2-26-87 Agenda & Packet - Laserfiche WebLink

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MOUNDS VIEW PARKS AND RECREATION COMMISSION PARK CLASSIFICATION DESCRIPTIONS • For purposes of analysis and planning, a functional classification and definition of the various levels of parks is described below. In general, there are three basic categories of parks that relate to Mounds View's needs - neighborhood, community, and metropolitan. A brief definition of each is as follows: Neighborhood Parks - relatively small but intensively developed parks having easy accessibility of residents within a distance of no more than three-fourths mile in most cases. Size may vary from a portion of a city block to several acres. Most space is put to some intensive use as opposed to large open landscaped areas. Neighborhood parks are further categorized as playlots, playgrounds and playfields. Playlots - are for use almost wholly by small children. Their size averages roughly two acres in area, and their function is to provide play facilities for small children who are not conveniently served by larger parks. Playgrounds - are usually about 10 acres in size and are designed for use by children from pre-school to age 12. They contain at least one softball diamond and a hard-surfaced area with standards for basketball and volleyball. If space is available, playgrounds may contain a wading pool, tennis court, playlot, and a small shelter with toilets. Their radius of influence ranges from one-fourth to one-half mile. Playfields - vary in size from 10 .to 30 acres and are designed to • provide recreation opportunities for all ages. They contain all the facilities of a playground plus additional ball diamonds, larger shelters, tennis courts, larger hard surfaced areas for badminton and shuffleboard, horseshoe courts, and a large landscaped area and lighting for adult evening use. Their radius of influence ranges from one-half to three-fourths mile. Community Parks - relatively large parks usually having natural amenities and designed for community-wide social and recreational functions. Community parks are generally noted for such activities as picnicking, strolling, swimming, and active gaming. Lighted areas for evening play are provided. In general community parks have a much greater share of their area left in its natural open state than do neighborhood parks. Metropolitan Parks - very large parks, which, because of their physical attractions and unusual development, provide recreation opportunities developed specifically for a metropolitan area's needs, and which provide recreation interests that are not normally satisfied in neighborhood or community parks. Numerous visitors are attracted to metropolitan parks irrespective of physical barriers to travel or of political boundaries. Metropolitan parks provide for recreational activities that occupy the major portion of a day or longer, such as camping, hiking, fishing, and boating. In many cases, relatively little development of facilities is needed. These three categories of parks - neighborhood, community, and metropolitan are not mutually exclusive. What is a metropolitan park may serve as a • community park for a nearby municipality, or a community park may serve as a neighborhood park for residents in its immediate vicinity.