8.1 SR 10-18-2021 - Laserfiche WebLink

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Park Inventory Supply & Distribution The City of Elk River boasts 1,444 acres of park land that include six athletic and active recreation facilities,15 neighborhood parks, three conservation/scenic areas, 13 open space/undeveloped parks, and two community parks. All city parks and recreation facilities are operated and maintained by the Parks and Recreation Department under the direction of the City Council and the Parks and Recreation Commission. The majority of established neighborhoods in Elk River are within a half -mile, roughly a 10- to 15-minute walk, of a neighborhood park. However, much of the rural residen- tial areas in the northern portion of the city are not served by neighborhood parks. In the north, the pattern of rural subdivisions made it less feasible to provide smaller parks within a walkable distance from existing residences which lead the city to elect to further disperse parks in this area. The south of the city is better served by neighborhood parks and also has access to community parks with play- grounds and other neighborhood park features which helps to close gaps in service for this area. The southern portion of the city is primarily built out which limits oppor- tunity for additional parkland acquisition. The railroad tracks present a major barrier for residents to access parks and trails in many areas of the community, underscoring a need for improved access in the city. The accompanying map highlights residential areas that are underserved by the current park system as well as areas that are planned for future residential development. It is important to note that much of the land in the Urban Service Expansion Area is outside of the current neighbor- hood park service area which means any new residential development here will need to coincide with additional parkland designation. 108 Parks, Open Space & Natural Resources Plan • Elk River Comprehensive Plan I07CL1aa901 M 0:UV I:LVAN0101VA