Agenda - Parks and Recreation Commission - 02/08/2018

Home

Mr. Riverblood noted that the Greenway touches every single recreation district. Chair Bennett thanked Mr. Riverblood for the presentation and especially for the emphasis on the connectivity in this plan. He noted the plan meets the goal of connected community, maintaining rural green spaces, and allowing the City to leverage the larger, more centralized parks. Mr. Riverblood responded that over the course of the last 18 months during the community engagement process, two themes have been repeated: residents want the City to keep its eye on maintaining its rural character and/or the balance between amenities and destinations with the rural character. The Greenway plan does that. It creates connectivity, and the Greenways provide the elements of rural character that residents value. Chair Bennett stated he is open to entertaining a motion or further comments from the Commissioners. Commissioner Andrusko recalled the goal to create connectivity with Elk River. He asked whether there is value in showing how the proposed Greenway connections relate to other communities. Mr. Riverblood noted that is where the scale of the Recreation Districts come in. In the park system, it is at the level of the Recreation Districts where discussion is held regarding both opportunities within that district and also relationships to other community connections. For instance, with regard to the Mississippi Recreation District, that is exactly where staff wants to talk about goals and priorities within that area and how those reinforces the greater good. Mr. Riverblood continued that another goal is to create a story map, so residents can visually navigate their way around the City of Ramsey. Along those lines, on January 23rd, staff is hosting an open house for the fall semester of the Resilient Communities project, and there are many dozens of 4-foot high posters that capture and illustrate these various projects. The lobby and hallway will be lined with these posters, to illustrate the interesting planning -level work that is happening. Chair Bennett invited members of the public to the January 23rd open house. Motion by Commissioner Trappen, seconded by Commissioner Leistico, to approve the Greenway and Recreation District maps as working documents for park planning. Motion carried. Voting Yes: Chair Bennett, Commissioners Trappen, Leistico, Andrusko, and Bayer. Voting No: None. Absent: Commissioner Sis and Commissioner Tchuinkwa. 5.02: Recommend Developing a Schematic Design -level Plan for the Lake Itasca Greenway Parks & Assistant Public Works Superintendent Riverblood noted that the Itasca Greenway project relates to the Resilient Communities project previously discussed. Staff anticipates Park and Recreation Commission/January 11, 2018 Page 3 of 5