinations of trips, all while still connecting the broader regional systems (Rum River Central Regional Park, Rum River South Regional Park). These origins and destinations include, but are not limited to 167/47 Commercial Node, Elmcrest Park, Rum River Hills Golf Course, Alpine Drive Commercial Node, and Rivers Bend Commercial Node. Further, Trott Brook should be investigated for Regional status as well, as it also would be a destination and will connect multiple communities, regional parks, and the Rum River Regional Trail to the Mississippi River Trail as it presently is in use in Ramsey and Elk River, and is mapped as United States Bike Route #45. Funding Source: