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

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Metropolitan Urban Service Area, as defined in Chapter 1, unless the demands for heavily used services cannot be adequately met at Regional Parks System units in those areas. If facilities need to be developed in the Rural Service Area, the master plan should justify facilities that will attract large numbers of users and indicate how support services and facilities, such as roads and sewers, will be provided. When feasible, the transit system should be planned to provide access to Regional Parks System units. Transit planners should consider routes and facilities that are sensitive to parks, park users, park development plans, and local agencies' rules and regulations. Many regional parks and park reserves are located in the Rural Service Area because a high - quality natural resource base has long been a major criterion for determining lands that are appropriate for the Regional Parks System. Many of the rural park reserves were existing parks that were designated as regional recreation open space when the Regional Parks System was established in 1974. In order to build up a large recreational land reserve to be used for future populations, it has been necessary to acquire land in the Rural Service Area. Much of the demand for recreational facilities, especially those that attract large numbers of users, can be adequately accommodated at properties in the Metropolitan Urban Service Area. Some activities, such as nature study, camping, and water recreation, because of their resource demand, will likely be accommodated at parks or park reserves located in the Rural Service Area. Intense developments at parks and park reserves in the Rural Service Area should be the exception rather than the rule and should be considered on a property -by- property basis. Developments intended to enhance the protection and preservation of natural resources, whether in the Metropolitan Urban Service Area or the Rural Service Area, advance the strong conservation role of park reserves. Recreation Activities and Facilities - Strategy 3: Strengthen equitable usage of regional parks and trails among all residents, across race, ethnicity, income, and ability. The regional park implementing agencies provide outstanding facilities, amenities, staffing, and programming to offer a welcoming environment. Activities hosted within the Regional Parks System include a breadth of opportunities for visitors, such as movies and music in the park, day camps, festivals, nature programming, among others. The benefits of park use are numerous, including improvements to physical health, well- being, learning, family bonding, and community building. Therefore, it is imperative that all residents have the opportunity to enjoy the bountiful resources the Regional Parks System provides. The regional park implementing agencies should act to remove or reduce barriers to prevent use of the regional system. Barriers may include safety concerns, cost, transportation, and lack of information about programming and facilities. If needed, new facilities and /or programs (including marketing programs) should be designed to increase use of the Regional Parks System by all the residents of the region, irrespective of race, ethnicity, income, and ability. Metro Transit and other transit providers are encouraged to work with the regional park implementing agencies to identify any transportation barriers and design programs to increase the level of access to the Regional Parks System.