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• I. Program Information <br />• <br />Park of Regional Significance Criteria <br />Parks of regional significance must meet the first two criteria described below. Regional <br />Parks in the Seven County Metropolitan Area must meet the sixth criteria. The other criteria <br />listed below help further define parks of regional significance. <br />1. Natural Resource Based Settings and Range of Activities Offered: The park should <br />provide a natural setting and offer outdoor recreation facilities and activities that are <br />primarily natural resource based. Examples include camping, picnicking, hiking, <br />swimming, boating, canoeing, fishing, and nature study. A related measure is the <br />range of these activities accommodated within the park (e.g., a park with a beach, <br />campground and boat launch facilities is more likely to attract a regional clientele than <br />a park with only one of these facilities). <br />2. Use: Evidence that the park serves at least a regional clientele (multiple communities). <br />Other related factors may include evidence that the facility currently or potentially <br />may draw tourists and generate economic impact from outside the local area. <br />3. Size: The park should be significant in size. In southern Minnesota, a park of 100 <br />acres is significant. In northern Minnesota, the acreage is generally larger. There are <br />exceptions to this criteria based on use characteristics, special features, and other <br />variables. <br />4. Special Features: Unique or unusual landscape features, historically significant sites, <br />or parks containing characteristics of regional or statewide significance. <br />5. Scarcity of Recreational Resources: The park provides public natural resource based <br />recreational opportunities that are not otherwise available within a reasonable distance. <br />Examples include water -based activities, such as swimming, fishing and boating; <br />interpretive nature trails; public campgrounds; etc. <br />6. Consistency: In the Seven County Twin Cities Metropolitan Area, the proposed park <br />must be consistent with the Metropolitan Council's Regional Parks Policy Plan or go <br />through the proscribed amendment process. If the managing entity is applying for a <br />Legacy Parks grant, the proposed park project must be part of a site plan, as required <br />in the grant application, in addition to having formal approval of the relevant <br />governing body. <br />Park Legacy Grant Programs 1 October '10 <br />