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Greenway Trail Connection <br />ake Itasca and <br />Proposed Park <br />Links at <br />Northfork <br />Golf Course <br />Mississippi <br />River <br />Pion <br />This essential Greenway Trail Connection provides another <br />opportunity within The COR to meet overlapping objectives for <br />multiple use, district systems, wildlife habitat and other desired <br />functional and aesthetic outcomes. While traditional bicycle/ <br />pedestrian trails and related amenities will certainly be a key <br />component, the series of ponds, wetlands and other water - <br />resource related features will provide the unique setting and <br />ecological benefit derived from a more innovative approach to <br />greenway design. For the purposes of defining potential costs for <br />future construction, a preliminary list of greenway trail elements <br />(or basic design program) includes: <br />Combined bicycle / pedestrian trail <br />Multiple locations for rest stops, interpretive / educational <br />elements <br />Multiple locations for boardwalk/ bridge crossings <br />Integrated drainage / stormwater management system to <br />serve this district <br />Recommendations <br />There is an opportunity to explore alignments for this Greenway <br />Trail Connection that might provide greater benefits to the <br />northwest quadrant of The COR- measured in sodal, economic <br />and environmental value added. With modest enhancements to <br />the existing trail along Bunker Lake Boulevard, and expanded <br />greening initiatives west of the Ramsey Parkway, there is <br />• <br />great potential to frame this quadrant on the north and south <br />with attractive green corridors. Both of these travel routes <br />accommodate multi -modal options, but with heavy emphasis on <br />the automobile. <br />A third option, a meandering Greenway Trail Connection <br />through the center of this quadrant not only provides a much - <br />needed green amenity in this part of The COR, but also creates <br />another valuable development 'frontage' to enhance land value <br />and encourage private investment This centrally located <br />alignment will also provide opportunities for innovative <br />approaches to district systems, particularly water resources — <br />with the added benefit of an off-street, dedicated bicycle and <br />pedestrian corridor linking local and regional trail networks. <br />The location and alignment of the Greenway Trail Connection <br />will have considerable influence on development patterns in <br />this quadrant of the COR. The various scenarios illustrated on <br />pages 10 and 11 attest to the wide range ofland use options; from <br />'super b1ocK car oriented, destination convenience shopping, <br />to finer grained, pedestrian -scaled, residential neighborhoods. <br />This kind of imbedded public amenity will build value across <br />multiple objectives, at individual site and district scale -leading <br />to innovative, economically sustainable outcomes. <br />10 The COR Parks + Public Places City of Ramsey <br />