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HomeMy WebLinkAbout6.b. Parks Master Plan Update ROSEMOEXECUTIVE SUMMARY PARKS AND RECREATION COMMISSION Parks and Recreation Commission Meeting: August 28, 2017 AGENDA ITEM: Parks, Trails and Open Space System AGENDA SECTION: Master Plan —2040 Comprehensive Plan Old Business PREPARED BY: Dan Schultz, Parks and Recreation AGENDA NO. Director 6 b. ATTACHMENTS: Proposed section 3 of Master Plan — Park, Trails and Open Space System APPROVED BY: dls Framework RECOMMENDED ACTION: Motion to move forward with section 3 — Community Characteristics as presented by staff with updated demographic comparison numbers. ISSUE The City of Rosemount is in the pxocess of woxking to cxeate oux 2040 Comprehensive Plan. Cities, townships and counties in the seven-county metro area prepare compYehensive pla.ns as requixed by the Metropolitan Land Planning Act.The Metropolitan Council requires cities to update their Comprehensive Plan every ten years, so our most recent plan was a 2030 Comprehensive plan that was adopted in 2009. The Comprehensive Plan defines the expected residential, commercial and industrial development and contains forecasts fox population, household and employment growth through the year 2040. 'I'here are several components that make up the Comprehensive Plans including a chapter on Parks, Recreation, Trails and Open Space.The City's current Parks,Trails and Open Space System Master Plan was completed in 2008 as part of the 2030 CompYehensive Plan. Staff expects that the work we will be doing to cxeate a new 2018 Parks Master Plan will be only an update to our 2008 plan and not a complete Yewrite. A majority of the woxk will be completed in-house by Parks and Recxeation staff,with input from the Paxks and Recreation Commission and the genexal public. The Commission has reviewed sections one and two of the mastex plan and now will be reviewing section three of the master plan,Park,Trails and Open Space System Fxamework.The fxamework criteria are based on national standards set by the National Recreation and Paxks Association (NRPA)with a strong influence of local needs and conditions. As such, this fxamewoxk should be used as a guide and should be adjusted based on community needs, trends, etc. It is assumed that residents, land developers, city sta.ff, coxninissions and officials will use this framework and knowledge of local conditions as they face decisions about paxks,trails or open space. Staff would like for the Parks and Recxeation Commission to review the proposed Park,Trails and Open Space System Framework section of the Master Plan and provide input to staff on possible updates. 3. Park, Trails and Open Space System Framework Decisions about parks,trails and open space affect the entire community and if made wisely can help increase quality of life and enhance the sense of communiry. Therefore it is important to have a set of guidelines to use in decision-making. The following framework was prepared to act as a guide for the preparation of the park plan and for on-going decision making. The framework criteria are based on national standards set by the National Recreation and Pasks Association (NRPA) with a strong influence of local needs and conditions. As such, this framework should be used as a guide and should be adjusted based on community needs, trends, etc. It is assumed that residents, land developers, city staff, commissions and officials will use this framework and knowledge of local conditions as they face decisions about parks, trails or open space. Overall Park Acreage Standards The NRPA typically calls for an accepted range of overall park acreage per population ranging from a minimum of 10 acres per 1,000 population to 20 or more acres per 1,000 population. These park acreage figures are for the core park system of mini-parks, neighborhood parks/playfields and athletic complexes/community parks. They do not include trail corridors,greenways, special use parks, school lands, regional parks or conservation areas. This overall figure should be viewed as a benchmark and should be adjusted based on local needs and trends. Recrearion Facility/Amenity Standards The NRPA also sets facility/ameniry standards that should be used,again as a guide to meet minimum faciliry needs. The standards are detailed in the NRPA's Park, Recreation, and Greenway Guidelines publication. The standards are fle�ble to account for local demands and specific conditions. The minimum number of facilities per capita will vary depending upon the specific community needs and the use of the field or court. For example, a baseball or softball outfield area may also be used for soccer, football and lacrosse. It is not available for use by more than one sport at a time. General Park and Trail Criteria-The following criteria are applicable to all park and trail areas. • The location of parks and trails will be determined by the city using this plan as a guide. Park land shall be suitable for its intended use. This means adequate size, parcel shape, soils, slope,access and relationship between facilities in the park and to adjacent land uses. • Park land shall be continuous and undivided by roadways, railroad tracks, pipelines, or other impassible or unusable barriers. • Park land shall be free from any contaminants or debris. • When park land is dedicated by a developer, that developer is required to grade the park land and pave access and perimeter trails (not internal park trails) and neighborhood sidewalks and adjoining rights of way. All construction must meet city specifications. 9 Park Classificarions Rosemount's parks are classified according to their use and function and are described below. See Table 3.1 for a summary of the classifications,park sizes,typical service areas,etc. Mini-Parks - Mini-parks are small parks (0.5 to 3 acres) which are designed to supplement neighborhood parks in specific settings where a neighborhood park is not available or a new neighborhood park cannot be provided. Mini-parks typically contain children's play equipment and may also include a small open play area and/or a picnic table or seating area. Mini-parks typically do not include athletic fields. In general,mini-parks are needed in situations where barriers such as major streets, railroads, etc. prevent convenient access to a neighborhood or community paxk, or the presence of high-density residential development warrants additional park land beyond the typical neighborhood park facilities. Neighborhood Parks/Playfields - Neighborhood parks are the core building block of the Rosemount park system. Neighborhood parks are designed to provide the day-to-day recreation facilities for a 125 to 500 acre neighborhood (1/4 to 1/Z xnile radius or an average of 1/3 mile radius). These parks are designed to serve approximately 300 to 650 households. Neighborhood parks are typically between four and ten acres. The parks typically contain a children's play area, a picnic area, a basketball court, internal park trails, a small parking area and ball fields (softball, soccer, etc.). Ball fields are typically for both formal and informal use. Some neighborhood parks may contain a hockey rink, skating area, tennis courts or other similar recreation facilities. Neighborhood parks may also include natural resources such as wetlands, wooded areas, etc. Neighborhood playfields serve the dual function of providing recreation for neighborhoods and providing facilities for organized youth athletics. Neighborhood playfields have similar facilities as a neighborhood park, but they typically have multiple fields for youth athletic leagues. The playfields are typically larger than neighborhood parks and serve an area of between 500 and 2,000 acres (1/2 to 1 mile radius). Athletic Comtilex and Community Parks Criteria — Athletic complexes and communiry parks provide recreation facilities for community scale recreation. They can vary from multi-field athletic complexes to a large park that can host special events, has special use amenities or a combination of both. Athletic complexes and community parks serve a two - plus square mile area. Users typically travel greater distances to these parks, although these parks may also function as a neighborhood park for the adjacent area. Passive community parks are typically located around a natural resource such as a lake,wedand, significant woodland or other resource. Athletic complexes axe based on recreation needs and theiY locations should have good access and be compatible for active lighted ball fields. Greenwa�s - Greenways are privately or publicly owned corridors of open space that often follow natural land or water features and which are primarily managed to protect and enhance natural resources. Greenways are typically planned to establish a system of inter-linked natural resource features and corridors. Greenway widths will vary depending upon the chaxter of the land and the intent of the resource protection strategy. It is important to assure a wide enough corridor for the greenway to meet its intended function i.e. a wildlife migration corridor may need to be wider than a stream corridor. Preserves/Conservation Lands —Property that is managed as a preserve is designed to be maintained or enhanced as an area including high qualiry natural resources.Typically preserves are guided by a conservation easement or other government directed restrictions.Preserves often flourish when access is limited ox controlled. Linear Parks —Linear parks rypically function as trail corridors. Land for linear parks should be provided within new subdivisions when the park plan shows a potential off road trail corridor. Linear parks may also function as open space, wildlife corridors or a combination of uses depending upon their location and character. Linear parks used for trails should be a minimum of 30 feet wide to support a trail corridor and wider areas should provide sufficient upland to locate a trail and support facilities such as picnic areas,seating 10 areas, open lawn areas,etc. at suitable locations. The character,alignment and width of the linear park will be dependent upon the function,resource area, terrain and the proposed subdivision. S�ecial Use Parks - Special use parks and recreation areas such as community golf courses,splash pad,arenas, swirnming pool,gardens,plazas,historic sites, skate parks,BNIX bike areas, disc golf, off leash dog areas, etc. are based on the unique natural, cultural, historic or community feature or recreation activity. The size, configuration and location of these parks will be determined by the city on an individual basis. Table 3.a-Park Classification System The following is a summary of Rosemount's park classification system. These park classifications are used in the Park and Trail Plan and map and are to be used as a guide in park dedication and development. Park Classification Use Service Area Size Acres/ Site 1,000 Mini-Pazk Specialized park that 1/8 mile 0.5 to 3 0.25 to 0.5 Typically near higher density housing that serves a concentrated radius acres does not have access to a neighborhood population(i.e.tots oc park or as a supplement to a neighborhood seniors)or geographic paz1�• area. Used in areas where geographic barriers prcvcnt access ro a neighborhood ark. Neighborhood Basic unit of the park 1/3 mile 4 to 17 2.5 to 3.5 1 Sasily acccssible to the neighborhoad Park/Playfield system,developed for average acres populatron with safe walking and bil:ing both active&passive radius access utilizing trail nchvorks. Parl;ing activities. llesign facilibcs to provtde access and rrununize on- critcria should strcct parking. anticipate the changing demagraphic profiles of the neighborhood served,as to provide appropriate facilities. f�ocus on formal and informal activitics. Athlepc Comples Area for intensely Communiry 25 to 80 3.0 to 4A Site should be suited for intense programmed recreation wide acres development that is easily accessible to the facilities and uses such population it is intended to serve. Located as athletic fields, neaz high traffic azeas such as schools and s�vimming pools,etc. major thoroughfares. Sepazate athletic fields complexes aze typically provided for youth and for adults. Pields are typically lighted for cvcnin use. Commumty Park Area posscssmg natural Community 20 to 80 2.5 to 5 tiitc rypically affords a varicty of natural qualities conduci��e to Wide acres features,well-dramed soils,positive pass�vc recrcationa] drainagc,�•aricd topography and accessiblc acti��itics. to pcdcstnan and vc}ucular trafEc. Conservancy or Area possessing natural Site Specific llepends Varics Siguficant natural arcas that merit Preserve Lands qualities preserved for on preservation and would be adversely envuonmental,open resource aFfected by development Often flourish space or aesthetic when access is limited or controlled access. purposes. Facilities May be guided by a conservation easement should be compatible or other govemment d'uected restrictions. with the preservation of the resource. 11 Ureenways 1'rivately or publicly Site specific& Sufficient Varies Comdors,used to protect,enhance and link owned comdors of community width for natural resources and features. open space that often �vidc intended follows natural land or use. water features and which aze primarily managed to protect and enhance natural resources. Linear Parks Linear parks and open Site speafic& Suffiaent Varies Built or natural trail comdors,used to link spaces developed for community width For pazks,natural resource sites,and/or varying modes of wide intended community facilities such a.e schools, recreational tra��el such use.Min. 6braries,and commercial areas.Certain uses as walking,biking, 15-30 such as wildGfe corndors require sufficient sl;iing,in-line skating fect wide. w�d[h ro ensurc proper funcUon. etc.or for prescrvation of wildGfc comdors, streams,etc. Special Use Highly specialized use Community Variable Varies Sitc Specific area such as community wide golf courses,swimming pools,splash pads arenas,gardens,plazas, and other specialized recreauon uses. Historic Sites Area set aside for Community Variable Vazies Size should be adequate to provide support preserving and widc facilities such as picnic areas,parking,etc. interpreting historical features such as landscapes and architecture. Trails Classifications Trails are classified based on their function, design and location. The most popular trails are for pedestrians and bicycles. There are separated trails (parallel sidewalks and bikeways) within the same corridor, combined trails (pedestrians and bikes on the same trail), bike lanes (paved shoulder next to the street), unpaved nature trails and special use trails (cross country ski, horse and snowmobile). Trail classifications and criteria are summarized in Table 3.b. Existing and proposed trail alignments will most likely follow the design of our road and street system which is identified in Appendix C. The trail plan is designed to connect neighborhoods,parks, schools and commercial areas. The major trails can be used for recreation and transportation purposes. Trails within parks will be determuied as part of the specific park design. Trail land shall be of sufficient width and slope to accommodate 10' wide trails and appropriate buffer areas. General guidelines include a minimum trail corridor or buffer area of 15'-30', and a maximum slope of less than 5 percent. Table 3.b-Trail Classification System Trail Class�cationa Location and Use Surface Width Slo e Notea Class I-Separate pedestrian and Off-street Bituminous or 5-G fcet for 0-5%pedestrian bicycle trails. bituminous and pedestrians 0-3%bike concrete 8-10 feet for bic cles Class II-Combined pedestrian Off-strect Bituminous 8—10 feet 0-3%average and bi cle trail. 8%maYimum Class III-Bikeway lane On-street one way Striped lanc ncxt to G—10 feet Slopc to match road One way cr side vchicic lanc lanes Nature trail. WitMn pazks and Ag,grcy,ate,woodchip 4-12 feet 0-5"/o desirablc conservation areas or turf 10%maximum Cross country ski trail Within parka and Snow ]0—l4 feet—varic� 0-15`%+depending lliagonal and conservation areas for one or hvo wa u on difficul skate[racks. Sno�vmobile trail Off-street Snow 10-]4 fect 0-10`%n+ Horse trail Off- street 1'urf or wood chips 10 feet 0-10"/0+ 12 foot overhead cleazance IZ