Agenda - Parks and Recreation Commission - 11/18/2004

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GOAzLS OF ANOKA COt~fNT¥ Anoka Ccunr':;'s ma~er plan for Mississiopi West Regional Park identifies several specific goals. The goals ser~e two purposes: 1) assure the park offers activities and resources desirable to the citizens of Anoka counE,', and. 2) ensure the park offers activities and resources favorable'to the Metropolitan Council (Anoka County Master Plan, 1994). The concern over the Met Council is due to the desire by the Park Board to obtain regional funding for the park. The concern of citizen perc~-gtion ensures that the tax payers of Anoka Counqa feel they are receiving ma.-dmum value for their taxes. The Mississippi River is used not only by people of surrounding communities, but by travelers of the aver also. The Mississippi National Kiver and Recreation A_rea (M]NYLfL~k) encompasses the Mismss~pp~ River and ~ surrounding land. The Mississippi River Coordinating Commission has developed a comprehensive management plan to guide fiver communities in development to ensure that the river's recreational and scemc '~alue Wall be maintained. MNR~ would eventually like to connect a-ails from .~2oka and Elk River. At present, NL-N-R~k's plan shows an e,xtensive trail network that would use e~sting parks and trails and develop new ones (Figure 3). Because of this, the n~d for a park offering bath commtm-rcy and regional oriented resources has been recognized. The Anoka County master plan mentions some of the park should be maintained as an arbor~arn. Other arboretums m the metro area are not as easily accessed by cit_izens of Anoka County, nor are there any arbormums located within the )moka sand plain. The only ems'ting arboretum m the seven coun~.¢ metro area is the Minnesota Landscape Arboretum in Chanhassen, Carver Coun~ (Issacson, 1995). Tais arboretum does not represent the geological and biological systems o£the sand plain. Local horticulturists, University E:crension, 4-H, educators, adult interest goups, and neighboring communities have all expressed interest in an arboretamt representative of the geology and e~logy of the sand plain (Anoka Cotmty Board of Parks and Recreation, 1994). 57