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HomeMy WebLinkAbout#07 - Parks Master PlanSTAFF REPORT DATE: 07/02/2024 CONSENT TO: CITY COUNCIL AGENDA ITEM: Parks Master Plan FROM: Adam Swanepoel, Assistant Public Works Director SUBMITTED BY: Marty Powers, Public Works Director BACKGROUND: At the October 2023 City Council meeting, the City selected Bolton and Menk to develop and prepare a new Parks Master Plan. The purpose of an updated parks master plan would help guide commissioners, council and staff over the next ten years but also provide insight on potential changes, additions and an evaluation of the current park system. Bolton and Menk spent the next eight months gathering data and preparing documents for the next Master Plan. During this time an advisory committee was developed and included commissioner Kasler from the Parks Commission. The advisory group meet four times during the preparation of the document to assist in recommendations, suggestions an ideas for the future plan. Community input was gathered from an online survey and two pop up events held during Light up Lake Elmo and the Arbor Day tree give away event. Bolton and Menk presented the Parks Master Plan to the Parks Commission on May 20, 2024. Commissioners voted unanimously in favor and recommended the plan to council for approval. The plan was brought in front for City Council at the June 11th workshop for discussion. ISSUE BEFORE CITY COUNCIL: Would City Council like to approve the Parks Master Plan? PROPOSAL DETAILS/ANALYSIS: Part of the development for a new Parks Master Plan, Bolton and Menk was asked to provide the following items in the Master Plan: - Goals, objectives, and policy statements with a clear vision and direction for the City - An updated City Park inventory, evaluation of existing park use layout and its facilities - An updated trail system and network plan, identify the gaps in the existing/planned trail system - Evaluation of existing park use, layout and facilities - A summary of existing conditions and level of service analysis - A major park infrastructure repair and replace schedule, considering potential changes in the existing infrastructure - Charts, graphs, maps, and other data as needed to support the plan In addition, Bolton and Menk was asked to consider researching and including additional information which would help map the future of Lake Elmo and the park system, they included; - Demographic Trends - Include compatibility with current ADA requirements - Recommendations on removal of any obsolete facilities and inclusion on new types of recreational facilities or amenities to engage the community. - Prioritizing recommendations for improvement to current park facilities and identify opportunities for undeveloped parks. - Create a prioritization strategy to guide decision making and investments in the park system. - Phased implementation plan and 20 year CIP - Identify ideal funding sources such as grants or recreational funding Bolton and Menk provided a Parks Master Plan with all the requirements as well as the additional considerations suggested by city staff. FISCAL IMPACT: There are no financial oblations to accepting the Parks Master Plan. Funding for the plan was taken from the professional services budget. RECOMMENDATION: “Move to approve the Parks Master Plan as prepared by Bolton and Menk.” ATTACHMENTS: 2024 Parks Master Plan PARK SYSTEM PLANCITY OF LAKE ELMO DR A F T 07/02/2024 i PREPARED FOR City of Lake Elmo 3880 Laverne Ave N Lake Elmo, MN 55042 CITY STAFF Adam Swanepoel »Assistant Public Works Director Sophia Jensen »City Planner CITY COUNCIL Charles Cadenhead »Mayor Jeff Holtz Katrina Beckstrom Matt Hirn Nick Dragisich »City Council Members PREPARED BY Bolton & Menk, Inc. 111 N Washington Ave, Unit 650 Minneapolis, MN 55401 PROJECT TEAM Josh Shields Principal Landscape Architect Anna Springer Senior Project Landscape Architect Aus Perez Landscape Designer Rachel LeMire Project Communications Specialist ADVISORY COMMITTEE Bob Horn Michael Schuster Brad Adams Peter Kastler Brad Kompelien Todd Bruchu Greta Farley Tracy Petersen Matthew Ras William Zins Michael Bambenek PARK COMMISSION Ellen Esch Hank Hoelscher Michael Elam Pat Barrett Peter Kastler Tammy Sturtz Vittorio Bloyer WITH SPECIAL THANKS TO City council members, the park commission, city staff, public works staff, the Advisory Committee, and the community participants who provided feedback to help assist in the planning of this document ACKNOWLEDGMENTS ii 01 | INTRODUCTION....................................................................................04 »Context »Community Demographics »The Process + Purpose »Past Planning Efforts »Using the Plan 02 | EXISTING CONDITIONS & NEEDS..................................................12 »Overview »Inventory of the System »Park Classifications »Existing Amenities + Facilities »Existing Programming »NRPA Agency Benchmarks »Service Area + Facility Guidelines »Public Engagement Summary »SWOT Analysis »Pop-Up Events »Community Survey Findings 05 | RECOMMENDATIONS........................................................................62 »Overview »Park Recommendations »Facility Recommendations »Connectivity Recommendations »Open Space + Preserve Recommendations »Operations + Maintenance Recommendations 06 | IMPLEMENTATION.............................................................................84 »Setting Priorities »Funding Resources 07 | APPENDIX...............................................................................................95 04 | TRENDS ANALYSIS..............................................................................50 »Overview of Trends »Trends 1-8 03 | VISION & GUIDING PRINCIPLES...................................................46 »The Vision »The Guiding Principles CONTENT 06 07 09 10 11 64 65 68 78 81 82 52 53 48 49 86 92 14 15 18 21 23 24 26 38 39 40 42 4 Figure 1.1: Aerial view of Lake Jane 5 0101 INTRODUCTIONINTRODUCTION Lake Elmo provides an expansive system of parks, trails, and open spaces for its community members and visitors to enjoy. The city’s parks and trails are clean and well-maintained, and community members feel safe when visiting them. Residents frequent the park and trail system, with many making weekly trips to local neighborhood playgrounds and recreational trails. While residents value their park and recreational amenities, the city recognizes a need to keep their park system current, continue to meet the needs of the community, and continue to offer quality amenities to its residents. The Lake Elmo Park System Plan does not seek to reinvent the park and trail system or stray too far from the original intent of past planning efforts. Instead, the plan advocates for thoughtful, community-driven improvements to the city’s existing parks and trails that are rooted in an understanding of the system’s history, ecology, and intended purpose. This plan is intended to be a living document. It can be amended to adapt to evolving community needs as conditions and circumstances change. The application of local knowledge should be used to support plan changes to ensure the plan continues to fit the needs and concerns of the community. Implementing this plan will require collaboration and coordination between a variety of stakeholders, including city staff, city council, the parks commission, and the community. WASHINGTON COUNTY CITY OF LAKE ELMO 6 | INTRODUCTION CONTEXT The City of Lake Elmo is located near the confluence of the St. Croix and Mississippi Rivers, just west of the Minnesota-Wisconsin border and east of St. Paul. The population of Lake Elmo is currently 13,756 people, but the city is projected to grow to upwards of 18,000 people by 2030, making it the fastest growing city in the state of Minnesota. Despite Lake Elmo’s booming growth, the city has maintained a charming rural look and feel for many years, due its many acres of agricultural and farm land. The city encompasses approximately 24 square miles of land (including woodland, meadow, lakes, and wetlands) and borders many adjacent communities, including: • Grant to the north • Oak Park Heights, Baytown and West Lakeland Townships to the east • Woodbury to the south • Oakdale to the west. With an interesting mix of rural features, natural scenery, and suburban comfort, Lake Elmo is a desirable location due to its proximity to Minneapolis and St. Paul, accessible and high- quality neighborhoods, and many lakes and natural areas. With its picturesque farms, rolling hills, and extensive park and trail system, Lake Elmo offers a peaceful retreat from the hustle and bustle of urban life. With 18% of the city’s land acreage protected as park or open space and an additional 11% of private land areas protected with a conservation easement, Lake Elmo is committed to preserving its existing natural resources and open space framework so that residents have sufficient opportunities to enjoy the great outdoors for many years to come. “OUR COMMUNITY, NEIGHBORHOODS AND HOMES ARE OUR RETREAT. WE LIVE IN A PLACE WITH DIVERSE NEIGHBORHOOD PATTERNS AND HOUSING OPTIONS - BUT EVERY RESIDENT HAS ACCESS TO A GREAT PARK, OPEN SPACE OR TRAIL... WE ARE A COLLECTION OF NEIGHBORHOODS THAT TOGETHER SHARE A COMMITMENT TO MAKING THE CITY AN EXCEPTIONAL PLACE TO LIVE, WORK, AND RECREATE.” - LAKE ELMO VISION FOR 2040 Moorhead St. Cloud Mankato Minneapolis St. Croix River Lake Elmo Mississippi River St. Paul Rochester I- 6 9 4 HWY 10 HWY 14 I-94 HW Y 1 5 HWY 36 7 COMMUNITY DEMOGRAPHICS Taking a closer look at Lake Elmo’s demographic makeup reveals a few key characteristics and insights, including: • The city has a predominantly white population, along with smaller communities of Asian, Hispanic, and African American residents • The median household income in Lake Elmo exceeds national averages, reflecting a relatively affluent community with well-maintained infrastructure, quality services, and thriving businesses • The city highly values education; in fact, nearly two-thirds of the population has a bachelor’s degree • The unemployment rate in Lake Elmo is 3.5%, reflecting a healthy job market and economy • Only 3% of households in Lake Elmo are below poverty level Key Facts Population by Age: 5-Year Increments (2021) 2021 Population by Race, Age 18+ 13,756 2023 Total Population 337 2023 Total (SIC01-99) Businesses 4,914 2023 Total Households $163,359 2023 Median Household Income 8% 7% 6% 5% 4% 3% 2% 1% 0% Dots show comparison to Washington County 0- 4 10 - 1 4 20 - 2 4 30 - 3 4 50 - 5 4 40 - 4 4 60 - 6 4 70 - 7 4 80 - 8 4 2+ Races Other Race Pacific Islander Asian Native American Black White 0%10 30 50 70204060 80 Education No High School Diploma 21% Some College 15% High School Graduate 2% 62% Bachelor’s/Master’s/Prof Degree 2017-2021 Transportation to Work Age 16+ 65% Drove Alone 9% Carpooled 0% Bicycled 1% Public Transportation 0% Walked Employment (2023)Poverty Status (2017-2021) Persons with a Disability (2017-2021) 3% Households Below the Poverty Level 17% Households with 1+ Persons with a Disability White Collar Blue Collar Services Unemployment Rate3.5% 8 | INTRODUCTION 81% 12% 8% 9 THE PROCESS + PURPOSE STEP 01 INFORMATION GATHERING Inventory of existing park and trail amenities & assessment of current conditions and site features Thorough review of existing conditions, concurrent planning studies, NRPA benchmarks and public input to identify preliminary improvement strategies Develop recommendations for the park system, as well as budgetary cost estimates for capital improvement planning and implementation Information developed during planning process is compiled into this report, reviewed by the city and Advisory Committee, refined and presented to city council for consideration and adoption Online community survey and in-person engagement events PUBLIC OUTREACH ANALYSIS IMPROVEMENT RECOMMENDATIONS REVIEW, REFINEMENT AND ADOPTION STEP 05 STEP 04 STEP 03 STEP 02 This park system planning process was a nine- month project that began with an inventory and analysis of each city-owned park and open space amenity. This analysis documented park amenities, site furnishings, and notable site features, in addition to the general condition of these items at each location. In order to provide a useful, user-friendly, and sustainable planning document for Lake Elmo, the planning team - made up of landscape architects, parks planners/designers, and community engagement specialists - had many discussions with city staff and Advisory Committee members to uncover issues affecting the city’s parks, trails, and open spaces. Discussions with city staff and the Advisory Committee were facilitated by the consultant team, to better understand the history of park and trail improvements and evaluate the existing conditions of each park in the system. The Advisory Committee provided valuable insight into how community members and visitors use the park system, as well as relevant information about changes affecting the city’s resources over the years. Early in the planning process, the public was engaged through an online survey. This survey was conducted over an eight week period and resulted in participation from over 500 community members. Results from this survey helped inform the needs analysis and plan recommendations. 10 | INTRODUCTION PAST PLANNING EFFORTS There are a handful of past planning efforts that were considered during the creation of this report. Key plans, reports and standards that helped inform the development of this report include: • Lake Elmo’s 2040 Comprehensive Plan • Washington County’s 2040 Comprehensive Plan • The Central Greenway Regional Trail Master Plan • Lake Elmo’s 2009 Comprehensive Parks and Recreation Plan • Lake Elmo’s Design Guidelines and Standards The planning team used these documents to obtain background information on the city, to understand what goals and strategies have been previously developed for the city’s park and trail system, and to inform the development of the recommendations (and eventual implementation strategies) included in this plan. Some key takeaways from past planning documents related to parks, trails and open spaces in Lake Elmo include (but are not limited to): KEY GOALS AND PRINCIPLES FROM PAST PLANNING DOCUMENTS • Lake Elmo’s 2040 Comprehensive Plan »Enhance existing natural resources, open space and trails to make a more complete system »Strengthen the existing trail network in the City, increase public connections, and improve accessibility (including pedestrian and bikeway connections) »Endorse and maintain the protected public open space and natural areas throughout the City »Protect and strengthen existing park facilities and program uses according to demands of residents that use the facilities, and plan for appropriate programming and facilities in new neighborhoods »Explore opportunities to improve the quality of degraded, but important, natural resources in the City (i.e., impaired lakes, streams, and wetlands) • Lake Elmo’s 2009 Comprehensive Parks and Recreation Plan »Showcase, preserve, and respect the city’s natural resources and let the location of natural resources guide the placement and use of parks »Locate parks so that all current and prospective neighborhoods have a local park (where practical and appropriate) »Connect city parks to each other and to prominent destination within and outside of the city through a system of trails »Locate a significant park at the heart of Lake Elmo that can serve as a community gathering place and landmark 11 USING THE PLAN 01: INTRODUCTION »The introduction provides an overview of the planning process and purpose, as well as a brief look at demographics and community context 02: EXISTING CONDITIONS + NEEDS »This section evaluates the Lake Elmo system through various lenses and outlines future needs 03: VISION + GUIDING PRINCIPLES »This section helps set the stage for what is desired by the community for the future system and what overarching ideas should help steer its future 04: TRENDS ANALYSIS »Understanding social, demographic, and recreational trends is an important of maintaining a responsive park system. This section highlights key trends that are impacting today’s parks and recreation systems and help inform the plan 05: RECOMMENDATIONS »Recommended actions to help attain the vision for the system provide the backbone of the plan, building off the analysis and vision 06: IMPLEMENTATION »This section outlines steps to carry out the proposed recommendations, and includes priorities, capital improvements, and funding ideas 07: APPENDIX »Supporting documents including park This park system plan document is organized into seven sections, which include: »01: Introduction »02: Existing Conditions + Needs »03: Visions + Guiding Principles »04: Trends Analysis »05: Recommendations »06: Implementation »07: Appendix The contents of this park system plan report include park inventory data, community input results, analysis of all collected data, recommendations and implementation strategies for Lake Elmo’s parks, trails, and open spaces. The report’s appendix includes park inventory maps and the complete community survey results. 12 Figure 2.1: Expansive view over Lake Elmo 13 0202 EXISTING CONDITIONS EXISTING CONDITIONS + NEEDS+ NEEDS Inventory and analysis is an essential component to the park system planning process. In order to make informed and appropriate decisions to address the diverse park and trail-related needs of the community, a deep understanding of the current state of the city’s parks and trails is required. This assessment looks at the quantity, distribution, quality, and current use of the various elements of the systems. The data is collected and compared to standards and benchmarks provided by the National Recreation and Parks Association (NRPA), as well as park planning principles including level of service. Local input from residents, volunteers, and city staff also provide critical information about the system and its use. 14 | EXISTING CONDITIONS + NEEDS OVERVIEW APPROACH The recreational opportunities that Lake Elmo’s parks, trails, and open spaces provide are vital to maintaining the quality of life that community members in the city value. These public spaces are integral parts of the city’s infrastructure and are proactively managed. As part of the park and trail system planning effort, the planning team collaborated with city staff and key stakeholders to develop near-term and long-range improvements that will assist them in directing decision making and allocating resources toward a clearly defined vision for the community’s park and trail system. Community input was gathered using a comprehensive and engaging outreach process that prioritized accessibility for all park and trail users. This approach created opportunities for the public to inform and educate the planning team about the future park and trail system they’d like to see. The goal of this park system planning process is to support the vision of a healthy, sustainable, and maintainable park and trail system and to discover creative, efficient, and long-term solutions to issues affecting those systems. Lake Elmo needs a plan they can use to guide decision making - a plan they can reference when deciding to take topics and considerations to the parks commission or city council. PROCESS PRINCIPLES The planning process was guided by seven overarching principles. These principles aim to provide a plan that propels Lake Elmo’s parks and trails system into the next 10 years and beyond. The plan should reflect the community’s shared concerns, aspirations, and anticipated future growth The plan should be easy to read and use, avoid technical terms when possible, and emphasize visuals (e.g., photos, infographics, etc.) The plan should create opportunities for all stakeholders to connect to open space, greenways, trails, parks, and conservation areas, thereby building environmental stewardship and strengthening relationships to the outdoors and healthy lifestyles The plan should be thoughtful and pragmatic while challenging conventional wisdom when needing to achieve an outcome, as well as recognize and incorporate the economic benefits of a strong park and recreation system The plan should focus on implementable tools with specific, measurable outcomes while being adaptable to future change The plan should engage the community throughout the process to ensure outcomes are responsive and authentic of Lake Elmo and embraced by the community The plan should intentionally incorporate changing demographics, disparate viewpoints, needs, and accessibility with the intent of hearing and acknowledging all voices VISIONARY ACCESSIBLE CONNECTED STRATEGIC INCLUSIVE COMMUNITYORIENTED ACTIONORIENTED 15 INVENTORY OF THE SYSTEM INVENTORY With over 500 acres of city parkland and more than 80 miles of trails, Lake Elmo has quite an extensive park and trail system for residents and visitors to enjoy and explore. In late 2023, the planning team and city staff had an opportunity to conduct an inventory of the city’s substantial park and trail system to better understand each park’s existing amenities and features, as well as record the condition/state they’re currently in. With an updated and in-depth inventory of Lake Elmo’s many parks, trails, and open spaces, the city will be able to better track the condition of their park equipment and implement a plan and timeline for their continued maintenance and replacement. Currently, Lake Elmo’s park and trail system supports a variety of recreational opportunities, including organized sports, casual play, nature appreciation, hiking, cross-country skiing, horseback riding, picnicking, relaxing, and many other outdoor activities. Each park in the system provides quality recreation facilities and open spaces for the community to use while still maintaining the history, setting, character, and use that makes each park unique. To better understand how well Lake Elmo is meeting the recreational needs of the community, each park’s assets (e.g., natural resources, recreational facilities, amenities, etc.) and issues (e.g., environmental limitations, infrastructure problems, accessibility, etc.) were identified during the park inventory process. Some key takeaways and insights drawn from the park inventory process include: • Park acreage and distribution and trail mileage in Lake Elmo are good; most of the gaps in park and trail connectivity occur in the north-central and southeastern portions of the city • Lake Elmo has a nice variety of park types, including mini parks, neighborhood parks, community parks, and a Washington County regional park, all of which serve the community in important ways • Lake Elmo’s park facilities and amenities are generally in good, working condition; however, some park features (e.g., playgrounds, ballfields, shelters, etc.) are currently not meeting the needs of the community or not functioning to meet demand • Park and trail connectivity is reduced by a lack of wayfinding, infrastructure restraints, and unsafe pedestrian crossings on busy streets Figure 3.2: Planning team and city staff inventorying the park and trail system 16 | EXISTING CONDITIONS + NEEDS FIGURE 3.3 | PARKS MAP 17 FIGURE 3.4 | EXISTING + PROPOSED TRAILS MAP A NOTE ABOUT LAKE ELMO PARK RESERVE Lake Elmo Park Reserve (LEPR) is a 2,165 acre park located in the heart of Lake Elmo. It is owned and operated by Washington County, and features archery, biking, camping, paddling, cross country skiing, playgrounds, a swimming pond, and other facilities. Admission is required for all vehicles entering the park. While Lake Elmo residents have access to this regional amenity, the city does not have direct input on the improvements, operations, or maintenance of LEPR. As such, it is largely excluded from amenity access considerations throughout the plan. For example, the playgrounds at LEPR are not included in the playround distribution analysis. LEPR is included, however, in the park access map, as residents walking or biking into the regional park are not required to pay an admission fee. 18 | EXISTING CONDITIONS + NEEDS NRPA PARKCLASSIFICATION STANDARDS Lake Elmo contains a variety of park types which can be distinguished from one another based upon their unique sizes, characteristics, and intended uses. To help park and recreation professionals more effectively manage their park systems and resources, the NRPA developed a set of park classifications, agency benchmarks, and service area and facility guidelines (all described in further detail in following pages) for agencies to utilize. Many park and recreation agencies use these resources to compare how their community’s amenities stack up against other communities. Incorporating these metrics into the park system planning process can lead to more informed decisions, better resource allocation, improved equity, and a higher likelihood of successful implementation and long-term sustainability. According to Lake Elmo’s 2040 Comprehensive Plan, the city contains the following park classifications: • Regional Park »Lake Elmo Park Reserve • Community Park »DeMontreville Wildlife Park »Sunfish Lake Park • Neighborhood Park »Carriage Station Park »DeMontreville Park »Goose Lake Park »Heights Park »Heritage Park »Ivywood Park »Kleis Park »Lake Jane Hills Park »Lions Park »Pebble Park »Reid Park »Ridge Park PARK CLASSIFICATIONS »Stonegate Park »Tablyn Park »Tana Ridge Park »VFW Park • Natural Resource Protection Area/Conservation Easement »Hammes Park »Homestead Park » There were also a few parks in the system that were not explicitly classified in the 2040 Comprehensive Plan. They include: • Unclassified »Firefly Park »Hidden Knoll Park »Legion Ave N Park »Pilot Park » The table on the next page provides additional information about each NRPA park classification’s size, service area, typical location, and purpose. Classifying parks in this way ensures the appropriate management and conservation practices are applied based on each park’s specific purpose and unique characteristics. Developing and maintaining the system according to these guidelines will positively impact the community and its resources into the future. 19 TABLE 3.1 | NRPA PARK CLASSIFICATIONS CLASSIFICATION SIZE (TYP.) SERVICE AREA ACCESSIBILITY/ LOCATION PURPOSE LAKE ELMO PARKS COMMON PARK TYPES Neighborhood Park 1 to 25+ acres A 1/4 to 1/2- mile radius; within a walkable distance to surrounding residents without any major barriers Easily accessible to nearby neighborhood residents in a safe environment with walking & biking access • Provides active recreation & information gathering spaces and addresses day-to-day neighborhood needs • Offers fields sized for practice/youth games” • Carriage Station, DeMontreville, Goose Lake, Heights, Heritage, Ivywood, Kleis, Lake Jane Hills, Lions, Pebble, Reid, Ridge, Stonegate, Tablyn, Tana Ridge, + VFW Park Community Park 10-50+ acres; up to several hundred acres Community- wide; generally placed in strategic locations throughout the city Accessible to the community by foot, bike, automobile & public transit; often takes advantage of natural amenities • Serves the entire community • May provide access to natural areas & other active recreation areas • Often serves regional visitors (not primary purpose, however) • DeMontreville Wildlife Park • Sunfish Lake Park Regional Park Up to several hundred acres Community- wide & regional service Varies; often placed/centered around natural environments • Uses vary; focused mainly on outdoor & natural resource-based recreation and learning opportunities • Lake Elmo Park Reserve (Washington County) ADDITIONAL PARK/FACILITY TYPES Special Use Varies Community- wide & regional service Site-specific • Serves a single-use activity (e.g., golf, fitness, ice skating, nature education, etc.) • N/A Natural Resource Protection Area/ Conservation Easement Varies Community- wide & regional service Often placed around natural resources & amenities • Provide opportunities to interact with natural environments & participate in passive recreation and ecological education • Hammes Park • Homestead Park Youth Athletic Park 10 to 20 acres Community- wide; generally placed in a few strategic locations/sites Generally connected to trails & sidewalks; vehicle parking provided • Provides youth athletic fields & their associated facilities • Can function similarly to a neighborhood parks • N/A Community Athletic Park 10 to 25+ acres Community- wide; generally placed in a few strategic locations/sites Generally connected to trails & sidewalks; vehicle parking provided • Provides organized athletic recreation with regulation-sized fields & their associated facilities • Can function similarly to a neighborhood park • N/A 20 | EXISTING CONDITIONS + NEEDS FIGURE 3.5 | 2040 COMPREHENSIVE PLAN PARK CLASSIFICATIONS MAP 21 EXISTING AMENITIES/FACILITIES Upon completion of the park system inventory, the quantitative data collected was consolidated into a comprehensive inventory chart to provide a more thorough system-wide review of existing facilities and amenities and to identify any missing asset or issues in the system. This table also includes proposed classifications for each park based on size, amenities, and use. TABLE 3.2 | EXISTING PARK AMENITIES + FACILITIES CITY PARKS 2040 PARK CLASSIFICATION PROPOSED CLASSIFICATION ACRES AMENITY TYPE Carriage Station Park Neighborhood Neighborhood 2.71 DeMontreville Park Neighborhood Neighborhood 6.33 DeMontreville Wildlife Park Community Natural Area 23.48 Firefly Park *Neighborhood 0.55 Goose Lake Park Neighborhood Community 7.10 Hammes Park NRPA **Neighborhood 1.93 Heights Park Neighborhood Natural Area 6.60 Heritage Park Neighborhood Natural Area 13.65 Hidden Knoll Park *Neighborhood 6.37 Homestead Park NRPA **Natural Area 2.70 Ivywood Park Neighborhood Community 12.11 Kleis Park Neighborhood Neighborhood 6.94 Lake Jane Hill Park Neighborhood Natural Area 6.33 Lions Park Neighborhood Community 3.36 Legion Ave N Park *Natural Area 6.10 Pebble Park Neighborhood Community 19.20 Pilot Park *Neighborhood 1.36 Reid Park Neighborhood Community 61.57 Ridge Park Neighborhood Neighborhood 23.47 Stonegate Park Neighborhood Community 6.04 Sunfish Lake Park Community Special Use 278.26 Tablyn Park Neighborhood Community 8.62 Tana Ridge Park Neighborhood Neighborhood 9.18 VFW Park Neighborhood Community Athletic 3.23 Ba l l f i e l d s ( R e c r e a t i o n a l ) Ba l l f i e l d s ( C o m p e t i t i v e ) Ba s k e t b a l l ( F u l l - C o u r t ) Ba s k e t b a l l ( H a l f - C o u r t ) Bi k e R a c k s / R e p a i r S t a t i o n Bi k i n g / W a l k i n g T r a i l s Gr i l l Ga g a B a l l Fi s h i n g P i e r Ic e S k a t i n g / H o c k e y R i n k Ki o s k ( I n t e r p r e t i v e / E d u c a t i o n a l ) On - S t r e e t P a r k i n g Mu l t i - U s e F i e l d Sh e l t e r Pa r k E n t r y S i g n a g e Pe r m a n e n t R e s t r o o m s Pi c k l e b a l l C o u r t s Pi c n i c T a b l e s Pl a y g r o u n d s Po r t a b l e T o i l e t s Sl e d d i n g H i l l Te n n i s C o u r t s Vo l l e y b a l l C o u r t s Wa r m i n g H o u s e Totals (# of parks w/ amenity/facility)517.2 8 2 2 3 2 22 1 1 4 1 1 11 16 20 2 3 14 13 15 5 3 2 1 1 * not explicitly classified/named in the 2040 Lake Elmo Comprehensive Plan ** Natural Resource Protection Area 22 | EXISTING CONDITIONS + NEEDS FIGURE 3.6 | PROPOSED PARK CLASSIFICATIONS MAP 23 EXISTING PROGRAMMING COMMUNITY PROGRAMMING + EDUCATION OPPORTUNITIES Lake Elmo offers a variety of recreational facilities and amenities in their park system, but the city has limited staff and lacks a recreation programming department to assist in facilitating programmed events and opportunities. In the future, the city should consider developing a programming coordinator position to get the ball rolling on a programming to help activate Lake Elmo parks. The Stillwater Area Public Schools Community Education organization offers Lake Elmo residents of all ages, including infants, children, teens, parents, adults, and seniors, opportunities to recreate, socialize, and get involved locally. Some of their offerings for this spring and summer include (but are not limited to): • 50 adult classes for activities like strength and conditioning, golf skills, pickleball and tennis lessons, kayaking lessons, bird watching, social media use, etc. • 129 youth classes and camps for activities like golf, cheer, ninja/parkour, sports, architecture and design, art, theater, etc. • 23 early childhood family education classes Washington County also offers a variety of programs and events for folks in Lake Elmo to engage in. Some of these events and programs include bird hikes, dog days in the ravine, yoga in the park, learning to bike, forest bathing, and more. Many of these activities occur in Lake Elmo Park Reserve, which is situated in the heart of the city and easy for residents of Lake Elmo to access. Figure 3.3: Early childhood family education activities are offered through Stillwater Area Public School Community Ed Figure 3.4: Community theater opportunities through the SAPSCE organization are often sought after by the youth Figure 3.5: Washington County hosts county-wide events (like yoga in the park) at Lake Elmo Regional Park throughout the summer 24 | EXISTING CONDITIONS + NEEDS NRPA AGENCY BENCHMARKS MILES OF TRAILS LOCAL 49 mi. WASHINGTON CO. 33 mi. ACRES OF PARKLAND PER 1,000 RESIDENTS OPERATING EXPENDITURES PER ACRE OF PARK & RECREATION SPACE OPERATING EXPENDITURES PER RESIDENT 82 37.1 $833.27 $31.93 PARK AND RECREATION AGENCY BENCHMARKS To support the wide range of needs, interests and lifestyles of park and trail users in their communities, park and recreation agencies must offer a variety of facilities, amenities, and programming opportunities. This requires the right amount of staff to support the development and continued maintenance of those facilities and amenities. In the 2024 NRPA Agency Performance Review report, a number of top-line findings pertaining to park facilities, programming, the responsibilities of park and recreation agencies, staffing, budget, agency funding, and policies are described. Some highlights from those top-line findings are shown to the right. The table on the next page provides a brief overview of various NRPA agency benchmarks and compares the typical U.S. park and recreation agency to Lake Elmo. A few key takeaways from the table include: • In terms of the number of parks, park acreage, trail mileage, and acres of parkland per 1,000 residents, Lake Elmo is well above the typical park and recreation agency • Lake Elmo has very limited park and recreation agency staffing and therefore has fewer full- time staff members per 10,000 residents than is typical; more staff is needed to accommodate an ever expanding city and park and trail system • Lake Elmo spends much less in operating expenditures than the typical park and recreation agency; annual operating expenditures are also much lower than the typical agency RESIDENTS PER PARK 573 25 TABLE 3.3 | PARK AND RECREATION AGENCY BENCHMARKS* NRPA BENCHMARK ALL PARK AND RECREATION AGENCIES (MEDIAN) PARK AND RECREATION AGENCIES LESS THAN 20,000 (MEDIAN) LAKE ELMO PARK FACILITIES Residents per park 2,386 residents 1,172 residents 573 residents Acres of parkland per 1,000 residents 10.6 acres 12.6 acres 37.1 acres Miles of trails 16 miles 4.5 miles 82 miles STAFFING Park and recreation full- time employees per 10,000 residents 8.9 employees 13.7 employees 2 employees BUDGET Annual operating expenditures $6,453,357 $1,451,763 $431,038 Annual operating expenditures per resident $99.47 $135.53 $31.93 Operating expenditures per acre of park and recreation space $8,260 $9,777 $833.27 Annual operating expenditures per full-time employee $110,912 $101,304 $215,519 Typical percentage of operating expenditures for staffing 54% N/A 30% AGENCY FUNDING Operating expenditures derived from general fund tax support 62%N/A 30% Annual revenue generated from each resident $22.58 $47.71 $31.85 Five-year capital budget spending $12 million $1,814,000 $2 million ($400k a year) Targets for capital expenditures 88% for improvements 7% for acquisition N/A 80% for renovation 20% for new development POLICIES Park and recreation agencies that ban tobacco products at their parks and facilities 4 in 5 (80%)N/A 0% (Lake Elmo bans alcohol and cannabanoids use in parks) Agencies with a commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion expressed in their foundational documents (e.g., vision, mission and strategic plan documents) 77%N/A 100% * derived from the 2024 NRPA Agency Performance Review 26 | EXISTING CONDITIONS + NEEDS RECREATION FACILITY SERVICE STANDARDS The recreation facility service standards in the following pages identify a minimum level of service needed for convenient access to recreation facilities in Lake Elmo. The following standards also list the minimum number of facilities recommended in the community (per population), the recommended service area of each of the facilities, the target range/recommended quantity of each facility type, the current facility numbers in Lake Elmo, the excess or deficit of each facility based on the target range, and any notes that provide additional information. In general, Lake Elmo lacks indoor recreation facilities (e.g., aquatic centers, community centers, indoor ice rinks, senior centers, FACILITY MIN. NUMBER PER POPULATION SERVICE AREA TARGET RANGE CURRENT NUMBER EXCESS/ DEFICIT NOTES INDOOR RECREATION FACILITIES Aquatics Centers 1 per 10,000 to 12,000 Entire city 1 aquatic center 0 -1 • Stillwater Courage Center, nearby YMCAs, Foss Swim School Community Centers 1 per 10,000 Entire city 1 community center 0 -1 • City Hall provides some room rental space Indoor Ice Rinks 1 per 8,000 Entire city 1 indoor ice rink 0 -1 • St. Croix Valley Rec Center, Lily Lake in Stillwater, St. Mary’s Point Nature Centers 1 per 10,000 Entire city 1 nature center 1 0 • Sally Manzara Interpretive Nature Center in Sunfish Lake Park Senior Centers 1 per 14,000 Entire city 1 senior center 0 -1 • Courage Center in Stillwater offers many senior programs SERVICE AREA + FACILITY GUIDELINES etc.), although a number of indoor recreation facilities are located in nearby communities, like Stillwater and Oak Park Heights. On the other hand, there are a number of outdoor recreation facilities in Lake Elmo for folks to utilize. The community does lack specialized facilities such as a splash pad, outdoor swimming pool, and skate park. A NOTE ABOUT SCHOOL FACILITIES Throughout this plan, school facilities such as playgrounds, ballfields, soccer fields, etc., have been excluded from service and distribution / gap analysis (with the exception of tennis courts at Oak- Land Middle School, as the city has a joint powers agreement with Stillwater Area Public Schools for shared use and maintenance). This is not to say residents don’t use school facilities, but as the city does not own them they have not been included as assets in the plan. TABLE 3.4 | RECREATION FACILITY SERVICE STANDARDS 27 TABLE 3.4 CONT. | RECREATION FACILITY SERVICE STANDARDS FACILITY MIN. NUMBER PER POPULATION SERVICE AREA TARGET RANGE CURRENT NUMBER EXCESS/ DEFICIT NOTES OUTDOOR RECREATION FACILITIES Alternative Sports Facilities N/A Entire city N/A 0 0 • Bielenburg Sports Center in Woodbury, St. Croix Valley Rec Center in Stillwater Ballfields Recreational 1 per city + 1 per 2,500 to 5,000 1-2 miles 6-7 fields 8 fields 1-2+ • Stonegate Park, Pebble Park, Kleis Park, DeMontreville Park, Tana Ridge Park, Reid Park, Ridge Park, and Tablyn Park Youth Baseball (ages 9-15) 1 per city + 1 per 2,500 to 5,000 10-15 min.4-6 fields 2 fields -2 to 4 • VFW Park and Lions Park (includes backstop, outfield, fencing, turf infield, and pitching mound) Full-size Baseball (ages 16+) 1 per city + 1 per 5,000 to 10,000 10-15 min.2-3 fields 0 -2 to 3 • Includes minimum of 325’ from home plate to outfield fence, backstop, outfield, fencing, turf infield, and pitching mound Amateur/Townball Baseball N/A Entire city 1 0 -1 • Town ballfields typically have concessions, lights for evening play and a minimum of 325’ from home plate to outfield fence Basketball (Outdoor) Full-court 1 per 5,000 Half-size 1 per 3,000 1/2 to 1 mile Full-court 2-3 courts Half-court 4-5 courts Full-court 2 courts Half-court 2 courts Full-court 0 Half-court -2 • Carriage Station Park and DeMontreville Park Community Gardens 1 per 7,000 to 9,000 Entire city 1-2 gardens 0 -1 • Valley Outreach in Stillwater, Cimmaron Mobile Home Park (private), private area kitty-corner from City Hall (11343 39th St N), private area near Sunfish Lake Park Golf Course (18-hole)1 per 10,000 Entire city 1 18-hole golf course 2 +1 • Cimarron and Royal in Lake Elmo • Oak Marsh in Oakdale, Stone Ridge in Stillwater, Applewood Hills and Indian Hills in Grant 28 | EXISTING CONDITIONS + NEEDS Outdoor Ice Rinks 1 per 5,000 to 10,000 10-15 min.2-3 rinks 1 -1 • Lions Park • Brekke Park in Oak Park Heights, Croixwood in Stillwater, St. Croix Valley Rec Center in Stillwater Multi-Use Fields 1 per 4,000 1-2 miles 3-4 fields 11 +7 • DeMontreville Park, Tana Ridge Park, Tablyn Park, Pebble Park, Reid Park, Ridge Park • Fields intended for soccer, football, lacrosse, ultimate frisbee, etc. Off-leash dog parks/exercise areas 1 per 10,000 to 12,000 10-15 min.1 dog park/ exercise area 1 0 • Rice Creek in Shoreview, Battle Creek in Woodbury, Andy’s Bark Park in Woodbury, Bald Eagle-Otter Park in White Bear Lake, Hudson Pickleball 1 per 2,000 to 4,000 10-15 min.3-6 courts 13 +7 • Ivywood Park, Lions Park, Pebble Park, Tablyn Park Playgrounds 1 per 2,000 10-15 min.5-7 playgrounds 13 +6 • 13 city-owned playgrounds in park system Skate Park 1 per 10,000 to 12,000 Entire city 1 skate park 0 -1 • St. Croix Valley Rec Center has a skate park nearby Sledding Hills N/A Entire city N/A 2 +2 • Tablyn Park, Green Acres snow tubing, informal sledding at Carriage Station Park Swimming Pool (Outdoor)1 per 10,000 Entire city 1 swimming pool 0 -1 • Lake Elmo Park Reserve has a swimming pond Tennis 1 per 2,000 to 4,000 1 mile 3-6 courts 6 0 • Some to be replaced with pickleball courts • The city has a joint powers agreement with Stillwater Area Public Schools at Oak-Land Middle School where 6 courts are available to the public Volleyball 1 per 7,500 to 15,000 2 miles 1 court 1 0 • Lions Park TABLE 3.4 CONT. | RECREATION FACILITY SERVICE STANDARDS 29 The following pages contain a number of maps and engagement summaries that the planning team used to better understand the distribution of park and recreation elements in Lake Elmo. These maps, along with community input and stakeholder feedback, helped to identify missing links and community needs in the city’s park and trail system. Additional maps, as well as a complete set of survey results, can be found in the appendix of this document. ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! 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! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! Oakdale In w o o d A v e n u e N o r t h 10th Street North 5th Street North Ea g l e P o i n t B o u l e v a r d LakeOlson Lake Jane LakeElmo Su n f i s h L a k e Ea g l e Po i n t L a k e DownsLake 0 1800 3600 5400 7200 Ft ´ Future Land Use Map 2040 Future Land Use Map Date: Jan 2024 Planned Roadway (Parkway)MUSA Boundary C Closed Landfill Institutional ParkBP LB V-HDR V-MU PSP ROW AP RAD RSF RSFS GC LDR MDR HDR MU-BP MU-C V-LDR V-MDR Lake DeMontreville Lake Jane Lake Olson Sunfish Lake Lake Elmo Downs Lake Horseshoe Lake Rose LakeGoose Lake Eagle Point Lake 30 | EXISTING CONDITIONS + NEEDS FIGURE 3.6 | 2040 FUTURE LAND USE MAP 31 FIGURE 3.7 | PLATTED RESIDENTIAL DEVELOPMENT MAP 32 | EXISTING CONDITIONS + NEEDS FIGURE 3.8 | NEIGHBORHOOD PARK GAP MAP 33 FIGURE 3.9 | COMMUNITY PARK GAP MAP 34 | EXISTING CONDITIONS + NEEDS FIGURE 3.10 | REGIONAL PARK ACCESS MAP 35 FIGURE 3.11 | NATURAL RESOURCE PROTECTION AREA GAP MAP 36 | EXISTING CONDITIONS + NEEDS FIGURE 3.12 | PLAYGROUND GAP MAP 37 FIGURE 3.13 | ALL PARK DISTRIBUTION AND GAP ANALYSIS MAP 38 | EXISTING CONDITIONS + NEEDS COORDINATION WITH CITY STAFF AND THE ADVISORY COMMITTEE With an invigorated interest in completing a park system plan to help guide the future of their parks, trails and open spaces, the city decided to prioritize the development of this report in 2023. Throughout the planning process, the planning team has worked closely with city staff and a number of Advisory Committee members in the overall development of the plan, as they have been able to provide local expertise on the park and trail system, highlight potential deficiencies, and guide outcomes of the project (in conjunction with input collected through public engagement). There were several meetings with members of city staff during the development of this plan and four meetings with the Advisory Committee. These meetings focused on topics ranging from existing conditions in the parks to potential improvement recommendations for improvement. PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT EVENTS During the development of this plan, the planning team hosted two in-person engagement events: Light Up Lake Elmo and the Arbor Day Tree Giveaway. Light Up Lake Elmo is an annual event and gathering downtown where community members can engage in winter activities, meet Mr. and Mrs. Claus, and take part in a tree lighting ceremony. The Arbor Day Tree Giveaway event also occurs annually. It provides residents with an opportunity to pick up a tree sapling they can take home and plant in appreciation of Arbor Day. Both events were a success, with many stopping by to provide feedback on the plan and its recommendations. Key findings from those events are included in the following two pages. PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT SUMMARY COMMUNITY SURVEY OVERVIEW The planning team launched the community survey to residents of Lake Elmo in December of 2023. The survey was live for approximately four months and was accessible online through a shareable web link. While the survey was live, city staff, the Advisory Committee, and the planning team spread the word throughout Lake Elmo. In the end, over 500 participants provided input through the community survey. The following pages provide a summary of the community input received from the community survey and various in-person engagement events. A full report of results from the survey can be found in the appendix of this plan. ENGAGEMENT AT A GLANCE 553 2 HUNDREDS SURVEY RESPONSES IN-PERSON POP-UP EVENTS OF WRITTEN COMMENTS 39 Early in the planning process, the Advisory Committee was asked to assist in developing a visual SWOT (Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, Threats) Analysis. The findings from that exercise STRENGTHS OPPORTUNITIES WEAKNESSES THREATS »Excellent culture around parks and nature »County and state partnerships »Many park, facility and activity options, especially for a smaller town »Considerable acreage for well-used parks »City is not entirely developed (there is open space for further park + trail development) »Sunfish Lake Park - a 280 acre natural park that provides a great nature experience »Lake Elmo Park Reserve (Washington County) »Tranquil feel in neighborhood and community parks »Open acreage for additional parks and natural spaces (if the city decides) »Dedicated volunteers interested in preserving and helping manage parks + trails »Demographic changes (e.g., population, age, race) in the community »Park dedication »City provides varying housing options that bring a variety of new residents to town »Partnerships for programming »Aquatics Center »Outdoor water fund »Many open, flex fields in the community that could become dedicated athletic fields »Lack of conservation of natural open areas »Many areas impacted by invasive species »No indoor play facilities or water features »Funding model is developer-driven »Lack of trail connectivity in some areas; trail connections can be confusing for newcomers »Not all trails accessible throughout the year »Lack of city resources dedicated to parks; no dedicated parks department »Existing youth athletic fields need expansion improvements in order to address capacity issues »City gathering space for events is missing »No true sports complex »Lack of recreational programming »Lake Elmo Park Reserve »Development »Over-development - do developers have the best interest of the residents in mind? »Misperception of Lake Elmo Park Reserve as a city asset »Misperception that parks are superfluous or not important »Climate change, invasive species and natural resource degradation »Public park space being treated as privately- owned open space »Continued operation and maintenance of parks for the next 15 to 20 years »One time-funding vs. continued revenue needed to run parks SWOT ANALYSIS are listed below. These findings were strongly supported by community feedback both in the survey and at engagement events. Key takeaways from the exercise include: 40 | EXISTING CONDITIONS + NEEDS POP-UP EVENTS LIGHT UP LAKE ELMO VISIONING BOARD EXERCISE WHAT DO YOU ENVISION FOR THE FUTURE OF LAKE ELMO PARK SYSTEM? (35 TOTAL COMMENTS) ACTIVITIES, AMENITIES AND PRIORITIES EXERCISE WHAT ACTIVITIES AND AMENITIES DO YOU MOST ENJOY ENGAGING IN AT LAKE ELMO PARKS? WHAT PROGRAMMING SHOULD THE CITY PRIORITIZE IN THE FUTURE? (304 TOTAL VOTES) »Redesign/Repair the rusty fasteners at Pebble Park »Access to library and post office from north side is treacherous at best. We need a safe way to cross Stillwater Blvd »Continue sidewalk on Stillwater Blvd from 39th St to Laverne Ave N (or Lake Elmo Ave N) »Need better/safer CR 14 and CR 17 pedestrian crossings »Need path from Goose Lake Park to Lake Elmo Park Reserve »Develop a snow removal plan to reduce confusion in the community »Year-round trail maintenance »Greater interconnectivity of walking and multi- use trails »Playgrounds = 53 respondents »Swimming = 52 respondents »Walking/Running = 33 respondents »Fishing = 31 respondents »Informal Sports/Pick-Up Games = 28 »Organized Sports = 28 »Non-Motorized Water Activities = 20 »Dog Walking = 19 »Shelters = 15 »Relaxing = 14 »Picnic/Grilling = 11 Figure 3.6: Engagement with community members at the 2024 Light Up Lake Elmo pop-up event 41 ARBOR DAY TREE GIVEAWAY KEY FINDINGS FROM ENGAGEMENT »Developing Lions Park as Lake Elmo’s destination community park should be a high priority for the city »There is some resistance to adding new amenities and features to parks because of their impact on natural resources/wild spaces »Community members would like greater access to water-based recreational activities »Implementing a snow removal plan for trails in the city would help reduce confusion among community members during winter months »The community is concerned about the proactive management of invasive species in the preserves and parks; determining efforts needed for management, monitoring, funding, and control are of high priority »Addressing trail gaps and unsafe pedestrian crossings is of the utmost importance, especially around schools and other community centers Figure 3.7: Interactive recommendation boards (Top); Engagement with community members at the 2024 Arbor Day Tree Giveaway pop-up event (Bottom) 42 | EXISTING CONDITIONS + NEEDS SURVEY RESPONDENTS AT A GLANCE AGE GROUPS PRESENT IN RESPONDENT HOUSEHOLDS 0–2 3–6 7–12 13–18 19–24 35–43 44–50 25–34 51–65 66+ HOW LONG HAVEYOU BEEN A RESIDENT? <1 year 1–5 years 6–10 years 10+ years Of respondents believe parks, trails and open spaces are VERY important to overall quality of life. 86% Of respondents are residents of Lake Elmo. Respondents from other communities include Afton, Bayport, Lakeland, Oakdale, Stillwater, Woodbury and more! 88% 553!Total Responses 40%32% 6% 22% PARKS VISITED MOST OFTEN BY RESPONDENTS 1 2Sunfish Lake Park Lions Park COMMUNITY SURVEY FINDINGS SEE APPENDIX FOR FULL SURVEY 43 0–2 3–6 51–65 3 Reid Park 4 5Pebble Park Carriage Station Park HOW OFTEN PEOPLE VISIT CITY PARKS OR TRAILS Most participated in activities and events at parks Other common activities include: 1st Using walking & running trails Informal sports (pick-up games) 5th 49% 32% 18% 1% At least once a week Once a month Daily Never 2nd Using park playgrounds 3rd Dog walking 4th Organized sports teams/leagues • Bike riding • Bird watching • Relaxing • Picnic/Grilling 81.7% (89 out of 109 respondents) 72.9% (54 out of 74 respondents) Baseball/Softball Pickleball Top organized sports participation Top informal sports participation Proximity to work/home Sidewalks/Walkable access to parks Type of equipment/facilities available 75%34%38% Why are some parks visited more than others? 44 | EXISTING CONDITIONS + NEEDS Other popular priorities: TOP 5 PRIORITIES FOR THE CITY TO FOCUS ON IMPROVING Additional Seasonal Use Facilities Inclusive Playground Equipment Additional/New Walking Trails Creation of Multi-use Courts Added Dog Park Facilities • Fitness/Health Stations • Flat lawn/multi-use recreational spaces • Baseball/Softball fields • Wayfinding signage USED VS IDEAL METHOD OF TRAVEL TO PARKS Walk/Run Bike Drive Other USED 7%39% 54% <1%IDEAL 2%47% 24% 27% TOP 3 COLD MONTH ACTIVITIES Sledding Ice Skating Snowshoeing 45 This page has been left intentionally blank. 46 Figure 3.1: Natural vegetation in Sunfish Lake Park 47 0303 VISION & GUIDING VISION & GUIDING PRINCIPLESPRINCIPLES Although the community developed a city-wide vision statement in the 2040 Comprehensive Plan, it was not entirely specific to Lake Elmo’s park and trail system. To ensure the long-term success of this park system plan, the planning team engaged with a variety of stakeholders to develop an updated vision statement - a statement that can be adapted over time to more accurately reflect the community’s needs and aspirations for their park and trail system - as well as several guiding principles and values. The vision statement and guiding principles in this section of the report are meant to serve as a guiding framework for the successful development and management of Lake Elmo’s park and trail system. As the community’s needs related to parks, trails, and open spaces evolve, the city should reflect on this vision statement and set of guiding principles and make adjustments as needed. 48 | VISION + GUIDING PRINCIPLES VISION STATEMENT It’s no secret that the urbanization of some areas in Lake Elmo is happening and has accelerated over the years. With a massive boom in growth over the past decade, preserving and improving Lake Elmo’s park and trail system is of the utmost importance. While the city has adequately maintained park facilities and amenities thus far, they will need to adapt their offerings and increase staff support to satisfy the needs of residents in the future. In order to best plan for the future of Lake Elmo’s park and trail system, the planning team collaborated with a number of stakeholders, including city staff, Advisory Committee members, and the general public to develop a unified community vision statement. It reads: THE VISION LAKE ELMO’S PARKS, TRAILS, AND OPEN SPACES SHALL PROVIDE CONVENIENT ACCESS TO A WIDE RANGE OF OPPORTUNITIES FOR ALL RESIDENTS TO RECREATE AND CONNECT. 49 GUIDING PRINCIPLES Similarly, collaboration with city staff, the Advisory Committee, and the community led to the creation of four guiding principles specific to Lake Elmo’s parks, trails, and open spaces. These guiding principles provide an overarching framework to help inform the development of the goals, policies, and initiatives found in the recommendations section of this report. During the planning process, they helped define the actions that should be taken to achieve the vision for Lake Elmo’s park and trail system. Guiding principles for this plan include: THE GUIDING PRINCIPLES 1 2 3 4 CONNECT This plan should connect the community to parks, trails, open spaces, nature, reliable information, and each other, as well as strengthen relationships to the outdoors and healthy lifestyles GROW This plan should enhance and improve Lake Elmo’s existing assets, as well as provide room for future growth of the park and trail system This plan should provide guidance and recommendations that are implementable, maintainable, and sustainable. This plan should assist the city in adapting to ever-changing trends in park and recreation, as well as Lake Elmo’s rapidly growing population MAINTAIN ADAPT Figure 4.2: Scenic field of native plants in Lake Elmo 50 Figure 4.1: Trail segment in DeMontreville Wildlife Park 51 With changes in demographics, technologies, and social and recreational trends, Lake Elmo city staff and other decision makers will need to consider how park and recreation facility and programming needs will be met as the future unfolds. After all, park and recreation trends are ever-changing, can vary by region or climate, and are often impacted by social influences. In order to better adapt to future demands, city staff will need to be nimble and flexible in response to the ever-changing needs and desires of the public. This section of the report explores a handful of park and recreation-related trends (listed in no particular order) and their potential implications for the future of Lake Elmo’s parks and trail system. 0404 TRENDS ANALYSISTRENDS ANALYSIS 52 | TRENDS ANALYSIS According to recent U.S. Census data, Lake Elmo is one of the fastest-growing cities in the Twin Cities metropolitan area. In fact, Lake Elmo has the potential to double in population in less than six years if it continues to grow at its current rate. With this large and continuous influx of new community members, the city has both a challenge and an opportunity to adapt and grow with its residents. Understanding emerging social, recreational, and demographic trends is critical to best support current and future residents. OVERVIEW OF TRENDS In the following pages, several trends are highlighted. They include: »The Impacts of Climate Change »Shifts in the Workplace »Technology in the Park System »Dog Ownership »Pickleball + Cricket »A Rise in Non-Traditional Recreation »Inclusivity + Accessibility »Other Emerging Trends in Programming »Increased Need for Partnerships with Local Schools Figure 2.2: Children’s nature play area at Pebble Park 53 STATISTICS TREND 1 THE IMPACTS OF CLIMATE CHANGE Unfortunately, climate change has already started to have and impact on parks, trails, and other recreational environments. Heatwaves, droughts, floods, and other extreme weather events have become more frequent in the last decade, impacting not only the landscape but also the enjoyability of parks, trails and open spaces. In coming years, communities must develop strategies to adapt and evolve to the changing conditions the world is facing. Implementing green infrastructure (e.g., rain gardens, permeable pavements, bioswales, etc.), preserving, protecting and expanding natural resources, and integrating climate resilience into park planning and management are just a few ways to counteract the impacts climate change is having on our health and well-being. 75% 40% 6 out of 10 of Americans believe that climate change will cause significant environmental harm of Americans believe that climate change will directly affect their communities and outdoor spaces Americans believe that rising sea levels will cause migration away from coastal areas Figure 2.3: Carbon dioxide contributes to climate change Source: “Top Trends in Parks and Recreation for 2024” - National Recreation and Park Association (2024) Figure 2.4: Wildfires have become an increasing concern in wooded areas Figure 2.5: The frequency of flood events has significantly increased in recent years 54 | TRENDS ANALYSIS TREND 2 SHIFTS IN THE WORKPLACE Since the COVID-19 pandemic began in early 2020, the workplace has shifted quite substantially. As communities around the world went on lock-down, a large portion of the workforce began working from home. As a way to get outdoors and engage in physical activity while still adhering to social distancing guidelines, many community members turned to their city’s parks, trails and open spaces to recreate, and continue to do so post-pandemic. Many workers have reallocated the time they spent commuting to activities that enhance their wellbeing and leisure time, including walking, biking, and outdoor recreation. STATISTICS 90% 65% 81% of younger workers support flexible work options of employees want to continue to work from home despite the firm employer conviction to bring employees back to the office of the full-time workforce supports a four-day work week Source: “Top Trends in Parks and Recreation for 2024” - National Recreation and Park Association (2024) Figure 2.6: Hybrid work environments allow for some much-needed flexibility Figure 2.7: Traffic congestion Figure 2.8: Park users enjoying a day off 55 STATISTICS TREND 3 TECHNOLOGY IN THE PARK SYSTEM Technological innovation, including the use of artificial intelligence, has already had a large impact on the park and recreation industry in recent years. For example, advancements to AI chatbots, AI algorithms, and AI-assisted analytics have allowed park and recreation staff to more quickly respond to shifts in park usage and public demand for informations, more efficiently process data to make operations and maintenance decisions and predictions, and more accurately monitor community safety and security. Location analytics companies such as StreetLight can analyze geolocated devices without compromising privacy, therefore providing park and recreation agencies with more detailed information about their community members’ interactions with the park system. $200,000,000,000 25 Current value of the market for data brokers collecting and selling location-based and personal information Amount of apps recording and tracking location on the average smartphone Source: https://time.com/6209991/apps-collecting-personal- data/ Figure 2.9: Electronic and interactive wayfinding kiosks provide helpful information to park users Figure 2.10: A park’s “social media appeal” has become increasingly important to young park users 56 | TRENDS ANALYSIS TREND 4 DOG OWNERSHIP During the COVID-19 pandemic, dog ownership in the U.S. surged. Since then, love for dogs hasn’t changed a bit; in fact, dog parks remain the fastest-growing type of park, while off-leash dog parks are the fastest-growing type of dog park. In coming years, parks and recreation agencies should consider adding dog-related facilities and amenities in their communities. 45% dog parks 85% of all families currently own a dog Fastest-growing type of park of dog-owning families consider their dogs to be members of the family STATISTICS Source: “Top Trends in Parks and Recreation for 2024” - National Recreation and Park Association (2024) Figure 2.11: Off-leash dogs in a park Figure 2.12: A dog-owner on a walk Figure 2.13: A dog enjoying a run 57 STATISTICS TREND 5 PICKLEBALL As the fastest-growing recreational sport in the nation, pickleball can be found in many communities across the country. Pickleball is enjoyable for a variety of reasons: it’s inclusive to people of all ages, provides a healthy and active way to recreate socially, and boosts mood and mental health. However, there are concerns over the noise that comes from pickleball courts. These concerns have prompted many park and recreation agencies to reconsider where to site new pickleball courts. Demand for new courts may warrant the conversion of underutilized tennis courts to pickleball courts. pickleball 600 feet + under 40 dB up to 50% The fastest-growing recreational sport in the nation Recommended distance pickleball courts should be placed from a home + recommended level noise should be under Amount of noise reduction to paddles and balls when using sound-deadening equipment Source: “Top Trends in Parks and Recreation for 2024” - National Recreation and Park Association (2024) Figure 2.15: Pickleball can be quite noisy Figure 2.16: Tennis courts can be easily converted to accommodate pickleball Figure 2.14: Community members playing pickleball 58 | TRENDS ANALYSIS TREND 6 A RISE IN NON-TRADITIONAL RECREATION Recreation trends generally shift based on societal changes and preferences over time. In recent years, there has been a rise in non-traditional and informal recreation in parks, trails, and open spaces across the country. Often times, non-traditional and informal activities are more inclusive and appeal to a wider range of people, which encourages participation from folks of all backgrounds and age groups. As recreation in parks and trails continues to become more informal, cities will need to reconsider their recreational offerings and adjust accordingly. A few examples of informal recreation include mountain biking, hiking, horseback riding, disc golf, dancing, geocaching, pickleball, skateboarding, and seasonal/holiday-themed sports. from 45% to 38% Percentage by which the restriction imposed by the pandemic reduced participation in youth sports (2018) 4 in 5 91% Urban park and recreation agencies partner with local schools to coordinate efforts that connect youth to nature (e.g., through coordinated after-school programs, nature-based field trips, and formal and informal shared usage agreements that transform schoolyards into publicly accessible spaces where children can play outside of school hours) of U.S. adults seek park-centered entertainment and social events that allow them to mix and mingle with others STATISTICS Sources: “Parks and Recreation is Essential” - National Recreation and Park Association (2023); “Top Trends in Parks and Recreation for 2024” - National Recreation and Park Association (2024) Figure 2.17: Mountain bikers navigating an informal trail Figure 2.18: Hiking has become an increasingly popular activity Figure 2.19: Teens playing ultimate frisbee 59 STATISTICS TREND 7 INCLUSIVITY + ACCESSIBILITY Adaptive and inclusive programming in parks and open spaces is crucial for promoting a diverse and cohesive community. Prioritizing inclusive programming creates opportunities for social interaction and physical activity by catering to individuals of all abilities and backgrounds. Not only does embracing diversity in recreational activities encourage understanding and empathy among people, it also helps create better-functioning and healthier community dynamics. To ensure people of all abilities can participate, local park and recreation agencies must make changes to current policies and practices to become more accessible and inclusive. 90% 1 in 3 81% of U.S. adults agree it is important that local park and recreation agencies create and provide recreation programming that is adaptive and inclusive so persons of all abilities may participate Park and recreation agencies offer adaptive/inclusive sports activities of U.S. adults want parks and recreation to ensure inclusivity through policies and practices Sources: “Parks and Recreation is Essential” - National Recreation and Park Association (2023); “Top Trends in Parks and Recreation for 2024” - National Recreation and Park Association (2024) Figure 2.21: Inclusive and accessible playground equipment Figure 2.22: An accessible plaza area for a person with visual impairments is crucial Figure 2.20: ADA-accessible ramps help those with physical impairments 60 | TRENDS ANALYSIS TREND 8 OTHER EMERGING TRENDS IN PROGRAMMING With demographics and interests constantly in flux, programming trends are always shifting. According to observations from park and recreation agencies around the country, emerging programming trends include but are not limited to: »Family engagement nights »Season festivals/new seasonal programming »Outdoor fitness programming »Programs for older adults »Programs for teens and young adults »Partnering with libraries for community events »Using outdoor spaces for educational purposes »Developing community gardens »Incorporating adventure and nature play 44% Percentage by which community gardens in parks have increased since 2012 (2022 Trust for Public Land Survey) ADDITIONAL TRENDS According to a 2023 survey from recmanagement.com, programs that saw an increase in participation from last year included: »Holidays and other special events (up 6.2%) »Youth sports teams (up 4.1%) »Fitness programs (up 3%) »Educational programs (up 2.2%) »Festivals and concerts (up 2.2%) »Programs for active older adults (up 1.4%) STATISTICS Source: https://recmanagement.com/articles/153715/trends- parks-recreation-2023 Figure 2.23: Movies in the Park Figure 2.24: Trails for residents of all ages Figure 2.25: Community garden plots 61 STATISTICS TREND 9 INCREASED NEED FOR PARTNERSHIPS WITH LOCAL SCHOOLS As budgets are increasingly tight for both municipalities and school districts in the US, it is not uncommon for both entities to reduce their spending on programming, recreation facility improvements, operations, and maintenance. Often times, this results in reduced collaboration between schools and local governments, as both may lack the capacity and funds to run programs and operate facilities. Simultaneously, community desire for safe, accessible, and affordable options for play and recreation is increasing as populations grow. To create efficiencies and maximize economical use of public resources, collaboration between school districts and cities is important and should be considered. Clear, formalized joint use agreements can make resource sharing easier and more agreeable for both parties. $360 billion $60 billion Lost spending on US K-12 public school funding between 2016 and 2021 as 39 states devote a smaller share of their economies to funding public schools deferred maintenance backlog facing local parks in the US Figure 2.27: Children interacting with school playground amenities Figure 2.28: Joint use agreements can lead to better collaboration between school districts and cities Figure 2.26: School amenity use signage Sources: “Opening School Grounds to the Community After Hours - a toolkit for increasing physical activity through joint use agreements” ChangeLab Solutions (www.changelabsolutions.org); American Federation of Teachers; ASCE’s 2021 Infrastructure Report Card 62 Figure 5.1: Narrow-leaved purple coneflower 63 0505 RECOMMENDATIONSRECOMMENDATIONS The following recommendations were informed by community input and engagement, feedback from a variety of stakeholders and city staff, and an in-depth inventory and analysis of the existing conditions, city context, and amenities and facilities in Lake Elmo’s parks and trail system. The following recommendations are meant to provide a comprehensive approach to preserving, restoring, and enhancing Lake Elmo’s parks, trails and open spaces. Depending on available funding and partnership opportunities in the community, it is intended that the following improvements will be phased. The information provided here is intended for planning and budgeting purposes, and each project will require additional exploration and design to refine project scope and cost expectations. This section of the report dives into recommended improvements for five aspects of the system: parks, facilities, connectivity, open space and preserves, and operations and maintenance. Preliminary budgetary costs for specific actions associated with select initiatives are identified in further detail in the next section of this report. 64 | RECOMMENDATIONS OVERVIEW The following pages provide a set of goals, policies, and initiatives that the city can follow to improve their parks, facilities, connectivity, open spaces and preserves, and operations and maintenance. The recommendations in this section of the report are organized in the following way: Goal = broad statements that describe a desired outcome and are often long-term Policy = the general way in which programs and activities are conducted to achieve a goal, and reflect underlying values or principle Initiative = practices that support policy statements and may identify the “who, what, when, where, and how” of achieving a goal or policy 1. Goal 1.1 Policy 1.1.1 Initiative Figure 5.2: Playground equipment at Pilot Park 65 PARK RECOMMENDATIONS 1. Provide access to parks for all residents to foster community connectedness, health, and wellbeing • 1.1 - Ensure all residents have safe and convenient access to a great park within a 10 to 15 minute walk from their home (1/2 mile to 3/4 mile radius) »1.1.1 - Work to fill the park access gap in the southeast and north central areas of the city when development occurs »1.1.2 - Plan for future park integration by: * Adding parks as the community grows * Requiring the dedication of parkland in strategic locations that aligns with the long term goals for park size, access and amenities * Locating parks with at least one side along a public road * Planning for the inclusion of off-street parking areas »1.1.3 - Connect parks to neighborhoods, destinations, and other parks by adding trail and sidewalk connections that link to a greater trail network »1.1.4 - Collaborate with school districts on shared amenities * Work with Stillwater Area Public Schools on the partnership at Oak-Land Middle School (including the tennis courts and the 3.7 acres at the NE corner of the school property at the SW corner of the intersection of Manning Ave N. and 10th St N.). • 1.2 - Provide a distributed network of neighborhood parks that meet resident’s current and future day-to-day needs »1.2.1 - Ensure every neighborhood park has a playground or play feature, a flex field for informal play and recreation, and a special or distinctive feature to distinguish it from other parks »1.2.2 - Ensure every neighborhood park has a seating option, picnic table, bike rack, shade (trees or structure), trash and recycling receptacles, and park identification sign. »1.2.3 - Classify Hidden Knoll and Pilot Park as neighborhood parks, and Reclassify Firefly and Hammes from a Natural Resource Protection Area to a neighborhood park • 1.3 - Provide a network of special use parks that provide residents access to unique features and special places »1.3.1 - Reclassify Goose Lake Park to special use, providing visitors with access to Goose Lake Figure 5.3: The mature oak trees and forested backdrop at Kleis Park distinguish it from other neighborhood parks Figure 5.5: Off-street parking areas in city parks provide easy and safe access to park facilities and amenities Figure 5.4: Public art can be a defining, functional feature that sets a park apart 66 | RECOMMENDATIONS »1.3.2 - Reclassify Sunfish Lake Park from community park to special use »1.3.3 - Look for opportunities to develop a special use or mini park in the Old Village, and/or support the private development of public space in the Old Village • 1.4 - Provide a network of community parks that provide residents and visitors a place to gather for special occasions or use »1.4.1 - Combine Ivywood and Stonegate Parks into one park, reclassify the combined park as a community park, and rename it with a hybrid of Ivywood and Stonegate: * Develop a long-range plan for this new park, working with the community to evaluate the addition of off-street parking and recreational amenities »1.4.2 - Reclassify Lions Park, Pebble Park, Tablyn Park, and Reid Park from neighborhood to community park »1.4.3 - Ensure every community park has a seating option, picnic table, bike rack, shade (trees or structure), trash and recycling receptacles, entry signage, informational kiosk, a drinking fountain, and shelter »1.4.4 - Develop Lions Park as Lake Elmo’s destination community park: * Develop a long-range plan for Lions Park that maximizes its functionality as a community gathering place for larger events and strengthens its connection to downtown * Track opportunities to expand Lions Park • 1.5 - Provide a network of athletic parks dedicated to meeting the needs of recreational, league, and tournament play baseball and softball »1.5.1 - Reclassify VFW Park from neighborhood to athletic park and support competitive play here »1.5.2 - Develop a new athletic park to support baseball and softball (competitive and town ball for ages 9+) • 1.6 - Encourage residents to take an active role in the development of their parks »1.6.1 - Continue to engage residents and park users in the planning and design process when updating existing or adding new parks »1.6.2 - Support volunteer efforts at parks for/after gatherings, events, and clean-up days »1.6.3 - If demand warrants, provide extra amenities at parks such as portable restrooms and posting boards Figure 5.6: Pocket parks provide gathering opportunities in relatively small spaces, often transforming underutilized areas into community assets Figure 5.7: Shelters at community parks support everyday use and special events Figure 5.8: Volunteers’ assistance is essential to keeping the park system healthy and well-maintained 67 FIGURE 5.9 | PROPOSED PARK CLASSIFICATIONS MAP 68 | RECOMMENDATIONS FACILITY RECOMMENDATIONS 2. Provide a system of recreational facilities to meet the active and passive needs of residents • 2.1 - Provide a mix of recreational activities to meet a wide range of needs »2.1.1 - Look to add a special facility to meet the needs of tweens, teens, and young adults; consider a challenge-course facility, skate park, or disc golf course »2.1.2 - Look to provide additional court facilities in the southeast area of the city; engage with neighbors to determine type of court (tennis, pickleball, basketball, volleyball, or other) »2.1.3 - Look to provide additional field space in the southeast area of the city; engage with neighbors, clubs, and organizations to determine type and size of field (flex, lacrosse, football, soccer, etc.) • 2.2 - Provide places for larger group gatherings by providing higher amenity shelters at select community parks »2.2.1 - Look to develop a reservable shelter with potable water, electrical, and permanent restrooms • 2.3 - Distribute playgrounds or play features for children of all ages and abilities throughout the community, taking into consideration the needs and demographics of the surrounding neighborhood »2.3.1 - When replacing or adding new equipment, add play features designed for the following age ranges: * 6 to 24 months * 2 to 5 years * 5 to 12 years * Ages 13+ »2.3.2 - When replacing or adding new equipment, incorporate inclusive play features that are accessible to those using mobility devices Figure 5.10: A park challenge course is an active, fun way to engage tweens, teens, and young adults Figure 5.12: Inclusive playgrounds will attract visitors from the entire community Figure 5.11: Outdoor volleyball courts are only available at Lions Park 69 • 2.4 - Provide year-round opportunities for outdoor recreation »2.4.1 - Look to add winter facilities and activities in the city (e.g., ice skating, cross country skiing, etc.) »2.4.2 - Explore the opportunity to add fire pits into parks where appropriate, beginning with a pilot site to test success • 2.5 - Communicate regularly with local organizations, associations, and clubs to understand their changing needs • 2.6 - Increase access to water-based recreation opportunities »2.6.1 - Support the addition of a fishing pier in Sunfish Lake Park »2.6.2 - Look for opportunities to add boat launches, fishing piers, and swimming beaches »2.6.3 - Share and publicize the locations of fishing piers, boat launches, swimming beaches, and nearby aquatic facilities in online and paper maps »2.6.4 - Explore the possibility of partnering with Washington County to give Lake Elmo residents free access to Lake Elmo Park Reserve, which has boat launches, a fishing pier, and a swim pond Figure 5.13: Cross country skiing opportunities are currently lacking in the southeast part of the city Figure 5.15: Lake Elmo Park Reserve’s swim pond is the only accessible swimming beach in the community Figure 5.14: Fishing piers provide park visitors with increased access to water- based recreation opportunities 70 | RECOMMENDATIONS FIGURE 5.16 | BALLFIELD DISTRIBUTION MAP 71 FIGURE 5.17 | FIELD DISTRIBUTION MAP 72 | RECOMMENDATIONS FIGURE 5.18 | COURT DISTRIBUTION MAP 73 FIGURE 5.19 | PARK AMENITY DISTRIBUTION MAP 74 | RECOMMENDATIONS FIGURE 5.20 | PLAYGROUND DISTRIBUTION AND SCHEDULED REPLACEMENT MAP 75 FIGURE 5.21 | WINTER ACTIVITY DISTRIBUTION MAP 76 | RECOMMENDATIONS FIGURE 5.22 | WATER ACCESS DISTRIBUTION MAP This page has been left intentionally blank. 77 78 | RECOMMENDATIONS CONNECTIVITY RECOMMENDATIONS 3. Provide a system of trails and sidewalks that connect neighborhoods, parks, schools, community destinations, and neighboring communities safely throughout the city to encourage active living and recreation • 3.1 - Work to fill existing gaps in the trail system, prioritizing safety, connectivity, and cost »3.1.1 - Address gaps identified in the Connectivity Recommendations + Search Corridors Map »3.1.2 - Explore additional trail connections to and through the southeastern and north-central portions of the city (through easements or land purchases) »3.1.3 - Prioritize trails that connect to schools, neighborhood and community parks, and other community destinations to improve safety for younger populations • 3.2 - Integrate trail development into the planning and design process for public improvements and land development »3.2.1 - Preserve outlots and abandoned or vacated right-of-ways for future trails »3.2.2 - Include a parks and trails needs assessment process to the concept plan review process for land development • 3.3 - Improve crossing safety at busy roads and intersections near parks, dense trail networks, and other open spaces »3.3.1 - Address crossing issues identified in Gap Maps and the Connectivity Recommendations + Search Corridors Map »3.3.2 - Support the development and implementation of a crosswalk marking policy • 3.4 - Collaborate with partner agencies (e.g., MnDOT, Washington County, neighboring communities, etc.) to implement new trail connections, enhance active transportation facilities, and provide trail opportunities that the city does not currently have »3.4.1 - Collaborate with Washington County to establish regional trail connections to existing city trail segments Figure 5.25: Partnerships with Washington County and others will further increase trail connectivity Figure 5.23: Trail connectivity to community destinations is important Figure 5.24: Enhanced pedestrian crossings are essential at intersections near parks 79 4. Develop a system that is highly accessible and enjoyable to a diversity of users • 4.1 - Improve the trail user experience through improved maintenance, wayfinding, signage, and amenities »4.1.1 - Incorporate wayfinding signage in strategic locations to assist users in better understanding locations, destinations, and distances throughout the system »4.1.2 - Identify and resolve any trail surfacing issues that make trails difficult to use »4.1.3 - Add seating opportunities along trails favored by younger and older residents »4.1.4 - Further expand opportunities to tie non-athletic outdoor activities into the trail system, such as birdwatching and hiking »4.1.5 - Look for opportunities to collaborate with artists to implement public art along the trail »4.1.6 - Add soft surface trails within open space preserves • 4.2 - Reduce barriers to accessing and enjoying Lake Elmo’s trail system »4.2.1 - Implement a snow-removal plan for trails »4.2.2 - Ensure there is safe, accessible, and nearby trail access to senior citizen centers and multi-family housing developments »4.2.3 - Explore opportunities to pilot a mobility-device charging station at a key trail connection location »4.2.4 - Look for opportunities to develop trail loops of different lengths throughout the community and in certain strategically chosen parks »4.2.5 - Increase awareness and understanding of the trail system by developing and publicizing online and paper trail maps »4.2.6 - Explore opportunities to develop trailheads • 4.3 - Integrate opportunities for gathering along/near trails to promote social experiences for trail users »4.3.1 - Create informal gathering spaces (with benches/seating and litter receptacles) at major trail intersections where room allows Figure 5.26: Wayfinding signage kiosks (like the one in DeMontreville Wildlife Park) help orient park visitors to nearby amenities Figure 5.27: Lake Elmo does not currently have a snow removal plan for trails, confusing some community members Figure 5.28: Developing trailheads with amenities and/or accessible restrooms increases trail use and safety 80 | RECOMMENDATIONS FIGURE 5.29 | CONNECTIVITY RECOMMENDATIONS + SEARCH CORRIDORS MAP 81 OPEN SPACE + PRESERVE RECOMMENDATIONS 5. Protect and preserve public open spaces to connect the community to nature • 5.1 - Provide a distributed network of open space preserves »5.1.1 - Classify the following parks to be natural areas: * DeMontreville Wildlife Park (from community park) * Heights Park (from neighborhood park) * Heritage Park (from neighborhood park) * Homestead Park (from neighborhood park) * Lake Jane Hills Park (from neighborhood park) * Legion Ave N Park (not currently classified) »5.1.2 - Preserve additional natural areas if opportunities arise, designating them as open space preserves • 5.2 - Look for opportunities to improve the quality of open space preserves »5.2.1 - Explore the development of a natural resource management plan for the open space preserves • 5.3 - Proactively manage invasive species in the preserves »5.3.1 - Encourage volunteer efforts to seek and apply for grant funding to invasive species removal »5.3.2 - (Continue to) Provide/Match requirement funds for grants obtained by volunteer groups for invasive species removal »5.3.3 - Embrace existing and new technologies and approaches for invasive species removal »5.3.4 - Create an invasive species management plan for the preserves »5.3.5 - Inventory for existing and emerging invasive species threats • 5.4 - Expand awareness of the open space preserves »5.4.1 - Expand awareness of the open space preserves with mapping, wayfinding, and entry signage »5.4.2 - Educate the public about the benefits of open space preserves and the need to preserve them Figure 5.30: Heights Park, with its open fields and unprogrammed spaces, is better suited as a natural area Figure 5.31: Emerald ash borer and other invasive pests can cause major damage to trees in preserves and open spaces 82 | RECOMMENDATIONS OPERATIONS + MAINTENANCE RECOMMENDATIONS 6. Plan proactively to provide a high quality system • 6.1 - Use long-range planning tools to guide ongoing and capital investments »6.1.1 - Continue to maintain and utilize an operations, maintenance, and replacement schedule for park facilities and amenities »6.1.2 - Work with Engineering on a trail pavement management program to make sure trails are high quality »6.1.3 - Develop and implement a field management plan as the need arises to ensure high quality fields for ballfields and turf fields »6.1.4 - Continue to collaborate with and support the Sally Manzana Nature Center: Streamline the process for approving events at the Nature Center 7. Make sustainable improvements to operations • 7.1 - Make recycling and composting the easy and clear choice »7.1.1 - Offer recycling in all parks »7.1.2 - Explore opportunities to implement a compost collection system in parks • 7.2 - Reduce the use of pesticides within parks »7.2.1 - Pilot a pesticide free park, publicizing the effort and seeking community feedback »7.2.2 - Explore the use of integrated pest management strategies • 7.3 - Increase biodiversity and habitat with the use of native and native-cultivar plants »7.3.1 - Find opportunities to convert turf grass areas to more naturalized conditions • 7.4 - Incorporate stormwater best practices into parks • 7.5 - Publicize the City’s efforts to make sustainable improvements Figure 5.32: Well-maintained parks contribute to the health and well-being of the community Figure 5.34: Green infrastructure, like rain gardens and permeable paving, help to mitigate the effects of stormwater runoff Figure 5.33: Composting contributes to the structure and health of soil and can be collected at parks 83 8. Expand the city’s capacity to maintain and grow the park and trail system • 8.1 - Explore partnerships to supplement the city’s capacity for maintenance, programming, and improvements (work with recreation clubs and associations, businesses, and other public agencies) »8.1.1 - Explore opportunities for revenue generation »8.1.2 - Explore opportunities for the use of volunteers to support maintenance or programs »8.1.3 - Investigate the use of bonds or tax levies to support the system »8.1.4 - Work with private property owners who may be interested in donating land or granting easements • 8.2 - Explore staffing and departmental updates to respond to increased demands on the system »8.2.1 - Create dedicated Parks and Forestry departments »8.2.2 - Create a program manager position to begin offering programming in parks and preserves to activate parks, such as yoga in the park or stargazing events Figure 5.35: Dedicated parks and forestry departments are vital to the longevity of park and trail systems Figure 5.36: “Yoga in the Park” allows community members to enjoy nature, exercise, and socialize Figure 5.37: “Movies in the Park” improve social connections and provide a respite from the busyness of day to day life. 80 Figure 6.1: Natural path in Homestead Park 81 0606 IMPLEMENTATIONIMPLEMENTATION This section will touch on the importance of establishing priorities for recommendation improvements, explore potential funding mechanisms and opportunities, and suggest a path to implementation moving forward. Public partners and local community groups - including residents, the local government, the school district, local businesses, developers, and other partnering agencies - must work together to fully realize the vision for Lake Elmo’s parks, trails, and open space system. 82 | IMPLEMENTATION SETTING PRIORITIES Over the years, Lake Elmo has worked to align funding and mechanisms for land acquisition, facility additions and improvements, trail development, and operations and maintenance. Without a formal parks and recreation department in place, however, the city has been unable to develop an efficient process for prioritizing improvements and identifying potential funding resources. The city is in need of an adaptable and flexible framework to help guide the development, improvement, and projected maintenance of future park, trail, and open space assets. The priorities in this plan are drawn from the improvement recommendations identified in the Chapter 5. They are organized into five key topic areas, including: • Parks • Facilities • Connectivity • Open Space and Preserves • Operations and Maintenance Many factors informed the prioritization of recommendations in this report, including community and stakeholder input, the availability of city resources (e.g., time, staff, funding, etc.), and alignment with past planning documents, among other factors. Depending on staff resources, funding, and need, some initiatives will be easier and faster to achieve, while others may warrant a long-term commitment to implement. This plan anticipates the cumulative improvements for the park and trail system will be completed in phases as funding is available and opportunities for public and private partners arise. In the future, as city staff prepares to implement park and trail-related improvements, they should continue to keep residents involved/updated through social media outlets and the city website’s “Park Notices” tab (Home > Departments > Parks > Park Notices). The following pages include an implementation matrix which provides information about the improvement recommendations’ priority levels and planning-level budget estimates. The general timelines for implementation for each priority level are as follows: • Low Priority Level = 1 - 3 years • Medium Priority Level = 4 - 7 years • High Priority Level = 8+ years Following the matrix is a compilation of funding resources for Lake Elmo to explore. FIRST PRIORITY: PARKS DIRECTOR As mentioned, Lake Elmo does not currently have a parks director to assist in the improvement and development of the city’s park and trail system. Adding this position is the most critical action the city can take toward improving their park and trail system as the future unfolds. Without a dedicated parks director, the recommendations and implementation strategies discussed in this plan will be difficult to fulfill. ACTIONS PRIORITY LEVEL COST RANGE NOTES LOW MED HIGH PARKS INITIATIVE 1.1.1 Work to fill the park access gap in the southeast and north-central areas of the city when development occurs Accept the 5% land dedication in the rural north-central district of the city and develop a neighborhood park •$400,000 to $650,000 Accept the 10% land dedication in the urban south eastern district of the city and develop a neighborhood park •$500,000 to $750,00 INITIATIVE 1.2.2 Ensure every neighborhood park has a seating option, picnic table, bike rack, shade trees or structure, litter and recycling receptacle, and park identification sign Add seating to DeMontreville and Ridge Parks •$1,500 to $2,500 Add picnic tables to Firefly, Kleis, and Ridge Parks •$3,000 to $4,500 Add bike racks to DeMontreville, Hammes Park, Hidden Knoll Park, Firefly, Kleis, Pilot, Ridge, and Tana Ridge Park •$8,000 to $10,000 Add shade trees (or a shade structure) to Ridge Park •$800 to $12,000 Add park entry sign to Ridge Park •$2,500 to $3,200 INITIATIVE 1.3.3 Explore the addition of a special use park in the form of a mini park in the Old Village Engage the community in a planning effort to study and identify potential park sites and opportunities in the Old Village •$20,000 to $30,000 INITIATIVE 1.4.1 Combine Ivywood and Stonegate Parks and reclassify the combined park as a community park Develop a long-range plan for this new park, working with the community to evaluate the addition of off-street parking and additional recreational amenities •$20,000 to $35,000 83 TABLE 6.1 | PRIORITY INITIATIVES & COST ESTIMATES ACTIONS PRIORITY LEVEL COST RANGE NOTES LOW MED HIGH INITIATIVE 1.4.3 Ensure every community park has a seating option, picnic table, bike rack, shade (trees or structure), trash and recycling receptacles, entry signage, informational kiosk, a drinking fountain, off-street parking, and shelter Add shelters to Reid and Tablyn Parks •$140,000 to $160,000 Improve parking lot at Tablyn Park •$70,000 to $80,000 Improve parking lot at Ridge Park •$70,000 to $80,000 INITIATIVE 1.4.4 Develop Lions Park as Lake Elmo’s destination community park Develop a long-range plan for Lions Park that maximizes its functionality as a community gathering space •$40,000 to $50,000 Renovate Lions Park - implement the long-range plan •$650,000 to $950,000 INITIATIVE 1.5.1 Reclassify VFW Park from neighborhood to athletic park and support competitive and town ball play here Update parking lot (reorganize and pave)•$80,000 to $90,000 Replace existing dugouts •$35,000 to $50,000 INITIATIVE 1.5.2 Develop a new community athletic park to support baseball and softball (competitive and town ball for ages 9+) Complete a feasibility study to identify potential sites and high-level configurations and costs •$18,000 to $20,000 Develop a long-range plan for this new park •$18,000 to $25,000 Implement a new community athletic park •$2,000,000 to $5,500,000 Costs vary with level of development and acquisition prices 84 | IMPLEMENTATION TABLE 6.1 CONT. | PRIORITY INITIATIVES ACTIONS PRIORITY LEVEL COST RANGE NOTES LOW MED HIGH FACILITIES INITIATIVE 2.1.1 Add special facilities to meet the needs of tweens, teens, and young adults (e.g., challenge-course facil- ity, skate park, disc golf course, etc.) Add a challenge course facility at Reid or Pebble Park •$250,000 to $400,000 Add a skate park at Tablyn or Ridge Park •$150,000 to $250,000 Add a disc golf course at Ridge or Reid Park •$25,000 to $35,000 Develop an outdoor fitness park at a community park •$60,000 to $70,000 INITIATIVE 2.1.2 Provide additional court facilities in the SE area of the city Add an additional sand volleyball court, potentially in a future park •$25,000 to $35,000 INITIATIVE 2.1.3 Provide additional field space in the SE area of the city Look to provide additional field space; engage with neighbors, clubs, and organizations to determine type and size of field (flex, lacrosse, football, soccer) •$45,000 to $60,000 Consider locating in a new Community Athletic Park INITIATIVE 2.2.1 Provide a reservable shelter with potable water, electrical, and permanent restrooms Add a large shelter to Lions Park as part of future park renovation •$400,000 to $600,000 INITIATIVE 2.2.3 Replace existing play features or add new features that are designed for a variety of age ranges Update playground at Pebble Park (community park)•$120,000 to $130,000 2024 Update playground at Demontreville Park (neighborhood park)•$90,000 to $100,000 2024 Update playground at Kleis Park (neighborhood park)•$60,000 to $70,000 2025 Update playground at Lions Park (destination community park)•$230,000 to $300,000 2026 85 TABLE 6.1 CONT. | PRIORITY INITIATIVES ACTIONS PRIORITY LEVEL COST RANGE NOTES LOW MED HIGH Update playground at Tablyn Park (community park)•$120,000 to $130,000 2026 Update playground at Ridge Park (neighborhood park)•$90,000 to $100,000 2026 Update playground at Stonegate Park (community park)•$125,000 to $135,000 2027 Update playground at Carriage Station Park (neighborhood park)•$90,000 to $100,000 2028 Update playground at Tana Ridge Park (neighborhood park)•$90,000 to $100,000 2030 Update playground at Hidden Knoll Park (neighborhood park)•$90,000 to $100,000 2032 Update playground at Reid Park (community park)•$125,000 to $135,000 2033 INITIATIVE 2.4.1 Add winter facilities and activities Add trail signage to support cross country skiing at DeMontreville Wildlife Park (natural area) •$4,000 to $6,000 Add outdoor ice skating at a new park in the southeast part of the city •$45,000 to $200,000 Costs vary with level of development INITIATIVE 2.6.1 Support the addition of a fishing pier in Sunfish Lake Park •$150,000 to $250,000 CONNECTIVITY INITIATIVE 3.1.1 Address gaps identified in the Connectivity Recommendations + Search Corridors Map Central Greenway Regional Trail Development •$500,000 to $600,000 Add trail along Manning, connecting Oak Land Middle School to Stillwater Blvd •$1,000,000 to $2,300,000 Add trail on east side of Keats Avenue N •$420,000 to $600,000 Address trail gap on 5oth St N east of Lily Ave N •$16,000 to $30,000 Add trail on south side of 43rd St N west of Lake Elmo Avenue •$100,000 to $225,000 Add trail on south side of 50th Street N and 47th St N, west of Keats to Lily Ave N •$625,000 to $1,300,000 86 | IMPLEMENTATION TABLE 6.1 CONT. | PRIORITY INITIATIVES ACTIONS PRIORITY LEVEL COST RANGE NOTES LOW MED HIGH Add trail connection on south side of Julep Ave N to Tapestry Rd •$150,000 to $325,000 Add trail on north side of 10th St. N from Manning to Inwood •$1,200,000 to $2,600,000 OPEN SPACE + PRESERVES INITIATIVE 5.2.1 Develop a natural resource management plan for the open space preserves/natural areas •Work with volunteers currently engaged with this effort INITIATIVE 5.3.4 Create and implement an invasive species management plan for the open space preserves/natural areas • Add a program manager to coordinate with volunteers currently engaged with this effort INITIATIVE 5.4.1 Expand awareness of the open space preserves with mapping, wayfinding, and entry signage • Update and/or add entry signs to the 6 open space preserves/natural areas •$15,000 to $20,000 OPERATIONS + MAINTENANCE INITIATIVE 7.3.1 Find opportunities to convert turf grass areas to more naturalized conditions Expand forested areas and/or establish micro forests •$300 to $500 / acre INITIATIVE 8.2.1 Create a dedicated Parks & Forestry department ** FIRST PRIORITY Hire a full time parks director •$120,000 to $165,000 / year Estimate includes total compensation Hire a full or part time forester •$100,000 to $150,000 / year Estimate includes total compensation INITIATIVE 4.2.1 Implement a snow removal plan for trails •$50,000 to $60,000 / year Estimate varies based on approach (additional hire or contract service) INITIATIVE 8.2.2 Add a program manager position to begin offering unique programming in parks and preserves •$100,000 to $150,000 / year Estimate includes total compensation TOTALS •$2,719,000 to $4,890,000 (high priority) (excludes operations and maintenance costs)•$6,040,000 to $11,950,000 (medium priority) • $1,720,000 to $2,885,000 (low priority) 87 TABLE 6.1 CONT. | PRIORITY INITIATIVES FUNDING OPTION DESCRIPTION SOURCE General Funds A city’s general fund is the main operating account that covers basic operating costs such as planning, police and fire services, and street and park maintenance Money collected by the city in taxes, fines, fees, and revenues Dedicated Tax Levy City’s can hold a referendum to levy a dedicated tax for a specific purpose. In the case of parks and recreation, the tax can fund operations, maintenance, and capital improvement projects Property taxes Bonding Borrowing obligations that incur interest and require repayment at a specific date. These are typically issued to pay for larger capital projects Annual appropriation bonds, tax abatement bonds, and revenue bonds Local Option Sales Tax Minnesota Statute gives cities the authority to levy a local sales tax by an election process for specific capital improvements Sales tax addition State Aid Funds available to pedestrian and bicycle improvements on state aid roadways (key county highways), most beneficial during construction or reconstruction projects State of Minnesota Park and Trail Dedication Land or cash in-lieu of land from new subdivision developments that must be used for new equipment or park facilities Developers Partnerships Partnerships with private and/ or other public entities can be in many forms, including funding, design, operations and maintenance agreements, etc. Public or private organizations, clubs, agencies, governments, etc. Donations Gifts of cash, equipment, labor or others from private individuals or groups Individuals, businesses, groups, etc.. 88 | IMPLEMENTATION TABLE 6.3 | FUNDING RESOURCES FUNDING RESOURCES Securing additional funds to invest in Lake Elmo’s park and recreation system is critical to future implementation and realizing Lake Elmo’s vision for 2040. The city should explore and consider the following sources, mechanisms, and partners. FUNDING GRANT DESCRIPTION OF GRANT AGENCY AARP Community Challenge Grant Small grants to fund quick-action projects that can help communities become more livable for people of all ages AARP America Walks Community Change Grants Awards stipends to communities for projects related to creating healthy, active, and engaged places to live, work, and play Foundation American Trails Trail Fund Assists the trails community with funding to support maintenance, research, and stewardship training needs Foundation Bridge Investment Program Provides funding for communities to replace, rehabilitate, and preserve bridge infrastructure U.S. Department of Transportation Invasive Species Eradication Funding Opportunity Provides funding for projects that seek to eradicate invasive species (part of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law) U.S. Department of the Interior/U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Clean Water Funding Provides hands-on environmental stewardship and service-learning opportunities to youth and young adults while providing low-cost labor to eligible applicants Minnesota Board of Water and Soil Resources (BWSR) Community Facilities Direct Loan and Grant Provides affordable funding to develop essential community facilities in rural areas U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Conservation Partners Legacy Grant Program Provides funding to restore, protect, or enhance prairies, wetlands, forests, or habitat for fish, game or wildlife in Minnesota Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (MNDNR) Environment and Natural Resources Trust Fund Aims to protect, conserve, preserve, and enhance Minnesota’s air, water, land, fish, wildlife, and other natural resources Legislative-Citizen Commission on Minnesota Resources (LCCMR) Federal Recreation Trail Program Provides funding to encourage the maintenance and development of motorized, non-motorized, and diversified trails Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (MNDNR) Fields for Kids Provides financial support to improve baseball and/or softball facilities for youth in the Upper Midwest and Southwest Florida Minnesota Twins Community Fund Fishing Pier and Shore Fishing Area Program Joint Power Agreement with the DNR for installation, operations an maintenance Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (MNDNR) 89 TABLE 6.3 CONT. | FUNDING RESOURCES GRANT NAME DESCRIPTION OF GRANT AGENCY Local Trail Connections Program Provides funding to promote short trail connections between where people live and significant public resources Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (MNDNR) Minnesota Festival Support Grant Program Provides arts experiences through festivals celebrating arts, building community, and exposure to diverse art forms Other - Minnesota Natural and Scenic Area Grants Provides funding to increase, protect, and enhance natural and scenic areas Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (MNDNR) No Child Left Inside Aims to support and increase efforts to expand programming that connects youth to the outdoors Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (MNDNR) Our Town Grant Program Supports projects that integrate arts, culture, and design activities into efforts that strengthen communities by advancing local economic, physical, and/or social outcomes National Endowment for the Arts Outdoor Recreation Grant Program Provides funding to increase and enhance outdoor recreation facilities in local and community parks throughout the state Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (MNDNR) Parks and Trail Legacy Grant Program Provides funding for parks and trails of regional significance outside of the seven county metropolitan area Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (MNDNR) PeopleForBikes Community Grant Program Provides funding that supports bicycle infrastructure projects and targeted advocacy initiatives that make it easier and safer for people of all ages and abilities to ride Other - Minnesota The Rapid Response Fund Provides financial resources to assess and support response actions for quick containment or eradication of newly detected species National Park Service Rivers, Trails, and Conservation Assistance Program Supports community-led natural resource conservation and outdoor recreation projects across the nation National Park Service Rural Initiative Grant Fund Program Provides funding to encourage collective and involved endeavors among citizens in rural communities Foundation Safe Routes to School Infrastructure Grants/Safe Routes to School Planning Assistance Grants Provides funding for the development and implementation of infrastructure projects which enable students to walk and bicycle to and from schools Minnesota Department of Transportation (MNDOT) State Park Road Account Program Provides funding to assist local governments in improving access to public recreation facilities Minnesota Department of Transportation (MNDOT) 90 | IMPLEMENTATION TABLE 6.3 CONT. | FUNDING RESOURCES 91 This page has been left intentionally blank.This page has been left intentionally blank. 92 Figure 7.1: Vegetation in Heritage Park INVENTORY MAPS..............................................................................94 - 117 COMMUNITY SURVEY RESULTS...................................................117 - 197 POP-UP EVENT BOARDS................................................................198 - 204 93 0707 APPENDIXAPPENDIX 94 95 96 97 98 99 100 101 102 103 104 105