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HomeMy WebLinkAbout04-10-2000 Council Work SessionTO:Mayor Jabbour and Orono City Council Members Chair McDermott and Parks, Open Space & Trails Commission Members FROM: Ron Moorse, City Administrator DATE:April 5,2000 SUBJECT: Parks, Open Space & Trails Goals and Action Plan Attachments: 1 . Classification of Orono City Parks/Public Use Areas 2. Orono Demographics 1994/1995 In order to update the Parks, Open Space & Trails element of the City ’s Comprehensive Plan, staff needs feedback from the City Council and the Parks, Open Space & Trails Commission regarding the priority goals and needs of the City in the area of parks, open space and trails. The following is an outline of key goals and action steps related to parks, open space and trails for review in preparation for the joint work session of the City Council and the Parks, Open Space & Trails Commission: I.Goals. 1. Develop, maintain and evaluate the existing active parks. A. Continually assess and evaluate the current park and open space options in Orono as they relate to the needs of citizens of all ages. 2. Protect and preserve natural resource areas, wildlife habitat and open space. A. To help preserve Orono ’s natural open rural character. B. To preserve open space and unique natural features. C. To preserve open spaces and natural amenities for people to enjoy nature walks, etc. D. To add buffers to protect existing parks, open space and natural areas. E. To provide natural protection for Lake Minnetonka, Long Lake, and other lakes. 3.Identify, develop and over.see a city-wide bike and walking trail plan that connects parks and open space in the area and functions as a transportation corridor. A. The interrelationships between neighborhood parks, conservation areas and the rest of the park system should be strengthened through the proper location and use of green ways, trails, underpasses and overpasses. II. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. B. Provide trail connections to neighborhood parks to enable pedestrian access. Provide linear parks as trail corridors and/or as open space buffers at the edge of subdivisions and/or adjacent to major roadways. Preserve open space along the lakeshore of Lake Minnetonka for passive recreational uses. Provide sufficient ballfields to meet the long-term needs of the community in relation to youth sports activities. Provide suftlcicnt informal neighborhood ballfields/play fields to meet the long-term needs of neighborhoods or groups of neighborhoods, such that children can walk or bike to a neighborhood ballfield. Provide sutllcient neighborhood playgrounds to meet the needs of neighborhoods or groups of neighborhoods, such that children can walk or bike to a playground. Cooperate and actively work with public and private organizations. A. Work with public or nonprofit groups to fund recreation and open space acquisition and development. B. Encourage planning for organized team sports on a community/sub-regional basis. C.Cooperate with the Orono and Mound/Westonka School Districts and their Community Service programs. * D. Encourage I lennepin Parks to continue its c.xisting service levels at Morris T. Baker Park and Nocrenberg Gardens. 10. Encourage civic involvement and partnerships in developing and maintaining Orono’s parks and open spaces. 11. Develop fiscal and management policies and plans that support the maintenance, development and acquisition of parks and open spaces. 12. Ensure all new parks arc ADA compliant, and continue to move c.xisting parks into ADA compliance. Action Plan. 1. Obtain a "first right of refusal" agreement for the purcha.se of the residential lot in 1 lackberry Park. 2. Identify for preservation/acquisition areas with unique natural features and wildlife habitats that will make a substantial contribution toward preserving Orono’s natural 3. 4. 7. 8. 9. open rural character. Identify future locations for neighborhood parks in advance of development so that they can be included in subdivision plans, and the City can obtain land through the park dedication requirement. Plan for a neighborhood park for the area in the southwest quadrant of Highway 12 and Old Crystal Bay Road. 5. Plan for an underpass at County Road 6 and Old Crystal Bay Road for the Old Ciy'stal Bay Road trail. 6. Convert the Dakota Rail corridor to a regional recreational trail. Ensure all new bridges to be constructed as part of the new I lighway 12 project have sufficient trails/sidewalks for pedestrian and biking use. Coordinate with the City of Long Lake, and work with Mn/DO f regarding a trail along the south side of the new Highway 12 corridor. Determine the City’s long-term needs for ballfields to meet the needs of organized youth sport activities and develop a plan for acquiring sufficient land to provide the necessary ballfields. 10. Preserve and retain all existing public access lanes to Lake Minnetonka. VII. CLASSIFICATION of ORONO CITY PARKS/PUBLIC USE AREAS The City of Orono is serviced by a variety of park and open space facilities provided by the city, regional government, the siiiool district and private enterprise. In addition, the community benefits from nearby communities' facilities whose proximity also service Orono residents. This section is a classification of the existing park, open space facilities and other resources available to the Orono Community. Orono facilities are provided by the city for Orono residents. A. Mini-parks Approxin utely 0-2 acres Serves primarily the neighborhood community that surrounds the park and is intended for informal recreation, play and relaxation Limited usage by groups or organizations. Possible facilities can include: - tot lots - play lots for children - benches - picnic tables - creative play structures and apparatus - limited parking - lighting not to be intru-sive and primarily for security Orono has several mini-parks located throughout the city that generally serve as a passive neighborhood recreation site for all ages. Mini-parks or play lots may also be small parks intended for informal recreation, play and relaxation B. Neighborhood Parks 2-15 acres Primarily for informal, neighborhood area use (approximately a one mile radius) Limited organizational use and for exclusive use of any one organization. The basic neighborhood park might contain one or more of the following: - softball/baseball fields - multiple use, hard surface play courts - creative play structures and apparatus - half-court basketball, - tennis courts - open field for informal soccer or football - picnic area - benches - trail connections to community-wide hike way/bikeway system - Ice-skating rinks c. - vehicle parking with 10 to 20 spaces (size to meet park needs) - lighting that is not intrusive and primarily for security Orono's neighbor parks are intended for more active use than mini-parks with areas ollen designated for field games and special activities that can serve more than the surrounding neighbors. This classification of park offers more opportunities for a variety of recreational use for all age groups, The types of facilities found in Orono's neighborhood parks varies by activity requirements and site physical constraints Neighborhood parks offer opportunities for a variety of recreational activities, primarily informal, but also including limited organized activities. Organizational activities are typically not more than two days or nights per week. Community Play Fields (as of 1998, except for the Oroiio school, there are not any community play fields in Orono) 10 or more acres or 1 1/2 - 2 acres per 1000 residents Centrally located Combination of game grass and natural areas Outdoor active recreation areas for ages 9-39 -Play fields Spectator facilities Lighted fields -ShulTleboard -Basketball -Tennis -Volleyball -Picnic areas & Shelter -Ice skating -Large parking area -Play area for children -Sanitary facilities with running water Community play fields or parks primarily serve organized sports, teams and leagues. D. Nature/conservation areas Passive use for the Orono community and residents of all ages - nature observation - environmental education - one to five vehicles parking - picnic tables - benches *•« 1 < Conservation areas consist of prairies, lakes, wetlands, woodland areas, natural leaturcs and wildlife habitat. Conservation areas may have passive recreation facilities developed within their boundaries such as hiking and biking trails, picnic areas and wildlife observation. Where appropriate, trails will be developed within these conservation areas for passive use such as nature observation. These nature trails will also be considered for limited cross-country ski trails in winter. Nature observation blinds also may be developed. The development of trails will not consume more than 20% of property. Lake Access 1. Benches; l»rovide recreational swimming opportunities primarily for the neighborhood around it. - limited organizational use and not exclusive to any one organization - picnic tables or benches -canoe racks -open for use only during daylight hours - limited parking -unsupervised swimming; swimmers swim at their own risk 2. Boating access: Primarily for Orono residents (other boating access provided by the DNR and the County.) - limited parking 3. Fishing docks; Available primarily for local community - benches - open for use only during daylight hours - dock or other water access - \ Mited parking These areas provide not only boating and fishing, but also serve as access points for ice fishing, hours and dates for use may be limited. Two sites on, Stubbs Bay and Smiths Bay have winter use for motorized access. Due to Orono ’s location on Lake Minnetonka and Long Lake, there are a large number of public and private lake access facilities of various types and purposes. F. Trails - Linear Parks -trails for recreational use -bike and pedestrian-oriented -connections to open spaces, parks both city and county and transportation corridors The City of Orono has a number of linear parks. Public nature trails where appropriate, and the major corridors of a linear park system will seek to connect parks, schools, shopping areas and residential neighborhoods. Bike trails. The Luce Line Trail and private trails are examples of the linear park. Trail parks may offer opportunities for observing unique natural open spaces. G. Orono Special Use Arens Categories of parks and other types of recreational areas that have not listed above, are located by the City of Orono and have special or specific uses and conditions. Each area will be dellned and described in a unique manner appropriate for that site. Special use sites are any areas providing specialized or single purpose recreation activities such as golf courses, play fields, historic sites, marinas, conservatories, arboretums, ice arenas or ski hills. These sites serve the entire community and in some cases neighboring communities However, consistent with the facility, users are normally specialized and represent small groups. Some special use sites (e g., ice rinks) are found within parks. I listorical sites will be coordinated with the Minnesota Historical Society and/or other agencies, and groups as appropriate, will occur to aid in identifying and to assist in preserving these sites. Examples: Orono Golf Course, Park on the former Dickey property and the Lee Carlson Baseball Field. II. Other Parks ami Open Spaces This section describes other parks and open spaces that are not owned or administered by the City of Orono. Many Orono residents use parks and open spaces within the City of Orono and in the surrounding communities. Examples; Baker Park; Golf Courses and Country Clubs; The Luce Line; Orono School Play fields, Nurenberg Park and the Hennepin County park on Lake Minnetonka in Mound (name?) If- A. CITY OF ORONO DEMOGRAPHICS '>a:; 1. 2. 3. 4. Population of Oroiio Estimated in I860- 40 Estimated in 1920- 950 Estimated in 1950 - 4,708 Census of 1990 7,295 Estimate for 1996 7,577 Projected for 2010 8,000 Estimated in 1890 - 510 Estimated in 1940 - 1,800 Estimated in 1980- 6.846 Age Statistics Median age of Orono’s residents, 37 years old Metropolitan area median age is 31 .6 Children, 28% or 2,121 of Orono residents are children under age 18 This further breaks down to 117 children in each age group Older adults, 24% or 1,818 of Orono residents are over age 50 Orono Households Number of “households” 2,787 Number of persons per household 2.78 School District Demographics There are Four public school districts that serve city of Orono residents. They are Orono, Mound-Westonka, Wayzata and Minnetonka school districts. The two districts that the majority of residents attend are Orono, district 278 and Westonka, district 277. I'he following is a breakdown of the number of residen's or household in each of these two districts. Of the 2,787 City of Orono “households” identified in 1995, 1,250 of them in attend schools in the Mound-Westonka School District. Note; approximately half of the 2,682 Orono “households” pay school taxes to and attend Mound-Westonka Schools. Of the 2,787 City of Orono “households” identified in 1995, 1,537 of them attend the Orono School District. Total number of City of Orono residents (students) enrolled in Orono School District 759. Total number of City of Orono residents (students) living in Mound Westonka School District but attend Orono School District due to open enrolment 141. Total number of students from all cities enrolled in Orono School District 2,557 (this includes City of Orono and non-city residents. \ ••••••••• ! I kI w CITY OF ORONO NOTICE OF PUBLIC MEETING NOTICE is hereby given that the Orono City Council will meet in a work session at 4:00 p.m. on Monday, April 10, 2000 in the City Council Chambers, 2780 Kelley Parkway, Orono, Minnesota. The purpose of the meeting is to review issues related to the update of the Comprehensive Plan regarding parks, TIP, and other issues of current interest. This meeting is open to the public. /s/ Linda S. Vee City Clerk Posted at: City Hall Navarre Post Office Long Lake Post Office Crystal Bay Post Office