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

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project and Figure 4 for the approximate impact to the park. It is anticipated that the City of Ramsey will provide the market value of $200,000 for the parkland impact to the County, which will be used for equally valuable facility improvements within the park. Some of these improvements include constructing a paved entrance road, constructing a parking lot and/or constructing additional trails within the park. Refer to the Development Concept and Exhibit 1 & 2 in the Appendix for more information on the City of Ramsey project. There are no parcels that need to be acquired for this boundary adjustment, therefore no acquisition costs associated with this amendment are to be incurred and there are no other anticipated special assessments or other conditions that would affect park development. STEWARDSHIP PLAN Future management and stewardship of the park will continue as regional recreation open space in the regional system. Since this park is only partially developed as far as amenities and recreational opportunities go, the stewardship plan for the park thus far has focused on natural resource management and restoration. The County has conducted several restoration projects to restore the previously fallow farm fields to native prairie and grasslands. Future restoration projects are proposed within the riparian area along the river and to the riverbank itself, as well as planting a diverse variety of trees and shrubs to increase the biodiversity in the park. Since the park is relatively undeveloped, the majority of the current operational and maintenance expenses relate to the on -going management of the native prairie and grassland restorations. Funds for those expenses have been offset by the parks general operating budget, the Metropolitan Council's Operations and Maintenance grant program and the Lottery in Lieu of program. Future development of the park will increase the operations and maintenance requirements within the park, but those expenses are anticipated to be offset by an increase in revenues related to the sale of daily and annual park passes, rental fees and special use permit fees as well as an increase in the operating budget. There are no non -recreational uses planned for in the development of this park. DEMAND FORECAST Regional parks and trails have been increasing in popularity and as the population grows the need for additional recreation resources and amenities grow as well. The population in the City of Ramsey is anticipated to grow, as is Anoka County. The table below shows the Thrive 2040 MSP - Forecasts as of July 8, 2015. 3/6/2017 Mississippi West Regional Park Master Plan Amendment 4