11-20-2006 Packet - Laserfiche WebLink

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Fundamentally, Level of Service provides a point of comparison in understanding how parks meet the needs of different service areas. The new guidelines from NRPA specify that not all park types will have a Level of Service policy. For example, park land that is used to protect natural resources must respond to the unique natural resource base, not the human population served by the natural resource. This park plan provides a Level of Service standard for Neighborhood Parks and Community Parks. The Lake Elmo Level of Service standard recommended by this plan for Neighborhood Park land is 11 acres per 1,000 people. The 2006 existing Level of Service is 16 acres per 1,000 persons. However, a few of Lake Elmo's Neighborhood Parks are larger than the rest (Reid Park, Ridge Park, and Pebble Park). These parks have land area that is part of Lake Elmo's natural resource base in addition to areas used for active recreation. The natural resources are an important element of the park system, but their land area need not be counted in determining a Level of Service standard, which represents a minimum land area needed. The area in natural resources would be in addition to the minimum standard. The Park Plan uses the median size of all Neighborhood Parks - 6 acres - to estimate a 2006 Level of Service of 11 acres per 1,000. The Lake Elmo Level of Service standard recommended for Community Park land is 15 acres per 1,000 persons. This standard is based on discussion of the need for a community gathering place in the heart of Lake Elmo. The Park Plan assumes that one Community Park within the Old Village will meet this need. The standard of 15 acres per 1,000 persons produces a need for 360 acres using 2030 population forecasts. Given that Lake Elmo today has 305 acres of Community Park land in Sunfish Lake Park and Demontreville Wildlife Area, an additional 55 acres would allow for planning a significant Community Park in the heart of Lake Elmo. Level of Service is a helpful policy tool in defining the park demand generated by growth and development. For example, with a Neighborhood Park Level of Service standard of 11 acres per 1,000 persons, the City may demonstrate that a new subdivision with an expected population of 200 will generate demand for 2.2 acres of Neighborhood Park land. Level of Service may be factored in to park dedication requirements. DRAFT Comprehensive Park Plan 3 13713.000