COMMISSION_MINUTES_1979-10-25 - Laserfiche WebLink

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RECREATION OPEN SP9CE INTRODUCTION Governments t�ave the responsibility for providing aensices that -_ are beyond the ecope of individual ef£ort. One of the servicea o£ � government ia the provision of recreational opportunities to satiafy _ the leieure time needs and desires of the public it servea. This role has evolved over many years, and has resulCed ia varioua levele oE governmene assumiag differeat responsibilities. Nationally this dev- elopment F�as.included: 1. Eatablishment of large urban parks, such as Central Park . in New York City in 1853. • 2. Eatablistiment o£ a National Park System, begun caith Yellow- stone in 1872. 3. Establishment of arganized .`Ieighborhood Recreation Areas with leadership, the firat being the Boaton Plaqground, in 1886. Locally, the Metropolitan Area has seen a comparable developmsnt. ' - Minneapolis established a Park Board which acquired and deval- oped piaygrounds and urban parks, including the Lake Syatem v and Grand Round Trail Cancept. • - - St. Paul acquired and developed playgrounds and urban parka, including Como Park with the Zoo and Conaervatory a� epacial recreaCion uee facilitiee. - A State Park System was established in 1891 with ehe acquisition of Itasca State Park. - Various Countiee began eouaty paric systema; lncluditig Hennepin County, which aet up a aeai-autonomoue aganey, tha Hennepin County Park Raeesve Dietrict. - Establistimant of the Metropolitan Regional Park Program by act ••a o£ the Lagielatura in 1974. - Manp m�micipalities hav� astablished Local park and raes�ation eyet�ms, including playgrounde, parks, trails, and speciai racreation use faeiliti�s such as ice arenas. This e��arq o£ ma}or steps a££�cting eha d�valopment oF t public recr�ational system points out th� rols of th� variou� l�v�is o! gov�rn- mnnts in the systam. Local municipelities hav� tha ra�ponsibilitq for ,`