Parks and Recreation Commission Pacekt 06-12-2024 (3)

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Parks and Recreation Commission Minutes Page 3 May 8, 2024 Chair Anderson asked if the plan is to bring this forward to next month’s meeting as an action item and if so, Chair Anderson would like to visit the site and see it staked out. Mr. Churchill explained that he did have it painted out, but the rain washed it out, but he can get it marked out again. He could design the course to just stay in the grassy area, but he would like to bring riders up into the woods a bit. Chair Anderson asked when the new trail could get up and running. Mr. Churchill said they could get it up and running with dirt work and rocks this year. If he could get a dump truck or two of black dirt work that would help, and all the extra things could wait. Mr. Stremcha referenced the Hillside Park master plan amenities and how they would fit into this plan. Mr. Churchill said he had not seen the master plan before. Commissioner Niziolek said that it is imperative that Mr. Churchill review the master plan before they move forward. Chair Anderson questioned how the trail could hinder future development if it were built now. Mr. Churchill will review the master plan so all these concerns can be addressed when it is presented as an action item at the next meeting. Mr. Stremcha shared that the master plan is available via the City of Elk River website and that there is just a wish list of amenities for the park based on user input. The commission would like the master plan link sent to them to review before the next meeting. 8.2 Sherburne County Collaboration: Great Northern Regional Trail Gina Hugo, Sherburne County Parks Director, presented her report and slide show of the Great Northern Regional Trail Partnership and legacy grant funding proposal. Mrs. Hugo explained that the GNT is a recreational resource shared between five agencies. The GNT corridor affects many stakeholders over a span of 30 miles from Elk River to Milaca. During the first year of the partnership, in 2020, a Memorandum of Understanding between an initial four agencies was set up to create the framework for the future. In 2023 the MOU was updated, and a master plan has been created. Now, in 2024 the focus is on the legacy grant proposal. Mrs. Hugo explained that the current trail head begins in Elk River at County Rd 1. Commissioner Niziolek suggested shifting this spot to the access coming out of Meadowvale Rd. where most trail users park and hop onto the trail from there. Mrs. Hugo explained that there would be additional public engagement to gather input on these types of things. Chair Anderson suggested including the school district with the public engagement piece as well. Chair Anderson said that feature three would have concerns for ski trail groomers in the winter to have space to turn around and make that loop. Commissioner Niziolek pointed out there could be issues with power lines in that area as far as the structures are concerned and they may have to go further north or south. Features three and four in Mrs. Hugos presentation would include limiter gates which would serve the importance of creating physical barriers to make cyclists to slow down before approaching roads and to keep motorized vehicles off the trail. Commissioner Niziolek asked about the proximity of the road to the limiter gates. Mrs. Hugo was not sure of the distance yet but that would be determined further into the design process. Commissioner Niziolek shared concerns about the grade separation between the trail and the road. Mrs. Hugo said that concern could be addressed. Page 5 of 27