8.1 PRSR 09-08-2021 - Laserfiche WebLink

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DRAFT FOR REVIEW ONLY Expand Access to Parks, Open Space & Natural Resources Expanding access to parks, open space, and natural resources is a top priority as the community is expected to see undeveloped land transition to residential and commercial use in the near future. The following strate- gies are intended to help the City meet current needs and future anticipated needs for park land and natural ameni- ties in the community. Modify Land Development Regulations to Encourage Developer Driven Park Creation As Elk River continues to see growth and development new parks must be established to ensure equitable access. Future densely developed subdivisions, particularly in the urban service expansion areas of the Gravel Mining area and along Twin Lakes Road, will need to include parks to serve these new neighborhoods. The City’s current subdivi- sion standards require the dedication of land or contribu- tion of cash for public purpose in every subdivision devel- oped for residential, commercial, or industrial uses, or as a planned unit development. While developers can provide a cash contribution in lieu of land dedication, the City should encourage parkland development be integrated into these sites to provide residents access to parks directly in the neighborhoods being developed. When accepting land as parkland, the City needs to ensure the land is appropriate for park us. This includes an evaluation of usable active parkland, access, visibility, and proximity to other parks. Park Amenities Menu To ensure that the smaller park sites adequately serve the recreation needs of neighborhood residents, the City should consider establishing a menu of park and open space activation items for the developer to choose from. A menu of items would also ensure a base level of park and open space activation while providing developers with the flexibility needed to customize parks and open space to their target market. This type of menu can be integrated into the City’s Code of Ordinances to help guide desired park and open space development in new subdivisions. Improve Athletic Fields to Expand Playability Soccer, lacrosse, football, softball, and baseball fields in the City have seen increased use as Elk River’s population has grown. As such, scheduling time and field space for sports teams has become more and more competitive and is further exacerbated when rain, snow, and night skies leave these fields unplayable. Improvements such as installing artificial turf fields and lighting can extend playability on existing fields in the City and should be considered especially in parks that see heavy use and are challenged by wetland/water drainage issues such as Lion John Weicht Park. Focus Resources The majority of neighborhood parks are located in the southern portion of the City, some of which have over- lapping service areas and may be redundant. The Parks Master Plan identified Baldwin, Meadow, North Terrance, Elk Hills Green Space, and the property south of Ridge- wood East on 191st Avenue as unnecessary from a system standpoint as they lack real public access, are prohibitively small for park use, and/or are difficult to maintain. If there are no legal issues related to the dedication/donation of these properties, the City should consider selling them to private owners to take the burden of maintenance off the Parks and Recreation Department. Selling these proper- ties would also provide funds for the purchase of lands in neighborhoods with limited access to parks especially in the north of the City. In evaluating the sale of such proper- ties, the City should also carefully consider neighborhood input and identify potential improvements to nearby parks and access routes to ensure local residents remain well- served. The City also needs to evaluate how the land was acquired (park dedication, donation, or purchase) and how to properly vacate ownership of these properties. Update the Parks Master Plan The Parks Master Plan was adopted in 2015 and many projects identified in the Plan such as the improvements to Orono Park are coming to completion. The City should consider updating the Plan to identify new parks and recre- ation needs in the community as it grows. The Plan update at a minimum should address service area needs of new developments in the expanded Urban Service District and supplement the Parks, Open Spaces & Natural Resources section of the Comprehensive Plan. 110 Parks, Open Space & Natural Resources Plan • Elk River Comprehensive Plan