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Chapter Two: Overview of the Regional Parks System and the 2040
<br /> Regional Parks Policy Plan
<br /> Introduction
<br /> The benefits of parks have been extensively documented. Parks and open green space positively
<br /> contribute to human health and well-being. Benefits to physical well-being include increased physical
<br /> activity, reduced risk of various chronic illnesses, as well as obesity. Benefits to psychological well-
<br /> being include stress reduction, attention restoration, and improved cognitive functioning. Social well-
<br /> being benefits include increased social capital, family bonding, and social integration. Parks and open
<br /> green space also contribute many environmental benefits including biodiversity conservation, air and
<br /> water purification, erosion control, climate regulation, carbon dioxide sequestration, among other
<br /> ecosystem services.2
<br /> Benefits afforded by the Regional Parks System, such those illustrated above, help to keep our region
<br /> at the top of national livability rankings. The Twin Cities area's 62 regional parks, park reserves, and
<br /> special recreation features, plus more than 340 miles of regional trails, showcase the unique
<br /> landscapes of the region and provide year-round recreation. Our residents have consistently singled
<br /> out the region's parks, trails and natural environment as the most attractive feature of the region.'
<br /> Drawing over 47 million annual visits in 2013, the Regional Parks System provides access to natural
<br /> space that contributes to physical and emotional well-being. Many of our region's most well-known and
<br /> iconic sites are part of the Regional Parks System - the Minneapolis Chain of Lakes, Como Zoo and
<br /> Conservatory, Lebanon Hills Regional Park, Bunker Hills Regional Park, Elm Creek Park Reserve, and
<br /> Lake Elmo Park Reserve.
<br /> The 2040 Regional Parks Policy Plan advances the Thrive MSP 2040 outcomes of Stewardship,
<br /> Prosperity, Equity, Livability, and Sustainability by striving to:
<br /> • Expand the Regional Parks System to conserve, maintain, and connect natural resources
<br /> identified as being of high quality or having regional importance, as identified in the 2040
<br /> Regional Parks Policy Plan
<br /> • Provide a comprehensive regional park and trail system that preserves high-quality natural
<br /> resources, increases climate resiliency, fosters healthy outcomes, connects communities, and
<br /> enhances quality of life in the region
<br /> • Promote expanded multimodal access to regional parks, regional trails, and the transit network,
<br /> where appropriate
<br /> ' Dinnie, E., Brown, K.M., Morris, S. (2013). Negotiating the social well-being benefits of urban green space.
<br /> Landscape and Urban Planning, 112, 1-9.
<br /> Wolch, J.R., Byrne, J., & Newell, J.P. (2014). Urban green space, public health, and environmental justice: The
<br /> challenge of making cities `just green enough'. Landscape and Urban Planning, 125, 234-244.
<br /> 2 Gomez-Baggethun, E. &Gren, A. (2013). Urban ecosystem services. In T. Elmqvist et al. (eds.), Urbanization,
<br /> Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services: Challenges and Opportunities:A Global Assessment, pp. 175-251.
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