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Buffer from Residential: A few cities provide definitive distances from residences, varying from 50 feet to 200 feet. All strive to minimize conflicts and include guidelines such as: making sure that noise and activity levels are no more than other park uses, importance of screening or visual buffers, and having a minimal impact on residences. Parking: Recommendations include that parking should be readily accessible, close to the site, sufficient/adequate size, and convenient. There were no standards for size; rather it is important to consider parking when locating a dog park. Use Conflict Avoidance: Guidelines include avoiding play areas and other recreational amenities, high use areas, natural areas and water sources, wildlife, trails, community gardens, and historic sites. Staff reviewed the City’s parks layout and usage and other city-owned property, and was unable to identify an appropriate location that would meet all or most of the key criteria above. So in order to add a dog park current usage and/or amenities would need to be eliminated. As a result, staff‘s opinion is integrating a dog park into the park system is not feasible at this time. Due to not readily identifying an appropriate location, staff did not yet begin any preliminary design process, estimation of implementation cost, or ongoing maintenance costs/staffing needs. PARKS & ENVIRONMENTAL COMMISSION DISCUSSION Staff presented the initial information gathered for input and any ideas on alternatives the staff have not considered. The Commission acknowledged that there are no sites available within the parks system or other city-owned property. The Commission also briefly discussed usage parameters such as permits and the possibility of separate parks for small and large dogs, dedicated hours for each size of dogs, and how resident education on available dog parks and city ordnance around the ownership of dogs. Discussion then focused on possible alternate locations, focusing on two areas: Open space west of Apache Animal Hospital and Open space between Hwy 88 and Rankin Rd/Old Hwy 8. The Commission discussed these options and wished to send them to the City Council for consideration. Hwy 88 and Rankin Rd/Old Hwy 8 Attached to this memo is a resident suggestion for another location adjacent to Hwy 88. The area is open, and currently mowed by public works staff. The area is large enough to meet best practice and is walkable from a large residential area of the city. The area is Hennepin County right-of-way, so usage as a dog park would need to be approved by Hennepin County. The provided aerial map an approximate measurements show that it fits many of the best practices criteria, though the total usable area may less than estimated due to a drainage ditch along the east side. Apache Animal Hospital Below is an aerial view of the possible location highlighted within the yellow box. The area is adjacent to sidewalks that connect many high density areas of the city, as well as being nearby the single family home neighborhood to the south. The area is partly privately owned and partly owned by the Soo Line Railroad. Usage of the area as a dog park would need to be coordinated with the property owner and the railroad. If shared use with the railroad were unavailable, the useable size would be greatly reduced. 34