08-12-2019 Council Packet - Laserfiche WebLink

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Anoka County 2019 Multi-Jurisdictional All Hazards Mitigation Plan 131 developing counties in Minnesota. Residential, commercial, and industrial development is continuing with the most activity concentrated in the central portion of the county. Public lands - Anoka County has thousands of acres of public land set aside for all types of activities. There are 11 large State of Minnesota wildlife management areas and land trusts sites in Anoka County. There is numerous smaller land trust and research sites scattered throughout the northern half of the county. The largest of the wildlife management areas is Carlos Avery covering 26,000 acres located in the City of Columbus and Linwood Township. Carlos Avery is a unique natural resource. It is the largest wildlife management area in close proximity to a major metropolitan city. The second largest is Cedar Creek Natural History Area covering 3,000 acres in the City of East Bethel, with an additional 500 acres in Isanti County. The third largest management area is the Bethel Wildlife Management Area covering 160 acres located in the City of St. Francis. Anoka County also has a number of major regional facilities. One is the Blaine Anoka County Regional Airport - Janes Field the largest of the reliever airports in the Metropolitan Airports Commission system. Another is the National Sports Center. Both of these facilities are located in the City of Blaine. The Blaine Anoka County Regional Airport is both a recreational asset and a commercial/industrial asset. The National Sports Center is a unique recreational venue. The Center is a nationally recognized facility that supports multiple sporting activities including soccer, hockey, figure skating, cycling, and track and field. As one of the largest amateur sports facilities in the world, the National Sports Center hosts upwards of three million visitors each year for events such as the USA Cup. Within Anoka County, there are hundreds of other locations that provide recreational opportunities to residents. There are over 55 major community parks in the cities and township of Anoka County. Many of the cities in Anoka County support both organized team activities as well as individual and personal types of activities at municipal parks and recreational complexes. Local public and private schools also have parks and recreational equipment available to residents year-round. In 1963 Anoka County established the Anoka County Parks and Recreation system. There are currently over 9000 acres of parkland and 20 parks in this system. These include major regional parks, county parks, and regional trails. The Anoka County Parks are located throughout the county. Many have access to water and offer water related activities. The list of activities offered at the county parks include: archery, biking, boating, canoeing, camping, fishing, golfing, hiking, horseback riding, picnicking, playgrounds, swimming, water park activities, and cross-country skiing. Some county and municipal parks offer educational and informational programs and offer facilities for public meetings and family gatherings. Anoka County has two major higher education institutions. Both are members of the Minnesota State Colleges and Universities system. Anoka Ramsey Community College is a multi-campus institution that first opened in 1965 in a wing of Centennial High School in the City of Circle Pines. In 1967 the College moved to its current 103-acre Coon Rapids Campus along the banks of the Mississippi River in the City of Coon Rapids. In 1978 the College opened its Cambridge Campus in the City of Cambridge in Isanti County. Classes are offered at both campuses as well as at offsite locations in the area. The College serves over 9,000 traditional and non-traditional students annually. Anoka Technical College has three campuses and serves over 4,000 students each year. The main campus and the horticulture campus are located in the City of Anoka. The aviation campus is located at the Blaine Anoka County Regional Airport in the City of Blaine.