9.C.3. PRSR 09-12-2001 - Laserfiche WebLink

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Park Department Formation Report to the Elk River City Council October 2001 Page 5 • Two full-time, one 3/4 time, and multiple seasonal staff are responsible for recreation programming in the.City. In 2001, the City's portion of the Community Recreation budget was , and in 2002, the City expects to budget for recreation programming. Findings and Observations Finding 1: The Elk River Parks and Recreation system is undergoing rapid expansion that will continue into the foreseeable future. This expansion can be documented through the increase in three areas: (1) the number of park and recreation facilities in the Elk River system, (2) city dollars budgeted for Capital Improvements for park and recreation purposes, and (3) consumer demand for park and recreational activities within the City of Elk River. 1. Increase in the number of City facilities: When the City Council approved the Master Park and Recreation Plan in 1997, the system consisted of 27 parks and athletic complexes totaling? acres. In 2001, the system has grown to 33 sites totaling 777 acres. At the current rate of development, at least seven neighborhood parks plus at least one additional area-wide park will be added to the system within the next five years. It is not unreasonable to anticipate that these additions will add another 175-250 acres to the system. 2. City dollars budgeted for Parks and Recreation Capital Improvements: In 1997, the • City targeted approximately$40,000 toward the development of city owned park and recreation facilities plus land acquisition. In 2000, the City spent$165,574.97 on Park Capital Improvement projects. In 2001, the City has approved Capital Improvements for the Park System in the amount of$124, 464. Additional expenditures for land acquisition may be recommended to the Council in the near future. Over the 5-year period of 2002 through 2007, the Commission anticipates making Capital Improvement recommendations to the Council totaling$714,500. 3. Consumer demand for parks and recreation services: The 33 sites and facilities that comprise the current system allow opportunities for recreational outlets that range from quietly passive individual pursuits to highly energetic team competitions to community wide get-togethers such as the Crop Walk. Community demands for city-owned facilities led to the recent restructuring of the facility reservation system. The construction of BMX facilities at the Youth Athletic Complex, Mountain Biking Trails at Hill Side City Park, new or expanded playground equipment at Lions, Country Crossing, Riverplace and Barrington Parks, the remodeling of the Barn at Trott Brook Farms, and the relocation of Community Recreation staff to new facilities at Lions Park, all represent consumer demands on the current system that were not evident just a few years ago. Finding 2: The City of Elk River spent$426,228 for park and recreation maintenance, programming, and capital improvements during the year 2000. This amount does not include city financial support for the Ice Arena. • The $426,228 represents the total dollars specifically recommended for park and recreation purposes by the Parks and Recreation Commission ($165,574), the Street and Park Department park and trail