2013.10.09 Parks Packet - Laserfiche WebLink

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• Justifying a neighborhood park in the rural area is unlikely due to expense • Trail access is ideal • Range in size from 5-20 acres. SERVICE AREAS The Parks Plan details ten neighborhood park service areas. The plan was approved in 2010 and includes the parks that were built at that time. It also discusses which neighborhood park service areas (NP-#) are expected to see residential development and need additional parks. These include NP -2, NP -3, and NP -5. There are 3 areas described that have no parks which will need to be addressed with future residential development. NP -6, which is located south of Egg Lake Road, is has the strongest need for a park. NP -2 is the large area encompassing Heritage Ponds, Creek Veiw, Waters Edge, and Victor Gardens North neighborhoods. There are several parks and the area is described as being adequately served. However, there have been new residential developments in the last few years, which are expected to grow. Additional parks may be needed. NP -8, the area between Hwy 61 and Oneka Lake, is served by Oneka Ponds Park. This is a great example of using park dedication opportunities to provide a park. It serves a large number of residents because it is easily accessed on trails and centrally located. There are also opportunities with the adjacent Bernin Property. NP -7, which includes Diamond Point Park is another successful area. Prior to the development of Diamond Point East and the park, Rice Lake Meadows and Diamond Point West did not have easy access to a park. PLANNING GUIDELINES The Parks Plan provides very basic planning guidelines for the neighborhood parks but does not make recommendations within each of the service areas. The Parks Commission will continue to get requests for park improvements big and small as well as proposals for park dedication with future residential development. Until Hugo is fully developed, there will be a need for additional parks and recreation facilities. 5o far, the Parks Commission has been evaluating requests on a case by case basis. For example, the Fable Hill and Gabrielson requests. Both the Fable Hills and Fire Hall neighborhoods are both located in neighborhood park service area 3 (NP -3). It includes a number of parks including those in the Victor Gardens neighborhoods and the 100+ acre Clearwater Creek Preserve Park. The Parks Plan states that additional neighborhood parks will be required if additional development is allowed. The majority of NP -3 is planned to be developed with single family homes. This leaves a lot of possibilities for development and future park needs. The neighborhood park service area plan is just one of many resources for guiding park improvements. Consideration of future parks in this area may include discussion on: • Accessibility by trail or sidewalk • Major roads or other physical barriers • Number of households and anticipated growth • Availability of land • Nearby facilities • Opportunities through development