Agenda - Parks and Recreation Commission - 11/04/1993

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'INTRODUCTIO~ The City of Ramsey was established as a To~ship in 1884 and incorporated as a City 90 years later in !~74. Since its incorporation, the City has become the area's fastest growing community. Today Ramsey is home to nearly 13,000 residents and approximately 400 acres of City owned park and playfields. The two dominating physical amenities in the City are the Rum and Mississippi Rivers. As evfdenced by the participants of the Recreation and Natural Resource Department's Wildlife Symposium, the Environmental Expo, the City's recycling effort and the citizen's Historical CommitLee, residents are involved and have a strong desire to learn more abou5 their ecological and historical environment and their individual roles in it. The CiTy of Ramsey operates within a balanced budget, maintains adequate debt service fund balances and the City's bond issues are rated an outstanding "A" by Moody's Investors Service. The operating budget for the Department of Recreation and Natural Resources is approximately $250,000. NEED AND RATIONAL STATEMENTS Ramsey's 28 square miles encompass its 13,000 residents and 34 park areas. The majority of the park land that is not protected wetland is undeveloped. Thirteen parks are developed to the level that they may contain an antiquated swing or backstop. Two community parks are developed in Ramsey, one of which contains restroom facilisies. Both parks find their use maximized by residents and neighboring communities. The City's ability to fund park improvements has diminished; however, the tremendous need for recreational facilities continues to skyrocket. The Sunfish Lake Environmental Education and Recreation Area will fill a recreation ~nd open space void in the City and in this area. Ramsey's 30.28 miles of multi-use trails are expected to reduce the replication of park facilities. To date, the City has been able to develop .2 miles of off-roadway trail. The residents find themselves in the awkward position of not being able to fund park development or trails to access the existing inadequate amount of park facilities. (Excerpt from the City's 199! Comprehensive Parks and Open Space Plan) For the last several years, a particular emphasis has been placed on development of a trail system in the City. The underlying needs for this area are fourfold: Development of a trail system was a major recreational need expressed by Ra~sey residents in a March !987 survey.