|
INSIGHT: Public land
<br /> .,ran as ��not er , p p� Parks and eo le
<br /> The Metropolitan Council encourages cities to provide a minimum of
<br /> seven to 14 acres of parkland,per 1,000 residents.A random survey of
<br /> _s residents area communities shows that"most meet or exceed that standard.
<br /> } Popukoon Acres per
<br /> ' city est April 1994 Acres 1,000 people
<br /> a green space k � � so 25
<br /> P ou so 17
<br /> tt> City white others wanted to continue � �.:, � �.�+� � � 17
<br /> to enjoy the open space around ood ury 2$, 2 7T 27
<br /> GW gYOt 11 AirS fall-0ri
<br /> +if the course.A third group did not an 5 1200 21
<br /> r r
<br /> tOt$ llC� 3 8 object to the development.pro- g
<br /> r''" posal but wanted the trees to be = B20 19
<br /> AM n t0..bu about 100 saved. est St Payl 19, 115 6
<br /> 1Tld, Vfaa and Mayor Tom Egan -¢ r I
<br /> said,that people im.he fast-grow- 9 0 2 540 20
<br /> volstirl�g in Dakota' dur}ty suburb- are
<br /> °txtsit gllti•; 4t ; starting to feel a"need for more
<br /> etvr breathing room._'This fall resi-
<br /> sa E'r� dents will be asked whether they °Sourr , e-n- %U Z ensus
<br /> niter are willing to s eld $3.$ million =' "?
<br /> g p , +,.
<br /> 1 to buy land for more parks and
<br /> 4 e a�dq,gloper proposed $800,000 to improve .existing Egan said;the aniount-of a`ney_ :taken into consideration when
<br /> l�uil gr Q<�ee townhouses on a parks. No date has been set for raised from d0616pers has'not the city decides which parks to
<br /> 3' r�'strip.1,4,;and between an the bond referendum. kept pace'with the suburb spark ;`develop and which to leave in a
<br /> a pl6x and'another Several other cities have asked and recreation n@eds 1, natural state.
<br /> gar +° yyIN
<br /> qusesn Eagan, their residents similar questions City officialgand a c tz ?task .,Parks are,developed not only
<br /> Jo d his neighbors recently. Each time, the answer force have pared a list C' �pqb by cities, but by counties, the
<br /> ` ` ` -0 "Yes": potential park pit"` 1 3 1.0�a ; .state, the Metropolitan Council
<br /> re a has been," "
<br /> Ji t '�:c iI fit,r,,,
<br /> etit�ions signed > Voters in Plymouth author- tions, including about00icres s'arid the federal government as
<br /> 6; o , g l:' urging that !zed spending $2.2 million for The $3.8 million Eorad issue ` well. In addition to its own 1,200
<br /> tli ,ln ; e e intersection of new parks last year. would be enough to tiuy'aboht acres of parkland, Eagan is home
<br /> Y g od1erRd.-and Federal > Maple Grove voters ap- 100 acres,Vraa said. to the the Met Council's Lake
<br /> D ` rep;�e '�' open space, proved $5 million in bonds in a If the bond issue is approved,' Byllesby Regional Park, a 420-
<br /> 'y cyQrl C9,4,toe,City Council 1993 referendum, as did Maple- the Eagan City Countil'''likely acre facility that will soon gain
<br /> � �r '�?4tiRm'"to stop the woodWoters in 1995. would seek additional money Iat- another 200 acres.
<br /> 6 ownership > Eden Prairie voters in 1994 er to develop athletic fields and While there is no official gov-
<br /> 6 o erty so it authorized spending almost $2 install playground equipment on ernment standard for the amount
<br /> egloe�d million to buy several parcels of some of the new parkland, of parkland(a community should
<br /> , �11 utcry,helped: native prairie and woodland to- Egan' said a recent survey of have, the .National Recreation
<br /> 1 ropos o told a'housizig taling 96 acres. residents .park prefereiices�re '' and Parks Association, a private,
<br /> Q g o ijt ,e Cfairiage veale&`% real change in taste:" nonprofit professional organiza-
<br /> a an Potential park Sites He said people want soccer fields, tion,has'set a standard of 7 to 14
<br /> ,s;p�ks,'di- pagan-has'bought some par- for'instance "'althought baS- all 'acres of irks per 1,000 people in
<br /> r ' s ponents'sim cels over'the years with money is still po0ular.But we need fewer cities. The Met Council has en=
<br /> nord`houses that:developers are required to termis,courts." ' couraged cities to follow that
<br /> q e}$hbprhood, contribute for parks. However, He said those feelings will be standard.
<br />
|