8.1. SR 12-01-2014 - Laserfiche WebLink

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Elk River is powered by nature. Residents live here because of it, visitors expect it, and the City is defined by it. A vibrant historic downtown and strong new and established neighborhoods are complemented by a landscape rich in natural resources, which includes expansive forests, wetlands, uplands, agricultural lands, and the essential presence of the Elk and Mississippi Rivers. Parks are the vital connection points between these incredible natural assets and the people of Elk River. With 44 parks and over 1,000 acres of parkland, the City of Elk River is in great position to strengthen the connections to nature for residents and visitors alike. The Great Northern Trail passes from north to south through the city, and the Mississippi River Trail, which connects Lake Itasca to the Gulf Coast, runs through Elk River. Residents also have access to some of the best cross country skiing and mountain biking trails in the Minneapolis -St. Paul metropolitan area. Because the parks are essential to the city's identity and to the quality of life for residents a strategic approach to protecting and cultivating these assets for the future is vital. The Elk River Parks and Recreation Master Plan provides the City with a roadmap for protecting, developing and improving the park system into the future. The Master Plan identifies important projects and recommends priorities for how the City should allocate financial and staff resources in order to achieve its vision for the parks system. The Master Plan will also be an important tool for evaluating future land use proposals throughout the City. The Master Plan will provide context and direction for those evaluations, and will specifically help address the proper role of parks and trails in development and redevelopment proposals presented to the City. The Master Plan is organized into 5 chapters. Chapter 1 introduces and provides the context for the plan. Chapter 2 identifies national and local trends that impact current and future development and use of park systems. Chapter 3 provides an overview of Elk River's current park system. Chapter 4 provides the framework for the future of the park and recreation system. Chapter 5 identifies the goals and policy directions necessary to achieve the vision for the Elk River Park and Recreation System. Chapter 6 focuses on implementation, providing the "nuts and bolts" of how to build the park system the city envisions by identifying resources, processes, and tools needed to achieve the vision. 1 City of Elk River - Parks and Recreation Master Plan Draft 11.25.14