Laserfiche WebLink
Inline skating seems to be more popular on looped park trails than on long-distance regional <br /> trails. However, skaters will go out and back on linear trails at a distance that meets their <br /> physical conditioning. Inline skating can be added as a primary use on a regional trail if the trail <br /> treadway is or could reasonably be made sufficiently wide, smooth and flat to safely <br /> accommodate skaters, pedestrians and bicyclists. <br /> • Mountain biking. Challenging, hilly terrain is attractive to mountain bicyclists, but the trail <br /> treadway must be designed to minimize soil erosion. In some cases, mountain biking on turf <br /> trails may be permitted only during dry times of the year if the underlying soil and slopes are not <br /> able to withstand mountain bike use when it is seasonally wet. Mixing mountain biking and <br /> pedestrian users on the same trail treadway should be carefully evaluated during the trail design <br /> process. Trail user rules may be needed to provide a safe and enjoyable experience for both <br /> kinds of users. Mountain bike trail terrain is best provided in closed loop trails within regional <br /> parks or park reserves rather than in cross-country trails between parks. Regional park <br /> implementing agencies are encouraged to consider sustainable design standards, such as <br /> those provided by the International Mountain Biking Association, during the trail design process. <br /> • Night trail use. Opening trails at night allows those who work during the weekdays to use them <br /> more frequently. Walking and cross-country skiing at night increases trail uses during the off- <br /> peak spring, fall and winter seasons. Trail lighting projects are encouraged where appropriate, <br /> especially on trails with high demand. When considering lighted trails, however, it's important to <br /> assess the lighting's impact on nocturnal wildlife as well as adjacent land uses. <br /> Mixing motorized and non-motorized trail uses, such as snowmobiling and hiking, requires appropriate <br /> trail design and possibly speed controls and signage to safely accommodate both uses. Regional park <br /> implementing agencies are encouraged to engage the public to develop solutions to any multi-use trail <br /> conflicts. <br /> To accommodate trail users of all abilities, trail uses such as motorized wheelchairs or three-wheel <br /> bicycles should be reasonably accommodated to serve persons with mobility impairments wherever <br /> possible. <br /> There has been a demand for organized amateur athletic facilities that serve several municipalities or <br /> organized league play within a municipality. Municipal recreation departments and/or school districts <br /> provide these athletic field complexes. The Minnesota Amateur Sports Commission (MASC) is <br /> responsible for elevating the social and economic benefits of sports to enrich the lives of all <br /> Minnesotans. Grants for such facilities go through the MASC, not the Council. Such athletic field <br /> complexes do not require a high-quality natural-resource land base; they are easier to develop on <br /> formerly disturbed lands. As such, athletic field complexes are inappropriate for development on <br /> Regional Parks System lands. However, informal ball fields that can be used for a variety of pickup <br /> games are encouraged. The concept of an informal ball field encourages recreational use in this <br /> manner, but is not intended for programmed or league sports, since those services are offered in other <br /> recreational settings. <br /> When new recreational activities become popular, regional park implementing agencies need to see if it <br /> is appropriate to accommodate them on Regional Parks System lands. For example, in the last 10 <br /> years, adventure racing, kayaking, standup paddle boarding, triathlons, and windsailing have become <br />