Agenda - Parks and Recreation Commission - 04/13/2017

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This sentiment still rings true. Preserving natural areas with an eye toward the future is critical to our region's livability, sustainability, stewardship, and prosperity. The Regional Parks System represents a major, well -established conservation effort for land and water resources. The area's growing population will need additional large-scale park and open space lands with interconnected trails in the future. The region needs to identify natural areas that could be added to the Regional Parks System and make plans for their acquisition before the opportunity is lost. Key Minnesota Legislation for the Regional Parks System Regional Recreation Open Space System (Minn. Stat. 473.302) "The legislature finds that the pressure of urbanization and development threatens valuable recreational open space areas in the metropolitan area at the same time as the need for such areas is increased. Immediate action is therefore necessary to provide funds to acquire, preserve, protect and develop regional recreational open space for public use." Regional Recreation Open Space (Minn. Stat. 473.121, subd. 14) "'Regional recreation open space' means land and water areas, or interests therein, and facilities determined by the Metropolitan Council to be of regional importance in providing for a balanced system of public outdoor recreation for the metropolitan area, including but not limited to park reserves, major linear parks and trails, large recreation parks, and conservatories, zoos, and other special use facilities." Regional Recreation Open Space System Policy Plan (Minn. Stat. 473.147, subd. 1) "The policy plan shall identify generally the areas which should be acquired by a public agency to provide a system of regional recreation open space comprising park district, county and municipal facilities which, together with state facilities, reasonably will meet the outdoor recreation needs of the people of the metropolitan area and shall establish priorities for acquisition and development." "The policy plan shall include a five-year capital improvement program, which shall be revised periodically, and shall establish criteria and priorities for the allocation of funds for such acquisition and development." Grants for Recreation Open Space (Minn. Stat. 473.315, subd. 1) "The Metropolitan Council with the advice of the commission may make grants, from any funds available to it for recreation open space purposes, to any implementing agency, as defined in section 473.351, to cover the cost, or any portion of the cost, of acquiring or developing regional recreation open space in accordance with the policy plan; and all such agencies may enter into contracts for this purpose or rights or interests therein." Metropolitan Area Regional Parks Funding (Minn. Stat. 473.351, subd. la.) "'Implementing agency' means the counties of Anoka, Washington, Ramsey, Scott, Carver, Dakota, the city of St. Paul, the city of Bloomington, the Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board, and the Three Rivers Park District." Park and Trails Fund (Minn. Stat. 85.53) "Grants funded by the parks and trails fund must be implemented according to section 16B.98" Grant Management Process (Minn. Stat. 168.98, subd.6) Grant administration. 'A granting agency shall diligently administer and monitor any grant it has entered into." Session law also provides important directives. For instance, the Omnibus Legacy Bill, updated biennially, provides additional guidance and requirements related to Parks and Trails Legacy spending. 24