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OFFICIAL ELECTRONIC CORRESPONDENCE <br /> NATIONAL PARK SERVICE <br /> Mississippi National River and Recreation Area <br /> I I I Kellogg Boulevard East, Suite 105 <br /> Saint Paul, MN 55101 <br /> NO HARD COPY TO FOLLOW <br /> February 10,2015 <br /> Mr.Mark Riverblood, Parks Superintendent <br /> City of Ramsey <br /> 7550 Sunwood Drive NW <br /> Ramsey,MN 55303 <br /> Dear Mr.Riverblood, <br /> This letter is to express our enthusiastic support for the City of Ramsey's Mississippi Skyway project. The <br /> proposed pedestrian and bicycle facility is within the Mississippi National River and Recreation Area <br /> (MISS), a unit of the National Park System. The facility will accomplish a major connection to the MISS <br /> while providing important multi-modal opportunities to access parks and trails by linking the Northstar Rail <br /> Station and the 3,000-mile Mississippi River National Millennium Trail. <br /> Since 1996, the National Park Service, through its Trails and Open Space Partnership (TOSP), has been <br /> working with the City of Ramsey and over 50 agencies and organizations to complete a continuous system <br /> of trails and open space,and now transportation system along the Mississippi River in the Twin Cities metro <br /> area. The proposed project is identified as a High Priority of the TOSP, and within the MISS's Alternative <br /> Transportation System Implementation Plan. Accordingly,and as you know,the NPS has awarded the City <br /> of Ramsey$490,000 for this project(FLHP funds), and remains committed to continue work with the city <br /> and the TOSP to align the remaining funding for this critical project at an Alternative Transportation Node. <br /> We strongly support the city's funding request and encourage the Eastern Federal Lands Access Program <br /> to fund this project as proposed in the application. <br /> The National Park Service looks forward to working with the Metropolitan Council,Anoka County Parks, <br /> City of Ramsey,MNDOT,and multiple partners to complete the Mississippi Skyway in achieving mutual <br /> goals for recreation, alternative transportation, economic development, and especially increased visitation <br /> of the MISS. <br /> Sincerely, <br /> /s/ <br /> Paul Anfmson <br /> Superintendent <br />