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Trail Evaluation <br />TO: City of Hugo Parks, Recreation and Open Space Commission <br />FROM: Shayla Syverson, Parks Planner <br />DATE: May 9, 2014 for the Parks Commission Meeting of May 14, 2014 <br />1 INTRODUCTION <br />At the Parks, Recreation, and Open Space Commission meeting of April 23, 2014, the Trail Development <br />Policy was drafted. The policy establishes criteria to prioritize trail improvements that would not be <br />constructed through normal means. The Trail Development Policy was approved at the City Council <br />meeting of May 5, 2014. <br />The Parks Commission has shared an interest in a few different missing trail connections. These will be <br />evaluated using the new Trail Development Policy. <br />2 PRIORITY EVALUATION <br />A chart has been put together to give an overview of each trail project and provide a summary of how <br />the trail projects would rank according to the Trail Development Policy. In order to use park funds, a <br />trail project must meet the following criteria: <br />1) It must be identified in the Trail and Sidewalk Plan. <br />2) It must not be planned to be built in the near future with a road project or development. <br />3) It must have land available. As per the Parks, Trails, and Open Space Plan. Land will not be <br />condemned to build a trail. Therefore, land must be located on city -owned land or easement, or <br />available through willing sellers. <br />If a trail project does not meet these criteria, an alternative strategy for the trail connection shall be <br />used. <br />3 125TH STREET EVALUATION <br />REQUIRED CRITERIA: <br />The Trail and Sidewalk Plan includes a future trail along 125th Street between Fenway Boulevard and a <br />future connection to Goodview Avenue to the east. The Fox Meadows development is anticipated to be <br />built south of Beaver Ponds. The developer is proposing to upgrade 125th Street from gravel to a rural <br />section roadway, even though the roadway is not within the development. The properties to the north <br />and south of 125th Street are guided for development in the future. At that time, 125th Street would be <br />upgraded to an urban section roadway, which is likely to include an off-road trail. Therefore, a trail <br />improvement to 125th Street as a part of the Fox Meadows development, would be temporary. Land is <br />