Agenda - Parks and Recreation Commission - 01/09/2020

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Extremely likely Likely Somewhat likely Not at all likely Q5: How likely are you to attend a program centered around outdoor recreation? 0% 5% 10% 15% 20% 25% 30% 35% 40% 45% 50% Outdoor recreation is a major program area for recreation agencies, especially in Minnesota. Over 70% of respondents say they are "likely" or "extremely likely" to attend an outdoor recreation program. Ramsey has ample parks and open space that can host such programs, but the difficult aspect is finding instructors and any potential equipment needs. In 2017, a few outdoor recreation opportunities were offered in partnership with Anoka County Parks and staff at Wargo Nature Center. Classes offered included birding, canoeing, kayaking, and stand-up paddleboarding. The birding class was offered three times in the spring when there is minimal tree coverage. It was held at Lake Itasca trailhead, Rum River Central Park, and Sunfish Lake Park. While there was low attendance, it received very positive feedback. One participant said, "[the instructor's] obvious personal interest in birding was inspiring," while another said "staff was very personable and knowledgeable. He was patient considering my son (age 12) had to attend as well and was somewhat distracting. He was patient and shared relevant information." The stand-up paddleboarding class had full participation with seven people. It was held at Sunfish Lake Park and Anoka County Parks brought paddleboards, paddles, and life jackets. The instructor taught the basics and ensure all were comfortable on the water. They then moved into more free -time and exploring the lake. One person said it was "lots of fun. Two hours was just the perfect amount of time as was the Sunfish Lake location." Numerous participants said the instructor was "terrific, knowledgeable, patient, and very helpful." The kayaking class was cancelled due to weather. Although Anoka County Parks received positive feedback, it was difficult to schedule and work with them as their programs must come first. Their staff was not always receptive on expanding programming to Ramsey parks. Due to this, they are not currently a 2018 partner and a new instructor was selected for the 2018 stand- up paddleboarding classes. In the future, assuming instructor and equipment availability works out, potential outdoor recreation programs could include: canoeing/kayaking, camping, snowshoeing, cross country skiing, nature walks, fishing, birding, maple syruping, or full moon hikes. For some programs, it may be beneficial to structure it as a special event in order to increase attendance.