5. SR 04-25-1995 - Laserfiche WebLink

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. F. Geological Features: The acquisition site is part of an end moraine and has spectacular relief for the Sherburne county area. Elevation of the site ranges from 1000 to 1102 (One of the Highest Points In Sherburne County). If the acquisition site was added to Elk River's Woodland Trails Park System the total relief of the entire city park would exceed 170 feet. This is an extraordinary hilly area of central Minnesota. Human activities in the park would not affect the present geological features because all of the trail systems would take advantage of the rolling nature of the region. Special Note: Because the region is a moraine and is composed of glacial till the surrounding region is under a great deal of environmental stress from mining activities. Acquisition of this region would provide the youth of the future opportunities to see the special geological characteristics of the region long after the end of the gravel mining era in the Elk River area. G. Air Quality Activities on the site will focus strictly on non-motorized traffic; therefore, there will be no impact upon the air quality of the interior of the nature park. On the outer edges of the park there will be some auto traffic from people traveling by motorized vehicles to and from the park. However, the city of Elk River will be designed such that major off-road blacktop pedestrian trails will provide access to the park from all major population regions of the city. Presently there is a north south off-road pedestrian trail corridor which extends across the city of Elk River and connects to the park region. Acquisition of this site will provide the • opportunity to open an off-road east west pedestrian trail corridor which would extend across the east-west axes of the city of Elk River. H. Historical Significance No defined historical site exists on the property. However, some of the local residents believe, there once was an ox cart trail that traversed the eastern edge of the acquisition site. Presently there are some deep trail scars on this narrow portion of the property which travel in a north south direction. More study needs to 6e done to determine the significance of these trail scars. Most of the historical significance that will be gained from this site will come from its natural biological and geological qualities. The city of Elk River is growing at a very fast rate and most of the areas with naturally significant features will probably be altered within the next 10 years. I. Transportation Vehicular traffic will be affected by people entering the nature park for recreational activities. Presently a road and parking lot is being constructed into Woodland Trails City Park adjacent to the acquisition site. However, in the future an access point adjacent to the acquisition site would be created. This access point would be located adjacent to the park on the eastern or northern edge. The most likely site for a parking lot at this time would be along the eastern edge of the acquisition site. Development of this parking lot site will occur when the adjacent property is developed for housing. In conjunction with the development of the parking lot there will be created an east-west off-road pedestrian trail corridor.