8.2. SR 06-01-2015 - Laserfiche WebLink

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Natural Areas Elk River is blessed with an extraordinary natural environment of forest, savanna, prairie, flood plains, and wetland complexes, much of which is publicly accessible as parkland. The city maintains numerous natural areas as parkland throughout the community. Natural areas provide benefits to the public through the services they provide such as water storage and purification, moderating our environment, and the biodiversity to efficiently cycle nutrients. These areas are also available for public recreation such as hiking, bird watching, snowshoeing, and cross country skiing. Natural resource parks are assets that provide the city with the type of outdoor character that the city promotes through its Powered by Nature theme. River/Water Access There are relatively few public access points to the rivers, although the city is at the confluence of the Elk and Mississippi Rivers. Access to the river includes visual connection, or views, as well as places where residents can be near, or `touch, the river. Creating better connections to the rivers is an important task for the city. Needs and issues related to river access include: • Lack of public connectivity along the rivers. • Right -of -way and roadway design constraints that complicate development of a downtown riverfront trail. • Uncertainty about the long -term future of Babcock Park and the boat launch when Highway 10 is reconstructed. • Potential for more river -based recreation. • Connections and future expansions at Rivers Edge Commons. • Protect Mississippi bluff land in its natural form as public amenity from the FAST subzone (East Elk River Gateway) to the Oliver Kelley Farm. In addition to river access, there is a need to address perceived and real water quality issues at Lake Orono. .. ....................................................... .............................._ 29 City of Elk River - Parks and Recreation Master Plan