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Big Island Nature Park Management Plan November 2011 ____________________________________________________________________________ 3 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY Big Island Nature Park includes 56 acres of diverse natural and cultural resources. It provides ecological and passive recreational benefits for the Lake Minnetonka region and the state. The Park preserves a diversity of natural resources including maple-basswood forest, wetlands, and more than 1.4 miles of undeveloped Lake Minnetonka lakeshore. In addition, the cultural heritage of the park property adds to the uniqueness of this recreational amenity. This plan documents the planning process and actions taken by the City of Orono and others during the period 2004-2011 and sets a general direction for the management of Big Island Nature Park for the future. The goals and policies contained herein reflect what can rightly be deemed an evolutionary process that has resulted in a management plan directed toward preservation and maintenance of the site‘s natural features and historical amenities, while maintaining a minimal level of physical facilities. The goals of this plan are to: · Document the background leading to the City‘s acquisition of the site and define for future City leaders a set of fundamental principles for management of the Park. · Provide a structure for defining and managing the major natural, cultural, interpretive and recreation resources of Big Island Nature Park. · Establish a general long-term management direction for Big Island Nature Park. To accomplish these goals, the plan has been divided into a number of parts. Part I, the Introduction, describes the park generally and documents the background of its acquisition; describes the local and regional roles of Big Island Nature Park; discusses the partnership with the Minnehaha Creek Watershed District (MCWD); presents long-term mission, vision and goal statements; and documents the planning process that resulted in this plan. Part II provides a natural resource inventory and analysis; describes the MCWD Conservation easement that encompasses the entire property; and presents management goals and recommendations regarding the Park‘s natural resources. Part III establishes a framework for future development of a cultural resources inventory and establishment of management goals and recommendations for the various cultural resources of the property. This section of the Plan will be further developed as human and financial resources permit. Part IV contains goals, objectives and recommendations for implementing and managing interpretive and educational services for the Park. Part V includes goals and objectives for recreational use of the Park; provides an inventory of existing recreational facilities; addresses future recreation needs and potential improvements; discusses park use regulations; and explores the need to better define and manage visitor expectations.