Agenda - Economic Development Authority - 10/09/2014

Home

CORRIDOR CONTEXT Environmental Screening Areas adjacent to the Highway 10 contain protected and valuable environmental and social resources including: • The segment of the Mississippi River within the study area is part of the Mississippi National River and Recreational Area (MNRRA) Critical Area Corridor as shown in Figure 15. The MNRRA is administered by the National Park Service to protect certain areas possessing important historic, cultural, or aesthetic values or natural systems. To date, this is the only identified critical area in Minnesota. • Figure 16 identifies the several parks and recreational areas near the Highway 10 corridor including: • Mississippi West Regional Park - This is a 270 acre resource which is being developed by Anoka County. It is located south of Highway 10, generally west of Ramsey Blvd. (CSAH 56). At this time it is largely undeveloped and includes a newly built paved boat launch. The County's master plan for the park includes trails, an interpretive center, a river observation deck, prairie restoration, playground and open play areas, a picnic area, an expanded boat launch, and other features. • Mississippi River Community Park - This is an 18-acre park located off Highway 10 and Cutters Grove Ave. in Anoka. The Cities of Anoka and Ramsey have plans to connect a trail from King's Island in this park to the Mississippi West Regional Park in Ramsey. • Mississippi River Regional Trail - Anoka County in conjunction with project partners has developed and continues to develop the Mississippi River Regional Trail (MRRT) on the east/north side of the River within the County. This trail begins in Fridley, linking to the Minneapolis parkway system, connects to Coon Rapids and to King's Island in the Mississippi River Community Park in Anoka. The segment from King's Island to the Mississippi West Regional Park is planned to be completed in 2014. The City of Ramsey will be constructing a City trail on the south side of Highway 10 within roadway right-of-way from Ramsey Blvd. ultimately to Elk River by 2017. The ultimate alignment for the MRRT to be devel- oped by the County is closer to the River. The timing of this portion of the MRRT is dependent on the pace of development in the area and available funding. • Three cemeteries are located in close proximity to Highway 10 on the east end of the study area in Anoka. Key Finding: Local and regional parks and trails, the MNRRA Critical Area and several cemeteries are located in close proximity to Highway 10. Efforts to avoid and minimize impacts to these resources from roadway improvements must be considered and present challenges to cost effective transpor- tation improvements. HIGHWAY 10 ACCESS PLANNING STUDY 30