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e e Today's conditions With the settling of the area by pioneers, the suppression of fires used by the Native Indians allowed the oak stands to grow into oak woods and the pride of many Ramsey residents. The creeks were ditched to improve wet areas for homesteading, and pines were planted as windrows and as a lumber source. Agricultural uses were attempted on the poor soils with minimal success. Although some farms still exist today, the soils have given way to urban development as a more suitable use. Along with the abundant canopy of oaks, the waterways of Ramsey give shape and identity to the City. The Rum River, with its canopy of Flood Plain Forest, has become an ideal location for many new upper scale homes. Ramsey citizens also have access to the river at the many parks located along its banks, including Rum River Central County Park and River's Bend City Park. The Rum River is also regionally significant as a State Canoe Route and is protected through its designation as a Wild and Scenic River under the Minnesota Wild and Scenic Rivers Act. HwylO, (a State Great River Road) and the railroad separate most of Ramsey from the Mississippi River. Except for the flat terrace along Hwy 10, the presence of the Mississippi River is not obvious. The Wayside Rest State Park, an undeveloped Mississippi West County Park, and a proposed (and partially built) River Corridor Trail are Ramsey's links to the mighty river. The stretch of the Mississippi River through Ramsey is part of the Mississippi National River & Recreation Area (MNRRA) established by the National Park Service in 1988. The Wayside Rest State Park has facilities for camping, drinking water, and canoe launching along the Mississippi River. Surrounded by many wetlands, Trott Brook creates a large natural corridor across the northern part of Ramsey, stretching from the western border east to the Rum River. While Trott Brook has been ditched to relieve residents of water problems, it remains relatively undeveloped along its banks. Other ditches create waterway corridors through northern Ram~ey connecting a series of wetlands that drain east into the Rum River. These ditches form"the backbone of the sub-watersheds in Ramsey. Transportation Corridors Two major highways that have contributed to the development of the community connect Ramsey with the Metropolitan Region and greater Minnesota. The previously mentioned Highway 1 0 has emerged as a major roadway connecting the Metropolitan area to northern and western Minnesota. Over time this road has become extremely congested and has developed with little attention given to its aesthetics and image. The other major roadway is Highway 47, which also has become a major route to northern Minnesota and is very congested. These highways have allowed Ramsey residents the opportunity to commute to jobs in the Metropolitan area and cause the City to develop as a bedroom community. Ramsey's first growth spurt The height of Ramsey's development occurred in the early 1970's. At that time, there were no municipal utilities available, the transportation system was not as advanced as it City of Ramsey Comprehensive Plan Page 3