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3 <br />Park Usage Up 13,154,600 people visited aregional park during 1988. That total, according to a Metropolitan <br />ouncil survey, is up 10 percent from 1987. On average, park use increased 7 percent annually <br />rv <br />tween 1974 and 1987. From 1982 to 1988 annual visits in the regional parks increased by <br />er 4 million visitors. Minnesota's 4 million residents use a regional park just over three <br />mes each year. <br />existing regional park system encompasses approximately 45,000 acres in 29 parks, V <br />reserves and four regional trail corridors. The Metropolitan Council, through th+ <br />ropolitan Parks and Open Space Commission coordinates planning and financing of th+ <br />anal parks system in partnership with ten implementing agencies: the cities of Blooming <br />Minneapolis, and St. Paul; and the counties of Anoka, Carver, Dakota, Hennipen <br />isey, Scott, and Washington. 90% of regional park users live in the metropolitan area. <br />Park Financing is `Acquisition, development and maintenance of the regional park system has slid from the <br />f the agenda where it was with the passage the Metropolitan Parks Act in 1974 to a posit <br />Growing Problem 3f benign neglect," said Peggy Lynch, Executive Director of the Friends of the Parks w1 <br />eviewing the history and future of funding options for the system. <br />1974 the Metropolitan Council was authorized to sell $40 million in bonds each bienni <br />regional park acquisition and development. During the last 15 years the purchasing po, <br />that $40 million has dropped by 50 percent because of inflation. But that is not the ws <br />Nem. Since 1981 the average appropriation per biennium has been $14.5 million not.' <br />Ilion. Although the Metropolitan Council asked the 1987 legislature for $31 million <br />pital improvement funding despite an actual need for $50 million, the legislature au thori. <br />ly $9.5 million. (An additional $6 million was allocated for the acquisition of the new L <br />hnetonka Regional Park.) <br />Acquisition Slows n 1975 the regional park system contained 40,000 acres. From 1975 to 198014,000 ac <br />Cres were acquired. Since 1981 less than 1,000 acres have been acquired. The Met <br />rstimates a need to purchase 10,800 additional acres by the year 2000. <br />arks are not static. Use, over use and changed life styles necessitate improvements <br />Capital Improvement acilities. Today capital improvement needs total $190 Million. Some examples: <br />Needs omo Park Zoo $5.7 million <br />onservatory $7 million <br />omo Park redevelopment 19.3 million <br />halen Regional Park path separation $1.5 million <br />Vfississippi Gorge Regional Park $2 million <br />'dden Falls/Crosby Park $6 million _ <br />illydale-Harriet Island Regional Park $33 million <br />urlington Northern Trail cost unknown. <br />t present funding rates it will take nearly 20 years to complete the improvements at Com <br />cl <br />ark alone! <br />Alternative Funding housing for the homeless, drug education, aids, and airport noise have pushed parks from <br />e funding lists, the need to seek reliable funding is necessary to avoid the deteoriation of the <br />ark system. "Park acquisition and development must be considered a basic service an <br />imply stated, a basic service deserves a basic funding source." According to Bob Piram <br />Director of St. Paul Parks and Recreation. <br />ne proposal being "floated" as a trial balloon is a property tax. The Metropolitan Counci <br />stimates it will cost $250 million over a ten year period to complete the regional park system i <br />