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PLAN PURPOSE <br />The purpose of this plan is to provide direction for staff, policymakers, and <br />park users as they make decisions that will impact the park and recreation <br />system. Whether allocating resources for maintenance, installing a playground, <br />protecting riverfront land, or developing the next season's recreation offerings, <br />this plan offers guidance based on the community's expressed needs and desires <br />and analyses of demographic changes, future trends, and Elk River's current <br />system. <br />The Elk River Parks and Recreation Master Plan addresses park needs at a <br />system -wide level. While some projects are identified and prioritized, new <br />projects and needs will inevitably arise. The initiatives, recommendations, and <br />strategies outlined in this plan can also provide guidance for these types of new <br />projects. <br />BENEFITS OF PARKS AND RECREATION <br />HEALTH <br />Parks and trails encourage a healthy, active lifestyle by providing a venue for <br />physical activity. Whether it is playing a pickup game of ultimate frisbee, <br />taking a walk along a river trail, participating in an organized soccer league, or <br />snowshoeing through the woods, parks provide essential places for people to <br />exercise. When people have access to park facilities and programming, they are <br />more likely to be active, which improves their physical health. The ability to <br />make connections with nature, which parks provide, is also linked to improved <br />mental health. <br />PROPERTY VALUES <br />As studies have shown, proximity to parks has a positive impact on property <br />values. For instance, researchers found that in Washington County, Minnesota, <br />property owners realized a $16,750 "open space premium" for single family <br />houses located near parks and open space (Moscowitz, 2007). <br />Draft 11.25.14 Chapter 1: Introduction <br />