Agenda - Parks and Recreation Commission - 01/11/2018

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Greenway Trail Connection Greenway Trail Connection Plan (Jacobson/LHB 2015) This essential Greenway Trail Connection provides another opportunity within The COR to meet overlapping objectives for multiple use, district systems, wildlife habitat and other desired functional and aesthetic outcomes. While traditional bicycle/ pedestrian trails and related amenities will certainly be a key component, the series of ponds, wetlands and other water - resource related features will provide the unique setting and ecological benefit derived from a more innovative approach to greenway design. For the purposes of defining potential costs for future construction, a preliminary list of greenway trail elements (or basic design program) includes: • Combined bicycle / pedestrian trail • Multiple locations for rest stops, interpretive / educational elements • Multiple locations for boardwalk / bridge crossings • Integrated drainage / stormwater management system to serve this district Recommendations There is an opportunity to explore alignments for this Greenway Trail Connection that might provide greater benefits to the northwest quadrant of The COR - measured in social, economic and environmental value added. With modest enhancements to the existing trail along Bunker Lake Boulevard, and expanded greening initiatives west of the Ramsey Parkway, there is COR Trail Greenway Connection great potential to frame this quadrant on the north and south with attractive green corridors. Both of these travel routes accommodate multi -modal options, but with heavy emphasis on the automobile. A third option, a meandering Greenway Trail Connection through the center of this quadrant not only provides a much - needed green amenity in this part of The COR, but also creates another valuable development `frontage' to enhance land value and encourage private investment. This centrally located alignment will also provide opportunities for innovative approaches to district systems, particularly water resources - with the added benefit of an off-street, dedicated bicycle and pedestrian corridor linking local and regional trail networks. The location and alignment of the Greenway Trail Connection will have considerable influence on development patterns in this quadrant of the COR. The various scenarios illustrated on pages 10 and 11 attest to the wide range of land use options; from `super block, car oriented, destination convenience shopping, to finer grained, pedestrian -scaled, residential neighborhoods. This kind of imbedded public amenity will build value across multiple objectives, at individual site and district scale —leading to innovative, economically sustainable outcomes. 10 The COR Parks + Public Places City of Ramsey