03/05/2007 Park Board Packet - Laserfiche WebLink

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• FAIRWAY FLYERZ r'�LF OUTFITTERS Park and Recreation Commission City of Lino Lakes 600 Town Center Pkwy Lino Lakes, MN 55014 Dear Commissioners: February 21st 2007 Lino Lakes is growing rapidly, and as your community grows, new park land is continually being brought in to existence. Large park complex designs, like those needed for ball fields, are planned months and years in advance, so why not a disc golf course? Part of your commission's task is to enhance the current park system and to develop new parks that your community can enjoy. Developers who buy up huge plots of land sometimes submit the least usable parcels to dedicate as parks, so they can sell more lots and reduce their operating costs. This is just good business sense on their part. Sometimes it is wetland or areas with steep elevation, which are difficult to work on without disturbing the fragile ecosystems, and more expensive if they have to use additional materials to insure foundation stability. They may also offer land that is left over slivers and odd shaped sections, from dividing the property into saleable lots. (Occasionally this is not possible and you opt for payment -in -kind from the developers). Sometimes you can require the developer to submit a different area than they are suggesting, so the city has a better opportunity to build a better park facility. A disc golf course would enable you to use some of these fringe properties. As Lino Lakes evolves you have the unique opportunity to plan an area where the `left over land' being offered can be turned in to a tournament quality disc golf course. "Why Lino Lakes ?" you may ask. There are now more than 1200 Disc Golf courses in the United States and Canada, nearly all installed by city and county parks departments. In Minnesota alone we have over 110 courses. There were 7 added just last year, with another 4 already being worked on for 2007! Studies have found that there are few recreational activities that offer the high benefit -to -cost ratio of disc golf. Disc golf has low capital and maintenance costs, is environmentally friendly, is played year -round in all climates and is enjoyed immediately even by beginners of all ages. A better question may be, "Why NOT Lino Lakes ?" The Twin City Metropolitan Area has the second most disc golf courses, more disc golfers, and more growth in the sport than anywhere else in the USA, (the Greater Chicago Area has more courses within a 100 mile radius). The northern suburbs are all experiencing massive increases in housing and commerce, and disc golf will be a sport that is played in these communities. Disc golf is now in Andover, Becker, Elk River, East Bethel (private course), and Linwood Township (by Stacy). There are even disc golf courses being taught in local school physical education classes because it is a lifelong sport for all ages that is easy G9.ep leZL io • ST. PAUL, ^'1 N S 4.5035 W yw FAIR WAY FLYERZ' co 1� •41.