Ramsey 2040 Comprehensive Plan No Appendices (2)

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182 of pearls" connecting ten states, the cities of Ramsey, Minneapolis, St. Louis, Memphis, New Orleans, and myriad towns between. In addition to being a Regional Trail within the Twin Cities metro, this trail is also United States Bikeway #45 within the entirety of Minnesota—connecting 700 miles of existing shouldered highways, low-use roads and off-road paths for bicyclists. While in place in Minnesota, southern states are actively constructing and identifying additional routes. Once complete, USBR 45 will continue south along the Mississippi River to Louisiana—then the U.S. Bicycle Route System will encompass more than 50,000 miles of riding connected to Ramsey. A key improvement benefitting the utility and safe access to the Mississippi River Regional Trail in Ramsey, will be the completion of the pedestrian bridge over Hwy #10 discussed below. Wayside Rest In addition, the aforementioned county facilities, Ramsey also benefits from the Mn/DOT Wayside Rest between Highway 10 and the Mississippi River in western Ramsey that has visitor contact building with restrooms, canoe access and picnic facilities. This site serves as a trailhead for the Mississippi River Trail that traverses from the Headwaters in Minnesota, through 10 states to New Orleans. Local Parks The City of Ramsey is approximately 29 square miles in area, has a population of approximately 23,500, and is fortunate to be known for its natural resources. More than half of the City borders the Rum and Mississippi Rivers, and over 15% of its area is protected wetlands. Establishing parks and creating quality recreational and open space opportunities remains a high priority for the City. There are approximately 500 acres of existing municipal parkland and two regional parks with varying amenities, creating a comprehensive system with many diverse opportunities to recreate and enjoy the natural environment. Other Recreation Opportunities Ramsey is also home to a variety of other unique recreation amenities. • Game Fair • Rum River Hills Golf Course • Rum River Scout Camp (Boy Scouts of America) • The Links at Northfork Golf Course • Wayside Rest (State of Minnesota) Planned Park System Recreation Districts Most residents cherish their park system. Given the choice, most would like more parks, especially near their homes. However, financial priorities continue to challenge city leadership to build and manage a park system that meets those desires yet meet the financial obligations to build and maintain these improvements. Currently, the overall amount of acreage devoted to Ramsey’s park and open space system is over 1,800 acres, or approximately 10% of the of the City’s 28 square