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Home My WebLink About5.d. Parks System Master PlanPresentations have been received by Council from Jeff Schoen'bauer of Brauer & Associates pertaining to -the Town Green Master Plan and the Carrolls Woods Master Plan. The third portion of Mr. Schoenbauer's consulting role was to lead an appointed committee to discuss and develop an overall Parks System Master Plan. This plan has gone through a lengthy process of committee meetings and community meetings. The Parks System Master -Plan Committee felt that they had developed a guide that is meaningful and representative of our community. The Parks & Recreation Committee supported their viewpoints and have moved to accept the plan and to recommend to Council that they also accept and approve the pian. Historical aspects of past plans, the present needs and requirements of the parks system, and the future concepts of park facility requirements were addressed. Ir A copy of the final draft was delivered to the members of the Council earlier. Section I has been sent along with the Council packets to add to this draft you received. Jeff Schoenbauer will be present at the Council meeting to present a verbal interpretation of the parks System Master Plana RECOMMENDED ACTION: Motion to accept and to approve the Parks System Master Plan as presented by Brauer & Associates. COUNCIL ACTION: CITY OF ROSEMOUNT EXECUTIVE SUMMARY FOR ACTION CITY COUNCIL MEETING DATE: November 19, 1991 AGENDA B AGENDA PPARKSEC SITEM: SYSTEM MASTER PLAN PREPARED BY: DAVID J. BECHTOLD GFN'` " R. & R AGENDI M f� 50 IYY'� 7T ATTACHMENTS: APP D Y. SECTION I OF DRAFT DELIVERED EARLIER Presentations have been received by Council from Jeff Schoen'bauer of Brauer & Associates pertaining to -the Town Green Master Plan and the Carrolls Woods Master Plan. The third portion of Mr. Schoenbauer's consulting role was to lead an appointed committee to discuss and develop an overall Parks System Master Plan. This plan has gone through a lengthy process of committee meetings and community meetings. The Parks System Master -Plan Committee felt that they had developed a guide that is meaningful and representative of our community. The Parks & Recreation Committee supported their viewpoints and have moved to accept the plan and to recommend to Council that they also accept and approve the pian. Historical aspects of past plans, the present needs and requirements of the parks system, and the future concepts of park facility requirements were addressed. Ir A copy of the final draft was delivered to the members of the Council earlier. Section I has been sent along with the Council packets to add to this draft you received. Jeff Schoenbauer will be present at the Council meeting to present a verbal interpretation of the parks System Master Plana RECOMMENDED ACTION: Motion to accept and to approve the Parks System Master Plan as presented by Brauer & Associates. COUNCIL ACTION: ,,; ,fix,', _,�1 , /1►,�, �i\ � �� !��4';.a. � i � i/► 'ill �• \ /,.i L/. \ /�/� i �_}� _ � � � � , it%I I >� %"tett ' �//�► ,1�,.,'r �•/�� i','i, �``,%\ Via; - �I�i�;��►�+I� i it: -�.� `/I ♦�i �1 �! v `�i., �r�%i � -•fit i � � I � � /.*� / /��IZI,�� r — /1� �.� / � �� • � it � \"'1 lt A j , y �s;''�'" ��. ► x��\3/ice r �� , y! �' t„•.'—'.. 1A =� %��Vol i I,�> tri I ,4� Mill �= �� t i _� �:a /k 1� i-��•l��l �'` -_ - -�,�- ."�'�'��1'�� ' '�� OR Acknowledgements Acknowledgements In early 1991, the City of Rosemount appointed an ad hoc advisory committee made up of local citizens to work with Brauer & Associates, Ltd. in the development of this Comprehensive Park Plan and Development Guide. The document represents the end result of that cooperative and interactive planning process. Brauer & Associates, Ltd. would like to extend a thank you to those that served on the advisory committee for providing their insights and understanding of the community's parks and recreational concerns and needs. Their dedication to this project over many months allowed for the development of a park system planning document which reflects the unique character and intrinsic qualities that the City of Rosemount possesses. Our appreciation is also extended to citizens of the community who took the time to attend a number of public meetings and express their concerns about the future development of the park system. Finally, we would also like to extend a special thank you to the Park and Recreation Department Staff, who put in many hours discussing the issues and providing support in this planning effort. Park System Members: Mr. Ed Barloon Mr. Grayme Bartuli Ms. Cathy Busho Mr. John Howard Ms. Sheila Massen Ms. Lois McKinley Mr. Ron Pederson Mr. Jerome Puciaty Mr. Jim Thommes Mr. Larry Walsh Advisory Committee City of Rosemount Parks and Recreation Department Staff: Mr. Dave Bechtold, Park & Recreation Director Mr. Boyd Bailey, Engineering Technician Sincerely, BRAUER & ASSOCIATES, LTD. C4�— y A. Schoe auer, R.L.A. Vice President Table of Contents City of Rosemount Table of Contents Introduction i �. Section 1: Executive Summary 1-1 Section 2: Assessment of Rosemount's Parks and Recreation Needs 22=1 Statewide Trends in Outdoor Recreation 2-2 Figure 1.1 Minnesota's Outdoor Recreation Hours Per Capita Activity 2-2 Figure 1.2 Total Outdoor Recreation Hours Per Capita of Minnesota by Age Class, 1985 2-2 Figure 1.3 Percent Change In Minnesotans' Outdoor Recreation Hours, 1985-2000 2-3 Figure 1.4 Increase in Minnesotans' Outdoor Recreation Hours in Minnesota by Activity 2-3 Figure 1.5 Importance of Various Outdoor Recreation Facilities to Minnesota Residents 2-3 Urban Design Team Executive Summary 2-4 Community Survey 2-5 PlanningCommission Community Goals Statements tY 2-6 Park System Planning Advisory Committee 2-7 Public Meeting 2-10 Summary Statements 2-11 Table of Contents Section 3: Goveming Policies 3-1 Governing Policies (Overview) 3-2 Mission Statement 3-2 Goals, Objectives, and Policy Statements 3-2 Section 4: Park System Framework 4-1 City Infrastructure 4-2 Figure 4.1 City Infrastructure Map Natural Resource Areas 4-2 Historical, Cultural, Social, and Commercial Center of the Community 4-3 Park System Classifications 4-3 Park System Facilities Development Standards 4-9 Figure 4.2 Facility Development Standards Trail System Classifications 4-9 Figure 43 Class I Park Trail Figure 4.4 Class II Park Trail Figure 4.5 Class III Park Trail Figure 4.6 Class I Transportation Trail Figure 4.7 Class II Transportation Trail Figure 4.8 Class III Transportation Trail Figure 4.9 Cross -Country Ski, Horse, and Snowmobile Trails Population Information/Park System Acreage Standards 4-13 Park System Elements 4-21 4-4 & 4-5 4-10 & 4-11 4-14 4-15 4-16 4-17 4-18 4-19 4-20 City of Rosemount Table of Contents (Section 4 continued) Park System Facilities Design Standards Facility Design Standards (Plates 1 Through 18) Park System Facilities Use and Maintenance Standards/Policies Section 5: Administrative./Management Framework Parks and Recreation Committee Figure 5.1 Parks and Recreation Committee - Constitution and Bylaws Recreation Programming tCommunication and Community Interaction Joint -Use Agreements System Identification Figure 5.2 Signage Examples Volunteer Programs Figure 5.3 City of Rosemount Adopt -A -Park Program Pledge Park Security/Supervision Maintaining the Parks and Recreation System Figure 5.4 Maintenance Activity Data Collection Park Design and Development Procedures Figure 5.5 Standard Planning and Design Process City of Rosemount 4-21 4-22 Through 4-39 4-40 5-1 5-1 5-3 5-2 5-5 5-6 5-8 5-9 and 5-10 5-11 5-12 and 5-13 5-14 5-15 5-16 5-17 5-18 Table of Contents (Section 5 Continued) Tree Preservation/Replacement Figure 5.6 Tree Replacement Sliding Scale Figure 5.7 Tree Replacement Formula Water Quality Programs and Policies Figure 5.8 Primary Pollutants Affecting Ground and Surface Water Quality Figure 5.9 Water Quality Planning - Step by Step Approach Figure 5.10 State Ground Water and Resource Management Organization Figure 5.11 Residents Role in Preserving Water Quality Section 6• Financing Sources for Park Land Acquisition and Development Financing Sources Section 7: Park and Trail System Plan Park and Trail System Plan Figure 7.1 Park System Legend Figure 7.2 Park System Plan Figure 7.3 Trail System Plan Individual Park Plates (1 through 28) Regional Parks/Facilities School District Facilities National Guard Armory Private Recreational Facilities Park System Acreage Totals Anticipated Facility Needs and Distribution r City of Rosemount 5-17 s -2o 5-20 5-21 5-24 5-25 5-26 5-27 66=1 6-1 r 7=1 7-2 7-8 and 7-9 7-10 and 7-11 7-12 and 7-13 7-14 through 7-66 7-5 7-6 7-6 7-6 7-7 r 7-67 i Table of Contents Section 8: Implementation Plan Implementation Planning Methodology Figure 8.1 Criteria for Prioritizing the Acquisition and Development of Park Land Figure 8.2 General Findings and Recommendations for Park Land Acquisition and Development Figure 8.3 Priority Ranking Matrix - Park Land Acquisition Figure 8.4 Priority Ranking Matrix - Park Land Development Figure 8.5 Acquisition and Development Phasing/Implementation Plan RN City of Rosemount 8-5 8-6 and 8-7 8-8 and 8-9 8-10 and 8-11 8-12 and 8-13 r Introduction Introduction system. c) develop a means for on-going and systematic Overview evaluation of the various park system components. In general terms, park system planning is taking the opportunity to look at the development of the park system to date, determine how well it meets the needs of the community, and define how it should be developed to meet the needs of the community in the future. Within the context of this planning exercise, the purpose is to: a) develop a framework for making rational parks and recreation related decisions which are consistent with the community's and regions long term goals. b) develop a detailed plan which defines the components of and standards for the park 11 d) allow the public the opportunity to participate in and understand the planning process whereby they can develop a sense of ownership and commitment to the development of the park system. e) provide a handbook by which incoming park committee members, as well as other commissions, committees and staff positions, can readily gain insight and understanding as to the park system's overall purpose and future direction. f) have a detailed planning document in place which allows the City to quickly react in a pragmatic manner to opportunities as they arise. City of Rosemount This planning document should be viewed as the beginning of an ongoing, long-term park system planning and development process. It is intended to evolve in response to the changes in the community's parks and recreational ngeds, desires, and other community development initiatives. Guide Organization The organization of this guide follows a "building block" approach, whereby the various sections are organized to coincide with the planning process. This approach was selected to allow users of the guide the opportunity to follow the planning process from beginning to end and develop an understanding as to how the park system plan evolved and how the various recommendations were derived. i d 1 Section 1 - Executive Summary Section 1 Executive Summary Overview The executive summary is intended to provide a brief overview of the Comprehensive Park Plan and Development Guide's planning process as well as highlight the key findings. Readers seeking a more indepth understanding of the planning process and resultant findings are encouraged to review the body of the document. The following is a summary of the various sections of this planning document. Section 2 - Assessment of Rosemount's Parks and Recreation Needs In assessing Rosemount's park and recreational needs it is important to consider pertinent information from a variety of sources. Doing so enhances our knowledge of projected trends in recreation participation and allows for a more thorough understanding of the recreational needs and developmental concerns of city residents. The following sources were selected because they provide information which addresses relevant parks and recreation concerns and provide insight into the issues confronting the City of Rosemount. City of Rosemount Information Sources • Statewide Comprehensive Outdoor Recreation Plan (SCORP) for 1990-1994. • Urban Design Team Findings - University of Minnesota Urban Design Team. • Community Attitude Survey, 1988-89. • Planning Commission's Community Goals Statements. • Park System Planning Advisory Committee. • Public Meeting These sources of information provide an important perspective about City residents' attitudes toward the community and their expectations about the Section 1 - Executive Summary quality of the park system and the quality of life within the community. The following summarizes the key findings. Statewide Trends in Outdoor Recreation Patterns Top recreational facilities desired by Minnesota residents: 1. Natural park areas 2. Wildlife and nature observation 3. Walking paths 4. Picnic grdunds 5. Nature add history interpretation 6. Swimming beaches 7. Lake accdsses 8. Bike paths and trails 9. Paved shoulders for bikes 10. Flower gdrdens 11. Campgrotinds 12. Hiking trails 13. Athletic fields 14. Skating acid hockey rinks 15. Shore fishing areas Minnesota residents opinion on natural resource issues: • 76.2% indicate that the loss of wetlands is a problem in Minnesota. • 86.4% indicate that water quality of lakes, rivers, and streams is a problem in Minnesota. • 56.0% indicate that the outdoor recreation facilities built by the State are becoming run down. Urban Design Team Key findings: • "if a sense of openness is to remain in the future, the town needs to further develop policies which maintain this "attractive" quality, before it is lost to haphazard speculative development." • the need to "unify the downtown business district, City Hall, nearby community parks, and the schools in to a cohesive commercial, social, and community gathering place." • "a key design policy for downtown is that a person should have the option to be a pedestrian and is not required to drive to every location." Community Survey Key findings: • the number of small children in Rosemount is growing rapidly, causing several conditions to arise, including a greater contribution to the local school system and a growing demand for community services which service the needs of families with young children. • the Park and Recreation System is highly valued by most citizens. 83% rated it good to excellent. Usership, at 81%, was very highly rated for a suburb. • neighborhood (63% usage) and community (55% usage) parks were the most frequently used components of the park system. Proximity to the these facilities played a key role in there level of usage. Totlots had the lowest usage rating (27% usage). 1-2 City of Rosemount • 63% of the respondents would support the construction of a nature preserve (even if it meant a tax increase). • 77% of the respondents would support construction of a corridor trail system in the city (even if it meant a tax increase). • the top two priorities for the future would be the preservation of open space and the attraction of head -of -household jobs to the city. • 73% of residents favor additional recreational facilities as an extension to the planned armory facility, even if it required a tax increase. • the residents feel that there is a very strong need for a standardized and regular communications system between the City and the community. 71% favored publication of a quarterly newsletter. Park System Planning Advisory Committee Key Committee Statements: • provide (in as cost effective manner as possible) a comprehensive, balanced, well maintained system of parks, open spaces, trails, and recreation programs for all City residents to use and enjoy. • provide a balance between passive and active recreational spaces. • develop a positive working partnership with the local school districts, civic organizations, adjacent cities, churches, and volunteer groups. • maintain small town "charm"/character and history. Provide adequate parks, open space, recreational facilities, and linkage (trails) system to meet City needs. Proper planning decisions should be made to achieve these objectives. t Section 1 - Executive Summary consideration should be given to the preservation of historical buildings/elements within the City. Looking forward, the long term success of this planning effort will be based to a large extent on: • whether or not the city residents continue to believe that the a quality park system enhances the quality of life within the community. • a willingness by the Rosemount residents to invest in their city's future growth and vitality. • a committed and persistent effort by the various governing bodies, city staff, and, most importantly, the residents themselves to see the park system plan through the implementation phases. rGiven these "criteria for success," the importance of assessing the needs and attitudes of the City residents and then using that information as the impetus and driving force in developing the park system plan cannot be overstated. Section 3 - Governing Policies The governing policies are intended to provide a consistent, definable, and justifiable continuum of ideas, beliefs, and values which define the vision or concept of the Rosemount Park System. Input from the following sources played an important role in assisting the Park System Plan Advisory Committee in defming the governing policies for the Rosemount Park System. • Assessment of Rosemount's Park and Recreational Needs • Rosemount Community Survey (1989) • Rosemount Citizen's Advisory Committee's Goals Summary (1989) • Rosemount Planning Commission's Community Goals Statement (December 1990 Draft) • Metropolitan Council Recreation Open Space Development Guide/Policy Plan (Draft - November 1, 1990). • Minnesota Statewide Comprehensive Outdoor Recreation Plan for 1990-1994. • Rosemount Urban Design Study - University of Minnesota Urban Design Team (February, 1989) The governing policies consist of and are defined by a mission statement, goals, objectives, and policy statements. The mission statement is as follows: "The purpose of the Rosemount Paris System is to provide, in as cost effective manner as possible, a comprehensive, balanced, well maintained system of park , natural/open spaces, trails and leisure oriented activities/programs for the city .residents to use and enjoy." Given the mission statement, the following goals were established as the basis for the governing policies: preparation and implementation of a Comprehensive Park Plan and Development Guide. provide city residents with parks and open space for recreational uses and as a visual/physical diversion from the hard surfacing of urban development as well as providing for the preservation and conservation of limited natural resources and maintaining the "character", small town ambience, rural appearance, and historical elements of the community. 1-3 City of Rosemount to establish an effective, ongoing means of communicating/interacting with residents about issues related to parks and recreation facilities, programs, and future development. And to provide residents with the opportunity to participate in recreational activities through various civic and volunteer organizations and programs. • maximize the recreational opportunities available to city residents through the development of a fair and equitable working partnership between the local school districts, adjacent cities, Dakota County, churches, civic organizations, and the City of Rosemount. • maintain a well-trained, highly motivated staff to carry out the City of Rosemount's mission of developing a quality park system and providing a variety of recreational opportunities for City residents. • provide the opportunity for all community residents to participate in recreational activities through the implementation of well-designed, effective and interesting recreational programs. • secure the funding necessary to carry out the mission of the Rosemount Park Sy4tem. • identification of all park system elements and activity areas to assure that the park system functions as a total, complete, and clearly identifiable system. • preservation of historical data, records, and files pertaining to the park system development and programs within Rosemount. Once specific goals were determined, a set of objectives and policies for each goal were established to carry out the mission of the park system. Section 1 - Executive Summary Section 4 - Park System Framework A park system framework is best described as the 'Parameters and guidelines for establishing a park and recreation system" within a given community. The framework consists of a number of essential components, including: • City ISfiastructure: Defines the structural (physical) and developmental characteristics of the City which have a direct impact on the developm6nt of the park system. • Natural liesource Areas: Defines areas of the City which exhibit significant natural resources. • Historical, Cultural, Social, and Commercial Areas: Defines areas of the City which exhibit: a) important historical and cultural features, and b) impottant social and commercial activity centers. • Park System Classifications: Depicts the park types and functional classifications to be utilized within the community's park system. • Park System Facilities Development Standards: Defines the type and number of recreational facilities necessary to accommodate a community's needs. • Trail System Classifications: Depicts the trail types and classifications to be utilized within the community's park system. • Population Information and Park System Acreage Standards: Defines the standard for the number of acres of park land per population base. • Park System Elements: Describes the physical characteristics of each park site and the park system as a whole. • Park System Facilities Design Standards: Establishes recommended design standards and quality guidelines for specific facilities. • Park System Facilities Use and Maintenance Standards/Policies set the basic parameters for the use and maintenance of existing and future park facilities. Each component of the park system framework was defined in the document and then used as the basis for developing and guiding the park system plan. Section 5 - Administrative/ Management Framework Administrative procedures and management techniques play an important role in assuring that the park system develops and functions in an effective and efficient manner whereby its greatest potential is realized. The administrative/management framework defined in the document is intended to: • highlight and define important administrative and management issues. • establish a framework and course of action to guide the development of administrative procedures and management techniques. Key framework components: • Parks & Recreation Committee: defines their role in overseeing the development of the park system and establishing recreational programs that serve the needs of a wide variety of 1-4 City of Rosemount individuals and user groups. They must provide the visionary lead in the development of the park system, always striving to achieve a high quality park system within the realities of limited resources and other community development concerns. • Recreation Programming: defines how recreational programs impact the development of the park system and the importance to closely monitor the facility needs for these programs. • Existing Community Programs: defines the need to continue successful community programs in the future. • Communication and Community Interaction: defines the basic components of a comprehensive communication and community interaction strategy. • Joint -Use Agreements: defines the basic components of joint -use agreements between the City and other members a the partnership, particularly the local school district. • System Identification: defines the basic components of a typical signage program. • Volunteer Programs: identifies a number of volunteer opportunities that could be undertaken by individuals and organizations within the community. • Park Security/Supervision: establishes the basic parameters for promoting increased community participation in park security. • Maintaining the Parks and Recreation System: establishes the principles behind the development of an effective and efficient maintenance operation. • Park Design and Development Procedures: defines the standard procedures for undertaking any given park development project. A 71 L1 Ll Section 1 - Executive Summary • Tree preservation and Water Quality Programs: establishes an outline and basic parameters for tree preservation and water quality programs. Section 6 - Financing Sources for Park Land Acquisition and Development The availability and timing of funding for park land acquisition and development will have a direct and significant impact on the implementation of the park plan and the timing of specific park projects. Given this impact, it is important to develop an overall understanding of the financing sources available (in varying degrees) for park land acquisition and development. The text describes the financing sources which are available to the City of Rosemount for park land acquisition and development. The financing sources are listed under several categories: local initiatives, debt financing, and intergovernmental sources. Local Initiatives: • Park dedication fund • User/service fees • Capital improvement plan • Local grants, gifts, donations, volunteers, and donated professional consulting services Debt Financing: • General obligation bonds • Pure revenue bonds • Municipal lease -purchase financing • Installment purchase financing Intergovernmental Sources: • Metropolitan Parks Act (Metropolitan Council) • Local school districts • Dakota County (Community Development Block Grants) • Outdoor Recreation Grant Program • Department of Natural Resources • Department of Transportation • Mississippi National River and Recreation Program Section 7 - Park and Trail System Plan The Park and Trail System Plan describes the various components of the Rosemount Park System. The plan has its basis in the findings and planning issues previously considered as part of this study, particularly: • Section 2 - Assessment of Rosemount's Parks and Recreational Needs. • Section 3 - Governing Policies • Section 4 - Park System Framework Since the City of Rosemount is a dynamic, growing community, development/growth patterns and characteristics cannot be predicted with absolute certainty. Therefore, it must be kept in mind that: • all park system components must be justifiable within the context of the parks and recreational needs, mission, and goals as defined within this study. • if the parks and recreational needs, mission, and goals change in future years, then the park and trail system plan itself must change accordingly. 1-5 City of Rosemount Each park site or recreational facility defined within this plan is intended to make a specific contribution to the City's park system. The overall plan consists of a number of important components, including: the Park System Plan: under this plan, Rosemount's Park System will ultimately consist of 24 sites under the various park "types" (classifications), excluding linear parks and cooperative efforts. Individual park sites are described by: a) park type, address, and size; b) existing facilities/amenities; c) existing natural features/site conditions; d) future development issues; and e) future development program. To the extent possible, proposed park sites are located to take advantage of and prptect at least a portion of the natural resources and open spaces in the City. However, preserving these areas of the community can only partially be accomplished through the park system plan. The rest has to come through creative development and subdivision design where developers work in a partnership with the City to presgfve as much of the City's natural resources and open spaces as possible. To the extent possible, protected waters and wetlands have also been incorporated into the park system plan. Coupled with the efforts of other planning bodies, this should provide a reasonable level of protection for these areas once completely implemented. Ik should be noted that the protection of waters and wetlands should go beyond the actual water-sgrfaced areas to include shorelines, adjacent natural vegetation areas, and wetland fringes as well. This will help to assure the protection of the community's water quality and provide wildlife habitat and natural open space. The City's Comprehensive Plan should be referred to for additional information related to the protection of the City's natural resource and Section 1 - Executive Summary open space areas. The historical, cultural, social, and commercial center or core of the community is also identified in the plan and includes the following major components: a) the downtown business district; b) City Hall (and surrounding municipal facilities); c) several major community parks; d) the National Guard Armory; e) Rosemount School District Facilities; f) the historical St. Joseph's 6urch; and g) St. Joseph's Cemetery. The development of the parks which are part of this cord area will be defined within this document. The other components are or will be addressed as part of other planning efforts. The Park System Plan also defines: a) the key transpdrtktion corridors which should be considered the highest priority for a streetscalling program; b) the concept of a farm museum; c) the concept of garden plots; d) the need for kpecial-use facilities, such as an indoor hockey crena, a golf course, an outdoor swimming complex, and a recreational vehicle parking area. the Trail 1§ystem Plan: illustrates the trail system plan on a City map. The plan depicts the linkage corridors for the various modes of recreational travel between parks as well as between parks and developed areas. Although principally focusing on pedestrian and bicycle travel, the plan also illustrates the trail locations for cross- country kkiing, snowmobiling, and horseback riding. Regional Parks and Facilities: The City of Rosemount is in the fortunate position to take advantage of a number of exceptional regional parks and trails located within or directly adjacent to the community. The regional based facilities are administered by the Dakota County Parks and Planning Departments. Lebanon Hills Regional Park and Spring Lake Regional Park Reserve are two large regional park areas which are either within or near the City and offer a variety of recreational opportunities for City residents to use and enjoy. School District Facilities: establishing a close working relationship with the local school district with respect to the joint -use of recreational facilities will be important in future years if the City is to attempt to meet the community's recreational demands. Three Rosemount School District sites provide opportunities for joint -use of outdoor facilities: a) Rosemount Elementary School, b) Shannon Elementary School, and C) Rosemount Middle/High School. • the National Guard Armory: will provide City residents with a number of indoor recreational facilities. • Private Recreational Facilities: although limited, a number of privately operated recreational facilities are within or near the City at this time and are identified in the document. Park System Acreage Totals: based on the City's projected ultimate or saturation population of 20,000 to 22,000 and the park system plan as set forth in this study, the core system of parks would amount to a total of about 321 acres. This is exclusive of the conservation areas, Carrolls Woods Nature Area (which is classified as a special use park), and linear/park trail corridors. However, it does include the University of Minnesota Athletic Complex's 75 acres, which may turn out to be more than the City will actually need to develop to meet the community's long-term needs. Given these figures, the overall acres/1000 population would be 16.0 for a population of 20,000 and 14.6 with a population of 22,000, which is well within the typically accepted standards. • Anticipated Facilities Needs and Distribution: defines the anticipated number of facilities (such as softball fields, hockey rinks, etc.) required to service the projected recreational needs of the community based on national and regional 1-6 City of Rosemount standards. Their optimal distribution within the various park system service areas is also defined. Section 8 - Implementation Plan The implementation plan is intended to: • establish a systematic approach (i.e., Implementation Planning Methodology) for the purpose of prioritizing the acquisition and development of the various park system components. • apply the methodology to prioritize acquisition and development of the various park system components as defined in this document (which is based on the community's current parks and recreational needs). The methodology, or process, of preparing an implementation plan involves a number of important steps which are defined in the document. Properly used, the methodology will allow for an ongoing and systematic evaluation of the various park system components to determine their relative importance to the Park System and the scheduling of their implementation. Using the established methodology, a Phasing/Implementation Plan was developed which defines the appropriate phasing of acquisition and development of specific park sites/facilities. The plan illustrates the priority rank and timeframe in which specific projects should ideally be implemented based on: the actual and perceived needs of the community. the established standards for the type of park facilities which are necessary to assure that a r Section 1 - Executive Summary balanced and successful park system is developed within Rosemount. Through a process involving participation by the Parks Committee, Parks Department, Planning Commission, and City Council, the Phasing/ Implementation Plan should be further deduced to fit into the City's short and long-term Capital Improvement Program(s). u it The significant difference between the Phasing/ Implementation Plan as defined in this document and the Capital Improvements Program is that the latter puts the various park system improvement initiatives in the same context as other community development initiatives. The transition from the Phasing/Implementation Plan to the Capital Improvement Program is perhaps best defined as going from the ideal (within the singular context of the park system's development) to the realistic (within the more complex, multifaceted context of the community's overall development). As would be expected, the availability and timing of funding available from the various sources for developing the park system will have a direct and significant impact on how the Phasing/ Implementation Plan is incorporated into the Capital Improvements Program and ultimately affects the timing of developing specific park projects. Given the Phasing/Implementation Plan, along with the overall amount of funding that will be needed to finance the park land acquisition and development initiatives, the challenge (with respect to the development of the park system) to the community, governing bodies, and City staff will be to: determine and evaluate the most appropriate and available financing sources and/or debt financing structure. • determine the most appropriate use of the available funding. • determine the most appropriate time to initiate implementation of the park system plan. Section 8 - Implementation Plan should be referred to for specific prioritization and implementation planning information. 1 1-7 City of Rosemount ISection 2 - Assessment of Rosemount's Parks and Recreation Needs i 1 u Section 2 Assessment of Rosemount's Parks and Recreation Needs Overview As Rosemount develops and prospers, concerns about the surrounding environment, open space, and personal living space become increasingly more important to individuals and families residing within the community. In many respects, an individual's perceptions as to the quality of life within a community is directly and indirectly correlated to the quality of the park system and open spaces that surrounds them. For any park and recreation system to be successful, it must be developed in a manner in which it fulfills the physical, psychological, and recreational expectations of those it is intended to serve. In this instance, the term "parks and recreation system" is intended to be viewed in a broader context which includes not only parks and open spaces per se, but urban spaces, trails, greenways, streetscapes, schools, wetlands, water bodies, nature areas, reforestation/beautification programs, historical preservation, etc. as well. It should also be kept in mind that some of the issues which are addressed in this section (as well as others) go beyond park system planning and therefore require both input and guidance from other public bodies. In assessing Rosemount's park and recreational needs it is important to consider pertinent information from a variety of sources. Doing so will enhance our knowledge of projected trends in recreation participation as well as allow for a more thorough understanding of the recreational needs and developmental concerns of city residents. In this instance, the following sources were selected because they provide information which addresses relevant parks and recreation concerns and provide 1 2-1 City of Rosemount insight into the issues confronting the City of Rosemount. Information Sources • Statewide Comprehensive Outdoor Recreation Plan (SCORP) for 1990-1994. • Urban Design Team Findings - University of Minnesota Urban Design Team. • Community Attitude Survey, 1988-89. • Planning Commission's Community Goals Statements. • Park System Planning Advisory Committee. • Public Meeting Section 2 - Assessment of Rosemount's Parks and Recreation Needs Statewide Perspective on Trends in Outdoor Recreation Patterns and Participation Rates To fully understand and assess the parks and recreational needs of the community, it is important to review actual and projected trends in recreational patterns and participation rates from a broader, statewide perspective. This will allow for a clearer picture to emerge about recreational trends and provide insight as to the general attitudes toward environmental issues. Much of the forthcoming information was compiled by the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources and Travel & Economic Development and published as part of the Statewide Comprehensive Outdoor Recreation Plan (SCORP) for 1990-1994. According to the SCORP, it is anticipated that the huge growth in the past decade in outdoor recreation appears to be slowing. This in some respects is perhaps a blessing since the current demand already exceeds the capacity of the existing recreational facilities. Additionally, free time has increased, albeit slightly, in recent years (free time is defined as the time not occupied with work, sleep, and personal care). This increase in free time will most likely increase the time that individuals spend in recreational pursuits, thus increasing the demand on current facilities. During 1985 and 1986 a random state-wide survey was undertaken by the State Planning Agency in an attempt to determine the level of participation of Minnesota residents in a variety of outdoor activities. As Figure 1 illustrates, walking/hiking, biking, fishing, and driving had the highest participation rates. Its interesting to note that Minnesotans recreate outdoors an average of 225 hours per capita per year. 12% Fishing -12 Driving - 8 Swimming - 6% Boating - S% Hunting - 4% Nature Observation - 4% Sightseeing - 3 % Golfing - 3% Walking/Hildng 18% Other - 22% (12 activities) -3% Figure 1. Minnesotans' Outdoor Recreation Hours per Capita Activity, 1985. 2-2 City of Rosemount As Figure 2 illustrates, age plays a significant role in the total number of hours per capita that Minnesota residents participate in outdoor recreational activities. Hours/ Capita 7-14 15-24 2534 " 45-54 SS -64 4S+ AN Age Class Figure 2. Total Outdoor Recreation Hours per Capita of Minnesota by Age Class, M. Although the 7-14 age group leads in the amount of time dedicated to outdoor recreational activities, it is important to note that even though the younger age groups spend more time per capita recreating, the shear numbers of people associated with the "aging" population will undoubtedly greatly affect , the demand for recreational facilities geared toward an older population. As such, participation rates, which are key factors in determining facility needs, are expected to change over the next decade to coincide with the change in user demographics, creating higher demand for adult recreational facilities. Section 2 - Assessment of Rosemount's Parks and Recreation Needs As Figure 3 illustrates, the activities showing the largest percentage increases in hours between 1985 and 2000 are those which coincide with the activities most often associated with the older age groups. ' Percent Change 20 16 i lz B L r F` N, b', O` 4C a•f!I V t `�� 1` O O• *�It �` eN C Qac+,�\��e`• m? 0 Activity Figure 3. Percent Change in Minnesotans' Outdoor Recreation Hours in Minnesota, 1985-2000. As indicated, walking/hiking, golfing, and nature study/observation will lead the way in increased participation rates and, concurrently, increase the demand for those type of facilities. Activities such as fishing, hunting, and camping are popular across age groups, and as such, are expected to increase at about the population growth rate within the state. As Figure 4 illustrates, the activities with the largest absolute increase in hours by the year 2000 tend to be those with the largest percentage increase as well. Fishing -14% Driving -19% Nature Other -9% (11 activities*) a-6% Swimming -4% Sightseeing 4% GoiMg-S% Hunting4% Boa/ing-S% • One additional activity stows a decrease for this time period. Note: Hours projected to increase a net 83.6 million haus from 1985-2000. Total hours in 2000 - 930.9 million. Figure 4. Increase in Minnesotan' Outdoor Recreation Hours in Minnesota by Activity, 1985- 2000. Also important to note is that the much of the increased growth in recreation hours will happen within the greater metro area for several reasons, including: • the changing distribution of the population. • a growing population in the metro area and surrounding counties. • the propensity for Minnesota residents to spend most of their recreating time within a half hour of home. As such, it is understandable that the greatest need for additional recreational facilities will occur within the greater metro area, of which the City of Rosemount is part. To help further define where the greatest recreation facilities needs lie, a survey was undertaken to determine how important the various outdoor recreation facilities are to Minnesota residents. Figure 5 illustrates the survey results. 2-3 City of Rosemount as Statewide rank -order of 1lPORTANT Figure 5. Importance of Various Outdoor Recreation Facilities to Minnesota Residents. As is apparent, Minnesota residents' fondness for nature and the outdoors is very pronounced. Review of a public opinion survey on natural resource issues conducted by the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources in 1988 also adds insight as to Minnesota residents' perspective on preservation of natural resources. Of those surveyed, the following results emerged: • 76.2% indicated that the loss of wetlands is a problem in Minnesota. Of that percentage, 68.7% indicated that the problem was either moderate or severe. • 86.4% indicated that water quality of lakes, rivers, and streams was a problem in Minnesota. Of that percentage, 79.2% indicated that the problem was either moderate or severe. VERY SOMEWHAT t FACILITY IMPORTANT IMPORTANT IMPORTANT 1 Natural park areas 57.9 33.1 91.0 2 WIldlife a nature observation 53.1 35.E 01.9 3 Walking path• 51.6 32.3 t3.7 4 lienlc grounds 30.2 52.1 12.4 S Nature a history interpretation 33.5 49.6 52.1 6 SwiWWing beaches 49.0 32.t 11.1 7 Lake accesses 65.3 33.0 70.3' I aleycle paths a trails 37.9 39.5 77.S 9 Paved shoulders for bikes 50.7 23.4 16.1 10 rlowr gardens 30.0 44.0 74.1 11 caWgreunds 41.0 31.3 72.3 12 Hiking trails 34.4 2 71.6 13 Athletic fields 36.9 31 .2 70.1 14 Skating a hockey rinks 1.9 60.2 f9.t 15 Shore fishing areas 37.3 32.3 69.7 16 River a stream access 30.3 34.5 64.7 17 XC ski trails 26.7 36.4 63.1 10 Playgrounds 32.5 21.5 60.0 19 Swlualn pools 27.6 30.3 31.1 20 Downhill ski areas 19.6 32.4 52.0 21 Tennis courts 17.1 34.5 51.6 22 Celt courses 21.6 29.2 50.8 23 Waterfowl hunting areas 26.4 21.0 47.4 24 Snoweobils trails 16.6 24.1 40.6 2Ssig gasr huntinq areas 25.2 15.3 40.S 26 Basketball courts 12.4 26.3 31.7 27 Horseback trails 11.0 26.3 31.1 26 Upland go" hunting areas 11.1 17.6 35.7 29 Shooting ranges 10.2 19.2 29.4 30 ATV trails a areas 0.1 15.8 24.6 31 field dog training areas 5.S 14.6 20.1 32 scuba diving areas 5.1 14.t 19.9 33 4WD trails a area• 5.7 11.5 17.2 as Statewide rank -order of 1lPORTANT Figure 5. Importance of Various Outdoor Recreation Facilities to Minnesota Residents. As is apparent, Minnesota residents' fondness for nature and the outdoors is very pronounced. Review of a public opinion survey on natural resource issues conducted by the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources in 1988 also adds insight as to Minnesota residents' perspective on preservation of natural resources. Of those surveyed, the following results emerged: • 76.2% indicated that the loss of wetlands is a problem in Minnesota. Of that percentage, 68.7% indicated that the problem was either moderate or severe. • 86.4% indicated that water quality of lakes, rivers, and streams was a problem in Minnesota. Of that percentage, 79.2% indicated that the problem was either moderate or severe. Section 2 - Assessment of Rosemount's Parks and Recreation Needs • 82.2% indicated that the state should purchase abandoned railroad lines for hiking, biking, and snowmobile trails. • 56.0% indicated that the outdoor recreation facilities built by the State are becoming run down. • 82.6% indicated that the State or Federal Government should spend more money on the overall management of the St. Croix, Minnesota, and Mississippi Rivers in the metro area. • 37.8% indicated that local units of government should take the lead m dealing with natural resource matters in the Twin Cities Metropolitan area. (18.1% Regional, 42.1% State) For our purposes here, the above stated statistics allow us to develop a clearer understanding of the general attitudes that Minnesotans' have toward recreation and the environment. This insight will aid in this planning effort. Urban Design Team Executive Summary In late 1988, an Urban Design Team consisting of planners, landscape architects, architects, and geographers from the University of Minnesota Design Center undertook an urban design study for the City of Rosemount. The team spent several days in the city observing the community and discussing development issues with the local citizenry. Based on their observations and discussions, the team prepared a report entitled "The Transformation of an Agricultural Community into a Metropolitan/Suburban Town". The report highlighted some interesting development ideas and strategies which have a great deal of merit and are worthy of strong consideration. But most important, for our purposes here, the results of the Design Team's study provide an additional outside perspective about the community which should prove to be useful in the preparation of the Comprehensive Park Plan and Development Guide. The following "Executive Summary" prepared by the Design Team summarizes their findings. Urban Design Team Executive Summary. Entitled "Summary Observations and Suggestions from a Community Urban Landscape Design Worksession" - December 7-8, 1988. The town of Rosemount, Minnesota sits in a rich and diverse urban landscape of varied topography, natural features, land uses and historic landmarks. If these resources are properly enriched, defined and orchestrated into a comprehensive urban vision, they can become a powerful foundation from which Rosemount can integrate existing neighborhoods and new subdivisions into a coherent and truly unique town within the metropolitan area. At the heart of Rosemount is its historic center. Though the town has changed significantly from its agricultural roots in 1858 to the growing suburban town of today, many old and new residents still identify the downtown as the community's center, functioning as a place of orientation, social interaction, cultural expression and commercial exchange. In defining what comprises the downtown, it is our observation that downtown as the "town crossroads" extends beyond the limits of the Housing Redevelopment Area (HRA) boundary. Limiting the focus of the downtown to only those elements 2-4 City of Rosemount found within the HRA boundary, precludes the addition of many social and cultural elements such as the town green, city hall, school, and recreation. We observed two planning areas in Rosemount. The first is the historic commercial center now defined by the HRA boundary. The second is the area of Rosemount High School, adjacent schools and recreational lands, which form the core of family social life within the community. We recommend that the two centers should be integrated, in order to provide a more diversified and vital set of uses in downtown. In discussions, many students, including a large majority of non - Rosemount residents, expressed to us that the historic downtown was a key landmark in their everyday world, adding, however, that it was difficult to walk to. They lamented that there were not more places for them to use during and after school activities. They sought a place to shop, meet friends and family. They expressed very clearly that downtown could play an integral part in their world. They wanted to become part of the town. They saw downtown as a symbol of belonging to a "real" place. This same point was expressed by many adults as well. The High School and other cultural functions are examples of town elements which bring a community wide social dimension to the downtown commercial business functions. Residents attending our workshops and the design team agree that the sense of permanence and celebration need to be reinforced and expanded through the design and construction of public spaces such as downtown streetscapes, a band shell, a town green and a "rose garden mount" We suggest that these be located central to the educational, governmental and commercial activities of downtown. Many expressed the concern that a balance needed to be found between these needs to reinforce the traditional while also encouraging compatible new growth. Along with the addition of new landmarks, the town fl C Section 2 - Assessment of Rosemount's Parks and Recreation Needs needs to preserve and reinforce other existing landmarks and environments, such as the grain elevators, the barn on 145th Street and Chippendale Avenue, the church steeples, the Geraghty building, sections of woods, lakes, and open farmland, throughout Rosemount and the township. Many people remarked that it was the sense of the openness of the land which drew them to Rosemount. If a sense of openness is to remain in the future, the town needs to further develop policies which maintain this "attractive" quality, before it is lost to haphazard speculative development. Residents and public officials, need to collaborate to develop a set of guidelines for the future development of downtown. We have discovered that the land uses downtown can be organized into four sub -zones, each containing unique elements but collectively offering a downtown with a diverse cross section of social and commercial activities. We suggest that each zone be directed by its own set of design guidelines thereby responding to the idiosyncratic needs of each set of land uses. The guidelines may address such issues as building material, color palette, height, density, appropriate land uses, development of particular public amenities, and approval processes. The zones are: Zone: L The Historic Center the commercial/governmental areas surrounding the intersection of 145th Street and Route 3. Zone: 2 The Service Area the general community service retail area south of the intersection of 145th Street and Route 3 extending to Route 42. Zone. 3 The Arra the retail commercial developing along Route 42, between Route 3 and Chippendale Avenue. Tone: 4. The Education and Recreation Center. Rosemount High School, primary schools, and adjacent recreational areas. To unify these diverse set of zones, we suggest that an amenable pedestrian environment be organized into a clear network linking these four zones together. A key design policy for downtown is that a person should have the option to be a pedestrian and is not required to drive to every location. This option is encouraged through the design of a clear and well maintained spatial system leading from the parking lot, to one's destination in a pleasant, informative and safe manner. The pedestrian network should include not only the downtown sidewalk network but the links to parking lots. Definition of a successful downtown is also related to the development and planning of subdivisions some distance from the center. Too many new subdivisions have been platted and constructed as if they were remote islands in the community landscape. Their road systems direct traffic away from he downtown area. Few have open space systems which connect to the recreational, educational and commercial activities in downtown Rosemount. The town needs to approve subdivision plans which provide for this incremental addition to their public systems as well as reorienting the neighborhoods to downtown and schools. The Kelly Property is an example of a strategically located development parcel which provides an excellent opportunity to connect outlying subdivisions to the High School and downtown. We also observed that Rosemount contains a powerful environmental resource, in its varied landscapes, especially the woodlands and farmland. The town should consider developing public drainageways, 1 2-5 City of Rosemount roadways and an open space system which works in a unified and collaborative effort to enhance the basic natural systems and to provide support and enrichment to urban development. It is an important resource that could ultimately make Rosemount a truly unique community. You all are facing a critical time in Rosemount's urban development. To date your community has grown at a moderate pace. Still there are large areas of open farmland, the historic downtown and it can still be said "Rosemount looks like Rosemount." But, this can change quickly. Demands for new development are increasing in both residential and commercial sectors. The question is whether the residents of Rosemount will direct and enhance this new development using it to build a coherent community or will the new development use the town? Community Survey In late 1988 and early 1989 a community survey was undertaken by Decisions Resources Ltd. to determine residents' attitudes about the community on quite a number of issues, including parks and recreation. It is not our intention to reiterate all of the findings that the survey generated about the community. Instead, it is our intention to look specifically at the issues that are likely to have a direct impact on the development of the park system. However, interested readers are encouraged to obtain a copy of the survey results (available at City Hall) to enhance their understanding of the community's attitudes on a wider variety of issues. Section 2 - Assessment of Rosemount's Parks and Recreation Needs Survey Summary. • about 25% of residents have arrived during the past two years (from the date of the survey). • 36% of residents have lived in the community for a least ten years. • most residents anticipate staying at least a decade, indicating a tendency for the community to be relatively stable. • the influx of residents to Rosemount come primarily from other Dakota County suburbs, areas across the remaining six metropolitan area counties, and out -state and outside Minnesota. • the number of small children in Rosemount is growing rapidly, causing several conditions to arise, including a greater contribution to the local school system and a growing demand for community services which service the needs of families with young children. • married 'couples with children are the typical household in the community, with an average adult age of 37 years. Seniors make up only 9% of the residents. • the number of up -scale white collar households is expected to grow. "Rosemount is that unique kind of community which provides small town living close to the amenities of a more highly and intensively developed cities. We have it both ways." residents were drawn to the city for many reasons, including rural and small town ambience, open space and housing, high quality schools, and nearby employment opportunities. 68% of saw Rosemount as a small town, while only 27% felt it was a suburb. • the residents strongly suggest that decision - makers must afford them the opportunity to interact in community -spirited ways, such as community -wide volunteer projects. • residents are willing to support tax increases for "demonstrable" community needs. • City services were generally highly regarded. Park maintenance received very high marks. • the Park and Recreation System is highly valued by most citizens. 83% rated it good to excellent. Usership, at 81%, was very highly rated for a suburb. • neighborhood (63% usage) and community (55% usage) parks were the most frequently used components of the park system. Proximity to the these facilities played a key role in there level of usage. Totlots had the lowest usage rating (27% usage). • the downtowp area is viewed by many as a unique and integral part of the community which should be protected and nurtured by future development. The aesthetics of "Downtown Rosemount" are particularly important to many residents. • 63% of the respondents would support the construction of a nature preserve (even if it meant a tax increase). • 77% of the respondents would support construction of a corridor trail system in the city (even if it meant a tax increase). • 80% of the respondents favored an aggressive effort by the City to attract new commercial and light industrial projects to the area. It should also be noted that a majority of the respondents were concerned about the population of the City raising to a point where the small town character and open space "feel" would be lost. However, a solid majority would accept rapid population City of Rosemount growth to attract industry and retail shopping opportunities. • the top two priorities for the future would be the preservation of open space and the attraction of head -of -household jobs to the city. • by a 3:1 margin, respondents felt that retail development priorities should focus on attracting more businesses to the downtown area. 54% favor specific design and aesthetic standards should be used in this area. • 73% of residents favor additional recreational facilities as an extension to the planned armory facility, even if it required a tax increase. • day care/latchkey facilities, a gymnasium, an exercise/fitness room, an indoor swimming pool, an indoor ice arena, and a community theater were indicated as facilities that are especially important to people and may be appropriate additions to the armory project. • the residents feel that there is a very strong need for a standardized and regular communication system between the City and the community. 71% favored publication of a quarterly newsletter. Planning Commission Community Goals Statements As part of the on-going community development process, the Planning Commission has drafted a series of community goal statements for adoption into the Comprehensive Guide Plan. These goals have their basis in a number of community interaction activities (i.e., such as the community survey, Town Meetings, the Citizen's Advisory Committee, the Urban Design Team, etc.) which have been undertaken in the last couple of years. 11 u 2-6 1 k, G 11 u 11, fl Section 2 - Assessment of Rosemount's Parks and Recreation Needs Although all of the goal statements are important in the sense that they reflect the community's "vision" of what they want to achieve in the future, the following statements have been selected because they are perceived to have the greatest impact on the park system. Community Goal Statements: • Preserve and foster the small town ambience of the community by striving to respect Rosemount's unique historical and physical assets and encouraging the continuation of strong interpersonal relationships among residents. • A balanced and diverse community that provides opportunities for living, working, shopping, playing, learning, and socializing. • Maintain the rural appearance and character of Rosemount. • Conserve unique natural/physical/historical resources including landscapes of scenic and ecological significance. • A generally compact urban form with orderly and sequential growth that is capable of being efficiently and economically served by public services. • Preservation and enhancement of the downtown's identity as a place of orientation, social interaction, cultural expression and commercial exchange. • Continuing redevelopment and growth of the Rosemount CBD core as the predominant center for retail, office, dining, entertainment, institutional and public uses. • Conserve and improve the social and physical integrity of existing neighborhoods from potentially adverse external influences. • High quality residential environments which are healthy, safe, economical, are well maintained and are convenient to work, shopping and schools. • The continuation of long-term agricultural use for as long as possible or until development pressures dictate a change in use. • Development of a park and open space system that serves the needs of all residents while providing opportunities for the conservation of natural resources. • An enhanced sense of community togetherness by creating, maintaining and preserving areas and facilities for both active and passive leisure time experiences. • A balanced and efficient transportation system which provides good local and regional accessibility and consists of public transit, streets and highways, bicycle paths and sidewalks. • An informed citizenry which fosters unity, encourages a sense of identity, allows input/feedback and encourages openness. Park System Planning Advisory Committee One of the Park System Planning Advisory Committee's primary responsibilities in this planning exercise is to help define the many issues which are pertinent to the future development of the park system. Early on in the planning process the Committee participated in a number of focus meetings for this purpose. The Committee's input during these meetings was valuable for a couple of reasons. First, it allowed for an opportunity to review and more clearly define 2-7 City of Rosemount the issues brought out by some of the other sources previously highlighted. Secondly, it provided for an opportunity to discuss and define relevant issues within a more singular parks and recreation context. In addition to the issues that have already been addressed in this section, the Park System Planning Advisory Committee brought out a number of key issues and concerns which will undoubtedly impact many aspects of this planning effort. Park System Advisory Committee Statements: • Provide (in as cost effective of a manner as possible) a comprehensive, balanced, well maintained system of parks, open spaces, trails, and recreation programs for all city residents to use and enjoy. • Provide a balance between passive and active recreational spaces. • Develop a positive working partnership with the local school districts, civic organizations, adjacent cities, churches, and volunteer groups. • Maintain small town "charm"/character and history. Provide adequate parks, open space, recreational facilities, and trail system to meet City needs. Proper planning decisions should be made to achieve these objectives. • Consideration should be given to the preservation of historical buildings/elements within the City. "The purpose of the park and recreation system should be to provide (in a cost effective manner as possible) a comprehensive, balanced well maintained system of parks, open spaces, trails, and recreation programs for all City residents to use and enjoy." Section 2 - Assessment of Rosemount's Parks and Recreation Needs Interaction Between The City Of Rosemount And Local School Districts, Civic Organizations (ke, Athletic And Youth Groups, Etc.), Adjacent Cities, And Churches: Clearly defined policies and joint -use agreements need to be developed and implemented to assure that a positive and equitable partnership is achieved between the City of Rosemount and the various parties. The level of use of city parks and recreation facilities by these parties needs to be clearly defined and used, in part, as a basis for determining actual parks and recreational facilities demands. Concerns related to joint funding, ; park maintenance responsibilities, community education programs, etc. should be addressed and acted upon as appropriate. Servicing the needs of city residents should have priority over servicing the needs of the other parties in the partnership. • Funding: Where are we going to get it? When are we going to need it? How much is it going to cost to develop the system? Etc.? • Park Land Dedication Policy. Parks and Recreation Committee's role in the process of establishing policy/guidelines for park land dedication and negotiations for purchase needs reviewing and updating as appropriate. Wetlands/Storm Water Holding Ponds/Water Quality: Policies and administrative procedures (jurisdiction) related to wetlands, storm water ponds, etc. and how they interact with the overall park system should be reviewed and updated as appropriate. Issues related to water quality should be addressed and acted upon. • Preservation of Significant Natural Resources: Significant natural resource areas (i.e., woodlots, marshes/wetlands, bluffs, etc.) should be identified, documented, and integrated into the park system plan as appropriate. • Linkage System (Trails): Current policies should be reviewed and updated as appropriate. Types of trails, intersection crossings, access points, etc. need to be reviewed. Park System Classifications/Standards: A classification system should be developed which defines the different types of parks and their purpose within the overall system. Standards should be established to define the type of facilities and development that are appropriate for each of the park classifications. Existing park sites should be evaluated as to their "fit" within the overall park system and their relationship/impact to adjacent neighborhoods. • Armory/Community Center Project: Review independent studies/committee findings related to the armory project with respect to community use and recreational possibilities. Incorporate findings, as appropriate, into the park system plan. Communication/Markefmg: Develop strategies for communicating with the City residents about the park system, programs, etc. (i.e., "get the word out"). The fact that the City Council is currently looking into expanding the current "Community Newsletter" illustrates the importance of open communication with the residents. • Signage: Development of a signage program which clearly defines the parks, trails, etc. Parks & Recreation Committee. Active, supportive group who work well with other agencies. Seek the opportunity to become more pro -active in the development of the park system, such as increased responsibility in park dedication issues, etc. Interested in the opportunity to be involved in the planning process. • City staff: Capable and professional staff oversee the Parks Department and administer park programs effectively, efficiently, and within their allotted budget. Interaction and cooperation 2-8 City of Rosemount between City departments greatly increases the overall effectiveness of the City staff and their ability to deal with community issues and staffing concerns. The staff maintains a very positive, upbeat attitude about the current park system and the prospects for future park development. The Parks Department has increasing opportunity to assist in City wide planning efforts. Community / City Council / Public Planning Bodies: Parks and recreation are strong and important priorities within the city. The City Council reflects this positive attitude. Although fiscal constraints make it difficult for the City to fund all of the potential park projects at any given time, the City residents still maintain a positive attitude about future development and show a willingness to seek creative solutions to funding limitations (such as using volunteers to perform park maintenance projects, etc). This attitude is reflected in their desire to plan for the future and their willingness and eagerness to voice their concerns. Interaction and cooperation between public planning bodies is also an important factor in assuring the success of the park system. Environmental Awareness/Movement: The city residents, as a whole, are concerned about the environment and the protection of natural resources. This attitude is reflected in their strong support for recycling programs within the City, of which the Parks Department itself is a participant. Existing Parks: The number and level of service that the existing parks offer to the city residents is a real strength of the current park system and provides a solid foundation in which to build upon. As an example, the Erickson Park softball fields are kept in very good shape even though they receive heavy use each summer. • Park Maintenance: In general terms, park maintenance is considered very good. ILI iJ 11 Section 2 - Assessment of Rosemount's Parks and Recreation Needs Maintenance staff work hard to make continued improvements to the park system and stay ahead of the day-to-day maintenance chores while staying within their budget allocations. The lack of entry level maintenance staff makes it sometimes difficult to maintain such things as sand in play areas, timber containers around play areas, etc. Relying more on volunteer efforts may be an opportunity to "stretch" the maintenance budget. Athletic Organizations/Youth Groups: Involved and ambitious athletic/youth groups (such as the Rosemount area Athletic Association, Hockey Association, Swimming Club, Community Education Group, and Boy/Girl Scouts) greatly enhance the communities enthusiasm for parks, recreation facilities, and programs. They also provide a sounding board for developmental issues. Assisting in the maintenance of the recreational facilities is also an opportunity for these groups to contribute to the continued enhancement of the park and recreation system. • Recreation Programs: Recreation programs and programming is considered one of the strengths of the park system. Volunteer Organizations: Given the residents' interest and concern about the betterment of the City, opportunities exist for expanding the role that volunteers and volunteer organizations can play in the overall maintenance and upkeep of the park system. An active garden club is currently working on a number of projects and is looking for other opportunities. This is a great opportunity to keep city residents more intimately involved in the park system and issues that affect it. Adopt -a -park and plant -a -tree programs can be very effective in enhancing the overall appeal of the park system. Nursery/Reforestation Program: The establishment of a nursery and reforestation program is a very positive and important operation which will be very beneficial to the park system, even though the fruits of this program will not be realized until sometime in the future. High Quality of Life: Maintaining (or enhancing) the high quality of life in Rosemount is a very important concern with respect to future City development. The parks, recreation, and open space system is considered an integral part in maintaining the high quality of life residents have come to expect. • Park System Planning Document: Not having a park system planning document makes it difficult to understand all the issues which affect the development of the park system and the responsibilities of the various governing agencies and staff. • Water Recreation: Limited water related recreation facilities (both indoor and outdoor) are available for city residents within this region. As such, there is a strong need for additional water recreation facilities within the City. Mississippi River Corridor. The river corridor offers an important park and recreational opportunity which is not being taken advantage A Active dialogue should be undertaken with the various public bodies (i.e., Dakota County, Metropolitan Council, Mississippi River Coordinating Committee) who have responsibilities related to the development of the river corridor. • Passu Use Facilities: Lack of passive use facilities (i.e., walking/hiking, picnic areas, seating areas, nature areas, etc.) exists. More attention needs to be paid to a wider range of age groups. • Lack of Recreational Facilities/Amenities: Lack of recreational facilities/amenities, such as hockey rinks, skating areas, sliding hills, warming houses, etc., is an important concern and needs to be evaluated. Lack of a horse trail "loop" was 2-9 City of Rosemount also cited as a recreational need. Utilities: Future park development should include provisions for providing utilities (i.e., water, electrical, sewer, etc.) to each park site. Utility provisions will allow for some important site amenities, such as drinking fountains and site lighting, to be provided as appropriate. Retrofitting existing park sites, where feasible, should also be considered. • Trail/Road Intersections: Trail crossings at intersections, across roadways, and between adjacent park sites are often dangerous and should be reviewed. Safety of crossings is a growing concern as the size of the city expands. Community Charm/Character/Ambiance: Maintaining the small town "charm" or ambiance; providing adequate parks, open space, recreational facilities, and trail system; and making proper planning decisions which achieve these objectives were cited by Committee members as their major concerns related to the community's future. How fast and how much the community grows was not as big a concern as making sure that future development is done in a planned and pragmatic manner, whereby the outcome of development and its effect on the city can be reasonably understood prior to it becoming reality. This attitude is as important when considering parks and recreation development as it is when considering overall city development. Public Meeting$: Meetings should be held to give city residents an opportunity to participate in the planning process. Special attention should be given to specific issues (such as the "Town Square" Park and Carrolls Woods Park) and specific groups/interests to encourage more participation. "Advertising" of meeting agendas, dates, etc. should also be undertaken. Section 2 - Assessment of Rosemount's Parks and Recreation Needs • Community Involvement/Interaction: Involvement of residents in the planning and development process on an on-going basis needs to be addressed. Communication with city residents needs to be more effective. Private Recreation Facilities: The impact that private recreation providers have on the park system should be addressed in order to understand the overall "picture" as to what type of recreational facilities (public and private) are available to City residents and avoidance of unnecessary duplication of facilities wherever possible. • Recreational Facilities: The potential need for indoor and outdoor facilities, such as a hockey arena, community center, community swimming pool, etc., should be addressed. • Summer Family Events: The need for more summer family events should be addressed. Finish Projects Underway. Concern was expressed in several questionnaire submittals in regard to the speed in which park construction projects currently underway are being completed. Concern was also expressed as to whether or not city crews should undertake some of the construction "chores" that are most often contracted out. • Central Park: The need for a central park/"gateway to Rosemount" was expressed in the questionnaire submittals. • Beautification: The need for an overall parks "beautification" program was also expressed in the questionnaire submittals. • Metropolitan Council/Dakota County. The impact that these public bodies (and their respective plans and policies) have on future development within Rosemount should be reviewed and acted upon as appropriate. • Nature Preserve/Native Prairies: The possibility of developing a nature preserve and native prairies needs to be considered. • Regional Park: Future development plans for Spring Lake Regional Park Reserve and Lebanon Hills Regional Park along with associated trail corridors need to be reviewed and considered. (Dakota County is the implementing agency) Historical Preservation: Preserving the historical past of Rosemount was cited as an important issue and should be considered. A farm museum, the renovation of the munitions "stacks", and identification of the old federal highway's location were cited as examples of historical preservation possibilities (amongst many others). • Park Security: Park security, vandalism, general park/trail safety needs to be considered. Specific approaches to enhancing park security need to be developed. University of Minnesota Property: The issues themselves (much less the answers) related to this property remain unclear and in need of further investigation. Cited concerns relate to what are the long term objectives of the University related to this project, water quality concerns, what are the City's long term opportunities related to the use of the property, etc. Although many of these issues are beyond the scope of this study, some will undoubtedly affect the planning of the future park system and as such need to be addressed. The concern related to the construction of an incinerator on this property and its impact to the park system, should it become a reality, should be specifically addressed. • Industry/Commercial/BusinessInteractionWith The Park System: The ways in which industry and commercial/business developments (existing and proposed) impact the park system should be addressed. Their respective roles in the 2-10 City of Rosemount development of the park system should also be addressed. Public Meeting A public meeting (which took place after the Advisory Committee had worked through various phases of the planning process) was held to provide community residents with an opportunity to participate first hand in the planning process and to solicit their opinions about the future of the park system within the community. Those in attendance were presented with an overview of the planning process to date, including: • a review of the assessment of Rosemount's park and recreation needs (draft). • a review of the governing policies (draft). • a review of the preliminary park system plan. • a review of the preliminary trail system plan. In general, the public meeting and subsequent debate went very well, with the general findings and planning results being acceptable and appropriate to those attending the meeting. The following represents a number of important issues that were made during the meeting and the general consensus reached by those in attendance: 1) Shannon Park should focus more on youth rather than adult athletics in the long-term. Additionally, lighting should be limited in as much as possible (i.e, no baseball or soccer field lights). Also, more passive park space is needed to off -set the highly developed nature of the park. rJ 11 n D Section 2 - Assessment of Rosemount's Parks and Recreation Needs 2) The University of Minnesota Research Facility property should be pursued as the location for a major athletic complex in the future instead of expanding existing facilities which are located in residential -developed areas, such as Shannon and Jaycee Park. 3) Long-term, Jaycee Park should have more of a neighborhood rather than a community focus. One of the more important points made in this regard was to eliminate any plans to light the ballfields. 4) The concept of the linear park/park trail corridor was considered an interesting concept by those in attendance. However, there was an expressed concern about their potential impacts (privacy, vandalism, etc.) to adjacent residential developments, particularly west of Hwy. 3. Due to these concerns, the consensus amongst those in attendance was to generally limit the linear park concept to the largely undeveloped areas east of Hwy,. 3. Additionally, the consensus was that all linear park/park trail corridors be designed and developed in conjunction with adjacent residential developments to assure that they function properly together. 5) The idea of constructing a "shoots and ladders" or community play structure/area was brought up and received considerable support. 6) Given their recreational potential, tying the nearby regional parks and trails into the Rosemount park and trail system was cited as being important and worthy of consideration. Summary Statements The preceding information from the various sources provides an important perspective about city resident's attitudes toward the community and their expectations about the quality of the park system and the quality of life within the community. Looking forward, the long term success of this planning effort will be based to a large extent on: • whether or not the city residents continue to believe that the a quality park system enhances the quality of life within the community. • a willingness by the Rosemount residents to invest in their city's future growth and vitality. • a committed and persistent effort by the various governing bodies, city staff, and, most importantly, the residents themselves to see the park system plan through the implementation phases. Given these "criteria for success," the importance of assessing the needs and attitudes of the City residents and then using that information as the impetus and driving force in developing the park system plan cannot be overstated. With this perspective in mind, the information gathered from the various sources will, in affect, be used as a "check list" of issues which will, in some form or fashion, have an impact on this planning exercise and the development of the park system plan. Although there is a temptation to summarize the findings of this section in a concise paragraph or two, it is prudent to refrain from this as to avoid leaving out seemingly minor, yet critical issues. Finally, it is important to recognize that a planning effort such as this is not static, but instead in a state of constant change and evolution. Our purpose with this study is to set the process in motion so that the demands of today, based on our educated perceptions of the community, will be appropriately addressed without forfeiting the opportunity to adjust to the demands of the future. Is essence, this planning effort is the beginning as opposed to an City of Rosemount end of a long and involved planning process. Section 3 - Governing Policies I Section 3 ' Governing Policies 1 0 Overview The city planning process begins with an assertive effort towards identifying the purpose of a community's existence. Initially, a community must attempt to answer some very difficult questions: • What is our image? • What should our image be? • How do we achieve what we want to be? Communities must develop a reason for being, in essence, a philosophy of existence. Goals and courses of action towards those goals must be established and undertaken. Section 2 - Assessment of Rosemount's Parks and Recreation Needs clarified and defined the pertinent issues confronting the development of the parks and recreation system. These issues now need to be transformed into a set of goals which reflect the desires of the city residents and provide the impetus for action. Once developed, success towards achieving stated goals will be based on: • A strong desire to believe in community purposes and goals. • A need to build a course of action and direction towards the accepted goals. • A responsibility to do what is needed to achieve stated goals (i.e, socially, politically, and economically). It is not the intention of this study to answer all the questions that arise when contemplating the planning of a city's future direction and growth. Our intention here is to focus specifically upon parks and recreation. However, a park system can not be developed in a 1 3-1 City of Rosemount vacuum. There needs to be concern for, and consideration of, other community developmental issues and goals. The park system must, to be acceptable and successful, be developed to coincide and keep pace with the overall development of the community. As such, there will be a certain degree of overlap between this planning effort and other planning efforts which have been or are being undertaken by the City. Given this overlap, it is both necessary and desirable to: • solicit input from other public bodies involved in the community planning process. • assess the findings and results of previous community goal setting exercises, surveys, needs assessments, and state/regional planning documents. Specifically, input from the following sources has played an important role in assisting the Park System Plan Advisory Committee in defining the governing policies for the Rosemount Park System. Section 3 - Governing Policies • Assessment of Rosemount's Park and Recreational Needs • Rosemount Community Survey (1989) • Rosemount Citizen's Advisory Committee's Goals Summary (1989) • Rosemount Planning Commission's Community Goals Statement (December 1990 Draft) • Metropolitan Council Recreation Open Space Development Guide/Policy Plan (Draft - November 1, 1990). • Minnesota Statewide Comprehensive Outdoor Recreation Plan for 1990-1994. • Rosemount Urban Design Study - University of Minnesota Urban Design Team (February, 1989) Additionally, the governing policies were submitted for review and comment to the Planning Commission and City staff (in various City Departments), with final adoption by the City Council. Through this interactive approach, it becomes reasonable to expect that the results of this planning exercise are in concert with the overall goals of the community. Governing Policies As alluded to earlier, the govemeing policies are intended to provide a consistent, definable, and justifiable continuum of ideas, beliefs, and values which define the vision or concept of the Rosemount Park System. The governing policies consist of and are defined by a mission statement, goals, objectives, and policy statements. The flow chart shown below illustrates the hierarchical relationship between these components. MISSION STATEMENT I I GOALS GOALS I OBJECTIVES OBJECTIVES I I I I POLICY POLICY POLICY POLICY It is important to recognize that the forth -coming governing polices are only part of a larger, more comprehensive set of governing policies as defined within Rosemount's Comprehensive Plan. It is the intention of this document to be in concert with and, as appropriate, subsidiary to the policies as set forth in the Comprehensive Plan. The objective here is to recognize and include the governing policies which have relevance to the park system plan and will impact its future development. It is also important to keep in mind that implementing the governing policies is a process that will not happen over night. A consistent, on- going implementation effort timed to coincide with other community development initiatives is the only practical way to accomplish the challenges and tasks at hand. 3-2 City of Rosemount Mission Statement The purpose of the mission statement is to briefly describe the duty or function of the Rosemount Park System. By definition, it is the focal point of the Park System by which all the goals, objectives, and policy statements are derived. The following mission statement was developed in consideration of the information obtained from the previously mentioned sources and focus meeting discussions with the Park System Plan Advisory Committee. Mission Statement: "The purpose of the Rosemount Park System is to provide, in as cost effective manner as possible, a compnehensn,4 balance[ *vU maintained system of paw natundlopen spaces, bails and leisure oniented activities/prog amts for the city rendents to use and enjoy." Goals, Objectives, and Policy Statements , A goal is best described as the manner in which the mission of the Rosemount Park System will be achieved or carried out. Once specific goals are determined, a set of objectives (one or more) for each goal is established. A set of objectives qualifies or more clearly defines specific goals. Section 3 - Governing Policies Upon establishing the objectives, specific policy statements are developed. These statements define the appropriate action and political position that must be taken in order to achieve specific objectives. The following defines the goals, objectives, and policy statements which establish the governing policies for the Rosemount Park System. Comprehensive Park Plan and Development Guide Goah Preparation and implementation of a Comprehensive Park Plan and Development Guide. • Systematic review of the existing park system, recreational needs of the community, park system classifications and standards, and acquisition/ development guidelines to assure that the proper level and balance of parks is maintained. • Implementation of the Comprehensive Park Plan and Development Guide for the purpose of guiding parks and recreational facility development in the forthcoming years. Develop a means for on-going/systematic evaluation of the various park system components, thus allowing for actual and perceived changes in the community's development and recreational needs to be reflected in the park system and implementation plan. • Enhancement of the community's and public bodies' understanding of the Park System and development objectives. • Development of a "handbook" by which incoming park committee members (and other public bodies) can readily understand the purpose and direction of the park system. Policy Statements: The Comprehensive Park Plan and Development Guide shall be used for the purpose of guiding future park development within Rosemount. As such, all aspects of future park development shall be undertaken in a manner which is consistent with and based on the park system framework, development criteria, and general principles as defined in the Comprehensive Park Plan and Development Guide and consistent with the intent of the mission of the Rosemount Park System. Periodic (yearly or as deemed appropriate) review of the Comprehensive Park Plan and Development Guide by the Parks & Recreation Committee and City staff shall be undertaken. The principle objective of the periodic reviews shall be to determine if adjustments are necessary or appropriate based on perceived changes in community needs/conditions or unique special/unforeseen conditions associated with specific park sites which may arise. Major review and updating of the Comprehensive Park Plan and Development Guide shall be undertaken at intervals not exceeding ten years or when conditions within the Community have changed to a degree whereby the Parks & Recreation Committee, City Council, and City Staff determine updating is warranted. • The Comprehensive Park Plan and Development Guide shall be officially adopted by the City Council. The Guide shall be represented through reference in the Comprehensive Guide Plan for Rosemount. 3-3 City of Rosemount • Residents shall be given the opportunity to participate in the planning process (i.e., through needs assessment studies, neighborhood meetings, etc.) to assure that their needs are understood and acted upon. Copies of the "Executive Summary" for the Comprehensive Park Plan and Development Guide shall be made available to community residents upon request. Copies of the complete Guide shall be available for review and/or purchase (at cost) by interested residents upon request. Parks/Open Space Acquisition/Development and Preservation of Significant Natural Resources R?$"- A Provide city residents with parks and open space for recreational uses and as a visual/physical diversion from the hard surfacing of urban development as well as providing for the preservation and conservation of limited natural resources and maintaining the "character", small town ambience, rural appearance, and historical elements of the community. • Enhancement of the "quality of life" for city residents by acquiring and developing adequate parks and open spaces to fulfill their present and future physical and psychological needs and desires. • Utilization of the parks and open space areas, as well as interconnecting trail corridors, as a significant factor in shaping the manner in which Rosemount develops and grows in the future. Section 3 - Governing Policies • Preservation of significant natural resources, lake and river shoreline, drainageways, pond areas, and wetlands as open space and important components of the overall park system. Preserve the "water quality" of the natural water systems. • Maintenance and enhancement of the "character" or "charm" of the community. • Encourage a compact urban form which emphasizes an orderly and sequential growth pattern that is capable of being efficiently and economically served by public services and allows for open space to remain for as long as possible. Policy Statements Park Land Dedication Policies shall be adopted by the City which require each developer (of all land use categories) to dedicate land or, at the discretion of the City, an equivalent cash value contribution for parks and recreational use (including trail corridors) in accordance with the guidelines as set forth in the Comprehensive Park Plan and Development Guide. Dedication of lands for trail easements shall be done with no loss of density to the owner/developer. Parks, natural/open spaces, and City recreational areas/facilities shall be acquired (through park dedication and direct purchase) and developed by Rosemount in accordance with the Comprehensive Park Plan and Development Guide for the purpose of shaping future community development and establishing an image of balance between "urbanization and nature". Acquisition (through park dedication and direct purchase) of specific parcels of land (in both developed and undeveloped/rural areas) for park uses shall be based on the natural resource qualities of the land and its suitability for the desired outdoor recreation activities (in accordance with the Comprehensive Park Plan and Development Guide). "Left over" or undesirable land parcels with limited natural resource qualities shall be considered unacceptable. Scenic and trail easements shall be established and/or acquired (through park dedication and direct purchase) along existing lakes, rivers, drainageways, ponds, and wetlands and to provide access to park sites in accordance with the Comprehensive Park Plan and Development Guide. • The trail system shall be developed in a manner which minimizes conflicts between pedestrians and motor vehicles. Trail types, development standards, and location shall be in accordance with the Comprehensive Park Plan and Development Guide. The trail system shall accommodate a range of activities, including walking, hiking, bike riding, cross country skiing, snowmobiling, and horseback riding. Park System Development Standards as defined in the Comprehensive Park Plan and Development Guide and based on the principle of providing and maintaining quality public park areas and facilities shall be used as the basis for developing future parks, natural/open spaces, and recreational facilities. • Policies for wetlands and shoreland management which are consistent with accepted statewide standards (i.e., Minnesota Department of Natural Resources) and the Rosemount Comprehensive Plan shall be adopted and implemented. A reasonable and on-going effort shall be made to eliminate all physical barriers which deter special populations (handicapped, elderly, etc.) from using existing parks and recreational facilities. Future park development projects shall take into consideration and make a reasonable effort to provide for the needs of special 3-4 City of Rosemount populations. Barrier -free design principles shall be utilized wherever practical. Maintenance procedures which are consistent with generally accepted practices shall be clearly defined, documented, and adopted by the Parks & Recreation Department and carried out by the appropriate City staff. Maintenance of all parks and recreational facilities shall be undertaken in a manner which emphasizes high quality and safety and be accomplished as cost effectively as possible. • Screening, landscaping, and tree replacement policies and ordinances shall be adopted by the City which require all developers/developments to include landscaping as part of their development plans. A planting program using appropriate plant materials shall be developed and implemented (in phases to coincide with available funding) in all parks and natural/open space areas where trees and vegetation are lacking. A nursery and a reforestation program shall also be established for the purposes of enhancing the overall appeal and definition of the park system. A streetscape/landscaping program shall be developed and implemented (in phases to coincide with available funding) beginning in areas of general community use. Paving, sidewalks, lighting, waste receptacles, signage and planting areas shall be included within the scope of this program. • The local school districts and churches shall be encouraged to participate in the planting program in a manner which is consistent with the City program. • Water quality policies and ordinances shall be developed to protect the quality of surface and ground water. A clearly defined water quality management plan shall be developed and implemented by the City. Section 3 - Governing Policies ' Property owners shall be encouraged to preserve the natural character of their respective properties. Information which helps owners ' determine what they can do to enhance their property (such as planting tips/guidelines, etc.) shall be made available through the Parks & Recreation Department. • Environmental programs, such as the City recycling program, shall be promoted. Programs ' geared toward protecting limited natural resources, such as environmentally sound maintenance procedures, shall also be promoted. ' A detailed study to define the significant natural resource areas throughout the City shall be conducted. • The type/location of local industries and commercial developments shall be defined and documented for the purpose of developing a better understanding of the impact they have on the development of the park system, such as pollution, aesthetics, etc. ' The Parks & Recreation Committee and Parks & Recreation Department shall review and comment on all planned development matters impacting the future of City parks, natural/open ' spaces and the dedication, acquisition, and development of park land. I Community Participation/Interaction Goal• To establish an effective, ongoing means of communicating/interacting with residents about issues related to parks and recreation facilities, programs, and future development. And to provide residents with the opportunity to participate in recreational activities through various civic and volunteer organizations and programs. Objectives: Promote active and continuous interaction between the Parks & Recreation Committee/ City staff and neighborhood citizens, special interest groups, and individuals to achieve effective recreational programming and facility development. Promote active community involvement through needs assessment surveys, neighborhood meetings, etc. • Promote on-going communications between the City and the residents (i.e., community newspaper/activities brochure). • Promote ongoing volunteer programs and civic and athletic/youth organizations to encourage residents and community organizations to assist in park improvements, maintenance (e.g., "Adopt -A -Park") and recreation programs. Policy. • Copies of the Comprehensive Park Plan and Development Guide shall be made available to city residents (on a sign -out basis) for review to enhance their knowledge of the park system and development priorities. • On-going information and education processes shall be developed to enhance participants/ residents knowledge of the existing programs and facilities (e.g., community newspaper/ activities brochure). Community participation and interaction shall be held as the principal method to effectively interpret the needs and desires of the community. Regularly scheduled public meetings shall be undertaken by the Parks & Recreation Committee at appropriate intervals in which city residents are brought "up-to-date" on pertinent issues and development projects. The annual Town Meeting should be used as an opportunity to discuss relevant park and recreation related issues. 3-5 City of Rosemount • The formation of athletic/youth/civic groups shall be promoted to assist in the continued development of recreation programs and facilities. • Participation sessions/meetings between city residents/special interest groups and the Parks & Recreation Committee shall be undertaken when appropriate for the purpose of discussing specific park development projects and issues. • Residents and the Parks & Recreation Committee shall work together to define what park facilities and programs are desired, what can be provided, and what they (residents) can do to assist (e.g.: "Adopt -A -Park"). • Participation sessions/meetings between athletic/youth/civic groups and the Parks & Recreation Committee shall be undertaken when appropriate to define their seasonal recreational/community program needs. • Volunteerism shall be promoted through the development of various volunteer programs (e.g., Garden Club, etc.) Interaction (Partnership) between the Local School Districts, Adjacent Cities, Dakota County, Churches, Civic Organizations, and the City of Rosemount (Facilities and Programs) Goal• Maximize the recreational opportunities available to city residents through the development of a fair and equitable working partnership between the local school districts, adjacent cities, Dakota County, churches, civic organizations, and the City of Rosemount. Section 3 - Governing Policies Objectives: • Fair and equitable integration of the City of Rosemount's Park System facilities with those of the other members of the partnership. • Fair and equitable integration of the City of Rosemount's Park System programs with those of the other members of the partnership. Policy: • An interactive dialogue and cooperative effort shall be undertaken between all members of the partnership for the purpose of encouraging the optimal usage of limited resources and minimize duplication of park sites/facilities. • The Parks & Recreation Committee and Parks & Recreation Department shall be the implementing bodies and responsible for initiating interaction and administering agreements between all members of the partnership. • All agreements, although intended to be fair and equitable for all members of the partnership, shall be made in the best interest of the City of Rosemount and approved by the City Council. • Clearly defined joint -use agreements and policies shall be formally adopted between all members. A consistent and equitable policy related to shared programs and facilities shall be created. • Where feasible, cost effective, and appropriate, new facilities (developed by any member of the partnership) shall be planned to take into consideration the possibility of including recreational facilities which can serve other members of the partnership in an effective and efficient manner. • Where feasible, cost effective, and appropriate, new facilities (developed by any member of the partnership) shall be located on property which is adjacent to property owned by other members of the partnership and can be tied together through shared facility use and programming. • School staff shall be encouraged to serve as part of the community program system by informing students of activities, schedules and assisting in program leadership. The City, in return, shall provide the local school districts with the information necessary to accomplish this task. • On-going information sharing, communication, and interaction between all members belonging to the partnership shall be undertaken to promote the integration of each member's system and programs. The City shall appoint a staff person to be responsible for coordinating facility use and program development. Each member of the partnership shall be encouraged to do the same. Parks & Recreation Department Staff Requirements WIT -1A Maintain a well-trained, highly motivated staff to carry out the City of Rosemount's mission of developing a quality park system and providing a variety of recreational opportunities for City residents. Objectives: • Maintain adequate staffing to manage and direct the park system and programs in a professional, effective, and efficient manner. • Maintain adequate staffing to maintain the park system to provide quality parks and recreational facilities for use by the City residents. 3-6 City of Rosemount Policy: • Budget/funding allocations shall be at the appropriate levels to provide adequate manpower to maintain the integrity and quality of the park system within Rosemount. • Staffing shall be held at a level that is adequate to service current management and recreational programming needs and maintenance requirements in a professional, effective and efficient manner. • Personnel shall be planned for, hired and trained prior to the date of actual need to assure that a consistent level of service is maintained as additional park lands are acquired, park facilities developed, and programs expanded. • The Parks & Recreation Committee and Parks & Recreation Department shall be responsible for determining the staffing levels necessary to effectively and efficiently service the management and recreational programming needs and maintenance requirements of the park system. Personnel shall be trained to handle specific staffing needs to provide for viable, efficient and effective operation of the Parks & Recreation Department. Personnel needs and objectives shall be written outlining overall staff needs and specific job requirements. • On-going educational programs shall be established and maintained to provide continuing educational opportunities for staff. These programs shall be geared to meet the changing demands that will be placed on the staff as the park system continues to develop. I 0 Section 3 - Governing Policies Recreational Programs Goak Provide the opportunity for all community residents to participate in recreational activities through the implementation of well-designed, effective and interesting recreational programs. •ITei • Provide recreational programs which adequately address the recreational desires of all segments of the community including children, teens, adults, elderly, and the handicapped. Support and encourage a wide diversity of recreational interests and needs within the community. • Programming administration shall be performed on a fair and equitable basis to assure all individuals and groups receive adequate representation. Policy. • Principles and standards shall be established that apply uniformly to all programs, sites, and facilities. The set of principles and standards shall: a) Identify the program objectives and facility needs for speck activities. b) Provide for all levels of ability. c) Develop programs which effectively meet program objectives. d) Assure that adequate funding, staff, and facilities are available to carry -out specific programs. e) Undertake a seasonal review of the effectiveness of specific programs and activities. (Programs which are not effective should be eliminated.) • Leadership and "Code of Conduct" guidelines relating to each activity group/program shall be developed for the purpose of defining acceptable and appropriate actions/behavior of individuals responsible for overseeing specific programs and activities. • People activities, not functional processes, shall be developed (i.e., the program should be developed to fit the needs of the people verses the people fitting into a predetermined program). An on-going communication/information system shall be established between all groups for the purpose of broadening recreational interests. A variety of communication formats shall be used to inform the public of the programs, functions, facilities and operations of the Parks & Recreation Department. • A cross -functional and cross -program team shall be established to review and define program strengths and weaknesses. • Income from fees and charges shall be used to support the continuance and development of recreation programs. Programs shall strive to be cost effective and self supporting (where possible). Funding �G Secure the funding necessary to carry out the mission of the Rosemount Park System. 3-7 City of Rosemount Objectives: • Define the funding options that are available for park land acquisition and development. • Prepare a park land acquisition and development implementation plan which depicts the relative timing and extent of future park land acquisition and development. Policies: • Funding for all components of the park system shall be pursued and secured on an on-going basis and in a timeframe which is consistent with other community developments. • A complete review and analysis of financing mechanisms available to the City for park land acquisition and development shall be undertaken and updated on an annual basis. • A review of the park dedication formula and program fees (resident and non-resident) shall be undertaken on an annual basis. • A priority ranking system and an implementation plan shall be prepared which prioritizes future park land acquisition and development in a manner in which future costs can be reasonably projected. • Shared -cost and joint -use agreements between the City and members of the partnership shall be reviewed on an annual basis to determine if they are equitable and cost effective. Section 3 - Governing Policies System Identification Goak Identification of all park system elements and activity areas to assure that the park system functions as a total, complete, and clearly identifiable system. 5 � �T Identification of all park areas and other recreation related facilities in a consistent, functional, and creative manner which visually strengthens the concept of a total park system and thus creates a desirable park system identity. Policies: The Parks & Recreation Department shall adopt a park system signage program for use in all parks, facilities, and along all trails. Common sizes and consistent materials shall be used for ease of inventory and maintenance. Designs should be unique in character in order to establish a singular park system identity. A park system logo shall be developed which projects a consistent and definable image of Rosemount's park system. • Park boundary identification standards shall be adopted to include the use of structures (fences, etc.), land forms (slopes, mounds, etc.), plant materials (trees, shrubs, ground cover, etc.) which will visually identify the boundaries of park and open space sites. Records Management and Documentation Goal- Preservation of historical data, records, and files pertaining to the park system development and programs within Rosemount. Objectives: • Maintain records of histories, acquisitions, improvements, investments and past uses for each park site and other lands within the system. • Clear documentation of the successes and failures of past parks and recreation related undertakings, including physical developments and program issues. Policy: An inventory file system shall be developed and implemented for all park system components to include costs and dates of acquisition, improvements, facilities, annual maintenance, etc. Detailed information on park/open space lands shall be accurately filed and immediately available for reference or public information. • Histories of staffing levels, park maintenance procedures, regulations, etc. related to parks and recreation in Rosemount shall be compiled and categorized by subject for future reference. Records of all program activities and special recreational/community events shall be accurately maintained. Participation rates, results, etc. of activities and events shall be included in these records and shall be continually updated and periodically published (as appropriate) for citizen review. 6W City of Rosemount 7 �1 n D l� `I 7 L a I-1 �J 7L r it t Section 4 - Park System Framework Section 4 Park System Framework Overview A park system framework is best described as the 'Parameters and guidelines for establishing a park and recreation system" within a given community. As previously stated, the term "park and recreation system" is intended to be viewed in a broader context which includes not only parks and open spaces, but urban spaces, trails, greenways, streetscapes, schools, wetlands, water bodies, nature areas, historical preservation, etc. as well. The forthcoming framework is based on established park planning methodology, national park planning guidelines/standards and previous park system studies. The framework consists of a number of essential components, including: • City Infrastructure: Defines the structural (physical) and developmental characteristics of the City which have a direct impact on the development of the park system. • Natural Resource Areas: Defines areas of the City which exhibit significant natural resources. • Historical, Cultural, Social, and Commercial Areas: Defines areas of the City which exhibit: a) important historical and cultural features, and b) important social and commercial activity centers. • Park System Classifications: Depicts the park "types" and functional classifications to be utilized within the community's park system. • Park System Facilities Development Standards: Defines the type and number of recreational facilities necessary to accommodate a 1 4-1 City of Rosemount community's needs. • Trail System Classifications: Depicts the trail "types" and classifications to be utilized within the community's park system. • Population Information and Park System Acreage Standards: Defines the standard for the number of acres of park land per population base. • Park System Elements: Describes the physical characteristics of each park site and the park system as a whole. • Park System Facilities Design Standards: Establishes recommended design standards and quality guidelines for specific facilities. • Park System Facilities Use and Maintenance Standards/Policies set the basic parameters for the use and maintenance of existing and future park facilities. Section 4 - Park System Framework The following text describes the components of the Park System Framework in greater detail. Community Infrastructure The process of establishing a park system framework in Rosemount begins by developing an understanding of the infrastructure of the community. The infrastructure is based on a set of structural elements which, in one way or another, have a direct impact on the development of the park system. The key structural elements include: Municipal Boundary. Establishes the outside limits of the City and the park system. Thoroughfare Plan: Existing and proposed thoroughfares play a significant role in the development of the park system by providing necessary access (vehicular) as well as physical barriers (pedestrian) to park sites. Metropolitan Urban Services Area (MUSA Line): Dictates, through the Metro Council, the approved limits of the urban services (such as water, sanitary sewer, etc.) within a given community. The MUSA line, by design, will greatly influence the location and density of residential development. However, it is important to note that the actual location of the MUSA line will likely change over time as demand and policy dictates. • Existing and Guided Land Uses: Existing land uses (i.e., residential, commercial, industrial, etc.) give the City a certain developmental structure which will naturally have a major influence on the development of the park system. Likewise, the City's Land Use Guide Plan, which defines the type of development guided (i.e., proposed) for all areas of the city, will also have a major influence on the development of the park system. An important note about guided land uses is that, for long-term park planning purposes, the area just west of Akron Avenue is being identified (on Figure 4.1) as either rural or urban residential rather than agricultural as shown on the current land use guide plan map. Our intent in this instance is to establish the long-term park planning objectives and "vision" rather than dictate future land use decisions. With this in mind, it is important that the park system plan in this area evolve in the forthcoming years to coincide with the type of residential development that actually emerges in the future. For additional information related to guided land uses, refer to the City's Comprehensive Plan. • Other Important Structural Elements: The location of heavy industries, refineries, etc. may have an impact on the development of a park system and therefore must be considered during the planning process. Figure 4.1- City Infrastructure Map illustrates these structural elements in a manner which shows their impact upon the development of the park system. Rosemount's Comprehensive Plan addresses each of these issues in more detail and should be referred to for more in-depth information. Natural Resource Areas As stated in Section 2 - Assessment of Rosemount's Parks and Recreational Needs, the preservation of natural resources is important to City residents. 4-2 City of Rosemount In this light, the intention of this plan is two -fold: to preserve a portion of the City's remaining natural resource base to assure that a balance is maintained between natural and built environments. • to provide additional recreational opportunities for City residents to use and enjoy. Significant natural resources would include natural areas such as woodlots, lakes, wetlands, the river corridor, open spaces, etc. which exhibit natural qualities worthy of preservation. Natural and man-made storm water holding ponds and detention basins which exhibit park opportunities are also classified under natural resources. Woodlots and Open Spaces The, City of Rosemount is blessed with a variety of landforms and plant communities which influence the overall character of the community. Figure 4.1- City Infrastructure Map illustrates the areas of significant woodlots and open space which have the potential to offer considerable preservation and parks and recreational opportunities. To the degree that is practically feasible, portions of these areas will be integrated into the park system plan. Protected Waters and Wetlands The importance of preserving water resources and wetlands is one of the major environmental issues facing our society as we approach the end of this century. Only in recent years has the true value that these resources play in maintaining a balance in our natural environmental systems become clearly understood. The findings in Section 2 -Assessment 1 fl 1 LJ 1 Section 4 - Park System Framework of Rosemount's Parks and Recreation Needs reinforces this point of view. Specifically, water resources and wetlands provide: • flood and storm water control and storage. • nutrient and pollutant entrapment (see also Water Quality). • water purification and groundwater recharge (note: groundwater is used by 70% of Minnesotans as a source of drinking water). • natural open space in an ever expanding urban environment. • essential habitat for a variety of fish, wildlife, and native plant species. • recreational and nature observation opportunities. The current City of Rosemount Comprehensive Plan and Zoning Ordinance (Ordinance B, Section 9 - Special Overlay Regulations) addresses protected waters and wetlands rather extensively and should be referred to for additional information. Our intention within this study is to support rather than duplicate other efforts by integrating protected waters and wetland areas into the park system in a manner that is practically feasible and in which the resource is protected. The DNR, along with Dakota County, have inventoried, listed, and mapped most of the protected waters and wetlands within the Dakota County. The water resources within Rosemount that are included in this inventory, and thus subject to regulation, are illustrated in Figure 4.1 - City Infrastructure Map Mississippi River Corridor The Mississippi River Corridor offers an exceptional parks and recreational opportunity for the City of Rosemount. Fortunately, the value of this resource has been previously recognized and, in many respects, already protected through a couple of actions. First, the Mississippi River Critical Area Plan (MRCAP) was established for regulating the land and water uses within a designated area. The MRCAP has been incorporated as part of the City's Comprehensive Planning Document and Zoning Ordinances. Again, to prevent duplication of effort, these respective documents should be referred to for additional information. Secondly, Spring Lake Regional Park has been established within the Mississippi River Critical River Area for the purpose of providing regional public open space. It is the intention of this planning document to take advantage of these previous planning efforts by incorporating them, as appropriate, into the parks and recreation system. Figure 4.1 - City Infrastructure Map illustrates the Spring Lake Regional Park Reserves location. Historical, Cultural, Social, and Commercial Center of the Community The historical, cultural, social, and commercial center of the community is important in that it helps define many aspects of the City's overall image. 4-3 City of Rosemount Generally speaking, it is the area in which community residents come together and interact with each other. It is also the area of the community in which one gains a "sense of place" and an understanding of the community's overall character and personality. In this instance, we are not looking to define these areas from a land use perspective. That task is beyond the scope of this project and is being addressed in other planning efforts. Instead, the purpose here is to determine how this area can be preserved or visually enhanced to create a unified and consistent community character and appearance. Figure 4.1 - City Infrastructure Map defines this area of the community. Park System Classifications The nationally recognized park system classifications will serve the purpose of providing a 'benchmark" for establishing the park system classifications for Rosemount. Since the recreational needs of Rosemount are unique, these classifications will require a certain degree of modification and expansion to allow them to function effectively within the specific circumstances that are present in Rosemount. Taken together as a whole, the various park types in this classification system create a hierarchy of parks and ultimately a total park system. It is important to recognize that the framework, even as modified and expanded, is still intended to remain somewhat flexible. It should be considered as a guideline which can be adapted to accommodate the specific circumstances of individual park sites, given each site's unique Section 4 - Park System Framework City of Rosemount Figure, 4,1 , art 1 of 2 . Infrastructure (P ) City Map ai�� ■ ■ ■� ■. ■�■. ■ ■ ItJJIJJJJJIJJJ�I ■ ■ ■. ■ ■ �■ ■ ■ Jtttttt� ■ ■ aw w�..0 r.� r■ ■.rte. wiI..... ■ �Qr dmw oo • • � •s •.�W SEEM r ■■•11■, iiwo Ar 410MAN01% ^ ■� Rural.. ural 10 i _. ReSldedttal ■ rea m Rural Residential'Area ' N (Projected - See Land zUse Note 16 Text) 4.do,4 � � '�■ •� >° �,� S - , , 0.t I 40 I tjs n s, t Z F ` ?7 T'. Residential 1 u Urban Residential Area''., (Projected - See Land Use Note In Text) ■ v Area r a Anticipated Extent Of All Future Residentigl Development m ■ Urban A' xr4. tlt St..EY. ».«..»..»..• ". '+'. County R°aa #42. i i 0•0006••••..•■ a eggs «. .�, � •.••.••••..•.•••. sass. ,I Sr �1vE Is9ldentAal B = . \ SS s ;R l r` i Dakota Cougty Technical College o3 r Historical, Cultural, Social, and 'Sao•>• Commercial Center of Community: r Area • Downtown Business District —University Of Minnesgj� City Hall Agricultural Research Property Major Communq Barks - Erickson + Park Erickson Commuirity Squarer:, y, § r.. t y ` xY "- _"' • ScwhanPond.Park,CarrollsWoods ' t National Guacd Armory, " Rosemount School Distrt�t Facilities i Historical St Joseph's Church a St. Josephs Clme eul 4 o I �•)•I�sr .. "masses assess e N•1e• Na• Na• • sass ••�1k 4-4 ISection 4 - Park System Framework City of Rosemount IFigure 4.1 Part 2 of 2). City Infrastructure Map I ■■tom ■ ■ - -. (See Park System-Plan;For Additional 140th Street �`£s , Principle Arterial �._..F..._....�wr _ ,.,. ......... , Collector Guided Land Uses and MUSA7NOW__.... I « Refer to the City's Comprehensive Plan for i _.. additional information related to guided land -uses. r • • '-'7 r ` Development Areas General ■1� Refer to the City's Comprehensive Plan for Boundaries additional information related to the location I .•. the Metropolitan Urban Services Area (MUSA) FOR � ■ - -. (See Park System-Plan;For Additional 140th Street �`£s , Principle Arterial �._..F..._....�wr _ ,.,. ......... , Collector Guided Land Uses and MUSA7NOW__.... I « Refer to the City's Comprehensive Plan for Significant Woodlots _.. additional information related to guided land -uses. r • • '-'7 r ` Development Areas General ■1� Refer to the City's Comprehensive Plan for County Road #42 ■ Spring Lake Regional Park Reserve ■ - -. (See Park System-Plan;For Additional ■ Information) Principle Arterial �._..F..._....�wr _ ,.,. ......... , Collector Guided Land Uses and MUSA7NOW__.... I « Refer to the City's Comprehensive Plan for Significant Woodlots _.. additional information related to guided land -uses. r • • '-'7 r ` Development Areas General ■1� Refer to the City's Comprehensive Plan for Boundaries additional information related to the location I .•. the Metropolitan Urban Services Area (MUSA) I 1 4-5 Nurt6 0 1/41/2 3/4 1 Scale IIn Miles) LEGEND: =//t♦ Municipal Boundary Principle Arterial Minor Arterial Collector Protected Waters and Wetlands Significant Woodlots u Open Space (Non -wooded) r ` Development Areas General Boundaries Nurt6 0 1/41/2 3/4 1 Scale IIn Miles) Section 4 - Park System Framework geographical, topographical, and environmental characteristics, as well as the recreational needs of the particular area it serves. The following defines the park system classifications which are appropriate and applicable to the City of Rosemount. Mini -Park Use: Specialized facilities that serve a concentrated/ limited population or specific group such as tots or senior citizens. Mini -parks can also be used in areas where distances or geographical barriers prevent the use of a neighborhood park. Although typically focused on active recreational activities, passive activities, such as picnic and seating areas, should also be considered. A mini -park can be either publicly or privately owned and maintained. Joint ventures are also a possibility with respect to mini -parks (if so, appropriate agreements should be signed to assure that the park site functions as intended). Service area: Less than ; mile radius. Desirable size: 2,500 square feet to 2 acres. Acres/1000 population: 0.25 to 0.5. Desirable site characteristics. Within neighborhoods and in close proximity to apartment complexes, townhomes, or housing for the elderly. Ease and safety of access is an important design consideration. Typically located in high density housing areas or areas which do not have easy access to neighborhood parks. Typical Facilities: See Figure 42. Park System Facility Standards. Aovlication to Rosemount: In general, the concept of a mini -park should be limited to circumstances whereby a recreational need cannot be effectively met by a neighborhood park. The circumstances which would dictate the need for a mini -park should be largely avoidable in the future through proper land use planning and park land acquisition. Isolated instances such as areas with high density housing or developed areas not effectively served by neighborhood parks may be justification for a mini - park site. Neighborhood Park Use: Neighborhood parks are the basic unit of the park system and often function as the social focus of the neighborhood. Typically, they are developed for both active and passive recreational activities geared specifically for neighborhood use. Although historically developed for those between the ages of 5 and 17, recent trends in recreation clearly illustrate the need to accommodate a much wider variety of age and user groups, particularly adults, the elderly, and special populations. Additionally, consideration must also be given to the specific recreational needs of the particular neighborhood in which a park is being developed. Active recreational activities, such as field games, court games, crafts, playground apparatus, skating, etc. should be developed for use by a wide variety of user groups. Site lighting should be very limited (i.e., tennis courts, hockey/skating rinks, and perhaps walkways). Given the trend toward passive recreational activities, attention must also be given to facilities such as internal trails, picnic/sitting areas, general open space, and "people watching" areas. An appealing park atmosphere and aesthetic quality should also be considered an important design element. Service Area: ; to k mile radius and uninterrupted by principle, heavily used roads and other physical 4-6 City of Rosemount I constants/barriers. Desirable Size: A minimum of 5 acres with an optimal size of between 14 to 17 acres, of which 50 to 70% are developed. Acres/1000 Population: 2.5 to 3.5 developed acres. Desirable Site Characteristics: An area suited for active and passive recreational uses. Easily accessible to the neighborhood population, geographically centered with safe walking and bike access and connected to the community -wide trail system. May be developed as a school/park facility (Typically an elementary school). Parking facilities, if provided at all, should be very limited (7 to 10 spaces) and intended for use by those on the perimeter of the service area and handicapped. The site itself should have well -drained soils, positive drainage, a variety of topography (suitable for the desirable activity areas), wooded and pond areas when at all possible, and open site lines for security purposes. Although a variety of topography is desirable, sites exhibiting an excessively steep, erodible slopes should be avoided. Likewise, sites which exhibit poor soils which would impede planned recreational facilities development should also be avoided. Typical Facilities: See Figure 4.2. Park System Facility Standards. Application to Rosemount: The neighborhood park will likely remain the basic unit of the Rosemount Park System. As stated, facilities should be provided to meet the needs of all age groups within a specific neighborhood. Actual and anticipated demographic profiles of specific service areas should be used, in part, to determine what type of facilities are most appropriate for a particular park site. With respect to site selection, the key factor is that 1 I I s Section 4 - Park System Framework the site must exhibit physical characteristics appropriate for its intended use. "Left -over" parcels of land which are unsuitable for development are also most likely unsuitable for a park as well and should be avoided. Since neighborhood parks are principally for servicing the recreational needs of the surrounding neighborhood in an informal and unstructured manner, programmed activities, such as adult organized/league softball, etc., should be directed away from neighborhood parks toward community athletic fields. However, the continued expansion of programmed activities and the rather undefinable timeframe associated with developing new facilities to handle increasing demand may create a need to use some neighborhood parks as 'backup" for community playfields/athletic complexes. Although this is often unavoidable and even acceptable, it should not be intended to be a long term solution. The overall vision of the park system should not be lost on temporary measures to deal with problems whose long-term solutions lie elsewhere. If neighborhood parks are required for organized activities, their use should be limited to youth teams. Additionally, scheduled use should be limited to prevent overuse and minimize disturbances to the nearby residents. Finally, with respect to rural residential areas, lower overall population densities will spread -out the overall demand and need for specific recreational facilities, making it difficult to justify the costs of developing a neighborhood park based on the same criteria as used for urban residential areas. However, the recreational needs of the rural residential areas must still be considered during the planning process and rectified in the most appropriate manner. Typically, the neighborhood recreational facilities in these areas are developed in combination with another park type (such as community park or conservation area) to take advantage of the inherent economies in developing a more multi -functional park area. In such an instance, providing site accessibility through a well established trail system will be an important factor in how well a park in rural residential area ultimately functions. Community Park Use: An area of natural or ornamental quality suitable for passive recreational activities such as walking, viewing, sitting, biking, picnicking, swimming, etc. Some limited (non -organized) active recreational activities may also be appropriate. Service Area: May vary depending on specific circumstance and community needs. Typically, several neighborhoods (3-5) within 2 to 2.5 mile radius. Acres/1000 Population: 5 to 8, but often varies depending on resource availability. Desirable Size: Minimum of 20 acres with 50 to 80 acres optimal. Actual size based on specific park site circumstances. Desirable Site Characteristics: An area which affords a variety of natural features such as water bodies, wooded areas, open prairie, rolling topography, etc. The site itself should have well - drained soils and positive drainage, offer a variety of topography suitable for the desirable activities. The site should also be easily accessible to both pedestrians and vehicles and be tied into the community trail system. Parking should be provided. Typical Facilities: See Figure 42 Park System Facility Standards. Avplicalion to Rosemount: The variety and natural quality of some of the undeveloped land within the community is quite unique and provides for some very nice park opportunities. As the region grows and becomes more and more 4-7 City of Rosemount of an urban environment, the community parks (as well as the conservancy lands) will become more essential to the preservation of open space and the rural character of the community. Development within community parks should remain focused on passive recreational activities such as hiking, biking, picnicking, viewing, etc., with special consideration given to such amenities as an amphitheater, community gardens, etc. Although the location of these parks should take into consideration a specific service area as previously stated, the natural and unique characteristics of specific parcels of land will ultimately determine their locations. Additionally, the size of each park as well as the acres/1000 population ratio will have to be reviewed on an individual park basis and based on what seems justifiable to accomplish the specific objective of any given park. Naturally, the overall acreage totals of community parks must remain within the City's ability to maintain both financially and physically. Changing recreational attitudes and desires clearly illustrate an increasing demand for passive, individual, and/or family orientated recreational activities such as walking/hiking, biking, picnicking, etc. As such, the need for this type of park site will become more pronounced as the community grows. Conservancy Lands Use: An area of natural quality such as woodlots, watercourses, and wetlands which are preserved for environmental, open space, and/or aesthetic purposes. Facilities should be generally limited to those that are for the purpose of enjoying and observing nature and compatible with the preservation of the resource. Appropriate site facilities may include park and nature trails, interpretive kiosks/signage, and, where appropriate, controlled and/or limited Section 4 - Park System Framework access. Educational uses are not only appropriate but should be encouraged. Opportunities for observing and enjoying nature (such as blinds and overlooks) should also be provided where appropriate. Service Area: Community wide. Acres/1000 Population: Varies. Desirable Size: Varies depending on extent of resources. Desirable Site Characteristics: An area which affords natural features which merit preservation and which would be negatively affected by development. Ty�real Facilities: See Figure 42 Park System Facility Standards. ARE6cation to Rosemount: The natural quality of some of the woodlots, wetlands, and open spaces in the undeveloped areas within the community provide significant opportunities for conservation and preservation of limited natural resources. As with community parks, conservancy lands will become more essential to the preservation of natural areas, open space, and the rural character of the community in the future. Development within conservancy land should be limited to passive activities which allow for observation and appreciation of the natural environment without jeopardizing the resource base. Passive recreational activities such as hiking, nature study/observation/education, viewing, canoeing, picnicking, etc. are the type of activities appropriate for these areas. The actual size of each conservancy area should be based on the conservancy potential and natural qualities of the specific area rather than on a strict acres/1000 population ratio. Naturally, there is undoubtedly a limit to the total number of acres that the community can realistically afford to set aside for conservancy lands. However, given the results of Section 2 - Assessment of Rosemount's Parks and Recreation Needs, it seems as though there is a strong demand for the preservation of natural resource areas. Community Playfield/Athletic Complex Use: An area for intensely programmed recreational facilities such as athletic fields, swimming pools, hockey rinks, etc. Support facilities would include a multi-purpose building, parking, and full utilities. Service Area: Community -wide, with specific park sites located with respect to populations served. Desirable Size: Minimum of 20 acres developed and with an average of 40 developed acres being optimal (65 developed acres maximum). Area/1000 Population: As appropriate to meet specific City needs. Generally 2.5 developed acres. Desirable Site Characteristics: An area suited for intense development which is easily accessible to the population it is intended to serve. Location may be adjacent to junior and senior high schools if appropriate. Location near major thoroughfares (arterial/collectors) is recommended and preferably in a non-residential area. The site itself should have well -drained soils and positive drainage, topography suitable for the desirable activity areas, wooded buffer zones when at all possible, open site lines for security purposes, and easy access for both pedestrians and vehicles. IMical Facilities: See Figure 4.2 Park System Facility Standards. AMplication To Rosemount: Consolidation of active recreational activities through the use of community athletic complexes will reduce the stress on neighborhood parks and reduce negative impacts to surrounding neighborhoods (such as .noise, 4-8 City of Rosemount congestion, domination of facilities by those outside of the neighborhood, etc.) Additionally, amenities such as parking, lighted fields, concessions, etc., are more appropriate in athletic parks rather than neighborhood parks for obvious reasons. It is also important to recognize that it is usually more cost effective to develop and maintain several larger athletic complexes as opposed to many smaller, spread -out athletic park sites. The athletic complexes should be viewed as strategically located community -wide facilities as opposed to servicing well-defined neighborhood boundaries. Programmed league and tournament play as well as corporate teams, etc. will draw individuals from outside immediate service areas and therefore must be considered when determining site location, specifically as it relates to major thoroughfares and site access. Community playfields/athletic complexes provide the greatest opportunity for cooperative efforts between the City and the School District and/or the City and adjacent communities. Linear Parks Use: An area developed for one or more varying modes of recreational travel such as walking, hiking, biking, snowmobiling, horseback riding, cross country skiing, canoeing and pleasure driving. Service Area: Site specific and community -wide. Desirable Size: Sufficient width to protect the resource and provide for intended uses. Acres/1000 Population: Variable. Desirable Site Characteristics: Built or natural corridors, such as utility right-of-ways, bluff lines, ISection 4 - Park System Framework vegetation patterns, ponds, roads, etc. which are often used to link together parks and/or community facilities, such as schools, libraries, and commercial areas. Typical Facilities: See Figure 42. Park System Facility Standards. Application to Rosemount: The development of linear parks (i.e., "greenways") provides a significant opportunity to "expand" the park system by tying together various parks and/or development areas. In some respects, linear parks can be viewed as trail corridors which are located to take advantage of the natural features of the land. Linear parks not only emphasize safe travel between park sites, but also place a great deal of emphasis on providing an outdoor recreational experience as well. Under the right conditions, linear parks can be used to effectively tie components of the park system together to form a continuous park ■ environment. Special Use Use: An area of specialized or single purpose 1recreational facilities such as golf courses, marinas, 1 zoos, conservatories, preserves, arboreta, display gardens, arenas, community centers, outdoor theater, gun ranges, downhill ski areas, etc. as well as sites and objects of archeological significance. Also plazas or squares in or near commercial centers. Service Area: Community -wide. Desirable Size: Variable depending on specific use requirements. Acres/1000 Population: Variable. Desirable Site Characteristics: Site specific. Typical Facilities: See Figure 42. Park System Facility Standards. Application to Rosemount: This classification is applicable as stated for Rosemount. Historic Sites Use: An area set aside for the purpose of preserving historical features within the community, such as historical churches, buildings, and landscapes. Service Area: Community -wide. Desirable Size: Variable depending on specific site. Acres/1000 Population: Variable. City of Rosemount barometer in determining if adequate facilities are being provided to meet the typical recreational demands of a community. However, it is important to note that these standards should be viewed only as benchmarks for establishing facility standards appropriate for the City of Rosemount. Community needs assessments, program requirements, and anticipated participation rates/user demographics specific to Rosemount will affect the demand for specific recreational facilities. These circumstances are important considerations when determining facility needs and as such should be monitored on an ongoing basis to assure that recreational facility supply meets demand. Desirable Site Characteristics: Adequate size to provide support facilities such as parking, picnic Trail System Classifications areas, etc. Typical Facilities: See Figure 42. Park System Facility Standards. Application to Rosemount: This classification is applicable as stated for Rosemount. Park System Facilities Development Standards Facility Development Standards define the type and number of recreational facilities necessary to accommodate community needs for various kinds of recreational activities. Figure 42 - Park System Facility Standards illustrates the facility standards derived from national standards and previous park system studies. These standards have proven to be an affective 1 4-9 Trails classification denotes an area developed for one or more varying modes of recreational travel such as walking, biking, cross-country skiing, snowmobiling, horseback riding, etc. With respect to trails, the intention of this plan is to: • define the classifications and standards for the various trails types. • define the location of the various trails which, taken together as a whole, makeup the trail system within the City of Rosemount. An important distinction which needs to be clearly understood at this point is that the trail system as defined in this plan is intended to provide the core element of a larger pedestrian/bicycle transportation system. Section 4 - Park System Framework VW= 42 (Part 1 of 2). City of Rosemount Facility Development Standards Activity/Facility Mini Park Neighbor. Park Community Park Community Playfield/ Athletic Complex Conservancy Land Linear Park Special Use Historic Site School Facility Facility/Pop. Service Radius Informal Playfield O 1 Per Site 1/4 to 1/2 Mile Softball ' 0 0 1/2000 1 to 23 Miles Baseball (Official) 1/5000 1 to 23 miles Little League ' 1/5000 1 to 2.5 Miles Soccer/Football 1/3500 1 to 2.5 Miles Feld Hockey • 1/20,000 2 to 4 Miles Ice Hockey O 1/3.500 1 to 2 Miles Ice Skating 0 O O N/A 1/2 to 1 Mile Tennis Court Q 0 O 0 1/2000 1/4 to 1/2 Mile Basketball Court • • O 0 0 1/2000 1/4 to 1/2 Mile Hardsurfacc Games • O 0 0 1/2000 1/4 to 1/2 Mile Sliding Hill Q O O O N/A N/A Play Structures Q 0 Q 1 Per Site 1/4 to 1/2 Mile Horseshoes • 0 1/2000 1 to 2 Miles Volleyball Court 0 0 0 0 • 1/2000 1/4 to 1/2 Mile Disc Golf O 0 N/A N/A Archery Range 0 1/50,000 2 to 4 Miles 1/4 Mile Track 1/20,000 N/A Golf Course (9 hole) 1/25,000 N/A Golf Course (18 hole) 1/50,000 N/A (leach Area • N/A N/A Amphitheater • O 1 Per City N/A Nature Center N/A N/A Aquatics/Swimming O Q 1/20,000 Central Location Softball and Little League Fields arc typically developed as "Combination" Fields to maximize efficiency of use. 4-10 i L Section 4 - Park System Framework FWVC 4.2 (Part 2 of 2). City of Rosctnonml Facility Development Standards Activity/Facility Mini Park Neighbor, Park Community Park Community Playfield/ Athletic Complex Conservancy Land Linear Park Special Use Historic Site School Facility Facility/Pop. Service Radius Fishing Area 0 Q N/A N/A Q Q N/A N/A Picnic Tables Benches N/A N/A Grills Q Q Q Q Q N/A N/A Q Q 0 N/A N/A Park Trail Q Transportation Trail 0 N/A N/A Q Q Q N/A N/A Cross -Country Ski Horse Trail Q Q Q N/A N/A Snowmobile Trail N/A N/A Q Q Q Q N/A N/A Restrooms Q • Picnic Shelter (Small) • Q Q Q N/A N/A Picnic Shelter (Group) O N/A N/A N/A N/A Summer Activities, Warming Bldg. Q Q � N/A N/A Warming House (Port.) Q Q N/A N/A Multi -Purpose Bldg. Q 0 Q N/A N/A Park Signage O 0 N/A N/A Bleachers Boat Access Q Q N/A N/A Q Q Q Q N/A N/A On-site Parking Q Key - 0 Appropriate Use Q Limited Use (Depends on specific site circumstances and recreational needs) Sources: 1) NRPA National Standards, 2) Dept, of the Army, 3) Handbook for Recreational Planning and Design 4) Brauer & Associates, Ltd. 4-11 Section 4 - Park System Framework For our purposes here, the pedestrian/bicycle transportation system is defined to include two important components: the designated trail system as defined in this plan. • safe pedestrian/bicycle linkages from all development areas to the designated trail system. The latter of these two components will be accomplished through City ordinance which requires developers to provide safe pedestrian linkages (via sidewalks, etc.) through development areas and sub- divisions which tie into the designated trail system. Although defining specific sidewalk locations and location requirements is a subdivision planning issue which goes beyond the scope of this planning exercise, it is important to recognize the importance of sidewalks within the context of the overall trail (and park) system. Providing pedestrians and bicyclists with safe linkage from development areas to the City's designated trails and parks can only add to the overall success of the park system. Additionally, as defined in Section 3 - Governing Policies, the designated trail system (as well as the overall park system) is intended to play a significant role in shaping the design of future development in Rosemount. Given this objective, the design of future developments and subdivisions should be based, in part, on providing functional pedestrian and bicycle linkages to the designated trail system and, quite naturally, the overall park system as well. General Trail System Standards General Trail System Standards which apply to all designated trail classifications include: Trails (of various classifications) should be constructed in conjunction with future development projects (residential and non- residential) and/or roadway construction/ upgrading to assure that trail development keeps pace with overall community development. Trail support facilities should be provided as warranted (including trail signage and striping, benches, picnic tables, bridges, restrooms, parking, shelters, etc.) • Trail design must be sensitive to the natural environment and character of the area it traverses. Trails should be integrated into the design of subdivisions in a . manner which is mutually beneficial to both the overall trail (and park) system and the subdivision it traverses. Potential impacts to residential properties (e.g., privacy, etc.) should be carefully considered during trail design. • Trails should be designed to be accessible to special populations (i.e., handicapped, elderly, etc.) • Trails should be designed and constructed to require minimal maintenance and in a manner which limits vandalism opportunities. • Adequate screening and berming should be provided as necessary along trail corridors to provide a physical and psychological separation between the trail and adjacent land uses. • With the exception of designated snowmobile trails, motorized vehicles should be prohibited on all trails throughout the trail system. It is important to note that the trail standards defined within this text are intended to serve as a general guide to trail design and not a substitute for technical design and engineering (based on accepted design/engineering principles). Specific site circumstances affecting the development of a particular trail segment must be taken into 4-12 City of Rosemount consideration during actual design and engineering to assure that the trail will be safe and functional. Park Trails Park trails are perhaps the most desirable type of trail within the park system because they meet most of the established criteria for recreational travel, including: • Emphasizing harmony with the natural environment. Often associated with park sites, nature areas, lakes, wetlands, creek and river bottoms, bluff lines, scenic easements, etc. • Safely protecting users from urban developmental encroachment and associated vehicular traffic. • Allowing for relatively uninterrupted pleasure hiking and biking to and through the City's park system. • Effectively tying the various park sites together into a comprehensive park system in a manner which enhances the recreational experience of the user. Naturally, it would be ideal to use park trails throughout the park system, both within individual park sites as well as trail corridors between park sites or development areas. Unfortunately, both physical and economic constraints preclude this from being entirely practical or even possible in developed or developing communities. However, given the City of Rosemount's relative abundance of undeveloped land and often outstanding natural resources, a rather unique opportunity exists to establish park trail corridors prior to eventual development. 71 1 n Section 4 - Park System Framework Figures 43,4A & 4-5 - Class I, II, & III Park Trails illustrates the three classes of park trails and defines their recommended development standards. Transportation Trails The significant difference between transportation trails and park trails is largely based on their locations. Whereas park trails emphasize a strong relationship with the natural environment, development of a park -like atmosphere, and separation from vehicular traffic, transportation trails emphasis is on safe travel for pedestrians and bicyclists to and from the various parks, as well as in and around the City. Transportation trails are typically an asphalt trail (8' wide) for pedestrian/bicycle use and most often associated with roadway r.o..w.'s. In heavy pedestrian and bicycle traffic areas, a separate trail for pedestrians and bicyclists may be necessary. These separated trails can either both be asphalt or asphalt for bicyclists and a concrete sidewalk for pedestrians. Separated trails are often on opposite sides of the road. Designated bikeways (typically consisting of a widened road shoulder with appropriate signage and striping) are also considered transportation trails. With respect to all levels of transportation trails, safe separation from vehicular traffic is the most important design consideration. Transportation trails are usually, but not exclusively, constructed along collector, minor arterial, and major arterial roads (typically taking advantage of existing r.o.w.'s, property lines, and easements as long as some form of separation from vehicular traffic can be achieved). Figure 4.6, 4.7, & 4.8 - Class I, 11, & III Transportation Trails illustrates the three classes of transportation trails and defines their recommended development standards. Cross -Country Ski Trails, Horse, and Snowmobile Trails Well-maintained trails featuring a variety of scenery, topography, and distances are the keys to establishing cross-country skiing as a viable recreational pursuit within the community. With this in mind, development of ski trails should be limited to one or perhaps two locations which meet the stated objectives and can be maintained & groomed on a regular basis. Currently, there is a demand for horse and snowmobile trails within the City. As such, trails should be established in an area where they are accessible to the user groups while limiting their impact to other park system components or park users. Trailheads should be established for both the horse and snowmobile trails to serve as staging areas. A parking area and corral should be provided near the horse trail trailhead and a parking area should be provided near the snowmobile trail trailhead. The snowmobile trail should tie into the regional snowmobile trail system. Figure 4.9 - Cross -Country, Horse, Snowmobile Trails - Classifications and Standards illustrates these classes of trails and defines their recommended development standards. Population Information Park System Acreage Standards Based on National Recreation and Park Association Standards and other metropolitan park systems, the 4-13 City of Rosemount typically accepted standard for overall park system acreage ranges from a minimum of 10 acres/10(X) population up to 20 (or more) acres/1000 population. These figures typically pertain to the core system of parks, exclusive of trail corridors, special -use facilities (such as golf courses), regional parks, and cooperative efforts where the land is not owned by the City. It is important to recognize that of all the standards that are applied to any given park system, the overall acres/1000 population is perhaps the most difficult to uniformly apply simply because the developmental circumstances and park needs within each community are often vastly different. Servicing the needs of the community and protecting significant natural resource areas within the City should be the primary factor in determining overall park system acreage. The overall acreage/1000 population should then be used as a barometer to determine whether or not the overall park system acreage totals are within appropriate parameters. In determining the overall acres/1000 population, the population figure itself should be based on the projected ultimate or saturation population of the City. This figure represents the maximum population that the community could support under full development, given certain parameters and expectations related to the total developable land area, anticipated population densities, and residential housing patterns. With respect to the City of Rosemount, the current and projected population figures are as follows: Year Population 1990 8,622 (Actual) 2000 15,000 (Projected) 2010 18,400 (Projected) Ultimate 20,000 to 22,000 (Projected) These population figures are based on City staff and Metropolitan Council projections. They do not take into account 1990 Census figures and forecasts. Section 4 - Park System Framework Figure 43. Description: Used for relatively uninterrupted pleasure hiking/biking through natural surroundings and parks. Used where heavy use patterns dictate the need for separate pedestrian and bicycle trails. Safely protects users from vehicular traffic. Typically 6' wide pedestrian trail and 8' wide bicycle trail. Typically asphalt surfaced. Pedestrian trail gradients: 0 - 5% desirable. Maximum sustained grade of 25% for 50 yards or less (steps, switchbacks, etc. may be necessary) Avoid grades in excess of 10% where possible. Bicycle trail gradients: 0 - 3% desirable. Maximum sustained grade of 8 to 10%. Maximum short distance grade of 15%. • Sight distance along bicycle trail should be 50' minimum and 100' preferred. • Trail design (including bridges, underpasses, and crossings) should follow applicable design criteria as defined in MnDOT's and Dakota County's Trail Design Manuals. • Signage should be provided for trail identification, maps/direction, information, and regulation. All signage should be in accordance with the MnDNR Sign Manual and the MnDOT Manual on Uniforiq Traffic Control Devises. City of Rosemount Class I Park Trail - Separate Pedestrian And Bicycle Trails Natural Surroundings Exhibiting A Variety Of Vegetation, Terrain, And Scenery Adjacent Land Uses Vary (Trail Corridors And Access Points Should Be Integrated Into The Design Of Sub -Divisions In A Manner Which Is Mutually Varies Depending On Specific Site Circumstances. Beneficial To The Overall Trail (And Park) System And The Sub -Division It Minimum Width Of 8' And Preferably Width Of 20' Or More. Traverses). I R.O.W./Easement Width Varies Depending On Specific Site Circumstance Pedestrian Trail Signage 1 Pedestrian Trail (Asphalt) Maintain 1.5 - 2% Slope On Trails 4-14 �— Bicycle Trail Signage - Bicycle Trail (Asphalt) Section 4 - Park System Framework Figure 4.4. Description_ • Used for relatively uninterrupted pleasure hiking/biking through natural surroundings and parks. • Used where heavy use patterns do not dictate the need for separate pedestrian and bicycle trails. • Safely protects users from vehicular traffic. • Typically 8' wide combination pedestrian and bicycle trail. • Typically asphalt surfaced. • Trail gradients: 0 - 3% desirable. Maximum sustained grade of 8 to 10%. Maximum short distance grade of 15%. • Sight distance along trail should be 50' minimum and 100' preferred. • Trail design (including bridges, underpasses, and crossings) should follow applicable design criteria as defined in MnDOT's and Dakota County's Trail Design Manuals. • Signage should be provided for trail identification, maps/direction, information, and regulation. All signage should be in accordance with the MnDNR Sign Manual and the MnDOT Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devises. City of Rosemount Glass H Park Trail - Combination Pedestrian And Bicycle Trail Adjacent Land Uses Vary (Trail Corridors And Access Points Should Be Integrated Into The Design Of Sub -Divisions In A Manner Which Is Mutually Natural Surroundings Exhibiting A Variety Of Beneficial To The Overall Trail (And Park) System And The Sub -Division It Vegetation, Terrain, And Scenery Traverses). 10' Vertical Clearance — s \—Maintain 2' Wide Shouldet Pedestrian/Bicycle Trail (Asphalt) Maintain 1.5 - 2% Slope On Trail 1 4-15 Section 4 - Park System Framework Figure 4.5 ="M • Used for uninterrupted pleasure hiking through designated nature areas and where viewing nature, wildlife, and the natural environment is a primary user objective. • Used where protection of the natural environment is a major concern and where use patterns are definable and controllable. • Safely protects users from vehicular traffic. • Typically 4' to 6' wide pedestrian only trail. • Typically compacted aggregate, woodchips, or grass surfaced. • Pedestrian trail gradients: 0 - 5% desirable. Maximum sustained grade of 25% for 50 yards or less (steps, switchbacks, etc. may be necessary). Avoid grades in excess of 10% where possible. • Trail design (including bridges, underpasses, and crossings) should follow applicable design criteria as defined in MnDOT's and Dakota County s Trail Design Manuals. • Signage should be provided for trail identification, maps/direction, information, and regulation. All signage should be in accordance with the MnDNR Sign Manual and the MnDOT Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devises. R.O.W./Easement Width Varies Depending On Specific Site Circumstance (I.E., Terrain, Scenery, Etc.). Nature Trails Are Typically located Within Natural Surroundings Exhibiting A Variety Of Vegetation, Terrain, And Scenery City of Rosemount Class III Park Trail - Nature Trail �— Trail And Interpretive Signage Maintainil (A 2' Wide Shoulder Pedestrian Trail Woodchip, Or Grass) Maintain 1.5 - 2% Slope On Trail 4-]6 ISection 4 - Park System Framework I Figure 4.6 0 n • Used to provide safe travel for pedestrians and bicyclists to and from various parks, as well as in and around the City. • Safely protects users from vehicular traffic. • Used where heavy use patterns dictate the need for separate pedestrian and bicycle trails. • Typically, but not exclusively, constructed along collector, minor arterial, and major arterial roads. • Typically 5' wide concrete sidewalk and 8' wide asphalt bicycle trail (most often placed on opposite sides of the road from each other where space permits). • Pedestrian trail gradients: 0 -5%desirable. Maximum sustained grade of 25% for 50 yards or less (steps, switchbacks, etc. may be necessary) Avoid grades in excess of 10% where possible. In general, gradients should be similar to those of the adjacent road. Adjacent land Uses Vary 5' Standard Width -I Varies 1 10' Vertical Clearance - I Maintain 2' Wide Shoulder City of Rosemount Class I Transportation Trail - Separate Pedestrian And Bicycle Trails • Bicycle trail gradients: 0 - 3% desirable. Maximum sustained grade of 8 to 10%. Maximum short distance grade of 15%. In general, gradients should be similar to those of the adjacent road. • Sight distance along bicycle trail should be 50' minimum and 100' preferred. • Trail design (including bridges, underpasses, and crossings) should follow applicable design criteria as defined in MnDOT's and Dakota County's Trail Design Manuals. • Signage should be provided for trail identification, maps/direction, information, and regulation. All signage should be in accordance with the MnDNR Sign Manual and the MnDOT Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devises. 6' Minimum Behind Back Of Curb. 8' Minimum Behind Varies Depending On R.O.W. Width. Minimum Width Of 8' If Back Of Curb If Boulevard Plants Are To Be Used. F Space Permits, (Widt4 of 2W Or More Preferable). R.O.W./Easement Width Varies Depending On Spec Road Type. 1-- 8' Standard Width y Pedestrian Sidewalk (Concrete) A Variety Of Vegetation, Terrain, And Scenery. 4-17 1 try ,rFlr •� 1 ir Trail Signage `77aintain 2' WideShoulder Maintain 1.5 - 2% Slope On Trails Section 4 - Park System Framework F'Wue 4.7. • Used to provide safe travel for pedestrians and bicyclists to and from various parks, as well as in and around the City. • Safely protects users from vehicular traffic. • Used where use patterns do not dictate the need for separate pedestrian and bicycle trails. • Typically, but not exclusively, constructed along collector, minor arterial, and major arterial roads. • Typically 8' wide asphalt combination pedestrian and bicycle trail. • Trail gradients: 0 - 3% desirable. Maximum sustained grade of 8 to 1001o. Maximum short distance grade of 15%. In general, gradients should be similar to those of the adjacent road. Adjacent Land Uses Vary City of Rosemount Class H Transportation Trail - Combination Pedestrian And Bicyde Trail • Sight distance along bicycle trail should be 50' minimum and 100' preferred. • Trail design (including bridges, underpasses, and crossings) should follow applicable design criteria as defined in MnDOT's and Dakota County's Trail Design Manuals. • Signage should be provided for trail identification, maps/direction, information, and regulation. All signage should be in accordance with the MnDNR Sign Manual and the MnDOT Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devises. Varies Depending On R.O.W. Width. Minimum Width Of 8' If Space Permits, (Width of 21Y Or More Preferable). ID n w irr....... f uv:ar6 V.A- n.......tt.. n.. c. ,;r.., D—A T- r— 8' Standard Width Maintain 1.5 - 2% Slope On Trail 448 t Section 4 - Park System Framework Figure 4.8. Description: • Used to provide safe travel for bicyclists to and from various parks, as well as in and around the City. • Safely protects users from vehicular traffic. • Used where use patterns do not dictate the need for an off-road pedestrian/bicycle trail. • Typically constructed along collector, minor arterial, and, on a limited basis, major arterial roads. • Minimal 8' wide asphalt shoulder (10' wide preferred). • Provides bikers with their own designated lane while biking on roadways. • Bicycle Lane gradients match that of the adjacent traffic lanes. • Sight distance along bicycle trail should be 50' minimum and 100' preferred. • Bicycle Lane design (including bridges, underpasses, and crossings) should follow applicable design criteria as defined in MnDOT's and Dakota County's Trail Design Manuals. • Signage should be provided for trail identification, maps/direction, information, and regulation. All signage should be in accordance with the MnDNR Sign Manual and the MnDOT Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devises. Ideal (8' Minimum) Varies Designated Bike Lane — A Variety Of Vegetation, Terrain, And Scenery 7 I Signage 000 MCI L1 City of Rosemount Glass III Transportation Trail - Bikeway R.O.W./Easement Width Varies Depending On Specific Road Type. 10' Ideal (T Minimum) Roadway (Urban Or Rural Design) F Varies Pavement Striping _ Designated Bike Lane signage 4-19 Section 4 - Park System Framework Fitgure 4.9 Cross - Country Ski Trail • Combine ski -skate and diagonal style cross- country skiing on one trail with separate tracks for each style. One combined trail allows for economy in development and maintenance. • Minimal 10' wide with diagonal track set 1'-0 in from each side of the trail edge. • Trails must be groomed on a regular basis. • Trail base is usually grass or wood chips and free of debris. • Trails should be designed in loops, with a lk to 2k relatively level loop at the Snowmobile Trail Description: • Minimal 10' wide with 14' wide being preferred for two-way snowmobiling. • Trails must be groomed on a regular basis. • Trail base is usually grass or wood chips and free of debris. • "Trails should be designed to tic into regional trail system. • Can be used for hiking, mountain biking, and horseback riding in summer. Horse Trail •• 1I�0�vpdo trail ideal. • Trail base is usually grass or wood chips and free of debris. Soils should be stable. • Trails should be designed to tie into regional trail system (if available) or provide various length loops (5 to 10 miles). • Can be used for either snowmobiling or cross-country skiing (but not both) in winter. trailhead. Add longer loops (5k/10k) for more experienced skiers. Provide a variety of challenges and natural environments. • Grade of the trail should range from 0 to 15%. Maximum slope not in excess of 40% for advanced skiers. Limit steep slopes to short distances. Limit cross -slope to 2 or 3%. Design downhill runs without curves and bumps. Allow sufficient outruns at the bottom of hills. • Trail grooming/maintenance is important. • Trails can be used for hiking/mountain • Gradients of 10% to 25% ideal, with 25% maximum for short distances. • Overhead clearance should be 12' above expected snow base (10' min.) • Minimum sight distance should be 50', with 100' or more being ideal. • A parking area should be provided at the trailhead. • Gradients of 00/v to 10% ideal, with 200/c maximum for short distances. • Overhead clearance should be 12' above grade. • A parking area and corral/hitching post should be provided at the trailhead. • Trail design should follow applicable design criteria as defined in MnDNR Trail Design Manual and local Equestrian Club. i City of Rosemount I Cross -Country SK House, and Snowmobile Trails - Classifications and Standards biking in summer. • Trail design should follow applicable design criteria as defined in MnDNR Trail Design Manual. • Signage should be provided for trail identification, maps/direction, information, and regulation. All signage should be in accordance with the MnDNR Sign Manual and the MnDOT Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devises. 4-20 • Trail design should follow applicable design criteria as defined in MnDNR Trail Design Manual and local Snowmobile Club. • Signage should be provided for trail identification, maps/direction, information, and regulation. All signage should be in accordance with the MnDNR Sign Manual and the MnDOT Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devises. • Signage should be provided for trail identification, maps/direction, information, and regulation. All signage should be in accordance with the MnDNR Sign Manual and the MnDOT Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devises. 10' Vertical Clearance Above Expected Base Depth Natural And ` 1 Scenic Mea 1. /- Trail Signage n 4L As Appropriale1,16A I I t -Pack Base Abd Track Fof / Both Skiing Styles Mowed Grass Or Woodchip Base (Gravel In Wel Areas) Maintain 2' Wide Shoulder 14' Ideal F 14Y Vertical Clearance Above (1ty Min.) Expected Base Depth Natural And Scenic Trail S' As opri ate L- Pack and Groom Base Mowed Grass Or Woodchip Base (Gravel In Wet Areas) Maintain 2' Wide Shoulder Trail 3ipw As Appropriate 1T Vertical Clearance teal Above Grade Natural And Scenic Area Ideal Mowed Grass Or Woodchip Base (Gravel In Wet Areas) Maintain T Wide Shoulder 1 1 ISection 4 - Park System Framework Park System Elements In addition to establishing a classification for each park, specific system elements must also be considered. These elements describe the characteristics of a park site in a descriptive manner. The elements under consideration include the cultural, ornamental, conservation, reserve, and recreation characteristics of individual park sites and the park system as a whole. A relative balance of these elements is important in developing a park system which meets the recreational needs of the community. The park system elements are defined as follows: Cultural Element: Artistically oriented, such as museums, statues, fountains, amphitheaters, etc. which are found in, or are themselves, parks. Ornamentation Element: The decorative or park beautiful aspect of a park system. This would include developing and maintaining elements such as trees, hillsides, grassy areas, water features, flower gardens, shrubs, etc. Conservation Element: Protection of significant natural amenities such as lakes, streams, waterfalls, bogs, forests, meadows, etc. through long-term preservation. Also included are areas developed for passive recreational pursuits such as hiking trails, nature areas, and quiet space. Reserve Element: The capacity to expand is an essential element of any park system. Without the flexibility to respond to changes, increased demand, new needs, new opportunities, and simple breathing space, the overall park system would break down and soon lose its capacity to serve even normal needs. Recreation Element: This includes areas and facilities for active sports, simple exercise, family outings, children's play areas, golf, boating, and every other activity which involves participation. Park System Elements Balance (Percentage Basis) The following breakdown represents the relative balance between the various park system elements within a park system. It should be noted that this is subject to revision depending on the specific needs of the community. For example, the need to have a proportionally larger amount of reserve land available within a specific park or park system may be necessary if future development and population densities are not clearly definable. Park System Elements Balance (as a percentage of the overall park system): Cultural: 2-3% Ornamentation: 10-13% Conservation: 25-30% Reserve: 20-25% Recreation: 30-40% Park System Facilities Design Standards Facility Design Standards establish recommended design standards and quality guidelines for specific facilities. These standards are intended to set the basic parameters for the design and development of future park facilities, thus allowing for a consistent level of quality and user expectation to emerge throughout the park system. They are not intended to impede creative and imaginative design solutions. 4-21 City of Rosemount Design Standard Plates 1 Through 18 define the recommended design standards for the most common recreational facilities. It should be noted that these standards are for reference only. As with trail standards, these standards are not intended to be a substitute for technical design and engineering. Their application to specific park developments must take into consideration specific site conditions and safety concerns which cannot be determined at this time. Site amenities such as benches, bleachers, picnic tables, grills, drinking fountains, etc. which are not individually identified in this document should be specified during the design process for each park. All site amenities should be selected based on the principles of high quality and consistent style in order to project a unified image throughout the park system. Section 4 - Park System Framework Design Standards Plate 1 Appropriate location: Community Playfield/ Athletic Complex and School Site. Overall Space Requirements: 3 to 3.85 acres per field minimum (very dependent on site drainage characteristics and safety zone requirements) Actual Size/Dimensions: Baseline: 90'// Pitching Distance: 60'-6" // Pitcher's plate is 10" above home plate // Foul Line Distance: 320' minimum, 350' preferred // Center Field Distance: 400'+ Preferred Orientation: East -North-East Recommended (Home plate to center field). Optimal orientation is to locate home plate so that the pitcher is throwing across the sun and the batter is not facing it. Recommended Surface Gradient (%): Skinned baseline 1 to 1.25 (baseline and home plate should be level) // Infield Turf. 1 to 1.25 // Outfield Turf: 1.25 to 1.5 General Construction Standards/Safety Issues: The baselines and outfield warning track (10' wide) should be skinned using 6" min. depth of crushed red limestone specified for "ball diamond" use (add - mixtures should be considered to promote long term stability and drainability). A foul -line warning track is desirable on principle -use fields. The infield should be sodded and the outfield seeded or sodded using an athletic field seed mix approved for this region. The backstop should be at minimum of 40' behind home plate (60' preferred) and adequate in size to control past and foul balls. An overhang or overhead net attached to the backstop should be considered in high pedestrian traffic areas. 8' high foul line and outfield fencing enclosing the entire field is preferable on principle -use fields. Players benches should be fence enclosed to protect players from foul balls. All fencing/backstop should be centered on a 12"48" wide concrete maintenance strip. An irrigation system should be considered a high priority (including skinned infield/baseline). Bleachers and scoreboard should be provided on principle -use fields. Field lighting should be considered for principle -use fields as well. Parkiam 30 - 40 cars per field minimum, with 50 - 60 being optimal. Additional parking may be required where spectators are expected. City of Rosemount Official Baseball Field General Remarks: Site specific circumstances and intended level of play are important considerations which will impact the actual design. Safety concerns (i.e., fence heights and locations, backstop size, etc.) should be carefully considered on a per site basis. The facility can be developed in phases (i.e., such as backstop and infield fencing/enclosed players benches in Phase I, with foul line and outfield fencing during Phase II, etc.) to coincide with the availability of funding. 4-22 ISection 4 - Park System Framework [l P-, Design Standards Plate 2 Appropriate Location: Community Playfield/ Athletic Complex and School Site. Overall Space Requirements: 1.2 to 1.5 acres per field minimum (very dependent on site drainage characteristics and safety zone requirements). Actual Si=Mjfflensions: Baseline: 60'// Pitching Distance: 46'-0" // Pitcher's plate is 6" above home plate // Foul Line Distance: 200' // Center Field Distance: 200' to 250' optional // An additional 30' of clear space (on same grade line) should be provided behind the outfield fence to allow for future changes in playing field size. Preferred Orientation: East -North-East Recommended (Home plate to center field). Optimal orientation is to locate home plate so that the pitcher is throwing across the sun and the batter is not facing it. Recommended Surface Gradient (%): Skinned baseline: 1 to 1.2.5 (baseline and home plate should be level) // Infield Turf. 1 to 1.25 // Outfield Turf: 1.25 to 1.5 General Construction Standards] Safety Issues: The baselines and outfield warning track (10' wide) should be skinned using 6" min. depth of crushed red limestone specified for "ball diamond" use (add - mixtures should be considered to promote long term stability and drainability). A foul -line warning track is desirable on principle -use fields. The infield should be sodded and the outfield seeded or sodded using an athletic field seed mix approved for this region. The backstop should be at minimum of 25' behind home plate and adequate in size to control past and foul balls. An overhang or overhead net attached to the backstop should be considered in high pedestrian traffic areas. 6' high foul line and outfield fencing enclosing the entire field is preferable on principle use fields. Players benches should be fence enclosed to protect players from foul balls. All fencing/backstop should be centered on a 12"-18" wide concrete maintenance strip. An irrigation system should be considered a high priority (including skinned baseline). Bleachers and scoreboard should be provided on principle -use fields. Field lighting should be considered for principle -use fields as well. Park' 30 - 40 cars per field minimum, with 50 - 60 being optimal. Additional parking may be required where spectators are expected. City of Rosemount Little League Baseball Field General Remarks: Site specific circumstances and intended level of play are important considerations which will impact the actual design. Safety concerns (i.e., fence heights and locations, backstop size, etc.) should be carefully considered on a per site basis. The facility can be developed in phases (i.e., such as backstop and infield fencing/enclosed players benches in Phase I, with foul line and outfield fencing during Phase II, etc.) to coincide with the availability of funding. iIi / J W _ ... rung 1 4-23 Section 4 - Park System Framework Design Standards Plate 3 ApVEWriate Location: Community Playfield/ Athletic Complex and School Site. Overall Space Requirements: 1.5 to 2.0 acres per field minimum (very dependent on site drainage characteristics and safety zone requirements) Actual Size/Dimensions: Baseline: 60' to 75' // Pitching Distance: 46-0" // The playing field radius is 280' from home plate (to accommodate men's softball) // An additional 30' of clear space (on same grade line) should be provided behind the outfield fence to allow for future changes in playing field size. Preferred Orientation: East -North-East Recommended (Home plate to center field). Optimal orientation is to locate home plate so that the pitcher is throwing across the sun and the batter is not facing it. Recommended Surface Gradient (%): Skinned infield 1 to 1.25 (baseline and home plate should be level) // Outfield Turf: 1.25 to 1.5 General Construction Standards/gyp Issues: The infield and outfield warning track (10' wide) should be skinned using 6" min. depth of crushed red limestone specified for "ball diamond" use (add - mixtures should be considered to promote long term stability and drainability). A foul -line warning track is desirable on principle -use fields. The outfield should be seeded or sodded using an athletic field seed mix approved for this region. The backstop should be at minimum of 25' behind home plate and adequate in size to control past and foul balls. An overhang or overhead net attached to the backstop should be considered in high pedestrian traffic areas. 8' high foul line and outfield fencing enclosing the entire field is preferable on principle use fields. Players benches should be fence enclosed to protect City of Rosemount Combination Ballfield (Men's and Women's Softball and Youth Leagues) players from foul balls. All fencing/backstop should be centered on a 12"48" wide concrete maintenance strip. An irrigation system should be considered a high priority (including skinned infield). Bleachers and scoreboard should be provided on principle - use fields. Field lighting should be considered for principle -use fields as well. Par ' 50 - 60 cars per field minimum, with 60 - 65 being optimal. Additional parking may be required where spectators are expected. '%, General Remarks: Site specific circumstances and intended level of play are important considerations which will impact the actual design. Safety concerns (i.e., fence heights and locations, backstop size, etc.) should be carefully considered on a per site basis. The facility can be developed in phases (i.e., such as backstop and infield fencing/enclosed players benches in Phase I, with foul line and outfield fencing during Phase II, etc.) to coincide with the availability of funding. TURF 4-24 NBE 4M ISection 4 - Park System Framework f �1 0 City of Rosemount Design Standards Plate 4 Soccer/Football Feld Appropriate Location: Community Playfield/ Athletic Complex and School Site. Overall Space Requirements: 1.7 to 2.1 acres per field minimum (very dependent on site drainage characteristics and safety zone requirements) Actual Size/Dimensions Soccer playing field is 195' to 225' wide (220 preferred) and 330' to 360' long (360' preferred) plus an additional minimum of 10' unobstructed space on all sides. _Football field is overlaid on soccer field. Football playing field is 160' wide x 360' long. Preferred Orientation: Long axis north - south orientation. Recommended Surface Gradient (%1: 1.5 to 2.0 without underdrainage // 1.25 to 1.5 with underdrainage (preferred) // Drainage should be from center to each side (preferred) or side to side. General Construction Standards/ S�ft Issues: The field should be seeded using an athletic field seed mix approved for this region. An irrigation system should be considered a high priority. Preferred topsoil mixture (12" minimum depth) should be 80% fine grade sand (low PH) and 20% topsoil (screened and pulverized). Alternate is 6" minimum screened and pulverized topsoil. Underdrainage system should be provided when sand based topsoil is used. Combination portable soccer/football goal should be of a manufactured variety with a heavy duty frame. Bleachers and scoreboard should be provided on principle -use fields. Field lighting should be considered for principle -use fields as well. Par ' 35 - 40 cars per field minimum, with 40 - 45 being optimal. Additional parking may be required where spectators are expected. General Remarks: Site specific circumstances and intended level of play are important considerations which will impact the actual design. CORNER FiAG—N fuD--j CORNER FLAG—, ►rLONs a RBou1REDi� I J � 1 1 1 sL MTN* M_ In TDBI S w- TWA AMA-�� U1WT L#*_ OAEHES q 4 ,ROTH AIDE=-Ol►TH OF 1 /AT 24•• 1NT61YAlB 8 `7 BOO( OPTIMAL 1 / I i Yd$. TOUCH UNE ZB _ XL 3 j6 i_ It s a � 70 .7p ;B a_ ro E _r02. _ _I I E Y I� Brr bc S 1 0 E REST Z O N E LINE 1/ ' I I J $ z w ix t rR rR TOUCH LPN mr MPPMUM 111R YM Wor MAXMMUM uB YON ►rLONs a RBou1REDi� I J � 1 1 1 sL MTN* M_ In TDBI S w- TWA AMA-�� U1WT L#*_ OAEHES q 4 ,ROTH AIDE=-Ol►TH OF 1 /AT 24•• 1NT61YAlB 8 `7 BOO( OPTIMAL 1 / I i Yd$. B 111 %V ZB _ XL 3 j6 i_ It s a � 70 .7p ;B a_ ro E _r02. _ _I S 1 0 E Z O N E 1/ ' 1 x `>POUND g LINE l p 1 S I D E 0N E 1101141 1 ao r - - - _ _ - _ _ _ - _ 3Wr 000 YO51 - _ - - - _ - - We, -0 MIN 3W4' 1130 YOM 1 4-25 Section 4 - Park System Framework Design Standards Plate 5 Appropriate Location: Community Playfield/ Athletic Complex and School Site. Overall Space Requirements: 1.5 to 2.0 acres per field minimum (very dependent on site drainage characteristics and safety zone requirements) Actual Sizef Dimensions: Playing field is 180' wide x 300' long plus and additional minimum of 10' unobstructed space on all sides. Preferred Orientation: Long axis north - south orientation. Recommended Surface Gradient (%): 1.5 to 2.0 without underdrainage // 1.25 to 1.5 with underdrainage (preferred) // Drainage should be from center to each side (preferred) or side to side. General Construction Standards) Safety Issues: The field should be seeded using an athletic field seed mix approved for this region. An irrigation system should be considered a high priority. Preferred topsoil mixture (12" minimum depth) should be 80% fine grade sand (low PH) and 20% topsoil (screened and pulverized). Alternate is 6" minimum screened and pulverized topsoil. Underdrainage system should be provided when sand based topsoil is used. Portable field hockey goal should be of a manufactured variety with a heavy duty frame. Bleachers and scoreboard should be provided on principle -use fields. Field lighting should be considered for principle -use fields as well. ParkiW 35 - 40 cars per field minimum, with 40 - 45 being optimal. Additional parking may be required where spectators are expected. General Remarks: Site specific circumstances and intended level of play are important considerations which will impact the actual design. Field hockey can be overlayed on a soccer/football field if demand does not justify a seperate facility. 10 YDS 10 YDS CORNER FLAG 5 YDS - 5 YDS 5 YDS 5(YYD-S� ON 4' HIGH POST U�T01 City of Rosemount Field Hockey �—X-0.. 4 YDS o �Q• I N_ I , 1 -4 -- I i 4 YDS I 2 i 25 YARD LINE _ I _J T -UJ -- 1 zl g N I 1 i {A p I a } z UJ �I al }I J I WI W Q 5-1 I N Lai CENTER FLAG (BOTH SIDES) -�—� I in 0 1 I CENTER LINE I 8 '1 I 3'-0" MIN. I in I I 1 I � I I in n I 1 I I 1 25 YARD LINE I I �s_ ( 12" MARK (4 REQUIRED) rn o } N o STRIKING CIRCLE t I 1} I qPENALTY SPOTS Q o GOA L DAL LINE I 180'-0" 160 YDS) U�T01 City of Rosemount Field Hockey ISection 4 - Park System Framework 0 I] �J [I Design Standards Plate 6 Appropiate Location: Community Park and Neighborhood Park. Overall Soave Retluirements: 3.0 to 4.0 acres per field minimum (very dependent on site drainage characteristics and general site conditions). Informal Sooner f Football Actual Size/Dimensions Playing area is preferably 160' wide x 360' long plus and additional minimum of 10' unobstructed space on all sides. Given its informal nature, field size can vary in response to specific site conditions. lnformal Ballfield Actual Size/Dimensions: Baseline: 60' // Pitching Distance: 46'-0" // Playing field radius is 200' to 250' from home plate. As with the informal soccer/football field, the outfield size can vary in response to specific site conditions. Preferred Orientation: Informal soccer/football: Long axis north - south orientation. Informal Ballfield: East -North-East Recommended (Home plate to center field). Optimal orientation is to locate home plate so that the pitcher is throwing across the sun and the batter is not facing it. Recommended Surface Gradient (%): Informal soccer/football: 1.5 to 2.0 without underdrainage // Drainage should be from center to each side (preferred) or side to side. Informal Ballfield: Skinned infield 1 to 1.25 (base lines and home plate should be level) // Outfield Turf: 1.25 to 1.5 Given the informal nature of this playfield, some flexibility with respect to drainage may be appropriate if the preferred drainage is not easily obtainable. General Construction Standards/ Safety Issues: The field should be seeded using an athletic field seed mix approved for this region. The infield can be skinned using 6" min. depth of crushed red limestone specified for "ball diamond" use. Skinned infields are not necessary (nor desirable) in mini parks and small neighborhood parks. The backstop should be a minimum of 20' behind home plate and adequate in size to control past and foul balls. Players benches may be provided by the ballfield in a safe location relative to home plate. The backstop should be centered on a 12"-18" wide concrete maintenance strip. Parking; Varies depending on specific site circumstances. City of Rosemount Informal Playfield General Remarks Intended for informal play, general neighborhood uses, and some limited organized youth play. Site specific circumstances will define the actual size of the playing area. Safety concerns (i.e., proximity to residential properties, etc.) should be carefully considered on a per site basis. 1 i i Iawm. I (w:°�ij O1a"` M" i I �N I 1 4-27 wms Section 4 - Park System Framework Design Standards Plate 7 Appropriate Location: Community Playfield/ Athletic Complex, Community Park, Neighborhood Park, Mini -Park, and School Site. Overall Space Requirements: 5040 square feet minimum (7280 square feet preferred) Actual Size/Dimensions: Recommended Court size is 50' x 84' plus a 10' unobstructed space on all sides (T minimum) // Half -court size is 40'x 40' Preferred Orientation: Long axis north -south. Recommended Surface Gradient (%): 1.25 to 1.5 across asphalt surface General Construction Standards/ Safety Issues: Surface is typically asphalt laid over stable aggregate base. Basketball outfits should be of a manufactured variety with a heavy duty cantilevered post (5 9/16" o.d. - 4' to 6' overhang), fan shaped backboard, and twin -rim goal. Striping should be 2" wide plexicolor acrylic line paint approved for asphalt surfaces. Player's benches should be provided on each side of the court (minimum 5' from inbound line). Lighting o should be provided on principle -use courts. o m Parkirt: Varies depending on specific site a circumstances. m General Remarks: Colorcoat surfacing, available through a number of suppliers, can be used to add some color and greater definition to the playing surface. The basketball court can be part of a larger hardsurface area (i.e., tennis court, hardsurface games area, etc.). City of Rosemount Basketball ? W 94'-0" COLLEGIATE (84'-0" HIGH SCHOOL( f3' � -0" MIN. 3' MIN. b 47'-0" COLLEGIATE (42'-0" HIGH SCHOOL) 10' PREF. O'PREF. Ft 28' 0" 19'-0" ih 14'-0"28'-0" a m r r• 2" a o W NEUTRAL ZONE MARKS 12" z m - �? WIDE BY 8" DEEP o a {O `r W Z LANE SPACE MARKS w a 2" WIDE BY 8" DEEP Z o 2' RADIUS \*-14" LL = �/ I (INSIDE) Or -16" \ 8' RADIUS 6' RADIUS (OUTSIDE) ¢ IOUTSIOE► 3' 3' 3' F, 3' 4' b W 2 ka a W v 19'-0" TO CENTER OF CIRCLE SIDE LINE Z LL W a UNOBSTRUCTED SPACE b EDGE OF PAVEMENT 4-28 ISection 4 - Park System Framework d 0 n t fl Design Standards Plate 8 Appropriate Location: Community Playfield/ Athletic Complex, Neighborhood Park, and School Site. Overall Space Requirements: 22,000 square feet minimum Actual Size/Dimensions: Playing rink is 85' wide x 200' long Preferred Orientation: Long axis north - south Recommended Surface Gradient (%): Ice surface area should be level. Base should be sand -clay. General Construction Standards/Safety Issues: The "boards" surrounding the rink should be 2" x 12" horizontal boards on the sides and ends and 2" x 6" vertical boards on corner radii. Board height should be 46". Galvanized steel posts (3" min.) with concrete footing (or similar) should be used for support structure. Each end of the rink (from end to end of corner radii) should have a chainlink fence to a height of 4' above the boards to control pucks and protect spectators. A 10'wide access gate for maintenance and one to two 2' to 2'-6" gate(s) should be provided for players. All gates must swing away from the ice surface. Bench areas can be provided on each side of the rink (optional). Boards should be painted white. Hockey goals should be of a manufactured variety and meet all applicable standards. Rink lighting should be provided. Parking. 20 - 30 cars per rink minimum. Additional parking may be required where an open skating rink is provided. General Remarks: Ideally, rinks should be permanently built structures where adequate park space is available. A warming house (permanent or portable) should be provided at each rink location. City of Rosemount Ice Hockey This photo illustrates a commonly adopted hockey rink construction technique using steel posts for the support structure. REFEREES CREASE-' PENALTY TIMEKEEPERS BOX PENALTY BOX 1 4-29 LINE. 2" WIDE RADIUS .....,;ALLY DEFINED). Section 4 - Park System Framework City of Rosemount I Design Standards Plate 9 Appropriate Location: Community Playfield/ Athletic Complex, Neighborhood Park, Mini -Park, and School Site. Overall Space Requirements: 7200 square feet minimum ground space for each court. Actual Size/Dimensions: Playing court is 36' wide x 78' long plus a minimum of a 12' clearance on both sides or between courts and 21' clearance on each end. Preferred Orientation: Long axis north - south Recommended Surface Gradient f%l: 1.0 to 1.5 side to side preferred. General Construction Standards/Safety Issues: Surface should be asphalt laid over stable aggregate base. Tennis outfits should be of a heavy duty manufactured variety. Benches should be provided near the court for waiting players. Colorcoat surfacing, available through a number of suppliers, should be used to add color and definition to the playing surface. All court markings should be 2" wide. A 10' high chainlink perimeter fence should surround court area. If wind screen is to be used, fence should be constructed to handle increased wind loading. Fencing specifications should be verified against current industry standards at time of construction. All fencing should be centered on a 12"-18" wide concrete maintenance strip. Lighting should be provided on principle -use courts. Par ' Varies depending on specific site. General Remarks: Tennis courts are typically in batteries of two to four. Tennis practice areas with a wooden tennis bounce wall are often constructed in combination with tennis courts in Community Playfields/Athletic Complexes. Tennis N BASE LINE CENTER MARK 4 7M y SERVICE LINE m 0 0 O W Z J N W c �? IL y NET o— W j in �3'4' Q W J }� T y z N H N W z U J 0 aD 12.,(.• 4.$!. *-0" 4'.V' 12'-0.' ?� N 36'-" FENCE ENCLOSURE OR EDGE OF PAVEMENT eo'-0" r C' rj Section 4 - Park System Framework Design Standards Plate 10 Appropriate Location: Community Playfield/ Athletic Park, Community Park, Neighborhood Park, Mini -Park, and School Site. Overall Space Requirements: 4000 square feet minimum. Actual Size/Dimensions: Playing Court size is a 30' x 60' plus 10' unobstructed space on all sides (6' minimum). Preferred Orientation: Long axis is north -south. Recommended Surface Gradient (%): 1.25 to 1.5 side to side with asphalt surface and 1.5 side to side for grass. Sand courts require underdrainage. General Construction Standards/ Safety Issues: Surface can be asphalt (when in combination with other hardeourt games), grass, or sand (preferred in high use areas such as community parks and athletic complexes). Striping should be 2" wide plexicolor acrylic line paint approved for asphalt on asphalt surfaced court. Preferably, grass courts should have rubber corner and line markers (permanently set). Sand courts should have rope line markers with permanent anchors. The volleyball outfit should be of a heavy-duty manufactured variety with a minimum. 3" to 3 1/2" dia. steel posts. Park'ParkipV Varies depending on specific site circumstances. General Remarks: Colorcoat surfacing, available through a number of suppliers, is often used to add some color and greater definition to the playing surface on asphalt courts. Sand courts are preferred due to their inherent safety (as compared to other surfaces). 4-31 City of Rosemount Volleyball b Ian. � 3a4Y' — 1a4r- sEn%nc EAREA � 'a.a• 2" SPIKING LINE a V CENTER LINE j -- 0 66 - 741 MIN. a� 2" SPIKING LINE J 4 h 6 ENO UNE 4-T b 6 EDGE WO' J 4-31 City of Rosemount Volleyball Section 4 - Park System Framework Design Standards Plate 11 Appropriate Location: Community Playfield/ Athletic Complex, Community Park, Neighborhood Park, Mini -Park, and School Site Overall Space Requirements: 314 square feet minimum to circumference of outer circle. Actual Size/Dimensions: Playing court size is a 20' diameter circle. Pole height is 10'. Preferred Orientation: Axis through playing zone is north -south. Recommended Surface Gradient M: 1.25 to 1.5 across surface an any constant direction. General Construction Standards/ SafetyIssues: Surface can be asphalt or concrete laid over stable aggregate base. Striping should be 2" wide plexicolor acrylic line paint approved for asphalt and concrete surfaces. The pole should be min. 2 7/8" dia. steel. Parking Not directly applicable. General Remarks: Colorcoat surfacing, available through a number of suppliers, is often used to add some color and greater definition to the playing surface. Court is often in conjunction with other hardsurface games. secnoe 4-32 City of Rosemount Tetherball /IAYWOZONE �' "•s: § IWLCIIIXE ':ONlbwa iwt`:' JA". X 'LI.YING ZONE Section 4 - Park System Framework i Design Standards Plate 12 Appropriate Location: Community Playfield/ Athletic Complex, Community Park, Neighborhood Park, Mini Park, and School Site. Overall Space Requirements: 312 square feet minimum ground space. Actual Size/Dimensions: Playing court is 6' wide x 52' long plus a minimum of a 2' wide "alley" on each ' side (4' between courts in battery). Preferred Orientation: Long axis north - south ' Recommended Surface Gradient (r%): Playing surface should be level with drainage away from each side of court. ' General Construction Standardsf Safety Issues Playing surface should be concrete slab reinforced with wire mesh on compacted drainable subgrade. Concrete surface should be continuous, joint free with troweled finish. The "alley" on each side of the playing court can be depressed 4" from the level of the actual playing surface (optional). The painted lines and numbers/letters should be 1 1/2" wide plexicolor acrylic line paint approved for concrete surfaces. Not directly applicable. General Remarks: Shuffleboard courts should be located in an area where playing equipment is accessible to users. G' City of Rosemount Shuffleboard jt �co O CLAARANCE %ZVI O SASE LINE EXTENDED ra•• OR TO NEXT COURT f-0" :r O Ir eLwac DISCS it — HERE a r DEAD LINES y HEADO • FOOT O s O n YELLOW OR REG v DISCS HERE ar S 6 r T-0 T-0 TO T-0 ir-r Tom•' 74' 7-C T-0• •-41• E-0" V -r W -V jt �co O CLAARANCE %ZVI O CLR SWATRW TIE uNs % WIDE O Ir it 4-33 COURT MARKING DETAIL Section 4 - Park System Framework Design Standards Plate 13 Aparopriate Location: Community Playfield/ Athletic Complex, Community Park, Neighborhood Park, Mini -Park, and School Site. Overall Space Requirements: 70 square feet minimum Actual Size/Dimensions: Playing court size is 5' wide x 12'-6" long plus 5' unobstructed space on all sides (3' minimum) Preferred Orientation: Optional Recommended Surface Gradient (%): 1.25 to 1.5 across asphalt surface // 1 to 1.5 across concrete surface General Construction Standards/ Safely Issues: Surface is typically asphalt laid over stable aggregate base. Striping should be 1 1/2" wide plexicolor acrylic line paint approved for asphalt surfaces. Typically in combination with other hardcourt games. Parking Not directly applicable. General Remarks: Colorcoat surfacing, available through a number of suppliers, is often used to add some color and greater definition to the playing surface. Court is often in conjunction with other hardsurface games. 1 ww- 1 z. -e.. r a• r -a• 0 9 8 7 X354 2 5.-o.. 4-34 City of Rosemount Hopscotch Section 4 - Park System Framework Design Standards Plate 14 Appropriate Location: Community Playfield/ Athletic Complex, Community Park, Neighborhood BACKSTOP Park, Mini -Park, and School Site. Overall Space Requirements: 1400 square feet I minimum. _ � o _ Actual Size /Dimensions: Playing court size is 10' o o wide x 50' long plus 10' minimum unobstructed space on all sides. I Preferred Orientation: Long axis north - south T -0 - Recommended Surface Gradient (%): 1 to 1.5 pitched to side. General Construction Standards/ Safely Issues: Surface of playing area, except for boxes and optional walkways, should be turf. Boxes should be filled with potter's or blue clay. A 2' high backstop should be constructed on each end for safety purposes. Peg can be set in either concrete or solid oak block. Parkin : Not directly applicable. General Remarks: Adjacent pit should be no closer than 10' from stake to stake. I V-0" 1 2'-0" 1 2'-0" i _- i *T2 PEG1" DIA SBOX FILLED WITH GUMMY POTTER'S OR BLUE CLAY4..x4.. 20"x20"z10" 20•• IRON I Z POST SOLID OAK BLOCK PLATE ; (DRIVE PEG INTO 15/16" DIA. HOLE.' SLIP 4"x 6" IRON PLATE WITH 1-1 /8" DIA. HOLE OVER PEG. AND ATTACH WITH 4 LAG SCREWS.) :_: SECTION A -A City of Rosemount Horseshoes PITCHING DISTANCE 40'-0" BETWEEN BASES OF PEGS P------------------------ 2.0,.E--- ., RAISED FOUL LINE I� "` ALTEfl NATE 2"x 6" PLANKS AROUND` A�1; A OPTIONAL CONCRETE WALK TO NRF BOX, FASTENED BY 2"x 4"x 2'-0" oFRONT AND REAR OF BOX WITH I/ x 3'x 3" STAKES AT CORNERS, AND CAPPED Y I `•' BOX ANGLE IRON AROUND INSIDE OF BOX _ _.::,_-_., WITH '/."x 1-5/8" STRAP STEEL `4 1" DIA. STEEL PEG OPTIONAL CONCRETE WALKWAY PITCHING PLATFORM_ T-0- 34'"0" 1'-0" 4'4" 1'-0' 1 46'-0- W-0" TOTAL COURT LENGTH This photo illustrates a horseshoe hit which inchtdes the optional concrete walkway. 4-35 Section 4 - Park System Framework City of Rosemount Design Standards Plate 15 Archery Range ADDropriate Location: Community Park/ Conservancy Lands, and Special -Use Park Overall Space Requirements:.65 to 1 acres Actual Size/Dimensions: Shooting range should be 300' long and 10' wide minimum (15' preferred) 1i, To is, between targets. Roped clear space behind targets 5'-0" MAX. should be 90' minimum and 30' minimum on each . side of range. HITE Preferred Orientation: Range should be located so s e that archer is facing north @ 45 degrees. ARGET RED CENTER LINE SUPPORT b i o r m GOLD POST OR TRIPOD Recommended Surface Gradient (%): Constant side C t to side drainage pattern at 1.5 to 2.5 percent. Shooter and target should remain reasonably level.STRAW OR +�I SIMILAR MATERIAL General Construction Standards/ Safety Issues: The range should be located 1n an area which is not TARGET NUMBER 3 ae TARGET LINE directly adjacent to or near other facilities or trails. Par ' Varies depending on specific site ; f circumstances. TARGET DETAILS ' General Remarks: Site specific safety considerations will dictate the actual location of the range. V 90' MIN. (45'4' WITH BUNKER BEHIND TARGETS) 0 115'-0" DESIRABLE I <I , 8v X10'-0" MINIMUM W I w LU 1 '— ROPED CLEAR SPACE BEHIND O o o O _J TARGETS I a } pp pp o 0 90, ) 2` C Z F- TARGETSa. - - W ~~ J 1 F I c —,3 � f � I ROPED CLEAR SPACE EACH SIDE OF z RANGE LAYOUT YDS. LRANGE._ --- - 4-36 - 3 YDS. 7 0 11 C u fl 0 0 Section 4 - Park System Framework Design Standards Plate 16 Appropriate Location Community Playfield/ Athletic Complex, Community Park, Neighborhood Park, Mini -Park, and School Site. Overall Space Requirements: 5,000 to 10,000 square feet. Actual Size/Dimensions: Varies depending on specific site circumstances. Typically 2,500 to 6,000 square feet of contained play area. Preferred Orientation: Varies. Recommended Surface Gradient (%): Subgrade in contained area should be 1.25 to 1.5. Underdrainage is typically required in non -drainable soils. General Construction Standards/ Safety Issues: First an foremost, all playground equipment should be of a manufactured variety. The manufacturer should be an established company with a proven history of safe and durable equipment (with at least a 10 year guarantee) and have the ability to work with a park designer to develop creative designs that are specific to a particular park. The design should be based on the continuous play concent which allows for continuous play within the play area by connecting large multi-level units with other active play components. Smaller, free standing components (i.e., spring animals, sand scoopers, etc.) should also be provided to round -out the play experience. Play areas should be designed to accommodate children from 3 to 10 years of age, with those from 3 to 5 year of age being the largest expected user group. The "play value" of the play equipment is also an important consideration. Each event (component) of the play equipment should provide either active play value (coordination, balance, and strength), creative play value (imagination), and social play value (group interaction/relationships). The manufacturer should be required to define the play value of a particular structure during the design process. Site safety is an absolutely vital part of the play area and must be given due consideration during the design process. The manufacturer of the equipment should be required to define the safety zone necessary to accommodate the proposed play equipment in a manner which meets or exceeds all accepted standards and provides a safe play environment. The surfacing material (such as 12" of sand) beneath the equipment must also meet safety standards. The container around the play area is also important because it defines the play area, contains the surfacing material, and provides an important design element. A concrete curb (6" wide x 18" deep) is the preferred container material due to its long term durability, ease of maintenance, and design characteristics. Park'Parkinz Varies depending on specific site circumstances. General Remarks: Site specific circumstances, design intent, anticipated user groups, and site safety considerations will dictate the design parameters for the play area. 1 437 City of Rosemount Play Structures An example of a continuous play children's play sbucture. Section 4 - Park System Framework Design Standards Plate 17 Appropriate Location: Community Playfield/ Athletic Complex, Community Park, Neighborhood Park, Mini -Park, and School Site. Overall Space Requirements: 200 square feet minimum Actual SizeLDimensions: Playing court size is 10' x 10' plus 4' unobstructed space on all sides (2' minimum). Preferred Orientation: Optional Recommended Surface Gradient (%): 1.25 to 1.5 across asphalt surface // 1 to 1.5 across concrete surface General Construction Standards/ Safety Issues: Surface is typically asphalt laid over stable aggregate base. Striping should be 1 1/2" wide plexicolor acrylic line paint approved for asphalt surfaces. Typically in combination with other hardcourt games. ParkLnV Not directly applicable. General Remarks: Colorcoat surfacing, available through a number of suppliers, is often used to add some color and greater definition to the playing surface. Court is often in conjunction with other hardsurface games. 0 in City of Rosemount 5'-0 5'-0 4-38 5'-0 3'-0 2'-0 Four -Square C D 4 0 B Q 4-38 5'-0 3'-0 2'-0 Four -Square Section 4 - Park System Framework Design Standards Plate 18 Iw Appropriate Location: Community Park. Overall Space Requirements: Ideally, 1 acre per hole, but can be considerably less depending on specific site circumstances. Actual SizefDimensions: Total course length should fall between 2700 and 6000 feet, with at least two holes longer than 300 feet and no holes under 90 feet. Preferred Orientation: Varies depending on specific site. Ideally, north - south playing direction is preferred. Recommended Surface Gradient : Ideally, varying topography with positive drainage away from tees and target areas. General Construction Standards&fet}�Issues: Generally speaking, disc golf is very similar to regular golf with the exception being that discs are used instead clubs and balls. The ideal site would be one with a variety of terrain and vegetation in which the tees, fairways and target areas can be laid out in a logical fashion and where the playing lanes are clearly defined and interesting. "Amateur" tee locations should not exceed an average of 250' or 4500' per 18 holes. "Pro" tees are up to 6000 feet per 18 holes. i Parkine Varies depending on specific site circumstances. Ideally, 40 to 50 parking spaces should be available for users of the course. General Remarks: Since disc golf is a relatively new sport, it is advised that the City work with an established professional in the field who can assist in the design and construction of the course. 1 4-39 PALE ^•AP PLUG— tF U.S. PATENT DISC POLE HOLES ASSEMBLY �.• NO. 1039189 l CHAIN ASSEMBLY — welded and hot di tII pped galvanized. 1�+ Hole Sign— 10 gauge steel, 8 in. diameter. Hole Sign Kit — vinyl numbers and identification cover. Collar (8 in.) — 2-1/4 in. O.D. tubing, .083 wall, drilled. Bolt,Locknut,Tech Screw t Star Washer Rod Assembly — 3/8 In. steel rod. Chain — 500 Ib. test. City of Rosemount BASKET ASSEMBLY — welded and hot dipped galvanized. Collar (5 In.) — 2-1/4 in. O.D. tubing, .083 wall, drilled. Bolt,Locknut,Tech Screw i Star Washer Rod Assembly — 3/8 in. steel rod. Washer ( ) ( POLE 174 in.) — 2 in. O.D. tubing, .120 wall, hot dipped v galvanized, drilled. LOCKING COLLAR — welded and hot dipped galvanized. r Collar (4 in.) — 2 in. O.O. tubing, .083 wall, drilled. Lockinq Tab — 3/18 in. steel, punched. Bolt,Locknut.Tech Screw f Star Washer LOCKING ANCHOR — welded and hot dipped galvanized. Collar (24In.)2-1/4In. O.D.lubing,.083wall,drilled. Locking Tab — 3/18 In. steel, punched. i" ;�•� CONCRETE — approximately 1 cubic loot (concrete and lock not furnished). POLE, PLUG 0 SIGN POLE ASSEMBLY Clear Plastic Cover SIGNS (12x 18 In. and 18x24 In..) — 18 gauge steel, two coals baked enamel and silk screened. BOLTS 1/4 it 3/4 in. SIGN FRAMES — welded and hot dipped galvanized. Collar (12 in.) — 2-1/4 In. 0.0. tubing, .083 wall. drilled. Frames 112x/S in. and 18x24 In.) — angle iron 1x1x1/8 M., hot rolled steel. Dolt,Locknut,Teeh Screw i Star Washer POLE (74 In.) — 2 In. 0.0 tubing, .120 wall, hot dipped galvanized, drilled. LOCKING COLLAR — welded and hot dipped galvanized. Collar 14 In.) — 2 in. O.O. tubing, .083 wall, drilled. Locking Tab — 3/18 in, steel, punched. Bolt.Locknut,Tech Screw t Star Washer LOCKING ANCHOR — welded and hot dipped galvanized. Collar (24 in.) 2-1/41n.0.0. tubing, .083 wall, drilled. Locking Tab — 3/18 In. steal, punched. CONCRETE — approximately 1 cubic foot (concrete and lock not furnished). Disc Golf Section 4 - Park System Framework Park System Facilities Use and Maintenance Standards/Policies Facility Use and Maintenance Standards/Policies are intended to set the basic parameters for the use and maintenance of existing and future park facilities, thus promoting a reasonable level of service to City Residents as well as allowing for a consistent level of maintenance throughout the park system. The maintenance standards and policies are intended to provide general guidelines by which actual, day-to-day maintenance schedules are derived. It is important to recognize that they are intended to augment rather than replace successful maintenance procedures already being used within the park system. The following defines the usage and maintenance standards/policies for the various recreational facilities. Informal Playfield Intended Use: This facility is intended to: • provide City residents with an informal playfield for unstructured "pick-up" games and neighborhood type get-togethers. provide youth teams (ideally only up to 9 years of age) with a nearby facility for games. Informal playfields should be viewed as secondary facilities and therefore not scheduled for intensive use such as ballfields located at playfields/athletic complexes. Keep in mind that the intention is to avoid introducing excessive traffic, noise, and negative impacts into a neighborhood area. It should be noted that although adults are encouraged to use these fields for family type activities, they are not intended to be used for an organized adult or league level of play. Reservation/Use Policies: Includes the following provisions: • fields can be reserved for use by City residents, City sponsored programs, local Youth League teams, and local Youth Athletic Associations on a fust -come -fust -served basis. • the Park & Rgcreation Committee and Department will be responsible for scheduling field use, developing a fair and equitable reservation system, and reservation policies (i.e., cancellations, deposits, etc.) • an adequate fee, as determined by the Park & Recreation Committee and Department, shall be charged for reserved field use to off -set the operations and maintenance costs of the park and recreation system. • if reserved use requires additional City provided maintenance services beyond adopted maintenance procedures, a fee equal to the cost of the additional maintenance shall be charged (as determined by the Parks & Recreation Department). The reservation policies for informal playfields should be much more restrictive than the athletic complexes since these fields are not intended to serve as primary use facilities. Facility Maintenance Standards/Policies: The general maintenance standards and policies for this facility includes the following: • the Park & Recreation Director shall field inspect the facility at least once a season. 4 -40 City of Rosemount • general field inspection should be undertaken once a week by appropriate staff to assure that no serious maintenance problems have arisen. • mowing and trimming should be undertaken on a regular schedule (every 7 to 10 days, depending on weather and need). • field aeration and fertilizing (fall period) should be undertaken a minimum of once a year (fields receiving heavy use should be aerated and fertilized on a more regular basis). • infield ag-lime should be dragged once per month during the primary season of use (more often on fields receiving heavy use). • all facility amenities (such as benches, backstops, etc.) should be periodically inspected and repaired (if necessary) prior to and during each season of use. • the field should be topdressed and overseeded as necessary to maintain a consistent, well established turf area. Seeding should be undertaken in spring (through May 15th) or fall (August 15th through September 15th). • fields should not have lighting. Baseball, Softball, and Combination Ball Fields Intended Use: These facilities are intended to: • provide City residents, local businesses, and local Athletic Associations with ballfields appropriate for an organized and league level of play. Reservation[Use Policies: Includes the following provisions: • fields can be reserved for use by City residents, City sponsored programs, local League teams, and local Athletic Associations on a first -come - P, n Section 4 - Park System Framework first-served basis. • the Park & Recreation Committee and Department will be responsible for scheduling field use, developing a fair and equitable reservation system, and reservation policies (i.e., cancellations, deposits, etc.) • an adequate fee, as determined by the Park & Recreation Committee and Department, shall be charged for reserved field use to off -set the operations and maintenance costs of the park and recreation system. if reserved use requires additional City provided maintenance services beyond adopted maintenance procedures (i.e., weekend and evening tournament use, etc.), a fee equal to the cost of the additional maintenance shall be charged (as determined by the Parks & Recreation Department). Fly Maintenance Standardsftlicaes: The general maintenance standards and policies for these facilities includes the following: • the Park & Recreation Director shall field inspect the facility at least twice a season. • general field inspection should be undertaken once a week by appropriate staff to assure that no serious maintenance problems hava arisen. • mowing and trimming should be undertaken on a regular schedule (every 7 to 10 days, depending on weather and need) during the season of use. • principal fields should be irrigated to allow for maximum use. • principal fields should have lighting to allow for maximum use. • fields should be aerated a minimum of three times each season. • fields should be fertilized once per month during the season on irrigated fields, with the fall period being most important. • infield ag-lime should be dragged on a daily basis during the season of use or as requested by those reserving the field for tournaments, etc. (may be subject to a fee as defined above). • infield ag-lime should be lined on a daily basis during the season of use or as requested by those reserving the field for tournaments, etc. (may be subject to a fee as defined above). • lining equipment and chalk should be made available to those reserving fields to allow them to do their own striping (a fee, as determined by the Park & Recreation Director, should be charged to off -set direct costs to the City). • all facility amenities (such as benches, fences, bleachers, backstops, etc.) should be periodically inspected and repaired (if necessary) prior to and during each season of use. • the field should be topdressed and overseeded as necessary to maintain a consistent, well established turf area. Seeding should be undertaken in spring (through May 15th) or fall (August 15th through September 15th). Soccer/Football and Feld Hockey Intended Use: These facilities are intended to: • provide City residents, local businesses, and local Athletic Associations with gamefields appropriate for an organized and league level of play. Reservation/Use Policies: Includes the following provisions: • fields can be reserved for use by City residents, 1 4-41 City of Rosemount City sponsored programs, local League teams, and local Athletic Associations on a first -come - first -served basis. • the Park & Recreation Committee and Department will be responsible for scheduling field use, developing a fair and equitable reservation policies (i.e., cancellations, deposits, etc.) • an adequate fee, as determined by the Park & Recreation Committee and Department, shall be charged for reserved field use to off -set the operations and maintenance costs of the park and recreation system. if reserved use requires additional City provided maintenance services beyond adopted maintenance procedures (i.e., weekend and evening tournament use, etc.), a fee equal to the cost of the additional maintenance shall be charged (as determined by the Parks & Recreation Department). F ' i y Maintenance Standards: The general maintenance standards and policies for these facilities includes the following: • the Park & Recreation Director shall field inspect the facility at least twice a season. • general field inspection should be undertaken once a week by appropriate staff to assure that no serious maintenance problems have arisen. • mowing and trimming should be undertaken on a regular schedule (every 7 to 10 days, depending on weather and need) during the season of use.. • principal fields should be irrigated to allow for maximum use. • principal fields should have lighting to allow for maximum use. Section 4 - Park System Framework • fields should be aerated a minimum of three times each season. • fields should be fertilized once per month during the season on irrigated fields, with the fall period being most important. • gamefields should be lined on an as needed basis determined by the Park and Recreation Director during the season of use or as requested by those reserving the field for tournaments, etc. (may be subject to a fee as defined above). • lining equipment and chalk should be made available to those reserving fields to allow them to do their own striping (a fee, as determined by the Park & Recreation Director, should be charged to off -set direct costs to the City). • all facility amenities (such as goals, benches, bleachers, etc.) should be periodically inspected and repaired (if necessary) prior to and during each season of use. • the field should be topdressed and overseeded as necessary to maintain a consistent, well established turf area. Seeding should be undertaken in spring (through May 15th) or fall (August 15th through September 15th). Hockey and Skating Rinks Intended Use: These facilities are intended to: provide City residents with a hockey rink for unstructured "pick-up" games. provide City residents with skating rinks for pleasure skating. • provide City residents, local businesses, and local Athletic Associations with hockey rinks appropriate for an organized and league level of play. Reservation/Use Policies: Includes the following provisions: • hockey rinks can be reserved for use by City residents, City sponsored programs, local league teams, and local Athletic Associations on a first- come -first-served basis. • the Park & Recreation Committee and Department will be responsible for scheduling hockey rink use, developing a fair and equitable reservation system, and reservation policies. • a certain amount of hockey rink time, as determined by the Parks and Recreation Director, should be set aside for "open skating" in order to allow for non -programmed use and "pick-up" games, especially on Saturdays and Sundays during the season. • if reserved use requires additional City provided maintenance services beyond adopted maintenance procedures (i.e., weekend and evening cleaning, flooding, etc.), a fee equal to the cost of the additional maintenance shall be charged (as determined by the Parks & Recreation Department). Facility Maintenance Standards/Policies: The general maintenance standards and policies for these facilities includes the following: • the Park & Recreation Director shall field inspect the facility at least twice a season. • general facility inspection shall be undertaken once a week by appropriate staff to assure that no serious maintenance problems have arisen. • initial flooding should be undertaken about mid- December of each year, with the initial base flooding being undertaken in the evening or during the night. Lines should be established during initial flooding period in accordance with adopted standards. 4-42 City of Rosemount • rinks should be re -flooded on a scheduled basis, as determined by the Parks & Recreation Director, and/or as necessary to assure high quality and safe skating conditions. • the skating season should run from mid- December to mid-February, depending on general weather conditions. No re -flooding shall take place after mid-February. • seasonal warming house should be provided at each skating facility, preferably a permanent one. • hockey and skating rinks shall have adequate fighting to assure safe use. • the Parks and Recreation Department shall promote volunteerism for assisting in the daily maintenance of hockey and skating rinks (i.e., snow removal, flooding, etc.) to help off -set costs and provide the highest quality facilities. Volunteer efforts shall be coordinated by the Parks & Recreation Director. all facility amenities (such as goals, benches, hockey boards, etc.) should be periodically inspected and repaired (if necessary) prior to and during each season of use. Tennis Courts, Basketball Courts/ Hardsurface Games, Horseshoe Pits, Volleyball, Shuffleboard, and Disc Golf Intended Use: These facilities are intended to: provide City residents with. facilities for unstructured "pick-up" games. • provide City residents, local businesses, and local Athletic Associations with facilities appropriate for an organized and league level of play. (Note: only in designated playfields/athletic complexes). G t f f i Section 4 - Park System Framework Reservation/Use Policies: Includes the following provisions: • facilities can be reserved for use by City residents, City sponsored programs, local League teams, and local Athletic Associations on a first- come -first-served basis. • the Park & Recreation Committee and Department will be responsible for scheduling facility use, developing a fair and equitable reservation system, and reservation policies. • a certain amount of facility time, as determined by the Parks and Recreation Director, should be set aside for "open use" to allow for non - programmed use and "pick-up" games, especially on Saturdays and Sundays during the various seasons. • if reserved use requires additional City provided maintenance services beyond adopted maintenance procedures (i.e., weekend and evening use, etc.), a fee equal to the cost of the additional maintenance shall be charged (as determined by the Parks & Recreation Department). Facility Maintenance Standards- The general maintenance standards and policies for these facilities includes the following: • the Park & Recreation Director shall field inspect each facility at least once a season. • general field inspection should be undertaken once a week by appropriate staff to assure that no serious maintenance problems have arisen. • all facility amenities (such as goals, benches, nets, etc.) should be periodically inspected and repaired (if necessary) prior to and during each season of use. • principal facilities should have lighting to allow for maximum use. Lighted facilities should be limited to playfields/athletic complexes unless determined otherwise during the design phase of specific park sites. Play Structures Intended Use: These facilities are intended to: • provide children with safe and creative play environments for unstructured play activities. Reservation/Use Policies: Includes the following provisions: • intended for first -come -first-served use and therefore reservations are not appropriate. Facility Maintenance Standards: The general maintenance standards and policies for play structures includes the following: • the Park & Recreation Director shall field inspect each facility at least twice a season. • all play structures should be periodically inspected and repaired (if necessary) on a continuous, year-round basis to assure that the equipment is safe for use. • all play structures/equipment shall be of a manufactured variety with a proven record of industry safety and play creativity. Repairs (if necessary) should be completed immediately. • all play structures/equipment shall have a sand safety surface underneath to a depth as recommended by industry standards. For consistency, sand surfacing shall be used throughout the park system. 4-43 City of Rosemount Picnic Shelters and Park Buildings Intended Use: This facility is intended to: • provide City Residents with facilities for group picnics and park buildings for restrooms, concessions, storage, warming house, activities/meetings, etc. Reservation/Use Policies: Includes the following provisions: • facilities can be reserved for use by City residents, City sponsored groups, community/ public service groups on a first -come -first-served basis. • the Park & Recreation Committee and Department will be responsible for scheduling field use, developing a fair and equitable reservation system, and reservation policies (i.e., cancellations, deposits, etc.) • an adequate fee, as determined by the Park & Recreation Committee and Department, shall be charged for reserved facility use to off -set the operations and maintenance costs of the park and recreation system. • if reserved use requires additional City provided maintenance services beyond adopted maintenance procedures (i.e., weekend and evening use, etc.), a fee equal to the cost of the additional maintenance shall be charged (as determined by the Parks & Recreation Department). Facility Maintenance Standards&(Ajg & The general maintenance standards and policies for this facility includes the following: the Park & Recreation Director shall field inspect the facility at least twice a season. The Section 4 - Park System Framework director shall develop a maintenance schedule which defines specific maintenance procedures and timeframes. • general shelter and building inspections should be undertaken once a week by appropriate staff to assure that no serious maintenance problems have arisen. • all shelters and buildings shall be thoroughly cleaned at least once per season. Daily cleaning during use periods should include sweeping, trash removal, restroom cleaning, and general site cleanup. • mechanical and electrical system of each facility should be inspected and repaired (if necessary) at least once per season of use and as a needed. General Park and Picnic Areas (includes Sliding Hills) Intended Use: These areas are intended to: • provide City residents with open space, picnic areas, park settings, etc. for their person use and enjoyment. Reservation/Use Policies: Includes the following provisions: • first -come -first served use basis. (reservations are generally not applicable except for group picnic areas which should be reserved in the same manner as picnic shelters). Facility Maintenance Standards&olicies: The general maintenance standards and policies for this facility includes the following: the Park & Recreation Director shall field inspect all park areas at least once a season. The director shall develop a maintenance schedule which defines specific maintenance procedures and timeframes. • general field inspection should be undertaken once a week by appropriate staff to assure that no serious maintenance problems have arisen. • mowing and trimming should be undertaken on a regular schedule (every 10 to 14 days, depending on weather and need). • turf area aeration and fertilizing (fall period) should be undertaken a minimum of once a year. • all facility amenities (such as benches, picnic tables, grills, park signs, etc.) should be periodically inspected and repaired (if necessary) on an on-going basis throughout the year. • turf areas should be topdressed and overseeded as necessary to maintain a consistent, well established turf area. Seeding should be undertaken in spring (through May 15th) or fall (August 15th through September 15th). • trash and recycling containers should be emptied on a regular schedule as needed. General site clean-up should be undertaken at least once per season and as otherwise needed. • the Parks and Recreation Department shall promote volunteerism for assisting in the on- going maintenance and upkeep of park areas to help off -set costs and provide the highest quality facilities. Volunteer efforts shall be coordinated by the Parks & Recreation Director. Trails Intended Use: Trails are intended to: • provide City residents with an enjoyable outdoor recreational experience and safe transportation to and fromvarious parks as well as in and around the City. 4-44 I City of Rosemount Reservationalse Policies: Includes the following provisions: • intended for first -come -first-served use and therefore reservation are not appropriate. Facility Maintenance Standards: The general maintenance standards and policies for trails includes the following: • the Park & Recreation Director shall field inspect all trails at least once a season. general field inspection should be undertaken on a scheduled, periodic basis and after inclement weather by appropriate staff to assure that no serious maintenance problems have arisen. Repairs (if necessary) should be completed in a timely fashion. Maintenance problems which create unsafe conditions shall be taken care of immediately. • all trails shall be swept in early spring and as necessary during the season of use as determined by the Park & Recreation Director. • general maintenance shall include mowing shoulders, brush removal, debris pick-up, and patching/trail repair. Asphalt trails shall be seal coated with acceptable product on a scheduled basis as determined appropriate by City Engineer. • principal use park and transportation trails shall be plowed of snow throughout the winter months. The Park & Recreation Committee and Parks & Recreation Director shall determine which trails should be plowed. • Cross -Country Ski and Snowmobile trails shall be groomed as necessary to assure safe and usable trail conditions. • Horse trails shall be inspected at least once per season to assure that the are safe for use. 71 w r Section 5 - Administrative/Management Framework Section 5 Administrative/Management Framework Overview To be successful, the development of a complete and comprehensive park system goes beyond the acquisition and development of its physical components. Like most enterprises, the park system's success will lie not only in its actual physical resources, but in how well these resources are used within the context of a comprehensive park system. In this light, it becomes apparent that administrative procedures and management techniques play an important role in assuring that the park system develops and functions in an effective and efficient manner whereby its greatest potential is realized. The forthcoming administrative/management framework is intended to: highlight and define important administrative and management issues. • establish a framework and course of action to guide the development of administrative procedures and management techniques. As with the governing policies, it is important to recognize that administrative/ management development is a process unto itself and as such will not happen over night. A consistent, on-going implementation effort timed to coincide with other community development initiatives is the only practical way to accomplish the task at hand. Given this, many of the administrative/management issues discussed in this section will require additional review and discussion until an appropriate set of administrative procedures and management techniques are developed and, ultimately, implemented. Since some of these issues encompass more than just parks and recreation, they will certainly require the involvement of other governing 5-1 City of Rosemount bodies and planning entities within the City. Parks and Recreation Committee The Parks & Recreation Committee in Rosemount plays the primary role in overseeing the development of the park system and establishing recreational programs that serve the needs of a wide variety of individuals and user groups. They must provide the visionary lead in the development of the park system, always striving to achieve a high quality park system within the realities of limited resources and other community development concerns. For the Committee to ultimately be successful in carrying out their responsibilities, they must be recognized by other public bodies as playing an important role in the community planning process. Section 5 - Administrative/Management Framework In essence, they must be allowed to contribute to the planning process in a manner which assures that park and recreation related issues are given due consideration in a timely fashion and in the proper planning sequence. For this to become reality, the Committee must: • be made up of individuals who are committed to the development of a high quality park system, can understand its mission and goals, and are willing to be proactive in their approach to implementing the park system plan. take on the responsibility for interpreting and implementing the park system plan. Their findings and recommendations as they relate to community planning and development issues should be recognized by all city departments and public bodies as critical considerations during the decision making process. Only in this manner will the mission and goals of the park system have the opportunity to be carried out in future years. be cognizant of community interests/demands and develop the best course of action which takes into consideration recreational needs/trends, and program demands, and population growth patterns/areas of urbanization. work with other public bodies and city departments to develop a clear and definable method of communication to assure that all parties are informed about community planning and development issues as they arise, not after the fact. To accomplish this objective, a specific person within each city department, each public body, and the Committee itself should be designated as the liaison between their respective department/public body and the other departments/public bodies. In this manner, the channel for on-going communication will be clearly established. As an initial step, the Committee should take the initiative and suggest that an open forum meeting be undertaken between themselves, all city departments, and all public bodies to openly discuss their objectives and role in the community planning process. Clearly defining their role in the process is absolutely vital to the implementation of the park system plan. With respect to the Committee itself, it must be made up of individuals who have the willingness and capacity to understand and carry out the park system's mission and goals. Without strong internal strength it will be doubtful that the Committees' views and concerns will be considered by other public bodies during the community planning process. Given the important role that the Committee will play in implementing the park system plan, a number of factors should be considered during the interviewing and selection process for Committee members. Specifically, interested individuals should: • understand current community interests and concerns related to parks and recreation. • understand the overall intent of the park system and recognize the overall complexities of its development. • recognize the varying needs of divergent community and special interests groups. • be willing to use their personal and professional skills and experience in performing Committee functions. • recognize that community interest must outweigh private interests regarding parks and recreation concerns. • understand that personal interests must be combined with personal dedication and commitment to the Committee's functions (i.e., individuals must be able and willing to give of 5-2 City of Rosemount their personal time to meet the requirements of the Committee's administrative responsibilities, including scheduled and non-scheduled meetings, work sessions, sub -committee obligations, etc.). • be willing to take on specific responsibilities, such as research, public meetings, policy drafting, coordination of special events, etc., as necessary to assure that Committee activities and programs are completed in a successful and timely fashion. be willing to abide by the adopted Parks and Recreation Committees Constitution and By - Laws. Figure 5.1 - Parks and Recreation Committee - Constitution and Bylaws defines the adopted constitution and bylaws for the Parks and Recreation Committee (approved 11/19/90 regular meeting). Additionally, previously adopted City policies related to the selection of the Committee members and their responsibilities should be referred to and considered part of this section. Recreation Programming Aside from the Parks & Recreation Committee's and Department's responsibilities related to overseeing the development and maintenance of the park system, one of their major functions is the development and implementation of recreational and community programs. Although it is not the intent of this study to deal specifically with recreation and community program development per se, it is important to recognize the significant role that programming plays within the context of a comprehensive park system. Section 5 - Administrative/Management Framework Figme 5.1 L Name and Members A) Rosemount Park & Recreation Committee B) Above Committee, City of Rosemount, consists of seven (7) members and operates under Ordinance VIII.1, serving in an advisory capacity to the City Council. IIL Election and Tenure A) No member can serve two consecutive terms in either the office of Chairman or Vice Chairman B) Vacancies- New officers will be elected at the first meeting following a vacancy C) Regular election of officers should be held in November of each year D) Term in office will be from January through December 31 each year. E) Duties of officers 1. Chairman a. preside at meetings b. liaison between City Council and Committee as needed C. appoint committees 2. Vice Chairman - preside in absence of Chairman 3. Secretary a. keep minutes and submit to Director of Parks & Recreation b. correspondence of the Committee IV. Meetings A) Time - third Monday of the month B) Place - City Hall in Rosemount C) Special 1. Chairman consults all officers and they must see necessity City of Rosemount Parks and Recreation Committee - Constitution and Bylaws 2. Five members can call a special meeting 3. Notice of all special meetings must be given 24 hours in advance to all members D) Members must attend eight of twelve monthly meetings. During the one year period a member must resign after the fourth meeting missed; except under extenuating circumstances with prior approval. V. quorum Consists of a majority of board members. VL Purpose A) Interview and recommend hiring of Park & Recreation Director. B) Recommend associated personnel to Director. C) Act as a channel for community input to the Park & Recreation Department regarding the needs, wants, problems, and dissatisfactions of the residents. Act as a channel for ideas from the community. D) Develop greater public awareness of the parks and what the Park and Recreation Department is and does. E) Develop a Park System Plan including size, location, and design of the parks and recreational facilities. Guide future acquisition, development, and dedication so that they fulfill the plan. F) Establish funding priorities and recommend appropriate method of funding - Lawcon or other grants, CIP, Bond Issues, regular budget, etc. G) Ensure a balanced recreation program - active and passive - individual and group. H) Ensure proper maintenance of recreational areas and parks with available manpower, funds, and equipment. I) Establish rules and regulations governing the use of parks and recreation facilities. VEL Role of Parts & Recreation Director A) Attend Committee meetings B) Non -Voting member of Committee 1 5-3 C) Provide reports and information concerning parks and recreation development D) Liaison to City Council - present Committee recommendations to City Council VIIL Amendments A) This constitution may be amended at any regular business meeting by a 2/3 vote of those present and voting, provided that written or printed notice of proposed amendment has been given to all members at least one week prior to meeting. B) Bylaws or standing rules may be adopted at any regular meeting by a majority vote, provided previous notice was given. IX. Meeting Reimbursement Members will be reimbursed at a rate of $15.00 per meeting. 1. 7:30 p.m. meeting time 2. City Hall - place of meeting 3. Meeting conducted according to parliamentary procedure 4. Secretary must submit minutes to Director of Parks & Recreation within seven days after meeting. Items III - C & III - D were added by a motion of Del L.orentzson, a second by Larry Walsh, and unanimous vote of committee at December 15, 1986. Motion was to be implemented at November, 1987 meeting for election of officers. U. Ofticen; A) Chairman B) Vice -Chairman C) Secretary IIL Election and Tenure A) No member can serve two consecutive terms in either the office of Chairman or Vice Chairman B) Vacancies- New officers will be elected at the first meeting following a vacancy C) Regular election of officers should be held in November of each year D) Term in office will be from January through December 31 each year. E) Duties of officers 1. Chairman a. preside at meetings b. liaison between City Council and Committee as needed C. appoint committees 2. Vice Chairman - preside in absence of Chairman 3. Secretary a. keep minutes and submit to Director of Parks & Recreation b. correspondence of the Committee IV. Meetings A) Time - third Monday of the month B) Place - City Hall in Rosemount C) Special 1. Chairman consults all officers and they must see necessity City of Rosemount Parks and Recreation Committee - Constitution and Bylaws 2. Five members can call a special meeting 3. Notice of all special meetings must be given 24 hours in advance to all members D) Members must attend eight of twelve monthly meetings. During the one year period a member must resign after the fourth meeting missed; except under extenuating circumstances with prior approval. V. quorum Consists of a majority of board members. VL Purpose A) Interview and recommend hiring of Park & Recreation Director. B) Recommend associated personnel to Director. C) Act as a channel for community input to the Park & Recreation Department regarding the needs, wants, problems, and dissatisfactions of the residents. Act as a channel for ideas from the community. D) Develop greater public awareness of the parks and what the Park and Recreation Department is and does. E) Develop a Park System Plan including size, location, and design of the parks and recreational facilities. Guide future acquisition, development, and dedication so that they fulfill the plan. F) Establish funding priorities and recommend appropriate method of funding - Lawcon or other grants, CIP, Bond Issues, regular budget, etc. G) Ensure a balanced recreation program - active and passive - individual and group. H) Ensure proper maintenance of recreational areas and parks with available manpower, funds, and equipment. I) Establish rules and regulations governing the use of parks and recreation facilities. VEL Role of Parts & Recreation Director A) Attend Committee meetings B) Non -Voting member of Committee 1 5-3 C) Provide reports and information concerning parks and recreation development D) Liaison to City Council - present Committee recommendations to City Council VIIL Amendments A) This constitution may be amended at any regular business meeting by a 2/3 vote of those present and voting, provided that written or printed notice of proposed amendment has been given to all members at least one week prior to meeting. B) Bylaws or standing rules may be adopted at any regular meeting by a majority vote, provided previous notice was given. IX. Meeting Reimbursement Members will be reimbursed at a rate of $15.00 per meeting. 1. 7:30 p.m. meeting time 2. City Hall - place of meeting 3. Meeting conducted according to parliamentary procedure 4. Secretary must submit minutes to Director of Parks & Recreation within seven days after meeting. Items III - C & III - D were added by a motion of Del L.orentzson, a second by Larry Walsh, and unanimous vote of committee at December 15, 1986. Motion was to be implemented at November, 1987 meeting for election of officers. Section 5 - Administrative/Management Framework Section 3 - Governing Policies define the goals, objectives, and policies that are related to recreational programs and programming. The governing policies should not be viewed as an end unto themselves but as an impetus for further thought and action. The governing policies should also be used to judge whether or not specific programs are consistent with established program objectives and the mission of the park and recreation system. It is important to recognize that individuals participating in the City's recreational programs undoubtedly gain lasting impressions about the City itself and the quality of the park system. As such, the importance of providing a quality service through well -conceived programs becomes important to the continued success of the park system. City residents are much more likely to support continued enhancement of the park system if they feel that the City is doing a good job of providing cost effective and beneficial programs for their enjoyment. Based on the findings of this study (Section 2 - Assessment of Rosemount's Parks and Recreation Needs), the recreation programs and programming (as they currently exist) are recognized as real strengths of the park system, thus providing a history of success and solid base in which to build on in the future. However, it must also be recognized that an ever increasing population base and expanding overall program demand will create ever increasing demands and continuing pressure on the current system. Therefore, programming practices and procedures should be reviewed on an on-going basis to assure that the system can adjust to future demands. One important note about programming is the tendency by many communities to provide programs which go beyond servicing the needs of their own population base. Ultimately, this results in over- extending themselves to the point were facilities that are not intended for programmed activities are being used extensively for that purpose. Referring back to the "Facility Use and Maintenance Standards" as defined in Section 4 - Park System Framework, the intended use of all recreational facilities is to: "provide City residents, local businesses, local civic groups and organizations, and local athletic associations with recreational facilities that are safe, of a high quality, and appropriate for the intended use and level of play." This is not to say that the City should avoid sharing facilities with local schools and adjacent communities. After all, it has already been clearly established that cooperative partnerships are desirable because they can be very beneficial if executed properly. However, what it is intended to say is that there must be a relatively equitable balance between what the City provides for other communities and what it receives in return. Finding this balance is perhaps one of the most challenging responsibilities that the Park & Recreation Committee and Department will have in the forthcoming years. Some of the key factors that must be considered include: • developing a list of facilities within the park system which are appropriate for program uses. The information provided in the various sections of this study should provide the basis for developing the list. • determine the total number of times each facility can be effectively programmed without creating significant maintenance problems. Essentially, determine the "turnover rate" of each facility. • determine the total number of participants that can be involved in each program given the number of facilities available and their accompanying turnover rate. 5-4 City of Rosemount It must also be remembered that a relative balance must also be achieved between passive and active recreational facilities. As such, future park system development must be undertaken in a manner in which all types of recreational facilities are developed at the same relative pace, whereby the needs of the City residents are met equally across the board. These development decisions will be very difficult because it often means that providing for one type of recreational activity is seemingly done at the expense of another. But the reality is that the City will have to make these choices in the future because the resources will not likely be available to provide for every conceivable need. That is why it will become very important in the future to: • closely monitor the overall level of programming and the facilities available for programmed activities to assure that a reasonable balance is maintained. • maintain open and on-going communication and interaction with the community so that their most urgent needs are clearly understood. • form equitable partnerships with adjacent communities and the local school district to help assure that program needs are being met as economically as possible. • closely monitor the cost -benefit of developing the various recreational facilities. With respect to future programming demands, areas worthy of consideration would include: • continued expansion of joint programming between the City and the other members of the partnership (see Section 3 -Governing Policies) in a manner which is equitable to all parties. • continued expansion of programs for the elderly and special populations. I Section 5 - Administrative Mana ement Framework � g PA u L� • continuous monitoring of existing and newly formed programs to assure that they function as intended. In addition to the governing policies as defined in Section 3, a number of others issues are worthy of consideration when evaluating the effectiveness of current programs and determining the appropriateness of future programming options. Given that recreation is for persons of all ages, programs must be directed to reach each interest and age group. A complete community program should contain five important elements: Purpose, Personnel, Participation, Progression and Process. • The P of programs and programming is to stimulate or respond to various interests and activities: a) A concise definition for each program should come first. b) All program discussions must relate to that purpose. c) Stimulate renewed interest in existing programs and evaluate the potential for new areas of activity. • Personnel commitments are necessary for the continuation and success of any program or activity. a) Willingness, competence and capability are three necessary staff traits to conduct effective programming. b) Continuous staff training including formal and informal instruction is necessary to program operation. • Participation is a result of a program's real substance ... people. a) Participants should establish program function and assume program leadership. b) Personnel must respond to requests and demands of the participants in a rational manner. • Proeression through experience, responsibility, abilities and expanded opportunities must be included in every program. a) Experience must progress from age level to age level, activity to activity and opportunity to opportunity. b) Every level must be challenging; experiences and memories are the test of program effectiveness. c) Unique, new, and improved programs excite people. Keep them interested with exciting, challenging programs. •Proem explains what recreation is, not a product, but a "state of being." a) Recreation staff must perceive, evaluate and communicate how things are happening, not just what happens. b) Develop good attitudes among participants by explaining the benefits of all activities and programs. c) Recreation, education and social interaction can be achieved in well-rounded recreational programs. Communication and Community Interaction As pointed out in Section 2 - Assessment of Rosemount's Park and Recreation Needs, on-going 1 5-5 City of Rosemount communication and interaction with City residents plays a vital role in enhancing their understanding of the park system's facilities and recreational programs. Section 3 - Governing Policies define the goals, objectives, and policies related to communicating and interacting with City residents and provides the basis for developing a comprehensive communication strategy. The forthcoming text defines the basic components of a comprehensive communication and community interaction strategy. Taken together as a whole, this strategy will: • provide City residents with an opportunity to gain a better understanding of the park system and related recreational activities. • provide City residents with an opportunity to have input with respect to future park facilities and recreational program development. Communication Strategy As would be expected, the key to a successful communication strategy is recognizing the need for information and providing it in a medium which will reach specific and targeted audiences. Given the diversity of interests within the community and the variety of facilities available and programs offered, it seems quite understandable that a number of communication mediums will need to be used to reach the majority of the potential user groups. Since the need for information about the park & recreation system and program offerings has been clearly documented (i.e., community survey, public meetings, etc.), it seems appropriate and necessary for the City to continue expanding their communication efforts in the forthcoming years. The following is a listing of various communication Section 5 - Administrative/Management Framework mediums which are often used by communities and should be considered for use in Rosemount: Recreational Activities Brochure: Typically describes seasonal recreational program offerings, provides parks and recreational information, and lists upcoming community and recreational events. The brochure is prepared and distributed by the Parks & Recreation Department. • Local Newspaper(s): Typically a weekly or bi- weekly publication with a section dedicated to parks and recreation issues, upcoming events, and agenda items for upcoming Park & Recreation Committee Meetings. City Brochures and Flyers: Typically used to announce special events, public meetings, etc. Prepared by the Parks & Recreation Department and distributed through local businesses, schools, civic organizations, and local associations. Often used in concert with other communication mediums, such as the local newspaper(s). • Local Athletic Association Brochures and Flyers: Similar to the Recreational Activities Brochure but is prepared and distributed by the local athletic associations in cooperation with the Parks & Recreation Department. • School District Brochures and Flyers: Typically describes school -city cooperative programs such as nature interpretive programs, concerts -in -the - park, etc. Prepared and distributed by the local schools in cooperation with the Parks & Recreation Department. • Senior Citizen Brochures and Flyers: Typically describes senior programs and activities. Prepared and distributed by the local senior organizations in cooperation with the Parks & Recreation Department. • Special Notice Mailing: Typically used to distribute community -wide surveys and important notifications, such as a notice of a public meeting to discuss an upcoming park project, etc. • Special Interest Group Mailing: Occasionally used by private enterprises to promote a specific event or facility, such as a Disc Golf Course, etc. Mailings should be prepared by the private interest in cooperation with the Parks and Recreation Department. • Comprehensive Park and Trail System Map: Clearly illustrates park site locations, trail corridors, and park system facilities. Typically distributed on a one or two year cycle. Developing an overall communication strategy using a combination of the various communication mediums will undoubtedly enhance the City residents' overall perceptions and understanding of the park system and the recreational programs/facilities available for their use and enjoyment. Community Interaction Although the previously listed communication mediums provide City residents with important information related to parks and recreation activities, they do not provide them with the opportunity to participate in discussions related to the planning and development of the park system and recreational programs. The following is a listing of the various ways in which City residents can be given the opportunity to better understand and participate in the development of the park system and recreation programs: • provide residents with an opportunity to review the Comprehensive Park Plan and Development Guide to aid in their understanding of the vision, 5-6 City of Rosemount purpose, and complexities of the park system. use public meetings to solicit residents thoughts and feedback about specific developments and programs. • initiate periodic meetings with local civic groups, schools, athletic associations, etc. to discuss relevant issues and determine specific areas of need. • use volunteer groups to promote various park and recreation related programs, such as adopt - a -park, park watch, etc. I r Joint -Use Agreements I As previously defined In Section 3 - Governing Policies, an important goal of the City is to: "Maximize the recreational opportunities available to City residents through the development of a fair and equitable working partnership between the local school districts, adjacent cities, Dakota County, churches, civic organizations, and the City of Rosemount." Undoubtedly, maximizing the level of cooperation between members of the partnership will become more critical in the future as rising demand for recreational facilities coupled with the economic constraints of developing new facilities limit the City's ability to service all of the community's parks and recreational needs. Therefore, having very clearly defined joint -use agreements in place between members of the partnership will become more critical than it has been in the past. The City must have a definitive, long-term commitments from other members of the partnership since they will undoubtedly affect other development decisions. As an example, a joint -use 11 It J t Section 5 - Administrative/Management Framework City of Rosemount agreement between the City and Rosemount High School will greatly affect the manner in which the City develops its athletic facilities in the future. Establishing a clear and definable process is critical to the long-term success of joint -use agreements. The process consists of a number of important steps which ultimately lead to fair and equitable joint -use agreements between the members of the partnership. The key elements of the process are: • Equal Representation: Each member of the partnership, through mutual agreement, should appoint a staff person to represent their interests in the partnership. • Interactive Dialogue: An interactive dialogue between representatives should be undertaken for the purpose of defining the issues which impact the formulation of effective joint -use agreements. • Implementation Planning: An implementation plan must be established which clearly defines the commitments and responsibilities of each member of the partnership on an overall basis and on a specific facility basis. On an overall basis, the joint -use agreement should clearly define the goals of the partnership and the general principles of the process. The goals, objectives, and policies as defined in Section 3 - Governing Policies should provide a starting point for continued discussions between all parties of the partnership. On a specific facility basis, the joint -use agreement should clearly define the specific responsibilities of each party involved in the development, use, and maintenance of a particular facility. These detailed agreements are vital to the success of the partnership because it is at this level at which actual implementation takes place. Agreement Parameters Agreement parameters define what the important aspects of the agreement are, what each of the partners can and are willing to bring to the partnership, and determine what is a fair and equitable solution. It is important to recognize that the objective of these joint -use agreements is for the city to derive some quantifiable benefit from forming a partnership verses going it alone, even though the agreement itself may not represent an even split with respect to commitment or responsibility. The following defines the general format for and important points of joint -use agreements: • Name of Project/Park Site: Defines the name for the site being discussed, such as "Shannon Park Youth Athletic Complex". • Parties to the Agreement: Defines the parties involved in the agreement. Date and Term of Agreement: Defines the starting and ending date of the agreement as well as makes provisions for annual review (to assure that the agreement is meeting its objectives) and automatic renewal (often automatically renewed on a yearly basis unless request are made for revisions). • Site Description: Clearly defines the property limits, including legal descriptions as appropriate. • Ownership: Clearly defines who the owners of the property are and defines their long-term ownership intentions with the property. • Lease Agreement: If a particular parcel of property is leased to the City (or visa -a -versa), the conditions of the lease arrangement should 5-7 be clearly defined. • Development Program and Site Master Plan: Clearly defines how the site will be developed in the future. This should include a written program which defines all facilities and site amenities and a master plan which graphically illustrates their locations on the property. Development Responsibilities: Clearly defines the responsibilities of each party with respect to economic commitment (i.e., who will pay for the development) and actual development (i.e., who will oversee and administer the construction). The timeframe for development of the site should also be clearly defined. Maintenance Responsibilities: Clearly defines the responsibilities of each party with respect to maintaining the facilities. This should be yM sW,cifi including a facility by facility breakdown. Also important to define is which party has the authority to limit use of a particular facility for maintenance purposes (typically given to the party who is responsible for the maintenance of the facility). The expected level of maintenance should also be defined, such as "safe, sanitary, and operable conditions shall be maintained at all times". Scheduling of Activities: Clearly defines each party's use of the various facilities and the manner in which they are scheduled, including which party has priority status. Insurance. Clearly defines what level of insurance each party must carry on the site. Typically, each party carries liability insurance for the site and lists each other as "additional insured". • User Fees and Income f -om Activities: Clearly defines how user fees, if collected, and other income will be used. Typically, user fees and income are used to off -set debt and maintenance costs. Section 5 - Administrative/Management Framework Review Process: A provision should be included which establishes an agreement review process, thus providing the opportunity to review the facility needs of both parties and provide the opportunity to make alterations to the site in response to changes in recreational demands, etc. • Rules: Clearly defines the standard operational rules, such as time of operation, reservations, use of facilities, etc. Although these agreements will likely have to be legal and binding documents, it is important that they be written in a manner which is understandable to those who will be implementing them, namely the Park & Recreation Committee and the Parks & Recreation Department staff, maintenance crews, programmers, etc. System Identification (Signage Program) As previously defined In Section 3 - Governing Policies, a compressive signage program provides an important opportunity to communicate with the residents, create a desirable park system identity, and visually strengthen the concept of a complete park system. The forthcoming text defines the basic components of a typical signage program. Signage Program Outline To be effective, the signage program must: • be designed to achieve a distinct and definable park system identity. • provide information in a succinct and understandable fashion. be consistent throughout the park system to assure overall continuity. • be cost-effective to produce and install. To achieve these objectives, a Signage Manual should be prepared which clearly defines the sign classifications and design standards to be applied uniformly throughout the park system. The Minnesota Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devises and MnDOT/MnDNR Sign Manuals should be used as reference for specific signage criteria. Additionally, one of the more complete signage manuals has been prepared by Hennepin County Parks and is worthy of review. Typical Sign Classifications Park Site Identification Signs: Identifies each park within the park system. A hierarchal signage relationship is often established between the various park sites. Community parks and athletic fields typically receive the largest identification signs, followed by neighborhood parks, mini -parks, etc. Information, Directional and Specific Facility Identification Signs: Provide information, direct the park visitors/users, and identifies specific facilities within a given park. Defines park uses, events, interpretive information, etc. Regulatory Signs: Provide information related to park rules and warns park users of potentially unsafe conditions. Traffic Signs: Provide traffic control information and regulates vehicle use within the park system. Also for regulating the use of trails within the park system. 5-S City of Rosemount It is important to note that signs for rules, warnings, and traffic control should conform to applicable State and National Standards. The design standards themselves consist of several basic components: Graphic Component: includes the format (i.e., general style), City Parks and Recreation logo, colors, type styles, sizes, symbols, map sizes, lighting, etc. Signs must be clearly legible and comprehensible. Materials/Hardware Component: Consistent, durable, and accessible materials and hardware should be used for sign fabrication. The fabrication and installation procedures for the various signs should be consistent, reasonably simple, and cost effective. It should be noted that a multitude of new sign materials are entering the marketplace each year which offer interesting and often very cost effective alternatives to standard materials. Many of these materials have proven to be very resilient to weather and vandalism and therefore warrant due consideration. Standard Locations: The standard locations for the various signs should be clearly defined within the Sign Manual to assure consistent sign placement throughout the park system. Figure 5.2 - Signage Examples illustrates a variety of sign types and sizes that have been used within various park systems. I M / / \\ \ = M ao= lam m m m m " m oom m Section 5 - Administrative Framework Figure 5.2 (Part 2 of 2) Identification Sign: The City's current welcome sign is a good example of a creative yet simple design. Very nicely done. Identification Sign: This sign is simple in design yet aesthetically pleasing and provides a nice erantple for the City to follow in the fixture. City of Rosemount Signage Examples Identification Sign: This sign in neighboring Apple Valley is an example of a creative solution for identifying a major athletic complex. 5-10 Information and Regulatory Sign: This sign provides necessary inforniation in a concise and readable format. 1 Section 5 - Administrative/Management Framework t i L' 1 Volunteer Programs Volunteerism and volunteer programs/activities are vital to the overall success of the park system. Through the efforts of many individuals, civic organizations, athletic associations, and churches, citizens of the City of Rosemount are provided with services and program opportunities that would not otherwise be available. These organizations and the work they do and programs they offer provide the stepping stones toward expanding current programs and the impetus for developing new programs. Their continued and expanded contribution to the success of the park system will be critical in future years as economic constraints make it continually more difficult to maintain the high quality of park services that residents have come to expect of the community. In addition to the continued use and expansion of these organizations and programs, other volunteer opportunities exist that could, once implemented, have a dramatic and positive effect on the entire park system as well as the community as a whole. The following represent a number of volunteer opportunities that could be undertaken by individuals and organizations within the community. Adopt -A -Park Program Currently, the citizens of Rosemount partake in a volunteer event called "Park Improvement Day" which is sponsored by a number of civic and youth groups, such as the Jaycees, Girls Scouts, and Boy Scouts. The event, undertaken on a yearly basis, focuses on cleaning up the park system, planting trees, and general park maintenance and improvements. An Adopt -A -Park program is essentially an expansion of this theme in which the mentioned activities are undertaken on a on-going basis by either an individual volunteer or a group of volunteers. The success of this type of program will be based on a number of key factors, including: • City Leadership: Initially, the Parks and Recreation Committee and City Council must establish the overall direction and goals of the program and provide the enthusiasm to keep the program alive and moving forward. Next, the City staff must provide individual and group volunteers with the appropriate information about what they can do (and should not do) and what is expected from them. Group and Neighborhood Leadership: A strong leadership base must be established within the community. An individual or group of individuals must take on the responsibility of making sure that information about the program is distributed to the various groups and community residents. They must also maintain periodic contact with other volunteers to encourage their continuing commitment to the program. Volunteer Commitment: In the end, the program will only be successful if residents are motivated enough to make it work. In some instances, having residents sign a "pledge of support" will go a long way toward the success of the program. People tend to be much more responsible to their spoken obligation if they have committed to it by signing their name on a document. Figure 53 - City of Rosemount Adopt -A -Park Program Pledge illustrates an example of an agreement between an individual or group and the citizens of the City of Rosemount. City of Rosemount Historical Preservation Committee The preservation of the City of Rosemount's historical and rural character is important because it allows a community to retain a sense of it's past and project an image of itself into the future. As previously stated in this document, the City of Rosemount's history, rural and small town ambiance, and open spaces make up the image that residents want to project about themselves and the community. Through the establishment of a Historical Preservation Committee, the City will be in a position to promote certain standards and expectations related to the architectural style and historical preservation in specified districts within the community. Commonly adopted goals include: • to establish a preservation process for the City's historic properties and districts through effective inventorying, planning, management, and regulation. • to create and maintain a Restoration Program in the City that conscientiously manages the historic sites owned by the City; advises the City Council on restoration projects, and restores property to the appropriate level of detail for the site. • to create and maintain a regular schedule of programs that inform the general public about the history of the City, its people, and its heritage. • To establish and maintain a museum for the display and interpretation of the City's history that is available to the general public on an ongoing and regular basis. It is important to remember that the history of Section 5 - Administrative Development City of Rosemount Figure 53 (Part 1 of 2). City of Rosemount Adopt A -Park Program Pledge CITY OF ROSEMOUNT ADOPT -A -PARK PROGRAM Page 1 of 2 Park Site/Community Open Space Area To Be Adopted: Specifically Define Area(s) of Sponsor Responsibility: CHIPPENDALE PARK A) Sponsor (name of group or individual): B) C) Mailing Address: D) Task Timeframe / Frequency of Activit Tree Watering/Maintenance Play Area Upkeep (Sand Raking, Light Maintenance, Safety Checks, Etc.) Tree, Shrub, and Flower Planting Park Clean -Up (Litter and General Debris) Remove Weeds/Non-Desired Plants _ General Site Maintenance - As Described Below: 5-12 148TH W Z) z W 'a Q W J N Y W S U STREET WEST ra11TN tOCCEII FIEyD'iAN�1 1 w nctlr PORN IMr rw 1 �1 "RD SURFACE it �� tl - Q RODE i � UM LITTLE LEAa11E .j / � �1 Kir ARES / FIELD ILS 1RATR0 --------------- 1 Fur E ---------- ---- � ARE. 149TH STREET WEST W D z W a Section 5 - Administrative Development Figure 53 (Part 2 of 2). CITY OF ROSEMOUNT ADOPT -A -PARK PROGRAM Sponsor agrees to: • perform the work to the best of their ability. • observe all prudent safety precautions necessary to protect themselves and those that they are working with. • obey all traffic and parking restrictions applicable to the work area (no vehicle shall be driven across green spaces except for unloading and loading of materials. • protect all site amenities in the work area from damage during work period. • obtain written approval from Parks Department prior to any digging to avoid damage and injury from underground utilities. • follow all directions as defined by the Parks Department pertaining to the agreed upon work tasks. • completely avoid the use of unapproved fertilizers, herbicides, or pesticides without written approval and instruction from the Parks Department. • notify Parks Department in a timely fashion ( 48 hours minimum) when specific work tasks require materials supplied by others. • return all unused materials to the Parks Department promptly after completing work task. • provide adult supervision for all workers under the age of 15. • indemnify and hold harmless the City of Rosemount , its officers, and employees form all liability and claims for death, injury, or property damage out of the performance or non-performance of agreed upon work tasks. Sponsor(s) acknowledge that they or their volunteers are not considered to be employees of the City of Rosemount or its agencies. The City of Rosemount agrees to: provide all instruction necessary to complete work tasks and manage green spaces. furnish materials (trash bags, plant materials, etc.) and equipment as necessary to complete work tasks (all equipment loaned to sponsor remains under the City of Rosemount's possession and shall be returned in good condition upon completion of the specific work task). make efforts to publicly acknowledge sponsor's contribution to the Adopt - A -Park program. 5-13 Sponsor's Pledge: City of Rosemount City of Rosemount Adopt -A -Park Program Pledge Page 2 of 2 I hereby pledge to the citizens of the City of Rosemount that I (we) will perform the stipulated work tasks to the best of my (our) ability and within the stipulated timeframe(s). It is further agreed that the City of Rosemount reserves the right to terminate this agreement at an earlier date when, in the sole judgement of the Parks & Recreation Committee, it is found that the Sponsor has not satisfied the terms and conditions of this agreement. This agreement shall commence on and terminate on Sponsor Signature: ,19_ ,19_ Date: City of Rosemount Park & Recreation Committee Representative: Date: Section 5 - Administrative/Management Framework Rosemount is not only locked up in specific buildings but in the rural and small town character as well. The City must strive to identify and preserve these characteristics as a means to preserve the historical integrity of the community. In the past, there has been a great deal of effort directed toward historical preservation by the state and many other communities. These efforts have resulted in a vast body of knowledge and information about historical preservation and procedural recommendations for forming a Historical Preservation Committee. Perhaps the best source for information about historical preservation is the State Historical Society. Information can be obtained from: State Historic Preservation Office, Minnesota Historical Society, Fort Snelling History Center, St. Paul, MN 55111 (612) 726 - 1171 Given the inherent complexities and lag time involved, it is strongly encouraged that the City begin the process of establishing a viable program in the near future. Doing so will help insure that the program will be at a functional and productive level prior to the time of actual need. Professional Volunteerism In addition to the more typical volunteer programs already cited, volunteerism from the professional ranks should also be considered a viable way for the City to obtain services at reduced costs. Various professionals, ranging from foresters and naturalist to landscape architects and engineers could offer their experience and expertise to development initiatives. These individuals may either be residents of the community or affiliated with non-profit or State agencies who are willing to provide their services to the community on a volunteer basis. The Park and Recreation Committee should compile a list of these professionals who would be able to offer their assistance in the future as various projects are undertaken. Pafk Security/Supervision As the City of Rosemount grows in the forthcoming years, the personal safety of park users and the level of vandalism occurring in the parks will become an increasing concern of the community. For the present time, the local police do an admirable job of policing the current parks and trails. They have proven to be responsive to calls and are able to keep other City Departments up to date on illegal and nuisance activities which have occurred in the parks. Unfortunately, limited resources coupled with increased park acreage and park users will make it both difficult and impractical for the local police to carry the bulk of the park security burden. Residents of the community will undoubtedly have to share in the responsibility to maintain the high level of security and low level of vandalism to which they have become accustomed. Active neighborhood support groups and "Park Watch" programs have in the past provided the most effective tools for dealing with park security issues. Unfortunately, mobilizing a diverse population with already limited free time is not an easy task. It takes strong community leadership, persistence, organization, and commitment to be successful. The following establishes the basic parameters for 5-14 City of Rosemount promoting increased community participation in park security and an increased level of cooperation between City staff and the local police department. "Park Watch" Program Park watch programs are very similar to neighborhood watch programs in that residents within a certain geographical area take it upon themselves to look after each other and each others property. In park watch programs, residents within a certain proximity to a particular park site simply agree to maintain a "close eye" over what goes on in the park and report activity which either poses a threat to others or is destructive to park property. The key to the success of this type of program is very similar to that of an Adopt -A -Park Program defined earlier and involves: • City Leadership: Similar to Adopt -A -Park Program. • City staff and Police Department Cooperation: The City staff and the local police department must provide neighborhood groups with appropriate information about what they can do (and should not do), what they should look for, and what they should do if an incident occurs. • Neighborhood Leadership: Similar to Adopt -A - Park Program. • Neighborhood Residents' Commitment: In the end, the program will only be successful if residents are motivated enough to make it work. Having residents sign a "pledge of support" (similar to or as part of the Adopt -A -Park program previously described) will often go a long way toward the success of the program. As with other volunteer programs, given the inherent complexities and lag time involved, it is strongly encouraged that the City begin the process r 1 Section 5 - Administrative/Management Framework of establishing a viable program in the near future. City Staff' and Police Department Interaction As stated, the local police are doing an admirable job of policing the current park sites and trails. Unfortunately, as the community grows their responsibilities and commitments will also grow. Policing parks and trails, though necessary, will undoubtedly become more difficult. Given these circumstances, the relationship between City staff and the policy department will most likely need to be more formal. The key to maintaining the positive working relationship which already exists will be open communication. The City staff must keep the police department informed of the scheduling of activities and events so that they will have an opportunity to provide the level of service necessary to assure safety and public well-being. Although simple in concept, maintaining open communication is often more difficult than one might expect. As such, a formal communication medium should be established which will provide a clear communication avenue between the various departments. Maintaining the Parks and Recreation System The continued development of the Parks & Recreation's maintenance operation will become increasingly important as the community and the park system grows. Scheduling and undertaking maintenance activities must be done in a systematic manner which assures that resources are used as effectively and efficiently as possible. As such, an evaluation of the current system is perhaps warranted and should be undertaken in the near future to assure that it is capable of dealing with anticipated future demands. It should be noted that it is not the intention of this document to dictate the maintenance policies that should be implemented as part of the City's operating procedure. Quite the contrary, the only intention is to suggest that alternative maintenance practices utilized by other communities be reviewed, considered, and adopted if deemed appropriate. As stated in Section 2 - Assessment of Rosemount's Needs, the general feeling in the community is that the City is considered to be doing a very good job of maintaining the park system. The challenge ahead for the City is to make adjustments to the current system as necessary and warranted in order to continue the City's excellent service record. For the purposes of this study, the forthcoming example of a highly functional maintenance program is presented in a manner which addresses the maintenance concerns specific to the park system. However, it should be pointed out that in many communities this system is only part of an overall system which tracks the activity of virtually all City services and departments. Maintenance Program The key to the success of a maintenance operation is: • an adequate and well-trained staff. • an understanding of the magnitude of the maintenance operation. • realistic timeframes for performing maintenance functions. • the equipment to get the job done. • accountability on the part of those performing the maintenance tasks. 1 5-15 City of Rosemount Having a reliable data collection system for tracking maintenance activities is the key to understanding the magnitude of the maintenance operation. Additionally, such a system is absolutely vital to making rational decisions about cu+ it cant and future funding and staffing needs. In this instance, the data collection system should be set up to track a number of bits of information, including: the total cost and the number of manhours spent maintaining each park site and the park system as a whole. the total cost and the number of hours spent undertaking specific tasks (such a mowing or rink flooding) in each park site and the park system as a whole. the type of equipment used for specific tasks and its cost to operate. Figure 5.4 - Maintenance Activity Data Collection illustrates an example of how data related to maintenance activities can be accurately collected. This type of data collection system allows for one system to be used for tracking the activities of many different City Departments in a very consistent and efficient fashion. Once in place, this type of system will allow the City to: • determine the exact cost of maintaining the park system and each specific component of the park system. • determine the staffing levels required to maintain the park system. • anticipate the increased maintenance costs for adding additional park acreage and facilities to the park system. • determine the most effective and efficient use of limited resources. • determine where volunteer services can best be used. Section 5 - Administrative Development Figure 5.4 Park Name (Project) No. Project 001 Carroll's Woods 002 Schwarz Pond 003 Shannon 004 Erickson 005 Jaycee 006 Biscayne 007 Camfield 008 Charlie's 009 Chippendale 010 Connemara 011 Dallas 012 Kidder 013 Twin Puddles 014 Winds 015 Rosemount Middle School - School Site Maintenance Activity (Sub - Project) No. Sub-Proiect 001 Mowing 002 Trimming 003 Line Painting 004 Infield Maintenance 005 Aeration 006 Topdressing 007 Seeding 008 Sodding 009 Fertilizing Account: Tracts which account (within a specific fund) an employee's time is logged against. Seperate accounts would be set-up for a) full-time employees, b) part-time employees, and c) overtime. Activity: Tracts the time logged by various designated work classes, such as forester, maintenance worker (various levels), etc. Fund: Tracts the specific fund in which employee's time is logged against. As an example, the Park Maintenence Fund would be one of perhaps many funds established for various City activities. O L • O 1 City of Rosemount Maintenance Activity Data Collection I 010 Broadleaf Weed Cont. 027 Fencing 044 Training 011 Play Structure Repair 028 New Construction 045 Natural Gas 012 Painting & Staining Bldg. 029 Signs 046 Bleachers & Benches 013 Cleaning Buildings 030 Electricity 047 Tennis Courts 014 Plumbing Repairs 031 Equipment Maintenance 048 Windscreens 015 Electrical Repairs 032 Trail Maint., Repair & Constr. 049 Docks & Board Walk 016 Misc. Bldg., Maint & Repair 033 Tree & Shrub Maintenance 050 Goals & Goal Posts 017 Snow Plowing Rinks & Lots 034 Tree Planting & Shrubs 051 Beach Maintenance 018 Snow Shoveling 035 Watering 052 Deliveries & Pickups 019 Brooming Rinks 036 Weed Inspection 053 Special Events 020 Snow Blowing Rinks 037 Flower Maintenance 054 Park & Rec. Equip. Maint. 021 Flooding Rinks 038 Garage Pickup 055 Planting Beds 022 Hockey Rink Lines 039 Tree Hauling 056 Staff Meetings 023 Board Repair & Placement 040 Tree Removal 057 Play Structure Inspec. 024 Snow shoveling Rinks 041 General Cleanup 058 Trail Inspection 025 Misc. Rink Maintenance 042 Safety Meetings 059 Sign Inspection 026 Irrigation Maint. & Repair 043 Entry Ways 060 Archery Range Upkeep Project Tracts the specific park site/facility at which an employee is working. Sub -Project Tracts the specific maintenance activity undertaken by an employee. Equipment Tracts specific equipment usage associated with qq various maintenance activities. 10111 is 1 Iq 11 1 Daily Time Card ' � �r_'..::•!1!•:.'��tta�t•:�lt� , . . moi. r t•:.. lL:::..i�ltt:.ti�.J�::.:n� am :,a:•.�t • a;:a• • c:a�.:t«:a.::r.•.i^::.u;d:.•.r•y.'aa� ■■■ N■■■■■■■E■■�■■■■■ ■■■■■■■■■ ■■■NEEM■■■■_ mom ■■��■■■■■■■■■■ ■■■■■■■■■■■ ■■■ �■■�■■■■■■■■■ E■iiiiENNNNEiii��i=iiiiii�ME mm■............■.� ■....... 5-16 J !F-1 1 Section 5 - Administrative/Management Framework Understanding the magnitude of the maintenance operation (scope and cost) and learning to stay within your capabilities (budget, staffing, etc.) is the key to successfully maintaining a high quality park system. In other words, a park facility should not be developed unless it can be maintained properly. Additionally, reliance upon volunteer efforts may be an opportunity to "stretch" the maintenance budget in the future. Park Design and Development Procedures The careful, insightful, and imaginative planning and design of individual parks is critical to developing parks which are functional yet creative and aesthetically pleasing. The successful completion of any park development project will depend on a number of key factors, including: • identifying the important design parameters and considerations which will impact the final design solution. • constructive interaction between the Parks and Recreation Committee, City staff, neighborhood or community groups, and the design consultant to determine the needs of the neighborhood or community. • the use of sound planning and design principles and standards to assure that a creative yet functional and safe design solution emerges. To assure a successful outcome, the planning and design process itself becomes very important. A well-defined process will assure that any given project will move forward in a pragmatic and predictable manner whereby important questions, concerns and ideas are appropriately addressed in the proper sequence and in a timely fashion. The following defines the standard procedures for undertaking any given park development project. Standard Planning and Design Procedures The Request for Proposals (R.F.P) is the instrument used to solicit proposals from professionals experienced in the planning and design of parks and recreation facilities. The R.F.P. should consist of a number of key components, including: • The Name of the Project. • Brief Introduction: Defines the overall intent of the project. Project Description: Defines the scope of the project (including the City's desired end product) and, if available, the tentative program. A base map illustrating the property boundary and site features should be provided. All information relevant to the design of the project should be included. • Parks and Recreation Committee and City Staff Involvement and Meeting Schedules: The individuals, committees, staff, etc. who will be involved in the project should be clearly defined. Anticipated meeting schedules should also be defined. • Project Timeframe: The overall project timeframe should be clearly defined. However, those submitting proposals should be required to either confirm or establish their own timeframe for the project. 5-17 City of Rosemount • Estimated Construction Budget: The anticipated project budget should be clearly defined. Consultant Information: The consultant should be required to provide: a) name, address, phone number of the firm, b) name of the project manager, c) professional experience related to similar projects of all team members to be involved in the project, d) visual and written descriptions of previous projects, e) a complete description of their approach to the project and the work tasks involved, f) fee schedule for completing all aspects of the project, including hourly billing rates for all levels of staff who will be involved in the project, and g) the insurance levels carried by the firm. • Submittal Requirements: Defines the number of copies required for submittal and the time and date in which submittals are due. It is important that the R.F.P. require that those submitting proposals define their approach to the project and the work tasks they perceive to be involved. In this manner, those with the approach that best suits the needs of the City can be identified and, ultimately, contracted with to perform the work. For comparison purposes, Figure 5.5 - Standard Planning and Design Process defines a typical approach to municipal parks and recreation projects. Tree Preservation/Replacement One of the important issues that surfaced during the Assessment of Rosemount's Park and Recreation Needs (Section 2) was the preservation of significant natural resources. Given the community's concern, it stands to reason Section 5 - Administrative Framework Figure 5.5 The forthcoming planning and design process is based on the "building block" theory, whereby a particular task is not undertaken until the previous task is completed and accepted. Task I - lows MeetinL/Project Start -Up The planning and design process should begin through a focus meeting between the consultant, City staff, and (if desired) the Parks and Recreation Commission. The general purpose of the focus meeting is to: • allow the consultant the opportunity to develop a very clear understanding of the scope of the project. • clearly define client expectations of the consultant's services. • confirm key individuals, committees, City staff members, etc. who will be either directly involved in the project or have information that will affect the design of the project. • general review and discussion about planning, design, and development issues and concerns related to this project. Task II - Program Development Developing a complete and comprehensive program for the proposed park site is absolutely essential to the success of the project and should be viewed as one of the most important phases of the planning and design process. The program must: • clearly identify the appropriate recreational uses, site amenities, and facilities desired and appropriate for the site. • clearly address the many developmental concerns which will arise during the various meetings, public surveys, and public debates. Task III - Site Analysis The consultant should determine, through field research, the developmental opportunities and constraints present on the proposed project site, including identifying current features, topography, and the relationship of the site to adjacent properties/land uses. This will allow both the owner and the consultant to develop a clear understanding of the site's unique characteristics. The Parks and Recreation Committee and City staff should join the consultant in the field to review the site. A thorough understanding of the opportunities and constraints afforded by the site at the outset of the project should be considered essential to all phases of the planning and design process. Task IV - Alternative Concept Plans Using the adopted program, site analysis information, base mapping, and general knowledge about the project and community, the consultant should prepare a number of alternative concept plans. These concepts should explore various creative and unique design solutions and themes to assure that a variety of physical relationships are considered. An adopted concept plan which is derived from one or a combination of several of the alternative concepts should result from this work task. Task V - Master Planning and Cost Estimate Using the adopted program, site analysis information, base mapping, adopted concept plan, and general knowledge about the project, the consultant should prepare a Master Plan which represents the design solution which best 5-18 addresses the needs and desires of the community while remaining within the City's ability to fund the project. A preliminary cost estimate should also be prepared to illustrate the anticipated costs associated with the master plan. Task VI - Design Development Design development refines and further defines the facilities and site amenities as illustrated on the master plan. Essentially, it is the last step in the design process and allows both the client and the consultant one last opportunity to review the designs and project elements prior to actual contract documents. This task is important in the sense that it allows for final issues and concerns to be addressed prior to "hard lining" the contract documents, thus avoiding costly and timely revisions. Site layouts, facilities, site amenities, grading schemes, earthwork balance calculations, construction detailing, materials selection, utilities layout, planting/seed/sod, etc. should be reviewed and discussed to assure that all relevant issues have been properly addressed. Additionally, such issues as site maintenance, risk control/liability (i.e., public safety issues such as how large should the containers be for the play structures, etc.), handicap accessibility, etc. should be addressed and dealt with as appropriate. Upon completion of the design development task, both the client and consultant should have a very defined understanding of the site's proposed development and construction standards, techniques, and materials. Task VII - Contract Documents Upon completion of the design development, the contract documents should be prepared for the purpose of clearly defining the extent of the work, construction standards and City of Rosemount I Standard Planning and Design Process techniques, and general guidelines/ administrative provisions necessary for bidding and construction purposes. The final construction drawings (plans) should clearly illustrate the removals, layout, grading, utilities, planting, seed/sod, construction detailing, etc. as necessary to clearly define the scope of work to be completed by the contractor. Project specifications should define the general conditions and technical specifications for the project, including the proposal form which defines work items on a line item basis. Bidding procedures and award of contract procedures should also be clearly defined within the project specifications. Task VIII - Construction Bidding and Observation Construction bidding and observation are important tasks which must be executed properly to assure the successful completion of the project. Observation should be viewed no less important than any other task within the scope of the project. On-going observation and trouble shooting must be undertaken by the consultant to assure that the project is constructed in accordance with the contract documents. In the construction observation role, the consultant should be viewed as a liaison between the City and the contractor, including administration of project bidding, review and audit of bids received, recommendation of bidder, and administration of the contract. The consultant should also provide on-going site observation as required for the duration of the construction to assure that plans and specifications are being adhered to and properly interpreted. I7' L__l Section 5 - Administrative/Management Framework that a tree preservation/replacement policy would provide a beneficial "tool" for preserving and protecting it's natural resource base. In most instances, the Comprehensive Plan for any given city establishes the general tree preservation/replacement policies, with the Planning Commission then being responsible for initiating the formal development of tree policies for implementation purposes. However, if we look at the park system in the broad sense, it stands to reason that the preservation of trees and natural vegetation is a justifiable concern within the framework of the park system. Therefore, a cooperative and interactive policy setting exercise lead by the Planning Commission and in conjunction with the Park Committee should be undertaken for the purpose of clearly defining tree preservation/replacement policies. Formal adoption would then be provided through City Council action. A fair number a communities within the Minneapolis/St. Paul Metropolitan area have, for the very same reasons, developed tree preservation/ replacement policies. As such, a resource base already exists which can provide a great deal of insight as to the success and failure of different approaches. Prior to the City of Rosemount formalizing a set of policies to meet their own needs, it is strongly recommended that previously adopted policies by other communities be reviewed and considered. Tree Preservation/Replacement Policy Outline The forthcoming text is intended to establish an outline and basic parameters for tree preservation/ replacement policies and a basis for continued discussion. It should be noted that the information is for reference only and should not be construed to be set policy. As stated, actual policies will be established through a separate planning effort involving a number of public bodies. The intent of a tree preservation policy is to: • provide a clearly defined site planning tool in which the natural resource base becomes an important design consideration. • provide a consistent and objective methodology for evaluating a proposed development's impact on trees and wooded areas. • provide an opportunity to identify ways in which disruption to the natural resource base can be reduced. • provide a defined methodology for mitigating tree losses when their removal is unavoidable. Given that a certain amount of tree removal is going to be necessary to facilitate development, a clearly defined tree preservation policy provides an incentive to developers to take a proactive and creative approach to preserving the community's natural resource base. Although mitigation of tree loss through tree replacement is the focus of this policy, it should be pointed out that there are other possible alternatives which are worthy of consideration during the planning stages of a specific development, including: • parkland dedication: off -set tree loss on a particular development through additional parkland dedication above what is already required through park land dedication policies. density transfers: consideration of density transfers whereby higher densities are allowed in areas of the development site which will not have a major negative impact on existing natural resource areas. 5-19 City of Rosemount variances: allow a developer certain land use variances, such as property setbacks, lot sizes, etc., in order to preserve the natural resource base. • alternative land uses: allow, through Planned Unit Development (PUD) procedures, alternative land uses which allow for alternative site plans and usages to be considered which can reduce the impact to the natural resource base. These alternative approaches for mitigating tree loss due to site development are particularly worthy of consideration when actual significant tree loses begin to exceed 30 to 35%. At that point, the wooded character of the site is diminished and as such the intent of tree preservation policy is lost. The definition of a significant tree is critical in establishing tree replacement policies. A standard that has emerged defines a significant tree as a deciduous hardwood (i.e., oak, maple, basswood, ash, ironwood,hickory,etc.) measuring 12 inches or greater in diameter and a coniferous tree measuring 8 inches or greater in diameter. In a typical hardwood forest common to this region, only 20% to 30% of the trees would typically be considered a significant tree. Therefore, a fair portion of the vegetation removed from a given woodlot would not require direct mitigation. Additionally, significant trees removed from a site are most often replaced on a percentage basis, where the developer retains a considerable amount of flexibility with respect to tree removal and replacement (mitigation). To determine the extent of tree removal and the resultant level of tree replacement, it is necessary undertake a tree inventory of the given site. In most cases, the developer is responsible for submitting a tree inventory in conjunction with the grading plan for the proposed site. The tree inventory should include: Section 5 - Administrative/Management Framework • the size, species, condition, and location of all deciduous trees 12 inches or greater in diameter. • the size, species, condition, and location of all coniferous trees 8 inches or greater in diameter. On sites which encompass a large woodlot, U.S. Forest Service measuring techniques are typically used to determine tree counts. Essentially, these techniques incorporate averaging formulas based on typically forest density patterns. Based on the tree inventory, actual tree losses and the resultant amount of tree replacement can be determined. Trees will be considered lost if they: • interfere with proposed buildings, roads, and/or other site amenities. • are disturbed by site grading. This includes any disturbance within the tree's dripline area (i.e., grading or compaction from heavy equipment). • are disturbed by utility construction. This includes any trenching operation within the tree's dripline. • are damaged in any way during construction. There may, in fact, be other factors which may cause the loss of a tree due to site development which are not clearly definable, such as wrongful use of chemicals, etc. These types of concerns must be dealt with on a individual basis, with a final determination made by an experienced tree specialist, forester, etc. The reforestation plan itself includes a couple of options for the developer to consider and take advantage of, including: • relocate existing trees, which would otherwise be removed, to mitigate the loss of significant trees. import nursery stock to mitigate the loss of significant trees. With respect to the relocation of existing trees, the developer must follow guidelines as set forth by an experienced tree specialist (often the City Forester). Due to the often low survival rate of transplanted trees, the developer must guarantee to replace any transplanted tree which does not survive with nursery stock of equal caliper inches to the tree that was lost. The percentage of tree replacement, based on caliper (diameter) inches, increases at a constant rate proportional to the percentage of significant trees lost during development of the site. As an example, the City of Eden Prairie's Planning Department adopted a sliding scale in which the percentage of tree replacement increases from a minimum of 0% replacement at 0% loss of the site's significant trees to 100% replacement at 75% loss of the site's significant trees. Significant trees removed outside the approved construction limits should be replaced at 100% diameter inch basis. Figure 5.6 graphically illustrates this sliding scale. - - 1 "0001+Ns ftNro.N.c r 7616 Ra." 0 6 10 t6 N N N N N U N N N N 70 70 N OO N N 100 % TREE REMOVAL Figure 5.6 - Tree Replacement Sliding Scale (Source:City of Eden Prairie Planning Department) The actual amount of tree replacement required is typically determined through the use of an adopted formula. As an example, Figure 5.7 illustrates the City of Eden Prairie Planning Department's formula 5-20 for tree replacement. D = [(A/B) Cl A City of Rosemount I A) Total Diameter Inches of Significant Trees Removed B) Total Diameter Inches of Significant Trees found on Site C) Tree Replacement Constant = 1.33 D) Tree Replacement Total in Diameter Inches Example: A = 337, B = 943, C = 1.33 D = 1(337/943) 1.331 D = 160 (caliper inches of tree replacement required to mitigate for trees lost due to site development) Figure 5.7 - Tree Replacement Formula (Source'City of Eden Prairie Planning Department) Some flexibility and credit is often allowed by the City (up to 10%) in response to site specific development considerations, such as site topography, lot size, size of home, type of grading, etc. The amount of credit is usually determined by the City Forester or tree specialist. Once the amount of tree replacement has been determined, the developer must submit to the City's Planning Department a tree replacement/ landscaping plan which clearly illustrates the location of the replacement trees. Tree replacement locations should be based on the principle of developing an appealing landscape design. Special consideration should naturally be given to restoring areas disturbed during development (especially steep slopes), reforestation of common areas/outlots, buffering between different land uses and activity areas, and perhaps enhancement of adjacent park and community open space areas whereby the trees can be enjoyed by a large number of people. ISection 5 - Administrative/Management Framework City of Rosemount L 1 t The sizes and types of trees must also be clearly defined. To assure a more dramatic impact to the site, deciduous trees should be a minimum of 3" in diameter measured 12" above the normal grade line and coniferous should be a minimum of 8' tall. For coniferous trees, the height divided by 2.4 typically equals the number of caliper inches. In general, the replacement trees should be of a variety similar to those that were removed. However, a complete list of acceptable trees for use in this geographical region should be developed to assure that the trees are of a variety that will survive in this area. Additionally, the trees should be obtained from a local nursery to assure that the are hardy enough for the local environment. An urban forester and landscape architect should be involved in developing this list. With respect to implementation, the city typically requires a developer to: • provide them with a bond equal to the cost of tree replacement (for non -single residential developments). • a surety at 1.5 times the estimated cost for tree replacement. For purposes of accurately determining the true cost of replacement, the developer should also submit a signed tree replacement contract or two estimates from separate nurseries. For projects that would be completed in phases, the developer would have to submit the appropriate guarantees to cover each phase of development. Naturally, these guarantees must be in place prior to any disruption to the site. Bonds and sureties are typically released by the city to the developer upon complete acceptance of the replacement trees. Water Quality Programs and Policies The issue of water quality is increasingly becoming a major environmental concern for citizens of communities throughout the United States, for very justifiable reasons. The fact of the matter is that the quality of the water that surrounds us, whether surface or subsurface, has been and continues to be degraded as the sources of pollution continue to mount. As stated in Section 2, 86.4% of those surveyed by the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources in 1988 indicated that the water quality of lakes, rivers, and streams was a problem in Minnesota. Of that percentage, 79.2% indicated that the problem was either moderate or sever. This concern was reiterated by the Park System Planning Advisory Committee. To be sure, there are many sources of pollution which contribute to the water quality problem facing our state. And it must be expected that it will take the efforts of many individuals and groups within and outside of government to find practical solutions. The City of Rosemount, along with all other communities, has a role in this effort and at some point should take on the responsibility of establishing appropriate programs and policies that deal with this problem at the local level. Our purpose within the context of this study is to provide an overview of the water quality problem and establish a set of general parameters which provide impetus for further action. It should be noted that the forthcoming information is for reference only and should not be construed to represent set policy. Given the inherent complexities of this issue, a significant amount of research and 5-21 planning will naturally be required and is beyond the scope of this study. Actual programs and policies will be established through a separate planning effort involving a number of public bodies. In all likelihood, the City of Rosemount Utility Commission will take the lead role in developing a Comprehensive Water Quality Program for the City, with the Park Committee and Planning Commission providing additional support and input. Point and Non -Point Source Water Pollution Point source water pollution is pollution that can be traced to a single source. The sources of pollution can often be located and, with modern techniques, the type and amount of pollution that is being introduced into the environment can often be determined. Current and impending laws and regulations are proving increasingly successful at controlling point source water pollution. Although the job certainly is not done. Non-aaint source water pollution, on the other hand, is pollution which is derived from a multitude of sources which, individually and collectively, create a serious and growing water pollution problem. Left unabated, this type of pollution will undoubtedly have devastating longterm effects on the quality of our outdoor environment, not to mention the longterm effects on the health and welfare of our citizens. For the purposes of this study, the focus will be on non -point source water pollution for a couple of reasons. point source water pollution is by and large regulated through policies developed and administered by a number of public agencies. Most notably are the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency. Local levels of government most often abide by established regulations and report cases of concern or abuse to appropriate Section 5 - Administrative/Management Framework agencies. • non -point source water pollution has many sources and must be dealt with at all levels of our society, from residential backyards to the wetland areas. All developed and developing cities, including the City of Rosemount, contribute to the increasing problem of non -point source water pollution. Since this is the case, there is an ever increasing obligation and responsibility for local levels of government to take appropriate action which will help control, and eventually mitigate, this type of pollution. The forthcoming text is intended to outline the important components of Water Quality Programs and Policies. The outline is based on the recommendations of a variety of State and Federal Pollution Control Agencies and, on a limited basis, local units of government who are currently making an attempt at dealing with this issue. Non -Point Sources of Water Pollution Non -point sources of water pollution are moved or carried from land to water through stormwater and snowmelt run-off, seepage through the soil, and through the atmosphere (wind erosion, etc.) According to the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency, the primary sources of pollution include: Urbanization: The combination of people, pollutants, and pavement/hardsurface areas carry a significant pollutant load into the surrounding environment. • Pesticides and Fertilizers: The use of pesticides, which control undesirable plants or animals, can lead to ground water contamination. Surface waters can be contaminated by drift from spraying and by run-off. The use of fertilizers applied to crops, gardens, and lawns creates a number of pollution problems. Phosphorus entering lakes and wetlands causes heavy algae blooms and excessive weed growth. Nitrates in ground water supplies can cause serious health problems in very young children. Animal Feedlots: Poor or inadequate feedlot management often allows stormwater runoff to carry pollutants from accumulating manure into surface and ground water. Feedlot pollutants include nutrients, oxygen demanding materials, and pathogens (disease producing organism) that may affect humans and animals. • Agricultural Land Management: Stormwater and snowmelt runoff from croplands often carry sediment, nutrients, bacteria, and organic contaminants into nearby lakes and wetlands, causing significant levels of water pollution. Construction Site Practices: Construction activities can add to pollution problems in a number of ways. Soils exposed during construction can create sediment deposits both on and off site. Stormwater runoff can carry pollutant materials (oils, grease, paint, acid, etc.) into nearby lakes and wetlands. Finally, inadequate site planning and design causes excessive and accelerated runoff carrying significant amounts of pollution into nearby wetlands and lakes. Septic Systems: Improperly designed and constructed septic systems or holding tanks lead to significant pollution of ground or surface water. A recent U.S. Environmental Protection Agency report stated that most waterborne diseases are probably caused by old and poorly designed septic systems. • Mining Activities: Lakes, streams, wetlands, and ground waters can be polluted by sediment, tailings, dust; chemicals, and wastes from open pit, strip, and underground mining. 5-22 City of Rosemount Highway De-icing Materials: The greatest threat from de-icing materials is not so much in their use on roadways, which is perhaps a necessary evil, but more in the manner in which they are stockpiled. Runoff from inadequately protected stockpiles of salt, salt mixtures, and sand contaminate both ground and surface water throughout the state. Overuse of these materials on roadways also contributes a substantial amount of pollution to the surrounding environment. 11 fl • Special Erosion Problems: Roadside, streambank, and lakeshore erosion are often accelerated through human activities, such as improper shoreland management and poor drainage design along roadways. • Loss of Wetlands: Wetlands play a vital role in maintaining good surface and groundwater quality. They reduce peak runoff, act as pollutant filters, recharge ground water, and provide open space and wildlife habitat. Through proper land use and development practices, these sources of pollution can be highly controlled and, in many cases, eliminated altogether. To gain additional insight into non -point water pollution, it helps to understand what pollutants are the most damaging to the quality of surface and ground water. Figure 5.8 - Primary Pollutants Affecting Ground and Surface Water Quality defines the primary polluting agents affecting water quality in Minnesota. It should be noted that there are a vast number of other pollutants which .also contribute the overall problem as well, but not to the extent of those listed. Without a doubt, developing, implementing, managing, and enforcing water quality programs and policies is a significant (and costly) undertaking for any community. However, the realities are that this problem will not go away on its own. The costs a Ll Pj I C Section 5 - Administrative/Management Framework of mitigating past mistakes or inactivity today is sure to be much greater than preventing them in the first place. Given these realities, the most practical approach to controlling water pollution is to establish a course of action toward comprehensive water quality programs and policies. In due course, these programs and policies should be implemented (through a phasing program) in a manner which keeps pace with the overall development of the community. Water Quality Management Programs and Policies The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency advocates the use of a step by step approach to developing a Comprehensive Water Quality Management Plan. Their approach consists of a number of important steps which, taken together as a whole, provide the basis for a comprehensive water quality plan. The City should consider this approach when they formally undertake the development of their plan. Figure 5.9 - Water Quality Planning - Step by Step Approach illustrates the approach as recommended by the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency, Division of Water Quality. Figure 5.10 - State Ground Water and Resource Management Organization illustrates the agencies involved in water quality and their principle responsibilities. The development of a Comprehensive Water Quality Plan at the local level of government is a relatively new idea within this region. Understanding the dynamics of this type of planning effort requires education. Fortunately, there are a number of state, federal, and local public agencies capable and willing to provide significant help, and in some cases financial support, in developing water quality programs and plans. At the federal level, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has an established information base and grant programs. At the state level, the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency and Minnesota Department of Natural Resources can provide planning and technical support. The Dakota Soil and Water Conservation District can also provide a substantial level of technical support. Also, the City of Eagan has begun implementing their recently completed (February 1990) Comprehensive Water Quality Management Plan and Storm Water Drainage Utility Fund. The plan, believed to be one of the first of its kind in the state, is very comprehensive and covers a full spectrum of programs, policies, and funding mechanisms. Perhaps the most unique feature of Eagan's plan is the use of a Storm Water Drainage Utility Fund, which includes a "user fee" based on the relative amount of runoff a given property discharges into the drainage system. As an example, the quarterly fixed fee in 1990 for a Single Family Home is $4.56/residence. These fees are used to help offset the cost of implementing the plan. As the City of Rosemount approaches a formal process for developing their own plan, it is strongly encouraged that the City of Eagan's plan serve as an example of a progressive approach to dealing with the water quality issue. Whether or not their programs and policies will serve the needs of Rosemount will naturally have to be determined by the City once their own water quality planning process is underway. City Residents' Role in Water Quality Programs Given that undertaking and implementing a Comprehensive Water Quality Plan is a time consuming process (the City of Eagan's plan took over three years to complete), the City of Rosemount should look for ways of implementing programs which can, in the interim, help mitigate some of the water pollution problems facing all 5-23 City of Rosemount communities. One of the most likely and cost effective ways in which to "get the ball rolling" is to educate and encourage residents and land owners within the community to change their ways of operating and to promote good stewardship of land and water resources. City residents must be educated to understand the important role they play in controlling water pollution levels in area lakes and wetlands. Educating and informing residents of their responsibility in preventing water pollution is a key aspect in reducing the level of pollutants entering the environment. Figure 5.11 - Residents' Role in Preserving Water Quality illustrates what City residents can do to help minimize level of pollution entering the local water systems. Section 5 - Administrative Development Figure 58 Sediment City of Rosemount Primary Pollutants Affecting Ground and Surface Water Quality Nutrients. (Nitrogen, Phosphorus) Toxic Chemicals Origins impacts on Water Quality and Origins Impacts on Water Quality and Associated Uses Associated Uses Agriculture Associated Uses Agriculture Deceased transmission of light Agriculture Promotes premature aging of lakes Urban Runoff through water. Animal Feedlots (eutrophication) Construction Mining — Decreases primary productivity Urban Runoff Construction — Algal blooms and decay of Forestry (aquatic plants and Forestry organic materials create turbid phytoplankton) upon which other conditions that eliminate • Some toxic chemicals are species feed, causing decrease in submerged aquatic vegetation food supply. teratogenic to aquatic life. and destroy habitat and food for — Obscures sources of food, aquatic animals and waterfowl. other aquatic life. habitat, hiding places, nesting — Blooms of toxic algae can affect sites; interferes with mating and other recreational values. health of swimmers and activities that rely on sight and aesthetic qualities of water consumption of contaminated delays reproductive timing. bodies (odor and murkiness). • Directly affects respiration of — Blooms of toxic algae can cause Origins aquatic species (e.g. gill abrasion) illness and death in animals and Associated Uses • Decreases viability of aquatic life. Agriculture livestock that drink affected Decreases survival rates of fish eggs • Introduces pathogens water. Urban Runoff and therefore size of fish population; — Favors survival of less desirable surface and ground water affects species composition. fish species. • Increases temperature of surface drinking water. — Interferes with boating and layer of water—increases fishing. stratification and reduces oxygen -mixing with lower layers, — Reduces quality of drinking therefore decreasing oxygen supply water supplies. for supporting aquatic life. — Reduced dissolved -oxygen levels • Decreases value for recreational and can suffocate fish. commercial activities. — Reduces waterfront property — Reduces aesthetic value. values. — Reduces sport and commercial fish populations. — Decreases boating and swimming activities. — Interferes with navigation. • Increases water treatment costs. Source: Minnesota Pollution Control Agency, Division of Water Quality 5-24 Origins Impacts on Water Quality and s Associated Uses Agriculture . Sublethal effects lower organism's Urban Runoff resistance and increase susceptibility Construction to other environmental stresses. Forestry Mining • Can affect reproduction, respiration, growth and development, reduce food supply, or be fatal to aquatic life. • Some toxic chemicals are carcinogenic, mutagenic, or teratogenic to aquatic life. • Some toxic chemicals can bioaccumulate in tissues of fish and other aquatic life. • Reduces commercialisport fishing and other recreational values. • Creates health hazard from human consumption of contaminated fish/water. Fecal Bacteria Origins Impacts on Water Quality and Associated Uses Agriculture Animal Feedlots • Introduces pathogens Urban Runoff (disease -bearing organisms) to surface and ground water • Reduces recreational uses. • Increases treatment costs for drinking water. • Creates a human health hazard. f ISection 5 - Administrative Development Water Quality Protection... The Partnership In planning how to best protect your water resources from nonpoint source pollution, you will need to: tolled information on the land and water resources in your area, identify the origins of the nonpoint source pollution damaging your water resources, set reasonable water quality goals. and decide on the most effective activities to reach those goals. Help in planning and implementing water protection efforts is available from many different govemment agencies. Your most important first source of assistance will probably be through your local officials and agencies, such as your soil and water conservation district or your county planning and zoning office. You can also get help from the MPCA, the Minnesota DNR, the MBWSR, and other state agencies. A working partnership among local concerned citizens, local government units with environmental authority in your area, and state agencies that can provide technical assistance will give you a broad base of knowledge and experience to use in planning a water quality protection program. Let's take a closer look at the various steps In this kind of work. 1. Collecting Information It is important to collect all available information about existing land and water resources in your area. The quality of water in a lake, river, or aquifer is a reflection of human activities and natural forces in the land area contributing to them. You'll need to gather information on the area's geology, soils, land cover, land use, wetlands, lakes, streams, and ground water. When the existing data are pulled together, you can determine what additional study may be needed to provide a complete picture of the land's influence on the water resource. You will also need to find out what people in your area know about nonpoint source pollution, if they understand the connection between some of their activities and water quality impairment in their community, and how they feel about working to protect water quality. 2. Setting Goals Setting goals will give you a basis for analysis and decision-making. In setting goals, you must balance local expectations for water quality against environmental, technical. Institutional, and financial realities. Benefits and costs to the entire community, rather than private gains and losses, should take priority. The goal -setting process needs public Involvement and participation along with technical expertise in order to: help identify objectives, provide insights on local conditions, communicate questions from the public, and promote the work in the community. Your Inventory (in step one) of public knowledge and attitudes about nonpoint source pollution and water quality will be very helpful in setting realistic goals for your community. 3. Identifying Nonpoint Source Pollutants Identifying and assessing the origins of nonpoint source pollutants that are damaging your water resources will be one of the most challenging tasks facing you. You also need to consider potential pollutants so that you do not substitute one problem for another. In the past, work of this kind has had mixed success because of the difficulties involved in accurately identifying land areas contributing to water quality degradation. While it was possible to identify the most obvious problems, such as gully erosion, or feedlots emptying into streams, many serious yet less evident problems went unnoticed. Now, our growing awareness of the threat to water quality from nonpoint source pollution is creating a new recognition of many of the problems that were overlooked in the past. New technology allows us to use computer models to predict which land areas are contributing pollutants in a given area. The computer model provides a mechanism to look at all the factors contributing to a problem, digest this Information, and estimate where the sources of pollution are likely to occur. 4. Identifying Ways to Stop Nonpoint Source Pollution Once you have set water quality goals and identified the current and potential nonpoint source pollutants in your area, you can begin to choose the best ways to prevent these pollutants from reaching your water resources. Since nonpoint source pollution stems from human activities on land, you will need to identify land management practices that will stop the flow of these pollutants from land to water. Different land uses and activities contribute differing amounts of pollutants. Some sources will be easier to control than others. Your objective will be to control a sufficiently large number of the pollutants so that damage to water quality in your area is prevented or stopped. Land management activities used to control nonpoint source pollution are called best management practices (BMPs). Some of then Source: Minnesota Pollution Control Agency, Division of Water Quality 1 5-25 City of Rosemount Water Quality Planning - Step by Step Approach practices have been employed for many years by farmers to protect their soil from erosion. We now know that these same practices also protect water quality. BMPs fall into two groups — structural and nonstructural. Structural BMPs involve the construction of physical devices to delay, block. or trap pollutants. Some structural BMPs are terraces, water and sediment basins, contour strips, barriers to prevent construction site erosion, and streambank stabilization. Nonstructural approaches use an array of techniques that are less physically oriented, such as work schedules, zoning ordinances, and farming practices. You will need to consider many factors when choosing best management practices to protect and Improve water quality in your area. What regulations already exist? How reliable are the methods you are considering? How much will they cost and who will pay for them? Are the techniques you are looking at appropriate for your area? What are their environmental impacts? How will the various governmental groups with authority in your area be able to work together to implement your recommendations? Technical expertise is needed to identify and design BMPs to reduce pollutant movement to your water resources. You can get this kind of technical help from one or more of the local, state, or federal resource management agencies. The success of your water quality planning efforts will depend. however, not upon technical expertise, but upon the willingness of landowners and managers in your area to adopt the BMPs you recommend. That is why the most Important part of water quality protection planning is the development of programs to encourage the adoption of the selected best management practices. In general, there are three kinds of programs that will promote the use of the BMPs: education, incentives, and regulations. Education can be an important tool in encouraging landowners and managers to change their ways of operating. Many people may not realize that some of their activities may be causing pollution problems. Education can provide information to Illustrate the benefits of changing management practices — both for water quality and for landowners and managers. Incentives are often used to encourage adoption of BMPs in a water quality project. Incentives can take several forms. Some of them are financial, such as cost-sharing in installing the practice, providing equipment for ban to landowners, and making ban subsidies to landowners who adopt BMPs; others are technical, such as providing technical assistance for the design and management of the practice. Regulation Despite the best efforts of education and financial and technical incentive programs, it may not be possible to encourage all the landowners in your area to control their pollutant -causing activities. The regulatory approach is sometimes necessary to get some landowners to adopt a management practice. There are also some types of land uses that have such significant potential for water quality degradation that it Is desirable to control the situation before any damage to the water resource occurs. The regulatory approach has been used by the MPCA to protea water resources from polluted municipal and industrial discharges. Since 1973, facilities discharging pollutants to the waters of the state have been required to obtain permits and control the amount of pollutants discharged. In terms of protecting water quality from nonpoint source pollution, regulation would take a somewhat different approach. Examples of how regulations could be used by local governments to control nonpoint source pollution are: construction site erosion -control ordinances, sal loss limits ordinances, and enforcement of on-site sewage treatment regulations. Two state programs already regulate some kinds of nonpoint source pollution. The MPCA administers a feedlot permit program aimed at fostering the use of best management practices in the storage and disposal of animal manures so that they do not Impair water quality, and the MDNR Shoreland and Wild and Scenic River Programs regulate land use in shoreland areas and are implemented by local governments. These programs can be very effective in protecting water quality from intensive land use too close to rivers and lakes. 5: Putting It All Together At this stage In your water quality protection efforts you can assemble all the information you have collected on the land and water resources in your area; the water quality goals you have set: the nonpoint source pollutants you have identified as degrading your lake, stream, or aquifer: and the methods you have chosen to stop those pollutants from reaching your water resources. Include in this material your plans to promote your recommended BMPs among land owners and managers in your area. Describe how you will use education, incentives. and regulation to reach your community's water quality goals. All this material will become a *road map" for your community to use in protecting your water resource from nonpoint source pollution. Assembling the information in one document will help avoid a piecemeal or uncoordinated approach to water quality problems in your area. Section 1 - Introduction Figure 5.10 City of Rosemount State Ground Water and Resource Management Organization State Planniq Agency Department of Natural Resources snffI Coordination cmama sh* System. for weselofomrim Mmomamem lsWa) Grourd Wamr Sa sitive Areas Crisaia and MVV% Due Compwilsl y Sumdstds j Caary Geolo&ic Adams (wkb MGs) Grormd waver Orn (7eumoherw Environmental Qwlity Board Regi Hydrog-kee Assaamtau (with MGs) llialrwrmartd eA.due. Sumfics wev Wanes Re morcea emmmame (waQ Gb�.av�aum N crormir b W—PlyD� DMUSGSGeolapedSurvey CooperativePrograms Sum Weser Plae mud Ptiaitim wase Mmi ossag Plan Wow hdannat m A Edncsawas Pee Pollution Conan) Agency ware Rrscuch Needs Ambien Growd WameMmiaing Q ty T� Depart=rat of Ag*ultu- Weser Qnliy am inch Paul s rReedaam Pd1misa DiscYufe Penin Nrre&en Foal—Surly CbmwdwpwmmbipGrow waaMonawosegfePeami andFesnlisr Avbawda wml Wre S)— pesticide nwAteadatim N-ogm Pdb— Study (-Wb MDA) Pasicide Use Smvry Solid and Harardms waste Management Pesticide RgiowwwWAppticmrCermUm m Two, mad 4iss prograes Board of Water and Soil Resources wag �sCoin eons Weser Resource Promaion Gram Pdor Peatiride Cmuoercenemm Local Plan Review/Approval _ Crop C erarbar CestiCiooim Smdy Erosion Casud sod Waser Quality Gram Suatamahle A&Qme-MW Pat Maosgment RDA Reserve program Well Sealing Guavas Ervir®mul Asriminra6st Cauumn Maw Loral ware Maoagagem So* , Departnent of Health , w� 1 Pram 1 Departeseat of Public Safety p'"CLLwaseeaM progink nma 1--- EmageaMmos&ment Assisuoce ry Local CoordinationLocal l Haredars Substances Des& Mao.&ranent Cks mmiy Healed services Grins i 1 r urewo 1 CampP rtlmal�WowPl ()oderthe... 1 1 CemprebUIRW Loral Waur Maoa&ement Act; l—_ — Minnesota Extension Service Oflioe of Waste Management �B 1 Tike Mcuopdiun WaterMenagemem Aa or, , Tim Watershed Aa , ruma�aa�n.r�mrm.amammeamnaa.rstmr Corny Solid waste PlaminGrants l Hazardous Waste Facility Sion& , w.ac Emoum 1 1 Minnesota Geological Survey N of NM 1 Hydro&edagic Mappusg Key 1— — — Corstty Geologic Adams (with DMR) Deoaes formal wordiostim tint Regional Hldrosmilow Amesrmeon (wmb DNR) ---- Da acs i.(.WW ooardioatim Yot Source: Minnesota Pollution Control Agency, Division of Water Quality 5-26 1 Section 1 - Introduction ' Figure 5.11 Overview All residents of the City of Rosemount have a responsibility to be good stewards of the land and to protect the quality of their water resources. As individuals and residents of the community, we can adopt environmentally sound practices which prevent unnecessary and harmful non - point source pollution from entering the natural surface and ground water systems. The following provides a check list of practices which allow residents to become good stewards of the land and water. New Construction Sites ' On new construction sites, homeowners should take steps to establish turfgrass as soon as conditions permit. On steeply sloping banks, sod should always be secured through proper staking; or where seed is used, siltation fences should be installed across the hill to prevent erosion of soil and/or siltation into streets and storm drains. For further information on seeding or sodding methods, contact the Dakota County Extension Office at 463-3302. Erosion Control Control erosion in your yard and driveway by careful landscaping. Soil Testing On existing lawns, soil testing is the first step toward efficient lawn care. Soil testing kits are available through the University of Minnesota's Soil Testing Laboratory (call 625-3101). Test results may indicate that phosphorus or other nutrients are already in adequate supply in your soil. If this is the case, fertilization rates can be cut back while still maintaining a green and healthy lawn. Fertilizer When purchasing a low phosphorus fertilizer, carefully review the analysis on the outside of the fertilizer bag. Three large numbers will usually appear indicating the percentages of nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), and potassium (K). Be sure to select a fertilizer with a phosphorus content of less than five percent. When fertilizing your lawn, avoid spray or drift of the pellets onto hard surface areas, such as driveways, sidewalks, or the street. This will lessen the chance of rain or lawn irrigation washing the fertilizer directly into the storm drainage system. Lawn Mowing Whenever possible, avoid using a grass catcher when mowing your lawn. Research has shown that leaving clippings on your lawn is equal to approximately one fertilizer application per year. As the clippings decompose, they will release valuable sources of nutrients to the lawn. When mowing, direct the discharge chute of your mower towards the interior of your lawn. This will avoid depositing the clippings directly onto the street where they can be washed into the storm drains. As grass clippings (organic material) decompose in a pond, they will release high levels of phosphorus and nitrogen, which further encourages plant and algae growth. Grass kept at a height of 2 to 2'h inches can withstand heat stress better than close -clipped grass. This higher mowing height encourages deeper rooting and there is less need for frequent watering and fertilization. In addition, grass kept at a higher height tends to shade broad-leaved weeds, giving your lawn a competitive edge over dandelions and other weeds. City of Rosemount Residents Role in Preserving Water Quality Composting Remove grass clippings, leaves and other plant debris from street gutters, sidewalks, and driveways. This plant material can be composted, used in the garden as mulch or disposed of through appropriate community services. Not only is compost more environmentally sound, but it provides a long lasting source of organic nutrients for vegetables and flowers. 'Buffer Zone Leave a "buffer zone" - a strip of natural vegetation - along all shorelines, ditches, and streambanks. This will slow down nutrient - rich runoff and help prevent shoreline and bank erosion. Natural Areas In low traffic areas of your lawn (where neighboring properties will not be affected), consider the establishment of non -maintained prairie grasses, wildflowers, or mulch beds. Creation of "natural areas" in the home landscape encourages songbirds and wildlife while reducing the amount of lawn requiring fertilization. Household Chemicak and Pesticides Use household chemicals and pesticides carefully. (Contact the MPCA for information on disposal of household hazardous wastes.) 1 5-27 Disposal of Chemicals and Waste Residents should be cautious in their disposal of household chemicals and waste. Motor oil should never be drained directly onto the street. Similarly, liquid chemicals, such as pesticides, paints, or solvents, should never be dumped onto the lawn or into street gutters. Rather, they should be disposed of in accordance with product label instructions. Phosphorus -free detergents should also be used when washing vehicles on driveways or in the street. Pet Dropping Dispose of pet droppings and trash properly. Make sure they are not washed into storm sewers. Septic Tank Maintain your septic tank properly by having it checked every other year and pumped out when necessary. Do not dispose of household chemicals in your drains; they can damage the operating efficiency of your system. Rr'9�a Use erosion and runoff control methods appropriate to slope of agriculture land and crop cover. Effective land management practices include alternative tillage methods, contour plowing, terracing, grassed waterways, and wind breaks. Fence livestock from stream and lake shores. Take precautions to avoid manure runoff into nearby streams and water bodies. Old Welts Properly seal wells that are no longer in use. ISection 6 - Financing Sources 0 u C Section 6 Financing Sources for Park Land Acquisition and Development Overview The availability and timing of funding for park land acquisition and development will have a direct and significant impact on the implementation of the park plan and the timing of specific park projects. Given this impact, it is important to develop an overall understanding of the financing sources available (in varying degrees) for park land acquisition and development. Financing Sources The following text describes the financing sources which are available to the City of Rosemount for park land acquisition and development. For clarity, the financing sources are listed under several categories: local initiatives, debt financing, and intergovernmental sources. Local Initiatives Park Dedication Fund: Is a method of financing in which developers are required to dedicate a 6-1 City of Rosemount percentage of the overall developable land within a given development, or cash equivalent, for parks and open space use. Under Minnesota State Statute 462, municipalities have the opportunity to require development projects to dedicate land or equivalent cash contributions for park purposes. The City of Rosemount has established, through local code, specific requirements for park dedication. The code requires that subdividers or developers of lands for residential, commercial, industrial, or planned unit development purposes, dedicate to the public property for parks, open space, or playground uses a reasonable portion of the area being platted. In lieu of land dedication, the subdivider may pay to the City an equivalent amount in cash based upon the average undeveloped land value as established periodically by the City of Rosemount. The 1991 residential dedication requirement is a minimum of Section 6 - Financing Sources 1/25 of an acre per dwelling unit or cash value equivalent. Owners of commercial, industrial, or institutional land are required to dedicate land or cash equivalent prior to issuance of a building permit. Land dedication requirements are currently established at a minimum of five percent (5%) of land area within the development or cash value equivalent. This fund has been, and most likely will continue to be, one of the primary sources used by the City of Rosemount to (mance park acquisition and development initiatives. User/Service Fees: Although historically limited to special use recreational facilities, such as hockey arenas and swimming pools, the use of user/service fees as a financing tool is being expanded by many communities to include other facilities and programs. User/service fee revenues can be generated on a user basis for such activities as golf, tennis, swimming, and team sports such as softball, baseball, soccer, football, etc. A key component required for instituting user/service fees as a revenue source is having a defined and identifiable user population. The decision to use user/service fees will generally reflect considerations such as projected costs, availability of other sources of revenue and local recreation policies. The Park and Recreation Committee and Department should periodically review all programs and facility uses to determine if user/service fees are appropriate. Rates should be set at a level that will help, at least partially, off -set the costs of developing and maintaining the facilities and running the programs. Additionally, higher out-of-town user/service fees should also be used to help off -set the costs associated with providing facilities for those from outside the City (and the City's taxing district). Capital Improvement Plan: Although not a source of financing for park programs, the Capital Improvement Plan is a tool used to plan for park improvement expenditures which are anticipated in the future, usually within a five-year time frame. The Rosemount Capital Improvement Plan is a planning resource which can provide substantiation for securing commitments from a variety of park funding sources. For this reason, the Capital Improvement Plan is identified as a resource for park improvement initiatives. Local Grants, Gifts, Donations, Volunteers, Professional Services: An important source of revenue, local grants, gifts, donations, voluntary labor and voluntary professional services may be available locally to facilitate park land acquisition and development initiatives. Historically, parks have retained their status as an important and desirable community service which contributes to maintaining the quality of life within the community. Consequently, local service clubs, civic organizations, community benefactors, and other similar entities have become excellent sources of capital, grant money, land donations and providers of volunteer labor and professional services needed to accomplish park system objectives. Many communities have successfully developed a volunteer network and park endowment fund to supplement the local park program. The City of Rosemount can accomplish the same through the planning and development of a volunteer program and establishment of an endowment fund for park improvements. Debt Financing General Obligation Bonds: Many municipal parks projects are still financed with general obligation (G.O.) bonds. A general obligation bond is a bond which is guaranteed by the full faith, credit and taxing power of a city. This taxing guarantee makes G.O. bonds a very secure investment and usually results in the lowest possible interest rate for the borrower. 6-2 City of Rosemount Chapter 475 "Pure" G.O. Bonds: Minnesota Statute Chapter 475 authorizes cities to issue G.O. bonds for park projects backed exclusively by ad valorem property taxes of a city. Taxes levied to make bond payments are considered to be special levies which are not limited by levy limit law. There are two major restrictions on this type of financing. First, pure G.O. bonds must be approved by a referendum vote. Unless a majority of voters approve the proposed issuance of the bonds, they cannot be issued. Second, the total amount of pure G.O. bonds a city can have outstanding at any one time cannot exceed 2.0% of that city's taxable market valuation. G.O. Revenue Bonds: Where other sources of revenue can be pledged to help make bond payments, some of the restrictions on "pure" G.O. bonds can be relaxed. If at least 20% of the costs of a park project can be specially assessed, such as a park or a golf course positioned to serve a large subdivision, G.O. improvement bonds can be issued under the authority of Chapter 429. The remaining project costs can be funded through ad valorem (real estate property) taxes or other sources. These improvement bonds do not require a referendum vote and are not limited by the net debt restriction. However, a city must conduct the normal improvement and assessment hearings prior to issuance. If at least 20% of the costs of a park project can be financed with tax increments, tax increment bonds can be utilized for a park project. However, the public purpose for this use of. tax increment revenues must first be clearly established and included in a city's tax increment plan. This alternative is becoming increasingly difficult to accomplish as the legislature places more and more restrictions on tax increment usage. (See "Tax Increment Financing" section.) 0 u 0 u Section 6 - Financing Sources Like pure G.O. bonds, any tax levies made in support of G.O. revenue bonds are considered to be special levies and are not governed by levy limit laws. Pure Revenue Bonds: A pure revenue bond pledges only the revenues of the facility financed for bond payments. Projects which will generate their own revenues, such as ice arenas or golf courses, may be able to be financed with revenue bonds without a city's G.O. pledge. Like improvement bonds and tax increment bonds, pure revenue bonds do not require voter approval and are not limited by net debt limits. However, since the bonds lack a guarantee of property tax support, only those projects which can demonstrate profitability can be successfully financed in this way. For this reason, pure revenue bonds for park projects are becoming quite unusual. Municipal Lease -Purchase Financing: An alternative to bonded debt financing for park projects is municipal lease -purchase financing. In a lease -purchase transaction, project financing is arranged by a third party. This third party can be an unaffiliated private corporation or a city's Economic Development Authority (EDA) or Housing and Redevelopment Authority (HRA). The city then enters into a lease -purchase contract to purchase the facility over time. The third -party lessor raises the capital for the project by issuing tax-exempt certificates of participation in the lease contract with the city. They are very similar to bonds. Payments on these certificates are made from the city's lease payments. At the end of the lease contract, a city can purchase the facility for a nominal charge. Because lease -purchase financing are not debt (in the statutory sense), the usual statutory limitations on net debt and the requirement for voter referendum approval do not apply. For essential - purpose projects, the interest rates are usually within one-half percentage point of a city's G.O. bonds. In Minnesota, a lease contract must be an annual appropriation lease which is not an obligation of the city. The City Council must annually decide to budget sufficient funds to continue the lease for the following year, or to abandon the project. The risk of breaking the lease can make lease -purchase financing difficult for all but essential -purpose projects like municipal buildings and/or multi- purpose projects. Because the leases are neither obligations of a city nor debt, any ad valorem tax levies used to make lease payments are not special levies. They must be included in the city's operating levies and subject to levy limitations. For larger growing communities struggling to contend with levy limits constraints, this often makes lease -purchase financing unfeasible. Installment Purchase Fmancing: Is similar to lease - purchase financing, but can overcome most of the shortcomings. State law permits installment purchase contracts to be obligations of a city and which need not be subject to annual appropriation. This permits installment purchase contracts to be long-term obligations of a city, which pledge the city's full faith and credit. This allows for far greater security for the investors in the transaction, and leads to interest rates which are comparable to the rates on a city's G.O. bonds. It is also possible for ad valorem taxes levied for installment purchase contract payments to be special levies, which are exempt from levy limitations. The city's EDA or HRA serves as the third -party vendor and issues revenue bonds to finance the project. Because contract payments are used for "principal and interest payments on bonded indebtedness paid to another political subdivision of the State " ( in this case, the EDA or HRA), any ad valorem taxes will be considered to special levies outside of levy limits. Installment purchase financing offer the low interest rates comparable to a city's G.O. bonds, allow tax 6-3 City of Rosemount levies to be outside levy limits, and are not governed by the Statutory requirement of net debt or voter referendum. In short, they are a very powerful, more flexible alternative to conventional bonded debt financing. Intergovernmental Sources Metropolitan Parks Act: The Metropolitan Council recognizes a larger metropolitan recreation open space system. The Council coordinates certain planning and development matters which impact recreation services on a regional basis. The implementing agency which influences park programs within the Rosemount area is Dakota County. Master plans are created by the implementing agencies, in this instance, Dakota County. Dakota County then requests grant funds from the Metropolitan Council to acquire and/or develop regional park facilities. Funding for the program is provided by the State of Minnesota. A capital improvement program is prepared by Dakota County to reflect the master plan. The program identifies the park designated for acquisition or development and the estimated cost to accomplish the proposed program. The Metropolitan Council awards grant dollars to the implementing agency based upon application criteria and budget limitations. These funds are only available to the extent that a regional facility is located, or might be located, within Rosemount. The 1986 Regional Recreation Open System Plan identifies a potential regional trail corridor in Rosemount. Inclusion of the trail corridor in the Dakota County Master Plan and the capital improvement program could result in award of grant funds for such an improvement in the future. Section 6 - Financing Sources Local School Districts: Joint -use of recreational facilities between the City and local school district allows for considerable long-term savings for both parties. Development and maintenance cost sharing would allow new facilities to be developed in a relatively economical manner. Dakota County. The City of Rosemount is a participant of the Dakota County Community Development Block Grant(CDBG) Program. As a member of the Northern District, the City can access funds for community improvement projects on an annual basis. Community improvement initiatives might include the acquisition or development of park land, most likely with a neighborhood focus. While park programs are eligible, they must be carefully designed to assure that the improvements satisfy a Federal objective. The probable Federal objective will be to provide evidence that the project is either of benefit to low and moderate income persons, or will contribute to the elimination of urban blight. Although current regulations provide that at least fifty-one percent (51%) of the benefactors are low and moderate income persons, it is expected that this percentage will continue to increase to perhaps seventy-five percent (75%). To apply CDBG Funds to park improvement projects, a proposal must be carefully designed and receive approval from Dakota County. On an annual basis, Dakota County prepares a Capital Improvement Program which includes financing for bikeways and County Parks. Spring Lake Regional Park Reserve and trail/bikeway improvements are the most likely occasions for the City to derive some benefit from the County's C.I.P. Current policy by Dakota County requires that the local unit of government must agree to accept maintenance responsibilities for County financed trails/bikeways improvements. Outdoor Recreation Grant Program: The Minnesota Department of Trade and Economic Development administers a competitive grant program designed to assist with financing park acquisition and development programs. On September 1 of each year, the Department accepts complete applications for funding. Preliminary statements must be submitted to the Department during the preceding spring/summer. Each application is then considered and evaluated to determine its relationship to the State Comprehensive Outdoor Recreation Plan (SCORP). Applicants must provide at least a fifty percent (50%) cost share. The local share may consist of cash, donations of labor and equipment, or any combination thereof. Money may generally be used to acquire land for parks, develop parks, create athletic fields, preserve natural resources, or for trail development. The maximum request is $400,000. While extremely competitive, the Outdoor Recreation Program can be an excellent source of funding. The primary consideration initially is to identify a local park need which is consistent with the SCORP. The identified park need should also be reflected in the Rosemount Capital Improvement Plan. Those things accomplished, the application for funds can then be confidently prepared for consideration. The future of this Program will be dependent upon continuing appropriation of funds by the State Legislature and Congress. Congress is considering establishing a trust fund which will replace the Land and Water Conservation Fund (LAWCON). This change would then create a long term funding source for park acquisition and development needs. Department of Natural Resources: Metropolitan Small Lakes Management Grant Program is a joint venture program between a municipality and the Trail -Waterways -Fisheries Division of the Department of Natural Resources. The primary purpose of the program is to provide funding for 6-4 City of Rosemount public access, enhanced fishing, and other recreational opportunities or lakes of not less than ten (10) acres in size with depths of not less than five (5) feet. Up to $20,000 is available to a government sponsor to finance improvements. The sponsor, in this case a city, must provide the necessary land and a commitment to maintain the facility. It is possible that the grant could be used for acquisition expenses. Cooperative Opportunity for Resource Enhancement (CORE) program is designed to improve fishery resources in Minnesota. Projects may involve habitat enhancement to improve the fishery resource or angler use projects which affect the ways in which the public can use the resource. Typically, CORE provides assistance for the construction of fishing piers. Land acquisition is not an eligible activity under CORE. A public entity will provide evidence that water access exists and that construction of a pier structure is needed. CORE then provides financial assistance to facilitate construction activities. Snowmobile Trails Assistance Program is to provide snowmobile trail acquisition, development, and maintenance funding through the Department of Natural Resources. The Department, the local unit of government, and a local snowmobile club cooperate to plan, develop, and maintain the snowmobile trail system. Typically, the trails provide connections between state trails and local communities. Trail acquisition, development and maintenance costs are divided with the state paying sixty-five percent (65%) and the local unit contributing thirty- five percent (35%). The state also provides ninety percent (90%) and the local unit ten percent (10%) of grooming costs. Generally, it is the snowmobile club which provides the local share which can be cash or in-kind contributions. Section 6 - Financing Sources Department of Transportation (MNDOT): On a project specific basis, MNDOT can provide funding for sidewalk, bikeway, and landscape improvements located within the public right-of-way. Sometimes, these improvements can be effectively coordinated with Park System programs. Mississippi National River and Recreation Program: In 1988, legislation was approved by the United States government to designate certain portions of the Mississippi River Corridor within the Twin ' Cities area as a "nationally significant" body of water. Under the auspices of the National Park Service, the Mississippi River corridor in ' Rosemount will be affected by the Program. The initial focus of the Program is to develop a management plan for the Mississippi River Corridor. A commission will be appointed to prepare the plan. Staff has been provided by the National Park Service to serve the needs of the commission. The legislation requires that the plan ' respond to Critical Area Plans which have previously been adopted by Corridor communities. Following development and adoption of the management plan, the legislation proposes that the Federal government offer grant money to fund acquisition and development activities which are consistent with the plan. Funds will need to be appropriated by Congress. Most likely, such an appropriation will not occur prior to October 1992. In the event dollars do become available, acquisition and development grants on a 50% cost share have been approved by the legislation. At this point, it appears that the likelihood of Rosemount securing funds for local parks along the Mississippi River will be limited unless a regional benefit can be evidenced and the proposed project is consistent with the Critical Area Plan. 0 1 6-5 City of Rosemount ISection 7 - Park and Trail System Plan t 1 IF Q Section 7 Park and Trail System Plan Overview The Park and Trail System Plan describes the various components of the Rosemount Park System. The plan has it basis in the findings and planning issues previously considered as part of this study, particularly: • Section 2 - Assessment of Rosemount's Parks and Recreational Needs. • Section 3 - Governing Policies r• Section 4 - Park System Framework Since the City of Rosemount is a dynamic, growing community, development/growth patterns and characteristics cannot be predicted with absolute certainty. Therefore, it must be kept in mind that: • all park system components must be justifiable within the context of the parks and recreational needs, mission, and goals as defined within this study. • if the parks and recreational needs, mission, and goals change in future years, then the park and trail system plan itself must change accordingly. Section 3 - Governing Policies reinforces the need to monitor change within the community and respond as appropriate in future years. Each park site or recreational facility defined within this plan is intended to make a specific contribution to the City's park system. The overall plan consists of a number of important components, including: • the Park System Plan. 7-1 City of Rosemount • the Trail System Plan. • Regional Parks and Facilities. • School District Facilities. • the National Guard Armory. • Private Recreational Facilities. • Park System Acreage Totals. • Anticipated Facilities Needs and Distribution. Section 7 - Park and Trail System Plan Park System Plan Figure 7.1 - Park System Legend illustrates a complete listing of the parks and recreational facilities which will makeup the Rosemount Park System. This figure also illustrates: • each park's "type" or classification. • each park's acreage (existing and future). • each park's location • each park's "plate" number. Under this plan, Rosemount's Park System will ultimately consist of 24 sites under the various park "types" (classifications), excluding linear parks and cooperative efforts. Figure 72 - Park System Plan illustrates the location of the parks and recreational facilities on a City map. Individual Park Sites The park plate number indicated in Figure 7.1 - Park System Legend refers to individual park "plates," which describe each park in detail, including: • Park Type, Address, and Size. • Existing Facilities/Amenities: defines the park's existing level of development (i.e., the type and number of recreational facilities and site amenities developed). • Existing Natural Features/Site Conditions: defines the park's natural characteristics such as topography, drainage, vegetation, pedestrian access, vehicular access, etc. • Future Development Issues: addresses pertinent development issues which should be considered when actual development planning and design is undertaken. • Future Development Program: defines what type of development is appropriate for the park based on the accepted park system facilities development standards, anticipated service area needs, demographics, and individual site characteristics. It is important to recognize that the future development program is intended to serve as a basis for further discussion. The actual development program should evolve through an interactive process between the Parks & Recreation Committee, City staff, and the public/neighborhood groups. This will allow City residents an opportunity to either confirm or amend the park's development program based upon their specific recreational needs and desires at the time of actual development. Existing and Post -Development Functional Classifications: describes the park's physical characteristics in a descriptive manner, both as they currently exist as well as anticipated after further development. The functional classifications consists of five key elements: conservation, ornamental, reserve, cultural, and recreation. One final comment with respect to individual parks is that their actual locations, and more specifically their property boundary, will ultimately be determined by the governing bodies as acquisition concerns, property ownership boundaries, developmental considerations, etc., become better defined once actual acquisition is undertaken. 7-2 City of Rosemount The park plates follow Figure 72 - Park System Plan in chronological order. Natural Resource Areas Without a doubt, preserving the City's natural resources and open spaces ranks as one of the community highest priorities. This will be accomplished in a number of ways, including: siting individual parks in a manner which preserves some of the natural resource and open space areas within the community. through the careful regulation of future development in all areas of the community. • through the encouragement of creative development/sub-division design which preserves natural resources and open spaces. Siting individual parks will be undertaken as part of this study. Regulating future development will be undertaken by a number of public planning bodies who have the shared goal of preserving the natural and open space areas within the City. In as much as possible, proposed park sites are located to take advantage of and protect at least a portion of the natural resources and open spaces in the City. The two conservation areas (CL -1 and CL - 2) along with the linear parks are, in many respects, proposed for this very purpose. However, preserving these areas of the community can only partially be accomplished through the park system plan. The rest has to come through creative development and subdivision design where developers work in a partnership with the City to determine the best course of action to assure that each party's interests are considered and acted upon. There can be no substitute for creative and 7 u F 1 J Section 7 - Park and Trail System Plan sensitive subdivision design when trying to preserve the natural character of the City. In as much as possible, protected waters and wetlands have also been incorporated into the park system plan. Coupled with the efforts of other planning bodies, this should provide a reasonable level of protection for these areas once completely implemented. It should be noted that the protection of waters and wetlands should go beyond the actual water - surfaced areas to include shorelines, adjacent natural vegetation areas, and wetland fringes as well. This will help to assure the protection of the community's water quality and provide wildlife habitat and natural open space. The City's Comprehensive Plan should be referred to for additional information related to the protection of the City's natural resource and open space areas. Historical, Cultural, Social, and Commercial Center Of The Community As stated in Section 4 - Park System Framework, the historical, cultural, social, and commercial center or core of the community is where community residents interact with each other. It is also the area of the community in which one gains a "sense of place" and an understanding of the community's overall character and personality. The following defines the major components of this center or core area of the community: • the downtown business district. • City Hall (and surrounding municipal facilities). • several major community parks, including: Erickson Park, Erickson Community Square, Schwarz Pond Park, and Carrolls Woods Park. • the National Guard Armory. • Rosemount School District Facilities. • the historical St. Joseph's Church. • St. Joseph's Cemetery. Naturally, each of these components serve the community in a different capacity, with each being designed to serve specific user groups and purposes. As would be expected, the development of the parks which are part of this core area will be defined within this document. The other components are or will be addressed as part of other planning efforts. To assure continuity in design and to create a unified and consistent community character and image in this area, the various planning bodies should coordinate their planning efforts. Critical to this coordinated planning effort is the planning and design of the linkage corridors (pedestrian, bicycle, and vehicle) between the individual components. A unified design theme should be used to tie these areas together. Downtown Streetscaping An important part of linking the various components of the City's core area together and enhancing the community's overall appearance is the downtown area streetscape. Figure 72 - Park System Plan identifies the key transportation corridors which should be considered the highest priority for a streetscaping program. Typical components of a streetscaping program 7-3 City of Rosemount include: • an urban road cross-section consisting of asphalt, concrete, and/or pavers with concrete curb lines. • sidewalk cross-section consisting of concrete and/or pavers. • ornamental light standards, benches, trash containers, bike racks, bollards, tree grates, etc. • extensive tree, shrubs, and flower plantings. • street and traffic control signage. • ornamental fountains. • architecturally coordinated building facades. Naturally, the planning and design of the downtown streetscaping should be coordinated with the planning and design of the other major core area components. Farm Museum Concept The idea of a farm museum was discussed on a number of occasions during the course of this planning process. The principal objective behind this concept is to preserve some of the communities agricultural history and identity for future generations to appreciate and enjoy. Given the space requirements necessary for this type of exhibit, the University of Minnesota property was cited as offering the most likely site. Since the Advisory Committees' primary objective was to introduce the idea of a farm museum for consideration in future years, no specific location (within the University property boundary) was identified as being the most appropriate at this time. Although no specific program was developed, Gibbs Section 7 - Park and Trail System Plan Farm in St. Paul was cited as possible conceptual approach to the farm museum idea. The Advisory Committee did note that Dakota County has developed a very nice museum based on a similar theme at the Dakota County Fairgrounds in Farmington. The impact that this facility would have on any future plans should be considered when this particular issue is discussed in future years. Garden Plots Providing garden plots for residents to grow their own vegetables was cited as an important park planning issue and worthy of consideration. The University of Minnesota Property was again selected as the location for this use because of its location near the more densely populated areas of the City and the availability of land. The acreage available and actual location of the garden plots will be determined through negotiations between the City and the University of Minnesota. Special Recreational Facilities Discussions with the Advisory Committee also took into consideration the need for a number of special use facilities, including: • an indoor hockey arena. • a golf course. • an outdoor swimming complex. • a recreational vehicle parking area. Based on the established facility development standards, the costs associated with developing each of these facilities, and consideration of other developmental needs and priorities, the consensus by the Committee was to: • continue to study and monitor the need for each of these facilities through community surveys, public meetings, and discussions with the various civic organizations and athletic associations. • not identify a specific site for any of these facilities until that point in time in which the demand for a particular facility dictates further action. Trails System Plan Figure 73 - Trail System Plan illustrates the trail system plan on a City map. The plan depicts the linkage corridors for the various modes of recreational travel between parks as well as between parks and developed areas. Although principally focusing on pedestrian and bicycle travel, the plan also illustrates the trail locations for cross-country skiing, snowmobiling, and horseback riding. The forthcoming text defines the trail system plan in a descriptive manner. Park Trails As previously defined, the park trail concept has its basis in the assessment of Rosemount's parks and recreational needs, which includes: • the desire to preserve open space, natural resource areas, and wildlife habitat. • strong support for the development of a comprehensive trail system. • a stated preference for natural park areas, wildlife/nature observation areas, and walking/biking paths. 7-4 City of Rosemount The governing policies established thereafter reinforces these general precepts. The standards for park trails (as defined in section 4 - Park System Framework) evolved, in part, from these findings and are worthy of reiterating: • emphasize harmony with the natural environment and are associated with parks, nature areas, lakes, wetlands, creek and river bottoms, etc. • safely protects users from urban developmental encroachment and associated vehicular traffic. • allows for relatively uninterrupted pleasure hiking and biking to and through the City's park system. • effectively ties the various parks together into a comprehensive park system in a manner which enhances the recreational experience of the user. Within the context of Rosemount's park system, park trails will be used: • internal to individual parks. in combination with linear parks (i.e., "greenways") to serve as linkage corridors between parks as well as between parks and developed areas. With respect to the Trail System Plan, the emphasis will be placed on the latter of these two uses simply because the plan is concentrating on the overall trail system rather than trails within individual parks. Success toward establishing the park trails as a desirable alternative to the more typical transportation trail will be based on: • an on-going commitment by the City toward the development of park trails as linkage corridors. C 1 ISection 7 - Park and Trail System Plan f I I J I 1 7 '1 Ll • a willingness by land owners, developers, and the City to work together to assure that the park trail corridors become reality. It should be pointed out that the intent of a park trail corridor is to provide a means for recreational travel between park sites and around the city without jeopardizing the safety and personal space of the residents it is intended serve. As would be expected, almost everyone likes the concept of the park trail as long as it's not in their "backyard." To alleviate this concern, park trail corridors must be planned and designed in conjunction with development planning and design. Proper land use planning along with well -conceived subdivision design is the key to providing safe, accessible, and functional trail corridors which add instead of detract from the value of the adjacent properties. Park Plate 25 Linear Parks/Park Trail Corridors provides additional information related to linear parks/park trail corridors. The class of park trail (1, II, or III) used for each segment of trail should be determined during the actual design phase, taking into consideration the anticipated use patterns and volumes. Class II park trails are expected to be the most widely used. Transportation Trails The basic intent behind the transportation trails is to provide the opportunity for safe pedestrian and bicyclist travel to and from parks and in and around the community. For the most part, transportation trails are located to take advantage of existing and proposed road r.o.w.'s, property lines, and easements. In a general, transportation trails are shown along all principal arterial, minor arterial, and collector streets throughout the City. They are also provided along roads in which traffic levels warrant separation between vehicle traffic and pedestrians and bicyclist. The class of transportation trail (1, Il, or I11) used for each segment of trail should be determined during the actual design phase, taking into consideration the anticipated use patterns and volumes. Class 11 transportation trails are expected to be the most widely used. Cross -Country Skil, Horse, and Snowmobile Trails Given the exceptional cross-country ski facility at Lebanon Hills Regional Park, no groomed cross- country trails are formerly proposed within the City at this time. However, informal skiing in the various community parks within the City should not be discouraged unless conditions are unsafe for the skier. Also, as the park system develops and/or demand for trails increases, there may be justification for developing ski trails in the future, especially within the linear parks and conservation areas. Horseback riding is currently and expected to remain a relatively common activity within the community. As such, horse trails have been shown in a number of locations on the trail system plan, primarily in the area that has a known concentration of horse owners. Key aspects of the horse trail system is its connection to Lebanon Hills Regional Park and the trail corridors which lead to the area east of Akron Avenue. This area offers the best long-term opportunity for horse trails within the City because it is unlikely that the area will ever be very densely developed. Snowmobile trails are proposed where their impacts to the residential areas of the City and other park system components will be minimal. The local snowmobile club ("Snow -Toppers"), which is part of the larger Dakota County snowmobile club, has a steady membership of around 30 individuals. With 1 7-5 City of Rosemount the aid of the State's Grant -In -Aid Program, they have been successful in securing trail easements for their use. Since this approach wilt likely continue to be the primary method for securing trail easement rights, the City will not have a great deal of responsibility for providing snowmobile trail corridors. However, the local club did express interest in staying up-to-date with the Park & Recreation Committee on their actions. The Committee should establish a yearly review process with the local club to assure that they have an understanding of where the current trails are located within the City. Regional Parks/Facilities The City of Rosemount is in the fortunate position to take advantage of a number of exceptional regional parks and trails located within or directly adjacent to the community. The regional based facilities are administered by the Dakota County Parks and Planning Departments. Lebanon Hills Regional Park and Spring Lake Regional Park Reserve are two large regional park areas which offer a variety of recreational opportunities for City residents to use and enjoy. Figure 72 - Park System Plan and Park Plates 26, 27, & 28 define each park location and illustrate what they offer the residents of Rosemount in the way of regionally based recreational facilities. In addition to these two parks, Dakota County also contributes to the development of regionally based trails and bikeways. Figure 73 - Trail System Plan identifies the location of several trails and bikeways that have been or will be developed in cooperation with the County. Although the majority of the trails and bikeways within Rosemount will ultimately be developed by the City itself, the potential for some of them to be Section 7 - Park and Trail System Plan funded through Dakota County or other State Agencies remains a possibility. To maximize the City's opportunity to benefit from the County's trails and bikeway program, it is recommended that the City establish a periodic review process with the Dakota County Planning Department. Maintenance of Dakota County trails and bikeways is a shared responsibility between the County and the City. The responsibilities of each party are typically defined in a maintenance agreement. School District Facilities As has been pointed out a number of times throughout this document, establishing a close working relationship with the local school district with respect to the joint -use of recreational facilities will be important in future years if the City is to attempt to meet the community's recreational demands. At this point in time, three Rosemount School District sites provide opportunities for joint -use of outdoor facilities: a) Rosemount Elementary School, b) Shannon Elementary School, and C) Rosemount Middle/High School Both Rosemount Elementary School and Shannon Elementary School are covered under separate park plates along with the City's park sites. Rosemount Elementary School is covered under Park Plate 4 and Shannon Elementary School is covered under Park Plate 20. Since both of these sites have been functioning under some form of joint -use agreement already, their particular programs and list of facilities available for use by the City can be reasonably determined. The relationship between the Rosemount Middle/ High School and the City is less defined at this time than the other two sites, but offers the greatest long-term opportunities for both parties. The initial reaction from the School District has been very positive with respect to joint -use of these facilities assuming that an agreement can be worked out in a equitable fashion. Undoubtedly, the School District itself will have to go through an internal review process to define what their long-term planning objectives are and to determine exactly what it can offer in the way of facilities for joint -use with the City. This is an important point in that the results of the School District's own planning process will have an affect (either positive or negative) on the City's future facilities development. Recognizing the limitations this presents to this planning effort, the forthcoming facility tabulations are based on our projections and the anticipated needs of the City with respect to their overall facilities distribution. These tabulations and assumptions will have to be confirmed or modified by the School District at the appropriate time. • Official Baseball Fields: 2 to 3 fields. • Softball/Combination Ballfiehk 2 to 3 fields. • Soccer/Football Fields: 1 to 2 fields. • Tennis Courts: 8 courts. • Basketball Court: 1. • Running Track- 1. • Football Stadium: 1. In addition to the fore -mentioned facilities, the School District also could provide, through a joint - use agreement, a variety of indoor facilities, such as swimming pools, gymnasiums, etc. 7-6 n City of Rosemount National Guard Armory I The National Guard Armory will provide City residents with a number of recreational facilities, including: • gymnasium space for recreational events. • offices for the City's recreational staff. • use of an auditorium for musical, theatrical, and training events. • banquet facilities for community events and private functions. • pre-school programming opportunities. • shared use of parking facilities, exercise rooms, locker rooms, and indoor firing range. As of this writing, the Armory is scheduled to open in the summer of 1993. Private Recreational Facilities With the exception of the three golf courses listed in the Park System Legend, privately operated recreational facilities are limited within the City at this time. In addition to the listed golf course, the following list of facilities identifies a number of other recreational opportunities in or near the City: • Chippendale Golf Course on Hwy. 3. • the Rod and Gun Club on Hwy. 3 across from the V.F.W. • a model airplane airstrip located on the University of Minnesota property. • a couple of "Splatball" courses east of Hwy. 52 and north of Hwy. 55. • a miniature golf course located on County Road 42. 11, r Section 7 - Park and Trail System Plan Park System Acreage Totals As defined in Section 4 - Park System Framework, the typically accepted standard for overall park system acreage ranges from a minimum of 10 acres/1000 population up to 20 (or more) acres/1000 population. These figures typically pertain to the core system of parks, exclusive of trail corridors, special -use facilities, regional parks, conservation areas, and cooperative efforts where the land is not owned by the City. Again as stated in Section 4, servicing the needs of the community and protecting significant natural resource areas within the City should be the primary factor in determining the overall park system acreage. The overall acreage/1000 population can then be used as a barometer to determine whether or not the overall park system acreage is within appropriate parameters. Based on the City's projected ultimate or saturation population of 20,000 to 22,000 and the park system plan as set forth in this study, the core system of parks would amount to a total of about 321 acres. This is exclusive of the conservation areas, Carrolls Woods Nature Area (which is classified as a special use park), and linear/park trail corridors. However, it does include the University of Minnesota Athletic Complex's 75 acres, which may turn out to be more than the City will actually need to develop to meet the community's long-term needs. Given these figures, the overall acres/1000 population would be 16.0 for a population of 20,000 and 14.6 with a population of 22,000, which is well within the typically accepted standards. Assuming that the City continues its past history of acquiring park land in a fashion which coincides with the timing of future development and population growth, it should be in a position to provide adequate park land to meet the needs of current and future City residents. 7-7 City of Rosemount Section 7 - Park and Trail System Plan City of Rosemount Figure 7.1 (Part 1 of 2). Park System Legend CITY PROVIDED PARKS AND RECREATIONAL FACII1'I'IFS Park Site Park Type Park Acreage Location Park Plate No. Exist. Future Total M-1 (Dallara) Mini Park 1.1 Ac. None 1.1 Ac. 4175 147th St. West 1 M-2 (Chippendale) Mini Park 2.1 Ac. None 2.1 Ac. 14876 Chrysler Avenue 2 M-3 (Kidder) Mini Park 2.2 Ac. None 2.2 Ac. 3653 146th St. West 3 MA (Charlie's) Mini Park 2.0 Ac. None 2.0 Ac. 3155 144th St. West (RFS) 4 N-1 (Camfield) Sub -Neighborhood Park 3.2 Ac. None 3.2 Ac. 14795 Canada Avenue 5 N-2 (Biscayne) Sub -Neighborhood Park 3.2 Ac. None 3.2 Ac. 2420 145th St. West 6 N-3 (Connemara) Sub -Neighborhood Park 4.8 Ac. None 4.8 Ac. 13930 Connemara Tr. 7 N4 (Twin Puddles) Neighborhood Park 5.4 Ac. None 5.4 Ac. 14884 Dodd Blvd. 8 N-5 (Winds) Neighborhood Park 6.5 Ac. 3.0 Ac. 9.5 Ac. 15675 Chippendale Avenue 9 N-6 (Jaycee) Neighborhood Park (W/Youth Athletics) 14.3 Ac. None 14.3 Ac. 15425 Shannon Parkway 10 N-7 Neighborhood Park None 10.0 Ac. 10.0 Ac. W. of Biscayne/N. of 145th St. 11 N-8 Neighborhood Park None 12.5 Ac. 12.5 Ac. N. of 135th St./W. of Bacardi 12 N-9 Neighborhood Park None 9.0 Ac. 9.0 Ac. S. of 135th St./E. of Bacardi 13 N-10 Neighborhood Park None 12.0 Ac. 12.0 Ac. N. of 135th St./W. of Akron 14 N-11 Neighborhood Park None 10.0 Ac. 10.0 Ac. N. of Cty. 42/W. of Akron 15 C-1 (Erickson Comm. Sq.) Community Park 20.0 Ac. 12.0 Ac. 32.0 Ac. Near City Hall 16 C-2 (Schwas Pond) Community Park (W/Neighborhood Facilities) 24.0 Ac. 7.5 Ac. 31.5 Ac. 13787 Dodd Boulevard 17 C-3 Community Park (W/Neighborhood Facilities) None 23.0 Ac. 23.0 Ac. E. of Diamond Path 18 A-1 (Erickson) Playfield/Athletic Complex 36.0 Ac. None 36.0 Ac. 14115 Brazil Avenue 19 A-2 (Shannon) Youth Playfield and Neighborhood Park 129 Ac. 10.0 Ac. 22.9 Ac. 13260 Shannon Parkway 20 A-3 (University) Playfield/Athletic Complex None 75.0 Ac. 75.0 Ac. County Rd. 42 21 CL -1 Conservancy [ands None 28.0 Ac. 28.0 Ac. South of 120th St. 22 C1,2 Conservancy Lands None 35.0 Ac. 35.0,Ac. West of Akron Ave. 23 7-8 Section 7 - Park and Trail System Plan City of Rosemount Figure 7.1 (Part 2 of 2). Park System Legend CITY PROVIDED PARKS AND RECREATIONAL FACILITIES (continued) Park Site Park Type Park Acreage Location Park Plate No. Exist. Future Total SU -1 (Carrolls Woods) Special Use Park - Nature/Wildlife Preserve 65.0 Ac. 14.0 Ac. 79.0 Ac. 3335 142nd St. W. (RHS) 24 LP Linear Park N/A N/A N/A N/A 25 NON -CITY PROVIDED PARKS AND RECREATIONAL FACIUTIFS Park Site Park Type Park Acreage Location Park Plate No. Exist. Future Total Armory Indoor Rec. Facilities (Joint Use W/Guard) N/A N/A N/A E. of Hwy.3 and Dodd Blvd. None RES (Rosemount Mini Park (Joint Use W/School District) 2.0 Ac. None 2.0 Ac. 3155 144th St. West (RES) 4 Elementary School) RMS (Rosemount Playfield/Athletic Complex 50.0 Ac. None 50.0 Ac. E. of Hwy. 3/N. of 142nd St. None Middle School) & (Joint Use W/School District) RHS (Rosemount High School) Lebanon Hills Park Regional Park (Dakota County Parks) 2000 Ac. N/A 2000+ Ac. N. of 120th St./W. of Dodd (Eagan) 26/27 Spring Lake Park Reserve Regional Park Reserve (Dakota County Parks) 1200 Ac. N/A 1200 Ac. Near Mississippi River 26/28 Rich Valley Golf Course Golf Course (Private Ownership/Open to Public) 100+ Ac. N/A 100+ Ac. N. of County 42/E. of Hwy. 55 None Brockway Golf Course Golf Course (Private Ownership/Open to Public) 80+ Ac. N/A 80+ Ac. E. of Hwy. 3/S. of 135th St. None Apple Valley Golf Course Golf Course (Public Ownership/Open to Public) N/A Ac. N/A N/A Ac. N. of County 38/Apple Valley Border None Conservancy Lands Conservancy Lands None 170+ Ac. 170+ Ac. E. of Akron Ave./S. of I.G.H. None Cooperative 7-9 Section 7 - Park and Trail System Plan Figure 7.2 (Part 1 of 2) City of Rosemount Park System Plan �},l lira is 1' ya a'7+r a Lebanon Hills Park "^ ,.. WW" r"074! as as Ji\ 197 CL -1 ffi 1, F � ;SLP r .•,: _"`:.. _---- ---- FWk3[�v, .Conservancy Lands Cooperative: -- --- N-10 PrivatoFdblic t cts Important Prot Natural 4� - r..1,P Resoukce Area. ' Provides Fos Future Passive — A-2 (Shannon) ! Recreational Opportunities. y : N,8 r f. C-2 (Schwa Pond) N-9 a N # Conneatlr9) r 1 (, N 7 'G1}aT I: RlYb C�OCIt4 `. ■■ ^� >� ' — (Erickson) Conservancy Lands Cooperative cooperation University ofMinnesota. a " (c�VcSSoUtid#s1�) !t /��nt n?vx� - C-1 kson Refer To City's ComprehensivePlan For The Exact Location Of ThisConservation Area. " tJ » < t t gigue _ REJ r N-11 C-d'mi� mly Square),, ~ hs xl a (1}a�hara) OIL(Biscayne) N-2 r - ', A-3 tJniverstR, and Garden Plots (odder} llj <r UNiV R 11 Y!.. Site Loo Actual Location Will Be Determine �7irou E Negotiations Betweggh The City And, The v rsityf MmnffiSota 'j - Key Dowetown Transportation -Corridors; -- •aiEdYb Avad ifogauve Impacts To f N 4 p, M-2 /: Serve To Tie -Together Major Historical, Cultural, Social, And Park Areas. Residential Areas Ahd Tu Provide Adequate= k Space For Developijig�Athletic Facilities In An (rWtti ., (Chippepdale) j Identify Downtown Business District. Economical And Func"honaY Matinei ;�"fte5)" "`• 5 t -.- Promote Promote Continued ued Downtown Beautification/ ` Redevelopment Program E. i li f gh soaping eferToFigure 10- Dowiiiown StteeEs8,ping). ,.m Farm Mu��ii`tFrr",�$ncdptuau \ � �.� Y a x j •><<', � � 'rt, •�i Non -Residential Developmepl Area: Sty Of MinnesotaefProtion n tperty s „ riN-6 cee) ,. , Provide Green Space/Open pace Areas Through CreativeDevelopment pesign,_ Provide Trans orkatioA Trail Linkage 'rCorridors I� _... ( i N-5 (Winds) To Desi ated T[ gg��i� ; - (Refer !PN4%111,Sysstem Plan). f 7-10 Section 7 - Park and Trail System Plan Figure 72 (Part 2 of 2) 4 City of Rosemount Park System Plan Nonh 0 1/4 1/2 3/4 1 Scale (In Miles) LEGEND: MENOW Municipal Boundary _. Principle Arterial _ Minor Arterial - Collector Mini Park Neighborhood Park Community Park Conservancy Lands Playfield/Athletic Complex Special -Use Park Linear Park jt Regional Park Golf Course National Guard Armory Rosemount School District Nonh 0 1/4 1/2 3/4 1 Scale (In Miles) Section 7 - Park and Trail System Plan Figure 73 (Part 1 of 2) City of Rosemount Trail System Plan ��J, �+� North Boundary Trail (Follows Existing f }: Key Access Point To Lebanon Hills Trail Publicly Owned Easement) - Future Link . , �. , X ,�'•�� -i-i r $r System And Recreational Facilities To.l over Grove Heights Trail System—• i e. baa . Am tnon Dills Park _ .—.. ^__ _—.._.__ _ 1 CL -1 e t CL -2 .— — Conservancy.,�- I .,. ': Trails Within - - L Dakota County Btkeway \ , Lands (Class III Transportation_ Linear Parks _ Cooperative This Area " Trail) a Key Trail Corridors Between Major OIL % �;i„ �. .��,..... Community Parks —r ( ,t 1 A-2. L \' N-8 t3 Safe Pedestrian/Bicycle Linkages >; ..^CX,. Y 5N � � (Such As Sidewalks) From Within a Development Areas To The Designated sU 1y�,,< Trail System Should Be Considered - V A-1 During The Sub -Division Planning ' a Process (Typical) N-11 y} s n r M-4riir a, M Snowmobile Trailhead .r A-3 •., 1 ,.: a •.`c. ParkingLot b •.'!+',.i.3:::............. N.t N-4 t tee' M 2�r s ....ig .... , Trails Along Key .• ..,.. Downtown Transportation Corridors - - ''s" `°•' •' To Be Developed In Conceit With ,•� Streelscaping Program it a9 !' K Non -,R stk eat�jai Development Area: - - - <.� Provide' Transportation Trail Linkage To Designated Trail Corridor$ N-6 7-12 Section 7 - Park and Trail System Plan Figure 73 (Park 2 of 2) I� 7-13 LEGEND: Municipal Boundary Principle Arterial Minor Arterial ..� „A. Collector Mini Park Ncighboihood Park Community Park q g ° Conservancy Lands ® Playfield/Athletic Complex Special Use Park Linear Park 4 Regional Park .,Con i n t o Trail Corr' 1 t (Dakota County Par Golf Course National Guard Armory Rosemount School District ....... Park Trail Ilansixxt•tion Irnil 0 Ilorse Trail •••••••••«•• Snowmobile Trail ,—Conceptual I In �o Spring Lake Park Reserve Trail "Loop System" ................... Bikeway Developed Residential Areas Not Guided For evelopment (Primarily East Of it Ave.) < Oo v ti Developed Owners 7"h Cooperation With Landr gli Irad Easement Agreements a _ - - i+� �*a ie t'ii>`+ '✓ ',, •_'�;,�_I�I e.signed Trail Lou _ Provide VariousLength <i��'3.� } 4 .a.� Of 5 To 10MileWich "�:'` ,if�� Tie Into TI ,Designated. Trail System ty As Shown 'Bis PLan �_� j•j> -Z _ Conceptual, Lon vin rnl Trail Corridor (Within Linear Park) a. ,sass Dakota County Bikeway (Class 111 Transportation Trail) - Park Trail Development Guidelines: "- "-"•° -- -- Generally Associated With Linear Park Areas ' And. Are Intended To Be Designed And Developed In Concert With, Fulu[e„,Sub-Divisions. -" • Emphasize Harmony Wilh"nle Natural,Epvironment. - _., Safely Protects Users From Urban Developmental--- - 'Encroachment And Associated Vehicular Traffic. • Allows For Relatively Uninterrupted Pleasure.. - <, Hiking And Biking To And Through The City's Park System. . . Effectively Ties 1 -he Various Park Sites - Together Into A Comprehensive Park System - - In A Manner Which -Enhances The Recreational ,,. Experience Of The User. ' Refer To Linear Park Plate No. 25 For Additional Information. 7-13 n I/4 1/2 3/4 I Sale pn Miles) City of Rosemount Trail System Plan LEGEND: Municipal Boundary Principle Arterial Minor Arterial ..� „A. Collector Mini Park Ncighboihood Park Community Park Conservancy Lands ® Playfield/Athletic Complex Special Use Park Linear Park 4 Regional Park Golf Course National Guard Armory Rosemount School District ....... Park Trail Ilansixxt•tion Irnil ^-� — Ilorse Trail •••••••••«•• Snowmobile Trail ------ Regional Trail ................... Bikeway (Class III Transportation Trail n I/4 1/2 3/4 I Sale pn Miles) City of Rosemount Trail System Plan Section 7 - Park and Trail System Plan Park Plate No.: 1 Park Type: Mini Park Address: 4175 147th St. West Status: Developed Park Park Size: 1.1 Acres Existing Facilities/Amenities # Description 1 Play structure area w/timber container and sand surface. 2 Hard surfaced play area (basketball goals on both ends. 3 Pumphouse surrounded by chainlink fence and three strands of barbed wire. Mercury vapor light mounted on pole provides illumination around building. 4 Property line fences. Existing Natural Features/Site Conditions The topography of the site is flat. Drainage patterns are not pronounced. Drainage is either absorbed into the subsoil or picked up in the adjacent streets. Site vegetation is largely manicured grass. Trees and shrubs are scattered around the site, some of which are very nice and more mature than many of the other parks. Pedestrian access is available from the street on three sides of the park. Vehicle access is also available from three sides. Curb side parking is available and very appropriate for this site. In general, the site is maintained very well. However, the deteriorating asphalt surface of the hard surfaced play area will require major repair in the forthcoming years. Future Development Issues Although small in size, the park appears to function very well in servicing at least some of the active recreational needs of the neighborhood. Since the absence of benches, seating areas, etc. limit opportunities for adults to use the park, future development should include additional adult and/or passive amenities. Future Development Program Along with maintaining and upgrading the existing facilities as warranted, one or more of the following facilities would be appropriate for this park: • volleyball (grass) • shuffleboard • tetherball • additional hardsurface games area (i.e., hopscotch, four squares, etc.) • horseshoe pit Typical site amenities such as benches, picnic tables, trash containers, game tables, pedestrian level lighting, etc. are also appropriate (and recommended) site amenities. Adding a drinking fountain should also be considered in the future. Additional plant materials, particularly shrubs, would help improve the overall aesthetic quality of the park. As with all future park developments, residents living within the park's service area should be involved in determining which facilities would best serve their specific recreational needs and desires. 7-14 City of Rosemount Park Name: M-1 (Dallara Park) Existing Functional Classifications Conservation 09o' Ornamental 10010 Reserve Cultural 0010 Recreation Post -Development Functional Classifications Conservation 09o' Ornamental 25 Reserve Cultural 0010 Recreation 75% Section 7 - Park and Trail System Plan Park Plate No.: 2 Park Type: Mini Park Address: 14876 Chrysler Ave. Status: Developed Park Park Size: 2.1 Acres Existing Facilities/Amenities # Description 1 Play structure area w/timber container and sand surface. 2 Tire swing w/timber container and sand surface. 3 Geodesic dome climber w/sand surface (no timber container). 4 Metal swing w/timber container and sand surface. 5 Concrete hardcourt (20' x 30') w/basketball goal. 6 Informal playfield (small) w/ag-lime infield, backstop, players benches, and portable bleacher. Soccer field overlaid on ballfield (120' x 200'). 7 Shelter building w/gas and electric service. 8 Skating area w/pole mounted light. Existing Natural Features/Site Conditions The topography of the site is relatively flat. Drainage from the site flows into the adjacent streets. Drainage across the ballfield flows from left field toward right field and on into the street. A berm has been created between the skating area and ballfield to contain water for the skating rink. Site vegetation is largely manicured grass. Tree and shrub planting is somewhat limited and is generally found near the play areas. A couple of nice spruce are located by the shelter building. Pedestrian access is available from all directions, making access from the neighborhood very easy. Curb side parking along the residential streets provides plenty of vehicle access. Site maintenance concerns include inadequate sand depth and an exposed plastic weed barrier in the play areas, lack of a defined container around the dome climber, and a basketball goal which shows signs of wear. The basketball court itself is old and in poor shape. The shelter building is in need of painting. Future Development Issues Since the park is somewhat over -programmed for active recreational uses, future development should focus more on passive recreational activities and the aesthetic quality of the site. The use of the informal playfield should be limited to neighborhood pick- up games and very limited youth team use (T -Ball, etc.). The park is not intended to service community-based recreation and athletic programming. Future Development Prop,�am Along with maintaining and upgrading the existing facilities as warranted, one or more of the following facilities would be appropriate for this park: • volleyball (grass) • shuffleboard • tetherball • additional hardsurface games area (i.e., hopscotch, four squares, etc.) • horseshoe pit The existing building should be painted to make it more aesthetically appealing. Typical site amenities such as benches, picnic tables, trash containers, game tables, pedestrian level lighting, etc. are also appropriate (and recommended) site amenities. City of Rosemount Park Name: M-2 (Chippendale Park) Adding a drinking fountain should also be considered in the future. The addition of carefully selected and placed plant materials would enhance the overall appeal of the park site. As with all future park developments, residents living within the park's service area should be involved in determining which facilities would best serve their specific recreational needs and desires. Existing Functional Classifications Conservation 0010 Ornamental 2% Reserve Cultural 0010 Recreation 98% Post -Development Functional Classifications Conservation 0010 Ornamental 25010 Reserve 75% Cultural 001b Recreation 759o' 7-16 11 ;. . ; :, �.; ;: %fN' Section 7 - Park and Trail System Plan Park Plate No.: 3 Park Type: Mini Park Address: 3653146th St. West Status: Developed Park Park Size: 22 Acres Existing, Facilities/Amenities # Description 1 Play structure area w/timber container and sand surface. 2 Informal playfield (small) w/ag-lime infield, backstop, and players benches. Small soccer field overlay (approx. 100' x 120') 3 Low area and culvert inlet. Existing Natural Features/Site Conditions The topography of the site is relatively flat. The drainage pattern is generally from the outfield toward the infield, ultimately flowing into the existing culvert behind the backstop. Not an ideal drainage situation. Site vegetation is largely manicured grass. Tree and shrub planting is relatively small, limited and generally found near the south side of the play area and scattered along the perimeter of the site. Pedestrian access is available from either Dodd Blvd. or 146th St. Access from the neighborhood is very good. Curb side parking along 146th St. provides the best vehicle access to the site. The location and placement of the timber container around the play equipment does not provide adequate safety zones, and as such, is the major maintenance concern on this site. Future Development rssues As with M-2, this park is somewhat over - programmed for active recreational uses. Future development should focus more on passive recreational activities and the aesthetic quality of the park. The use of the informal playfield should be limited to neighborhood pick-up games and limited youth team use (T -Ball, etc.). The park is not intended to service community-based recreation and athletic programming. Future Development Proparam Along with maintaining and upgrading the existing facilities as warranted, one or more of the following facilities would be appropriate for this park: • volleyball (grass) • shuffleboard • tetherball • hardsurface games area (i.e., hopscotch, four squares, etc.) • horseshoe pit • a small picnic shelter Typical site amenities such as benches, picnic tables, trash containers, game tables, pedestrian level lighting, etc. are also appropriate (and recommended) site amenities. Adding a drinking fountain should also be considered in the future. A well-designed planting scheme would add significantly to the overall appeal of the park. As with all future park developments, residents living within the park's service area should be involved in determining which facilities would best serve their specific recreational needs and desires. 7-18 City of Rosemount Park Name: M-3 (Kidder Park) Ferris M Functional Classifications Conservation 0010 Ornamental 2% Reserve Cultural 0010 Recreation 98% Post -Development Functional Classifications Conservation 017o Ornamental 25010 Reserve Cultural 017o Recreation 75% r f] Li i� Lq 1 XMI Section 7 - Park and Trail System Plan Park Plate No.: 4 Park Type: Neighborhood Park Address: 3155 144th St. West Status: Developed Park Park Size: City - 2.0 Acres, School - 2.0 Acres Existing Facilities/Amenities # Description 1 Play structure area w/play structure, teeter- totter, timber container and pea gravel surface. 2 Swing set area w/eight belt swings, small metal slide, timber container, and pea gravel surface. 3 Hard surface (asphalt) play area w/six hop- scotch courts, six tetherball poles/balls, two basketball goals, and six 4 -square courts. An interesting U.S. map is also painted on the north end of the hard surface area. 4 Two tennis courts w/10' chainlink fencing and concrete slab perimeter around asphalt playing surface. 5 Open space w/a couple of old, permanent grills. Existing Natural Features/Site Conditions The topography of the site is nearly flat. Although drainage patterns are largely undefinable, it does not appear that site drainage is a problem. Site vegetation is largely manicured grass. On-site trees are somewhat limited and found primarily near the play structures and along the perimeter of the park site. Mature trees on the north half of the site (i.e., Rosemount Elementary School property) add considerable interest. Very limited tree and shrub planting on the remainder of the site. Pedestrian access is available from several directions, particularly from the school itself. Access from the neighborhood is relatively easy given the sidewalks/trails which are adjacent to the site. City of Rosemount i Park Name: M-4/RES (Charlie's Park & Rosemount Elementary School) Having the site split by a public street with parking does pose a safety concern. Clearly defined crossings are a must. Curbside and pull -in parking along Canada Ave. and parking along the adjacent streets allow ample opportunities for vehicle access. The site seems generally well maintained. Future Development Issues The joint -use of this park (City/School District) has proven to be successful and should be continued in the future. A well-defined joint -use agreement should be implemented if not already formalized. In general, the park provides a good cross-section of recreational activities for youth. More attention should be given to adult activities, primarily on the south half of the site (i.e., City owned property). Future Development Program Along with maintaining and upgrading the existing facilities as warranted, one or more of the following facilities would be appropriate for this park: • volleyball (grass) • shuffleboard • horseshoe pit Typical site amenities such as benches, picnic tables, trash containers, game tables, pedestrian level lighting, etc. are also appropriate (and recommended) site amenities. Additional plant materials, particularly shrubs, would help improve the overall aesthetic quality of the park. As with all future park developments, residents living within the park's service area should be involved in determining which facilities would best serve their specific recreational needs and desires. F.lrist W Functional Classifications Conservation Qa Ornamental 39o' Reserve 15 Cultural 09o' Recreation 77 Post -Development Functional Classifications Conservation 0010 Ornamental 25% Reserve 10 Cultural 07o Recreation 65010 t 1 1 L t 7-20 1 X ........ .. .. ....... ...... ... ... A, NUM if A, NUM -wo i,x/p Section 7 - Park and Trail System Plan Park Plate No.: 5 Park Type: Neighborhood Park Address: 14795 Canada Ave. Status: Developed Park Park Size: 32 Acres Existing Facilities/Amenities # Description 1 Play structure area w/small play structure, teeter-totter, spring animals, timber container and sand surface. 2 Metal four -belt swing set w/timber container and sand surface. 3 Geodesic dome climber w/sand surface (no timber container). 4 Informal playfeld (small) w/ag-lime infield and backstop, player's benches, and portable bleachers. Soccer field overlaid on ballfield (120' x 165'). 5 Two volleyball courts (grass surface). 6 Picnic shelter (wood frame/concrete slab), w/seven picnic tables, power/lights, four permanent single grills, and pole mounted light. 7 Skating area w/no warming house or light. 8 Shared parking with adjacent church. Existing Natural Features/Site Conditions The topography of the site is nearly flat. Drainage patterns are largely undefinable. Drainage across the ballfield flows from the outfield toward first base line and home plate and finally into an off-site ditch and catch basin. Not ideal. Site vegetation is largely manicured grass. On-site trees are found primarily around the play structures. Very limited to non-existent tree and shrub planting on the remaining areas of the site. Pedestrian access is available from a number of directions, particularly from the church property and Canada Ave., and Camfield Circle, making access from the neighborhood relatively easy. Curb side parking along Canada Ave. and parking in the adjacent church lot provides more than adequate vehicle access. Site maintenance concerns would include inadequate sand depth, missing timbers, and an exposed plastic weed barrier in the play areas. Some of the bolts on the play structure appear to be improperly attached Graffiti on slab under shelter is unsightly. Future Development Issues Adding additional adult activities along with passive sitting areas and more plant materials are the most important development considerations at this time. The volleyball courts should have more free space between them for safety purposes. The proposed trail along the east and north side of the park seems crowded and aesthetically unappealing. Instead, the trial should become more of an integral part of the park's overall design, whereby it will function to help define spaces and use areas within the park. The use of the informal playfield should be limited to neighborhood pick-up games and very limited youth team use (T -Ball, etc.). The park is not intended to service community-based recreation and athletic programming. Future Development Program Along with maintaining and upgrading the existing facilities as warranted, one or more of the following facilities would be appropriate for this park: 7-22 City of Rosemount Park Name: N-1 (Camfield Park) • shuffleboard • tetherball • hardsurface games area (i.e., hopscotch, four squares, etc.) • horseshoe pit Typical site amenities such as benches, picnic tables, trash containers, game tables, pedestrian level lighting, etc. are also appropriate (and recommended) site amenities. Adding a drinking fountain and a portable restroom (with an enclosure) should also be considered in the future. Additional plant materials, particularly shrubs, would help improve the overall aesthetic quality of the park. As with all future park developments, residents living within the park's service area should be involved in determining which facilities would best serve their specific recreational needs and desires. Existing Functional Classifications Conservation 0010 Ornamental 5010 Reserve Cultural 0010 Recreation 9017o Post -Development Functional Classifications Conservation 096 Ornamental 225 Reserve 10 Cultural 0010 Recreation 65 11 1 Section 7 - Park and Trail System Plan City of Rosemount I Park Plate No.: 6 Park Type: Neighborhood Park Address: 2420 145th St. West Status: Developed Park Park Size: 3.2 Acres Existing Facilities/Amenities # Description 1 Play structure area w/timber container and sand surface. 2 Skating area about the size and shape of a hockey rink w/perimeter bermed to contain water. Existing Natural Features/Site Conditions The topography of the site is nearly flat. Drainage patterns are largely undefinable. Site vegetation is mostly manicured grass. On-site trees are limited and found primarily near the play structure and along 145th Street. A few mature trees add some interest. Although there are some mature trees on adjacent properties, there are very limited tree and shrub plantings on the remainder of the site. Pedestrian access is available from the nearby multi- family housing, but lacking from the single family areas which are not directly adjacent to the site. Vehicle access is limited to 145th St. No curb side parking is available directly adjacent to the park site. Site maintenance concerns include the timber container around the play area (poor shape), and the play structure itself (rotten deck boards). Future Development Issues Generally speaking, this park is in need of redevelopment. As it currently exists, the park has limited recreational opportunities for youths or adults. The play equipment on site is showing the wear of time and needs to be replaced or upgraded. Given its current state, redesign and redevelopment of the park is both appropriate and necessary for it to function properly within and contribute to the overall park system. Future development should provide recreational opportunities for park users of all ages. Future Development Program One or more of the following facilities would be appropriate for this park: • informal playfield • hardcourt and hardsurface games area (i.e., basketball, hopscotch, four squares, etc.) • volleyball (grass) • shuffleboard • tetherball • horseshoe pit • play structure • ice skating rink • small picnic shelter Typical site amenities such as benches, picnic tables, trash containers, game tables, pedestrian level lighting, etc. are also appropriate (and recommended) site amenities. An internal trail should also be considered an integral part of the park's overall design, functioning to help define spaces and use areas within the park as well as establishing a tie to the community -wide trail system. Park Name: N-2 (Biscayne Park) Adding a drinking fountain and a portable restroom (with an enclosure) should also be considered in the future. Additional plant materials, particularly shrubs, would help improve the overall aesthetic quality of the park. As with all future park developments, residents living within the park's service area should be involved in determining which facilities would best serve their specific recreational needs and desires. Existing Functional Classifications Conservation 0010 Ornamental 0010 Reserve 80 Cultural 0010 Recreation 20 Post -Development Functional Classifications Conservation 0010 Ornamental 25% Reserve 10 Cultural 0010 Recreation 657o t rII 7-24 1 Section 7 - Park and Trail System Plan Park Plate No.: 7 Park Type: Sub -Neighborhood Park Address: 13930 Connemara Tr. Status: Developed Park Park Size: 4.8 Acres Existing Facilities/Amenities # Description 1 Play Structure area w/timber container and sand surface. 2 Informal playfield (small) w/ag-lime infield and backstop. Soccer field overlay (w/irrigation). Winter skating in the infield. 3 Asphalt parking lot w/curb and gutter. 4 Control building. 5 Prefab wood picnic shelter (40' x 40') w/ lighting. 6 Storm drainage pond (fence enclosed). 7 Wooded area. 8 Portable Volleyball Posts. Existing Natural Features/Site Conditions The topography of the site is varied. Steep slopes down into park on east and west property lines. General site drainage is across the soccer field toward the ponding area. Some past erosion on steeper slopes. Drainage flows across the ballfield from the outfield toward the infield. Not an ideal drainage pattern. The storm drainage pond controls on and off-site drainage. Site vegetation is largely manicured grass in the active use areas. Tree and shrub planting is limited. The small wooded area exhibits some well developed mature oaks. The steeper slopes along the property line are covered with long grasses to help control erosion. Pedestrian access is available from Connemara Trail and the backyards of adjacent properties. Access from the neighborhood south of Connemara is difficult due to lack of trail access. Vehicle access is off of Connemara. More than ample parking is available in the on-site parking lots. The pond area and the steep slopes along the property line are the major maintenance concerns. Future Development Issues From a long-term use perspective, this park should be oriented toward providing for the recreational needs of the neighborhood, whereby community based uses and programs would be shifted toward other, more appropriate park sites. The use of the informal playfield should be limited to neighborhood pick-up games and limited youth team use (T -Ball, etc.). Future development should include additional adult and/or passive recreational opportunities for the nearby residents. Consideration should also be given to re -orienting the existing ballfield in a manner that will not interfere with the ponding and passive (wooded) area of the park. The area around the pond is not very appealing nor functional, especially the chain link fence. Future Development Proms Along with maintaining and upgrading the existing facilities as warranted, one or more of the following facilities would be appropriate for this park: • shuffleboard • tetherball • hardsurface games area (i.e., basketball, hopscotch, four squares, etc.) • horseshoe pit City of Rosemount I Park Name: N-3 (Connemara Park) Typical site amenities such as benches, picnic tables, trash containers, game tables, pedestrian level lighting, etc. are also appropriate (and recommended) site amenities. An excellent opportunity exists to establish a passive area near the pond and in the woods. The pond itself needs to function more as an integral part of the park rather than an eye -sore. In order for this to happen, the design must take into consideration the inherent storm water control problem associated with the pond. Determining a successful solution to this problem will undoubtedly require input from the City's engineering staff. Adding a drinking fountain and a portable restroom (with an enclosure) should also be considered in the future. Additional plant materials, particularly around the perimeter of the site (i.e., side slopes) would help improve the overall aesthetic quality of the park as well as provide a sense of separation from the adjacent residential properties. As with all future park developments, residents living within the park's service area should be involved in determining which facilities would best serve their specific recreational needs and desires. Existing Functional Classifications Conservation 0010 Ornamental 5% Reserve 1 Cultural 017o Recreation 80 Post -Development Functional Classifications Conservation 07o Ornamental 25% Reserve 10 Cultural 0% Recreation 65010 �I 1 1 u 7-26 1 Section 7 - Park and Trail System Plan Park Plate No.: 8 Park Type: Neighborhood Park Address: 14884 Dodd Blvd. Status: Developed Park Park Size: 5.4 Acres Existing Facilities/Amenities 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Description Play structure area w/timber container and sand surface. Gravel surfaced parking lot. Roadside ditch (deep). Low point (seasonal water storage area). Pedestrian crossing area. Dirt vehicular access. Storm sewer outlet (into temporary ponding area). Informal playfield w/ag-lime infield and backstop (poor shape). Soccer field overlays ballfield. Ground mounted transformer and telephone box. Existing Natural Features/Site Conditions The topography of the site varies depending on which side the road you are on. The pronounced low area on the south side makes for a difficult area for future use. The north side is largely level. The park unfortunately serves as temporary storm water drainage ponding area, primarily during the early spring and after heavy rains. Site vegetation is largely manicured grass. Turf is difficult to maintain due to the periodic storm water ponding. Tree/shrub planting is very limited and only found around the perimeter of the site. With the exception of Dodd Blvd., single family housing surrounds the site. Pedestrian access is limited to Dodd Blvd. The lack of an existing sidewalk/trail makes pedestrian access difficult and unsafe. Roadside ditches are also unsafe. The cross- walk across Dodd is also not a safe situation for pedestrians. Vehicle access is off Dodd Blvd. With the current crossing situation, the parking lot does not safely service the parking needs associated with the north half of the park. Site maintenance concerns include inadequate sand depth, exposed concrete footings, and misaligned timbers in the play structure container and metal fence posts 12" above grade behind the backstop which pose a potential hazard. The backstop itself requires some repair. Future Development Issues The overriding future development constraint is the park's status as a temporary storm water ponding area, making it difficult to develop for park purposes. Unless a satisfactory engineering solution can be found to deal effectively with the storm water prior to it ponding on the site, this inherent condition will undoubtedly have a considerable impact on the park's future development and how well it functions within the overall park system. A formal agreement should be reached between the City's Engineering and Park Departments which resolves this situation prior to any future improvements to the park. Assuming the site conditions remain as they are, future physical development will be limited to areas above the normal storm water elevations. On the north half of the site, the existing informal playfield will likely remain as the principal recreational facility. On the south half, the high elevations near the existing play structure and parking lot will undoubtedly be the primary use area. 7-28 City of Rosemount I Park Name: N-4 (Twin Puddles) Since the park's current development is geared toward youth age groups, more attention should be given to adult activities in the future. Given the location of Dodd, the current development also seems a bit disjointed. Buffer zones are very limited with respect to the ballfield backstop. The parking lot size should ideally be limited to about 10 to 15 spaces. The use of the informal playfield should be limited to neighborhood pick-up games and limited youth team use (T -Ball, etc.). The park is not intended to service community-based recreation and athletic programming. The Dodd Blvd. crossing is a potentially dangerous situation which should be given top developmental priority. Future Development Program Along with maintaining and upgrading the existing facilities as warranted, one or more of the following facilities would be appropriate for this park: • volleyball (grass) • shuffleboard • tetherball • hardcourt and hardsurface games area (i.e., basketball, hopscotch, four squares, etc.) • horseshoe pit When the park is redeveloped, the play structure area should be moved further away from the parking lot to promote a safer relationship. Typical site amenities such as benches, picnic tables, trash containers, game tables, pedestrian level lighting, etc. are also appropriate (and recommended) site amenities. Too Section 7 - Park and Trail System Plan Park Plate No.: 9 Park Type: Neighborhood Park Address: 15675 Chippendale Ave. Status: Developed Park Park Size: 9.5 Acres (6S Existing/3.0 Proposed) Existing Facilities/Amenities # Description 1 Play structure w/timber container and sand surface plus a picnic table and grill. 2 Storm water ponding area. 3 Runoff diversion berm w/storm water drop structure (erosion prevention). Steep slope down to pond. 4 Informal playfield (200') w/backstop, portable bleacher, players benches, ag-lime infield. Soccer field overlay (160'000'). 5 Informal playfield (200') w/backstop, portable bleacher, players benches, ag-lime infield. 6 Gravel parking lot w/r.r. timber wheel stops. 7 Skating area. 8 Open field. Existigg Natural Features/Site Conditions The topography of the site is nearly level. Site drainage flows toward the ponding area. The east field drains from left to right across the outfield and the west field drains from each foul line toward the ponding area. Site vegetation is almost all manicured turf, which is in poor shape. Some deciduous overstory plants have been established along the west property line, near the play structure, and along the pond. The site is lacking in overall planting interest and diversity. Strong need for evergreens and shrub planting. Pedestrian access is available from the neighborhood and from the trail along Chippendale. Vehicle access is from Chippendale. The parking lot lacks structure, whereby vehicles pull in and out along the entire length of the parking lot. Site maintenance concerns include inadequate sand depth and exposed concrete footings in play structure container. Two metal fence posts 12" above grade behind the backstops which pose a potential hazard. Future Development Issues Currently, the park is more developed for youth athletics than desirable in a neighborhood park. With the addition of the 3 acres to the south, the opportunity to redevelop and reoriented a number of the facilities becomes available. One of the current informal playfields should be eliminated altogether, with the remaining informal playfield relocated to allow for as much open play space as possible. The use of the informal playfield should be limited to neighborhood pick-up games and limited youth team use (T -Ball, etc.). The park is not intended to service community-based recreation and athletic programming. A long-term developmental concern is the relationship between the park and the adjacent storm water ponding area. Currently, the ponding area has a negative impact on the park and creates some maintenance and safety concerns. The City Engineering and Parks Departments should attempt to develop an acceptable solution to this problem. Given the limited on -street parking, the parking lot is warranted but should not be expanded. Future Development Program Along with maintaining and upgrading the existing facilities as warranted, one or more of the following facilities would be appropriate for this park: City of Rosemount I Park Name: N-5 (Winds Park) • shuffleboard • tetherball • hardsurface games area (i.e., basketball, hopscotch, four squares, etc.) • horseshoe pit • small picnic shelter Typical site amenities such as benches, picnic tables, trash containers, game tables, pedestrian level lighting, etc. are also appropriate (and recommended) site amenities. An internal trail should also be considered an integral part of the park's overall design, functioning to help define spaces and use areas within the park as well as establishing a tie to the community -wide trail system. Adding a drinking fountain and a portable restroom (with an enclosure) should also be considered in the future. A well-defined planting program should also be implemented to add to the overall aesthetic quality of the park as well as provide a sense of separation from the adjacent residential properties. As with all future park developments, residents living within the park's service area should be involved in determining which facilities would best serve their specific recreational needs and desires. Existing Functional Classifications Conservation 5% Ornamental 59o' Reserve Cultural 09o' Recreation Post -Development Functional Classifications Conservation 0010 Ornamental 25% Reserve 25 Cultural 09ffi Recreation 509o' L U 7-30 1 �''i/1///1/% ...::. T15iyy. . Section 7 - Park and Trail System Plan Park Plate No.: 10 Park Type: Neighborhood Park Address: 15425 Shannon Parkway Status: Partially Developed Park Park Size: 143 (143 Existing/0.00 Proposed) Existing Facilities/Amenities # Description 1 Asphalt parking lot w/curb and gutter. 2 Soccer/football field w/irrigation. 3 Storage building w/dirt road access from west. 4 Soccer/football field w/irrigation. 5 Undeveloped park land. Existing Natural Features/Site Conditions The topography of the site varies, with the play areas in the developed part of the park graded to accommodate active play. The grade relationship between the park and adjacent properties is rather abrupt in some cases. Site drainage characteristics are as necessary to accommodate field drainage. The grading and drainage patterns across the soccer fields create a difficult relationship with the adjacent properties as well as create the opportunity for erosive run-off flow patterns (i.e., southeast corner of west field). Site vegetation is largely manicured grass (w/irrigation) in the developed areas and long grasses in the undeveloped areas. Tree planting is predominantly along the perimeter of the fields and spaced at relatively even intervals. The planting scheme appears more functional than aesthetically pleasing. Pedestrian access is limited at this time to Shannon Parkway and the parking lot. An existing trail easement on the west side of the park will allow for a pedestrian trail connection to Danbury Avenue. Vehicle access is off Shannon Parkway and into a moderate sized parking lot. Future Development Issues Given the limited size of the park, proximity to urban residential housing, and location, Jaycee Park should function more as a neighborhood park than a community athletic field in the long-term. Given the City's current investment and the demand for athletic facilities, the park will undoubtedly have to be used for programmed athletic purposes, at least until additional athletic facilities are developed. The key point to be made here is that the athletic - type uses should be subsidiary to the long-term neighborhood uses. In other words, the athletic facilities should not be developed to the point where they cause significant negative impact to the neighborhood (i.e., excessive noise, traffic, lighting "wash", trespassing, etc.), whereby nearby residents become disenchanted with the park and avoid using it. As an example, ballfield lighting and permanent outfield fencing should be eliminated from current and future development plans. Additionally, the aesthetic and ornamental qualities of the park should be improved so that it becomes more appealing to the adjacent properties and surrounding neighborhood. A well thought-out design which balances the long- term needs of the neighborhood with the shorter - term needs of the community is a necessity prior to any future development of the park. This point cannot be overstated. Future Development Program Along with maintaining and upgrading the existing facilities as warranted, one or more of the following 7-32 City of Rosemount Park Name: N-6 (Jaycee Park) facilities would be appropriate for this park: • informal playfield (sized to meet current program needs) • hockey rink and ice skating area w/lights • double tennis court w/lights • multi-purpose park building (warming house) • large play structure • shuffleboard court(s) • tetherball • hardcourt and hardsurface games area (i.e., basketball, hopscotch, four squares, etc.) • horseshoe pit(s) Typical site amenities such as benches, picnic tables, trash containers, game tables, pedestrian level lighting, etc. are also appropriate (and recommended) site amenities. An internal trail should also be considered an integral part of the park's overall design, functioning to help define spaces and use areas within the park as well as establishing a tie to the community -wide trail system along Danbury and Shannon Avenues. Adding a drinking fountain should also be considered in the future. A well-defined planting program should be implemented to add to the park's overall aesthetic quality as well as provide a sense of separation from the adjacent residential properties. This should be considered essential for this park. Given the amount of parking already available on the site, no new permanent parking should be required. Section 7 - Park and Trail System Plan Park Plate No.: it Park Type: Neighborhood Park Address: West of Biscayne/North of 145th St. Status: Proposed Park Park Size: 10.0 Acres (Proposed) Eidsting Facilities/Amenities # Description 1 Open field used for agricultural purposes. Existing. Natural Features/Site Conditions The topography of the site is best characterized as gently rolling. Given the undeveloped status of the site, the site's drainage characteristics are not clearly defined at this time. Site vegetation is largely agricultural crops. Other types of vegetation is limited to non-existent. Given the undeveloped status of the site, neither pedestrian nor vehicle access has been developed. Future Development Issues Although the timing of residential development in this area of the community can not be predicted with absolute certainty, it is reasonable to expect, given the anticipated dynamics of the City's future growth, that it will undoubtedly occur at some point in the future. Given the inherent uncertainties of future development in this area, the park's actual location and property boundary will ultimately be determined by the appropriate planning bodies as acquisition concerns, property ownership, park dedication concerns, developmental considerations and projected urban densities become better defined in the future. Although defining a specific location for this park is somewhat speculative at this time, it is both necessary and appropriate for a number of reasons: • to help establish an overall park system framework for the purposes of shaping future parks and community development. • to define the optimal location for the park, given the anticipated service area and residential densities. • to define and protect the natural resource areas before they are lost to eventual development. • to define the park's intended contribution to the park system to assure that an overall balance of parks and recreational facilities is achieved within the community. Future Development Pr(W Since this park is intended to service this area's neighborhood recreational needs, one or more of the following facilities would be appropriate for this park: • informal playfield • small picnic shelter • play structure • shuffleboard • tetherball • hardcourt and hardsurface games area (i.e., basketball, hopscotch, four squares, etc.) • horseshoe pit Typical site amenities such as benches, picnic tables, trash containers, game tables, pedestrian level lighting, etc. are also appropriate (and recommended) site amenities. 7-34 City of Rosemount i Park Name: N-7 An internal trail should also be considered an integral part of the park's overall design, functioning to help define spaces and use areas within the park as well as establishing a tie to the community -wide trail system. Adding a drinking fountain and a portable restroom (with an enclosure) should also be considered when the park is developed in the future. Given the site's openness, a planting program will need to be implemented to add to the overall aesthetic quality of the park. As with all future park developments, residents living within the park's service area should be involved in determining which facilities would best serve their specific recreational needs and desires. Existing Functional Classifications Conservation 0010 Ornamental 0010 Reserve 100 Cultural 0% Recreation 0010 Post -Development Functional Classifications Conservation No Ornamental 25010 Reserve 2517o Cultural 0% Recreation 5 00 /�Y" .yy Section 7 - Park and Trail System Plan Park Plate No.: 12 Park Type: Neighborhood Park Address: North of 135th St./ West of Bacardi Status: Proposed Park Park Size: 12.5 Acres (Proposed) Existing Facilities/Amenities # Description 1 Nice ponding area (part of Keegan's Lake). 2 Open agricultural land. 3 Wooded slope down to pond. 4 Nice wooded area adjacent to the pond. 5 Lowland area. 6 Railroad tracks. Existing Natural Features/Site Conditions The topography of the site varies considerably, with the open area on the south being relatively level, varying degrees of slope down to the pond, and gently rolling in the wooded area. Although the site's drainage characteristics are not clearly defined at this time, most of the drainage flows toward the on-site pond and lowland area. Site vegetation varies considerably as well, from nice woodlots to lowland marsh grasses. Given the undeveloped status of the site, neither pedestrian nor vehicle access has been developed. Future Development Issues Although the timing of residential development in this area of the community can not be predicted with absolute certainty, it is reasonable to expect, given the anticipated dynamics of the City's future growth, that it will undoubtedly occur at some point in the future. Given the inherent uncertainties, the park's actual location and property boundary will ultimately be determined by the appropriate planning bodies as acquisition concerns, property ownership, park dedication concerns, developmental considerations and projected urban densities become better defined in the future. Although defining a specific location for this park is somewhat speculative at this time, it is both necessary and appropriate for a number of reasons: • to help establish an overall park system framework for the purposes of shaping future parks and community development. • to define the optimal location for the park, given the anticipated service area and residential densities. • to define and protect the natural resource areas before they are lost to eventual development. • to define the park's intended contribution to the park system to assure that an overall balance of parks and recreational facilities is achieved within the community. Future Development Program Since this park is intended to service this area's neighborhood recreational needs, one or more of the following facilities would be appropriate for this park: • informal playfield • small picnic shelter • play structure • shuffleboard • tetherball • hardeourt and hardsurface games area (i.e., City of Rosemount Park Name: N-8 basketball, hopscotch, four squares, etc.) t • horseshoe pit Typical site amenities such as benches, picnic tables, trash containers, game tables, pedestrian level lighting, etc. are also appropriate (and recommended) site amenities. An internal trail should also be considered an integral part of the park's overall design, functioning to help define spaces and use areas within the park as well as establishing a tie to the community -wide trail system. Adding a drinking fountain and a portable restroom (with an enclosure) should also be considered when development in undertaken in the future. A planting program should also be implemented to add to the already outstanding aesthetic quality of the site. A fence should be considered along the railroad r.o.w. to insure safety. Given the variety of topography and vegetation and nice ponding areas, this site would make an ideal neighborhood park. As with all future park developments, residents living within the park's service area should be involved in determining which facilities would best serve their specific recreational needs and desires. Existing Functional Classifications Conservation 0010 Ornamental 0% Reserve 100010 Cultural 017o Recreation Post -Development Functional Classifications Conservation 0010 Ornamental 2517o Reserve 22°0 Cultural 09o' Recreation 50010 r] 7-36 1 Section 7 - Park and Trail System Plan Park Plate No.: 13 Park Type: Neighborhood Park Address: South of 135th St./ West of Akron Status: Proposed Park Park Size: 9.0 Acres (Proposed) Existing Facilities/Amenities # Description 1 Open agricultural land. 2 Pond and lowland area. Existing Natural Features/Site Conditions The topography of the site is best characterized as gently rolling. Given its undeveloped status, the site's drainage characteristics are not clearly defined at this time. Site vegetation is largely agricultural crops. Other type of vegetation would include lowland grasses on the western edge along the pond edge. Given the undeveloped status of the site, neither pedestrian nor vehicle access has been developed. Future Development Issues Although the timing of residential development in this area of the community can not be predicted with absolute certainty, it is reasonable to expect, given the anticipated dynamics of the City's future growth, that it will undoubtedly occur at some point in the future. Given the inherent uncertainties, the park's actual location and property boundary will ultimately be determined by the appropriate planning bodies as acquisition concerns, property ownership, park dedication concerns, developmental considerations and projected urban densities become better defined in the future. Although defining a specific location for this park is somewhat speculative at this time, it is both necessary and appropriate for a number of reasons: • to help establish an overall park system framework for the purposes of shaping future parks and community development. • to define the optimal location for the park, given the anticipated service area and residential densities. • to define and protect the natural resource areas before they are lost to eventual development. • to define the park's intended contribution to the park system to assure that an overall balance of parks and recreational facilities is achieved within the community. Future Development Program Since this park is intended to service this area's neighborhood recreational needs, one or more of the following facilities would be appropriate for this park: • informal playfield • small picnic shelter • play structure • shuffleboard • tetherball • hardcourt and hardsurface games area (i.e., basketball, hopscotch, four squares, etc.) • horseshoe pit Typical site amenities such as benches, picnic tables, trash containers, game tables, pedestrian level lighting, etc. are also appropriate (and recommended) site amenities. 7-38 City of Rosemount Park Name: N-9 An internal trail should also be considered an integral part of the park's overall design, functioning to help define spaces and use areas within the park as well as establishing a tie to the community -wide trail system, especially the proposed linear park to the north. Adding a drinking fountain and a portable restroom (with an enclosure) should also be considered once actual development is undertaken in the future. Given the site's openness, a planting program will need to be implemented to add to the overall aesthetic quality of the park. As with all future park developments, residents living within the park's service area should be involved in determining which facilities would best serve their specific recreational needs and desires. Existing, Functional Classifications Conservation 07o Ornamental 017o Reserve 10OTo Cultural 0010 Recreation Post -Development Functional Classifications Conservation 0010 Ornamental 25% Reserve 25 Cultural 0010 Recreation 50010 Section 7 - Park and Trail System Plan Park Plate No.: 14 Park Type: Neighborhood Park Address: North of 135th St./ West of Akron Status: Proposed Park Park Size: 12.0 Acres (Proposed) Existing Facilities/Amenities # Description 1 Nice wooded area. 2 Open agricultural land. 3 Lowland/marsh area. Existing. Natural Features/Site Conditions The topography of the site varies considerably, with the open area on the south being relatively level, limited slopes to the pond, and gently rolling in the wooded area. Although the site's drainage characteristics are not clearly defined at this time, most of the drainage flows toward the on-site marsh and lowland area. Site vegetation varies considerably as well, from woodlots to lowland marsh grasses. Given the undeveloped status of the site, neither pedestrian nor vehicle access has been developed. Future Development Issues Although the timing of residential development in this area of the community can not be predicted with absolute certainty, it is reasonable to expect, given the anticipated dynamics of the City's future growth, that it will undoubtedly occur at some point in the future. Given the inherent uncertainties, the park's actual location and property boundary will ultimately be determined by the appropriate planning bodies as acquisition concerns, property ownership, park dedication concerns, developmental considerations and projected urban densities become better defined in the future. Although defining a specific location for this park is somewhat speculative at this time, it is both necessary and appropriate for a number of reasons: • to help establish an overall park system framework for the purposes of shaping future parks and community development. • to define the optimal location for the park, given the anticipated service area and residential densities. • to define and protect the natural resource areas before they are lost to eventual development. • to define the park's intended contribution to the park system to assure that an overall balance of parks and recreational facilities is achieved within the community. Future Development Pro�xam Since this park is intended to service this areas neighborhood recreational needs, one or more of the following facilities would be appropriate for this park: • informal playfield • small picnic shelter • play structure • shuffleboard • tetherball • hardcourt and hardsurface games area (i.e., basketball, hopscotch, four squares, etc.) • horseshoe pit 7-40 City of Rosemount I Park Name: N-10 Typical site amenities such as benches, picnic tables, trash containers, game tables, pedestrian level lighting, etc. are also appropriate (and recommended) site amenities. An internal trail should also be considered an integral part of the park's overall design, functioning to help define spaces and use areas within the park as well as establishing a tie to the community -wide trail system, especially the proposed linear park to the west of the site. Adding a drinking fountain and a portable restroom (with an enclosure) should also be considered in the future. A planting program should also be implemented to add to the already nice aesthetic quality of the park. As with all future park developments, residents living within the park's service area should be involved in determining which facilities would best serve their specific recreational needs and desires. Eidstim Functional Classifications Conservation 0010 Ornamental 0010 Reserve 100 Cultural 017o Recreation affi Post -Development Functional Classifications Conservation a Ornamental 25 Reserve 25010 Cultural 0010 Recreation 509o' 0 Section 7 - Park and Trail System Plan City of Rosemount Park Plate No.: 14 Park Name: N-10 7-41. Section 7 - Park and Trail System Plan Park Plate No.: 15 Park Type: Neighborhood Park Address: North of County 42/West of Akron Status: Proposed Park Park Size: 10.0 Acres (Proposed) ExistiLug _Facilifies/Amenities # Description 1 Open field used for agricultural purposes. Existing Natural Features/Site Conditions The topography of the site is best characterized as gently rolling. Given its undeveloped status, the site's drainage characteristics are not clearly defined at this time. Site vegetation is largely agricultural crops. Other types of vegetation is limited to non-existent. Given the undeveloped status of the site, neither pedestrian nor vehicle access has been developed. Future Development Issues Although the timing of residential development in this area of the community can not be predicted with absolute certainty, it is reasonable to expect, given the anticipated dynamics of the City's future growth, that it will undoubtedly occur at some point in the future. Given the inherent uncertainties of future development in this area, the park's actual location and property boundary will ultimately be determined by the appropriate planning bodies as acquisition concerns, property ownership, park dedication concerns, developmental considerations and projected urban densities become better defined in the future. Although defining a specific location for this park is somewhat speculative at this time, it is both necessary and appropriate for a number of reasons: • to help establish an overall park system framework for the purposes of shaping future parks and community development. • to define the optimal location for the park, given the anticipated service area and residential densities. • to define and protect the natural resource areas before they are lost to eventual development. • to define the park's intended contribution to the park system to assure that an overall balance of parks and recreational facilities is achieved within the community. Future Development Program Since this park is intended to service this area's neighborhood recreational needs, one or more of the following facilities would be appropriate for this park: • informal playfield • small picnic shelter • play structure • shuffleboard • tetherball • hardcourt and hardsurface games area (i.e., basketball, hopscotch, four squares, etc.) • horseshoe pit Typical site amenities such as benches, picnic tables, trash containers, game tables, pedestrian level lighting, etc. are also appropriate (and recommended) site amenities. 7-42 City of Rosemount 1 Park Name: N-11 An internal trail should also be considered an integral part of the park's overall design, functioning to help define spaces and use areas within the park as well as establishing a tie to the community -wide trail system. Adding a drinking fountain and a portable restroom (with an enclosure) should also be considered when the park is developed in the future. Given the site's openness, a planting program will need to be implemented to add to the overall aesthetic quality of the park. As with all future park developments, residents living within the park's service area should be involved in determining which facilities would best serve their specific recreational needs and desires. Existing Functional Classifications Conservation 0010 Ornamental 09o' Reserve 100 Cultural 09o' Recreation 0010 Post -Development Functional Classifications Conservation 0% Ornamental 2517o Reserve 2,5° Cultural 09o' Recreation 50% Section 7 - Park and Trail System Plan City of Rosemount Park Plate No.: 16 Park Type: Community Park Address: North of City Hall/West of Hwy. 3 Status: Undeveloped Park Size: 32.0 Acres (20.0 Existing/12.0 Proposed) Existing Facilities/Amenities No Description 1 City Hall 2 Fire Station 3 Hockey rinks (2) 4 Public parking lot 5 St. Joseph's Cemetery 6 Existing business area 7 Natural ponding area (storm water detention pond) 8 Trail (aggregate) 9 Sunrise Lumber Company Property 10 Natural grassy area 11 Steep slopes 12 Park & Ride lot 13 St. Joseph's Church 14 Rosemount School District property 15 National Guard Armory property 16 Topsoil mining area 17 Small nursery Existing Natural Features/Site Conditions The topography varies considerably across the site. In general, the site slopes significantly from the east and west toward the low ponding area. The grade change across the site presents an challenging developmental constraint (steep slopes) as well as opportunity (physical separation from adjacent uses). Site drainage flows from all directions (on and off-site) toward the existing low ponding area. Site vegetation is largely natural grassy areas with scattered shrub and tree growth. Mature trees and woody plants follow the steep slopes along the western property line. Trees have also been planted between the park and the athletic fields. Pedestrian access is very limited at this time and needs to be further developed in order for this park site to function as an important community gathering point. Linkages need to be developed between the park and the downtown district, schools, armory, and other park sites. Vehicle access is also very limited and must be improved as part of the park's development. Future Development issues Erickson Community Square has long been considered one of the most important community park areas within the City and is expected to serve as a major community gathering spot. Based on the findings of previous (and on-going) planning efforts, an ornamental and cultural theme best represents the desired character of the park. A family and community orientation define the intended park atmosphere. User groups would include: • individuals and families from the community. • children (of all ages). • "garden walkers" • bicyclists (local and out-of-town) • local schools (plays, concerts, etc.) and churches (weddings, outdoor masses, etc.) • civic groups (for a variety of events, some of which are listed below). • local businesses (lunch time walks, etc.) • out-of-town visitors/travelers. • senior citizens. • local garden club (as their local garden showcase). • farmers market. • athletic -event participants and families. 7-44 Park Name: C-1 (Erickson Community Square) The park is also intended to be suited for community events such as Christmas Tree Decorating Contest and Lighting Ceremony, Christmas Carolers, Christmas Pageant, Leprechaun Day's Events, 4th of July, community picnics, concerts -in -the park. Future Development Program Again based on previous (and on-going) planning efforts, the following represents a listing of the type of facilities and development that would be appropriate for this park: • amphitheater • pond area development • additional parking lots and improved vehicle access • internal trails and linkage to other major community use areas • general landscaping and formal garden areas. • picnic areas. • multi -use buildings and picnic shelters. • large community play structure. • natural areas. • ornamental site amenities (lighting, benches, kiosks, etc.) • group and individual picnic areas. As with all future park developments, community residents should be involved in determining which facilities would best serve their specific recreational needs and desires. Existing Functional Classifications Conservation 0010 Ornamental 107o Reserve 80% Cultural 017o Recreation 10010 Post -Development Functional Classifications Conservation 0010 Ornamental 35% Reserve 10 Cultural 30010 Recreation 2517/o G: Section 7 - Park and Trail System Plan Park Plate No.: 17 Park Type: Community Park (With Neighborhood Facilities) Address: 13787 Dodd Boulevard Status: Developed Park Size: 34.0 Acres (24.0 Existing/10.0 Proposed) Existing_ Facilities/Amenities # Description 1 Asphalt parking lots and entrance drive. No curb. Small lot currently used for storing ballfield ag-lime. Surrounded by cedar split rail fence which offers a nice aesthetic appeal. 2 Play structure area w/timber edger and retaining wall and sand surfacing. 3 Picnic shelter w/ 6 picnic tables and several grills. Good view of pond area and athletic fields. 4 Lowland/marshy area on east and north side of pond. Excellent nesting area. 5 8' wide asphalt trail link to Carrolls Woods. 6 Woodchip trail along pond edge. Beautiful location. 7 Schwarz Pond. Very nice park feature with excellent natural qualities worthy of preserving. 8 Mixed upland wood lot. Offers secluded natural area in the midst of an urban area. As with the pond, worthy of preservation. 9 Open grassland area with rolling topography. Future neighborhood park area. 10 Wooded area along north property line. Existing. Natural Features/Site Conditions The topography of the site varies considerably, with the area surrounding the parking lots and entrance drive being a relatively level, high ground area. The area around the pond has relatively steep grades slopes. The rather dramatic grade changes across the site offer excellent views of the athletic facilities, pond, and wooded area on the west side of the pond. Site drainage generally flows toward the pond from all directions. Given the extent of vegetation on the steeper slopes, erosion is very limited. Site vegetation varies considerably as well. Manicured turf can be found in the more active areas of the site near the picnic shelter and parking lots. Longer, natural grassy areas are in the transition areas between the more active areas of the site and the lowland/marshy areas and woodlots. The variety of vegetation is very nice and creates an outstanding community park atmosphere as well as a transition into the Carrolls Woods area. Pedestrian access is generally from the two parking lots, the Carrolls Woods area, and the high school. Vehicle access, although limited to Dodd Road (Hwy. 3), is functional. Future Development Issues Schwarz Pond provides the community with a very nice, natural park in close proximity to a number of other community public open space areas. Of particular importance is the park's close proximity and link to the adjacent Carrolls Woods park area. From a practical viewpoint, the two parks are perhaps best viewed as one large park area that function to serve a variety of park and recreational purposes. Carrolls Woods' principal focus would be on nature preservation, interpretation, and education with Schwarz Pond focusing on providing a pleasant, largely passive community park atmosphere. The proposed neighborhood facilities (area around item #9) are intended to service the under -serviced neighborhood areas to the west and northwest of the Carrolls Woods park site. Given the close ties of these park areas, boundaries between the parks should be defined more by use areas rather than defined property limits. 7-46 City of Rosemount Park Name: C-2 (Schwarz Pond) Future Development Program Along with maintaining and upgrading the existing facilities as warranted, one or more of the following facilities would be appropriate for this park: • disc golf course. • group picnic shelter w/restrooms. • shuffleboard. • horseshoe pit. • hardcourt and hardsurface games area (i.e., basketball, hopscotch, four squares, etc.) - for neighborhood use. • play structure - for neighborhood use. The internal trial system should be expanded as necessary to link the park with the other nearby park areas (particularly Carrolls Woods) and the community -wide trail system. The current planting program should be continued to add to the overall aesthetic and natural quality of the park. Site amenities such as benches, picnic tables, trash receptacles, signage, etc. are also appropriate (and recommended). Walkway lighting should also be considered in the future. As with all future park developments, residents living within the park's service area should be involved in determining which facilities would best serve their specific recreational needs and desires. Existing; Functional Classifications Conservation 25 Ornamental 20010 Reserve 40 Cultural 07o Recreation 15010 Post -Development Functional Classifications Conservation 25 Ornamental 25% Reserve 20 Cultural 57o Recreation 25 1 w 1 J Section 7 - Park and Trail System Plan Park Plate No.: 18 Park Type: Community Park (With Neighborhood Facilities) Address: E. of Diamond Path Status: Undeveloped Park Size: 23.0 Acres (00.0 Existing/23.0 Proposed) Existing Facilities/Amenities # Description 1 Extensive ponding area (used as storm water detention basins). 2 Existing farmstead. 3 Residential area. 4 Open grass lands. Currently not under agricultural tillage. Existing Natural Features/Site Conditions The topography of the site varies considerably and is best characterized as heavily rolling. The rather dramatic grade changes across the site offer excellent views of the ponding area from a number of locations. The ponding area serves as a major holding pond within the watershed, with both on and -off site drainage flowing into the pond from all directions. The normal and high water elevations need to be clearly defined prior to actual acquisition and development of this site. On-site vegetation largely consists of natural grassy areas. A mixed-woodlot borders the site on the south side, providing a buffer between the park and adjacent properties. Given the undeveloped status of the park, neither pedestrian nor vehicle access has been developed. Future Development Issues The site's openness, ponding area, and rolling topography make this a very interesting and unique community park opportunity which will contrast with the other park system components, especially Erickson Community Square and Schwarz Pond. Critical to the development of this park is the resolution of the ponding area's normal and high water elevations. Since the area of the site that is usable for park purposes will be directly related to these elevations, it is important that this issue be completely resolved prior to actual development planning and design. Assuming that the ponding issue can be resolved, development of the park should be oriented toward community use as well as providing some neighborhood -type recreational facilities for use by residents in the surrounding neighborhood. In as much as possible, the neighborhood facilities should be separate from the community facilities to help preserve their use for neighborhood rather than community residents. The pond area and rolling topography present some very interesting passive recreational opportunities and ornamental possibilities which should play a key role in the park's overall design. Given that the site is located in what will likely be a urban residential area, an urban park character is perhaps the most appropriate and would contrast very nicely with the other community parks, providing a variety of park experiences for park uses to enjoy. Future Development Program The following represents a listing of the type of facilities and development that would be appropriate for this park: • extensive pond area development (i.e., pond edge planting, walks, walk lighting, benches, decks and/or docks, canoe rental, etc.) 7-48 City of Rosemount Park Name: C-3 • parking and vehicle access. • extensive internal trails and linkage to other major community park and use areas. • extensive ornamental and natural landscaping. • large picnic shelter. • small picnic shelter(s) • group and individual picnic areas. • tennis courts (2). • large play structure. • multi -use building. • extensive manicured grass areas. • natural areas. • ornamental site amenities (lighting, signage, kiosks, arbor, etc.) • small play structure - for neighborhood use. • shuffleboard. • horseshoe pit(s). • hardcourt and hardsurface games area (i.e., basketball, hopscotch, four squares, etc.) - for community and/or neighborhood use. • informal playfield - for community and/or neighborhood use. The trail linkage between this park and Shannon Park (as well as the other major park areas) is very important and should be considered a vital component of the park's development program. As with all future park developments, community residents should be involved in determining which facilities would best serve their specific recreational needs and desires. Existing Functional Classifications Conservation 017o Ornamental Offi Reserve 100 Cultural Qffi Recreation Post -Development Functional Classifications Conservation 0% Ornamental 30010 Reserve 20 Cultural 1M Recreation 35 GENERAL PARK BOUNDARY Section 7 - Park and Trail System Plan Park Plate No.: 19 Park Type: Community Playfield/Athletic Complex Address: 14115 Brazil Avenue Status: Developed Park Park Size: 36.0 (36.0 Existing/0.00 Proposed) Existing Facilities/Amenities No Description 1 Public Works Building 2 Fire Station 3 Hockey rinks (2) w/lighting and warming house. Poor shape and in need of replacement. 4 Public parking lot (primarily for City Hall use. 5 Natural ponding area (storm water detention pond) 6 Trail (aggregate) 7 Natural grassy area 8 Parking lot w/partial curb and partial asphalt. 9 Soccer/football field w/irrigation and portable goals. 10 Small play equipment area w/timber container and sand surface. 11 Adult/league level softball field w/backstop 16' high), infield foul line fencing (4' high), outfield fencing (10' high), players benches, portable bleacher, lighting, and irrigation. 12 Adult/league level softball field w/backstop (16' high), infield foul line fencing (4' high on 1st base side, 8' high on 3rd base side), outfield fencing (10' high), players benches, portable bleacher, lighting and irrigation. Soccer/football field overlays this ballfield (150' x 280'). 13 Play equipment area w/timber container and sand surface. Located very close to parking lot (unsafe). 14 Adult/league level softball field w/backstop 20' high), infield foul line fencing (5' high), outfield fencing (10' high), players benches, portable bleachers (2), lighting, and irrigation. 15 Adult/league level softball field w/backstop 20' high), infield foul line fencing (5' high), outfield fencing (10' high), players benches, portable bleacher, lighting, and irrigation. 16 Adult/league level softball field w/backstop 20' high), infield foul line fencing (5' high), outfield fencing (10' high), players benches, portable bleachers (2), lighting, and irrigation. 17 Park shelter. 18 Topsoil borrow area. 19 Mobile home park. 20 Small nursery. Existing Natural Features/Site Conditions The topography of the site varies, with the play areas graded as necessary to accommodate intended uses. Steep slopes are adjacent to most of the athletic fields, some of which are difficult for pedestrians to negotiate. The elevation drops dramatically east of the athletic fields toward the ponding area. Site drainage characteristics are as necessary to accommodate field drainage, with the drainage flow typically being directed toward the adjacent ponding area. Site vegetation is largely manicured grass (w/extensive irrigation) in the developed areas of the park. Tree planting is predominantly along the perimeter of the fields and relatively small. Pedestrian access is limited and is either from Brazil Ave. or the City Hall parking lot area. Vehicle access is off Brazil Ave. Parking near the site is very limited and found predominantly along Brazil Ave., both within the lot as well as along the road. Parking is undoubtedly a problem. Site maintenance is generally very good with respect to the fields, which are in excellent playing shape. The areas around the fields do show the effects of general wear that an athletic facility receives. 7-50 City of Rosemount Park Name: A-1 (Erickson Park) This is especially true on the side slopes near field #1, where some erosion has occurred. Future Development Issues Erickson Park is a fully developed athletic facility with little to no room for expansion. Generally speaking, future development should be concentrated on the non -field areas, such as relocating and enlarging the play areas, adding sideline fencing, continued planting, and general enhancement of peripheral facilities. Given the park's importance as a community "show piece", more attention should be given to design detail and overall aesthetic qualities. The physical relationship between the park and the adjacent Erickson Community Park will be an important consideration prior to any further development. As with Schwarz Pond and Carrolls Woods, these two parks are perhaps best viewed as one large park area that function to serve a variety of park and recreational purposes. Future Development Proms Along with the existing facilities, one or more of the following facilities would be appropriate for this park: • hardcourt and hardsurface games area (i.e., basketball, hopscotch, four squares, etc.) • rebuild existing hockey rinks w/lights. • finish parking lot paving. The internal trials should tie into the adjacent park (Erickson Community Square) and the community wide trail system as appropriate. The planting program should be continued, adding to the overall aesthetic quality of the park as well as provide a buffer between the park and adjacent properties. iib W: Section 7 - Park and Trail System Plan Park Plate No.: 20 Park Type: Youth Playfield and Neighborhood Park Address: 13260 Shannon Parkway Status: Developed Park Park Size: 22.9 (12.9 Existing/10.0 Proposed) Existing: Facilities/Amenities # Description 1 Little League baseball fields (4) w/backstops (12' high) and skinned infield. Soccer/Football Fields (4) overlay these ballfields. 2 Little League baseball field (1) w/backstops (12' high) and skinned infield. A football field overlays this ballfield. 3 Asphalt parking lot (for school and park use). 4 Utility/control building. 5 Play equipment area w/concrete curb container and pea gravel surface (School District Facility). 6 Asphalt basketball court (School District Facility). 7 Asphalt trail. S Natural grassy area with rolling topography. 9 Shannon Elementary School. Existing; Natural Features/Site Conditions The topography of the site's developed areas is graded as required for athletic field use. Some of the drainage patterns across the fields are not ideal in that the drainage flows toward the infield areas rather than away from them. The northern side of the park, which is currently undeveloped, offers some interesting rolling topography that may be suitable for a sliding hill. As stated, site drainage characteristics are not ideal but functional. Site vegetation is largely manicured grass (w/extensive irrigation) in the developed areas and natural grasses in the undeveloped areas. Tree planting is lacking. Pedestrian access is from the trails along Shannon Parkway and the parking area. Vehicle access is limited to Shannon Parkway. Ample parking is available. Future Development Issues From a long-term perspective, Shannon Park is intended to function primarily as a youth athletic facility and neighborhood park. With the exception of adding a hockey rink and double tennis court, Shannon Park is essentially fully developed with respect to athletic facilities. Upgrading the existing facilities in the future (i.e., adding foul line and outfield fencing, etc.) would be appropriate after the athletic facility on the University property has been developed and programmed for use. This is important in that upgrading a ballfield will mean a subsequential loss of a soccer/football field overlay. Based on anticipated facility needs and optimal (long-term) distribution recommendations for the various facilities, four soccer/football fields will be required on this site. Therefore, up to two soccer/ football fields can be lost through the upgrading of two ballfields without jeopardizing the overall facilities balance within the community. One final note is that given the residential character of the area, site lighting should be limited to the future hockey rink, tennis courts, and walkways. In the short-term, prior to the athletic facility on the University property being developed, Shannon Park will undoubtedly have to serve as more of a full- service athletic facility with youth athletics being the principal focus. Short-term program needs will simply require the use of this facility for adult use to some degree. Adult use should be phased out over time as other facilities come on-line and program needs become better understood. 7-52 City of Rosemount Park Name: A-2 (Shannon Park) With respect to the neighborhood park component, an area on the north end of the site, separated from the athletic fields, should be developed for neighborhood type uses. Although community use of these facilities should not be discouraged, it is important that servicing the neighborhood needs be the main priority. Future Development Program Along with the existing facilities, one or more of the following facilities would be appropriate for this park: • hockey rink and skating area w/lighting. • double tennis court w/lighting. • grass or sand surfaced volleyball court. • hardcourt and hardsurface games area (i.e., basketball, hopscotch, four squares, etc.) • small play structure - for neighborhood use. • sliding hill w/ adequate safety zones. • a small multi-purpose building (concessions, restrooms, storage, warming house, utilities, etc.) • upgrade existing L.L. fields to principal use level. • benches and picnic tables. The internal trials should tie into the community wide trail system as appropriate. The link between this park and C-3 and Carrolls Woods/Schwarz Pond is important since it ties together the major park areas within the community. An extensive planting program is also necessary in order to make the park more aesthetically pleasing and play down its highly developed character. As with all future park developments, residents living within the park's service area should be involved in determining which facilities would best serve their specific recreational needs and desires. i , pill wo l Nr Section 7 - Park and Trail System Plan Park Plate No.: 21 Park Type: Community Playfield/Athletic Complex Address: South of County Road 42 Status: Undeveloped Park Park Size: 75.0+ (00.0 Eidsting/75.0+ Proposed) Existing_ Facilities/Amenities The University of Minnesota owns a large parcel of land within Dakota County, of which a significant portion lies within Rosemount. All told, the property encompasses some 8,000 acres and represents one of the largest contiguous land holdings in the metro area. Approximately 85% of the site is relatively flat to gently rolling. Site vegetation consist largely of prairie plant communities, the bulk of which have been lost through intensive agricultural cultivation and grazing use. Future Development Issues This athletic field complex is intended to be developed at a time when demand for athletic facilities out -paces the current supply at other park sites. The actual timing of the park's development will be based on a number of conditions which, taken together as a whole, will dictate the need for the facility. This would include: • population growth and program needs warrant the development of new facilities. • the necessary funding to develop new facilities becomes available. • a reasonable lease or purchase agreement is obtained from the University of Minnesota. • public demand for the facility warrants development. Given that demand for additional facilities will not manifest itself all at one time, it can be reasonably expected that this park will be developed in phases over a rather extended period of time. It is important to point out that the forthcoming list of facilities will likely change over time to coincide with changes in the community's athletic facility needs. Since the other athletic parks within the City have relatively set development programs, the changes in the community's athletic facility needs will have a significant impact on the development of this park. With this in mind, the City should prepare a long-term master plan for this park which is geared toward maximizing its development and land use potential to assure that any and all future athletic facility needs can be met. Also, the actual location of the park within the University property would ideally be as shown because it would be reasonably near the City's population core and readily accessible by a number of transportation modes. However, adjusting the location in response to negotiations with the University or other community planning objectives may be acceptable and should be given due consideration if necessary by the Park Committee. Finally, a joint development effort between the City of Rosemount and the City of Apple Valley should also be given due consideration prior to actual development to assure that no joint -use opportunities are missed. Future Development Prog� Based on current projections, the following facilities would be appropriate for this park: • official baseball field (1 to 2 fields). 7-54 City of Rosemount I Park Name: A-3 (University) • softball/combination ballfield (4 to 5 fields). • soccer/football field (1 to 2 fields). • hockey rink (2 rinks). • double tennis court. • hardcourt and hardsurface games area (i.e., basketball, hopscotch, four squares, etc.). • multi-purpose park building (concessions, restrooms, mechanical, storage, warming house, etc.) - may be more than one building depending on need and site design. • play structure - may be one big play area or several smaller areas (depending on site design). • tetherball • horseshoe pit (2 or more - competitive level) • volleyball court (2 or more courts - competitive level, preferably sand surfaced). • picnic shelters - large and/or small depending on need and site design. • general picnic areas w/picnic tables. • parking/entrance drive(s). Typical site amenities such as benches, picnic tables, trash containers, game tables, pedestrian level lighting, etc. are also appropriate (and recommended) site amenities. An internal trail should also be considered an integral part of the park's overall design, functioning to help define spaces and use areas within the park as well as establishing a tie to the community -wide trail system. An extensive planting program will likely be necessary to improve the overall aesthetic quality of the site. As with all future park developments, community residents should be involved in determining which facilities would best serve their specific recreational needs and desires. Section 7 - Park and Trail System Plan z Park Plate No.: 21 s AGRICULTURAL 33 EXPEFiMENT STATION City of Rosemount Park Name: A-3 (University) �UNIVE A-3 (University) and Garden Plots • Site Location Conceptual Only. Actual Location Will Be Determined Through Negotiations Between The City And The University Of Minnesota • Located To Avoid Negative Impacts To Residential Areas And To Provide Adequate Space For Developing Athletic Facilities In An Economical And Functional Manner 7-55 RESEAM Section 7 - Park and Trail System Plan Park Plate No.: 22 Park Type: Conservancy Lands Address: South of 120th St. (Northwest part of City) Status: Undeveloped Park Size: 28.0 Acres (Proposed) Existing Facilities/Amenities # Description 1 Natural ponding areas. 2 Wooded area with scattered open pockets. Very nice natural resource area. 3 Existing homesite. Existing Natural Features/Site Conditions The topography of the site varies considerably, with varying degrees of slope around the ponds and nice rolling topography with the wooded areas. Although the site's drainage characteristics are not clearly defined at this time, most of the drainage flows naturally toward the ponds and lowland areas. Site vegetation varies considerably as well, from woodlots to lowland marsh grasses. Given the undeveloped status of the site, neither pedestrian nor vehicle access has been developed. Future Development Issues Given the current land use guide plan and the rural residential development in this area to date, it is reasonable to expect that the need or demand for neighborhood and community parks per se will not be sufficient to warrant their development. However, as defined in the assessment of Rosemount's park and recreation needs (Section 2), there is significant interest within the community for the preservation and protection of at least some of the remaining natural resources (woodlots, wetlands, etc.) areas within the community. As such, this particular site was selected because: • it exhibits the natural resource base necessary and appropriate for conservancy lands. • it plays a significant role in achieving an overall balance of park types within the park system. • it provides an important trial link opportunity to Lebanon Hills Regional Park located outside the northern edge of the community. It should also be recognized that this area of the City may at some point in the future (perhaps 20 or 30 years) be further sub -divided and actually reflect urban residential densities. If this circumstance should indeed happen, it would become appropriate to reconsider the role that this park plays within the park system. It should also be pointed out that the park's actual boundary will ultimately be determined by the appropriate governing bodies as acquisition concerns, property ownership, park dedication concerns, developmental considerations and projected urban densities become better defined in the future. Future Development Program Since this park is intended to serve as a conservation area, actual development will likely be relatively minimal. Appropriate facilities would include the following: park trail (limited to perhaps one key route through the park). nature trails (on a limited basis as well). interpretive kiosk and/or signage. 7-5b City of Rosemount I Park Name: CL -1 • limited vehicle access (small parking lot as deemed necessary for a specific purpose, such as a horse trail trailhead.) • nature blinds, overlooks, and bench locations. It should be noted that since this is a conservancy area, development should be very limited and generally unobtrusive. Keep it simple! A vegetative management program should also be developed as soon as the property is acquired to assure that potential vegetative problems, such as Buckthorn infestations, etc., are identified and controlled before they become unmanageable. As with all future park developments, community residents should be involved in determining what level and type of development is most appropriate for this site. Existing Functional Classifications Conservation 07o Ornamental 070 Reserve 100 Cultural 07o Recreation Post -Development Functional Classifications Conservation 95% Ornamental 0% Reserve Cultural 0010 Recreation Section 7 - Park and Trail System Plan Park Plate No.: 23 Park Type: Conservancy Lands Address: West of Akron Ave. Status: Undeveloped Park Size: 35.0 Acres (Proposed) Existing Facilities/Amenities # Description 1 Woodlot with scattered openings and small potholes. 2 Natural ponding area. Existing Natural Features/Site Conditions The topography of the site is rolling and quite interesting. Although the site's drainage characteristics are not clearly defined at this time, most of the drainage flows naturally toward the ponds and lowland areas. Site vegetation is predominantly mixed -woodland with lowland and marsh grasses around the ponding areas. Given the undeveloped status of the site, neither pedestrian nor vehicle access has been developed. Future Development Issues Given the current land use guide plan and the rural residential development in this area to date, it is reasonable to expect that the need or demand for neighborhood and community parks per se will not be sufficient to warrant their development. However, as defined in the assessment of Rosemount's park and recreation needs (Section 2), there is significant interest within the community for the preservation and protection of at least some of the remaining natural resources (woodlots, wetlands, etc.) areas within the community. As such, this particular site was selected because: it exhibits the natural resource base necessary and appropriate for conservancy lands. • it plays a significant role in achieving an overall balance of park types within the park system. It should also be recognized that this area of the City may at some point in the future (perhaps 20 or 30 years) be further sub -divided and actually reflect urban residential densities. If this should indeed happen, it would become appropriate to reconsider the role that this park plays within the park system. It should also be pointed out that the park's actual boundary will ultimately be determined by the appropriate governing bodies as acquisition concerns, property ownership, park dedication concerns, developmental considerations and projected urban densities become better defined in the future. Future Development Program Since this park is intended to serve as a conservation area, actual development will likely be relatively minimal. Appropriate facilities would include the following: • park trail (limited to perhaps one key route through the park). • nature trails (on a limited basis as well). • interpretive kiosk and/or signage. • limited vehicle access (small parking lot as deemed necessary for a specific purpose, such as a horse trail trailhead.) • nature blinds, overlooks, and bench locations. 7-58 City of Rosemount I Park Name: CL -2 It is important to note that since this is a conservancy area, development should be very limited and generally unobtrusive. Keep it simple! A vegetative management program should also be developed as soon as the property is acquired to assure that potential vegetative problems, such as Buckthorn infestations, etc., are identified and controlled before they become unmanageable. As with all future park developments, community residents should be involved in determining what level and type of development is most appropriate for this site. Existing�Functional Classifications Conservation 0010 Ornamental OTo Reserve 100 Cultural 09o' Recreation 09o' Post -Development Functional Classifications Conservation 95% Ornamental 0% Reserve Cultural 09o' Recreation 5010 Section 7 - Park and Trail System Plan Park Plate No.: 24 Park Type: Special Use - Nature/Wildlife Preserve Address: 3335 142nd St. W. (RHS) Status: Partially Developed Park Size: 83.0 Acres (68-5 Existing/14.4 Proposed) Existing, Facilities/Amenities # Description 1 Mixed lowland and upland forest/woodlot w/ extensive woodchip trail system. 2 Open, grazed grasslands w/native prairie remnants. Heavily rolling topography. 3 Schwarz Pond. Existing Natural FeaturesJSite Conditions The site's topography is very interesting and is perhaps best characterized as heavily rolling. The significant and frequent grade changes exhibited across the site create some very interesting opportunities for overlooks and viewing locations. Given the topographical changes, the site's drainage characteristics and patterns are difficult to concisely define, with a multitude of depressions and low points serving as temporary water holding areas. Naturally, a significant amount of the on-site drainage flows toward Schwarz Pond. Site vegetation is also interesting with reasonably diverse lowland and upland forest communities. Although somewhat disturbed, the wooded areas exhibit quite a variety of tree species, including elm, ash, black cherry, oak, maple, basswood, and aspen. Excessive buckthorn growth has become a problem which needs to be controlled. Grazed grasslands on the northern end of the site exhibit a few native prairie species. Lowland and marsh vegetation can be found near the pond. Pedestrian access is extensive within the park itself and along the eastern edge of the property adjacent to the school. The primary developed access points to the park are from Schwarz Pond and the high school. There is no designated vehicle access point at this time. The closest parking lots would be in Schwarz Pond and near the high school. Future Development Issues Given that a significant portion of the park was acquired through a State grant program, future development will have to remain within the grant applications general guidelines, which focuses primary on the preservation of the natural environment and providing the community with passive recreational opportunities. As with Erickson Community Square, Carrolls Woods has long been considered one of the most important park areas within the City. Based on the findings of previous (and on-going) planning efforts, a nature and wildlife preserve orientation define the intended park atmosphere. The general purpose of the park would include: • Conservation and Preservation: Protecting the site and natural environment from developmental encroachment. • Passive Recreation: Provide opportunities for passive recreational activities such as walking/ hiking, nature/wildlife study, family and individual "quiet space". • Interpretation and Education: Providing opportunities for educational and interpretive purposes. Programs should be developed with consideration for a variety of potential users groups, including school children, individuals and families, seniors and special populations. • Vegetative Management: Preserve and restore native plant communities within the park, including woodlots, savannahs and prairies. City of Rosemount I Park Name: SU -1 (Carrolls Woods) Future Development Prog,�ram Again based on previous (and on-going) planning efforts, a general consensus is that an overall master plan and management program clearing defining the general development and management of the park must be prepared and adopted prior to any additional development of within the park. The master plan should: • illustrate the various site components and amenities, such as property boundaries, use area, trails, parking, access control, site amenities, etc. • identify the general locations of the various plant communities (existing and proposed). The management program should: • describe the existing plant communities on the site. • outline an appropriate planting program intended to enhance the overall quality of the site's vegetation and plant communities. • outline ways to improve the overall wildlife habitat. • outline an appropriate education and interpretive program. Existing Functional Classifications Conservation 85 Ornamental 0010 Reserve Cultural 0 o Recreation 15010 Post -Development Functional Classifications Conservation 85176 Ornamental 0% Reserve 00/0 Cultural 0010 Recreation 15 L 0 u t 7-60 1 Section 7 - Park and Trail System Plan Park Plate No.: 25 Linear Park Concent As defined in Section 4 - Park System Framework, linear parks are areas developed for one or more modes of recreational travel such as walking, hiking, biking, snowmobiling, horseback riding, cross country skiing, canoeing and pleasure driving. Linear parks can be either: "built" corridors which are designed and developed in conjunction with subdivision development. "natural" corridors which follow existing bluff lines, vegetation patterns, ponding areas, etc. Typically, a linear park will be a combination of built and natural corridors. In any case, the overall intent of a linear park is to: • tie the various park system components together to form a continuous park environment. • provide for safe travel between the various parks and development areas. • provide residents with an important outdoor recreational opportunity and experience. • preserve some of the natural resource areas, open space, and wildlife habitat within the community. Development of Linear Parks within Rosemount Since linear parks, by their very nature, most often traverse through more than one subdivision or development area, it becomes difficult to incorporate or "retrofit" the linear park concept into areas of the community which have already been or are currently being developed. Given the past development patterns in Rosemount, the opportunities for developing linear parks are already becoming quite limited. Theses opportunities will become even more limited as the community continues to grow in the future. This tends to be the case in the areas west of Biscayne Avenue, in which existing residential development, although somewhat scattered, precludes the possibility of creating linear parks to tie together many of the existing and proposed park system components. Recognizing this, the Committee concluded that linear parks are not suited for the area of the City. In this instance, the only remaining option is to use transportation trails (which are typically associated with street R.O.W.'s) to form the linkages between the various parks and development areas. The areas east of Biscayne Avenue, which at this time exhibit relatively light development, present some very different longterm possibilities for employing the linear park concept. More specifically, the area east of Biscayne and north of 135th Street (as shown on the Park System Plan) appears to be particularly well suited for a linear park because it: • exhibits a variety of nature resource areas, including woodlots, ponding areas/water bodies, marshes, and wetlands. • exhibits interesting topographical changes offering a variety of views and visual experiences. • exhibits extensive wildlife habitat supporting a variety of wildlife species. 7-62 City of Rosemount Park Name: LP (Linear Park) • provides an opportunity to tie potential parks and development areas together to form a continuous park environment. In this light, it becomes important, within the context of this planning effort, to identify or establish the linear park concept even though actual development is not likely to occur until some time in the future. The intent here is to: allow City residents and policy makers the opportunity to become familiar with the linear park concept and understand how these parks are intended to function within the context of the overall park system. • give land owners and potential developers an opportunity to consider how the linear parks can be incorporated into subdivision design to assure that the City's, developer's and residents' interests are served. Proper land use planning along with well -conceived sub -division design is the key to providing safe, accessible, and functional linear parks (and park trail corridors) which add instead of detract from the value of the adjacent properties. Conceptual Design for Linear Parks At this point in time, the shape that future development will take within the undeveloped areas east of Biscayne cannot be accurately determined. As such, developing a specific program or design solution for the linear parks is not only difficult but impractical as well. This should be undertaken as actual development planning becomes a reality in future years. With this in mind, the objective of the accompanying graphic is to illustrate the intent of the linear parks rather than dictate their specific design. Section 7 - Park and Trail System Plan City of Rosemount ' Park Name: LP Park Park Plate No.: ?S � ) PARKWLINEAR PARK TIES INTO / AY --� SINGLE FAMILY RESIDENTIAL ----� y TRANSPORTATION TRAIL ALONG ARTERIALOR/ 1 COLLECTOR STREET ARTF,RIAI, OR L'OLLECTOR STREET-.- �_��\� SINGLE FAMILY RESIDENTIAL -� )� \ , -- - %� TRAIL �- T APARTMENTS (/ NEIGHBORHOOD RFTAII. L TRAIL ACCESS TRAIL ACCESS NATURAL LINEAR PARK CORRIDOR (FOLLOWS EXISTING BLUFF LINES, VEGETATION PATTERNS, RESIDENTIAL STREET WETLAND AND PONDING AREAS, ETC.) l \ / \ WETLANDS AND PONDS HELP CONTROL STORM -�I I T - r'..,/' /�/ `SINGLE FAMILY RESIDENTIAL WATER RUNOFF, ENTRAP NUTRIENTS AND POLLUTION, PURIFY WATER AND RECHARGE \ GROUNDWATER TRAIL ACCESS r- \ �(� ` RESIDENTIAL STREET PRESERVATION OF NATURAL RESOURCES, / OPEN SPACE, AND WILDLIFE HABITAT LINEAR PARK DEVELOPED FOR ONE, OR MORE MODES OF RECREATIONAL TRAVEL (WALKING, -'"-�_ / ALL DEVELOPMENT AREAS (RESIDENTIAL AND HIKING, BIKING, CROSS COUNTRY SKIING, AND I - NON-RESIDENTIAL) SHOULD BE DESIGNED AND POSSIBLY HORSEBACK RIDING, SNOWMOBILING,�. T_ _ DEVELOPED TO PROVIDE SAFE ACCESS TO AND AND PLEASURE DRIVING. Y FROM THE LINEAR PARK CORRIDOR (LE, THROUGH TRAIL EASEMENTS AND SIDEWALKS) TOWNHOMES TRAIL ACCESS -'�/ .�.. ?- \ BUILT LINEAR PARK CORRIDOR (DESIGNED IN TRANSPORTATION TRAIL / v --� CONJUNCTION WITH ADJACENT SUBDIVISION) ALONG ARTERIAL OR COLLECTOR STREET L _ L ARTERIAL OR COLLECTOR STREET SINGLE FAMILY RESIDENTIAL -- .I NEIGHBORHOOD PARK AND RECREATION AREA RESIDENTIAL STREET-- �)\� �,� L I -I SINGLE FAMILY RESIDENTIAL }-tA. I RESIDENTIAL STREET 7-63 Section 7 - Park and Trail System Plan Park Plate No.: 26 Lebanon Hills Regional Park Park Type: Regional Park Address: Cliff Rd. & Pilot Knob, Eagan Status: Continuing, Long -Term Development Park Size: 2,000 Acres General Park Description Lebanon Hills is a regional park governed and administered by the Dakota County Parks Department. The general purpose of the park is to: • preserve and protect an area of natural and/or ornamental quality. provide a large, regionally -based recreational opportunity for citizens of the surrounding communities (region). Regional parks such as this typically focus on passive recreational activities such as hiking, picnicking, boating, fishing, swimming, camping, horseback riding, cross-country skiing, etc. The park currently encompasses an area of approximately 2000 acres. The landscape, which is very similar in character to that found in the northwest part of the City, exhibits quite a variety of landforms and vegetation. Lowland and upland forest areas, open grasslands and prairies, marshes and wetlands, and a number of lakes provide a very interesting experience for users and a diverse natural habitat for wildlife. With respect to future development, the park has embarked on a continuous and long-term development program which generally focuses on upgrading the current facilities as monies become available. City of Rosemount Park Name: Lebanon Hills Regional Park and Spring Lake Regional Park Reserve Since regional parks are intended to function in concert with municipal park systems, it is not only reasonable to expect, but desirable as well, to integrate the two systems in as much as possible. In this instance, the importance of integrating the Lebanon Hills Park with Rosemount's park system (through trail connections) can not be overstated because the recreational facilities within the park provide significant recreational opportunities to community residents that would not otherwise be available. Currently, the park offers the following recreational facilities and activities: • hiking, cross-country skiing, mountain biking, and horse trails. • swimming beach. • picnic areas. • picnic shelter. • canoeing opportunities. • parking. • restroom facilities. Spring Lake Regional Park Reserve Park Type: Regional Park Reserve Address: Mississippi River Bluffs Status: Continuing, Long -Term Development Park Size: 775+ Acres Currently, Up To L200 Acres Ultimately General Park Description Unlike Lebanon Hills, Spring Lake Park is a regional park reserve rather than a regional park. The principle difference between the two park types is that a regional park reserve focuses more on conservation than recreation. In a general sense, 80% of the reserve's acreage is set aside for 7-64 conservation, with a maximum of only 20% being actively developed for recreational purposes. Recreational activities are typically limited to low impact uses such as hiking, cross-country skiing, and nature study. The park is situated along the Mississippi River and exhibits outstanding views of the river front area and a multitude of natural features. The landscape itself consists of four miles of shoreline, steep bluffs, major ravines, and uplands along the river. The vegetation within the park is quite varying, including mixed hardwood forests, floodplain forest, grasslands, and aquatic/wetland vegetation. The diversity of habitat provides an excellent opportunity for wildlife to flourish. Naturally, the river provides the most significant water feature. However, a number of backwater areas and creek beds punctuate the landscape and add to the overall diversity of the park site. As with Lebanon Hills Park, Spring Lake Regional Park Reserve is intended to function in concert with Rosemount's park system and provide a different set of recreational opportunities for community residents to use, enjoy, and simply appreciate. Given the communities' fondness for the outdoors and their stated preference for preservation of natural environments, this park should indeed add significantly to the communities's park system in the forthcoming years. Section 7 - Park and Trail System Plan Park Plate No.: 27 —© HIKING TFAIL 6.5 ^ ••® HORSE TPAIL o• L;AIIOE FORTAGE SITE 0 0 so n° 11 "'00 /1. '00o/ - - i� ° n o 0 0 ° 0 0 00 0 OOOOMOOO 0 0° o0000 0 I 0I J o r-(, © �\': II/IAING BEACH © il(, Illi: AFEA O`HELTER FE STRG°I.:S Q TGILET U� e City of Rosemount Park Name: Lebanon Hills Regional Park Diamond 'T' Ranch MHAnna 1' ........ / .• To E..I //' See1 —Ion �.... ©...... i ®' •• © North u• V I ..... 1 WEST SECTION II CRIT Roa OrR _J .lL / / /w.... •. .� 1 McDonough Holland Lek. L.k. �. Sc.�it.. 1 ♦ A © �•• •®••�; • 0 �t• •� rl _--__T_�, �•...iO_ FOI. Schultz Noah • - _I ' 1 1 �•E�f •1 I �(—�/// © O'Brl.n LINA. ; © reh o •©. 1 1 1 0 Portage L.M. 1AA 1 SII •, •' ♦ _ iT) n 10 was S.cibn ♦—• - J.na.n Lake ♦ 1 .•'}j ••• ♦- a 1201h S'. Hor � Trader P.rY inp EAST SECTION 7-65 Section 7 - Park and Trail System Plan City of Rosemount Park Plate No.: 28 Park Name: Spring Lake Regional Park Reserve (Pleasure Boat Anchorage) Schaar's Bluff Schaar'�[31uff Camp Ground J---�_ Picnic bund Overlook ' Overloot k Prairie Grass Area Bluf ail jf ( Boat Camping/ Miss. River • . -Boat-Launch)«- Open Fields ' Picnicking)��<rt� Nursery k 1 Island Multi- Purpose Trail j r ai`rrtfu ' ;x nch)F Park.jHC1 Bi�Ce� Trail i ( �\' 'Obse"rvatwnjTower, Overlook - -. (Boat Anchorage7) Alt Crit •_ • , ,� (Alterna Canoe Launch) Boat Launch r Ka. Trai" 1 Pruni the Camping ` ," \, �-ft (Swimming Beach) ` �� Picrnc ;Ground) (Alternate Boat Launch) p Cam ing) <° ;> - F , : Primitive Carrlping �R ore 'tati Shorelin ca►� �wr�{ 'WEds`t�dy��ree • ,tel - .., � : ,, ,i '� . ��:, T .-%�, r ' �'-` _ .t �•. A er an : FCh Picnic-greae�- 'Reforestat�� -� Horse Tr ithead 91 & Exercise Area ' 7 -fib ' ISection 7 - Park and Trail System Plan u I; L �_J C 11 Anticipated Facility Needs and Distribution Anticipated Facility Needs and Distribution defines: • the anticipated number of facilities required to service the projected recreational needs of the community based on national and regional standards. their distribution within the various park system service areas. By applying national and regional standards, the type and number of recreational facilities necessary to service the City's recreational needs can be reasonably projected. However, it is important to recognize that these recommendations must be balanced against known and anticipated program needs. And perhaps more importantly, programming levels must be balanced against the City's ability to the provide the necessary facilities without compromising other park system components and uses. In other words, the City cannot, on a continuous basis, program activities beyond the intended capacity of the park system without jeopardizing its long-term mission and goals. As an example, over -programming a mini - park for organized athletic uses will eventually detract from its intended use as a small - neighborhood focused recreation area. This "balancing act" will undoubtedly happen over an undefined period of time until a reasonable balance is achieved, meaning: • recreational facilities will be programmed for their intended use as defined in Section 4 - Park System Framework (Park Systems Facilities Use and Maintenance Standards/Policies). • program demands for specific facilities will be met in a reasonable manner. It will the responsibility of the Park & Recreation Committee and Department to develop/determine: a schedule of facilities which defines the location, type, and total number of recreational facilities available for programmed uses at any given park as well as the total number of times each facility can be used (i.e., turnover rate) during the season of use. Facilities should be programmed and used in a manner which coincides with the long-term objectives of the park system plan. This schedule of facilities should be updated on a yearly basis and take into consideration newly developed facilities and/or phasing out of facilities that are not intended for long-term programmed uses but were needed in the interim to satisfy current demands. • the level of recreational programs that can be offered by the City (or through allied civic organizations, athletic associations, schools, etc.) given the number of facilities that are available for specific programmatic uses. Given that demand for additional recreational programs will almost always out -pace the availability of facilities, the Park & Recreation Committee and Department will ultimately have to make the decision as to what level of programming can be sustained without jeopardizing the overall balance of the park system. To assist the Park & Recreation Committee and Department in preparing the schedule of facilities as well as help determine the timing of future facility development, the following defines the anticipated facility needs and optimal distribution for various recreational facilities based on generally accepted national and regional standards. 7-67 City of Rosemount Informal Playfield Facilitv/Ponulation Standard 1 per site. AnticitWW Facey Needs: The following represents the anticipated number of facilities required to service the projected recreational needs of the community: Year 2000 (15.000 Pon.): 1 per site. Year 2010 (18.400 Pon.): 1 per site. Ultimate (22.000 Poo.): 1 per site. Optimal Distrilrgin Recommendations ami - Trm : Appropriate locations: mini parks of adequate size to safely accommodate a playfield and not jeopardize other park uses. • neighborhood parks. • C-3 (Burger Pond). Oficial Baseball Fields Fa0bf gwdatioa Standard 1/5000. Amid aw FaSi t9 Needs: The following represents the number of facilities required to service the projected recreational needs of the City: Year 2000 (15.000 Pon.): 3 Year 2010 (18.400 Pon.): 3 to 4 Ultimate (22.000 Pon.): 4 to 5 Section 7 - Park and Trail System Plan Optimal Distribution Recommendations (Long Term : Appropriate locations: • 2 to 3 fields at Rosemount High School Playfield (through Joint - Use agreement). • 1 to 2 fields at A-3 (University Athletic Complex). Little league (and Youth Ball) F i y/Ponulatiion Standard: 1/5000. Afl&jRated Fatality Needs: The following represents the number of facilities required to service the projected recreational needs of the City: Year 2000 (15.000 Pop.): 3 Year 2010 (18.400 Pop.): 3 to 4 Ultimate (22.000 Popp: 4 to 5 Optimal Distribution Recommendations 0m& T rm : Appropriate locations: • 2 principal -use fields at Shannon Park Youth Playfield for league and tournament play. • 3 combination fields at Shannon Park Youth Playfield for general Little League play, youth ball (T -Ball, etc.) and women's softball. Note: Softball/Combination Ballfields can be programmed for Little League (and Youth Ball) as demand dictates. Therefore, the need for additional facilities beyond those listed is not anticipated in the future. Softball/Combination Ballfleld Facility%Population Standard 1/2000. Anticipated Facility Needs The following represents the number of facilities required to service the projected recreational needs of the City: Year 2000 (15,000 Pop,): 7 to 8 Year 2010 (18.400 Pop.): 9 to 10 Ultimate (22.000 Pop;): 11 QotinW Distribution Recommendations a&nng; Trm : Appropriate locations: • 5 fields at Erickson Park Playfield/Athletic Complex for league and tournament play. • 1 to 2 fields at Rosemount High School Playfield (through Joint - Use agreement). • 4 to 5 fields at A-3 (University Athletic Complex). Given the uncertainty as to when A-3 (University Athletic Complex) will actually be developed, a couple of fields at Shannon Park Youth Playfield may have to be programmed for adult softball in the interim. If necessary, Jaycee Neighborhood Park could serve as a third tier field for use on a very limited basis. Soccer/Football and Field Hockey Facili Population Standard 1/3500 Anticipated Facility Needs: The following represents the anticipated number of facilities required to service the projected recreational needs of the City: 7-68 City of Rosemount Year 2000 (15,000 Pop.): 4 to 5 Year 2010 (18,400 Pop.): 5 to 6 Ultimate 22,000 Pop.): 6 to 7 Optimal Distribution Recommendations (long - Term): Appropriate locations: • 1 field, at Erickson Park Playfield/Athletic Complex for league and tournament play. • 1 to 2 fields at Rosemount High School Playfield (through Joint - Use agreement). • 4 at Shannon Park Youth Playfield. • 1 to 2 fields at A-3 (University Athletic Complex). Again, given the uncertainty as to when A-3 (University Athletic Complex) will actually be developed, a couple of fields at Jaycee Neighborhood Park may have to be programmed for adult soccer in the interim. Also, although Shannon Park currently has six soccer/football fields, two of these could be lost if the ballfields are upgraded to include foul line fencing. The timing of this upgrading will naturally have to coincide with programmatic needs and the timing in which other facilities come on line. Hockey and Skating Rinks Facility/Ponulation Standard: 1/3500. Anticipated Facility Needs The following represents the anticipated number of facilities required to service the projected recreational needs of the City: Year 2000 (15,000 Pop.): 4 to 5 Year 2010 (18,400 Pop.): 5 to 6 Section 7 - Park and Trail System Plan Ultimate (22,000 Pop.): 6 to 7 Qptimal Distribution Recommendations fL.one- Term : Appropriate locations: • 1 to 2 rinks at Erickson Park Playfield/Athletic Complex. • 1 rink at Shannon Park Youth Playfield. • 2 rinks at A-3 (University Athletic Complex). • 1 rink at Jaycee Neighborhood Park. • 1 rink at either N-8, N-9, or N-10 Tennis Courts FK9ftffPopulation Standard 1/2000. Anticipated Facility Needs: The following represents the anticipated number of facilities required to service the projected recreational needs of the City: Year 2000 (15,000 Pop.): 7 to 8 Year 2010118,400 Pon.): 9 to 10 Ultimate (22,000 Pop.): ii Optimal Distribution Recommendation Lo Term): Appropriate locations: • 2 courts at A-2 (Shannon Park Youth Playfield). • 2 courts at A-3 (University Athletic Complex). • 2 courts at M-4 (Charlie's Park). • 2 - 4 courts at selected mini or neighborhood parks to achieve a relatively even distribution of courts throughout the park system. • 8 courts at Rosemount High School Playfield (through Joint - Use agreement). Note: given the school districts program needs, these courts should be viewed as supplemental to the City's courts. Basketball/Hardsurface Courts F cpMXfPouulatioa Standard: 1/2000. Anticipated Facility Needs The following represents the anticipated number of facilities required to service the projected recreational needs of the City: Year 2000 (15.000 Pon.): 7 to 8 Year 2010 (18,400 Pon.): 9 to 10 Ultimate (22,000 Pop.): 11 Ontimal Distribution Recommendations (Longi_ Term): Appropriate locations: • 1 court at A-2 (Shannon Park Youth Playfield). • 1 court at C-3 (Burger Ponds Community Park). • 1 courts at A-3 (University Athletic Complex). • 7 to 8 courts at selected mini or neighborhood parks to achieve a relatively even distribution throughout the park system. • 1 court at Rosemount High School Playfield. Horseshoe Pits Facilitv/Pc�lation Standard: 1/2000. Anfidpated Facility Needs: The following represents the anticipated number of facilities required to service the projected recreational needs of the City: 7-69 City of Rosemount Year 2000 (15,000 Pon.): 7 to 8 Year 2010 (18,400 Pon.): 9 to 10 Ultimate (22.000 Pon.): 11 [�tima Distribution Recommendations (Ing Texm): Appropriate locations: • 2 pits at C-2 (Schwarz Pond Community Park) • 2 pits at C-3 (Burger Ponds Community Park). • 2 pits at A-3 (University Athletic Complex). • 2 pits at C-1 (Erickson Community Square). • 3 courts at selected mini or neighborhood parks to achieve a relatively even distribution throughout the park system. Volleyball Courts F goda<ion Standard 1/2000. Anticin®ted FaUft Needs: The following represents the anticipated number of facilities required to service the projected recreational needs of the City: Year 2000 (15,000 Poo.): 7 to 8 Year 2010 (18.400 Poo.): 9 to 10 Ultimate (22.000 Pon.): 11 QpligW Diatnbutiiou Resmnmeadadons (I - Term): Appropriate locations: • 1 to 2 courts at C-2 (Schwarz Pond Community Park) • 1 to 2 courts at C-3 (Burger Ponds Community Park). Section 7 - Park and Trail System Plan • 1 court at A-2 (Shannon Park Youth Playfield). • 2 courts at A-3 (University Athletic Complex). • 2 courts at C-1 (Erickson Community Square) • 3 to 4 courts at selected mini or neighborhood parks to achieve a relatively even distribution throughout the park system. Shuffleboard Courts Fa ' ' &Qpulation Standard: 1/5000. Anticipated Facility Needs: The following represents the anticipated number of facilities required to service the projected recreational needs of the City: Year 2000 (15,000 Pop.): 3 Year 2010 (18.400 Pop.): 3 to 4 Ultimate (22.000 Pop.): 4 to 5 Qp&al Distribution Recommendations CLaI- Term): Appropriate locations: • 1 courts at C-2 (Schwarz Pond Community Park) • 1 courts at C-3 (Burger Ponds Community Park). • 2 or 3 courts at selected mini or neighborhood parks. Disc Golf Facilily/PopI&tion Standard: N/A. Anticipated Facility Needs: The following represents the anticipated number of facilities required to service the projected recreational needs of the City: Year 2000 (15,000 Pop.): N/A Year 2010 (18,400 Pop.): N/A Ultimate (22,000 Pop.): N/A Optimal Distribution Recommendations (Lone - T rm : Appropriate locations: • C-1 (Schwarz Pond Community Park) or C-3 (Burger Ponds Community Park). Play Structures Fa ' ' /PopuLAion Standard: 1 per site. Anticipated Facility Needs: The following represent the anticipated number of facilities required to service the projected recreational needs of the City: Year 2000 (15.000 Pop;): 1 per site. Year 2010 (18,400 Pop;): 1 per site. Ultimate (22,000 Pop.): 1 per site. Optimal Distribution Recommendations (I► - T rm : Appropriate locations: • mini parks of adequate size to safely accommodate a play structure and not jeopardize other park uses. • neighborhood parks. • community parks as dictated by demand. • playfields/athletic complexes 7-70 City of Rosemount Picnic Shelters and Park Buildings Fa ' ' f Pgpulation Standard N/A. Anticipated Facility Needs The following represents the anticipated number of facilities required to service the projected recreational needs of the City: Year 2000 (15,000 Pop.): N/A Year 2010 (18,400 Pop.): N/A Ultimate (22.000 Poo.): N/A Optimal Distribution Recommendations (Long- LongTerm): Term):Appropriate locations: • mini parks as dictated by specific development programs. • neighborhood parks as dictated by specific development programs. # • community parks as dictated by specific development programs. • playfields/athletic complexes as dictated by specific development programs. General Park and Picnic Areas Fa ' opulation Standard: N/A. Anticipated Facility Needs The following represent the anticipated number of facilities required to service the projected recreational needs of the City: Year 2000 (15.000 Pop.): N/A Year 2010 (18,400 Pop.): N/A ISection 7 - Park and Trail System Plan City of Rosemount lq� LA Ultimate (22,000 Pon.l: N/A Optimal Distrn" ion Recommendations am& Term : Appropriate locations: • all park areas where feasible. 1 7-71 ISection 8 - Implementation Plan i Section 8 Implementation Plan Overview The implementation of the Park System Plan will be an on-going, long term process, which, in order to be successful, will require: • a strong belief among community residents that a comprehensive park system is both a valuable aspect of the City's infrastructure as well as an enhancement of the quality of life within the community. • a willingness by community residents to invest in the City's future. • a committed and persistent effort by the various governing bodies, City staff, and most importantly the City residents themselves to see the Park System Plan through the various implementation phases. The forthcoming implementation plan is intended to: • establish a systematic approach (i.e., Implementation Planning Methodology) for the purpose of prioritizing the acquisition and development of the various park system components. • apply the methodology to prioritize acquisition and development of the various park system components as defined in this document (which is based on the community's current parks and recreational needs). Since the pace of community development and growth, the availability of funding, and changes in recreational patterns and needs cannot be predicted with absolute certainty, it is important to understand that the priorities established herein should be reviewed and reevaluated at least once each Year by 1 8-1 City of Rosemount the Parks Committee, City staff, and other appropriate governing bodies. Given the importance of this periodic review, it is vital that those involved in reevaluating the park system's acquisition and development priorities follow the same methodology each time to assure that: • long-term continuity in the decision making process can be realized. • changes in priorities can be tracked over time. Following an established methodology is particularly important in this instance since the individuals involved in the review process will likely change from year to year. The following Implementation Planning Methodology is intended to serve as a tool to be used for periodic review and reevaluation of the various park system components. Section 8 - Implementation Plan Implementation Planning Methodology The methodology, or process, of preparing an implementation plan involves a number of important steps, which properly used, will allow for an ongoing and systematic evaluation of the various park system components to determine their relative importance to the Park System and the scheduling of their implementation. The implementation plan methodology, and subsequent park system evaluation criteria, are as follows: Step 1: Determine The Estimated/Projected Costs Associated With The Acquisition And Development Of The Various Park System Components Although certainly not an exact science, estimating or projecting the costs associated with developing the park system is important in that it provides the citizens of the community, governing bodies, and City staff with a basic understanding of the economic commitment that will be required over a period of time to implement the park system plan. Additionally, the estimated costs associated with developing certain types of parks and/or certain recreational facilities will undoubtedly affect how they are ultimately prioritized relative to each other and where each individual project fits into the community's overall development scheme. It should be recognized that the cost figures used in this document are intended to be used only as benchmarks for budgeting purposes. Actual acquisition and development costs will depend a great deal on: • the actual land values at the time of acquisition. • the actual program for development at the time of development based on community and neighborhood input. • site specific physical characteristics (such as grades, soils, availability of utilities, etc.) affecting the development of each individual park. • the actual construction costs at the time of development. • how much of the costs for development can be offset through altergative funding programs, such as volunteerism, grants, donations, etc. The cost estimates are based on estimated land values (in 1991 dollars) as determined by the City and typical development costs (in 1991 dollars) as determined by industry cost -to -construct averages (i.e., what it would typically cost, on average, for a contractor to come in and do the work). Additionally, the cost estimate for each park is based on that park's future development program as defined in the park plates in Section 7 - Park and Trail System Plan. It is important to note that these cost estimates are based on each park's current condition and does not consider the costs associated with replacing existing facilities and amenities that are currently in reasonable shape but may "wear -out" in the forthcoming years prior to a specific park's redevelopment. As such, the cost estimates for each park development project should be updated on a periodic basis to take into consideration the costs associated with replacing and upgrading existing facilities and amenities as they wearout in the future. Also, it should be noted that the estimates are based on the optimal level of development, and therefore do not reflect the affect that funding 8-2 City of Rosemount limitations could have on the actual development of the parks and recreational facilities. Figure 83 and 8.4 - Priority Ranking Matrices and Figure 8.5 - Phasing Program/Implementation Plan illustrate the estimated acquisition and development costs for each component of the park system. Step 2: Determine Evaluation Criteria For Prioritizing Park Land Acquisition And Development The priority ranking of individual park sites, relative to other park sites within the Rosemount Park System, is based on, and evaluated against, criteria derived from factors which affect park land acquisition and development. The criteria must be broad based enough to consider the important and predominant factors, yet limited enough to allow for a manageable and practical evaluation by which a priority ranking for park land acquisition and development can be determined. Figure 8.1 illustrates the Criteria For Prioritizing The Acquisition And Development Of Park Land Step 3: Determine The Priority Ranking For Acquisition And Development of Park Land By using the previously established evaluation criteria as a basis for discussion, the priority rankings for both the acquisition and development of park land can be determined. The evaluation criteria is intended to help define what the compelling reason was for ranking a particular park above or below other parks. If, as an example, the community as a whole wants to see the existing parks upgraded, it then becomes reasonable to expect that upgrading existing 1 7 1 0 1 Section 8 - Implementation Plan City of Rosemount �1 facilities will rank very high on the priority list. Figure 8.2 defines the General Findings and Recommendations for Park Land Acquisition And Development. The tent represents a summary of the Advisory Committee's general findings and recommendations for park land acquisition and development. Figures 83 and 8.4 illustrate the Priority Ranking Matrices For Park Land Acquisition And Development as well as the derived priority rankings. The priority rankings are based on actual and perceived community needs and demands which are present within Rosemount at this time. Naturally, the conditions or circumstances which impact the priority rankings may (or may not) change within a rather undefinable timeframe. As such, the priority rankings may require adjustment in response to these changes. In this light, and as previously stated, it is important that the priorities established herein be reviewed and reevaluated at least once each year by the Parks Committee, City staff, and other appropriate governing bodies to assure that they are reflective of the conditions present within the community at that point in time. To assure continuity in the priority ranking methodology, the established evaluation criteria and matrices should be used as the basis for review of the priority rankings. By doing so, previous priority rankings can be used as a basis of comparison, justification for any revisions, and tracking changes within the community over a period of time. Step 3: Develop Phasing Timeframe Categories For Acquisition And Development Of Park Land ' Naturally, the acquisition and development of park land must be phased so that the community's park and recreation needs and demands are met in a timely fashion while remaining within the community's ability to provide funding for the various projects. To accomplish this objective, specific timeframes must be established which define the most appropriate time in which the various park development projects should ideally be undertaken. The timeframes must be defined enough to be justifiable while remaining flexible enough to allow adequate opportunity for funding sources to evolve. The following defines the Timeframe Categories for the acquisition and development of park land: Category #1: 1991 - 1994 Category #2: 1995 - 2000 Category #3: 2001- Beyond As would be expected, the timeframes become less defined as they are projected further into the future simply because it becomes more difficult to determine with certainty when the need or demand for a specific park site/facility will manifest itself. As with the priority rankings, the timeframes must be reviewed on a periodic basis and either confirmed or modified as appropriate to assure that parks development is in line with the community's development as a whole. Step 4: Develop A Phasing%Implementation Plan For Acquisition And Development Of Park Land Based on the priority rankings and timeframe categories, a Phasing/Implementation Plan can be developed which defines the appropriate phasing of acquisition and development of specific park sites/facilities. The plan illustrates the priority rank and timeframe in which specific projects should ideally be 8-3 implemented based on: the actual and perceived needs of the community. • the established standards for the type of park facilities which are necessary to assure that a balanced and successful park system is developed within Rosemount. Naturally, it would be ideal, from a planning perspective, to pursue the implementation of the park system plan in strict accordance with the established schedule. However, this desire must be balanced against the realities of funding availability and other non -park related community needs. Ultimately, it will be the responsibility of the implementing agencies (i.e., Parks and Recreation Committee and City Council) as well as the community to determine the pace in which implementation is undertaken. Figure 8.5 - Acquisition and Development Phasing/ Implementation Plan illustrates each component of the park system in the order of their priority rank and defines: • their estimated acquisition and development costs • optimal phasing/implementation schedule • potential financing sources. Step 5: Capital Improvement Program(s) Through a process involving participation by the Parks Committee, Parks Department, Planning Commission, and City Council, the Phasing/ Implementation Plan should be further deduced to fit into the City's short and long-term Capital Improvement Program(s). Section 8 - Implementation Plan The significant difference between the Phasing/ Implementation Plan as defined in this document and the Capital Improvements Program is that the latter puts the various park system improvement initiatives in the same context as other community development initiatives. The transition from the Phasing/Implementation Plan to the Capital Improvement Program is perhaps best defined as going from the optimal (within the singular context of the park system's development) to the realistic (within the more complex, multifaceted context of the community's overall development). As would be expected, the availability and timing of funding from the various sources for developing the park system will have a direct and significant impact on how the Phasing/ Implementation Plan is incorporated into the Capital Improvements Program and ultimately affects the timing of developing specific park projects. Given the Phasing/Implementation Plan, along with the overall amount of funding that will be needed to finance the park land acquisition and development initiatives, the challenge (with respect to the development of the park system) to the community, governing bodies, and City staff will be to: determine and evaluate the most appropriate and available financing sources and/or debt financing structure. determine the most appropriate use of the available funding. • determine the most appropriate time to initiate implementation of the park system plan. 8-4 City of Rosemount I L' ISection 8 - Implementation Plan 11 Figure 8.1 CRrMRIA FOR PRIORITIZING ACQUISITION The priority ranking of individual park sites, relative to the other park sites within the Rosemount Park System, is based on and evaluated against the following criteria. DEVELOPMENT PATTERNS AND POPULATION GROWTH/DENSITY Based on current and anticipated development pattems and population growth/density, is acquisition warranted to provide adequate park land to service the future needs of the area? LAND AVAILABILITY/COSTS Based on current ownership, usage, availability (including the potential for losing the property to other types of development), and land value, is land acquisition warranted? Based on current needs assessment studies (i.e.- surveys, public hearings, neighborhood meetings, etc.), is there community (or service area) demand for acquisition? PRESERVATION OF SIGNIFICANT NATURAL RESOURCES Based on the environmental characteristics of the park site, is acquisition warranted to protect significant natural resources from developmental encroachment? 1 8-5 City of Rosemount Criteria for Prioritizing the Acquisition and Development of Park Land CRITERIA FOR PRIORMZING DEVELOPMENT The priority ranking of individual park sites, relative to the other park sites within the Rosemount Park System, is based on and evaluated against the following criteria. DEVELOPMENT PATTERNS AND POPULATION GROWTH/DENSITY Based on current and anticipated residential development pattems and population growth/density, is development warranted to service the recreational needs of the area? COMMUNITY DEMAND Based on current needs assessment studies (i.e.- surveys, public hearings, neighborhood meetings, etc.), is there community (or service area) demand for development? RECREATIONAL PROGRAM NEEDS Based on current and anticipated Rosemount Parks and Recreation Department program offerings and related facility use schedules, is there an adequate demand for additional facilities to warrant development of the park? REDEVELOPMENT/UPGRADING OF FACIIITY Based on the current age, overall quality, function, and safety of the existing facilities along with the current recreational needs of the park's service area, is redevelopment and/or upgrading warranted? Section 8 - Implementation Plan Figure 82 (Part 1 of 2). City of Rosemount General Findings and Recommendations for Park Land Acquisition and Development a cost standpoint) of obtaining this parcel for park purposes (i.e., to The forthcoming text represents a summary of the Advisory Committee's general augment C-1 (Erickson Community Squire). Although not the highest findings and recommendations for park land acquisition and development. These acquisition or development priority (ideally during Phase II, 1995-2000), findings and recommendations are based on the committee's perceptions and actual acquisition should be undertaken if an acceptable price is negotiated understanding of the City of Rosemount's current parks and recreational needs to avoid the possibility of inflated land values in the future. and desires. Findings and Recommendations for Park Land Acquisition: negotiations with the University of Minnesota should begin as soon as possible to obtain a parcel of land for future park and recreational uses, including A-3 Athletic Complex, garden plots, and possibly a farm museum. Although the actual development of these facilities, particularly the athletic complex, will not occur in the near future, the Advisory Committee felt it was important, from a long-range planning perspective, to understand whether or not the land would actually be available to the City for park purposes. Also, conservancy lands should be established in the northeast corner of the University property to protect existing resources and provide long-term buffering. given the increased level of residential development in the surrounding area, acquiring additional acreage for N-5 (Winds Park) is considered a high acquisition priority, with acquisition occurring in Phase I (1991-1994). If possible, acquisition should be accomplished through park dedication. in response to the resident's fondness for preserving and protecting natural areas, acquiring additional land north of Carrolls Woods for a prairie preserve is considered an important acquisition priority. Again, acquisition should ideally occur in Phase I (1991-1994) to protect the site from developmental encroachment. Obtaining funding for acquisition through the Outdoor Recreation Grant Program is cited as a strong possibility which should be pursued immediately. acquiring the land for C-3 (Burger Pond) should be undertaken prior to or coincide with the development of the surrounding area. Prior to acquiring the land, all engineering concerns related to the ponding area's water elevations/ fluctuations and water quality should be clearly defined and documented. Actual acreage acquired for park purposes (23+ acres) should not be inclusive of the ponding areas. negotiations for acquiring the Sunrise Lumber Co. property should be undertaken by the City in the near future to determine the feasibility (from • acquiring acreage for the ne:ighborhood park associated with C-2 (Schwarz Pond Community Park) should be undertaken prior to or coincide with the development of the surrounding area. If possible, acquisition should be accomplished through park dedication. • acquiring additional acreage for the neighborhood park associated with A- 2 (Shannon Youth Playfield and Neighborhood Park) should be undertaken prior to or coincide with the development of the surrounding area. If possible, acquisition should be accomplished through park dedication. 1 L� • given the residents' expressed concern for the preservation of the City's natural resources, acquiring land for conservation area CL -1 was considered an important acquisition priority but would have to wait until higher acquisition priorities were completed. • acquiring acreage for the neighborhood parks (N-7 through N-11), the ' linear park (LP), and conservancy land (Cl -2) proposed for the north-east part of the community should be undertaken prior to or coincide with the development of the surrounding area. An important note about these park areas is that their acquisition status is closely associated with the type of , residential development that actually occurs in this area in the future. Should actual development vary from the assumptions made in Section 4 - Park System Framework then the need and proposed locations for these parks should be reviewed. In as much as possible, acquiring land for these ' park areas should be accomplished through park dedication rather than direct purchase. ' Findings and Recommendations for Park Land Development: the major developmental objective at this time is to provide quality parks for the current residents of Rosemount. Therefore, the redevelopment/ upgrading of existing parks was cited to be the top developmental priority. In as much as possible, given current funding limitations, each existing park should be brought up to a level which is consistent with the future development program as defined in Section 7 -Park and Trail. 8-6 1 ISection 8 - Implementation Plan City of Rosemount Figure 82 (Part 2 of 2). System Plan. The priority rankings as listed reflect the Advisory Committee's perception as to the relative order in which individual park improvement projects should be undertaken. Jaycee Park is cited as the most important developmental concern since the surrounding neighborhoods were lacking neighborhood recreational facilities. • the first community-based park developmental concern is C-1 (Erickson Community Square), followed closely by Su -1 (Carrolls Woods), C-2 (Schwarz Pond) and finally A-1 (Erickson Athletic Fields).. In these instances, the Advisory Committee concluded that a multiple -phase ' approach would likely be necessary in the development/redevelopment of these parks. C-3 (Burger Pond) community park is cited as an important future community park with its development coinciding with the development of the subdivisions that surround it. As with the other community-based parks, a multiple -phase approach would likely be necessary in the development of this park. A -2's (Shannon Youth Playfield and Neighborhood Park) development should coincide with the development of the surrounding area and/or when the need for a specific facility becomes necessary, such as the hockey rink and skating area. The main developmental concern expressed at this time in regard to Shannon Park is to get the new youth athletic facilities on- line and programmed for use to relieve over -use pressures on the mini and neighborhood parks. General Findings and Recommendations for Park Land Acquisition and Development • the neighborhood parks (N-7 through N-11) and the linear park (LP) proposed for the north-east part of the community should be developed to coincide with the development of the surrounding area. An important note about these park areas is that their developmental status is closely associated with the type of residential development that occurs in this area in the future. Should actual development vary from the assumptions made in Section 4 - Park System Framework then the need and proposed locations for these parks should be reviewed. • given the extent of the previously defined park improvements facing the City of Rosemount, development of A-3 (University Athletic Complex) is not considered a high priority at this time. 1 8-7 since the primary objective of the conservancy lands (CL -1 and CL -2) is to preserve some of the City's natural resource areas, their actual development, although limited in overall scope, is not determined to be a high priority at this time. it is important to note that the developmental priority rankings as set forth in this document are not intended to dictate the manner in which the Park Department's park's maintenance budget is utilized. Dealing effectively with the general day-to-day maintenance concerns and unsafe or hazardous conditions that arise through normal use of the facilities should take precedence over the general developmental priorities listed here. Findings and Recommendations for Trail Symttgm Development: • the Advisory Committee also identified improving the trail system as a major developmental objective, with incremental improvements being made on a yearly basis. • trail system development should begin near the downtown business district and progress outward toward the currently developed areas within the city. Trail development should be consistent with the Trails System Plan as defined in Section 7 - Park and Trail System Plan. • of Rrim developmental importance is linking together the major community parks, public schools, armory, and downtown business district through a cohesive trail network. This is cited as the top trail developmental concern. • the remaining trail links should be developed: a) in a "radial" fashion from the downtown business district; b) along the roads with the highest projected traffic volumes; and c) as new subdivisions are developed. • the Parks & Recreation Committee, Planning Commission, City Council, and City staff shall work closely together to assure that the trail system is developed in a logical, cohesive manner. Section 8 - Implementation Plan City of Rosemount 1 Fiigme 83 (Part 1 of 2). Priority Ranking Matrix -Park Land Acquisition ' Red High Priority/Concern O� Moderate Priority/Concern Priority/Concern El LwLwU2 Priority Ranting Sale: 1 through - (1 Being Most Important) Park Site Park TPjx Park Acreage Erin. Future Total Est. Aeq. Cost t� a ". a, '�' co _ d E E 14 �, o z • r� M-1 (Daltara) Mini Park 1.1 Ac. None 1.1 Ac. $ 0.00 M-2 (Chippendale) Mini Park 2.1 Ac. None 2.1 Ac. $ 0.00 M-3 (Kidder) Mini Park 2.2 Ac. None 22 Ac. $ 0.00 M-4 (Chadic's) Mini Park 2.0 Ac. None 2.0 Ac. $ 0.00 N-1 (Camtield) Sub -Neighborhood Park 3.2 Ac. None 32 Ac. $ 0.00 N-2 (Biscayne) Sub -Neighborhood Park 3.2 Ac. None 32 Ac. $ 0.00 N-3 (Connemara) Sub -Neighborhood Park 4.8 Ac. None 4.8 Ac. S 0.00 N-4 (Twin Puddles) Neighborhood Park 5.4 Ac. None 5.4 Ac. $ 0.00 N-5 (Winds) Neighborhood Park 6.3 Ac. 3.0 Ac. 9.5 Ac. $ 33,000.00 • O 2 N-6 (Jaycee) Neighborhood Park (W/Youth Athletics) 14.3 Ac. None 14.3 Ac $ 0.00 N-7 Neighborhood Park None 10.0 Ac. 10.0 Ac. $110,000.00 O 11 N-8 Neighborhood Park None 12.5 Ac. 12.5 Ac. $137,500.00 O 10 N-9 Neighborhood Park None 9.0 Ac. 9.0 Ac. $99,000.00 O 12 N-10 Neighborhood Park None 12.0 Ac. 12.0 Ac. $132,000.00 O 13 N-11 Neighborhood Park None 10.0 Ac. 10.0 Ac. $99,000.00 O 14 Gl (Erickson Comm. Sq.) Community Park 20.0 Ac. 12.0 Ac. 32.0 Ac. $132,000.00 O 5 8-8 L G u ISection 8 - Implementation Plan City P of Rosemount Figure 83 (Part 2 of 2). Priority Pauling Matrix - Park Land Acquisition Q High Priority/Concern FModerate Priority/Concern E] Low Priority/Concem Priority Racking Scale: 1 through — (1 Being Most Important) Park Site Park Type Park Acreage Est. Aeq. Cast 9M a ` C 6 z" a Exist. Future Total C-2 (Schwarz Pond) Community Park (W/Neighborhood Facilities) 24.0 Ac. 7.5 Ac. 31.5 Ac. S 92,W.00 • O 6 C-3 Community Park (W/Neighborhood Facilities) None 23.0 Ac. 23.0 Ac. 5253,000.00 0 O O 4 A-1 (Erickson) Playfield/Addetic Complex • 36.0 Ac. None 36.0 Ac. S 0.00 A-2 (Shannon) Youth Playfield and Neighborhood Park 12.9 Ae. 10.0 Ac. 22.9 Ac. $110,000.00 O O O 7 A-3 (University) Playfield/Athletic Complex None 75.0+ Ac. 75.0+ Ac. S N/A 0 1 CIA Conservancy Lands None 28.0 Ac. 29.0 Ac. $309,000.00 O • • 8 CIA Conservancy Lands None 35.0 Ac. 35.0 Ac. 53951000.00 O O • 9 SU -1 (Canolls Woods) Special Use Park - Nature/Wddlife Preserve 65.0 Ac. 14.0 Ac. 79.0 Ac. SLS4,000.00 0 p • • 3 LP Linear Park N/A N/A N/A S N/A O 15 8-9 Section 8 - Implementation Plan Piigme 8.4 (Part 1 of 2). Prinriti7ino Krv- City of Rosemount Priority Ranking Matrix - Park Land Development High Priority/Concem QO Moderate Priority/Concern Low Priority/Concern Priority Ranking Scale: lthrough - (1 Being Most Important) Park Site Park Type Park Acreage Exist. Future Total Est. Dev. Cost a� u 8 Yl os, _ e E cg o c u � � w M-1 (Dallara) Mini Park 1.1 Ac. None 1.1 Ac. $ 32,000.00 O • 8 M-2 (Chippendale) Mini Park 2.1 Ac. None 2.1 Ac. $ 35,000.00 O • 7 M-3 (Kidder) Mini Park 2.2 Ac. None 2.2 Ac. $ 40,000.00 O • 4 M4 (Charlie's) Mini Park 2.0 Ac. None 2.0 Ac. $ 20,000.00 O • 5 N-1 (Camfield) Sub -Neighborhood Park 3.2 Ac. None 3.2 Ac. $ 35,000.00 O • 6 N-2 (Biscayne) Sub -Neighborhood Park 3.2 Ac. None 3.2 Ac. $145,000.00 O • 10 N-3 (Connemara) Sub -Neighborhood Park 4.8 Ac. None 4.8 Ac. $ 34,000.00 O • 2 N4 ('Irvin Puddles) Neighborhood Park 5.4 Ac. None 5.4 Ac. $ 78,000.00 O • 9 N-5 (Winds) -Neighborhood Park 6S Ac. 3.0 Ac. 9.5 Ac. $ 80,000.00 • O • 3 N-6 (Jaycee) Neighborhood Park (W/Youth Athletics) 14.3 Ac. None 14.3 Ac. $470,000.00 • O O • 1 N-7 Neighborhood Park None 10.0 Ac. 10.0 Ac. $175,000.00 O 18 N-8 Neighborhood Park None 123 Ac. 123 Ac. $200,000.00 O 17 N-9 Neighborhood Park None 9.0 Ac. 9.0 Ac. $175,000.00 O 19 N-10 Neighborhood Park None 12.0 Ac. 12.0 Ac. $195,000.00 O 20 N-11 Neighborhood Park None 10.0 Ac. 10.0 Ac. $175,000.00 O 21 Gl (Erickson Comm. Sq.) Community Park 20.0 Ac. 12.0 Ac. 32.0 Ac. $2,053,000.00 0 0 11 LI 11 it fl r Section 8 - Implementation Plan Figure 8.4 (Part 2 of 2). City of Rosemount Priority Ranking Matrix - Park Land Development Pnontmng Key: On High Priority/Concern 0 Moderate Priority/Concern .p C�! .+Gui u E C a ElLow Priority/Concern Priority Ranking Sale: I through — (1 Being Most Important). Park Site Park Type Park Acreage Fat. Dev. Cost � d yI Exist. Future Total C-2 (Schwarz Pond) Community Park (W/Neighborhood Facilities) 24.0 Ac. 75 Ac. 31.5 Ac. $200,000.00 O O 13 C-3 Community Park (W/Neighborhood Facilities) None 23.0 Ac. 23.0 At. 5930,000.00 O O 15 A-1 (Erickson) PlayCeld/Athletic Complex 36.0 Ac. Norte 36.0 Ac. $245,000.00 O O O 14 A-2 (Shannon) Youth Playfield and Neighborhood Park 12.9 Ac. 10.0 Ac. 22.9 Ac. 5315,000.00 O O O 16 A-3 (University) Playrield/Athletic Complex None 50.0 Ac. 30.0 Ac. $35 Million O 23 CIA Conservancy Lands None 28.0 Ac. 28.0 Ac. $ 55,000.00 O 24 CL.2 Conservancy Lands None 35.0 Ac. 35.0 Ac. $ 55,000.00 O 25 SU -1 (Carrolls Woods) Special Use Park - Nature/Wildlife Preserve 65.0 Ac. 14.0 Ac. 79.0 Ac. $600,000.00 p 0 12 LP Linear Park N/A N/A N/A $ N/A p 22 U ♦ W N �•' � G j W N r p �D OC J P U ♦ W N •" � Iry) G/i i/1 fUSf � 1 � n el• i1'• N CS v C. .. p .-/ H M M H N M N M M M N M N N M 8 8 8 8$ a 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 a H N N N M N 40b 1991 -1994 H pNppp M O N ~ S2 St 1995-2000 M M 25 ZS g5 25 25 2001 - Beyond N .. .... .................. ...... ..... .:.... ..r.. ...... ..... ...... .... ......... ... Local IL1t3ifmm • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • Pert Dedication Peed • • • • User Fees • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • Df• Donation, laal • • • 1 • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • CZ•p- Debt FmI NO iocatg • • • • • • • • • • • • • .9 A:.:.•: 9 • •:r �' Boodc • Mud Lease-Purchase • Install. Purchase, ff: .Y •l:Yl Mem. Parts Act • Lacal School Dist. • • • • • Datoa County • • • Outdoor Rea. Groot Program MnDNR MaDOT �c A � ."d O N rD I I I H d 11 � I I C' I j I I Section 8 - Implementation Plan FV= 95 (Part 2 of 2). City of Rosemount Acquisition and Development Phasing/Implementation Plan 8-13 Phaskg/tmplemaitafm Schedule Potential Financing Sources I I I 1i.9 I M V gQ - .9 a CAM 1>3 Park LmdDevelopmcmt (amL) I 92 Rank Park Site Est.Acq. Cost Zc 6 N-1 (Comfield) $35,000.00 $35,000 0 16 7 M-2 (Chippendale) $ 35,000.00 $ 35,000 9 0 0 9 M-1 (Dallara) S 32,000.00 $32,000 0 0 9 N4 (Twin Puddles) $78,000.00 $78,000 . . . . . . . . 0 0 10 N-2 (Biscayne) $145,000.00 $145,000 11 C-1 (Erickson Comm. Sq.) $2,053,000 $577,000 5672,000 $101,000 • 0 0 0 12 SU -1 (Carrolls Woods) $600,000.00 $ 90,5W $209,5W $218,000 0 0 * 0 0 13 C-2 (Schwarz Pond) S200,0000.00 5200,000 0 1 0 1 0 0 14 A-1 (Erickson) $245,000.00 $82,000 $163,000 0 0 0 1 0 9 15 C-3 $950,000.00 SMIODO 0 0 0 16 A-2 (Shansion) $325,000.00 $325,000 0 0 0 0 0 17 N-8 $200,000.00 52001000 0 0 0 * 0 0 0 0 0 0 18 N-7 $175,000.00 $175,000 19 N-9 $175,000.00 $175,000 • 0 0 0 01 0 • 2D N-10 $195,000.00 $195,000 0 21 N-11 $175,000.00 $175,000 i 0 0 • *1 • 22 LP $ N/A $ N/A 0 0 23 A-3 (University) S3.5 Million S3-5 Million 0 0 010 0 0 24 CI -1 $55,000.00 $55,000 25 C1.2 $55,000.00 $55,000 0 0 0 0 • 26 Trails $ N/A Annual Improvements 0 0 0 0 0 8-13 E, Acknowledgements Acknowledgements In early 1991, the City of Rosemount appointed an ad hoc advisory committee made up of local citizens to work with Brauer & Associates, Ltd. in the development of this Comprehensive Park Plan and Development Guide. The document represents the end result of (hat cooperative and interactive planning process. Brauer & Associates, Ltd. would like (o extend a thank you to those that served on (he advisory committee for providing their insights and understanding of the community's parks and recreational concerns and needs. Their dedication to this project over many months allowed for the development of a park system planning document which reflects the unique character and intrinsic qualities that the City of Rosemount possesses. Our appreciation is also extended to citizens of the community who took the lime to attend a number of public meetings and express their concerns about the future development of the park system. Finally, we would also like (o extend a special (hank you to the Park and Recreation Department Staff, who put in many hours discussing the issues and providing support in this planning effort. Park System Advisory Committee Members: Mr. Ed Barloon Mr. Graynte Barttrli Ms. Cady Busho Mr. John Howard Ms. Sheila Klassen A& Lois McKinley Mr. Ron Pederson Mr. Jerome Puciaty Mr. Jim Thon►rnes Mr. Larry Walsh City of Rosemount Parks and Recreation Department Staff: Mr. Dave Bechtold Park do Recreation Director Mr. Boyd Bailey, Engineering Technician Sincerely, BRAUER & ASSOCIATES, LTD. Wy. Schoc suer, R.L.A. Vice President L, I I` El M LL El 7j Introduction Overview Introdnction In general terms, park system planning is taking the opportunity to look at the development of the park system to date, determine how well it meets the needs of the community, and define how it should be developed to meet the needs of the community in the future. Within (he context of this planning exercise, the purpose is (o: a) develop a framework for making rational parks and, recreation related decisions which are consistent with the community's and regions long term goals. b) develop a detailed plan which defines the components of and standards for the park system. c) develop a means for on-going and systematic evaluation of the various park system components. d) allow the public the opportunity to participate in and understand the planning process whereby they can develop a sense of ownership and commitment to the development of the park system. e) provide a handbook by which incoming park committee members, as well as other commissions, committees and staff positions, can readily gain insight and understanding as to the park system's overall purpose and future direction. have a detailed plarming document in place which allows the City to quickly react in a pragmatic manner to opportunities as they arise. t i City of Rosemount This planning document should be viewed as the beginning of an ongoing, long-term park system planning and development process. It is intended to evolve in response to the changes in the community's parks and recreational needs, desires, and other community development initiatives. Guide Organization The organization of this guide follows a 'building block" approach, whereby the various sections are organized (o coincide with the planning process. This approach was selected to allow users of the guide the opportunity to follow the planning process from beginning to end and develop an understanding as (o how the park system plan evolved and how the various recommendations were derived. Section 1 - Executive Summary Section 1 Executive Suminary Overview Section 2 - Assessment of Rosemount's Parks and Recreation Needs The executive summary is intended to provide a brief overview of the Comprehensive Park Plan and Development Guide's planning process as well as highlight the key findings. Readers seeking a more indepth understanding of the planning process and resultant findings are encouraged to review the body of the document. The following is a summary of the various sections of this planning document. In assessing Rosemount's park and recreational needs it is important to consider pertinent information from a variety of sources. Doing so enhances our knowledge of projected trends in recreation participation and allows for a more thorough understanding of the recreational needs and developmental concerns of city residents. The following sources were selected because they provide information which addresses relevant parks and recreation concerns and provide insight into the issues confronting the City of Rosemount. 1-1 City of Rosemount Information Sources • Statewide Comprehensive Outdoor Recreation Plan (SCORP) for 1990-1994. • Urban Design Team Findings - University of Minnesota Urban Design Team. • Community Attitude Survey, 1988-89. • Planning Commission's Community Goals Statements. • Park System Planning Advisory Committee. • Public Meeting These sources of information provide an important perspective about City residents' attitudes toward the community and their expectations about the Section 1 - Executive Summary quality of the park system and the quality of life within the community. The following summarizes the key findings. Urban Design Team Statewide Trends in Outdoor Recreation Patterns Key findings: Top recreational facilities desired by Minnesota residents: 1. Natural park areas 2. Wildlife and nature observation 3. Walking paths 4. Picnic grounds 5. Nature and history interpretation 6. Swimming beaches 7. Lake accesses 8. Bike paths and trails I. Paved shoulders for bikes 10. Flower gardens 11. Campgrounds 12. I liking trails 13. Athletic fields 14. Skating and hockey rinks 15. Shore fishing areas Minnesota residents opinion on natural resource Issues: • 76.2% indicate that the loss of wetlands is a problem in Minnesota. • 86.4% indicate that water quality of lakes, rivers, and streams is a problem in Minnesota. • 56.0% indicate that the outdoor recreation facilities built by the State are becoming run down. • "if a sense of openness is to remain in the future, the town needs to further develop policies which maintain this "attractive" quality, before it is lost to haphazard speculative development." • the need to "unify the downtown business district, City Hall, nearby community parks, and the schools in to a cohesive commercial, social, and community gathering place." • "a key design policy for downtown is that a person should have the option to be a pedestrian and is not required to drive to every location." Community Survey Key findings: • the number of small children in Rosemount is growing rapidly, causing several conditions to arise, including a greater contribution to the local school system and a growing demand for community services which service the needs of families with young children. • the Park and Recreation System is highly valued by most citizens. 83% rated it good to excellent. Usership, at 81%, was very highly rated for a suburb. • neighborhood (63% usage) and coin munity(55% usage) parks were the most frequently used components of the park system. Proximity to the these facilities played a key role in there level of usage. Totlots had the lowest usage rating (27% usage). 1-2 City of Rosemount • 63% of the respondents would support the construction of a nature preserve (even if it meant a tax increase). • 77% of the respondents would support construction of a corridor trail system in the city (even if it meant a tax increase). • lite top two priorities for the future would be the preservation of open space and the attraction of head -of -household jobs to the city. • 73%u of residents favor additional recreational facilities as an extension to the planned armory facility, even if it required a tax increase. • the residents feel that there is a very strong need for a standardized and regular coin munications system between the City and the community. 71% favored publication of a quarterly newsletter. Park System Planning Advisory Committee Key Committee Statements: • provide (in as cost effective manner as possible) a comprehensive, balanced, well maintained system of parks, open spaces, trails, and recreation programs for all City residents to use and enjoy. • provide a balance between passive and active recreational spaces. • develop a positive working partnership with the local school districts, civic organizations, adjacent cities, churches, and volunteer groups. • maintain small town "charm"/character and history. Provide adequate parks, open space, recreational facilities, and linkage ((rails) system to meet City needs. Proper planning decisions should be made to achieve these objectives. Section 1 Executive Summary • considcral ion should be given to the preservation of historical buildings/elements within the City. Looking forward, the long term success of this planning effort will be based to a large extent on: • whether or not the city residents continue to believe that the a quali(y park system enhances the quality of life within the community. • a willingness by (lie Rosemount residen(s to invest in their city's future growth and vitality. • a committed and persistent effort by the various governing bodies, city staff, and, most importantly, the residents themselves to see the park system plan through lite implementation phases. Given (hese "cri(cria for success," the importance of assessing the needs and altitudes of the City residents and then using that information as the impetus and driving force in developing the park system plan cannot be overstated. Section 3 - Governing Policies The goveming policies are intended to provide a consistent, definable, and justifiable continuum of ideas, beliefs, and values which define the vision or concept of the Rosemount Park System. Input from the following sources played an important role in assisting the Park System Plan Advisory Committee in defining the governing policies for the Rosemount Park System. Assessment of Rosemount's Park and Recreational Needs Rosemount Community Survey (1.989) • Rosemount Citizen's Advisory_ Committee's Goals Summary (1989) • Rosemount Planning Commission's Community Goals Statement (December 1990 Draft) • Metropolitan Council Recreation Open Space Development Guide/Policy Plan (Draft - November 1, 1990). • Minnesota Statewide Comprehensive Outdoor Recreation Plan for 1990-1994. • Rosemount Urban Design Study - University of Minnesota Urban Design Team (February, 1989) The governing policies consist of and are defined by a mission statement, goals, objectives, and policy slatentents. The mission statement is as follows: "The purpose of the Rosemount Park System is to prtivide, in as cast effedive manner as passible, a comlNrhensiM balanced, well maintained system of parks, natunrl/open spaces, trails and leisum oriented activities/programs for the city.residents to use and enjoy." Given the mission statement, the following goals were established as the basis for the governing policies: preparation and implementation of a Comprehensive Park Plan and Development Guide. provide city residents with parks and open space for recreational uses and as a visual/physical diversion from the hard surfacing of urban development as well as providing for the preservation and conservation of limited natural resources and maintaining the "character", small town ambience, rural appearance, and historical elements of the community. 1-3 City of Rosemount • to establish an effective, ongoing means of communicating/interacting with residents about issues related to parks and recreation facilities, programs, and future development. And to provide residents with the opportunity to participate in recreational activities through various civic and volunteer organizations and programs. • maximize the recreational opportunities available to city residents through the development of a fair and equitable working partnership between the local school districts, adjacent cities, Dakota County, churches, civic organizations, and the City of Rosemount. • maintain a well-trained, highly motivated staff to carry out the City of Rosemount's mission of developing a quality park system and providing a variety of recreational opportunities for City residents. • provide the opportunity for all community residents to participate in recreational activities through the implementation of well-designed, effective and interesting recreational programs. • secure the funding necessary to carry out the mission of the Rosemount Park System. • identification of all park system elements and activity areas to assure that the park system functions as a total, complete, and clearly identifiable system. • preservation of historical data, records, and files pertaining to the park system development and programs within Rosemount. Once specific goals were determined, a set of objectives and policies for each goal were established to carry out the mission of the park system. Section 1 - Executive Summary Section 4 - Park System Framework A park system framework is best described as lite 'parameters and guidelines for establishing a park and recreation system" within a given community. The framework consists of a number of essential components, including: • City Infrastructure: Defines the structural (physical) and developmental characteristics of the City which have a direct impact on the development of the park system. • Natural Resource Areas: Defines areas of the City which exhibit significant natural resources. • historical, Cul(ural, Social, and Commercial Areas: Defines areas of the City which exhibit: a) important historical and cultural features, and b) important social and commercial activity centers. • Park System Classifications: Depicts the park types and functional classifications to be utilized within the community's park system. • Park System Facilities Development Standards: Defines the type and number of recreational facilities necessary to accommodate a community's needs. • Trail System Classifications: Depicts the trail types and classifications to be utilized within the community's park system. • Population Information and Park System Acreage Standards: Defines the standard for the number of acres of park land per population base. Park System Elements: Describes the physical characteristics of each park site and the park system as a whole. • Park System Facilities Design Standards: Establishes recommended design standards and quality guidelines for specific facilities. Park System Facilities Use and Maintenance Standards/Policies set the basic parameters for the use and maintenance of existing and future park facilities. Each component of the park system framework was defined in the document and then used as the basis for developing and guiding the park system plan. Section 5 - Administrative/ Management Framework Administrative procedures and management techniques play an important role in assuring that the park system develops and functions in an effective and efficient manner whereby its greatest potential is realized. The administrative/management framework defined in the document is intended to: highlight and define important administrative and management issues. • establish a framework and course of action to guide the development of administrative procedures and management techniques. Key framework components: Parks & Recreation Committee: defines their role in overseeing the development of the park system and establishing recreational programs that serve the needs of a wide variety of 1-A City of Rosemount individuals and user groups. They must provide the visionary lead in the development of the park system, always striving to achieve a high quality park system within the realities of limited resources and other community development concerns. • Recreation Programming: defines how recreational programs impact the development of the park system and the importance to closely monitor the facility needs for these programs. • Existing Community Programs: defines the need to continue successful community programs in the future. • Communication and Community Interaction: defines the basic components of a comprehensive communication and community interaction strategy. • Joint -Use Agreements: defines the basic components of joint -use agreements between the City and other members a the partnership, particularly the local school district. • System Identification: defines the basic components of a typical signage program. • Volunteer Programs: identifies a number of volunteer opportunities that could be undertaken by individuals and organizations within the community. • Park Security/Supervision: establishes the basic parameters for promoting increased community participation in park security. • Maintaining the Parks and Recreation System: establishes the principles behind the development of an effective and efficient maintenance operation. • Park Design and Development Procedures: defines the standard procedures for undertaking any given park development project. Section 1 - Executive Summary • Tree preservation and Water Ouali(y Programs: establishes an outline and basic parameters for tree preservation and water qualify programs. Section 6 - Financing Sources for Park Land Acquisition and Development The availability and timing of funding for park land acquisition and development will have a direct and significant impact on the implementation of (he park plan and the timing of specific park projects. Given this impact, it is important to develop an overall understanding of the financing sources available (in varying degrees) for park land acquisition and development. fThe text describes the financing sources which are available to the City of Rosemount for park land acquisition and development. The financing sources arc listed tinder several categories: local initiatives, debt financing, and intergovernmental sources. Local Initiatives: • Park dedication fund • User/service fees • Capital improvement plan • Local grants, gifts, donations, volunteers, and donated professional consulting services Debt rnancing: • General obligation bonds • Pure revenue bonds • Municipal lease -purchase financing • Installment purchase financing Intergovernmental Sources: • Metropolitan Parks Act (Metropolitan Council) • Local school districts • Dakota County (Community Development Block Grants) Outdoor Recreation Grant Program • Department of Natural Resources Department of Transportation • Mississippi National River and Recreation Program Section 7 - Park and Trail System Plan The Park and Trail System Plan describes the various components of the Rosemount Park System. The plan has its basis in the findings and planning issues previously considered as part of (his study, particularly: • Section 2 - Assessment of Rosemount's Parks and Recreational Nceds. • Section 3 - Governing Policies • Section 4 - Park System Framework Since the City of Rosemount is a dynamic, growing community, development/growth patterns and characteristics cannot be predicted with absolute certainty. Therefore, it must be kept in mind that: • all park system components must be justifiable within the context of the parks and recreational needs, mission, and goals as defined within this study. • if the parks and recreational needs, mission, and goals change in future years, then the park and frail system plan itself must change accordingly. 1-5 City of Rosemount Each park site or recreational facility defined within this plan is intended to make a specific contribution to the City's park system. The overall plan consists of a number of important components, including: the Park System Plan: under this plan, Rosemount's Park System will ultimately consist of 24 sites under the various park "types" (classifications), excluding linear parks and cooperative efforts. Individual park sites are described by, a) park type, address, and size; b) existing facilities/amenities; c) existing natural fea(ures/site conditions; d) future development issues; and e) future development program. To the extent possible, proposed park sites are located to take advantage of and protect at least a portion of the natural resources and open spaces in the City. however, preserving these areas of the community can only partially be accomplished through the park system plan. The rest has to come through creative development and subdivision design where developers work in a partnership with the City to preserve as much of (he City's natural resources and open spaces as possible. To (he extent possible, protected waters and wetlands have also been incorporated into the park system plan. Coupled with the efforts of other planning bodies, This should provide a reasonable level of protection for (hese areas once completely implemented. It should be noted that the protection of waters and wetlands should go beyond (he actual water -surfaced areas to include shorelines, adjacent natural vegetation areas, and wetland fringes as well. This will help to assure the protection of (he community's water quality and provide wildlife habitat and natural open space. The City's Comprehensive Plan should be referred to for additional information related to the protection of the City's natural resource and Section 1 - Executive Summary open space areas. The historical, cultural, social, and commercial center or core of the community is also identified in the plan and includes the following major components: a) the downtown business district; b) City Hall (and surrounding municipal facilities); c) several major community parks; d) the National Guard Armory; e) Rosemount School District Facilities; 0 the historical St. Joseph's Church; and g) St. Joseph's Cemetery. The development of the parks which are part of this core area will be defined within this document. The other components are or will be addressed as part of other planning efforts. The Park System Plan also defines: a) the key transportation corridors which should be considered the highest priority for a streetscaping program; b) the concept of a farm museum; c) the concept of garden plots; d) the need for Special -use facilities, such as an indoor hockey arena, a golf course, an outdoor swimming complex, and a recreational vehicle parking area. the Trail System Plan: illustrates the trail system plan on a City map. The plan depicts the linkage corridors for the various modes of recreational travel between parks as well as between parks and developed areas. Although principally focusing on pedestrian and bicycle travel, the plan also illustrates the trail locations for cross- country skiing, snowmobiling, and horseback riding. Regional Parks and Facilities: The City of Rosemount is in the fortunate position to take advantage of a number of exceptional regional parks and trails located within or directly adjacent to the community. The regional based facilities are administered by the Dakota County Parks and Planning Departments. Lebanon I tills Regional Park and Spring Lake Regional Park Reserve are two large regional park areas which are either within or near the City and offer a variety of recreational opportunities for City residents to use and enjoy. School District Facilities: establishing a close working relationship with the local school district with respect to the joint -use of recreational facilities will be important in future years if the City is to attempt to meet the community's recreational demands. Three Rosemount School District sites provide opportunities for joint -use of outdoor facilities: a) Rosemount Elementary School, b) Shannon Elementary School, and C) Rosemount Middle/High School. • the National Guard Armory. will provide City residents with a number of indoor recreational facilities. • Private Recreational Facilities: although limited, a number of privately operated recreational facilities are within or near the City at this time and are identified in the document. • Park Syslcm Acreage Totals: based on the City's projected ultimate or saturation population of 20,000 to 22,000 and the park system plan as set forth in this study, the core system of parks would amount to a total of about 321 acres. This is exclusive of the conservation areas, Carrolls Woods Nature Area (which is classified as a special use park), and linear/park trail corridors. However, it does include the University of Minnesota Athletic Complex's 75 acres, which may turn out to be more than the City will actually need to develop to meet the community's long-term needs. Given these figures, the overall acres/1000 population would be 16.0 for a population of 20,000 and 14.6 with a population of 22,000, which is well within the typically accepted standards. • Anticipated Facilities Needs and Distribution: defines the anticipated number of facilities (such as softball fields, hockey rinks, etc.) required to service the projected recreational needs of the community based on national and regional 1-6 City of Rosemount standards. Their optimal distribution within the various park system service areas is also defined. Section 8 - Implementation Plan The implementation plan is intended to: • establish a systematic approach (i.e., Implementation Planning Methodology) for the purpose of prioritizing the acquisition and development of the various park system components. • apply lite methodology to prioritize acquisition and development of the various park system components as defined in this document (which is based on the community's current parks and recreational needs). The methodology, or process, of preparing an implementation plan involves a number of important steps which are defined in the document. Properly used, the methodology will allow for an ongoing and systematic evaluation of the various park system components to determine their relative importance to the Park System and the scheduling of their implementation. Using the established methodology, a Phasing/implementation Plan was developed which defines the appropriate phasing of acquisition and development of specific park sites/facilities. The plan illustrates the priority rank and timeframe in which specific projects should ideally be implemented based on: • the actual and perceived needs of the community. • the established standards for the type of park facilities which are necessary to assure that a Section 1 - Executive Summary IN balanced and successful park system is developed within Rosemount. Through a process involving participation by the Parks Committee, Parks Department, Planning Commission, and City Council, the Phasing/ Implementation Plan should be further deduced to fit into the City's short and long-term Capital Improvement Program(s). J The significant difference between the Phasing/ Implementation Plan as defined in this document and the Capital Improvements Program is that the latter puts the various park system improvement initiatives in the same context as other community development initiatives. The transition from the Phasing/Implementation Plan to the Capital Improvement Program is perhaps best defined as going from the ideal (within the singular con(ext of the park system's development) to the realistic (within the more complex, multifaceted context of the community's overall development). As would be expected, the availability and timing of funding available from (he various sources for developing the park system will have a direct and significant impact on how the Phasing/ Implementation Plan is incorporated into the Capital Improvements Program and ultimately affects the timing of developing specific park projects. Given the Phasing/Implementation Flan, along with the overall amount of funding (hat will be needed to finance the park land acquisition and development initiatives, the challenge (with respect to the development of the park system) to the community, governing bodies, and City staff will be to: • determine and evaluate the most appropriate and available financing sources and/or debt financing structure. • determine the most appropriate use of the available funding. • determine the most appropriate time to initiate implementation of the park system plan. Section 8 - Implementation Plan should be referred (o for specific prioritization and implementation planning information. 1 7 IW City of Rosemount