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1SHORT ELLIOTT HENDRICKSON INC. <br />The City of Little Canada’s park and trail system has <br />evolved into a comprehensive, multi-faceted recreation <br />and open space system serving local residents and visitors <br />from across the City and the region. Neighborhood and <br />community parks provide year-round multi-generational <br />opportunities from programmed sports, wellness and <br />educational activities to informal play, picnicking, walking <br />and connections to natural systems such as Gervais Creek. <br />Its facilities, such as Pioneer Park, Spooner Park, Nadeau <br />Wildlife Area, Rondeau Park and Gervais Mill Pond Park <br />provide active and passive recreational opportunities in <br />unique and well designed settings. Many of the City’s parks <br />have seen substantial improvements. Pioneer Park with <br />its softball complex, is an example of a well thought out <br />system improvement to address local needs. Nadeau Wildlife <br />Area and Rondeau Park are examples of neighborhood <br />playground and recreation sites. <br />The City of Little Canada is in the process of updating its <br />Citywide Comprehensive Plan in compliance with <br />Metropolitan Council’s planning directive. This planning <br />effort affords the City the opportunity to revisit its parks and <br />trail planning component and determine if its goals and <br />direction are consistent with the aspirations, needs and <br />trends of the citizens, the City and the region. <br />Incorporating the overlay of the County and Regional park <br />and trail systems is a critical discussion to ensure the <br />success of the Little Canada park system. As the City <br />continues to evolve through neighborhood and district <br />reinvestment and redevelopment, establishing a <br />comprehensive, community-based vision for maintaining, <br />enhancing and redeveloping its neighborhood parks, open <br />spaces and trails is paramount. <br />The proposed Park System Master Plan will inventory, <br />analyze existing assets and use, and recommend <br />long-term policies and strategies for thoughtful decision- <br />making regarding development and redevelopment of <br />Little Canada’s parks and trail systems. With technical <br />assistance from consultants and City staff, updating of the <br />2008 Parks Master Plan will bring many community voices <br />together and freshen the priorities and direction the City will <br />take. Ultimately, the Park System Master Plan update will <br />help chart the course for the City’s recreation and lifestyle <br />future. <br />Project Understanding