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

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The S~lfish Lake Environmental Education and Recreation Area is a "Bricks and mortar" proposal, the objective is to develop a facility for ~.E. and recreation use. This pl~lic site will be disability sensitive and, in keeping with employment and facility use policies, will be made available to all regardless %o racer creed, sexual orientation, religion or disability. The primary users will be: al. Student iea~ners 2-12. a2. General public participating in E.E. and historical programming and in~ormak use via inserpretive signage. Advanced science students. People utilizing the site for career development, i.e. environmental professionals requiring access to lab n~aterials or control areas. a5. General public participating iD organized historical interpretation/events. a6. General public requiring meeting space i.e. Wedding ~nniversaries. aT. Special conferences, lectures and events. The second of the Department of Educations out come-based EoE. goal s~ates, "Learners should be provided with e~periences that will assist in the development of personal appreciation, sensitivity ~d stewardship for the environment." This goal is borne out by the Y~nnesota Center for S'J/-vey Research's Su~vey; they state that 81% of teachers wan~ to take more field %rips - almost 60% wanted hands-on laboratory e>~periences, environmental specialist ~ided tours and/er field experience. The above sea--vices wi!! be the primary product of the Sunfish Lake E.E. facility, upon completion of the objective, (construction by the City of the faeiii%y) the School District and the City will begin public programming. The benefits will be: b!. Traditional E.E. progr_amming that increases awareness of the complex interactions between people and their ecological environment. This site will faci!i~ate ~nderst~nding of the interacting variables that contribute to protection or degradation of our envirop~ent. b2. L~ndfi!is will continue to be a partial solution to the s%ates waste stream. Landfill study will be a unique and important element of this E.E. programf participants will gain a comprehensive environmental ethic, not just a concern ~0~ natural areas.