Trail expansion is centerpiece of regional parks plan update
The seven-county metro area’s regional trail system is proposed to grow substantially over the next 20 years, from the current 231 miles of regional trails to nearly 1,000 miles by 2030.
If all the proposed trails are constructed, a person will be able to bike, skate or walk from Baylor Regional Park in western Carver County all the way to Hastings in eastern Dakota County. Connecting existing parks and providing more of what park system users most enjoy are two goals of the trail expansion.
Trails are enormously popular for biking, rollerblading, walking and running. Pictured are bicyclists on the Dakota Rail Regional Trail as it crosses an inlet on Lake Minnetonka.
“Trails in the regional park system are already enormously popular, and account for nearly 40% of all park system visits,” said Council Chair Peter Bell. “And as the baby boom generation ages, demand for trails for walking and biking will continue to grow.”
The Metropolitan Council approved a draft update of its 2030 Regional Parks Policy Plan on August 25. The draft plan incorporates 100 new miles of trails, many of which were proposed by counties and the City of St. Paul in their newly updated comprehensive plans. The draft regional plan also proposes to add The Landing in Shakopee, run by Three Rivers Park District, to the regional parks system as a “special recreation feature.”
A public hearing on the draft update is scheduled for 5 p.m. on Oct. 13 at the Council offices in downtown St. Paul. Public comments will be accepted through Oct. 25.
More trails and a history-themed park
The draft plan includes 17 proposed new trail additions, ranging in length from 2 to 32 miles, with segments in every county. The 100 new trail miles are in addition to the 700 new trail miles proposed in the 2030 parks plan when it was first adopted in 2005.
The Landing, a historic interpretation site in Three Rivers Park District, is being considered for inclusion in the regional parks system.
Many of the proposed trails are currently designated as search corridors, with the park agencies to determine the actual trail alignments in the future. The agencies must develop and submit to the Council for approval a master plan for each trail segment before regional funds can be allocated and construction can begin.
The Landing (formerly Historic Murphy’s Landing) in Shakopee is an 88-acre living history museum run by Three Rivers Park District that depicts life in the Lower Minnesota River Valley from 1840-1890. It features costumed interpreters, historic buildings, demonstrations, and a scenic river trail and overlook.
The park would be the seventh unit in the system with the “special recreation feature” designation, joining Como Zoo, Como Conservatory, Noerenberg Gardens, Square Lake, Gale Woods Farm and Silverwood. To get the designation, these parks must be unique, and complement or enhance the services already offered in the regional park system.
“The Landing has some interesting history and a lot of natural features,” said Council Member Wendy Wulff. “I think it is very consistent with what we have as criteria for special recreation features.”
In addition, the park meets the visitation criteria for entry into the regional system, explained Jan Youngquist, senior parks planner for the Council. Visitor surveys show that 68% of visitors to The Landing come from outside Three Rivers Park District, including 28% from outside the seven-county metro area. The threshold for inclusion in the regional system is 40% or more of visitors to a park unit must come from outside the park district where the park is located.
Plan proposes a park “study area”
Dakota Lodge at Thompson County Park is a popular setting for weddings. The park, located in West St. Paul, will be considered along with Kaposia Park and Kaposia Landing in South St. Paul for inclusion in the regional park system.
The plan update also proposes an area where existing county parks will be studied for possible inclusion in the regional system. In the area, being studied, one park unit would be created from three adjacent parks in Dakota County that are connected by the North Urban and Mississippi River Regional Trails – Thompson Park in West St. Paul, and Kaposia Park and Kaposia Landing in South St. Paul.
Parks that are added to the regional system become eligible for regional funding for acquisition, development, and ongoing operation and maintenance.
Read a list of the proposed new trails, park addition and park study areas in the draft plan update (pdf).
The Council is required by state law to update its regional system plans – for transportation and aviation, water resources, and regional parks – at least every four years. Youngquist said the timing of this regional parks plan update is excellent because it incorporates the parks planning done by park agencies and included in the most recent round of local comprehensive plan updates. Those updates occur every 10 years and were submitted to the Council for review in 2008.