HomeMy Public PortalAboutChapter 6 - Parks Trails and Open Space-12-27-2016Chapter 6: PARKS, TRAILS, and OPEN SPACE
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Introduction
A high quality system of parks and trails support the physical and psychological
health of the community, provide opportunities for the community to gather, and contribute significantly to the quality of life and the well-being of residents. The amount and quality
of open spaces in Medina is consistently identified as one of the most important characteristics of the City and the protection of these spaces is paramount within the City’s Vision
and Community Goals.
Objectives
The City of Medina Vision seeks to “sustain and enhance the quality of life of its residents,” “protect…significant natural resources and open spaces
throughout the City,” “foster….places of recreation and destinations for citizens to gather.”
In addition, Community Goals include:
“Preserve rural vistas, open spaces, and wetlands
in all parts of the community to promote the rural character of Medina.”
“Protect and enhance the environmental and natural resources throughout the community.”
“Promote public and private
gathering places and civic events that serve the entire community.”
“Preserve and expand trails and parks to provide community recreational facilities, connect neighborhoods and encourage
healthy lifestyles of its residents.”
The following objectives support the Vision and Goals and guide the Parks, Trails, and Open Space Plan.
Improve and expand existing facilities,
improve accessibility, correct problems or conflicts if they occur, and provide expanded recreational opportunities, all in a manner which can be fiscally sustained within the community
in the long term.
Establish parks within approximately ½ mile of new urban residential development to provide residents convenient access to recreational activities. In furtherance
of this objective, preference will be given to land acquisition when determining parkland dedication and in some cases such land may need to be reserved even if existing funds are not
immediately available for development of the park.
Provide a system of trails which serve not only recreational purposes, but also connect residents with community destinations in order
to support healthy lifestyle and opportunities for non-motorized transportation.
Make a variety of recreational opportunities available for residents.
Explore options for securing private
funding of parks and trails such as providing naming rights, soliciting individual donations, establishing a charitable trust, or through other means recommended by the Park Commission
and approved by the City Council.
Partner with recreational organizations within and adjacent to the City in order to provide recreational activities in a cost-effective manner.
Metropolitan Council’s Parks, Trails, and Open Space System
The Metropolitan Council components of a parks, trails, and open-space system will be the basis for analyzing existing park
facilities and for determining proposed park development within Medina.
TABLE 6-1
Classification for Local and Regional Open-Space 1
Component
Use
Service Area
Site
Site Attributes
Site
Location
Local Facilities
Mini-Park
Specialized facilities that serve a concentrated or limited population or specific group such as tots or senior citizens.
Less
than ¼ mile radius
Less than
1 acre
May be publicly or privately owned and/or incorporated into a development site, such as apartment,
Neighborhood Park/
Playground2
Area
for intense recreational activities such as field games, court games, crafts, apparatus area, skating, neighborhood centers.
¼ to ½ mile radius to serve a population of 200 to 1,000
(neighborhood).
5-25 acres
Physical geography suited for intense development.
Proximity to Elementary schools or residential neighborhoods.
Community Playfield
Area for intense
recreational facilities such as athletic fields and swimming pools; could include neighborhood use.
3-5 neighborhoods (community 4).
25-50 acres
Physical geography suited for intense
development.
Proximity to secondary schools and other public facilities.
Community Park
Area of natural or ornamental quality for outdoor recreation such as walking viewing,
sitting, picnicking; could have some field and court games.
3-5 neighborhoods (community 4)
25-100 acres
Affords natural features with varied physiographic interest.
Proximity to
community facilities and resources.
Conservancy Lands
Area of natural quality such as watercourses and wetlands that are preserved for environmental or aesthetic benefits to the
community and/or because of the negative environmental or economic affects of development in them.
Municipality, township, county.
Variable, based on extent of resources.
Natural
resources that merit preservation and would be negatively affected by development.
Where resource occurs.
Regional Facilities
Regional Park
Area of natural or ornamental
quality for nature-oriented outdoor recreation such as picnicking, boating, fishing, swimming, camping, and trail uses.
3-5 communities.
200-500 acres (100 acre minimum).
Complete
natural setting contiguous to water bodies or water courses where possible.
Where natural resource occurs--particularly water.
Regional Park
Reserve
Area of natural quality for
nature oriented outdoor recreation such as viewing and studying nature, wildlife habitat, conservation, swimming, picnicking, hiking, boating, camping, and trail uses.
County, multi-county
area.
1000+ acres; Sufficient area to encompass the resource envisioned for preservation.
Diversity of unique resources, such as topography, lakes streams, marshes, flora, fauna.
Where
resource occurs.
Local or Regional
Linear Park (trails, corridors, parkways)
Area developed for one or more varying modes of recreational Travel such as hiking, biking,
snowmobiling, horseback riding, cross country skiing, canoeing and driving.
Local (municipalities, townships) or regional (county multi-county area).
Sufficient width to provide protection
of resource and maximum use.
Utilize human-made and/or natural linear resources such as utility corridors, rights-of way, drainage ways, bluff lines, vegetation patterns and roads.
Where
linear resource occurs. Link components of recreation system. Link other community facilities such as schools, library and commercial areas.
Special Feature
Area that preserves,
maintains
and provides specialized or single-purpose recreational activities such as golf course, nature center, zoo, arboretum, arena, downhill ski area, and sites of historic or archaeological
significance.
Metropolitan Area
Specific standard application to desired feature.
Appropriate to particular special feature.
Where most advantageous for the special feature and the
overall park system.
1 Metropolitan Council's Recreation Standards
2 Definition adjusted by the City.
4 A grouping of neighborhoods, not a unit of government.
The Metropolitan
Council Classification System describes a Neighborhood Park/Playground being designed to serve a population of 4,000-5,000 within approximately one-half mile. Because
of the comparatively lower-density development pattern purposefully planned within the City, this definition has been adjusted for the sake of designing the local park system. Neighborhood
parks in Medina are designed to serve a smaller population of 200-1,000 from a wider geographical area.
Medina’s Existing System
Map 6-1 shows the locations of all parks, trails, and
open space making up the City's existing system, and Table 6-2 lists the City's parks and facilities. These active park areas, playfields and programs should serve the City's residents
adequately for the foreseeable future.
Regional Parks
Medina's park system includes one county facility, Baker Park Reserve and one state facility, Wolsfeld Woods Scientific and Natural
Area (SNA). These facilities play a significant role in the City's and Metropolitan's park system. Providing both active and passive recreational opportunities and fulfilling some
of the local need for community parks and conservancy lands.
Local Parks
The City’s park system presently includes the following sites. The facilities offered by each park can be
seen in Table 6-2.
Hamel Legion Park is the City’s primary community park and the largest in the City’s system at almost 40 acres in size. The park is located south of Uptown
Hamel on the east boundary of the City. The park was developed through invaluable partnerships with local organizations and includes many amenities which serve the entire community.
The Park at Fields of Medina is approximately 10.5 acres in size and is intended to primarily serve the area including Fields of Medina, Bridgewater, Foxberry Farms, the Villas at
Medina Country Club.
Medina Morningside Park is 2.4 acres in size and primarily serve the Medina Morningside, Keller Estates, and Deerhill Preserve area.
Hunter Lions Park is 6.8
acres in size and primarily serve the area south and west of Uptown Hamel, including the Enclave, Tuckborough Farms, Hunter Farms and Elm Creek Addition.
Lakeshore Park - Independence
Beach (2975 Lakeshore Ave.) is less than 1 acre in size and primarily serve the Independence Beach area of the City.
Walnut Park - Independence Beach (4653 Walnut St.) is a half-acre
drainage area also used seasonally as a park primarily serve the Independence Beach area of the City.
Maple Park is 2.5 acres in size and primarily serves the Independence Beach area
of the City.
Tomann Preserve is a 16 acre nature area comprised of wetlands and uplands which were historically located in what is called the “Big Woods” ecosystem as part of the deciduous
forest biome.
Lake Ardmore Nature Area is a 18.3 acre undeveloped nature area in the Independence Beach neighborhood consisting of several parcels of land surrounding Lake Ardmore.
Cherry Hill
Nature Area is a 1.5 acre area, primarily wetlands, used for open space and drainage of storm water from the Cherry Hill development.
Medina Lake Preserve is a 69.9 acre nature area
that includes a portion of Lake Medina and several surrounding acres.
Rainwater Nature Area is a 5.8 acre area in the Uptown Hamel Neighborhood providing a nature preserve in an
urban area. Furthermore, it is a showcase area for native plantings.
Holy Name Lake Park is a 2-acre mini-park located on a major county road (County Road 24) and abuts Holy Name
Lake.
The City Hall Site is 9.2 acres in size and is centrally located in the City, serving the entire City as the site for Medina's City Hall. A portion of the property commemorates
the memory of the early settlers of Medina, including a reconstruction of the original Wolsfeld log cabin built in 1856 as a museum owned and operated by the Western Hennepin County
Pioneer’s Association.
Private Mini-Parks and Pocket Parks Foxberry Farms, Tuckborough Farms, Northridge Farms, The Enclave, The Reserve, and Medina Townhomes all have parks that are
owned and maintained by the respective homeowners associations and augment the City's park system.
Quasi Public Facilities
Quasi-public facilities serve the recreational needs of the
City and are important to take into account, including the following:
Baker National Golf Course is approximately 336 acres in size and is included in the Baker Park Reserve. Many
residents use this course which is regarded as one of the best public courses in the Metro Area. It also has winter recreational activities including, skiing, snowshoeing and a sliding
hill. The property is a National Audubon certified golf course because of its wildlife-friendly management.
Medina Golf and Country Club is a 225-acre private golf course in the north
eastern section of the City. A number of City residents and businesses are members of this club.
Spring Hill Golf Club is a private golf course of which a 48.3 acre portion is located
in the south central part of the city. The club house and most of the golf course are located in the City of Orono.
Trails
The City's trail system consists of a combination of city, county, regional, and private trails. The City is acquiring trail dedications and easements as development occurs.
County
trails are located along CR 24 and CR 19 and also include an extensive multi-use trail system within the Baker Park Reserve (see Map 6-1).
The Northwest Trails Association operates
an extensive snowmobile trail system, part of which is located in Medina. Private horse trails, not shown on the map, are available through parts of the City and involve many private
landowners. It is operated and maintained by volunteers and “gentlemen’s” agreements. Medina's horse trails are an important part of its rural culture.
Several of Medina's current
or proposed trails connect with surrounding cities. The City of Medina will strive to connect with these surrounding trails.
Other
The organizations and playfields listed below provide
additional recreational opportunities to Medina residents and help supplement the City of Medina’s park system.
Hamel Athletic Club provides youth baseball recreational opportunities
to Medina residents as well as to residents of surrounding cities.
Hamel Hawks provides an adult baseball program to Medina residents as well as to residents of surrounding cities.
The
Loretto Playfield serves a number of organized teams in the region and has a playground area.
The Orono Schools Playfields are located on the south side of County Road 6 and provide
recreational space for the City’s southside residents through Orono's community education and recreation programs.
Elm Creek Community Playfields (Wayzata High School) is owned by
the City of Plymouth and is located just east of Medina, north of TH 55.
Plymouth Park & Recreation is used by many residents through programs offered by the Plymouth Park and Recreation
Department.
Orono Park and Recreation is used by several residents who take part in programs offered by the Orono Park and Recreation Department.
Corcoran Athletic Association provides
a number of recreational opportunities for children and adults.
Other Public and Private schools provide a number of recreational opportunities and community education programs to
Medina residents as well as to residents of surrounding cities.
Table 6-2
Medina’s Parks, Trails, and Open Space Plan
The goals, policies, and analysis in this chapter provide the basis for Medina's Parks, Trails, and Open Space Report. The plan addresses
the following three specific areas of need:
Completion, improvement, and maintenance of existing park and trail facilities.
Acquisition, upgrading, and development of neighborhood facilities
to provide open spaces for active and passive recreational activities and fields for organized sports.
Development of a coordinated trail system.
Completion and Improvement of Existing
Facilities
The City has identified improvements for existing facilities within its Capital Improvement Program (CIP) and also maintains a Parks and Trails Master Plan to monitor and
address needs.
Future Parks
The park plan, as shown on Map 6-1, proposes four additional neighborhood parks in order to support planned future residential development. Land for these
parks will be predominantly obtained through park dedication during the development process. These parks will be sized and improvements planned according to the population likely to
be served by each.
The plan also identifies two potential expansions of existing parks in the city which will be considered as opportunities arise.
Future Trails
The trail plan,
as shown on Map 6-1, proposes a network of multi-purpose trails. Although many of the trails are identified along road corridors, the City’s objective is to separate the trails from
the roadway where possible. Trails will connect points of interest throughout the City and provide access to natural areas. The plan also includes a proposal to create a pedestrian bridge
over TH 55 which, while not in present city funding plans, could become an important link in the trail system as the City develops.
The City's network of trails will tie into the
proposed trails in neighboring communities, including Corcoran, Independence, Maple Plain, Orono and Plymouth .
The Metropolitan Council's Regional Parks Policy Plan identifies two
regional trail corridors within the City of Medina. The Trails Map (6-1) displays these search areas. Existing City trails in the vicinity of these corridors provide opportunities
to complete these regional connections by transferring ownership of the segments to Three Rivers Park District.
Open Space
Medina’s 2007 Open Space Report
Medina’s Open Space Task
Force created an Open Space Report, which is not made part of this Plan and is available for review at the City of Medina City Hall. A summary of the report follows.
Goals are to:
Preserve the ecological integrity of Medina’s natural infrastructure that filters and cleanses run-off, prevents soil erosion and aides in maintaining healthy lakes and
water resources;
Preserve the City’s rural character, in which natural resources are the main feature of the landscape; and
Provide an option to landowners to preserve natural infrastructure,
without adverse economic consequences.
Principles to guide implementation of an Open Space Report are to:
Educate and to promote stewardship and preservation of natural resources to
the public, land-owners and developers and raise awareness of the economic and environmental benefit of preserving natural resources;
Co-coordinate conservation efforts with other agencies,
such as watersheds, Hennepin County, Three Rivers Park and non-governmental bodies, like the Minnesota Land Trust, Embrace Open Space and Pheasants Forever.
Require permanently conserved
land to be held in an easement by an outside agency, such as the Minnesota Land Trust, a watershed district or similar entities;
Maintain land values and cause no economic harm to landowners
or developers;
Use incentives to encourage open space developments; and
Make Open Space Design an option across all zoning districts where natural features exist.
Definition of Open
Space Design:
Open Space Design is, in effect, golf course development without a golf course where development occurs around natural features, such as wetlands, woodlands, or farmland.
The ecological integrity of natural areas is permanently conserved by a conservation easement, held and overseen by an outside agency. Buildings are clustered in a central location on
smaller lots, and the dedicated open space is typically held under common ownership.
Recommended Tools to Implement Open Space Design:
Incentives—develop a system, including a scale
of points for best management practice and conservation design that can earn bonus building units. Such systems have been developed by other communities.
Regulation—natural resource
performance standards;
Public ownership—purchase of development rights (a PDR program;); and
Park & trail dedication—draft flexibility into park and trail dedication ordinance.