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Initiative 2 Maintain Our Park Assets at a High Level <br />Based on survey responses and conversations with Elk River residents, it is clear <br />the maintenance of the city parks is of high quality. From Woodland Trails and <br />Hillside City Park to the Youth Athletic Complex and Bailey Point Nature <br />Preserve, the many hours of volunteer time donated to the city help create a <br />system of quality parks and recreational opportunities that is out of reach many <br />cities of comparable size and population. <br />It is important to recognize the hard work and resources that go into maintaining <br />high quality athletic facilities, park and trail systems. If the park system grows to <br />the north with new neighborhoods, dedicated resources and staff must grow as <br />well. <br />Recommendations <br />1. Continue to ensure the safety upgrades. <br />Strategies: <br />• Annually inspect all parks, buildings, restrooms, picnic shelters, ball fields, <br />courts, outdoor ice rinks, parking lots, trails, etc. <br />• Commit to operating budgets that result in well- maintained parks, trails, and <br />facilities. The annual maintenance operating budgets should address natural <br />resource and restoration efforts such as buckthorn removal, prescribed <br />burn program for oak savanna and prairie landscapes, and a park forest <br />management plan. <br />• Consider the addition of a certified forester and a horticulturalist to parks <br />professional staff. <br />• Develop tiered maintenance level standards for routine maintenance to <br />guide the most intensive maintenance to the least intensive. <br />• Annually prepare a five -year Capital Improvement Plan program for all park <br />facilities. <br />2. Develop and formalize maintenance priorities. <br />Strategies: <br />• Write maintenance priorities and schedules as part of the parks maintenance <br />manual. <br />• Develop tiered maintenance level standards for routine maintenance to <br />guide the most intensive maintenance to the least intensive. <br />• Retain flexibility needed to respond to changing conditions and maintenance <br />needs. <br />• Prioritize snow removal in parks and facilities, and areas which become <br />dangerous without immediate attention. <br />• Standardize athletic field maintenance standards. <br />.. ........................................................ ............................... <br />53 City of Elk River - Parks and Recreation Master Plan <br />