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spaces for the City residents. Special use parks set Elk River apart, providing <br />opportunities for high quality recreation in a natural setting which are not <br />always found in neighboring cities. Together these park types form a system that <br />contributes to the high quality of life for residents in Elk River. <br />The City, Parks and Recreation Department staff, partners, and volunteers have <br />dedicated significant resources, thought, time, and effort into developing the <br />parks. They will continue to act as stewards of the park system, which means <br />they are dedicated to maintaining a healthy system that builds on past successes <br />and manages the parks for the future of the community. <br />Recommendations: <br />1. Add new parks along with population growth. <br />Strategies: <br />• Expand the Youth Athletic Complex to meet the demand for <br />additional athletic facilities as the population grows. <br />• Improve undeveloped parks as community growth creates demand for <br />additional park facilities. <br />• Add park land along with community development. <br />► As new land becomes developed with the conclusion of gravel <br />mining, new parks will be needed to serve new users. Parks and <br />open space can act as an organizing framework and significant <br />amenity for future development. Though the nature of <br />development post - gravel mining has not yet been defined, the <br />following park and open space features should be considered: <br />Greenways that incorporate natural resources, stormwater <br />management, and trails and connect to the Great Northern <br />Trail and Woodland Trails Park. <br />Community recreation and open space resources adjacent to <br />Woodland Trails Park. Consider adding a recreational lake, <br />ideally connected to Woodland Trails Park. <br />Add neighborhood parks and athletic facilities as needed based <br />on expected population and density. <br />Draft 11.25.1 4 Chapter 5: How We Get There 34 <br />