6.2 at 1 Camp Cozy Park_NRMP_2023

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74 Friends of the Mississippi River Camp Cozy Park NRMP SITE PROGRAMMING The purpose of the Natural Resources Management Plan is to provide recommendations for the restoration and maintenance of natural resources at the park, and as such, it does not attempt to prescribe future park programming. The City of Elk River will develop a park master plan in 2025, including potential future programming options. Future site programming at the Camp Cozy property should be considered in concert with the restoration and management actions recommended by this plan and expressed as priorities by the community of Elk River. Through conversations with the City of Elk River and a public meeting held on November 8, 2023, FMR ecologists solicited feedback on the natural resources management plan and received feedback about potential future site programming. Presented here some of the ideas and alternatives that were proposed. CHARACTER There is strong interest from community members in preserving the passive recreational use and natural character of the Camp Cozy property. Community members expressed an emphasis on restoring native plant communities, improving habitat and incorporating interpretive and orientation signage. NAME There is interest from some community members in re-naming Camp Cozy. Others feel that preserving the current name is an important nod to the property’s resort history. It was mentioned at the public meeting that the name “Camp Cozy” creates confusion for the community and city staff when visitors expect camping amenities to be available. A new name that acknowledges the original indigenous stewards of the land was proposed. TRAILS The current trail network at the Camp Cozy property (Figure 20) predominantly provides access to the north and south dry prairies and the oak forest. As of 2023, trails are mowed by a former neighbor of the Camp Cozy property who volunteers their time. Narrowing and reducing redundant trails, especially in the north prairie Unit 1, is an option that would help retain important remnant prairie and reduce erosion and the spread of invasive species, but some internal trails should be maintained as fire breaks. There are currently no maintained trails granting access to the Elk River. The community expressed interest in adding trails that access the Elk River to increase the recreational value of the park and offer an opportunity to launch canoes and kayaks from Camp Cozy. A proposed potential trail route of 2000 feet (0.4 mile) is also shown in Figure 20 as a dashed line. This route takes advantage of the property’s frontage on the Elk River and uses a portion of an existing path in the oak forest leading from a large, mowed area which could serve as a future