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1. Park & Rec System PlanOCTOBER 2017 City of CHANHASSEN PARKS & RECREATION SYSTEM PLAN OCTOBER 2017 Acknowledgements City Council Denny Laufenburger, Mayor Dan Campion Jerry McDonald Elise Ryan Bethany Tjornhom Park Commission Steve Scharfenberg, Chair Jennifer Hougham, Vice Chair Cole Kelly Jim Boettcher Rick Echternacht Meredith Petouvis Karl Tsuchiya Lauren Dale, Youth Commissioner Grant Schaeferle, Youth Commissioner City Staff Todd Gerhardt, City Manager Todd Hoffman, Park & Recreation Director Jerry Ruegemer, Recreation Superintendent Katie Favro, Recreation Supervisor Adam Beers, Park Superintendent Jodi Sarles, Recreation Center Manager Susan Bill, Senior Center Coordinator Advisory Committee Cheryl Ayotte Jim Boettcher Balakrishna Chintaginjala Karen Doster Jeff Filipek Jesse Hawke Kim Mcreavy Nick Mcreavy Courtney Miller Bellairs Todd Neils Nathan Pharis Elise Ryan Anna Simet Steve Scharfenberg John Tietz Dorina Tipton Consultant Hoisington Koegler Group, Inc. Thank you to the many members of the Chanhassen community who took the time to provide valuable input on this plan! i ContentsOCTOBER 2017 Contents Executive Summary iii Introduction 1-1 Importance of Parks & Recreation 1-2 How to Use the Plan 1-3 Planning Process 1-4 Existing Plans 1-5 Coordinated Planning Efforts 1-5 Trends 2-7 Existing Conditions 3-13 Community Context 3-14 Demographic Overview 3-14 System at a Glance 3-16 Needs Assessment 3-20 Vision 4-37 Guiding Principles 4-38 System Plan 5-39 Goals & Policies 5-40 Initiatives 5-49 Implementation 6-63 Priorities 6-64 Maintenance and Replacement 6-70 Funding Options 6-71 Funding Sources 6-72 General Capital, Operations, & Maintenance Costs 6-76 Project Review Process 6-78 Distribution Maps A-1 Community Engagement B-1 Phase 1 Community Engagement - Fall 2016 B-3 Phase 2 Community Engagement - Spring 2017 B-7 ii Chanhassen Parks & Recreation System Plan OCTOBER 2017 Tables & Figures Figure 3-1. Community Context 3-14 Figure 3-2. Historic Population and Metropolitan Council Population Forecasts 3-15 Figure 3-3. Age & Gender Distribution 3-15 Figure 3-4. Median Household Income 3-15 Figure 3-5. City Park Distribution 3-17 Figure 3-6. Key Findings From the Fall System-Wide Questionnaire 3-21 Figure 3-7. Key Findings From the Fall Senior Center Questionnaire 3-22 Figure 3-8. Key Findings From the Fall Recreation Center Questionnaire 3-23 Figure 3-9. Key Findings From the Fall Social PinPoint 3-24 Figure 3-10. Neighborhood Park Access 3-26 Figure 3-11. Community Park Access 3-27 Figure 3-12. Playground & Picnic Shelter Distribution 3-28 Figure 3-13. Traditional Athletic Fields Distribution 3-29 Figure 3-14. Informal Summer Facilities Distribution 3-30 Figure 3-15. Surrounding Community Facility Distribution 3-31 Figure 3-16. Preserves, Open Space, & Trails 3-33 Figure 3-17. City Trail Gaps and Identified Safety Crossing Concerns 3-34 Table 5-1. City Park Classifications 5-41 Figure 5-1. Regional Search Corridors 5-42 Figure 5-2. Park Initiatives 5-51 Figure 5-3. Facility Initiatives 5-56 Figure 5-4. Trail Initiatives 5-59 Figure 5-5. Preserve Initiatives 5-60 Table 6-1. Total Initiative Costs 6-64 Table 6-2. Prioritized Capital Investment Initiatives 6-65 Table 6-3. Prioritized Plan/Study Initiatives 6-66 Table 6-4. Prioritized Management Initiatives 6-66 Table 6-5. Ongoing Initiatives 6-67 Table 6-6. Trail Gap Priorities 6-68 Table 6-7. Maintenance and Replacement Costs 2017-2040 6-70 Table 6-8. Funding Sources 6-72 Table 6-9. General Capital, Operations, & Maintenance Costs 6-76 Figure 6-1. Decision Principle Checklist 6-79 Figure 6-2. Project Proposal Worksheet 6-80 Figure A-1. Playground & Picnic Shelter Distribution A-2 Figure A-2. Traditional Athletic Fields Distribution A-3 Figure A-3. Informal Summer Facilities Distribution A-4 Figure A-4. Informal Winter Facilities Distribution A-5 Figure A-5. Speciality Facilities Distribution A-6 Figure A-6. Surrounding Community Facility Distribution A-7 iii ContentsOCTOBER 2017 Executive Summary What it is? The 2017 Chanhassen Parks and Recreation System Plan sets the direction for parks and recreation in Chanhassen for the next 20 years. The System Plan ensures the parks and recreation system continues to meet community needs now and in the future. The System Plan weighs community needs and desires with financial realities to ensure the system is economically sustainable and responsible with tax dollars. The System Plan determines priorities for future investment and contains 6 goals, 52 policies, and 54 initiatives Guided By: The development of the System Plan was guided by the City’s vision for the future as well as the following principles: Stewardship Marked as the highest priority to Chanhassen residents, Stewardship aims to incorporate sustainable practices into the system’s planning and daily operations to protect the city’s vibrant natural resources. Connectivity Chanhassen’s parks, preserves, and trails are knitted together to create a network of recreation and open spaces that reaches every corner of the community and provides access to surrounding destinations as well. Engagement Residents of all ages and all abilities are welcome throughout Chanhassen’s parks and recreation system, enabling them to lead active, healthy lives in which they engage with the outdoors, with art and culture, and with one another. Adaptable As Chanhassen has evolved, its parks and recreation system has remained adaptable in the way it responds to new needs and challenges, and dynamic in its ability to deliver high-quality programs, facilities, and services. 1 2 3 4 Over its 50 years, Chanhassen’s Parks and Recreation System has improved the community’s quality of life, economic development, and environmental resources. With over 900 acres of parks and open space, 30 parks, and almost 80 miles of trails, the Chanhassen Parks and Recreation System is an essential component of the City. Planning Process This year-long planning effort began in August of 2016, and represents input gathered from the community, stakeholders, city staff, and city officials. Online questionnaires, meetings, focus groups, park and community tours, open houses, and group brainstorming efforts guided the development of the System Plan by providing valuable input and collective wisdom. The plan also incorporates the expertise of the consultant team, analysis of benchmarking data, a system- wide audit conducted by city staff and the consultants, and best practices collected from other peer communities. The goal of the planning process was to educate and raise awareness about the importance of parks and recreation while ensuring that future investment in Chanhassen’s system meets the changing needs of the community. Benefits of a Parks & Recreation System Plan - Road map for system revitalization and expansion - Defensible rationale for decision-making - Strategic resource allocation (budgeting and staffing) - Fosters strong partnerships - Creates safe and welcoming parks - An updated recreation facility mix - A more connected City - Improved access to nature - Selective programming to meet gaps and needs - Long-term economic sustainability iv Chanhassen Parks & Recreation System Plan OCTOBER 2017 CHANHASSEN PARKS & RECREATION SYSTEM PLANOnline Community Engagement SummaryFour different online engagement strategies were implementedin order to reach as many demographics as possible. Three online questionnaires captured public comments regarding the senior center, the recreation center, and the parks and recreation system in general. The fourth online strategy involved an interactive mapping software intended to collect geographic-based comments. This summary includes a synopsis of some of the significant findings from all four engagement techniques. 1 % never 34% every day 48% once a week 10% once a monthHow OftenRespondentsUtilize Chan Parks & Rec 8% few times a year 80% 52% 35% 75% 74% 72% 47% 29% 26% 66% 52% 21% 11% 6% Respondents’Favorite FacilitiesBy Percent Respondents’Favorite ProgramsBy Percent neighborhood parks trails community parks beaches recreation center preserves/natural areas diamondfields rectangularfields ice skatingrinks 18% tenniscourts 6% pickleballcourts communityevents youthactivities familyactivities adultfitness adultpickleball 2 1 3 4 edenprairie victoria excelsior chaska Top 4 DestinationsFor Non-Chan Parks &Recreation Facilities Top 3 Desired Facilities natural play areas75%outdoor pool60%indoor pool72% Under 50% Needs Met Over 50% Needs Met Not Utilized preserve/natural areas youth sports and classes trails adult sports and classes recreation center 0%20%40%60%80%100% 46% 21%17% 15%78% 44%14% 13%71% 31%23% 62% 42% 7% 16% Top 5 Unmet Facility & Programming Needs “While private rec facilities should fill the gaps in programming, something like an outdoor swimming pool should be seriously considered as a city run facility. Lifetime is the only option in the city and is not affordable for all.” “We are lacking in facilities to support our population here. A larger sports complex is needed.” “Keep up the great work and enhance our parks; one of the main reasons we live here.” “Improving our existing rec center would add value and encourage pride in our community. It should be a top priority.” Select General Comments Community Engagement The goal of the planning process was to educate and raise awareness about the importance of parks and recreation while ensuring that future investment in Chanhassen’s system meets the changing needs of the community. Throughout this planning process, over 1,000 residents and stakeholders were engaged to ensure the final plan was reflective of community desires. Public outreach efforts included: »Six Advisory Committee meetings spread throughout the year-long planning process »Two listening sessions (Athletic Associations and Senior Center Commission) »Three online questionnaires and two online interactive mapping exercises which reached almost 2,000 individuals and solicited 1,500 responses »Seven Pop-up meetings at community events »A Community Open House held on April 6th of 2017, where over 70 community members provided feedback on the System Plan’s draft recommendations CHANHASSEN PARKS & RECREATION SYSTEM PLAN Online Community Engagement Summary Four different online engagement strategies were implemented in order to reach as many demographics as possible. Three online questionnaires captured public comments regarding the senior center, the recreation center, and the parks and recreation system in general. The fourth online strategy involved an interactive mapping software intended to collect geographic-based comments. This summary includes a synopsis of some of the significant findings from all four engagement techniques. 1 % never 34% every d ay 48% once a week 10% once a monthHow OftenRespondentsUtilize Chan Parks & Rec 8% few times a year 80% 52% 35% 75% 74% 72% 47% 29% 26% 66% 52% 21% 11% 6% Respondents’Favorite FacilitiesBy Percent Respondents’Favorite ProgramsBy Percent neighborhood parks trails community parks beaches recreation center preserves/natural areas diamondfields rectangularfields ice skatingrinks 18% tenniscourts 6% pickleballcourts communityevents youthactivities familyactivities adultfitness adultpickleball 2 1 3 4 edenprairie victoria excelsior chaska Top 4 DestinationsFor Non-Chan Parks &Recreation Facilities Top 3 Desired Facilities natural play areas75%outdoor pool60%indoor pool72% Under 50% Needs Met Over 50% Needs Met Not Utilized preserve/natural areas youth sports and classes trails adult sports and classes recreation center 0%20%40%60%80%100% 46% 21%17% 15%78% 44%14% 13%71% 31%23% 62% 42% 7% 16% Top 5 Unmet Facility & Programming Needs “While private rec facilities should fill the gaps in programming, something like an outdoor swimming pool should be seriously considered as a city run facility. Lifetime is the only option in the city and is not affordable for all.” “We are lacking in facilities to support our population here. A larger sports complex is needed.” “Keep up the great work and enhance our parks; one of the main reasons we live here.” “Improving our existing rec center would add value and encourage pride in our community. It should be a top priority.” Select General Comments CHANHASSEN PARKS & RECREATION SYSTEM PLAN Online Community Engagement Summary Four different online engagement strategies were implemented in order to reach as many demographics as possible. Three online questionnaires captured public comments regarding the senior center, the recreation center, and the parks and recreation system in general. The fourth online strategy involved an interactive mapping software intended to collect geographic-based comments. This summary includes a synopsis of some of the significant findings from all four engagement techniques. 1 % never 34% every d a y 48% once a week 10% once a monthHow OftenRespondentsUtilize Chan Parks & Rec 8% few times a year 80% 52% 35% 75% 74% 72% 47% 29% 26% 66% 52% 21% 11% 6% Respondents’Favorite FacilitiesBy Percent Respondents’Favorite ProgramsBy Percent neighborhood parks trails community parks beaches recreation center preserves/natural areas diamondfields rectangularfields ice skatingrinks 18% tenniscourts 6% pickleballcourts communityevents youthactivities familyactivities adultfitness adultpickleball 2 1 3 4 edenprairie victoria excelsior chaska Top 4 DestinationsFor Non-Chan Parks &Recreation Facilities Top 3 Desired Facilities natural play areas 75% outdoor pool 60% indoor pool 72% Under 50% Needs Met Over 50% Needs Met Not Utilized preserve/natural areas youth sports and classes trails adult sports and classes recreation center 0%20%40%60%80%100% 46% 21%17% 15%78% 44%14% 13%71% 31%23% 62% 42% 7% 16% Top 5 Unmet Facility & Programming Needs “While private rec facilities should fill the gaps in programming, something like an outdoor swimming pool should be seriously considered as a city run facility. Lifetime is the only option in the city and is not affordable for all.” “We are lacking in facilities to support our population here. A larger sports complex is needed.” “Keep up the great work and enhance our parks; one of the main reasons we live here.” “Improving our existing rec center would add value and encourage pride in our community. It should be a top priority.” Select General Comments CHANHASSEN PARKS & RECREATION SYSTEM PLAN Online Community Engagement Summary Four different online engagement strategies were implemented in order to reach as many demographics as possible. Three online questionnaires captured public comments regarding the senior center, the recreation center, and the parks and recreation system in general. The fourth online strategy involved an interactive mapping software intended to collect geographic-based comments. This summary includes a synopsis of some of the significant findings from all four engagement techniques. 1 % never 34% every d ay 48% once a week 10% once a monthHow OftenRespondentsUtilize Chan Parks & Rec 8% few times a year 80% 52% 35% 75% 74% 72% 47% 29% 26% 66% 52% 21% 11% 6% Respondents’Favorite FacilitiesBy Percent Respondents’Favorite ProgramsBy Percent neighborhood parks trails community parks beaches recreation center preserves/natural areas diamondfields rectangularfields ice skatingrinks 18% tenniscourts 6% pickleballcourts communityevents youthactivities familyactivities adultfitness adultpickleball 2 1 3 4 edenprairie victoria excelsior chaska Top 4 DestinationsFor Non-Chan Parks &Recreation Facilities Top 3 Desired Facilities natural play areas75%outdoor pool60%indoor pool72% Under 50% Needs Met Over 50% Needs Met Not Utilized preserve/natural areas youth sports and classes trails adult sports and classes recreation center 0%20%40%60%80%100% 46% 21%17% 15%78% 44%14% 13%71% 31%23% 62% 42% 7% 16% Top 5 Unmet Facility & Programming Needs “While private rec facilities should fill the gaps in programming, something like an outdoor swimming pool should be seriously considered as a city run facility. Lifetime is the only option in the city and is not affordable for all.” “We are lacking in facilities to support our population here. A larger sports complex is needed.” “Keep up the great work and enhance our parks; one of the main reasons we live here.” “Improving our existing rec center would add value and encourage pride in our community. It should be a top priority.” Select General Comments CHANHASSEN PARKS & RECREATION SYSTEM PLAN Online Community Engagement Summary Four different online engagement strategies were implemented in order to reach as many demographics as possible. Three online questionnaires captured public comments regarding the senior center, the recreation center, and the parks and recreation system in general. The fourth online strategy involved an interactive mapping software intended to collect geographic-based comments. This summary includes a synopsis of some of the significant findings from all four engagement techniques. 1 % never 34% every d ay 48% once a week 10% once a monthHow OftenRespondentsUtilize Chan Parks & Rec 8% few times a year 80% 52% 35% 75% 74% 72% 47% 29% 26% 66% 52% 21% 11% 6% Respondents’Favorite FacilitiesBy Percent Respondents’Favorite ProgramsBy Percent neighborhood parks trails community parks beaches recreation center preserves/natural areas diamondfields rectangularfields ice skatingrinks 18% tenniscourts 6% pickleballcourts communityevents youthactivities familyactivities adultfitness adultpickleball 2 1 3 4 edenprairie victoria excelsior chaska Top 4 DestinationsFor Non-Chan Parks &Recreation Facilities Top 3 Desired Facilities natural play areas75%outdoor pool60%indoor pool72% Under 50% Needs Met Over 50% Needs Met Not Utilized preserve/natural areas youth sports and classes trails adult sports and classes recreation center 0%20%40%60%80%100% 46% 21%17% 15%78% 44%14% 13%71% 31%23% 62% 42% 7% 16% Top 5 Unmet Facility & Programming Needs “While private rec facilities should fill the gaps in programming, something like an outdoor swimming pool should be seriously considered as a city run facility. Lifetime is the only option in the city and is not affordable for all.” “We are lacking in facilities to support our population here. A larger sports complex is needed.” “Keep up the great work and enhance our parks; one of the main reasons we live here.” “Improving our existing rec center would add value and encourage pride in our community. It should be a top priority.” Select General Comments CHANHASSEN PARKS & RECREATION SYSTEM PLAN Online Community Engagement Summary Four different online engagement strategies were implemented in order to reach as many demographics as possible. Three online questionnaires captured public comments regarding the senior center, the recreation center, and the parks and recreation system in general. The fourth online strategy involved an interactive mapping software intended to collect geographic-based comments. This summary includes a synopsis of some of the significant findings from all four engagement techniques. 1 % never 34% every d ay 48% once a week 10% once a monthHow OftenRespondentsUtilize Chan Parks & Rec 8% few times a year 80% 52% 35% 75% 74% 72% 47% 29% 26% 66% 52% 21% 11% 6% Respondents’Favorite FacilitiesBy Percent Respondents’Favorite ProgramsBy Percent neighborhood parks trails community parks beaches recreation center preserves/natural areas diamondfields rectangularfields ice skatingrinks 18% tenniscourts 6% pickleballcourts communityevents youthactivities familyactivities adultfitness adultpickleball 2 1 3 4 edenprairie victoria excelsior chaska Top 4 DestinationsFor Non-Chan Parks &Recreation Facilities Top 3 Desired Facilities natural play areas75%outdoor pool60%indoor pool72% Under 50% Needs Met Over 50% Needs Met Not Utilized preserve/natural areas youth sports and classes trails adult sports and classes recreation center 0%20%40%60%80%100% 46% 21%17% 15%78% 44%14% 13%71% 31%23% 62% 42% 7% 16% Top 5 Unmet Facility & Programming Needs “While private rec facilities should fill the gaps in programming, something like an outdoor swimming pool should be seriously considered as a city run facility. Lifetime is the only option in the city and is not affordable for all.” “We are lacking in facilities to support our population here. A larger sports complex is needed.” “Keep up the great work and enhance our parks; one of the main reasons we live here.” “Improving our existing rec center would add value and encourage pride in our community. It should be a top priority.” Select General Comments CHANHASSEN PARKS & RECREATION SYSTEM PLANOnline Community Engagement SummaryFour different online engagement strategies were implementedin order to reach as many demographics as possible. Three online questionnaires captured public comments regarding the senior center, the recreation center, and the parks and recreation system in general. The fourth online strategy involved an interactive mapping software intended to collect geographic-based comments. This summary includes a synopsis of some of the significant findings from all four engagement techniques. 1 % never 34% every day 48% once a week 10% once a monthHow OftenRespondentsUtilize Chan Parks & Rec 8% few times a year 80% 52% 35% 75% 74% 72% 47% 29% 26% 66% 52% 21% 11% 6% Respondents’Favorite FacilitiesBy Percent Respondents’Favorite ProgramsBy Percent neighborhood parks trails community parks beaches recreation center preserves/natural areas diamondfields rectangularfields ice skatingrinks 18% tenniscourts 6% pickleballcourts communityevents youthactivities familyactivities adultfitness adultpickleball 2 1 3 4 edenprairie victoria excelsior chaska Top 4 DestinationsFor Non-Chan Parks &Recreation Facilities Top 3 Desired Facilities natural play areas75%outdoor pool60%indoor pool72% Under 50% Needs Met Over 50% Needs Met Not Utilized preserve/natural areas youth sports and classes trails adult sports and classes recreation center 0%20%40%60%80%100% 46% 21%17% 15%78% 44%14% 13%71% 31%23% 62% 42% 7% 16% Top 5 Unmet Facility & Programming Needs “While private rec facilities should fill the gaps in programming, something like an outdoor swimming pool should be seriously considered as a city run facility. Lifetime is the only option in the city and is not affordable for all.” “We are lacking in facilities to support our population here. A larger sports complex is needed.” “Keep up the great work and enhance our parks; one of the main reasons we live here.” “Improving our existing rec center would add value and encourage pride in our community. It should be a top priority.” Select General Comments CHANHASSEN PARKS & RECREATION SYSTEM PLANOnline Community Engagement SummaryFour different online engagement strategies were implementedin order to reach as many demographics as possible. Three online questionnaires captured public comments regarding the senior center, the recreation center, and the parks and recreation system in general. The fourth online strategy involved an interactive mapping software intended to collect geographic-based comments. This summary includes a synopsis of some of the significant findings from all four engagement techniques. 1 % never 34% every da y 48% once a week 10% once a monthHow OftenRespondentsUtilize Chan Parks & Rec 8% few times a year 80% 52% 35% 75% 74% 72% 47% 29% 26% 66% 52% 21% 11% 6% Respondents’Favorite FacilitiesBy Percent Respondents’Favorite ProgramsBy Percent neighborhood parks trails community parks beaches recreation center preserves/natural areas diamondfields rectangularfields ice skatingrinks 18% tenniscourts 6% pickleballcourts communityevents youthactivities familyactivities adultfitness adultpickleball 2 1 3 4 edenprairie victoria excelsior chaska Top 4 DestinationsFor Non-Chan Parks &Recreation Facilities Top 3 Desired Facilities natural play areas75%outdoor pool60%indoor pool72% Under 50% Needs Met Over 50% Needs Met Not Utilized preserve/natural areas youth sports and classes trails adult sports and classes recreation center 0%20%40%60%80%100% 46% 21%17% 15%78% 44%14% 13%71% 31%23% 62% 42% 7% 16% Top 5 Unmet Facility & Programming Needs “While private rec facilities should fill the gaps in programming, something like an outdoor swimming pool should be seriously considered as a city run facility. Lifetime is the only option in the city and is not affordable for all.” “We are lacking in facilities to support our population here. A larger sports complex is needed.” “Keep up the great work and enhance our parks; one of the main reasons we live here.” “Improving our existing rec center would add value and encourage pride in our community. It should be a top priority.” Select General Comments CHANHASSEN PARKS & RECREATION SYSTEM PLANOnline Community Engagement SummaryFour different online engagement strategies were implementedin order to reach as many demographics as possible. Three online questionnaires captured public comments regarding the senior center, the recreation center, and the parks and recreation system in general. The fourth online strategy involved an interactive mapping software intended to collect geographic-based comments. This summary includes a synopsis of some of the significant findings from all four engagement techniques. 1 % never 34% every da y 48% once a week 10% once a monthHow OftenRespondentsUtilize Chan Parks & Rec 8% few times a year 80% 52% 35% 75% 74% 72% 47% 29% 26% 66% 52% 21% 11% 6% Respondents’Favorite FacilitiesBy Percent Respondents’Favorite ProgramsBy Percent neighborhood parks trails community parks beaches recreation center preserves/natural areas diamondfields rectangularfields ice skatingrinks 18% tenniscourts 6% pickleballcourts communityevents youthactivities familyactivities adultfitness adultpickleball 2 1 3 4 edenprairie victoria excelsior chaska Top 4 DestinationsFor Non-Chan Parks &Recreation Facilities Top 3 Desired Facilities natural play areas75%outdoor pool60%indoor pool72% Under 50% Needs Met Over 50% Needs Met Not Utilized preserve/natural areas youth sports and classes trails adult sports and classes recreation center 0%20%40%60%80%100% 46% 21%17% 15%78% 44%14% 13%71% 31%23% 62% 42% 7% 16% Top 5 Unmet Facility & Programming Needs “While private rec facilities should fill the gaps in programming, something like an outdoor swimming pool should be seriously considered as a city run facility. Lifetime is the only option in the city and is not affordable for all.” “We are lacking in facilities to support our population here. A larger sports complex is needed.” “Keep up the great work and enhance our parks; one of the main reasons we live here.” “Improving our existing rec center would add value and encourage pride in our community. It should be a top priority.” Select General Comments CHANHASSEN PARKS & RECREATION SYSTEM PLANOnline Community Engagement SummaryFour different online engagement strategies were implementedin order to reach as many demographics as possible. Three online questionnaires captured public comments regarding the senior center, the recreation center, and the parks and recreation system in general. The fourth online strategy involved an interactive mapping software intended to collect geographic-based comments. This summary includes a synopsis of some of the significant findings from all four engagement techniques. 1 % never 34% every day 48% once a week 10% once a monthHow OftenRespondentsUtilize Chan Parks & Rec 8% few times a year 80% 52% 35% 75% 74% 72% 47% 29% 26% 66% 52% 21% 11% 6% Respondents’Favorite FacilitiesBy Percent Respondents’Favorite ProgramsBy Percent neighborhood parks trails community parks beaches recreation center preserves/natural areas diamondfields rectangularfields ice skatingrinks 18% tenniscourts 6% pickleballcourts communityevents youthactivities familyactivities adultfitness adultpickleball 2 1 3 4 edenprairie victoria excelsior chaska Top 4 DestinationsFor Non-Chan Parks &Recreation Facilities Top 3 Desired Facilities natural play areas75%outdoor pool60%indoor pool72% Under 50% Needs Met Over 50% Needs Met Not Utilized preserve/natural areas youth sports and classes trails adult sports and classes recreation center 0%20%40%60%80%100% 46% 21%17% 15%78% 44%14% 13%71% 31%23% 62% 42% 7% 16% Top 5 Unmet Facility & Programming Needs “While private rec facilities should fill the gaps in programming, something like an outdoor swimming pool should be seriously considered as a city run facility. Lifetime is the only option in the city and is not affordable for all.” “We are lacking in facilities to support our population here. A larger sports complex is needed.” “Keep up the great work and enhance our parks; one of the main reasons we live here.” “Improving our existing rec center would add value and encourage pride in our community. It should be a top priority.” Select General Comments Trends In order to meet the demands of a growing population, the City needs to consider the following national population trends: »Need for convenience »Increasingly anxious about safety »More transient »Pinched government budgets »Demand for green alternatives »Desire for conservation and opportunities to connect with nature »Increased interest in aging actively »Engaging new generations »Increased interest in weight loss and active living »Rise in informal adult recreation versus league participation »Popularity of new and nontraditional sports »Demand for group fitness events and races »Desire to create more memorable experiences »Increased importance of "place" v ContentsOCTOBER 2017 Existing Conditions »Over 900 acres of city-owned parks, preserves, and open space »30 community & neighborhood parks »14 preserves & 1 special use park »Almost 80 miles of trails Facilities 27 playground areas 21 picnic shelters 5 swimming beaches 16 tennis courts 10 pickleball courts 28 diamond fields 21 rectangular fields 20 basketball courts 6 sledding hills 4 sand volleyball courts 1 skate park 1 disc golf course 1 garden plot site 7 docks & 3 fishing piers 5 outdoor hockey rinks & 5 pleasure rinks 1 dog park (in partnership) 1 recreation center Lake Ann Park Lake SusanPark BandimerePark City Center Park Chanhassen Recreation Center South LotusLake Park Kerber Pond Park Power Hill Park Riley Ridge Park North LotusLake Park Meadow Green Park Herman Field Park Pheasant HillPark Sunset RidgePark Stone CreekPark PioneerPass Park Roundhouse Park Curry FarmsPark ChanhassenHills Park Carver BeachPark Cathcart Park(Owned by theCity of Shorewood) Sugarbush Park Prairie KnollPark Rice MarshLake Park BandimereHeights Park Greenwood Shores Park Carver BeachPlayground MinnewashtaHeights Park Chanhassen Estates Park Chanhassen High School(Joint Facilities) Manchester Park(To Be Completed in 2018) MinnewashtaRegional Park University of MinnesotaLandscape Arboretum Raguet WildlifeManagement Area Privately Owned Public Golf Course MN Valley NationalWildlife Refuge Olson CommunityGarden Minnetonka MiddleSchool West CenturyBoulevardHazeltineBou levardBluffCreekDrive West78thStreet LymanBoulevard Cha nhas senRoadCrosstownBoulevard PleasantViewR oad GreatPlainsBoulevardBavariaRoadSmithtownRoad PioneerTrailWest Longacre sDrive VictoriaDrive ArboretumBoulevard Powers Bouleva rdKerberBoulevardLakeLucyRoad MinnewashtaParkwayCountyRoad140 LakeDriveEast Heron Drive Engler Boulevard Hundertm arkRoadEastGalpinBoulevardAudub onRoad Pioneer Trail 82nd Street West FlyingCloudDrive ChaskaBoulevard LakeDrive PioneerTrailEastChestnutStreetNorthWest82ndStreet ")140 ")53 ¬«101 ¬«7 £¤212 ¬«5 ")61 ¬«101 ¬«101 Lot us Lak eLakeSusan LakeRileyR iceL akeLakeMinnewash ta LakeA nn Lak eLu cyRice MarshLake EdenPrairie Excelsior Greenwood MinnetonkaShorewood TonkaBay JacksonTwp. Shakopee Chaska Victoria LEGEND Open Space Community Park Neighborhood Park Preserve Special Use Non-City Parks & Open Space Public School Surrounding Municipal Parks Water Bodies Municipal Boundaries °0 0.5 10.25 Miles Goals & Policies The System Plan’s goals and policies are high-level statements intended to guide City decision-making over the next 20 years. The six goals represent the desired long-term outcomes of Chanhassen’s System Plan, and were prepared as depictions of how the Parks and Recreation System will function when the guiding principles are achieved. To guide City decision-makers, the general characteristics of each goal are described by a series of policies. 1. Provide a comprehensive system of park, recreation, and open space facilities to serve active and passive needs. 2. Maintain a comprehensive and easily navigable trail and sidewalk system that connects neighborhoods to park and recreation facilities, schools, community destinations, and other communities. 3. Ensure all residents have the opportunity to participate in recreation, education, cultural, and arts activities. 4. Be a leader in environmental sustainability. 5. Proactively plan for a high quality, efficient parks and recreation system that meets changing community needs. 6. Implement strategies to supplement the City’s capacity to maintain and expand the parks and recreation system. Initiatives Initiatives are specific actions or steps that are recommended for implementation. They include programs, actions, or practices that support one or more policy statements, and begin to address the “who, what, where, and how” of achieving a plan objective. Chanhassen’s initiatives may include: strategic directions for policies, ongoing practices, partnerships, and future planning efforts; programmatic investments for events, training, and/or resources; capital investments for facilities, amenities, and/or infrastructure; and potential funding streams and strategies. Initiatives are organized by the topic areas of parks, facilities, trails, preserves, programming, and operations. The following page contains a summary of the System Plan initiatives by topic area. vi Chanhassen Parks & Recreation System Plan OCTOBER 2017 Implementation Achieving the vision set forth in the Parks and Recreation System Plan will take additional funding, not only for big, exciting, new facilities like a signature recreation facility or interactive water feature, but for neighborhood park revitalization, new programs, and outreach, etc. The City needs to ensure that adequate funding is available by identifying and regularly communicating system funding needs, expanding and diversifying funding sources, and maximizing the use of volunteers to support system development and operations. The System Plan identifies initiatives for the next 20 years in the areas of Capital Investments, Plans/Studies, Management, Ongoing Initiatives, and Trails. The System Plan also estimates that the system will need more than $7 million in maintenance, repair, and replacement. Parks »Maintain Lake Ann Park as the premier community park »Add amenities to Bandimere, City Center, and Lake Susan Community Parks »Use a maintenance and replacement schedule to keep neighborhood park facilities up to date »Seek opportunities to expand the park network to serve changing community needs and preserve natural amenities. Preserves »Continue to preserve sensitive lands within the Bluff Creek Corridor »Collaborate with other agencies to protect the Seminary Fen »Collaborate with other agencies to protect the Minnesota River Valley »Expand marketing & wayfinding »Expand opportunities to interact with and explore nature »Identify & protect natural areas that link parks, preserves, & destinations »Develop natural resource management plan Facilities »Identify and construct a year- round signature recreation facility in the community »Add a destination splash pad at a community park »Establish an interpretative center with outdoor lab space and nature-based play »Add community-scale nature play at a community park and unstructured nature play throughout the community as appropriate »Improve user amenities at existing facilities »Explore opportunities for a second community garden »Implement recommendations of the Athletic Fields Study Programming »Continue to host at least 5 major community events »Expand informal, year-round events & nature-based programs »Collaborate with new & existing partner organizations to provide events & programming »Establish an Event Management Plan »Annually assess pricing structure Trails »Address trail gaps and trail crossing safety issues »Work with partner agencies to reopen Minnesota River Bluff LRT Regional Trail »Complete trail connection to Minnesota River »Increase maps and wayfinding to identify loops, distances, & destinations »Provide more user amenities »Expand the number of natural surface trails »Explore opportunities to add trailheads »Initiate a single-track mountain bike trail study Operations »Use System Plan as basis for budgeting & Capital Improvement Plan »Incorporate sustainable design & maintenance practices to make Chanhassen a model »Consider a tobacco use policy »Communicate benefits of parks and recreation »Establish formal review process for program & event development Summary of Plan Initiatives Priority Cost (Low)Cost (High) Short term $5,770,000 $12,660,000 Long term $31,075,000 $63,100,000 Ongoing $500,000 $5,000,000 Trail Gaps $4,943,000 $14,831,000 Total $42,228,000 $95,591,000 Estimated Cost of Signature Facility $25,000,000 $50,000,000 (Total Without Signature Facility) $17,288,000 $45,591,000 1-1 IntroductionOCTOBER 2017 1 Chapter 1INTRODUCTION Over its 50 years, Chanhassen’s Parks and Recreation System has improved the community’s quality of life, economic development, and environmental resources. With over 900 acres of parks and open space, 30 parks, and almost 80 miles of trails, the Chanhassen Parks and Recreation System is an essential component of the City. This System Plan was shaped by the Chanhassen community, and aims to forward the City’s tradition of providing excellent parks and recreation by guiding investment and development throughout the Parks and Recreation System over the next 20 years. This Plan complements the directions established in the Comprehensive Plan, and provides detailed guidance in the development, management, and operations of the system. This direction is based on the community’s expressed needs and desires, as well as analyses of demographic changes, future trends, and Chanhassen’s current system. This Plan addresses community needs at a system-wide level. Specific initiatives, like the development of an individual park, should be guided by this document, but will require additional, detailed master planning. 1-2 Chanhassen Parks & Recreation System Plan OCTOBER 2017 Importance of Parks & Recreation When people talk about the places they love in the city or neighborhood, parks are typically at the top of the list. They are sources of civic identity and pride, and parks and recreation are also essential to the physical, economic, environmental, and social health of cities and their residents. Quality parks, along with schools and access to transportation, are typically the top three criteria people consider when choosing a place to live and raise a family. Health A healthy recreation and park system equals healthy residents. Simply put, people who engage in regular physical activity are healthier and happier. When people have access to parks, trails, and recreation, they exercise more. In addition, increased exposure to natural areas has been linked to improved physical and psychological health. Recreation programs contribute to community health. Recreation programs offered for all ages (families, youth, adults, and seniors) promote life-long learning and a supportive community atmosphere. Specific programs can help accomplish other community goals, such as education about sustainability or youth development. Recreation and Parks encourage play. Parks are often cited as people’s favorite places. They are the places people go to have fun, relax, and play. Whether it’s a place to play a game of soccer, garden with neighbors, take a quiet walk through the woods or go on a vigorous run with the dog, a robust park and recreation system has something for everyone. Property Values Parks and open space increase property values. Numerous studies show that proximity to parks, trails, and open spaces increases residential property values. Parks and open space can also positively affect commercial property and can be catalysts for redevelopment. Beauty Parks contribute to aesthetics. Parkways, tree-lined streets, gardens, lush landscaped areas, views of rivers and lakes, stately woods, and public art are all things that make a city a beautiful place to live, work, play, and shop. They make essential contributions to a city’s livability and vitality. Keep up the great work and enhance our parks; one of the main reasons we live here. WHAT WE HEARD Townhomes Fronting Pioneer Pass Park Girl walking on tree at the Arboretum by Jason Lehman 1-3 IntroductionOCTOBER 2017 Natural Value & Environmental Benefits Parks and open space provide environmental benefits. Trees and vegetation found in parks, preserves, and open spaces improve air and water quality. These areas also play a role in managing stormwater runoff and protecting natural areas. Cultural & Social Amenities Parks preserve natural and cultural heritage. Significant natural features, such as the Bluff Creek Preserve, numerous lakes, wildlife refuges, and Minnewashta Regional Park, are preserved for today’s residents as well as for future generations. Parks have important social benefits. Parks are often the focal points of neighborhoods. As places for neighborhood activities, celebrations, and informal interaction, they provide places for community members to come together. How to Use the Plan Chanhassen’s Parks and Recreation System Plan is organized into six chapters. Chapter One introduces and provides context for the plan. Chapter Two outlines national and local trends that impact current and future development and the use of parks and recreation systems. Chapter Three provides an overview of Chanhassen’s existing park system. Chapter Four contains the vision and guiding principles that guide the future of Chanhassen’s Parks and Recreation System. Chapter Five identifies the goals, policies, and initiatives recommended to achieve the guiding principles. Chapter Six provides implementation tools, including priorities to assist with future decision-making, general cost estimates, potential funding sources, and a process to review future project proposals. Throughout the entire plan, gray call out boxes are used to provide supplemental information to document text. Purple call out boxes highlight some of the quotes from community members who participated in engagement efforts conducted throughout the system planning process. The system plan is supplemented by two appendices. The first appendix has full page versions of the system maps. The second appendix has all of the input received during the community engagement process. It is important to recognize that the recommendations contained within this plan do not constitute all possible future actions. Instead, this System Plan provides a framework to guide future decision-making. Given the 20-year time frame, it is anticipated that the System Plan may need to change as the community responds to future trends, needs, and opportunities. As a supplement to this document, a Park System Inventory was completed that takes stock of the system’s existing amenities. Fall Kayaking on Lake Ann by Sarah McGinn Son & daughter walking at the Arboretum by Amy Huang 1-4 Chanhassen Parks & Recreation System Plan OCTOBER 2017 Planning Process This year-long planning effort began in August of 2016, and represents input gathered from the community, stakeholders, city staff, and city officials. Online questionnaires, meetings, focus groups, park and community tours, open houses, and group brainstorming efforts guided the development of the System Plan by providing valuable input and collective wisdom. The plan also incorporates the expertise of the consultant team, analysis of benchmarking data, a system-wide audit conducted by city staff and the consultants, and best practices collected from other peer communities. The planning process was guided by an Advisory Committee that met 7 times throughout the process. The Chanhassen City Council and Park and Recreation Commission provided guidance and input throughout every phase of the plan’s development. Meetings between the project team and the City Council were held on September 26, 2016, February 4, 2017, and September 11, 2017. The Park and Recreation Commission collaborated with the project team on December 13, 2016, March 28, 2017, July 25, 2017, and August 22, 2017. Community Engagement The goal of the planning process was to educate and raise awareness about the importance of parks and recreation while ensuring that future investment in Chanhassen’s system meets the changing needs of the community. Throughout this planning process, over 1,000 residents and stakeholders were engaged to ensure the final plan was reflective of community desires. Public outreach efforts included: »Six Advisory Committee meetings spread throughout the year-long planning process »Two listening sessions (Athletic Associations, Senior Center Commission) »Three online questionnaires and two online interactive mapping exercises which reached almost 2,000 individuals and solicited 1,500 responses »Seven Pop-up meetings at community events »A Community Open House held on April 6th of 2017, where over 70 community members provided feedback on the System Plan’s draft recommendations Open House Participants Open House Sign 1-5 IntroductionOCTOBER 2017 Existing Plans While this is the first Parks and Recreation System Plan for the City of Chanhassen, several previous planning efforts helped guide the development of this document. »The National Citizen Survey conducted in 2013 and in 2016 »Parks and Recreation Annual Report »2015 Athletic Facilities Study »2030 Comprehensive Plan »Bandimere Park Master Plan »Fox Woods Preserve Master Plan »County Road 61 Corridor Study Coordinated Planning Efforts Park System Inventory As part of this planning process, a Park System Inventory was developed to take stock of every amenity present in Chanhassen’s existing system. The creation of this document acted as a starting point for the audit of the City’s existing conditions included in this Plan. The Park System Inventory provides detailed maps and information regarding every park within the City and is available on the City’s website. Chanhassen 2040 Comprehensive Plan This planning process corresponded with the development of the City’s 2040 Comprehensive Plan. A parks and recreation chapter was written based on the recommendations established in this System Plan. 1-6 Chanhassen Parks & Recreation System Plan OCTOBER 2017 2-7 TrendsOCTOBER 2017 2 Chapter 2TRENDS In order to keep pace with the changing demands of a growing population, the City of Chanhassen needs to consider how the dynamic nature of technologies, trends, cultures, and activities will affect facility and programming needs. The following chapter explores key trends and their potential implications for the parks and recreation system. By building flexibility into the City’s recreation and park facilities, Chanhassen will be able to adapt quickly and efficiently in order to meet these new demands. 2-8 Chanhassen Parks & Recreation System Plan OCTOBER 2017 Desire for Conservation & Opportunities to Connect with Nature »72% of Americans see conservation as an “extremely” or “very” important role of parks and recreation agencies »Spending time in nature improves creativity and problem-solving abilities »The Chanhassen 2016 National Community Survey identified natural play areas as one of the top three desired facilities Implications for Parks & Recreation »Bringing naturalized habitats back to parks (i.e. Turf reduction) »Transition maintenance regimes from mowing to weeding (less time intensive but more skills required) »Preserve and provide access to natural areas »Offer educational/ interpretive programs »Balance active recreation offerings with natural environments »Include passive open space »Need for signage and education Desire to Create More Memorable Experiences »The rise in social media as a method to share experiences through pictures and messages »78% of millennials would choose to spend money on a desirable experience or event over buying something desirable »Growing popularity in games and devices that utilize augmented reality (i.e. Pokemon Go) Implications for Parks & Recreation »Distinctive programming »Special events »Integration of art »Destination features »Incorporating hashtags and other social media-friendly components »Embrace and incorporate new technologies to get online-based users into the parks »Filming in the parks Increased Importance of ‘Place’ »The increased mobility of the workforce (telecommuting, freelance work, etc.) has resulted in individuals choosing where they live based on lifestyle and proximity to family and friends rather than employment opportunities Implications for Parks & Recreation »Co-production of services and experiences »Parks as economic generators »Distinctive spaces, programs, and events »Placemaking in parks and public places »Integration of public art »Destination amenities »Memorable features Rob Howard Photography Rob Howard Photography 2-9 TrendsOCTOBER 2017 More Transient »24% of U.S. adults reported moving to a different city within the United States in the past five years »The average American moves 11.7 times during the course of their lifetime Implications on Parks & Recreation »Strong marketing and outreach needed »Adapt to changing residents »Flexible and multifaceted »Effective wayfinding Demand for Green Alternatives »Transportation (biking, walking, transit) »Stormwater treatment »Maintenance practices »Native/habitat restoration »Education »Local food systems Implications for Parks & Recreation »Need staff knowledge about sustainable practices »Increased interest in community gardens »Interest in year-round commuting routes and amenities (bike racks, lockers, showers) to support transportation alternatives »Need for improvements to, and thoughtful management of, natural areas Pinched Government Budgets »Some cities are not investing in the upkeep of their parks and recreation system »Deferring maintenance and replacement creates a backlog that can become hard to address and leads to a negative perception of system quality Implications for Parks & Recreation »Investing equitably and providing even access to amenities across a whole park system »Keeping parks affordable »Need for new and stable funding sources »Balancing new and existing facilities; quality and quantity 2-10 Chanhassen Parks & Recreation System Plan OCTOBER 2017 Increased Interest in Aging Actively »America’s 65+ population is projected to grow by 147% between 2000 and 2050 »12.1% of Chanhassen residents were 60+ in 2010, which is almost double the percent of residents over 60 in 2000 Implications for Parks & Recreation »More senior recreation »More mid-day recreation programs »Cater park and recreation facilities to a variety of mobility and activity levels »Promote “fitting” types of outdoor recreation (walking, gardening, low-impact sports, etc.) »Desire for volunteer opportunities Engaging New Generations »Children’s play has changed from outdoors to indoors since the 1950s, reducing people’s connections to parks and nature »The amount of unstructured play in a child’s day is 4-7 minutes/day on average »22.6% of kids aged 9-13 reported spending none of their free time on physical activity in the past week »American teens average about 9 hours of screen time/ day (excluding time spent at school or for homework) Implications on Parks & Recreation »Add educational/ interpretive programs that partner with schools & after school programs »Balance passive and active recreation »Offer spaces for unstructured, exploratory, and creative play »Offer adventures/ nontraditional sport activities »Incorporate technology into exploration Increased Interest in Weight Loss & Active Living »62.8% of adults in MN are either overweight or obese »Less than half of adults meet suggested levels of physical activity »Obesity among children ages 6-19 has more than tripled since the 1970s »Every $1 spent on bike trails and walking paths saves an estimated $3 in health costs »Communities that offer parks & trails with outreach can increase the number of people who exercise >3 times/week by 25% Implications on Parks & Recreation »Park systems have an opportunity to provide outdoor recreational activities that encourage active living & healthy lifestyles »Convenient & well-connected walking, running, and biking trails »Accessible amenities »Recreational options for all ages in one place Rob Howard Photography 2-11 TrendsOCTOBER 2017 Rise in Informal Adult Recreation Versus League Participation »In 2011, participation in softball leagues in Minnesota was half the participation in 1994 »Basketball participation has experienced a 75% decrease since 1994 »Competition from other fitness options (running/jogging, bicycling, yoga) on the increase Implications for Parks & Recreation »Increase in demand for specialized recreation facilities (dog parks, splash pads, indoor ice, etc.) »Changing demand for traditional sports facilities (diamond fields, courts, etc.) »Expanded interest in entrepreneurs using parks for classes and events »Increased trail use (walking, running, biking, etc.) Popularity of New & Non-Traditional Sports »Lacrosse has recently been the fastest-growing high school sport »Pickleball has become increasingly popular, particularly with Baby Boomers »Minnesota winters are getting shorter and warmer »Other nontraditional sports include skateboarding, rugby, ultimate frisbee, disc golf, rock climbing, single-track mountain biking etc., are on the rise Implications for Parks & Recreation »Requests for additional specialized, single-use facilities »Increased coordination needed to accommodate new sports that use fields similar to traditional sports (i.e. Lacrosse) »Potential for reduced demand for current athletic facilities »Increased demand for indoor ice due to lower quality outdoor ice and a shorter window for outdoor skating »More opportunities for outdoor recreation in the winter months accompany warmer temperatures Demand for Group Fitness Events & Races »78% of millennials would choose to spend money on a desirable experience or event over buying something desirable »Participation in adventure races grew 38% from 2012-2015, making it the fastest growing outdoor activity over that time period Implications for Parks & Recreation »Provide spaces for flexible programming »Embrace partnerships with local organizations for programming »Utilize park and trail facilities without interfering with daily users »Capitalize on park space to accommodate pre- and post-race events 2-12 Chanhassen Parks & Recreation System Plan OCTOBER 2017 Need for Convenience »The average American works 46.7 hours per week »Two thirds of all recreation occurs within a 30 minute drive from home »The mean travel time to work for Chanhassen residents is 23.4 minutes Implications for Parks & Recreation »Need for near home recreation »Flexible hours are needed »Increased hours of operation »Desire for individualized schedules »After school/work programs Increasingly Anxious About Safety »While trails are the City’s most utilized facility based on the Chanhassen Community Survey, they are meeting the needs of less than half of the respondents - the majority of comments regarded the safety of crossing busy roadways Implications for Parks & Recreation »Better lighting »Safer trails and parks »Facilities closer to home Sources: »The Outdoor Foundation’s 2011 Outdoor Recreation Topline Report »NRPA’s 2016 Americans’ Engagement with Parks Survey »Minnesota’s SCORP 2014-2018 »USDA Forest Service Recreation Survey »Leisure Time Studies by Hofferth & Sandberg, Juster, and SGMA »Youth Media Campaign Longitudinal Survey »Parks & Trails Council of Minnesota: Minnesota’s Parks, Trails, and Public Health (2014) »American Heart Association 3-13 Existing ConditionsOCTOBER 2017 Chapter 3EXISTING CONDITIONS 3 The foundation of system planning lies in understanding its existing conditions. A Park System Inventory was conducted at the beginning of this planning process, which involved identifying and mapping all of Chanhassen’s current park and recreation amenities. This audit is a standalone document that can be found on the City’s website. This chapter combines the system audit with demographic data, a gap and distribution analysis, the results of the first phase of community engagement, peer communities, and national standards to establish how well the City is currently serving the needs of the community, as well as how well it is positioned to meet any future needs that may arise. 3-14 Chanhassen Parks & Recreation System Plan OCTOBER 2017 Figure 3-1. Community Context Community Context The City of Chanhassen encompasses 14,427 acres of land in the western portion the Twin Cities Metropolitan Area. While the majority of this acreage is located in Carver County, 154 acres in the eastern portion of the City are in Hennepin County. Five major highways travel through the City, providing easy connections to surrounding metropolitan areas. With twelve beautiful lakes, two public school districts, 30 parks, a wide range of housing options, and over 700 businesses, Chanhassen offers residents and visitors alike a great destination for shopping, eating, entertainment, commerce, and recreation. Demographic Overview Population Chanhassen’s population has increased significantly over the past 50 years, growing from 244 in 1960 to just under 23,000 in 2010. According to the Metropolitan Council, this growth is expected to continue moving forward, with 37,100 residents projected for the year 2040; almost 15,000 more residents than were reported at the 2010 census. Age According to the U.S. Decennial Census, the largest age cohorts in the City in 2010 were 45-49 and 50-54, which are closely followed by the 10-14 age cohort. With the 20-24 and 25-29 age cohorts being some of the smallest, Chanhassen seemingly contains many families with younger children, but are lacking in young professionals. Over 12% of the population is older than 60, a figure that has doubled since the 2000 census. Demographic changes will alter the labor force and also impact preferences for transportation, housing, and park needs. For instance, both millennials and seniors will be seeking walkable neighborhoods and expanded trail facilities. 3-15 Existing ConditionsOCTOBER 2017 Race + Ethnicity In 2014, the majority of Chanhassen’s population identified as white (91%). Of the remaining 9%, 6% identified as Asian, 1.4% identified with two or more races, 1% identified as Black or African American, and less than 1% identified as American Indian or Alaskan Native. Just over 2% of the population identified as Hispanic or Latino. Households The total number of households in Chanhassen has increased by over 2,000 units since 2000. While the majority of households in the City are occupied by families (75%), the number of family households with children decreased by over 100 and the amount of non-family households increased by 5% between 2000 and 2010. These statistics are representative of a larger trend towards smaller households, resulting in an increase in the total number of households; an increase in the percentage of married couple, no children households; and an increase in the percentage of households with individuals over 65. Income Chanhassen is an affluent City, with over 50% of all households and almost 65% of all families earning an income of over $100,000. Both median household and family incomes have increased by over $20,000 since 2000, and was at $108,078 and $125,303 respectively in 2014 according to the American Community Survey. In comparison, both the Twin Cities Metro Area’s median household income ($68,019) and the average median household income of surrounding municipalities ($99,524) was lower than that of Chanhassen for 2014. While the City’s 2.9% poverty rate is stable and well below the national poverty rate of 15.6%, consideration still needs to be given to whether the Park and Recreation system is sufficiently serving those with limited incomes, particularly by providing access to facilities within a walking or biking distance. Education Of Chanhassen residents 25 and older, 96% have achieved at least a high school diploma, 60% have obtained a Bachelor’s degree or higher, and almost 19% have obtained a Graduate or Professional degree. These figures have remained relatively steady since 2000, and are comparable to those of surrounding communities. Under 5 5 to 9 10 to 14 15 to 19 20 to 24 25 to 29 30 to 34 35 to 39 40 to 44 45 to 49 50 to 54 55 to 59 60 to 64 65 to 69 70 to 74 75 to 79 80 to 84 85 and over 50.9% Female 49.1% Male Figure 3-2. Historic Population and Metropolitan Council Population Forecasts 128 132 182 244 4,879 6,359 11,732 20,321 22,952 26,700 31,700 37,100 - 5,000 10,000 15,000 20,000 25,000 30,000 35,000 40,000 Figure 3-3. Age & Gender Distribution Figure 3-4. Median Household Income $108,078 $76,301 $95,697 $131,833 $113,719 $80,068 $- $20,000 $40,000 $60,000 $80,000 $100,000 $120,000 $140,000 AVERAGE $99,524 3-16 Chanhassen Parks & Recreation System Plan OCTOBER 2017 SYSTEM AT A GLANCE »Almost 1,000 acres of city- owned parks, preserves, and open space »30 community & neighborhood parks »14 preserves & 1 special use park »Almost 80 miles of trails Facilities 27 playground areas 21 picnic shelters 5 swimming beaches 16 tennis courts 10 pickleball courts 28 diamond fields 21 rectangular fields 20 basketball courts 6 sledding hills 4 sand volleyball courts 1 skate park 1 disc golf course 1 garden plot site 7 docks & 3 fishing piers 5 outdoor hockey rinks & 5 pleasure rinks 1 dog park (in partnership) 1 recreation center System at a Glance The Chanhassen Park and Recreation Department manages almost 1,000 acres of parkland, almost 80 miles of trails, and two major indoor community facilities; the Recreation Center and the Senior Center. These amenities offer area residents, employees, and visitors numerous opportunities for active and passive recreation while providing invaluable benefits to the community’s ecosystem and users’ physical and mental health. System History Chanhassen’s Park and Recreation System is the result of almost 50 years of planning and City and citizen commitment. In addition to adding parks and trails to the system in conjunction with development, the community has supported major park improvement initiatives throughout the years. Three major bond referendums over the system’s history have allowed for major Park and Recreation improvements. The first bond referendum for parks was passed in 1969, resulting in the acquisition of Lake Ann Park, the beginning of the neighborhood park system; and the preservation of community character that is enjoyed by residents to this day. In 1988, the City saw its second bond referendum, which funded phase two of Lake Ann Park as well as the purchase of park land in the southern half of the City. Another referendum was passed in 1996, resulting in: improvements in 18 parks system-wide; the construction of Bandimere Park; the reconstruction of City Center Park; preservation of over 40 acres of open space; and seven miles of new community trails. Park Classification Today, the City’s park and recreation needs are met by a combination of: city parks; city trails and sidewalks; school district facilities; private facilities; recreation programs; as well as non-city amenities including regional parks and trails and facilities in surrounding communities. Park classifications are used to ensure that a park and recreation system has sufficient diversity and geographic distribution to serve various neighborhood and community needs. In Chanhassen, there are four types of parks: community, neighborhood, special use, and preserves. Community Parks Community Parks provide opportunities for City-wide recreation and typically serve a 1-2 mile area. They emphasize active recreation by providing amenities like ball fields and soccer/football fields. Chanhassen’s six community parks are distributed throughout the City and most residents live within an easy drive or bike-ride. Over the next 20 years it is anticipated that additional land for community park facilities will be needed to serve the community. Because most of the new residential growth is anticipated to occur in two areas, south of Lyman Boulevard and on the west side of Lake Ann, it makes sense to look for new or expanded community parks in these areas. Chanhassen currently has six Community Parks, including Bandimere Park, City Center Park, Lake Ann Park, Lake Susan Park, South Lotus Lake Park, and the Recreation Center. 3-17 Existing ConditionsOCTOBER 2017 Lake Ann Park Lake Susan Park Bandimere Park City Center Park Chanhassen Recreation Center South Lotus Lake Park Kerber Pond Park Power Hill Park Riley Ridge Park North LotusLake Park Meadow Green Park Herman Field Park Pheasant Hill Park Sunset Ridge Park Stone CreekPark Pioneer Pass Park Roundhouse Park Curry Farms Park ChanhassenHills Park Carver Beach Park Cathcart Park (Owned by the City of Shorewood) Sugarbush Park Prairie Knoll Park Rice MarshLake Park Bandimere Heights Park Greenwood Shores Park Carver BeachPlayground Minnewashta Heights Park Chanhassen Estates Park Chanhassen High School (Joint Facilities) Manchester Park(To Be Completed in 2018) MinnewashtaRegional Park University of Minnesota Landscape Arboretum Raguet Wildlife Management Area Privately Owned Public Golf Course MN Valley National Wildlife Refuge Olson Community Garden Minnetonka Middle School West CenturyBoulevardHazeltineBoulevardBluffCreekDrive West78th Street LymanBoulevard ChanhassenRoadCrosstownBoulevard Pleasant View Road GreatPlainsBoulevar dB avariaRoadSmithtownRoad Pione er T ra ilW es tLonga c resDrive VictoriaDrive ArboretumBoulevard Po we r s B o ul evardKerberBoulevardLakeLucyRoad MinnewashtaParkwayCountyRoad140 LakeDriveEast Her on Drive Engler Boulevard Hund ertm arkRoadEastGalpinBoulevardAudubonRoadPioneer Trail 82nd Street West F ly in g Clo ud Drive Ch a ska B oul e v ardLakeDrive PioneerTrailEastChestnutStreetNorthWest82ndStreet ")140 ")53 ¬«101 ¬«7 £¤212 ¬«5 ")61 ¬«101 ¬«101 L o t usL ak eLake Su sa n LakeRileyR i ceL akeLakeMinnewashta LakeA n n L a keL ucyRi c e MarshLake Ed en P r a ir ie E x c e l s i o r Gre e n wo o d Mi n n e to n k aShorewood To n k a Ba y J a ck s on Twp. S h a k o p e e C h a s k a V i c tor i a LEGEND Open Space Community Park Neighborhood Park Preserve Special Use Non-City Parks & Open Space Public School Surrounding Municipal Parks Water Bodies Municipal Boundaries °0 0.5 10.25 Miles Figure 3-5. City Park Distribution 3-18 Chanhassen Parks & Recreation System Plan OCTOBER 2017 Tennis League Neighborhood Parks The goal of neighborhood parks is to provide informal recreational opportunities close to where people live. Chanhassen operates under the standard that all residents should be within walking distance, or about a half mile, of a neighborhood park. The walking distance must also be free of major barriers like major roads or water bodies to count as adequate. Because community parks often act as neighborhood parks for the people living in close proximity, a half mile radius is applied to both neighborhood and community parks to identify any gaps in service. There are 23 Neighborhood Parks distributed throughout Chanhassen, 22 of which are City owned and operated. Cathcart Park is located within Chanhassen and acts as a neighborhood park for residents north of Lake Minnewashta, but is owned by the City of Shorewood. Special Use Parks Special Use Parks are park facilities and amenities that target a specific user group and are not associated with an existing park. Olson Community Garden is the City’s only Special Use Park, and is a popular amenity in the community. Preserves Preserves function to protect the City’s high quality natural space, and usually involve minimal low-impact development. The City currently owns over 500 acres of open space protected throughout Chanhassen’s fourteen preserves. These acres encompass a large portion of the Bluff Creek Corridor, as well as other treasured wetland and woodland areas. Notable Facilities City Facilities Recreation Center The Chanhassen Recreation Center provides the community with year-round indoor and outdoor recreational facilities. The Recreation Center is a focal point for many of the City’s community events and recreation activities and programs. The staff at the Recreation Center takes pride in providing a fun and friendly atmosphere for people of all ages at an affordable price. Facilities at the Recreation Center include a gymnasium, fitness room, aerobics/dance studios, five meeting rooms, and outdoor ball fields, tennis and pickleball courts, and hockey/inline skating rinks. Due to the popularity of the programs (especially dance) and the lack of meeting space throughout the community, the Recreation Center is often completely rented out. Senior Center Chanhassen’s Senior Center is a popular and highly utilized amenity for retirees, and is centrally located within the City Hall. The Senior Center provides senior programming including field trips, art and education classes, health and wellness programs, card games, and woodcarving. Recreation Center Weight Room Olson Community Garden Senior Center Card Playing Event 3-19 Existing ConditionsOCTOBER 2017 Non-City Parks & Open Space There are several non-city parks and open spaces located in Chanhassen. The locations of these facilities are highlighted in purple in Figure 3-5. Schools (ISD 276 & 112) The public schools in Chanhassen partner with the City to offer facilities for public use outside of school hours. The City has agreements for shared use at Chanhassen High School for school athletic fields. Bluff Creek Elementary School shares facilities with Chanhassen Recreation Center, while Chanhassen Elementary School shares facilities with City Center Park. While there is not a specific shared use agreement, Minnetonka Middle School West’s facilities assist in addressing needs for surrounding residential neighborhoods. Lake Minnewashta Regional Park This 330 acre Regional Park on the east side of Lake Minnewashta is owned and operated by Carver County with support from the Metropolitan Council. Facilities include: lake access, a fishing pier, picnicking, sand volleyball, a swimming beach, and trails. A new off-leash dog area was established in partnership with Carver County, the City of Chanhassen, and the City of Shorewood Parks Foundation. A fee is required for use. Camp Tanadoona Camp Tanadoona was started by the Minneapolis Camp Fire Girls in 1924 and consists of 63 acres of land on Lake Minnewashta, south of Lake Minnewashta Regional Park. Today the camp serves both boys and girls and offers overnight and day camps. MN DNR Lands The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources protects several areas of land within Chanhassen. An 8 acre parcel on the east side of Lotus Lake is preserved as open space. The DNR also owns 106 acres of the 600-acre Seminary Fen wetlands complex in southern Chanhassen, which contains a Scientific and Natural Area (SNA) that encompasses 73 acres and protects a rare calcareous fen and threatened plant species. The remaining 33 acres were allotted to the adjacent Raguet WMA. Finally, the DNR owns public land surrounding Lake St. Joe, which is just south of Roundhouse Park in northwest Chanhassen. Minnesota Valley National Wildlife Refuge There are approximately 60 acres of the Minnesota Valley National Wildlife Refuge within the City. The refuge was established in 1976 to provide habitat for migratory waterfowl, fish, and other wildlife species. Today the refuge is comprised of 14,000 acres stretching 45 miles from Fort Snelling State Park to Belle Plaine, Minnesota. While some areas of the refuge have trails and interpretive signs, there are no public recreation facilities in Chanhassen. Raguet Wildlife Management Area (WMA) The Raguet Wildlife Management Area encompasses 270 acres, 190 of which are located in Chanhassen. The WMA is entirely within the floodplain of the Minnesota River. Natural communities include floodplain forest, wetland areas, and grassland. The management emphasis is maintaining and improving habitat for wetland species. The only public recreation access is for hunting. The Minnesota Landscape Arboretum The Minnesota Landscape Arboretum is a 1,000 acre facility, 675 acres of which are located in west Chanhassen. The Arboretum is a unit of the University of Minnesota and is a public botanical garden and an education and research institution. It features display gardens and exhibits, model landscapes, restored native landscapes, plant research plots as well as extensive plant collections, and hiking and cross country skiing trails. Educational offerings include children’s programs, family activities, adult education, therapeutic horticulture, and the Anderson Horticultural Library. The Arboretum hosts several public festivals every year as well. A fee is required for use. Golf Courses There are three privately owned Golf Courses within the City of Chanhassen, all located south of Pioneer Trail. Bluff Creek Golf Course is a 228 acre 18 hole course, Halla Greens is a 45 acre 9 hole course, and the Golf Zone is approximately 100 acres just north of the Raguet WMA and includes an all-weather driving range, putting and chipping greens, 9 hole course, and a 18 hole indoor putting course. Lake Minnewashta Regional Park Minnesota Valley National Wildlife RefugeMinnesota Landscape Arboretum 3-20 Chanhassen Parks & Recreation System Plan OCTOBER 2017 Needs Assessment To understand the state of Chanhassen’s Park and Recreation System, this planning process involved conducting a critical evaluation of the City’s existing conditions, peer communities, national standards and trends, best practices, and community input. These analyses identified current and future needs and desires, which subsequently guided the development of guiding principles and goals, policies, and initiatives that work together to guide the future of the system. The evaluation process included: »Meetings with the City Staff, Advisory Committee, Park Board, and the City Council »Two phases of community input to gather feedback on existing conditions and future desires »Evaluation of the entire system of parks, trails, natural resources, connectivity, programs, and facilities, including an update of the Park System Inventory »Demographic analysis »Evaluation of current park classification system and standards »Evaluation of service areas, future growth, and development needs »Identification of issues and opportunities at a system-wide level »Comparison of existing supply, quality, and distribution of features and facilities to national standards and to peer communities »Evaluation of emerging trends influencing future needs of the system Community Input A variety of community engagement activities were completed over the course of this project to ensure the project remained reflective of community desires. This input helped identify satisfaction with the existing park system, the level of Park and Recreation use, opinions on the system’s needs, issues, and priorities, and desires for future system development. While opportunities to attend community events and hold stakeholder meetings were explored throughout the process, there were two major phases aimed at collecting public input, the first in fall of 2016 and the second in spring of 2017. Resident and stakeholder outreach methods included: »Seven Community Pop-Up Events »Athletic Association Stakeholder Meeting »Senior Stakeholder Meeting »Three Online Community Questionnaires »Two Online Social PinPoint Maps »Community Open House For a summary of all community input results, refer to Appendix B. Pop-Up Event Advisory Committee members 3-21 Existing ConditionsOCTOBER 2017 CHANHASSEN PARKS & RECREATION SYSTEM PLAN Online Community Engagement Summary Four different online engagement strategies were implemented in order to reach as many demographics as possible. Three online questionnaires captured public comments regarding the senior center, the recreation center, and the parks and recreation system in general. The fourth online strategy involved an interactive mapping software intended to collect geographic-based comments. This summary includes a synopsis of some of the significant findings from all four engagement techniques. 1 % never 34% every d ay 48% once a week 10% once a monthHow OftenRespondentsUtilize Chan Parks & Rec 8% few times a year 80% 52% 35% 75% 74% 72% 47% 29% 26% 66% 52% 21% 11% 6% Respondents’Favorite FacilitiesBy Percent Respondents’Favorite ProgramsBy Percent neighborhood parks trails community parks beaches recreation center preserves/natural areas diamondfields rectangularfields ice skatingrinks 18% tenniscourts 6% pickleballcourts communityevents youthactivities familyactivities adultfitness adultpickleball 2 1 3 4 edenprairie victoria excelsior chaska Top 4 DestinationsFor Non-Chan Parks &Recreation Facilities Top 3 Desired Facilities natural play areas75%outdoor pool60%indoor pool72% Under 50% Needs Met Over 50% Needs Met Not Utilized preserve/natural areas youth sports and classes trails adult sports and classes recreation center 0%20%40%60%80%100% 46% 21%17% 15%78% 44%14% 13%71% 31%23% 62% 42% 7% 16% Top 5 Unmet Facility & Programming Needs “While private rec facilities should fill the gaps in programming, something like an outdoor swimming pool should be seriously considered as a city run facility. Lifetime is the only option in the city and is not affordable for all.” “We are lacking in facilities to support our population here. A larger sports complex is needed.” “Keep up the great work and enhance our parks; one of the main reasons we live here.” “Improving our existing rec center would add value and encourage pride in our community. It should be a top priority.” Select General Comments Figure 3-6. Key Findings From the Fall System-Wide Questionnaire 3-22 Chanhassen Parks & Recreation System Plan OCTOBER 2017 Importance of Additional Facilities & Programming 0%20%40%60% 50% 80%100% moreprogramming 73%27% fitness classspace 73%27% large meeting/event room 70%30% indoor pool 39%61% fitnessequipment 39%61% kitchen facility 40%60% indoor track 44%56% garden 64%36% hot tub 26%74% sport court 76%24% theater 56%44% café or coffeeshop 44%56% Important Not Important While all responses to the Senior Center survey were evaluated, only those from respondents over the age of 60 were considered for the charts included in this infographic. However, the comments included below are representative of all participating age groups. 1% never 34% every d ay 48% once a week 10% once a monthSENIOR CENTER Select General Comments 31% never 1 % every day 33 % o n c e a week 11% once a month 24% few times a yearHow OftenRespondentsUtilize the SeniorCenter 40% are unaware of it are not interested in whatit has to offer 24% use a senior center inanother community 12% Of Respondents That Never Use the Senior Center: Other Popular Responses: Women’s Club Driver’s Safety Class Chan-O-Laires 0% 60% 51% 42% field trip 29% health orwellness program 4%woodcarving art or educationclass 27%card playing Existing Facility & Programming Usage 100%0%20%40%60%80% Very Supportive Somewhat Supportive Not at All Supportive Support For Senior Center Alternatives build a new senior center adjacent to therecreation center 35%40%25% maintain the existingsenior center as it is 43%37%20% relocate the senior center to a new, largerfacility 37%48%15% “I am proud of what the existing Senior Center offers in relation to programming but we will be out growing the facility with the shift in retirees. And we do have a dynamic and hard-working directorin Sue!!” “From what I've seen, there isn't much offered for Senior Citizens that still work full-time. I would like to see some programs offered evenings or weekends.” “As the population ages Chanhassen needs a viable senior center. The one we have is very small and does not have enough programs. A theater and art space are very important to me.” “Please keep the bus trips so we can get to places we can't drive to and that have limited parking.” “The location of the Chanhassen Sr. Center appears to be superb! It is easy to locate, access for pleasure and emergencies if needed. If you are considering a new community center please include the senior's space: Chaska's community center where all ages and all activities can participate is the ultimate (even church studies, meetings, etc.)” Figure 3-7. Key Findings From the Fall Senior Center Questionnaire 3-23 Existing ConditionsOCTOBER 2017 This survey was geared toward people who utilize the Recreation Center’s facilities and programming, regardless of whether or not they are a resident of Chanhassen. All of the questions specifically pertain to the Recreation Center rather than the park system as a whole. RECREATION CENTER 20% nev e r 5% every day 24 % o n ce a week 9% once a month 42% few times a yearHow OftenRespondentsUtilize the RecCenter 13% are unaware of ituse private recreationfacilities 18% are not interested in whatit has to offer 35% use a recreation center inanother community 18% Other Popular Responses: Youth Sports 0% 50% 39% 35% attended anevent 27% utilized thetness center 22% attendedopen gymopenpickleball participated ina class 26% 16% 9% hosted or attendeda meetinghosted or attendeda birthday party Existing Facility & Programming Usage “I hope it can expand, perhaps by moving to a new building and leaving the full building for an expansion of Bluff Creek.” “It is a very nice facility. I exercise there 3 days a week. The staff is friendly and helpful.” “The rec center needs to ll the needs of all community members. Currently, I feel the programming has a focus on children and families...” “We would LOVE to go if you had swimming lessons in an indoor pool, and much more creative classes to choose from (art, clay, music, theater....)” “More pickleball courts. As this sport grows, so should the number of courts.” “An indoor public pool and walking track like Chaska Comm. Center....the private clubs are so costly!” “We need an economical alternative to the expensive and overly busy Lifetime Fitness. Doesn't need to be fancy but something more like a YMCA or the Chaska Community Center.” 50% 0%20%40%60%80%100% Of Respondents That Never Use the Recreation Center: Importance of Additional Facilities & Programming running/walking track 85%15% kitchen facilities inmeeting rooms 69%31% additional technologyin meeting rooms (screen,projector, etc.)66%34% senior center 56%44% "health" snack bar 54%46% a seasonal domedmulti-purpose e ld house 39%61% more exercise/class studios 28%72% larger tn essc enter 20%80% indoor pool 19%81% Select General Comments Important Not Important Figure 3-8. Key Findings From the Fall Recreation Center Questionnaire 3-24 Chanhassen Parks & Recreation System Plan OCTOBER 2017 “Can Chanhassen and other cities work to get a path all the way from 5 to downtown Excelsior?” “The city already has a future trail connection planned from Lake Lucy to Lake Ann Park. Make it happen!” identified trail gaps 22 “Bringing a full loop path around Lake Ann would be a huge advancement in running options for the city.” identified missing facilities23 “More painted/ signed crosswalks would be nice on Audubon as there is lots of fast moving traffic.”“Consider adding a fishing dock accessible from North Lotus Park.” “[Southeast of Bluff Creek Preserve] is another wooded area that would be nice to preserve in its natural state and have public access allowed.” “We love the proposed trails near Lake Lucy and Lake Ann but do not want any of Prince's land to be developed! Keep land as a preserve!” 57 identified areasthey like “I love [the] walking path behind the High School and how we are maintaining the natural area here.” “The tunnel under 41 is a great way to get to the Minnewashta trails.” 63 identified areasthat need work “Need a safe way to cross Highway 5 at Powers. Underground tunnel?” “The trails around Lake Susan need improvement. Very cracked, pitted, bumpy and uneven. Have seen people trip and fall.” “The Chanhassen Rec Center is sub-standard compared to other adjacent towns. We could definitely improve it. Aim high, add an indoor skating rink and a pool.” SOCIAL PINPOINT » The majority of comments across all categories were in reference to the trail system » While “Like it” contained a high number of responses, many were constructive as well as positive, pointing out missing facilities, trail gaps, and potential opportunities » Many comments urged the City to maintain land around Lake Ann as natural, open space, and suggested the only development be hiking or skiing trails » Tunnels were highlighted as an important amenity for respondents, and many expressed desire for more along Highway 5, especially in closer proximity to the Minnesota Landscape Arboretum Social Pinpoint is an online platform that helps users place geographically-referenced comments in the following categories: “Like it,” “Needs Work,” “Missing Facility,” and “Trail Gap.” This method of engagement received almost 170 responses distributed throughout the City, which can be seen on the map below. A selection of the most popular comments are displayed ot the right by category. Key Findings 1 2 3 4 Like It Needs Work Missing Facility Trail Gap Figure 3-9. Key Findings From the Fall Social PinPoint to 3-25 Existing ConditionsOCTOBER 2017 System Components & Condition In the 2016 National Citizen Survey, residents indicated that they highly value Recreation and Wellness opportunities in Chanhassen and ranked the City’s health and wellness, recreational and fitness opportunities, and preventive health services to be higher than other communities across the country. The survey also indicated that 9 out of 10 residents frequently make use of the City’s wide array of recreational opportunities. The City will work to maintain these high standards moving into the future by ensuring the system continues to meet changing community needs. Parks Chanhassen’s 30 parks comprise 888 acres of City land, providing 36 acres of parkland per 1,000 residents. While the City’s park acreage exceeds national standards as well as that of surrounding communities, the number of parks is fewer than average. With the expected population growth of over 10,000 new residents in the next 10 to 20 years, the City should continue to look into expanding the number and distribution of parks as opportunities arise. Emphasis should be placed on currently underserved areas, as well as future areas anticipated to be developed with medium and high density housing. At existing parks, user amenities like lighting, benches, grills, wifi, and permanent restrooms were suggested as potential improvements. Accessibility to parks is excellent within the community’s core. This access is complimented by successful partnerships with school facilities and access to amenities in surrounding communities. However, pockets of low accessibility exist in the northwest due to the barriers of Lake Minnewashta, major roadways, and large lot residential development. While this is a gap, it should be noted that Lake Minnewashta Regional Park fulfils the role of a community park in this area. In the south, accessibility is reduced due to fewer parks, major roadways, and large lot residential development. Consideration of park access in the south should occur as development of low, medium, or high density housing occurs. Overall, the construction of additional grade-separated roadway crossings would also help improve park access. Carver Beach Park Pioneer Pass Park Love all the programs, trails and parks available to us in Chanhassen WHAT WE HEARD 3-26 Chanhassen Parks & Recreation System Plan OCTOBER 2017 Lake Ann Park Lake Susan Park Bandimere Park City Center Park Chanhassen Recreation Center South Lotus Lake Park Kerber Pond Park Power Hill Park Riley Ridge Park North Lotus Lake Park Meadow Green Park Herman Field Park Pheasant Hill Park Sunset RidgePark Stone CreekPark Pioneer Pass Park Roundhouse Park Curry Farms Park ChanhassenHills Park Carver BeachPark Cathcart Park (Owned by theCity of Shorewood) Sugarbush Park Prairie Knoll Park Rice Marsh Lake Park Bandimere Heights Park Greenwood Shores Park Carver Beach Playground Minnewashta Heights Park Chanhassen Estates Park Chanhassen High School (Joint Facilities) Manchester Park (To Be Completed in 2018) Minnewashta Regional Park University of Minnesota Landscape Arboretum Raguet Wildlife Management Area Privately Owned Public Golf Course MN Valley NationalWildlife Refuge Olson CommunityGarden Minnetonka Middle School West CenturyBoulevardHazeltineBoulevardBluffCreekDrive West78thStreet LymanBoulevard Ch anhassenRoadCrosstown Boulevard Pleasant Vie w Road GreatPlainsBoulevar dB avariaRoadSmithtownRoad Pionee rTr ailW e s tLongac resDrive VictoriaDrive Arboretum Boulevard P owe rs Boul evardKerberBoulevardLakeLucyRoad MinnewashtaParkwayCountyRoad140 LakeDriveEast Her on Drive Engler Boulevard Hunde rtm arkRoadEastGalpinBoulevardAudubonRoadPioneer Trail 82nd Street West F ly in g Clo u d Dr iv e C has k a Bou lev a rdLakeDrive PioneerTrailEastChestnutStreetNorthWest82ndStreet ")140 ")53 ¬«101 ¬«7 £¤212 ¬«5 ")61 ¬«101 ¬«101 L o t usL a k eLak e Su s a n LakeRileyR iceL akeLakeMinnewash t a LakeA n n L a keL ucyR i c e MarshLake E d e n P ra ir i e Ex c e l s i o r G r e e n w oo d M i n n et o nk aShorewood To nk a B a y J a ck s on Twp . S h ak op e e Ch as k a V i c tor i a LEGEND Community Parks Neighborhood Parks 1/2 Mile Buffer* Non-City Parks & Open Space Public School Surrounding Municipal Parks Water Bodies Municipal Boundaries 2030 Planned Land Use Medium/High Density Residential Low Density Residential Large Lot Residential Non-Residential Land Use *Major roadways are barriers for pedestrian access, and limit the reach of many 1/2 mile park buffers throughout the City °0 0.5 10.25 Miles Figure 3-10. Neighborhood Park Access 3-27 Existing ConditionsOCTOBER 2017 Lake Ann Park Lake Susan Park Bandimere Park City Center Park Chanhassen Recreation Center South Lotus Lake Park Kerber Pond Park Power Hill Park Riley Ridge Park North Lotus Lake Park Meadow Green Park Herman Field Park Pheasant Hill Park Sunset Ridge Park Stone Creek Park Pioneer Pass Park Roundhouse Park Curry Farms Park Chanhassen Hills Park Carver Beach Park Cathcart Park(Owned by theCity of Shorewood) Sugarbush Park Prairie KnollPark Rice MarshLake Park Bandimere Heights Park Greenwood Shores Park Carver Beach Playground Minnewashta Heights Park Chanhassen Estates Park Chanhassen High School (Joint Facilities) Manchester Park (To Be Completed in 2018) Minnewashta Regional Park University of Minnesota Landscape Arboretum Raguet WildlifeManagement Area Privately Owned Public Golf Course MN Valley National Wildlife Refuge Olson Community Garden Minnetonka MiddleSchool West CenturyBoulevardHazeltineBoulevardBluffCreekDrive West78thStreet LymanBoulevard Ch anhassenRoadCrosstownBoulevard Pleasant Vie w Road GreatPlain sBoulevar dBavariaRoadSmithtownRoad Pione e rT ra ilW e stLon g ac resDrive VictoriaDrive ArboretumBoulevard Po wers Bo ul evardKerberBoulevardLakeLucyRoad MinnewashtaParkwayCounty Road 140 LakeDriveEast He ro n Drive Engler Boulevard Hund ertm arkRoadEastGalpinBoulevardAudubonR oadPioneer Trail 82nd Street West Flying Clo ud Drive Ch a ska B ou le v ardLakeDrive PioneerTrailEastChestnutStreetNorthWest82ndStreet ")140 ")53 ¬«101 ¬«7 £¤212 ¬«5 ")61 ¬«101 ¬«101 L o t usLa k eLake S u s a n LakeRileyR iceL akeLakeMinnewashta LakeA n n L a keL ucyR i c e MarshLake E d e n P ra ir i e E xc e l s i o r Gre e n wo o d M i n n et o nk aShorewood To n k a Ba y Ja c ks o n Tw p . S h ak o p e e C h a s ka V ic t o r i a LEGEND Community Parks Neighborhood Parks 1 Mile Buffer 2 Mile Buffer Non-City Parks & Open Space Public School Surrounding Municipal Parks Water Bodies Municipal Boundaries 2030 Planned Land Use Medium/High Density Residential Low Density Residential Large Lot Residential Non-Residential Land Use Lake Minnewashta Park, a regional park, serves as a community park for the surrounding area and reduces the service area gap in the northwest °0 0.5 10.25 Miles Figure 3-11. Community Park Access 3-28 Chanhassen Parks & Recreation System Plan OCTOBER 2017 Facilities Chanhassen currently provides a diverse, well-distributed range of park and recreation facilities. Picnic shelters and/or playgrounds are present in all but one of the City’s neighborhood parks. A Neighborhood Park Picnic Shelter Initiative is currently underway that will add 6 more shelters between the years 2017 and 2018 throughout the City. The amount of playgrounds in Chanhassen is consistent with that of surrounding communities, and is within an acceptable range for anticipated population growth. A major desire of the community identified in the engagement process was for the inclusion of natural playscapes, play areas either made with natural materials or made to look like nature. The incorporation of natural playscapes can be addressed through replacements, upgrades, and when new construction occurs. For efficiency reasons, new playgrounds should continue to be placed carefully to ensure a 1/4 to 1/2 mile gap is maintained between like facilities. Lake Ann Park Lake SusanPark BandimerePark City Center Park Chanhassen Recreation Center South LotusLake Park Kerber Pond Park Power Hill Park Riley Ridge Park North LotusLake Park Meadow Green Park Herman Field Park Pheasant HillPark Sunset RidgePark Stone Creek Park PioneerPass Park Roundhouse Park Curry FarmsPark ChanhassenHills Park Carver BeachPark Cathcart Park(Owned by theCity of Shorewood) Sugarbush Park Prairie KnollPark Rice MarshLake Park BandimereHeights Park Greenwood Shores Park Carver BeachPlayground MinnewashtaHeights Park Chanhassen Estates Park Chanhassen High School(Joint Facilities) Manchester Park(To Be Completed in 2018) MinnewashtaRegional Park University of MinnesotaLandscape Arboretum Raguet WildlifeManagement Area Privately Owned Public Golf Course MN Valley National Wildlife Refuge Olson CommunityGarden Minnetonka MiddleSchool West Lo t usLak eLakeSusan LakeRileyR i ceL akeLakeMinnewash t a LakeA n n L a keL ucyRice MarshLake ¬«101 ¬«7 ¬«212 ¬«5 ")140 ")53 CenturyBoulevardHazeltineBoulevardBluffCreekDrive MarketBoulev ardWest78thStreet LymanBoulevard CrosstownBoulevard Pl easantViewR oad GreatPlainsBoulevardBavariaRoadSmithtownRoad Pioneer Trai lWest Longac resDrive VictoriaDrive ArboretumBoulevard P o wers B oule vardLakeLucyRoad MinnewashtaParkwayCountyRoad140 Lak eDriveEast Heron Drive Engler Boulevard Hunder tm arkRoadEastGalpinBoulevardAudu bonR oadPioneer Trail 82nd Street West Flying CloudDrive Ch aska Bouleva rd LakeDrive PioneerTrailEast Highway 101ChestnutStreetNorthWest82ndStreet Ed e nPrairie Exce lsi or Gree nwood Mi nne ton kaShorewood Tonka Bay JacksonTwp. Sh a kop e e Chaska Vic toria LEGEND Playground Shelter* Permanent Restroom Open Space Community Park Neighborhood Park Preserve Special Use Non-City Parks & Open Space Public School Surrounding Municipal Parks Water Bodies Municipal Boundaries *There is a Capital Improvement Program in place to install picnic shelters at Minnewashta Heights,Herman Field, and South Lotus Lake Parks in 2017 and at Sunset Ridge and Prairie Knoll Parks in 2018 °0 0.5 10.25 Miles Figure 3-12. Playground & Picnic Shelter Distribution Picnic Shelter at Greenwood Shores Park Playground Equipment at North Lotus Lake Park Playground Equipment at Carver Beach Park Another neighborhood playground in downtown Chanhassen WHAT WE HEARD 3-29 Existing ConditionsOCTOBER 2017 Traditional athletic facilities include diamond fields (baseball, softball) and rectangular fields (soccer, football, lacrosse). After evaluating current and projected population figures, the City is in excess of national norms and peer community comparisons for both the amount and quality of athletic fields. However, an analysis of field sizes finds that many of the existing diamond and rectangular fields are not large enough for adult games. Thus, ensuring a mix of field sizes is an important consideration moving forward. Additionally, the existing distribution for both athletic facility types primarily serves residents in the core of the City. Moving forward, the City should explore opportunities to place facilities to serve areas in the north, west, and south, particularly when non-city facilities, like schools, or adjacent community facilities can not serve the needs. During the community engagement process, residents expressed a desire for amenities that improve the quality of their playing and viewing experience. This includes lighting, permanent restrooms, and seating. Lake Ann Park Lake SusanPark BandimerePark City Center Park Chanhassen Recreation Center South LotusLake Park Kerber Pond Park Power Hill Park Riley Ridge Park North LotusLake Park Meadow Green Park Herman Field Park Pheasant HillPark Sunset RidgePark Stone CreekPark PioneerPass Park Roundhouse Park Curry FarmsPark ChanhassenHills Park Carver BeachPark Cathcart Park(Owned by theCity of Shorewood) Sugarbush Park Prairie KnollPark Rice MarshLake Park BandimereHeights Park Greenwood Shores Park Carver BeachPlayground MinnewashtaHeights Park Chanhassen Estates Park Chanhassen High School(Joint Facilities) Manchester Park(To Be Completed in 2018) MinnewashtaRegional Park University of MinnesotaLandscape Arboretum Raguet WildlifeManagement Area Privately Owned Public Golf Course MN Valley National Wildlife Refuge Olson CommunityGarden Minnetonka MiddleSchool West CenturyBoulevardHazeltineBoulevardBluffCreekDrive West78thStreet LymanBoulevard Chanh assenRoadCrosstownBoulevard PleasantView Road GreatPl ainsBoulevar dBavariaRoadSmithtownRoad Pioneer Tra ilWe stLongacr esDrive VictoriaDrive ArboretumBoulevard P o wers B oulev ardKerberBoulevardLakeLucyRoad MinnewashtaParkwayCountyRoad140 LakeDriveEast Hero nDrive Engler Boulevard Hundert m arkRoadEastGalpinBoulevardAudubonRoad Pioneer Trail 82nd Street West FlyingCloudDrive ChaskaBoulev ardLakeDrive PioneerTrailEastChestnutStreetNorthWest82ndStreet ")140 ")53 ¬«101 ¬«7 £¤212 ¬«5 ")61 ¬«101 ¬«101 Lo t usLak eLakeSusan LakeRileyR iceL akeLake Minnewas h t a LakeAnn La keL ucyRic e MarshLake EdenPrairie Ex c elsio r Gree nwo od Minn eto nkaShorewood Tonk a Ba y JacksonTwp. Shakopee Chask a Victori a LEGEND Diamond Rectangular Gymnasium Open Space Community Park Neighborhood Park Preserve Special Use Non-City Parks & Open Space Public School Surrounding Municipal Parks Water Bodies Municipal Boundaries °0 0.5 10.25 Miles Figure 3-13. Traditional Athletic Fields Distribution Rectangular Fields at Bandimere Park Diamond Fields at Lake Ann Park Diamond & Rectangular Fields at North Lotus Lake Park The baseball/softball fields at Lake Ann need working bathrooms, covered dugouts, and bleachers WHAT WE HEARD 3-30 Chanhassen Parks & Recreation System Plan OCTOBER 2017 Informal sport facilities, like tennis, basketball, sand volleyball, pickleball, and open fields, are well-distributed throughout the community. Compared with peer communities, Chanhassen contains more than average informal facilities like tennis and basketball courts. To address the growing pickleball trend, the City has developed ten dedicated pickleball courts between the Recreation Center and Roundhouse Park. The Bandimere disc golf course is well-used with players requesting improvements like concrete tee boxes. While the amount of aquatic facilities is on par with those of surrounding communities, it should be noted that all of the facilities are beaches. The community has expressed a strong desire for additional aquatic facilities like an outdoor pool, an indoor pool, and splash pads. The Recreation Center and Senior Center provide year-round, indoor recreation opportunities. Community input has indicated that the current facilities are not sufficient. Residents desire a signature recreation facility that provides indoor facilities like a running/walking track, a larger fitness center, an indoor/ outdoor pool, meeting spaces, family activities, and additional fitness classes. Additionally, interest was expressed in improving the Senior Center by Lake Ann Park Lake SusanPark Bandimere Park City Center Park Chanhassen Recreation Center South Lotus Lake Park Kerber Pond Park Power Hill Park Riley Ridge Park North LotusLake Park Meadow Green Park Herman Field Park Pheasant HillPark Sunset RidgePark Stone CreekPark Pioneer Pass Park Roundhouse Park Curry FarmsPark ChanhassenHills Park Carver BeachPark Cathcart Park(Owned by theCity of Shorewood) Sugarbush Park Prairie KnollPark Rice MarshLake Park BandimereHeights Park Greenwood Shores Park Carver BeachPlayground Minnewashta Heights Park Chanhassen Estates Park Chanhassen High School (Joint Facilities) Manchester Park (To Be Completed in 2018) MinnewashtaRegional Park University of Minnesota Landscape Arboretum Raguet WildlifeManagement Area Privately Owned Public Golf Course MN Valley NationalWildlife Refuge Olson CommunityGarden Minnetonka Middle School West Lot usLak eLakeSusan LakeRileyR iceL akeLakeMinnewash t a LakeA n n La keL u cyRic e MarshLake ¬«101 ¬«7 ¬«212 ¬«5 ")140 ")53 CenturyBoulevardHazeltineBoulevardBluffCreekDrive West78th Street Lyman Boulevard CrosstownBoulevard Ple asantViewRoad GreatPlainsBoulevardBavariaRoadSmithtownRoad Pioneer Trai lWest Longac resDrive VictoriaDrive ArboretumBoulevard Po wers Boul evardLakeLucyRoad MinnewashtaParkwayCountyRoad140 Lake DriveEast Her onDrive Engler Boulevard Hunde rtm arkRoadEastAudubo nR oadPioneer Trail 82nd Street West Flying Cloud Drive Ch as ka Boulevar d LakeDrive PioneerTrailEast Highway 101ChestnutStreetNorthWest82ndStreet Eden Prai rie Excelsior Green wood MinnetonkaShorewood TonkaBay Jack s onTwp. Shako pee Chaska Vic toria LEGEND Indoor Gym Outdoor Basketball Open Field Pickleball Sand VB Tennis Open Space Community Park Neighborhood Park Preserve Special Use Non-City Parks & Open Space Public School Surrounding Municipal Parks Water Bodies Municipal Boundaries °0 0.5 10.25 Miles Figure 3-14. Informal Summer Facilities Distribution Pickleball Courts at the Recreation Center Basketball Court at Sunset Ridge Park Disc Golf Goal at Bandimere Heights Park 3-31 Existing ConditionsOCTOBER 2017 expanding awareness and adding more active recreation offerings, fitness facilities, and meeting spaces. While facilities of this scale exist within close proximity to the City (see Figure 3-15), residents express a desire to have these types of amenities within their community rather than having to travel to an adjacent community. . Figure 3-15 also displays that while an indoor skating/hockey rink is not provided in Chanhassen, there are rinks available in Chaska (2), Victoria (2), Shakopee (1), Eden Prairie (3), and Minnetonka (4). A key focus over the next 20 years should be the maintenance and replacement of aging facilities. Facility replacement should consider whether the same facility should be replaced or if a different facility should be built to address gaps in the existing system, needs driven by emerging trends , or a desire for speciality facilities. Examples might include additional dog parks, indoor facilities, lacrosse fields, pools or splash pads, etc.LotusLake Lake Su san LakeRileyRiceLakeLakeMinnewashtaLakeAnn La keLu cyRice MarshLake ¬«7 ¬«101 ¬«5 ¬«494 ")140 ")10 ")53 Dee phave n EdenPrairie Exce lsio r Gree nwood Minnetonka Min netonka Beach Minn etr ista Moun d Orono Sho rewood Spri ng Park Tonka Bay Way zata Wood la nd Jacks on Twp. L ouisvi lle Tw p. Shak ope e Dah lgre n Twp . Carver Chaska Laketown Twp. Victor ia ChanhassenRecreationCenter ShakopeeCommunity Center Southshore Community & Senior Center Eden Prairie Community Center Oak PointPool MinnetonkaMiddleSchool West VictoriaCommunity Center Victoria Ice Arena MinnetonkaCommunity Center MinnetonkaIce Arena Eden PriarieSeniorCenter ChanhassenSeniorCenter Chaska Community Center & The Lodge Pioneer Ridge Middle School SandVentureAquatic Park Williston Fitness Center Pagel IceArena ChaskaMiddle School East LEGEND Indoor Rink Pool Recreation/Senior Center Chanhassen Parks 4 Mile Buffer 2 Mile Buffer Surrounding Municipal Trails Surrounding Municipal Parks Water Bodies Municipal Boundaries °0 0.8 1.60.4 Miles Figure 3-15. Surrounding Community Facility Distribution Creating redundant systems that are already available in surrounding communities will only create an excess, therefore underutilized, inventory WHAT WE HEARD FUNDING Funding for park and recreation facilities comes from multiple sources. Under Minnesota law, park dedication funds secured from the subdivision and development of property may only be used for new or expanded facilities to serve growth. Maintenance and replacement of facilities must be funded through other sources, such as a city’s general fund. 3-32 Chanhassen Parks & Recreation System Plan OCTOBER 2017 Preserves and Open Space Most residents are happy with the amount of perceived natural open space throughout the city and many would support additional preservation. Because the priority thus far has been to protect natural areas in their current state, access is limited and park preserves are not highly used. While the vistas created by open space are valued, desire was also expressed for increased access so users could better experience natural areas. In particular, residents expressed an interest in acquisition to support the expansion of natural trail corridors, particularly around Lake Ann and within the Bluff Creek Corridor. We NEED to have places for our wildlife to live - that is one of the most unique things about where we live. WHAT WE HEARD Sarah McGinn Honorable 3-33 Existing ConditionsOCTOBER 2017 Pleasant View Preserve Chanhassen Nature Preserve Rice Marsh Lake Preserve Bluff CreekPreserve Fox WoodsPreserve Hesse Farm Park Preserve Lake Susan Preserve Pine Hurst Preserve Bluff CreekPreserve North Lake Riley Preserve MN River Bluffs Preserve Hidden Creek MeadowsPreserve Lake Susan Preserve North Pine Hurst at Lake HarrisonPreserve Bluff CreekHeadwaters Preserve CenturyBoulevardHazeltineBoulevardBluffCreekDrive West78th Street LymanBoulevard ChanhassenRoadCrosstownBoulevard PleasantVie wRoad GreatPlains Boulevar dB avariaRoadSmithtownRoad Pione e rT ra ilW e stLonga c resDrive VictoriaDrive ArboretumBoulevard Po wers Bo ul evardKerberBoulevardLakeLucyRoad MinnewashtaParkwayCounty Road140 LakeDriveEast Her o n Drive Engler Boulevard Hund er tm arkRoadEastGalpinBoulevardAudubonRoadPioneer Trail 82nd Street West Flying Clo ud Drive Ch a ska B oule v ardLakeDrive PioneerTrailEastChestnutStreetNorthWest82ndStreet ")140 ")53 ¬«101 ¬«7 £¤212 ¬«5 ")61 ¬«101 ¬«101 L o t usLa k eLake S usa n LakeRileyR iceL akeLakeMinnewasht a LakeA n n L a keL ucyRi c e MarshLake Ede n P r a ir ie E xc e ls io r G r ee nw o o d Mi n n e to n k aShorewood To n k a Ba y J ac k s o n Tw p . S ha k o p e e C h a s k a Vic t o r ia LEGEND Open Space Preserve Existing Sidewalk Existing Trail Non-City Parks & Open Space Public School Existing Regional Trails Surrounding Municipal Trails Water Bodies Municipal Boundaries °0 0.5 10.25 Miles Figure 3-16. Preserves, Open Space, & Trails 3-34 Chanhassen Parks & Recreation System Plan OCTOBER 2017CenturyBoulevardHazeltineBoulevardBluffCreekDrive West78thStreet LymanBoulevard Ch anhassenRoadCrosstownBoulevard Pleasant Vie w Road GreatPlainsBoulevar dBa variaRoadSmithtownRoad Pione e rT ra ilW e stLon g ac resDrive VictoriaDrive ArboretumBoulevard Po wers B o ul evardKerberBoulevardLakeLucyRoad MinnewashtaParkwayCounty Road 140 LakeDriveEast He ro n Drive Engler Boulevard Hund ertm arkRoadEastGalpinBoulevardAudubonR oadPioneer Trail 82nd Street West Flying Clo ud Drive Ch a ska B ou le v ardLakeDrive PioneerTrailEastChestnutStreetNorthWest82ndStreet ")140 ")53 ¬«101 ¬«7 £¤212 ¬«5 ")61 ¬«101 ¬«101 L o t usL a k eL ak e Su sa n LakeRileyR iceL akeLakeMinnewasht a LakeA n n L a keL ucyR i c e MarshLake E d e n P r ai r i e E xc e l s i o r G re e nw o o d M i nne t o n kaShorewood To n ka Ba y J ac k son Tw p . S h a ko p e e C h a sk a V ic t o r i a LEGEND ""Existing Overpass##Existing Trail Head !!Existing Underpass GIdentified Safety Crossing Concern Trail Gap Existing Sidewalk Existing Trail Open Space Community Park Neighborhood Park Preserve Special Use Non-City Parks & Open Space Public School Existing Regional Trails Surrounding Municipal Trails Surrounding Municipal Parks Water Bodies Municipal Boundaries °0 0.5 10.25 Miles Figure 3-17. City Trail Gaps and Identified Safety Crossing Concerns 3-35 Existing ConditionsOCTOBER 2017 Trails Chanhassen’s 80 miles of trails have been identified as the most popular facility provided in the community. This city-wide system helps connect neighborhoods to parks, schools, commercial and civic destinations, and adjacent communities. The City is committed to providing pedestrians and cyclists with safe crossings of major roadways. Currently the City has a pedestrian bridge over Highway 5 as well as more than ten underpasses city-wide. Safe crossings were a topic discussed throughout the system planning process. Specific locations where additional crossing improvements are needed are identified in Figure 3-17. In addition to safe crossings, trail users requested additional amenities to improve their trail riding experience. These requests include benches, wayfinding, and lighting to enhance safety and extend year-round use. Several regional trails connect Chanhassen to surrounding communities and destinations, including the Lake Minnetonka LRT Regional Trail to the north and the Minnesota River Bluffs LRT Regional Trail and the Highway 101 Regional Trail to the south. Both of the LRT Regional Trail corridors are owned by the Hennepin County Regional Railroad Authority (HCRRA) and are slotted for future light rail transit use. A cooperative agreement between HCRRA and Three Rivers Park District allows the corridors to be used for interim recreational purposes. Currently there are natural surface trails in Fox Woods Preserve, Carver Beach Park, Lake Ann Park, Carver Pond Park, and Stone Creek Park. Community members expressed a desire for additional natural surface trails, particularly as a way to further explore natural areas, whether in preserves or parks. North Lotus Lake Park Trail Trail crossing on Powers Boulevard It would be wonderful to have more trash cans along the trails! WHAT WE HEARD 3-36 Chanhassen Parks & Recreation System Plan OCTOBER 2017 Wood Carving by Chanhassen Woodcarvers Programming The City of Chanhassen offers a range of recreation and social programs for all ages. These currently include: crafts, dance, and sports for preschool aged children; crafts, sports, self-defence, ski and snowboards, and dance programs for youth; programs serving individuals with developmental disabilities and their families; fitness and sports programs for adults; community-wide events that occur annually; and educational programs, swimming, clubs, field trips, meal and driving programs for seniors. According to the online system-wide questionnaire performed in Fall of 2016, community events are the most popular type of programming offered by the City, as can be seen in Figure 3-6. Annual events hosted by the City and supported by area businesses and local service clubs include February Festival, Easter Egg / Candy Hunt, Arbor Day Celebration, July 4th Celebration, Fire Department Open House, Halloween Party, and Tree Lighting Ceremony. While these events are well-attended, there continues to be an interest for additional events throughout the year. The City has good working relationships with recreation groups and associations, who do a good job of providing a variety of programs. Improved amenities that support events, like picnic shelters with amenities to support food preparation, would help encourage existing and future programming. The City provides introductory level athletic programming for very young children (under 6) and team, league athletics (softball) for adults. There is a desire from some residents that the young athletic programming be improved in terms of structure and coaching. Additionally, interest has been expressed for more older youth and adult programming in arts, fitness, and outdoor education. There is also desire from many residents for the City to provide more programming, such as aquatics, to meet the needs of those who prefer public recreation programs. Management and Operations There are concerns about deferred maintenance issues, especially in small neighborhood parks (playgrounds, basketball courts, hockey rinks). Concerns also exist surrounding the maintenance of natural resources and lake water quality. Overall, recognition is needed that ongoing investments will be required to maintain the quality of the existing system into the future. Fourth of July Parade Summer Concert Series Easter Egg/Candy Hunt 4-37 VisionOCTOBER 2017 Chapter 4VISION 4 As the City of Chanhassen develops and changes over the course of the next 20 years, its Parks and Recreation System must likewise evolve. New opportunities will present themselves, as will new challenges. Sustaining a desirable park and recreation system throughout this evolution will require a shared community vision and set of guiding principles. The vision seeks to describe how the community will look, feel, and function over the next 20 years. The community’s shared vision identified in the City’s Comprehensive Plan, “Chanhassen is a Community for Life – Providing for Today and Planning for Tomorrow,” captures the community’s intent of being a desirable place to live, work, and recreate for all ages. 4-38 Chanhassen Parks & Recreation System Plan OCTOBER 2017 Guiding Principles Shaping the implementation of Chanhassen’s vision specifically in the Parks and Recreation System is a set of four Guiding Principles. These Principles provide an over-arching framework that informs the development of specific goals, policies, and initiatives. They are also a tool for future decision-making, serving as a yardstick to measure the results of this plan and the appropriateness of future initiatives. Stewardship Stewardship is one of the hallmarks of Chanhassen’s Parks and Recreation System. An extensive network of preserves gives residents the opportunity to explore and learn about Chanhassen’s rich web of natural resources. Greater awareness of Chanhassen’s prairies, wetlands, lakes, rivers, forests, and wildlife has led to a greater understanding of the role those resources play in making the community a great place. Chanhassen’s citizens have embraced their role as stewards of their city’s natural resources. They understand the need to conserve Chanhassen’s natural resources so they will continue to enrich future generations, and they advocate continuing to incorporate sustainability practices such as sustainable design, native plant diversity, and ecological maintenance into the system’s planning and daily operations. Connectivity Connectedness is at the heart of Chanhassen’s Parks and Recreation System. The system itself is connected; its parks, preserves, and trails knitted together to create a network of recreation and open spaces that reaches every corner of the community. This network connects residents, neighborhoods, and destinations to one another, strengthening the community and enabling all to enjoy safe, easy, and convenient travel throughout the community and to neighboring cities. Likewise the system’s facilities and programs not only connect residents to one another, but they also connect residents to the outdoors and to Chanhassen’s wealth of natural resources. Engagement Chanhassen’s Parks and Recreation system welcomes residents of all ages and all abilities, enabling them to lead active, healthy lives in which they engage with the outdoors, with art and culture, and with one another. Partnerships with private entities, neighborhood and community organizations, athletic associations, user groups, businesses, and schools have created a sense of shared ownership and pride across all segments of the community, leading to active participation in system planning, operation, and maintenance. The system’s high quality facilities and programs are a source of community pride that inspire life-long discovery, learning, and socializing. Adaptable As Chanhassen has evolved, becoming a larger, more economically and culturally diverse community, its Parks and Recreation System remains adaptable in the way it responds to new needs and challenges, and dynamic in its ability to deliver high-quality programs, facilities, and services. Increased partnerships with groups, organizations, and businesses representing all segments of the community have resulted in new and diverse sources of funding and an infusion of new ideas, energy and enthusiasm. These partnerships have increased the system’s versatility, enabling staff and volunteers to adjust to lifestyle changes, respond to new trends, and enhance the system’s quality and efficiency. Chapter 5SYSTEM PLAN 5 The system plan recommendations were drafted based on the findings from the needs assessment, peer community and national standards analysis, community input, review of the previous Comprehensive Plan, Advisory Committee discussions, and meetings with City Staff. The recommendations are organized into goals, policies, and strategies. Goals are broad statements that describe the desired long-term outcomes needed for the system’s guiding principles to be achieved. The next level, policies, are statements that will guide City decision-making to achieve the goals. Policies are followed by initiatives, which describe the specific actions or steps that need to be taken. To support and further clarify the initiatives, maps for parks, facilities, trails, and preserves have been included that exhibit the distribution of the Plan’s recommendations. Precedent imagery is present throughout the System Plan to illustrate the potential appearances of proposed facilities and amenities. 5-39 System PlanOCTOBER 2017 Goals & Policies The System Plan’s goals and policies are high-level statements intended to guide City decision-making over the next 20 years. The six goals represent the desired long-term outcomes of Chanhassen’s System Plan, and were prepared as depictions of how the Parks and Recreation System will function when the guiding principles are achieved. To guide City decision-makers, the general characteristics of each goal are described by a series of policies. In the System Plan hierarchy, goals are the highest level and are numbered 1-6, while policies are numbered 1.1, 1.2., etc. so it is clear to which goal a specific policy relates. Goal 1. Provide a comprehensive system of park, recreation, and open space facilities to serve active and passive needs. 1.1. Provide a system that includes neighborhood parks, community parks, preserves, and special use parks based on the standards outlined in Table 5-1. 1.2. Ensure residents have convenient access to park and recreation facilities at the neighborhood and community park level by ensuring all residents are within a ½ mile of a neighborhood park and 2 miles of a community park. 1.3. Provide a mix of athletic complexes with user amenities to meet the needs of recreational, league, and tournament play. 1.4. Provide user amenities as appropriate for the type of park 1.4.1. To serve local users walking or biking to their neighborhood park, provide user amenities like benches, bike racks, shade trees, trash and recycling receptacles, and seasonal restrooms. 1.4.2. To serve community and regional users, provide at community parks amenities like benches, picnic tables, bike racks, information kiosks, shelters, permanent restrooms, trash and recycling receptacles, and access to technology. 1.5. Balance the use of park and recreational facilities for local needs with events, tournaments, gatherings, and programming. 1.6. Support year-round recreation through a mixture of indoor and outdoor facilities. 1.7. Explore opportunities to expand the number and quality of the community’s preserves to protect natural areas that are ecologically sensitive or representative of the City’s natural heritage. 1.8. Provide areas for small and large group community gathering through the distribution of shelters in neighborhood and community parks. 1.9. Seek opportunities to distribute standalone playgrounds for 2 to 5 year olds throughout the community. Bandimere Park athletic fields Wifi Access in Parks Needs are being met but more benches on trails would be nice WHAT WE HEARD Please do more winter gatherings, the nights are so long here we need more events to get people outside WHAT WE HEARD 5-40 Chanhassen Parks & Recreation System Plan OCTOBER 2017 NEIGHBORHOOD PARK DESIGN Case Study: Roundhouse Park When redeveloping or designing a new neighborhood park, it is important and essential to inform and involve the neighbors of the park. In the summer of 2015, neighbors gathered at Roundhouse Park with Park Commission members, city staff, and park designers to discuss how the park should be improved. The City had plans to add pickleball and tennis courts, but wanted the residents input on how they should be designed and incorporated into the park. Some of the residents expressed interest that the basketball court be kept in the park. The park master plan was updated to include a new basketball half court. The neighborhood meeting was a useful exercise to inform the residents of the plans and gather input on how to design the improvements. Neighborhood Meeting at Roundhouse Park Classification Use Service Area Size (Typical)Examples Community Provides facilities serving the community with programmed, active recreation areas and access to natural areas. May serve regional visitors, although not as primary function. Community wide in strategic, consolidated locations at a few sites 15 to 100 acres Lake Ann Park, Bandimere Park Neighborhood Primary recreation facility to meet the day-to- day needs of neighborhoods. Provides active recreation and informal gathering spaces for families and groups of neighbors. Fields are sized for practice/youth games. 1/2 mile radius, free of major barriers such as highways or waterways <15 acres North Lotus Lake Park, Pioneer Pass Park Preserve Areas focused on the provision of natural environments, passive recreation, and ecological education. Community & Regional Draw Centered around natural resources and amenities Fox Woods Preserve, Bluff Creek Preserve Special Use Areas primarily serving a single-use activity.Community & Regional Draw Site specific Olson Community Garden Table 5-1. City Park Classifications Grand Opening Promotional Flyer Pickleball Courts 5-41 System PlanOCTOBER 2017 2040 REGIONAL TRAIL SEARCH CORRIDORS The Metropolitan Council has established general search corridors for new regional trails or extensions of existing regional trails. These corridors were designated in order to create connections between regional parks and trails. The map below displays regional trail search corridors that intersect with the City of Chanhassen. While corridors have been identified, the specific alignment of the regional trails will still need to be determined through a planning process led by the regional park implementing agency. L o t usL a k eLake S usan LakeRileyR iceL akeLakeMinnewash t a LakeA n n L a keL ucy¬«101 ¬«7 ¬«212 ")140 ")53 CenturyBoulevardHazeltineBoulevardBluffCreekDrive West78thStreet LymanBoulevard Ch an hassenRoadCrosstownBoulevard PleasantVie wRoad GreatPlainsBoulevar dBavariaRoadSmithtownRoad Pione er Tr ailW es tLongac resDriv eVictoriaDrive ArboretumBoulevard PowersBoulevardKerberBoulevardLakeLucyRoad MinnewashtaParkwayCountyRoad140 LakeDriveEast Her o n Drive Engler Boulevard Hund ertm arkRoadEastGalpinBoulevardAudubonRoadPioneer Trail 82nd Street West Market B oul evardFlyingCloudDrive C haska Bou lev ardLakeDrive PioneerTrailEast High way 101ChestnutStreetNorthWest82ndStreetLEGEND ""Overpass ##Trail Head !!Underpass Existing, Sidewalk Future, Sidewalk Existing, Trail Future, Trail Open Space Community Park Neighborhood Park Preserve Special Use Non-City Parks & Open Space Public School Water Bodies Municipal Boundaries Surrounding Municipal Trails Surrounding Municipal Parks Existing Regional Trails Regional Trail Search Corridor Regional Trail - 2040 System Addition 2030 Planned Land Use Medium/High Density Residential Low Density Residential Large Lot Residential °0 0.5 10.25 Miles L o t usLak eLakeSusan LakeRileyR i ceL akeLakeMinnewashta LakeA n n L a keL ucy¬«101 ¬«7 ¬«212 ")140 ")53 CenturyBoulevardHazeltineBoulevardBluffCreekDrive West78thStreet LymanBoulevard ChanhassenRoadCrosstown Boulevard Pleasant Vie wRoad GreatPlainsBoulevar dB avariaRoadSmithtownRoad Pionee rT rai lW e stLonga c resDrive VictoriaDrive ArboretumBoulevard PowersBoulevardKerberBoulevardLakeLucyRoad MinnewashtaParkwayCountyRoad140 LakeDriveEast He ro nDrive Engler Boulevard Hund ertm arkRoadEastGalpinBoulevardAudubonR oadPioneer Trail 82nd Street West Market BoulevardFlyingCloudDrive Ch as ka Bou lev ardLakeDrive PioneerTrailEast Highway 101ChestnutStreetNorthWest82ndStreetLEGEND ""Overpass ##Trail Head !!Underpass Existing, Sidewalk Future, Sidewalk Existing, Trail Future, Trail Open Space Community Park Neighborhood Park Preserve Special Use Non-City Parks & Open Space Public School Water Bodies Municipal Boundaries Surrounding Municipal Trails Surrounding Municipal Parks Existing Regional Trails Regional Trail Search Corridor Regional Trail - 2040 System Addition 2030 Planned Land Use Medium/High Density Residential Low Density Residential Large Lot Residential °0 0.5 10.25 Miles Figure 5-1. Regional Search Corridors 5-42 Chanhassen Parks & Recreation System Plan OCTOBER 2017 DESIGN OF TRAILS AND SIDEWALKS BETWEEN NEIGHBORHOODS Policy 1.2 and Goal 2 outline various ways to keep the park system connected with trails and sidewalks. Today the city of Chanhassen has many trails and sidewalks that allow pedestrians and bicyclists to move safely between parks, schools, commercial areas, and neighborhoods. As new neighborhoods are developed or changed, thought should be given to maintaining strong trail connections, as well as adding and improving the connections between parks and neighborhoods, making convenient connections, and creating safe road crossings where needed. Tunnels, like the Hwy 5 underpass shown below, allow continuity and safety in movement for bikers and walkers, young and old. Mid- block crossings using HAWK signals can be useful in areas where trails can only be on one side of a street or a trail crossing needs to be in a certain area. Stairs and switchbacks can be used in places where trail connections are needed in steep areas. VACATED/ABANDONED RIGHT-OF-WAY As a community evolves there are occasions when existing right-of-way is determined to be no longer needed, is abandoned, or is requested to be vacated by adjacent property owners. Where possible given dedication conditions or restrictions, consideration should be given to whether these rights- of-way could be used for trail, open space corridor, or park purposes. Goal 2. Develop and maintain a comprehensive and easily navigable trail and sidewalk system that connects neighborhoods to park and recreation facilities, schools, community destinations, and other communities. 2.1. Prioritize the elimination of trail gaps based on safety, connectivity, and cost. 2.2. Create trails within preserves. 2.3. Improve the trail user experience through improved maintenance, wayfinding, and amenities (i.e. benches, trash cans, etc.). 2.4. Establish trails and sidewalks as a key transportation network in new development. 2.5. Explore opportunities to expand the trail and sidewalk system through neighborhoods to enhance connections to surrounding amenities. 2.6. Prioritize the construction of grade-separated crossings of roads for trails based on safety, demand, and standard transportation warrants like traffic volumes. 2.7. Preserve vacated or abandoned right-of-way for trail purposes. 2.8. Collaborate with local and regional agencies on the establishment of regional trails. 2.9. Partner with surrounding communities to create inter-community trail connections that enables users to travel to surrounding communities and regional trails without having to ‘jump’ between different trails and sidewalks. Hwy 5 trail underpass Planned neighborhood trail connectionEnhanced trail crossing Existing park trail 5-43 System PlanOCTOBER 2017 Goal 3. Ensure all residents have the opportunity to participate in recreation, education, culture, and arts activities. 3.1. Strive to offer a diversity of programs at a variety of times to serve all age groups. 3.2. Explore art, culture, and nature based programming and partnerships to serve non-athletic community needs. 3.3. Draw residents to parks and recreation facilities by hosting City events and supporting partners’ events. 3.4. Encourage, partner with, and support existing associations, clubs, and groups to fill programming gaps that the City cannot fill. 3.5. Expand partnerships with local schools to serve community needs. Goal 4. Be a leader in environmental sustainability. 4.1. Preserve remaining natural areas as opportunities arise. 4.2. Support park users’ efforts to improve the quality of their environment by offering recycling, composting, etc. 4.3. Manage the use of pesticides within parks. 4.4. Explore opportunities to convert existing turf areas to native plantings. 4.5. Reduce impacts on lakes, waterways, and groundwater by incorporating stormwater best practices in park and facility design. 4.6. Use sustainable building practices when developing, expanding or renovating facilities. 4.7. Improve energy efficiency when renovating or constructing new facilities. 4.8. Use native trees/shrubs planted in appropriate locations to shade and shield buildings and facilities to conserve energy. 4.9. Raise public awareness of the benefits and necessity of natural resources, the importance of sustainability, and the City’s efforts through social media, interpretation, and educational programming. Need more variety and interesting stuff to do for all ages. WHAT WE HEARD I would like to see a more natural approach to grounds, grass and trail maintenance. Less mowing of natural areas and zero herbicide/pesticide use. WHAT WE HEARD 5-44 Chanhassen Parks & Recreation System Plan OCTOBER 2017 PESTICIDES, PARKS, AND PEOPLE Lawn space in the public realm has many benefits; it provides a more aesthetically pleasing and softer surface for play and leisure when compared to hard-packed dirt, it stabilizes dust, absorbs rather than reflects sunlight, and absorbs carbon dioxide. While these are beneficial, lawns are still monocultures that support fewer species insects, birds, mammals and other organisms that work together to foster an ecosystem that provides clean air, soil, and water. In addition, the chemicals and energy required to maintain a turfgrass lawn are high. Over the last 20 years the City of Chanhassen has minimized its use of pesticides, generally only using them for the specific issues like Emerald Ash Borer. Several adjustments to current practices can result in lower rates of pesticide applications (including herbicides, insecticides, fungicides, and other substances meant for destroying pests), reduced labor and energy inputs, reduced human exposure to carcinogens, and increased habitat. Strategies include: »Integrated Pest Management, or IPM, addresses pests such as weeds or insects by utilizing a combination of biological controls, maintenance practices, increased tolerance of smaller infestations, and pesticides when needed. »Education about the benefits of more sustainable alternatives and appreciating a more natural appearance of parks. »Development of low-impact lawns that include the use of fescue grasses, buffalo grass, and other broadleaf, meadow-like components, which require less water and fertilizer than bluegrass. »Conversion of underutilized turfgrass areas into native tall grass meadows. »Pesticide-free Maintenance Practices such as crack sealing, mowing, propane weed burning, hand weeding, tillage, and mulching. »Designing for reduced pesticide use includes utilizing low maintenance, spreading groundcovers and shrubs in landscape beds, mulch in tree wells, and fewer fence lines. »Modeling existing Pesticide Free Parks Programs such as those of Eugene and Portland, Oregon, and Seattle, Washington. Educational signage Educational signage Low-maintenance landscaping Pesticide free park Low-impact fescue grass lawn Native prairie plantings 5-45 System PlanOCTOBER 2017 ARTIST DESIGNED PARKS AND PARK AMENITIES Artistic features can take many forms and range from subtle to spectacular. Art can be incorporated into parks as a mural on a wall, a unique water fountain, an interpretive sign, a play feature, lights, or a bench. Artist designed amenities entice a park user to notice and think about how park facilities and amenities are designed and used and to identify parks and playgrounds with special artistic features. People think, “This is different and cool” or “That’s the park with the big dragonfly.” Policies 3.2 and 5.2 - 5.4 discuss the inclusion of art and artists in park design. Methods to implement these policies could include the following: »Devoting a portion of new construction projects to public art. See Norman, Oklahoma’s ‘Norman Forward’ for an example. »Using the CPTED Guidelines (Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design). »Involving an ‘interpretive planner’ in the design of natural and educational experiences (e.g. ‘Preserve trail’ enhancement with wayfinding and nature observation) »Including an artist in the early phases of park development and design to explore creative ways to incorporate art into the design. »Designing exterior environments to be flexible for public use in a variety of ways (artistic, educational, cultural, performance, etc.). Musical play featuresNature themed shelter posts and fence Dragonfly play structure Artistic sidewalk markings Artistic bench 5-46 Chanhassen Parks & Recreation System Plan OCTOBER 2017 Goal 5. Proactively plan for a high quality, efficient parks and recreation system that meets changing community needs. 5.1. Encourage parks to be defining features of neighborhoods through the placement of parks in a visible location and the establishment of connecting trails and sidewalks. 5.2. Encourage participation by neighborhoods, community groups, and local artists in the planning for and development of park and recreation facilities. Identify locations for unique features or improvements to avoid a system of “cookie cutter” parks. 5.3. Enhance users’ experiences through well-designed exterior environments/places that give consideration to how all members of the public can engage in these spaces in different ways (educational, cultural, performance, artistic, etc.), how places can be interconnected throughout the community, and how lighting contributes to inviting spaces. As part of design process, seek opportunities to use artist- created park features rather than standard catalog pieces. 5.4. Encourage the use of the park system for performance art, temporary art installations, and public art. 5.5. Explore opportunities to reconfigure or improve efficiencies within existing parks to serve identified community needs. 5.6. Continue strong partnership and communication with local associations, clubs, and other organizations to ensure facilities are meeting their needs. 5.7. Integrate trails into the planning and design process for public improvements and land development. 5.8. Design parks and facilities to address active and passive needs while giving consideration to the environmental context, surrounding land uses, and future maintenance and operational needs. 5.9. Establish and routinely update a sustainable operations, maintenance and replacement schedule for all parks and facilities with particular attention on playgrounds, basketball courts, tennis courts, pickleball courts, shelters, etc. 5.10. Collaborate with Engineering Department on trail pavement management program. 5.11. Explore partnership opportunities for capital improvement costs and life-cycle system costs. 5.12. Maintain current management of fields as demand continues to increase: 5.12.1. Rotational resting of fields based on a schedule/level of use. 5.12.2. Postponement of use during and after significant rain events. 5.13. Expand the capacity of the athletic facilities through improvements and efficiencies within existing community parks. Facilities to celebrate the arts should be included. Bandstands, public art and sculpture. WHAT WE HEARD Performance art in parks EFFICIENT PARK & RECREATION SYSTEMS Efficient parks and recreations system are those that successfully meet the needs of residents and visitors with minimum wasted effort or expense. An example might be that neighborhood parks are located in a manner that optimizes walkability for residents while minimizing service area overlap. TRAIL DEVELOPMENT PARTNERSHIPS The development and maintenance of trails involves collaboration between the Parks and Recreation, Engineering, and Public Works Departments. In addition to design and construction, the Parks Department plows the trails. Pavement management (crack sealing and pavement replacement) for trails, however, is overseen by the Engineering and Public Works Departments in coordination with street construction projects. These departments are also responsible for making improvements for at-grade trail crossings. As this plan’s community engagement process highlighted the importance of improving safety at trail crossings, collaboration between these departments will be important for the implementation of the system plan. 5-47 System PlanOCTOBER 2017 CITY PARTNERSHIPS Partnerships are vital to the development and operations of the parks and recreation system. Individuals, businesses, civic organizations, nonprofits, and institutions provide valuable time, money, and space to support a variety of initiatives from educational sessions to park clean-up to helping at community events. Developing and maintaining partnerships will continue to be important as the system plan is implemented. Current city partners include: »3rd Lair Skate Park »AARP »AmericInn »Athletics & Extracurricular Activities »Augustana Emerald Crest »Baha’i’ Faith »Berne Scale »Better Business Bureau »Beyond the Yellow Ribbon »Boy Scout Troup #330 »Buy Chanhassen »Carver County »Chanhassen American Legion »Chanhassen Fire Department »Chanhassen Floral »Chanhassen Interact Club »Chanhassen Library »Chanhassen Lion’s Club »Chanhassen Villager »Chapel Hill »Charter Bank Chanhassen »Chaska Park & Recreation »Dugout Club/CAA »Eastern Carver County Schools (ISD 112) »Eden Prairie Senior Center »Edward Jones »Hazeltine National Golf Club »KleinBank »Living Christ Lutheran Church »MAAA (MN Area on Aging) »Minnesota Timberwolves »Minnesota Twins »Minnetonka Public Schools (ISD 276) »MN Postcard Club »New Horizons Academy »Park Dental »Pickleball Association of MN »Pinky Swear Kids Triathlon »Purple Box Jewelers »REACH for Resources »Ridgeview Clinics »Ridgeview Medical Center »Rotary Club of Chanhassen »Scouting Groups »Senior Advisory Bouard Member »Sentence to Serve (adults) »Skyhawks »SmartLink »SouthWest Christian High School »SouthWest Metro Chamber of Commerce »SouthWest Metro Pickleball Club »Southwest Publishing »Southwest Transit »Sports Unlimited »Summerwood of Chanhassen »The Mustard Seed Landscape & Garden Center »Twin City Paddle Boards »University of Minnesota »Walgreen’s Chanhassen »Work Experience Program Goal 6. Implement strategies to increase the City’s capacity to maintain and expand the parks and recreation system. 6.1. Identify and expand partnerships with area recreation associations, clubs and groups; local businesses; private organizations; neighborhood groups; and other public agencies. 6.2. Utilize our facilities to capitalize on opportunities to generate revenue. 6.3. Evaluate options to expand the use of volunteers to support park operations and programming. 6.4. Consider seeking voter approval to issue bonds or levy a tax to expand or support the needs of the park and recreation facilities and system. 6.5. Encourage property owners interested in donating or granting conservation easements on their land. 6.6. Support the creation of a non-profit parks and recreation foundation. Our hope is that long term the park areas continue to be protected. Having those areas is a huge plus for living in Chanhassen. WHAT WE HEARD 5-48 Chanhassen Parks & Recreation System Plan OCTOBER 2017 Keep [area north and west of Lake Ann] free of developers. Natural setting of Lake Ann is wonderful! WHAT WE HEARD Initiatives Initiatives are specific actions that are recommended for implementation. Initiatives are organized by the topic areas of parks, facilities, trails, preserves, programming, and operations. In this area in particular, care will be needed to determine what level of detail the system plan should include. For example, the neighborhood park section could become a list of all the specific improvements in each park or it could summarize an approach. Our recommendation is to use the latter method. This would mean that we might have a recommendation that identifies the need to replace and upgrade playgrounds in neighborhood parks according to the maintenance and replacement schedule rather than a list of each park where replacement is prioritized. 1. Parks Chanhassen’s 30 community and neighborhood parks play an important role in the City’s quality of life. They act as places for community gatherings, picnics and celebrations, family outings, and group and individual recreation. The following park initiatives aim to provide guidance to ensure each park continues to fulfill its role in the overall system. 1.1. Maintain Lake Ann Park as the premier community park. 1.1.1. Develop a master plan that defines the extent of park expansion to the west and north to preserve natural areas, extend the trail around the lake, and provide for additional recreational amenities like an amphitheater. The master plan should also explore additional facilities appropriate for a community park with significant natural amenities, parking expansion, circulation needs, and expanded natural surface and paved trails. The master plan should seek to influence adjacent neighborhood design to promote the extension of park and open space fingers into the adjacent development areas. The master plan should also include a natural resources section to guide the stewardship of the park’s natural resources. 1.1.2. Add user amenities in a phased manner, including permanent restrooms near the pavilions and athletic facilities, benches, and electronic scoreboards. 1.2. Implement the recommendations of the Bandimere Park Master Plan, which includes a picnic shelter with restrooms, field lights, sport court, hockey warming house, and possible splash pad. 1.3. At Lake Susan Park renovate the existing picnic shelter to include permanent restrooms, expand parking and add lighting and structured seating for the baseball field. 1.4. Add permanent restrooms and hockey warming house to City Center Park. 1.5. Seek opportunities to expand the capacity of the community park network to serve athletic and community event needs. 1.6. Use maintenance and replacement schedule to plan for phased replacement of neighborhood park facilities (i.e. playgrounds, sport courts, shelters, etc.). 1.7. Add parks and/or preserves as development occurs in the Bluff Creek Golf Course, Bluff Creek Corridor, and County Road 61 Corridor Plan areas. HOCKEY RINK W/ WARMING HOUSE SPLASHPAD, SHELTER/CONCESSION, PLAYGROUND RENOVATION LIGHTEDSOCCERFIELDS LIGHTED PARKING TENNIS COURTS LIGHTEDSOCCERFIELD LIGHTEDBALLFIELDS LIGHTED PARKING Amphitheater Bandimere Park Master Plan 5-49 System PlanOCTOBER 2017 PARK DEVELOPMENT Traditionally, small towns and cities have been organized around a town green, parks, and open spaces. These green spaces and activity areas give life, energy, and character to their surrounding communities. In many ways, they define the places where we live. Therefore, the development of parks and open spaces should be carefully considered and not be relegated to leftover spaces in our communities. Rather, they should play a central role in the organization of our neighborhoods, communities and cities. The criteria for park development should consider the following: Neighborhood Parks Neighborhood parks are the basic unit of the park system. They serve the recreational and social focus of the adjoining neighborhoods and contribute to a distinct neighborhood identity. Neighborhood parks should serve as extensions of the neighborhood around them, providing recreational and social activities. Development Design Criteria: »Prioritize locating the neighborhood park on local or major local streets. »Incorporate barriers with landscaping, fencing or walls when the park is adjacent to arterial roadways. »Provide adequate connections by linking the park to adjacent developments with trails and sidewalks. »Design the park for both active and passive uses and consider the specific needs of the neighborhood, all age groups, and all physical abilities. »Utilize the park to create a “sense of place” that reflects and enhances neighborhood identity. »Use public art, preservation of natural areas, and other park design to distinguish parks from one another. »Incorporate natural features on the site, such as topography, vegetation and hydrology. »Maximize the number of residences fronting the park. »Include widened on-street parking area adjacent to the park. »Encourage the use of traffic calming devices next to the park. Community Parks Community parks are designed to be accessible by multiple neighborhoods and should focus on meeting community-based recreational needs and on preserving unique landscapes and open spaces. Community parks are generally larger in scale than neighborhood parks, but smaller than regional parks and are designed for residents who live within a 2 to 3-mile radius. While community parks may also meet the needs of neighborhoods, they primarily function as “destination” parks with special facilities such as lighted sports fields, amphitheaters, etc. that serve the entire community. Development Design Criteria: »Locate community park on a collector or higher order roadway. »Provide a barrier with landscaping, fencing or walls if located near an arterial roadway. »Encourage trail connections to other parks. »Position park with streets on all sides or on three sides with a school, municipal feature or significant natural feature on the fourth side. »Dedicate 65% of park space to active uses and 35% to passive uses. »Provide sufficient parking to support park amenities, but avoid occupying more than 10% of the site. »Include widened on-street parking area adjacent to the park. »Encourage the use of traffic calming devices next to the park. 5-50 Chanhassen Parks & Recreation System Plan OCTOBER 2017 Lake Ann Park Lake Susan Park Bandimere Park City Center Park Chanhassen Recreation Center South Lotus Lake Park Kerber Pond Park Power Hill Park Riley Ridge Park North Lotus Lake Park Meadow Green Park Herman Field Park Pheasant Hill Park Sunset Ridge Park Stone Creek Park Pioneer Pass Park Roundhouse Park Curry Farms Park Chanhassen Hills Park Carver Beach Park Cathcart Park(Owned by theCity of Shorewood) Sugarbush Park Prairie Knoll Park Rice Marsh Lake Park Bandimere Heights Park Greenwood Shores Park Carver Beach Playground MinnewashtaHeights Park Chanhassen Estates Park Chanhassen High School(Joint Facilities) Manchester Park (To Be Completed in 2018) Minnewashta Regional Park University of Minnesota Landscape Arboretum Raguet Wildlife Management Area Privately Owned Public Golf Course MN Valley National Wildlife Refuge Olson Community Garden Minnetonka MiddleSchool West CenturyBoulevardHazeltineBoulevardBluffCreekDrive West78thStreet LymanBoulevard Ch anhassenRoadCrosstownBoulevard Pleasant Vie w Road GreatPlainsBoulevar dBa variaRoadSmithtownRoad Pione e rT ra ilW e stLon g ac resDrive VictoriaDrive ArboretumBoulevard Po wers B o ul evardKerberBoulevardLakeLucyRoad MinnewashtaParkwayCounty Road 140 LakeDriveEast He ro n Drive Engler Boulevard Hund ertm arkRoadEastGalpinBoulevardAudubonR oadPioneer Trail 82nd Street West Fly ing Clo ud Drive Ch a ska B o u le v ardLakeDrive PioneerTrailEastChestnutStreetNorthWest82ndStreet ")140 ")53 ¬«101 ¬«7 £¤212 ¬«5 ")61 ¬«101 ¬«101 L o t usLa k eLak eSusan LakeRileyR iceL akeLakeMinnewashta LakeA n n L a keL ucyR i c e MarshLake E d e n P ra ir i e E xc e l s i o r Gre e n wo o d M i n n et o nk aShorewood To n k a Ba y Ja c ks o n Tw p . S h ak o p e e C h a s ka Vic t o r ia LEGEND Open Space Community Park Neighborhood Park Preserve Special Use Non-City Parks & Open Space Public School Surrounding Municipal Parks Water Bodies Municipal Boundaries °0 0.5 10.25 Miles »Develop a master plan to: »Define the limits of park expansion to the north and west »Preserve natural areas »Complete a loop trail around Lake Ann »Identify new facility and user amenities Lake ann Park »Expanded parking »Add permanent restroom facility »Lighting and structured seating for the baseball field Lake SuSan Park Add a permanent restroom facility & hockey warming house City Center Park »Implement existing master plan »Construct picnic shelter with restrooms »Add field lights »Build sport court »Add a splash pad »Add a hockey warming house Bandimere Park »Seek opportunities to expand the capacity of the community park network to serve athletic and community event needs. »Use maintenance and replacement schedule to plan for phased replacement of neighborhood park facilities (i.e. playgrounds, sport courts, shelters, etc.) City-wide initiativeS Add parks and/or preserves as development occurs in the Bluff Creek Golf Course, Bluff Creek Corridor, and County Road 61 Corridor Plan areas South ChanhaSSen Priority Expansion Area Figure 5-2. Park Initiatives 5-51 System PlanOCTOBER 2017 2. Facilities There are a wide range of facilities currently provided in the Chanhassen Parks and Recreation System. From traditional diamond fields to a Senior Center, the City meets many of the needs of its various types of users. The facility initiatives aim to build on the existing system to better accommodate current users while potentially attracting new ones. 2.1. Consider the construction of a year-round signature recreation facility in the community that includes indoor, outdoor, and passive spaces. 2.1.1. Complete an aquatic facilities need study. 2.1.2. Complete a facilities study for the Recreation Center to plan for the renovation and expansion of facilities and services. 2.1.3. Complete a facilities study for the Senior Center to plan for the renovation and expansion of facilities and services. 2.2. Add a destination splash pad at a community park. Ensure expansion includes additional parking if needed and user amenities like benches, restrooms, and changing facilities. 2.3. Develop and implement a phased improvement plan for improvements to the skate park. 2.4. Support pickleball by adding user amenities like seating, wind screens, and sun canopies. 2.5. Add permanent concrete tee boxes and improved site amenities to support users at the Bandimere disc golf course. 2.6. Improve existing volleyball facilities within community parks through improved seating, nets, and shelters. 2.7. Add community-scale nature play at a community park. 2.8. Add unstructured nature play throughout the community as appropriate. 2.9. Establish an interpretative center with an outdoor lab space and a nature based play area to support natural resources outreach and education. 2.10. Explore opportunities for a second community garden. 2.11. Complete an audit of system ADA accessibility and address issues identified. Prioritize an examination of accessibility at the Recreation Center and Senior Center to address concerns regarding handicapped parking, door access, and trip hazards. 2.12. Pilot facilities for new or trending sports to assess appropriateness for park system, cost, durability, and demand. Destination Splash Pad Interpretive Center Outdoor Lab Space Adding community nature play as part an expansion of Lake Ann Park would enhance this park as an area destination, setting it apart from surrounding communities. WHAT WE HEARD 5-52 Chanhassen Parks & Recreation System Plan OCTOBER 2017 NATURE PLAY Nature play evokes a range of images in people’s heads from total immersion in a natural environment to playground structures that are man-made to look like natural elements. The idea behind nature play is to get kids in touch with their natural environment. These playgrounds are different from standard playgrounds in that they encourage children to get dirty, imagine, create, and learn with nature. Natural play areas are designed to incorporate natural elements, such as wood, stone, water, plants, soil, and sand, that facilitate kids’ interactions with them in a playful manner. Children can see how natural materials interact with each other and themselves, as well as observe insects and other wildlife in their natural habitats. Simply allowing and directing kids to experience their natural environments in a playful way, rather than being fearful of the outdoors, promotes confidence, independence, and ecological and environmental stewardship. Natural play using existing natural structures Destination nature playground Stone, water, sand, and plants in play area Wood and downed trees as play features Low-impact nature playground structures 5-53 System PlanOCTOBER 2017 This survey was geared toward people who utilize the Recreation Center’s facilities and programming, regardless of whether or not they are a resident of Chanhassen. All of the questions specifically pertain to the Recreation Center rather than the park system as a whole. RECREATION CENTER 20% neve r 5 % every day 24 % o n c e a week 9% once a month 42% few times a yearHow OftenRespondentsUtilize the RecCenter 13% are unaware of ituse private recreationfacilities 18% are not interested in whatit has to offer 35% use a recreation center inanother community 18% Other Popular Responses: Youth Sports 0% 50% 39% 35% attended anevent 27% utilized thetness center 22% attendedopen gymopenpickleball participated ina class 26% 16% 9% hosted or attendeda meetinghosted or attendeda birthday party Existing Facility & Programming Usage “I hope it can expand, perhaps by moving to a new building and leaving the full building for an expansion of Bluff Creek.” “It is a very nice facility. I exercise there 3 days a week. The staff is friendly and helpful.” “The rec center needs to ll the needs of all community members. Currently, I feel the programming has a focus on children and families...” “We would LOVE to go if you had swimming lessons in an indoor pool, and much more creative classes to choose from (art, clay, music, theater....)” “More pickleball courts. As this sport grows, so should the number of courts.” “An indoor public pool and walking track like Chaska Comm. Center....the private clubs are so costly!” “We need an economical alternative to the expensive and overly busy Lifetime Fitness. Doesn't need to be fancy but something more like a YMCA or the Chaska Community Center.” 50% 0%20%40%60%80%100% Of Respondents That Never Use the Recreation Center: Importance of Additional Facilities & Programming running/walking track85%15% kitchen facilities inmeeting rooms69%31% additional technologyin meeting rooms (screen,projector, etc.)66%34% senior center56%44% "health" snack bar54%46% a seasonal domedmulti-purpose eld house39%61% more exercise/class studios28%72% larger tnesscenter20%80% indoor pool19%81% Select General Comments ImportantNot Important Importance of Additional Facilities & Programming 0%20%40%60% 50% 80%100% moreprogramming 73%27% fitness classspace 73%27% large meeting/event room 70%30% indoor pool 39%61% fitnessequipment 39%61% kitchen facility 40%60% indoor track 44%56% garden 64%36% hot tub 26%74% sport court 76%24% theater 56%44% café or coffeeshop 44%56% Important Not Important While all responses to the Senior Center survey were evaluated, only those from respondents over the age of 60 were considered for the charts included in this infographic. However, the comments included below are representative of all participating age groups. 1% never 34% ever y d ay 48% once a week 10% once a monthSENIOR CENTER Select General Comments 31% never 1 % every day 33 % o nc e a week 11% once a month 24% few times a yearHow OftenRespondentsUtilize the SeniorCenter 40% are unaware of itare not interested in whatit has to offer 24% use a senior center inanother community 12% Of Respondents That Never Use the Senior Center: Other Popular Responses: Women’s Club Driver’s Safety Class Chan-O-Laires 0% 60% 51% 42% field trip 29% health orwellness program 4%woodcarving art or educationclass 27%card playing Existing Facility & Programming Usage 100%0%20%40%60%80% Very Supportive Somewhat Supportive Not at All Supportive Support For Senior Center Alternatives build a new senior center adjacent to therecreation center 35%40%25% maintain the existing senior center as it is 43%37%20% relocate the senior center to a new, largerfacility 37%48%15% “I am proud of what the existing Senior Center offers in relation to programming but we will be out growing the facility with the shift in retirees. And we do have a dynamic and hard-working directorin Sue!!” “From what I've seen, there isn't much offered for Senior Citizens that still work full-time. I would like to see some programs offered evenings or weekends.” “As the population ages Chanhassen needs a viable senior center. The one we have is very small and does not have enough programs. A theater and art space are very important to me.” “Please keep the bus trips so we can get to places we can't drive to and that have limited parking.” “The location of the Chanhassen Sr. Center appears to be superb! It is easy to locate, access for pleasure and emergencies if needed. If you are considering a new community center please include the senior's space: Chaska's community center where all ages and all activities can participate is the ultimate (even church studies, meetings, etc.)” This survey was geared toward people who utilize the Recreation Center’s facilities and programming, regardless of whether or not they are a resident of Chanhassen. All of the questions specifically pertain to the Recreation Center rather than the park system as a whole. RECREATION CENTER 20% neve r 5 % every day 24 % o n c e a week 9% once a month 42% few times a yearHow OftenRespondentsUtilize the RecCenter 13% are unaware of ituse private recreationfacilities 18% are not interested in whatit has to offer 35% use a recreation center inanother community 18% Other Popular Responses: Youth Sports 0% 50% 39% 35% attended anevent 27% utilized thetness center 22% attendedopen gymopenpickleball participated ina class 26% 16% 9% hosted or attendeda meetinghosted or attendeda birthday party Existing Facility & Programming Usage “I hope it can expand, perhaps by moving to a new building and leaving the full building for an expansion of Bluff Creek.” “It is a very nice facility. I exercise there 3 days a week. The staff is friendly and helpful.” “The rec center needs to ll the needs of all community members. Currently, I feel the programming has a focus on children and families...” “We would LOVE to go if you had swimming lessons in an indoor pool, and much more creative classes to choose from (art, clay, music, theater....)” “More pickleball courts. As this sport grows, so should the number of courts.” “An indoor public pool and walking track like Chaska Comm. Center....the private clubs are so costly!” “We need an economical alternative to the expensive and overly busy Lifetime Fitness. Doesn't need to be fancy but something more like a YMCA or the Chaska Community Center.” 50% 0%20%40%60%80%100% Of Respondents That Never Use the Recreation Center: Importance of Additional Facilities & Programming running/walking track 85%15% kitchen facilities inmeeting rooms 69%31% additional technologyin meeting rooms (screen,projector, etc.)66%34% senior center 56%44% "health" snack bar 54%46% a seasonal domedmulti-purpose e ld house 39%61% more exercise/class studios 28%72% larger tn essc enter 20%80% indoor pool 19%81% Select General Comments Important Not Important Importance of Additional Facilities & Programming 0%20%40%60% 50% 80%100% moreprogramming 73%27% fitness classspace 73%27% large meeting/event room 70%30% indoor pool 39%61% fitnessequipment 39%61% kitchen facility 40%60% indoor track 44%56% garden 64%36% hot tub 26%74% sport court 76%24% theater 56%44% café or coffeeshop 44%56% Important Not Important While all responses to the Senior Center survey were evaluated, only those from respondents over the age of 60 were considered for the charts included in this infographic. However, the comments included below are representative of all participating age groups. 1% never 34% every d a y 48% once a week 10% once a monthSENIOR CENTER Select General Comments 31% never 1 % every day 33 % o n c e a week 11% once a month 24% few times a yearHow OftenRespondentsUtilize the SeniorCenter 40% are unaware of it are not interested in whatit has to offer 24% use a senior center inanother community 12% Of Respondents That Never Use the Senior Center: Other Popular Responses: Women’s Club Driver’s Safety Class Chan-O-Laires 0% 60% 51% 42% field trip 29% health orwellness program 4%woodcarving art or educationclass 27%card playing Existing Facility & Programming Usage 100%0%20%40%60%80% Very Supportive Somewhat Supportive Not at All Supportive Support For Senior Center Alternatives build a new seniorcenter adjacent to the recreation center 35%40%25% maintain the existingsenior center as it is 43%37%20% relocate the seniorcenter to a new, largerfacility 37%48%15% “I am proud of what the existing Senior Center offers in relation to programming but we will be out growing the facility with the shift in retirees. And we do have a dynamic and hard-working directorin Sue!!” “From what I've seen, there isn't much offered for Senior Citizens that still work full-time. I would like to see some programs offered evenings or weekends.” “As the population ages Chanhassen needs a viable senior center. The one we have is very small and does not have enough programs. A theater and art space are very important to me.” “Please keep the bus trips so we can get to places we can't drive to and that have limited parking.” “The location of the Chanhassen Sr. Center appears to be superb! It is easy to locate, access for pleasure and emergencies if needed. If you are considering a new community center please include the senior's space: Chaska's community center where all ages and all activities can participate is the ultimate (even church studies, meetings, etc.)” This survey was geared toward people who utilize the Recreation Center’s facilities and programming, regardless of whether or not they are a resident of Chanhassen. All of the questions specifically pertain to the Recreation Center rather than the park system as a whole. RECREATION CENTER 20% neve r 5% every day 24 % o n c e a week 9% once a month 42% few times a yearHow OftenRespondentsUtilize the RecCenter 13% are unaware of ituse private recreationfacilities 18% are not interested in whatit has to offer 35% use a recreation center inanother community 18% Other Popular Responses: Youth Sports 0% 50% 39% 35% attended anevent 27% utilized thetness center 22% attendedopen gymopenpickleball participated ina class 26% 16% 9% hosted or attendeda meetinghosted or attendeda birthday party Existing Facility & Programming Usage “I hope it can expand, perhaps by moving to a new building and leaving the full building for an expansion of Bluff Creek.” “It is a very nice facility. I exercise there 3 days a week. The staff is friendly and helpful.” “The rec center needs to ll the needs of all community members. Currently, I feel the programming has a focus on children and families...” “We would LOVE to go if you had swimming lessons in an indoor pool, and much more creative classes to choose from (art, clay, music, theater....)” “More pickleball courts. As this sport grows, so should the number of courts.” “An indoor public pool and walking track like Chaska Comm. Center....the private clubs are so costly!” “We need an economical alternative to the expensive and overly busy Lifetime Fitness. Doesn't need to be fancy but something more like a YMCA or the Chaska Community Center.” 50% 0%20%40%60%80%100% Of Respondents That Never Use the Recreation Center: Importance of Additional Facilities & Programming running/walking track 85%15% kitchen facilities inmeeting rooms 69%31% additional technologyin meeting rooms (screen,projector, etc.)66%34% senior center 56%44% "health" snack bar 54%46% a seasonal domedmulti-purpose e ld house 39%61% more exercise/class studios 28%72% larger tn esscenter 20%80% indoor pool 19%81% Select General Comments Important Not Important Importance of Additional Facilities & Programming 0%20%40%60% 50% 80%100% moreprogramming 73%27% fitness classspace 73%27% large meeting/event room 70%30% indoor pool 39%61% fitnessequipment 39%61% kitchen facility 40%60% indoor track 44%56% garden 64%36% hot tub 26%74% sport court 76%24% theater 56%44% café or coffeeshop 44%56% Important Not Important While all responses to the Senior Center survey were evaluated, only those from respondents over the age of 60 were considered for the charts included in this infographic. However, the comments included below are representative of all participating age groups. 1 % never 34% every d ay 48% once a week 10% once a monthSENIOR CENTER Select General Comments 31% never 1 % every day 33 % o n ce a week 11% once a month 24% few times a yearHow OftenRespondentsUtilize the SeniorCenter 40% are unaware of it are not interested in whatit has to offer 24% use a senior center inanother community 12% Of Respondents That Never Use the Senior Center: Other Popular Responses:Women’s Club Driver’s Safety Class Chan-O-Laires 0% 60% 51% 42% field trip 29% health orwellness program 4%woodcarving art or educationclass 27%card playing Existing Facility & Programming Usage 100%0%20%40%60%80% Very Supportive Somewhat Supportive Not at All Supportive Support For Senior Center Alternatives build a new seniorcenter adjacent to therecreation center 35%40%25% maintain the existingsenior center as it is 43%37%20% relocate the seniorcenter to a new, largerfacility 37%48%15% “I am proud of what the existing Senior Center offers in relation to programming but we will be out growing the facility with the shift in retirees. And we do have a dynamic and hard-working directorin Sue!!” “From what I've seen, there isn't much offered for Senior Citizens that still work full-time. I would like to see some programs offered evenings or weekends.” “As the population ages Chanhassen needs a viable senior center. The one we have is very small and does not have enough programs. A theater and art space are very important to me.” “Please keep the bus trips so we can get to places we can't drive to and that have limited parking.” “The location of the Chanhassen Sr. Center appears to be superb! It is easy to locate, access for pleasure and emergencies if needed. If you are considering a new community center please include the senior's space: Chaska's community center where all ages and all activities can participate is the ultimate (even church studies, meetings, etc.)” Recreation Center Senior Center Existing Facilities & Programming Use SIGNATURE RECREATION FACILITY STUDY Community input in the Parks and Recreation System planning process identified the need for improvements to the Recreation Center and Senior Center. A recommended initiative of the System Plan is the development of a facility study for a Signature Recreation Facility. Completing a facility study is important as it will provide: »A thorough assessment of existing conditions - including an inventory of existing facilities, analysis of service levels, and an assessment of other public and private resources serving the community »The identification of community needs now and into the future - including community preferences for potential amenities and services »The exploration of a range of options with an analysis of costs, benefits, and challenges of each »An assessment of construction, operation, and maintenance costs, as well as the potential economic impact of the facility »The exploration of partnership and funding options While a detailed examination of the recreation and senior centers was not conducted in the system planning process, outreach as part of the system planning process did invite discussion on the future needs of the community relative to those facilities. The charts provided on the next page are summaries of some of the community input received. These provide a foundation for a specific facility study to be conducted. All of the community input received during the system planning process is available in Appendix A of the system plan. Through the system planning process, the following amenities and services were identified as needs that have the potential to be served by a signature recreation facility: »Childcare »Coffee shop/snack bar »Community meeting space/banquet space with kitchen »Expanded classes and programming »Field House/Dome »Fitness Center »Garden »Gym space »Ice rinks (indoor/outdoor) »Indoor kids play area »Passive recreation areas »Pool (indoor/outdoor) »Running/walking track »Splash pad »Sport courts »Studio for art/hobbies »Swim lessons/open swim »Theater »Waterpark 5-54 Chanhassen Parks & Recreation System Plan OCTOBER 2017 Importance of Additional Facilities & Programming 0%20%40%60% 50% 80%100% moreprogramming 73%27% fitness classspace 73%27% large meeting/event room 70%30% indoor pool 39%61% fitnessequipment 39%61% kitchen facility 40%60% indoor track 44%56% garden 64%36% hot tub 26%74% sport court 76%24% theater 56%44% café or coffeeshop 44%56% Important Not Important While all responses to the Senior Center survey were evaluated, only those from respondents over the age of 60 were considered for the charts included in this infographic. However, the comments included below are representative of all participating age groups. 1% never 34% every d ay 48% once a week 10% once a monthSENIOR CENTER Select General Comments 31% never 1 % every day 33 % o n c e a week 11% once a month 24% few times a yearHow OftenRespondentsUtilize the SeniorCenter 40% are unaware of it are not interested in whatit has to offer 24%use a senior center inanother community 12% Of Respondents That Never Use the Senior Center: Other Popular Responses: Women’s Club Driver’s Safety Class Chan-O-Laires 0% 60% 51% 42% field trip 29% health orwellness program 4%woodcarving art or educationclass 27%card playing Existing Facility & Programming Usage 100%0%20%40%60%80% Very Supportive Somewhat Supportive Not at All Supportive Support For Senior Center Alternatives build a new seniorcenter adjacent to therecreation center 35%40%25% maintain the existingsenior center as it is 43%37%20% relocate the seniorcenter to a new, largerfacility 37%48%15% “I am proud of what the existing Senior Center offers in relation to programming but we will be out growing the facility with the shift in retirees. And we do have a dynamic and hard-working directorin Sue!!” “From what I've seen, there isn't much offered for Senior Citizens that still work full-time. I would like to see some programs offered evenings or weekends.” “As the population ages Chanhassen needs a viable senior center. The one we have is very small and does not have enough programs. A theater and art space are very important to me.” “Please keep the bus trips so we can get to places we can't drive to and that have limited parking.” “The location of the Chanhassen Sr. Center appears to be superb! It is easy to locate, access for pleasure and emergencies if needed. If you are considering a new community center please include the senior's space: Chaska's community center where all ages and all activities can participate is the ultimate (even church studies, meetings, etc.)” This survey was geared toward people who utilize the Recreation Center’s facilities and programming, regardless of whether or not they are a resident of Chanhassen. All of the questions specifically pertain to the Recreation Center rather than the park system as a whole. RECREATION CENTER 20% nev e r 5 % every day 24 % o n c e a week 9% once a month 42% few times a yearHow OftenRespondentsUtilize the RecCenter 13% are unaware of ituse private recreationfacilities 18% are not interested in whatit has to offer 35% use a recreation center inanother community 18% Other Popular Responses: Youth Sports 0% 50% 39% 35% attended anevent 27% utilized thetness center 22% attendedopen gymopenpickleball participated ina class 26% 16% 9% hosted or attendeda meetinghosted or attendeda birthday party Existing Facility & Programming Usage “I hope it can expand, perhaps by moving to a new building and leaving the full building for an expansion of Bluff Creek.” “It is a very nice facility. I exercise there 3 days a week. The staff is friendly and helpful.” “The rec center needs to ll the needs of all community members. Currently, I feel the programming has a focus on children and families...” “We would LOVE to go if you had swimming lessons in an indoor pool, and much more creative classes to choose from (art, clay, music, theater....)” “More pickleball courts. As this sport grows, so should the number of courts.” “An indoor public pool and walking track like Chaska Comm. Center....the private clubs are so costly!” “We need an economical alternative to the expensive and overly busy Lifetime Fitness. Doesn't need to be fancy but something more like a YMCA or the Chaska Community Center.” 50% 0%20%40%60%80%100% Of Respondents That Never Use the Recreation Center: Importance of Additional Facilities & Programming running/walking track 85%15% kitchen facilities inmeeting rooms 69%31% additional technologyin meeting rooms (screen,projector, etc.)66%34% senior center 56%44% "health" snack bar 54%46% a seasonal domedmulti-purpose e ld house 39%61% more exercise/class studios 28%72% larger tn essc enter 20%80% indoor pool 19%81% Select General Comments Important Not Important Importance of Additional Facilities & Programming Recreation Center Senior Center 5-55 System PlanOCTOBER 2017 Lake Ann Park Lake Susan Park Bandimere Park City Center Park Chanhassen Recreation Center South Lotus Lake Park Kerber Pond Park Power Hill Park Riley Ridge Park North Lotus Lake Park Meadow Green Park Herman Field Park Pheasant Hill Park Sunset Ridge Park Stone Creek Park Pioneer Pass Park Roundhouse Park Curry Farms Park Chanhassen Hills Park Carver Beach Park Cathcart Park(Owned by theCity of Shorewood) Sugarbush Park Prairie KnollPark Rice Marsh Lake Park Bandimere Heights Park Greenwood Shores Park Carver Beach Playground MinnewashtaHeights Park Chanhassen Estates Park Chanhassen High School(Joint Facilities) Manchester Park (To Be Completed in 2018) Minnewashta Regional Park University of MinnesotaLandscape Arboretum Raguet Wildlife Management Area Privately Owned Public Golf Course MN Valley NationalWildlife Refuge Olson Community Garden Minnetonka MiddleSchool West CenturyBoulevardHazeltineBoulevardBluffCreekDrive West78thStreet LymanBoulevard Ch anhassenRoadCrosstownBoulevard PleasantView Road GreatPlainsBoulevar dB avariaRo adSmithtownRoad Pion ee rT ra ilW e stLon g a c resDrive VictoriaDrive ArboretumBoulevard Po we r s B o ul evardKerberBoulevardLakeLucyRoad MinnewashtaParkwayCounty Road140 LakeDriveEast He ro n Drive Engler Boulevard Hund ertm arkRoadEastGalpinBoulevardAudubonRoadPioneer Trail 82nd Street West Flying Clo ud D rive Ch a ska B oule v ardLakeDrive PioneerTrailEastChestnutStreetNorthWest82ndStreet ")140 ")53 ¬«101 ¬«7 £¤212 ¬«5 ")61 ¬«101 ¬«101 L o t usL a k eLak eSusan LakeRileyR iceL akeLakeMinnewasht a LakeA n n L a keL ucyR i c e MarshLake E d e n P ra ir i e E xc e ls io r G re e n w o o d M i nn et o nk aShorewood To n k a Ba y J ac k s o n Tw p . S h a k o p e e C ha s k a V ic t o r i a LEGEND Open Space Community Park Neighborhood Park Preserve Special Use Non-City Parks & Open Space Public School Surrounding Municipal Parks Water Bodies Municipal Boundaries °0 0.5 10.25 Miles »Complete a study to plan for expansion of facility and services »Improve accessibility (i.e. handicapped parking, trip hazards, door access) reCreation Center »Complete a study to plan for expansion of facility and services »Improve accessibility (i.e. handicapped parking, trip hazards, door access) Senior Center Develop and implement a phased plan for improvements to the skate park Skate Park Add permanent concrete tee boxes and improved site amenities to support disc golf users Bandimere Park »Identify and construct a year-round signature recreation facility in the community that includes indoor, outdoor, and passive spaces. Complete an aquatic facilities need study, recreation center study, and senior center study. »Add a destination splash pad with parking and user amenities at a community park. »Support pickleball by adding user amenities like seating, wind screens, and sun canopies. »Improve existing volleyball facilities within community parks through improved seating, nets, and shelters. »Add community-scale nature play at a community park. »Add unstructured nature play throughout the community as appropriate. »Establish an interpretative center with an outdoor lab space and a nature based play area to support natural resources outreach and education. »Explore opportunities for a second community garden. »Complete an audit of system ADA accessibility and address issues identified. Prioritize Recreation and Senior Centers. »Pilot facilities for new or trending sports to assess appropriateness for park system, cost, durability, and demand. »Install additional ballfield safety fencing as needed. »Implement the recommendations of the Athletic Fields Study. City-wide initiativeS Figure 5-3. Facility Initiatives Consider construction of a year-round signature recreation facility in the community that includes indoor, outdoor, and passive spaces. Complete an aquatic facilities need study, recreation center study, and senior center study. Establish an interpretive center with an outdoor lab space and a natural based play area to support natural resources outreach and education. 5-56 Chanhassen Parks & Recreation System Plan OCTOBER 2017 Maintaining current baseball/softball fields and possibly adding an additional complex/fields to accommodate youth baseball/softball practices/ games and to better showcase our community during hosted tournaments. WHAT WE HEARD2.13. Install additional ballfield safety fencing as needed. 2.14. Implement the following recommendations of the Athletic Fields Study: 2.14.1. Based on current trends combined with projected demand, Chanhassen should plan for new multi-purpose field construction (1-3 fields) in the next 15 years. 2.14.2. Based on national standards and desires of the baseball community, the City should continue to emphasize flexibility in the ballfields with basepaths and moveable pitching rubbers or mounds to better meet the demands for 75’ and 90’ basepath ballfields. 2.14.3. Provide lights at Bandimere Park on baseball and soccer fields to expand capacity of fields and improve scheduling flexibility. 2.14.4. Provide a lighted, artificial turf multi-use field at Bandimere Park to expand capacity, ensure playability, provide a premier field, and protect and allow for more resting of grass fields. 5-57 System PlanOCTOBER 2017 3. Trails Trails bring the park and recreation system closer to every resident, offering recreational opportunities and transportation alternatives, particularly for those who cannot or chose not to drive including low income households, children, and the elderly. As the most popular amenity in Chanhassen, the City’s 80 miles of trails already excel at creating accessible connections between destinations and supporting a healthy and active population. These trail initiatives aim to support the system’s excellent reputation by addressing gaps and improving user experiences. While the Parks and Recreation Department manages Chanhassen’s trail system, it is important to recognize that the construction and maintenance of trails are a result of collaboration between Parks and Recreation, Engineering, and Public Works. 3.1. Address trail gaps identified in Figure 3-17. 3.2. Address trail crossing safety issues identified in Figure 3-17. 3.3. Increase awareness and expanded trail use through maps and trail wayfinding to help identify loops, distances, and destinations. 3.4. Support trail accessibility through the identification of easily accessible routes that do not have steep slopes, gaps, or challenging transitions. 3.5. Enhance user experiences and placemaking through the addition of user amenities that incorporate art and education (i.e. benches, lighting, garbage cans, kiosks/signage, etc.) 3.6. Complete the connection to the Minnesota River through the construction of a trail along Bluff Creek Drive or Great Plains Boulevard. 3.7. Expand the number of natural surface trails by mapping existing locations, identifying opportunities for expansion, including in preserves, and incorporating trail expansion in the Capital Improvement Plan. 3.8. Explore opportunities to add trailheads. 3.9. Work with partner agencies to reopen the Minnesota River Bluff LRT Regional Trail. 3.10. Initiate a single-track mountain bike trail study. TRAIL MARKERS AND WAYFINDING Identification of routes, such as trail loops or distances, can be addressed in ways that range from easily implementable and temporary, to embedded and permanent. Route markers should be context sensitive, reflecting the feel of the surroundings. Mileage markers on trails, 5k/10k routes marked. Work with local schools (Earth Club) or Boy Scouts to have the youth help plan routes, post routes/ mileage markers on website. WHAT WE HEARD 5-58 Chanhassen Parks & Recreation System Plan OCTOBER 2017 CenturyBoulevardHazeltineBoulevardBluffCreekDrive West78thStreet LymanBoulevard Ch anh assenRoadCrosstownBoulevard PleasantView Road GreatPlainsBoulevar dB avariaRo adSmithtownRoad Pion ee rT ra ilW e stLon g a c resDrive VictoriaDrive ArboretumBoulevard Po we r s B o ul evardKerberBoulevardLakeLucyRoad MinnewashtaParkwayCounty Road140 LakeDriveEast He ro n Drive Engler Boulevard Hund ertm arkRoadEastGalpinBoulevardAudubonRoadPioneer Trail 82nd Street West Flying Clo ud D rive Ch a ska B oule v ardLakeDrive PioneerTrailEastChestnutStreetNorthWest82ndStreet ")140 ")53 ¬«101 ¬«7 £¤212 ¬«5 ")61 ¬«101 ¬«101 L o t usL a k eL ak e Su sa n LakeRileyR iceL akeLakeMinnewasht a LakeA n n L a keL ucyR i c e MarshLake E d e n P r ai r i e E xc e ls i o r G r ee nw o o d M i nne t o n kaShorewood To n k a Ba y J ac k son Tw p . S h a ko p e e C h a sk a Vic t o r ia LEGEND ""Existing Overpass##Existing Trail Head !!Existing Underpass GIdentified Safety Crossing Concern Trail Gap Existing Sidewalk Existing Trail Open Space Community Park Neighborhood Park Preserve Special Use Non-City Parks & Open Space Public School Existing Regional Trails Surrounding Municipal Trails Surrounding Municipal Parks Water Bodies Municipal Boundaries °0 0.5 10.25 Miles »Address trail gaps and trail crossing safety issues. »Increase awareness and expanded trail use through maps and trail wayfinding to help identify loops, distances, and destinations. »Support trail accessibility through the identification of easily accessible routes that do not have steep slopes, gaps, or challenging transitions. »Enhance user experiences through kiosks/signage at existing trailheads, benches, lighting, garbage cans, etc. »Expand the number of natural surface trails by mapping existing locations, identifying opportunities, and incorporating trail expansion in the Capital Improvement Plan. »Explore opportunities to add trailheads. »Initiate a single-track mountain bike trail study. City-wide initiativeS Complete the connection to the Minnesota River through the construction of a trail along Bluff Creek Drive or Great Plains Boulevard minneSota river Work with partner agencies to reopen the Minnesota River Bluff LRT Regional Trail Lrt regionaL traiL Figure 5-4. Trail Initiatives 5-59 System PlanOCTOBER 2017 Pleasant ViewPreserve Chanhassen Nature Preserve Rice Marsh Lake Preserve BluffCreek Preserve Fox Woods Preserve Hesse Farm Park Preserve Lake Susan Preserve Pine HurstPreserve Bluff Creek Preserve North Lake Riley Preserve MN River Bluffs Preserve Hidden Creek Meadows Preserve Lake Susan Preserve North Pine Hurst at Lake HarrisonPreserve Bluff Creek Headwaters Preserve CenturyBoulevardHazeltineBoulevardBluffCreekDrive West78thStreet LymanBoulevard Ch anhassenRoadCrosstownBoulevard PleasantView Road GreatPlainsBoulevar dB avariaRo adSmithtownRoad Pion ee rT ra ilW e stLon g a c resDrive VictoriaDrive ArboretumBoulevard Po we r s B o ul evardKerberBoulevardLakeLucyRoad MinnewashtaParkwayCounty Road140 LakeDriveEast He ro n Drive Engler Boulevard Hund ertm arkRoadEastGalpinBoulevardAudubonRoadPioneer Trail 82nd Street West Flying Clo ud D rive Ch a ska B oule v ardLakeDrive PioneerTrailEastChestnutStreetNorthWest82ndStreet ")140 ")53 ¬«101 ¬«7 £¤212 ¬«5 ")61 ¬«101 ¬«101 L o t usL a k eLak eSusan LakeRileyR iceL akeLakeMinnewasht a LakeA n n L a keL ucyR i c e MarshLake E d e n P ra ir i e E xc e ls io r G re e n w o o d M i nn et o nk aShorewood To n k a Ba y J ac k s o n Tw p . S h a k o p e e C ha s k a V ic t o r i a LEGEND Open Space Preserve Existing Sidewalk Existing Trail Non-City Parks & Open Space Public School Existing Regional Trails Surrounding Municipal Trails Water Bodies Municipal Boundaries °0 0.5 10.25 Miles Collaborate with other government agencies in the protection of Seminary Fen Seminary Fen Collaborate with other government agencies in the protection of the Minnesota River Valley mn river vaLLey »Expand awareness of preserves through marketing and wayfinding. »Encourage expansion of opportunities for increased interaction and exploration of nature (i.e. natural surface trails, interpretation, programming, signage, wayfinding, maps, etc.) »Identify and prioritize the protection of natural areas that provide corridors/linkages between parks, preserves, and other destinations. »Prioritize the development of natural resource management plans. City-wide initiativeS Continue to preserve sensitive lands within the Bluff Creek Corridor BLuFF Creek Corridor Figure 5-5. Preserve Initiatives 5-60 Chanhassen Parks & Recreation System Plan OCTOBER 2017 4. Preserves Natural areas have been highlighted as an important amenity for Chanhassen residents to connect to, interact with, and learn about conservation and wildlife. While the City contains ample natural resources and preservation areas, their existence is generally unknown. The following initiatives aim to expand accessibility and awareness of existing preserves, while protecting every current and future natural area. 4.1. Expand awareness of preserves through marketing and wayfinding. 4.2. Encourage expansion of opportunities for increased interaction and exploration of nature (i.e. natural surface trails, interpretation, programming, signage, wayfinding, maps, etc.) 4.3. Identify and prioritize the protection of natural areas that provide corridors/linkages between parks, preserves, and other destinations. 4.4. Prioritize the development of natural resource management plans. 4.5. Collaborate with other government agencies in the protection of the Seminary Fen and the Minnesota River Valley. 4.6. Continue to preserve sensitive lands within the Bluff Creek Corridor. 5. Programming Users engage in recreational programming for enjoyment, health, skill development, socialization, enrichment, entertainment, physical fitness, and relaxation. Chanhassen hosts several popular community events and successfully partners with local organizations and associations to provide other programming opportunities. Programming initiatives aim to maintain existing programs and events, while improving accessibility for all users and expanding awareness and outreach. 5.1. Continue to host at least five major community events in the city (currently there is Feb Fest, Easter Egg Hunt, 4th of July, Halloween, Tree Lighting). 5.2. Continue to partner with area business and organizations to provide summer concert series. 5.3. Continue to collaborate with schools and other organizations to provide public recreation activities in the parks. 5.4. Expand the number of informal, indoor and outdoor, seasonal recreation events. 5.5. Expand nature based events and programs. 5.6. Expand Senior Center awareness through rebranding and a marketing campaign. 5.7. Collaborate with high school youth leaders to organize quarterly teen activities (fun runs, music, arts) and pilot programs. 5.8. Collaborate with the Arts Consortium of Carver County to support the expansion of arts related programming in the City. 5.9. Establish an Event Management Plan to address the registration and notification process; cost recovery; and strategies to minimize general park user impacts associated with non-City sponsored events seeking to utilize Chanhassen’s parks or trails. 5.10. Annually evaluate that the City’s pricing structure reflects the benefits of the program or event to the community versus the individual. Greater variety of community events throughout year. Want to attract folks from region to more than 4th of July. WHAT WE HEARD Fourth of July Carnival BLUFF CREEK CORRIDOR The Bluff Creek Corridor is a small tributary of the Lower Minnesota River, and is a treasured natural amenity in the City of Chanhassen. A 2007 inventory of Bluff Creek indicated that stormwater runoff and groundwater seepage occurring as a result of urban development is resulting in excessive ravine erosion and sediment buildup within the stream. Bluff Creek is now within a zoning overlay district that prevents development within the primary zone of the corridor and limits development types in surrounding areas. While some of the corridor is already within park preserves (as seen in Figure 3-16), the City should capitalize on any future opportunities to expand this protection. 5-61 System PlanOCTOBER 2017 6. Operations As the City of Chanhassen is almost completely built out, there is limited land left for the development of new parks and open space. As a result, maintenance of the high-quality system is an essential component of meeting the needs of current and future users. The following initiatives for Chanhassen focus on improving operational efficiencies and capabilities, maintenance, sustainability, communications, and programming evaluation. 6.1. Ensure the System Plan is used as a basis for the annual budgeting and capital improvement planning process to evaluate and address the parks and recreation system needs, including staffing, program/event expansion, facility expansion, maintenance, and replacement. 6.2. Communicate benefits of parks and recreation system, including the impact of the preserves and races/tournaments on the business community. 6.3. Incorporate stormwater best practices, such as rain gardens, bio- swales, and permeable pavers, in park and facility design. 6.4. Reduce impervious surfaces and explore turf conversion to native plantings in the design of parks and facilities. 6.5. Preserve natural buffers and setbacks around wetlands, rivers, ponds, reservoirs, and lakes on appropriate public lands and parks. 6.6. Improve water conservation and energy efficiency of facilities when renovating or constructing new. 6.7. Annually assess trail maintenance policies for debris removal and winter plowing. Reevaluate and amend winter plowing plans based on factors like historical maintenance, commuting routes, safe routes to school, and resident requests. 6.8. Establish a formal process for program and event development and evaluation and trend analysis. 6.9. Consider a tobacco and use policy for the parks and recreation system. 6.10. Incorporate innovative sustainable design and maintenance practices to make Chanhassen a model and educational resource for residents and surrounding communities. Tobacco-free park signage Vegetative buffer surrounding Lake Susan NO SMOKING in all parks! Better yet, NO TOBACCO! WHAT WE HEARD 5-62 Chanhassen Parks & Recreation System Plan OCTOBER 2017 Chapter 6IMPLEMENTATION 6 The Chanhassen Parks and Recreation System Plan will guide decision-making by the City Council, Park Commission, City Staff, partners, and the public over the next 20 years. This chapter identifies priority actions and improvements, associated costs, and potential funding sources to ensure the recommendations included in this plan become a reality. As the community grows and changes, new ideas or opportunities may arise that were not considered during the development of the System Plan. To ensure efficiency, a project evaluation toolkit is included at the end of this chapter. 6-63 ImplementationOCTOBER 2017 Priorities Priorities are drawn from the recommendations identified in Chapter 5 and are organized into the four areas of capital improvements, plans/studies, management, and ongoing initiatives. They reflect community engagement and provide a to-do list for the City. This is not a budget recommendation. Because each area’s success is important, prioritization across the four areas were not made. This will allow each area to receive needed attention and resources. The ability of the City to achieve these priorities will be a function of staff time and funding. While some initiatives may require a significant investment of either time or funding for a one-time improvement, others will involve a minimal amount of time on an on-going basis. It is also likely that some of the priorities that are lower on a list may be completed sooner than higher priorities due to funding or partnership opportunities. Implementation phasing should be flexible and dependent on regular project prioritization based on needs, funding availability, and partnership opportunities. Depending on funding availability, the City may need to explore the phasing of larger capital improvements, such as Lake Ann Park Expansion. While not ideal because it is generally more expensive and extends the time period the park is out of service, phasing does ensure there is funding available for other capital improvements at the same time. Total projected costs across all categories are included in the following table. Table 6-1. Total Initiative Costs Priority Cost (Low)Cost (High) Short Term $5,770,000 $12,660,000 Long Term $31,075,000 $63,100,000 Ongoing $500,000 $5,000,000 Trail Gaps $4,943,000 $14,831,000 Total $42,288,000 $95,591,000 (Total Without Signature Facility) $17,288,000 $45,591,000 Table 6-2 provides a prioritized list of capital investment initiatives, Table 6-3 provides prioritized plan/study initiatives, Table 6-4 provides prioritized management initiatives, and Table 6-5 summarizes ongoing initiatives. Costs provided are planning level estimates that need to be further refined with detailed planning. All costs are in 2017 dollars and include any professional services that may be required (i.e. surveyors, architects, etc.). HISTORICAL INVESTMENT The priorities identified in the Parks and Recreation System build on historical investments made by previous generations. Although there is no exact accounting of the true dollar value of all existing park and recreation amenities in the community, the City’s current asset management program identifies over $33,000,000 in park and trail investments. These investments include more than $7 million in land acquisition, $10 million facility improvements, $17 million in trail development, and $2 million in maintenance. 6-64 Chanhassen Parks & Recreation System Plan OCTOBER 2017 Location or Area Capital Investment Initiative Cost (Low)Cost (High) SHORT TERM $5,660,000 $12,415,000 Bandimere Picnic Shelter with restroom $350,000 $750,000 Bandimere Sport Court $250,000 $350,000 City-wide Install additional ballfield safety fencing identified through a ballfield safety study $100,000 $300,000 Community Park Add a destination splash pad at a community park. Ensure expansion includes additional parking if needed and user amenities like benches, restrooms, and changing facilities. $750,000 $2,500,000 Disc Golf Add permanent concrete tee boxes and improved site amenities to support users at the Bandimere disc golf course. $60,000 $90,000 Pickleball Support pickleball by adding user amenities like seating, wind screens, and sun canopies. $40,000 $100,000 Trails Work with partner agencies to reopen the Minnesota River Bluff LRT Regional Trail. TBD with partner agencies Bandimere Field Light for three diamond fields and one rectangular field $750,000 $1,000,000 Bandimere Hockey Warming House $100,000 $250,000 Bandimere Provide a lighted, artificial turf multi-use field at Bandimere Park to expand capacity, ensure playability, provide a premier field, and protect and allow for more resting of grass fields.$1,000,000 $1,800,000 City Center Add a picnic shelter with permanent restrooms at City Center Park $500,000 $750,000 Community Garden Explore opportunities for a second community garden. $15,000 $50,000 Lake Ann Permanent Restroom by Klingelhutz Memorial Pavilion $250,000 $350,000 Lake Ann Permanent Restroom and Concessions Stand by Athletic Fields $200,000 $500,000 Lake Ann Additional Electronic Scoreboards $40,000 $75,000 Lake Susan Renovate existing picnic shelter and upgrade permanent restrooms $100,000 $250,000 Lake Susan Expand parking $30,000 $100,000 Lake Susan Field Lights $200,000 $300,000 Lake Susan Field Structured Seating $80,000 $300,000 Nature Play Add community scale nature play at a community park $500,000 $1,250,000 Nature Play Add unstructured nature play at four sites throughout the community $30,000 $100,000 Skate Park Develop and implement a phased improvement plan for improvements to the skate park. $50,000 $400,000 Trails Enhance user experiences through kiosks/signage at existing trailheads, benches, lighting, garbage cans, etc. $250,000 $750,000 Volleyball Improve existing volleyball facilities within community parks through improved seating, nets, and shelters. $15,000 $100,000 LONG TERM $31,000,000 $63,000,000 Community Center Identify and construct a year-round signature recreation facility in the community that includes indoor, outdoor, and passive spaces. $25,000,000 $50,000,000 City-wide Based on current trends combined with projected demand, Chanhassen should plan for new multi-purpose field construction (1-3 fields) in the next 15 years. $2,000,000 $5,000,000 City-wide Seek opportunities to expand the capacity of the community park network to serve athletic and community event needs. $1,000,000 $3,000,000 Interpretive Center Establish an interpretive center with an outdoor lab space and a destination nature based play area to support natural resources outreach and education. $3,000,000 $5,000,000 Lake Ann Park Potential Lake Ann Park Expansion ------ CAPITAL INVESTMENT TOTAL $36,660,000 $75,415,000 (Total Without Signature Facility)($11,660,000) ($25,415,000) Table 6-2. Prioritized Capital Investment Initiatives 6-65 ImplementationOCTOBER 2017 Table 6-3. Prioritized Plan/Study Initiatives Location or Area Plan/Study Initiative Cost (Low)Cost (High) SHORT TERM $110,000 $245,000 Accessibility Complete an audit of system ADA accessibility and address issues identified. $15,000 $40,000 Lake Ann Park Complete master plan $40,000 $80,000 Recreation Center Signature Recreation Facility Studies - community center, senior center, and aquatics facilities need $30,000 $60,000 Trails Expand the number of natural surface trails by mapping existing locations, identifying opportunities, and incorporating trail expansion in the Capital Improvement Plan. $10,000 $20,000 Trails Initiate a single-track mountain bike trail study. $10,000 $25,000 Trails Explore opportunities to add trailheads. $5,000 $20,000 LONG TERM $75,000 $100,000 Preserves Prioritize the development of natural resource management plans. $75,000 $100,000 PLAN/STUDY TOTAL $185,000 $345,000 Location or Area Management Initiative* SHORT TERM Operations Establish an Event Management Plan to address the registration and notification process; cost recovery; and strategies to minimize general park user impacts associated with non-City sponsored events seeking to utilize Chanhassen’s parks or trails. Operations Consider the creation of a tobacco use policy for the parks and recreation system. Preserves Expand awareness of preserves through marketing and wayfinding. Programming Collaborate with the Arts Consortium of Carver County to support the expansion of arts related programming in the City. Senior Center Expand Senior Center awareness through rebranding and a marketing campaign. Trails Increase awareness and expanded trail use through maps and trail wayfinding to help identify loops, distances, and destinations. Trails Support trail accessibility through the identification of easily accessible routes that do not have steep slopes, gaps, or challenging transitions. Operations Communicate benefits of parks and recreation system, including the impact of the preserves and races/tournaments on the business community. Preserves Encourage expansion of opportunities for increased interaction and exploration of nature (i.e. natural surface trails, interpretation, programming, signage, wayfinding, maps, etc.) LONG TERM Operations Reduce impervious surfaces and explore turf conversion to native plantings in the design of parks and facilities. Operations Incorporate innovative sustainable design and maintenance practices to make Chanhassen a model to residents and surrounding communities. Programming Expand the number of informal, indoor and outdoor, seasonal recreation events. Programming Expand nature based events and programs. Programming Collaborate with high school youth leaders to organize quarterly teen activities (fun runs, music, arts) and pilot programs. *All Management Initiatives will require a consultant or increased staffing to complete Table 6-4. Prioritized Management Initiatives 6-66 Chanhassen Parks & Recreation System Plan OCTOBER 2017 Initiative Type Location or Area Initiative Notes Capital Investment City-wide Use maintenance and replacement schedule to plan for phased replacement of neighborhood park facilities (i.e. playgrounds, sport courts, shelters, etc.). Cost to be determined with maintenance and replacement database currently under development Capital Investment City-wide Add parks and/or preserves as development occurs in the Bluff Creek Golf Course, Bluff Creek Corridor, and County Road 61 Corridor Plan areas. Cost ranges from $500,000 to $5,000,000 Capital Investment City-wide Pilot facilities for new or trending sports to assess appropriateness for park system, cost, durability, and demand. Management City-wide Based on national standards and desires of the baseball community, the City should continue to emphasize flexibility in the ballfields with basepaths and moveable pitching rubbers or mounds to better meet the demands for 75’ and 90’ basepath ballfields. Management Operations Annually evaluate that the City’s pricing structure reflects the benefits of the program or event to the community versus the individual. Management Operations Ensure the System Plan is used as a basis for the annual budgeting and capital improvement planning process to evaluate and address the parks and recreation system needs, including staffing, program/event expansion, facility expansion, maintenance, and replacement. Management Operations Incorporate stormwater best practices, such as rain gardens, bio-swales, and permeable pavers, in park and facility design. Management Operations Preserve natural buffers and setbacks around wetlands, rivers, ponds, reservoirs, and lakes on appropriate public lands and parks. Management Operations Improve water conservation and energy efficiency of facilities when renovating or constructing new. Management Operations Annually assess trail maintenance policies for debris removal and winter plowing. Reevaluate and amend winter plowing plans based on factors like historical maintenance, commuting routes, safe routes to school, and resident requests. Management Operations Establish a formal process for program and event development and evaluation and trend analysis. Management Preserves Identify and prioritize the protection of natural areas that provide corridors/linkages between parks, preserves, and other destinations. Management Preserves Collaborate with other government agencies in the protection of the Seminary Fen and the Minnesota River Valley. Management Preserves Continue to preserve sensitive lands within the Bluff Creek Corridor. Management Programming Continue to host at least five major community events in the city (currently there is Feb Fest, Easter Egg Hunt, 4th of July, Halloween, Tree Lighting). Management Programming Continue to partner with area business and organizations to provide summer concert series. Management Programming Continue to collaborate with schools and other organizations to provide public recreation activities in the parks. Table 6-5. Ongoing Initiatives 6-67 ImplementationOCTOBER 2017 Trail Gap Name Trail Distance (miles)Year Planned Responsibility Surface Type Cost (Low) assumes $40/linear ft. Cost (High) assumes $120/linear ft. SHORT TERM $1,101,000 $3,301,000 Arboretum 1.56 2019 City/County/Arb Paved $329,000 $988,000 Bluff Creek Dr. - Hwy 212 to Flying Cloud Dr.0.98 2019 County Paved $207,000 $620,000 Hwy 5 - Hazeltine Blvd. to Century Blvd.0.32 2019 City/County/Arb Paved $67,000 $202,000 Hwy 41 Trail - Hwy 5 to W 78th Street 0.25 City Paved $50,000 $148,000 Chanhassen Hills Park 0.09 City Paved $19,000 $56,000 Galpin Blvd. - to Shorewood 0.11 Multi-Agency Paved $22,000 $67,000 Powers Blvd. - to Shorewood 0.07 Multi-Agency Paved $14,000 $42,000 Great Plains Blvd. - Pioneer Trail to Flying Cloud 1.15 Multi-Agency Paved $243,000 $729,000 Hwy 7 - Lake Minnetonka LRT to Minnewashta Pkwy 0.71 Multi-Agency Paved $150,000 $449,000 LONG TERM $1,651,000 $4,952,000 Camp Tanadoona 0.26 Multi-Agency Paved or Natural Surface $55,000 $165,000 Chanhassen Nature Preserve (Central)0.27 City Natural Surface/ Boardwalk $56,000 $169,000 Dogwood Rd.0.69 City Paved $147,000 $440,000 Hwy 212 - Powers Blvd. to Lyman Blvd.0.97 City Paved $205,000 $614,000 Hwy 7 - Washta Bay Rd. to Hazeltine Blvd.0.77 Multi-Agency Paved $163,000 $490,000 Tanadoona Dr.0.65 City Paved $137,000 $411,000 Twin Cities and Western Trail Corridor 4.20 Multi-Agency Paved or Aggregate $888,000 $2,663,000 COMBINE WITH FUTURE ROAD PROJECT $1,223,000 $3,671,000 82nd Street 1.31 Multi-Agency Paved $276,000 $829,000 Audubon Rd. to Bluff Creek 0.37 City/Developer Paved $78,000 $233,000 Cathcart Park 0.33 City Paved $70,000 $209,000 Hwy 41 - South of Hwy 5 to Chaska 0.54 Multi-Agency Paved $114,000 $341,000 Lake Susan Dr.0.49 City New Sidewalk $104,000 $313,000 Lake Susan Preserve to Chanhassen Hills Park 0.18 City New Sidewalk $38,000 $114,000 Pioneer Trail - Powers Blvd. to Great Plains Blvd.0.77 Multi-Agency Paved $162,000 $487,000 Pleasantview Road 1.34 City Paved $282,000 $847,000 Tecumseh Ln.0.47 City New Sidewalk $99,000 $298,000 Table 6-6. Trail Gap Priorities 6-68 Chanhassen Parks & Recreation System Plan OCTOBER 2017 Trail Gap Name Trail Distance (miles)Year Planned Responsibility Surface Type Cost (Low) assumes $40/linear ft. Cost (High) assumes $120/linear ft. CONSTRUCT WITH DEVELOPMENT $968,000 $2,907,000 Bluff Creek Blvd. to Powers Blvd. (North side)0.51 City/Developer Paved $108,000 $324,000 Bluff Creek Blvd. to Powers Blvd. (South side)0.50 City/Developer Paved $105,000 $316,000 Chanhassen Nature Preserve (West)0.17 City/Developer Paved $35,000 $105,000 Fox Woods Preserve to Bandimere Park 0.55 City/Developer Paved $117,000 $351,000 Galpin Blvd. to Lake Lucy/Lake Ann 0.69 Paved $146,000 $438,000 Hwy 212 Bridge Trail 0.18 City/Developer Paved $37,000 $112,000 Lake Ann Loop 1.23 City/Developer Paved $259,000 $777,000 Lake Lucy Loop 0.40 City/Developer Paved $85,000 $256,000 Lyman Blvd.0.36 Multi-Agency Paved $76,000 $228,000 TRAIL GAPS TOTAL $4,943,000 $14,831,000 TRAIL CROSSING SAFETY CONCERNS Several trail crossing safety concerns were pointed out during the community engagement process. Those identified through the process are identified on the map to the left. Additional areas of concern may also exist and are annually reviewed. Safety for trail crossings are addressed using a variety of techniques depending on factors such as right-of-way availability, traffic volume, visibility, and grades. Safety for crossings may be improved through markings, lights, or grade separated tunnels or bridges. In addition to collaboration between the City’s Parks and Recreation and Engineering Department, trail safety crossings often involve other jurisdictions, like the County, as well as property owners. While trail safety crossing improvements are not a specific initiative of the Parks and Recreation System Plan, supporting others within the City to address these concerns should be an ongoing effort. CenturyBoulevardHazeltineBoulevardBluffCreekDrive West78thStreet LymanBoulevard C hanhassenRoadCrosstownBoulevard PleasantView Road Great PlainsBoulevar dBavariaRoadSmithtownRoad Pioneer Trai lW est Longacr esDrive VictoriaDrive ArboretumBoulevard P ow ers Bo ule var dKerberBoulevardLakeLucyRoad MinnewashtaParkwayCountyRoad140 LakeDriveEast Heron Drive Engler Boulevard Hunde rtm arkRoadEastGalpinBoulevardAudubonRoadPioneer Trail 82nd Street West FlyingCloudDrive ChaskaBouleva rdLakeDrive PioneerTrailEastChestnutStreetNorthWest82ndStreet ")140 ")53 ¬«101 ¬«7 £¤212 ¬«5 ")61 ¬«101 ¬«101 L ot usLa k eLake Susan LakeRileyR iceL akeLakeMinnewasht a LakeA n n L a keL ucyR ice MarshLake Eden Pra irie Exce lsior Gree nwood MinnetonkaShorewood Tonka Ba y Jackson Twp. Shakopee Chask a Vic toria LEGEND ""Existing Overpass##Existing Trail Head !!Existing Underpass GIdentified Safety Crossing Concern Trail Gap Existing Sidewalk Existing Trail Open Space Community Park Neighborhood Park Preserve Special Use Non-City Parks & Open Space Public School Existing Regional Trails Surrounding Municipal Trails Surrounding Municipal Parks Water Bodies Municipal Boundaries °0 0.5 10.25 Miles A B C DG HI J K L M N O P E F 6-69 ImplementationOCTOBER 2017 Maintenance and Replacement The Parks and Recreation System Planning process included the development of a framework for the creation of a maintenance and replacement schedule that would identify timeframes and estimated costs for major park infrastructure, including playgrounds, hard surface courts, shelters, etc. This schedule does not include ongoing maintenance costs like mowing, plowing, or trash removal. The maintenance and replacement schedule is intended to assist in long-term budgeting for ongoing, non-capital costs, as well as the selection of projects for the annual capital improvement program. The maintenance and replacement schedule is an ongoing endeavor that will be updated as new investments are made or aging structures are removed. While major system components have been identified, Staff continues to add detail on park infrastructure like fencing, retaining walls, etc. The maintenance and replacement schedule developed to date indicates that the Parks and Recreation System requires an investment of approximately $ 267,000 annually. This average was developed by looking at the total anticipated costs for 2017 to 2040 and calculating a yearly average. The actual costs needed for an individual year will vary based on the types of repair, replacement, and maintenance needed. For example, some years may have higher costs due to a larger facility needing replacement or that there are a number of facilities that are anticipated to need replacement. A summary of the amount investment needed in specific areas is provided below. It is estimated that the current Parks and Recreation System will require more than $7 million through 2040 for maintenance and replacement. Category Description Total Cost 2017-2040 Playgrounds Replacement of equipment $2.4 million Courts Replacement of tennis, basketball, volleyball, and pickleball courts and resurfacing of tennis/pickleball courts every 9 years $1.5 million Shelters Replacement of park shelters on a 35 to 40 year schedule $1 million Fences/Walls Replacement on a 30 year schedule $ 700,000 Miscellaneous Replacement of Docks, Dugouts, Disc Golf, Skate Park, Irrigation Systems, Lighting and annual maintenance of lighting, hockey rinks, and irrigation systems $ 760,000 Total (including 10% contingency and 2.5% inflation)$7.2 million Table 6-7. Maintenance and Replacement Costs 2017-2040 6-70 Chanhassen Parks & Recreation System Plan OCTOBER 2017 Funding Options While a parks and recreation system is an essential component of the quality of life in a community, ensuring sufficient funding can be challenging when compared to other city services such as water, sewer, and public safety. To achieve the vision set forth in the Parks and Recreation System Plan, additional investment will be needed. This investment will not only be needed to support system expansion, but for the replacement of existing system components. The following are potential options the City could explore to expand and diversify funding for parks and recreation: »Increase Parks and Recreation’s share of the general fund. »Increase funding from the General Fund for maintenance work. »Establish a Maintenance and Replacement Fund to cover major capital repairs and replacements. »Explore the use of a franchise fee to fund maintenance or specific programs. »Explore a bond referendum for a specific package of capital improvements. »Evaluate the potential value of sponsorship for all assets, programs, and events in the system based on user demographics and participation/ visitation. Use the data to create an enhanced sponsorship catalog to target local and regional sponsors and corporate partnerships. »Continue to strategically pursue grants focused on those whose funding amounts are sufficient to outweigh administrative requirements. »Continue to build and enhance partnerships with schools, athletic associations, nonprofits and others. »Explore collaboration funding opportunities in areas like public health, public art, programming, and sustainability. »Pilot use of a crowdfunding tool for small, targeted project (kickstarter.org, razoo.com or NRPA Fund Your Park). PUBLIC-PRIVATE PARTNERSHIPS Public-Private Partnerships are already a key component of Chanhassen’s System. The level of partnership is so extensive that many in the community are not aware of when the City is providing the service and when it is a partner. Some public-private partnerships are relatively simple, a non-profit holding an event using park facilities, for example, while others can be quite complex, such as a public-private partnership to develop a regional park or event facility. As public- private partnerships are developed, the following should be considered: »Ensure both entities share the same vision and definition of success at the beginning of the project. »Provide a consistent, fair, and open review process for the development of partnerships. »Assess and align strengths of each entity (for example, a private vendor may be more efficient and effective in providing concessions or renting equipment). »Conduct an independent financial analysis of the viability of the partnership. »Negotiate formal agreements that clearly identify responsibilities, expectations (type of service, hours, fees), revenue/expense sharing, etc. »Make sure partnerships are not concentrated to only the highest quality sites, but instead serve a broad spectrum of the community. »Identify potential use of volunteers and assess any potential liability from their involvement. »Promote cultural sensitivity and sustainability in partners. »Recognize public staff time will be needed to manage partnership. The City may find it beneficial to further formalize its public-private partnership process. The City of Portland, Oregon and Montgomery County Parks, Maryland may be good resources for the development of policies and procedures. 6-71 ImplementationOCTOBER 2017 Funding Sources Achieving the vision and mission for the parks and recreation system will take additional funding, not only for big, exciting new facilities like the expansion of Lake Ann Park or a signature recreational facility, but for also for park revitalization and maintenance, improvements to accessibility, etc. Significant investment is needed for Chanhassen to provide the type of parks and recreation system identified in this System Plan. It is estimated that the priorities identified will cost from $42.4 million to over $95 million to implement. Additional initiative implementation, as well as system maintenance and reinvestment needs, will be significantly more. Table 6-8 Funding Sources highlights the types of funding sources that may be appropriate for various types of initiatives. The table is followed by brief descriptions of each of the funding sources. Priorities General Funds Park Dedica-tion Grants Partner-ships Donations State Aid Funds Park Bond Referen-dum Utility Fee System Planning (facility study, park master plan, trail plan, natural resource plan, ADA accessibility audit, etc.) 1 k k Parkland Acquisition 1 1 e k k 1 Maintenance and Replacement 1 k k e k User Amenities (benches, shade, restrooms, water fountains, wayfinding, etc.) 1 k k k e Park and Facility Development (signature facility, fields, courts, playgrounds, etc.) 1 1 e e k 1 Trail Expansion e e e k e 1 e Natural Resources Management 1 e k k e k Programming and Events 1 k 1 k Public Art Initiatives k e 1 k Accessibility Improvements e k 1 k Best Funding Source Likely Funding Source Possible Funding Source 1 e k Key Table 6-8. Funding Sources 6-72 Chanhassen Parks & Recreation System Plan OCTOBER 2017 General Funds General funds can and should be used to develop and maintain the parks and recreation system. General funds are the primary funding source for on-going maintenance, operations, and amenities. Most grants also have a matching requirement, which is often fulfilled with general funds. Dedicated Tax Levy A city can hold a referendum for a dedicated tax levy with proceeds directed specifically for parks and recreation. This levy can be used for capital projects as well as operations and maintenance. The proceeds may be in place of general funds or be supplemented by general funds. The advantage of a dedicated tax levy is that parks and recreation receives a more stable source of funding and does not have to compete with other city priorities for funding on an annual basis. Bonding General Obligation Bonds and Revenue Bonds provide another source of implementation funding for new public facilities, as well as repairs and/or upgrades to existing facilities. General Park Bond Issue Residents can decide to raise revenue through a permanent or temporary tax increase dedicated for specific purposes such as park, trail, and bikeway improvements and maintenance. These funds are usually provided through bonds approved as part of a voter referendum. State Aid Funds State aid funds are available for pedestrian and bicycle improvements on state aid streets. This funding source is particularly useful at the time of street construction or re-construction. Park and Trail Dedication Minnesota Statutes allow local governments to require dedication of land or cash in-lieu of land for parks and trails from new subdivisions. The dedication must be reasonable and rationally related to the recreation demand created by the development. Cities can also require dedication of right-of-way or easements for sidewalks or trails. Chanhassen has a park dedication ordinance that recognizes the impacts that increased residents and employees have on the parks and recreation system. It seeks to ensure that areas are preserved for future parks and trails. It establishes a cash in-lieu of land fees where the dedication of land is not feasible or practical or will not create a site useable for park purposes. Fees collected are deposited into the City’s park and recreation development fund or its multipurpose trail fund and are used for the development of new or expanded facilities. Park dedication may not be used for maintenance or replacement of existing facilities. The City has and will continue to update its park dedication ordinance from time to time to reflect changes to Minnesota Statutes. 6-73 ImplementationOCTOBER 2017 Utility/Franchise Fees Franchise fees are included on the monthly bill that customers receive from a utility, such as natural gas, electricity or cable. The fee can be a flat amount each month or a percentage of the monthly bill. A franchise fee can be implemented with an ordinance, which must be approved by the City Council. About 4% of communities participating in HKGi’s 2015 Park Finance and Dedication Survey use utility fees as a source of financing related to parks. School Districts The City partners with Eastern Carver County Schools and Minnetonka Schools in a variety of ways, including the use of athletic facilities and for programming. The City has agreements with Eastern Carver County Schools for joint use of facilities at Chanhassen Elementary, Bluff Creek Elementary, and Chanhassen High School. Open communication between the City and the school districts are important for continued collaboration. Communication should occur on at least an annual basis about planned projects and additional opportunities to jointly manage public facilities and provide programming. Partnerships Public and private partnerships have been key to the development of the parks and recreation system. These relationships have led to the development of parks, operation of athletic facilities, development and implementation of community programming and events, and natural resource management. Partnerships will continue to be important for both facilities and programming. Organizations with partner funding can also provide assistance with design, outreach and maintenance. Partnerships and relationships with private businesses can also result in easements and use agreements for trails across private land. Donations Private donations are another potential funding source. These may be financial donations from individuals or area corporations, or donations of labor from recreation clubs or use agreements. Programs such as “adopt-a-trail” or “adopt-a-park” by an organization, business, or individuals have been used in many communities to help with maintenance tasks and raise awareness. Grants Grants are a way to make Chanhassen’s dollars go further. The City has been successful at securing grant funding and should continue to pursue opportunities when potential award outweigh the costs for applying or administrating. Below is a sample of grant opportunities that may be available, along with websites to visit for more information. Minnesota DNR Website: www.dnr.state.mn.us/grants/index.html The Minnesota DNR is one of the most comprehensive resources when it comes to state funding for park and trail programs. They offer a variety of grant programs and technical assistance. Current programs provide assistance for 6-74 Chanhassen Parks & Recreation System Plan OCTOBER 2017 cross country skiing trails, mountain biking trails, horseback riding trails, and recreational trails. Some programs also offer assistance for the development of parks or for trail amenities such as restrooms, lightning, benches, etc. Each of the Minnesota DNR grant programs is unique. The DNR should be consulted before pursuing a grant to clarify funding availability and qualifications. Minnesota DOT Website: www.dot.state.mn.us/grants/ A portion of most trail or bikeway improvement projects funded through Minnesota DOT is from federal dollars. Examples of programs typically funding trail or sidewalk improvement projects include Safe Routes to School or the Transportation Alternatives Program managed by the District 6 ATP. Given the size of these grants the City should begin preparing in advance for future applications by identifying the type of improvement, the right-of-way needs, preliminary layout, and cost estimates. Clean Water, Land and Legacy Amendment On Nov. 4 2008, Minnesota voters approved the Clean Water, Land and Legacy Amendment to the Minnesota State Constitution which increased the general sales and use tax rate by three-eighths of one percentage point (0.375%) to 6.875% and dedicated the additional proceeds for the Arts and Cultural Heritage Fund, the Outdoor Heritage Fund, Clean Water Fund, and Parks and Trails Fund. Funding from the Legacy Amendment is administered by a variety of agencies such as the Department of Natural Resources, Pollution Control Agency, Department of Health, Historical Society, Minnesota State Arts Board and regional art councils. A number of new grant programs were created. Information about grant opportunities can be found on individual state department and organization websites. Foundations & Non-Profits There are foundations and non-profits that are interested in fulfilling their missions by supporting local projects. There are a number of on-line tools that can assist with the process of identifying additional foundations that may provide financial support for park, trail, and bikeway improvements. The Minnesota Council of Foundations is a great starting point for identifying foundations. Another good starting point is to consider the businesses within Chanhassen and identifying those that have a foundation or charitable giving department. In addition to retailers and manufacturers, be sure to consider businesses such as the railroad, energy providers and communications companies. 6-75 ImplementationOCTOBER 2017 Park Element Capital Cost Annual O&M Cost Estimated Life (Years)Notes NEW PARK DEVELOPMENT Neighborhood Park $90,000/Acre $550/Acre 25-50 Community Park No new parks anticipated $550/Acre 25-50 GENERAL GROUNDS & LANDSCAPING Mowed Turf Grass (Irrigated)$60,000/Acre New Sod $34,000/Acre New Seed $1,000/Acre 15-30 Includes mowing, trimming, fertilizing, weed control, aerating & overseeding. Mowed Turf Grass (Non Irrigated)$30,000/Acre New Sod $2,000/Acre New Seed $800/Acre 15-30 Does not assume hydroseed. Includes mowing, trimming, fertilizing, weed control, aerating & overseeding. Irrigation $25,000/Acre $1,300/Acre 25 Contractual Landscape Maintenance $6.50 Sq. Ft. ($282,600/Acre)$.25 Sq. Ft. ($9,250/Acre)20 Prairie Restoration $5,000/Acre $300/Acre Naturalized Shoreline $100/LF $400/Acre Rain Garden $10/Sq. Ft.$300/Acre Low end - high end could be up to $20/ Sq Ft Woodland / Slope Restoration $4,000/Acre $400/Acre Assumes restoration of existing wooded area. $20,000/Acre if new tree planting required PARK BUILDING & SHELTERS Buildings with Restrooms $300-$400/Sq. Ft.$11,000/Bldg./Yr.40 Includes all buildings Picnic Shelters $150-$200/Sq. Ft.$3,800/Bldg./Yr.40 Includes all shelters TRAILS & SURFACES Trails (10 Ft. Wide Asphalt)$50/LF $5,280 Per Mile 30 Parking Lots (Asphalt)$2,500-$3,000/Stall $20-$25 Per Stall 40 Sidewalks (Concrete)$30/Linear foot Assumes 6 foot wide sidewalk Natural Surface Trails $30/Linear foot if limestone ADA or $5/Linear foot if rustic footpath $500/Mile - General Capital, Operations, & Maintenance Costs The following table is a tool the City can use to initially evaluate and budget for new improvements. Equally important to the initial capital costs for a project are ongoing operations and maintenance costs. Adequately budgeting operations and maintenance ensures that facilities fulfill life expectancy and that parks remain safe and welcoming. All costs are planning level costs in 2017 dollars and do not necessarily reflect additional costs, such as engineering, design, construction administration, and staff time. Table 6-9. General Capital, Operations, & Maintenance Costs 6-76 Chanhassen Parks & Recreation System Plan OCTOBER 2017 Park Element Capital Cost Annual O&M Cost Estimated Life (Years)Notes PARK AMENITIES Lighting $15,000 15 Includes 2-3 pedestrian scale light posts Pickleball Court $25,000 $400/Court 25 Includes paving, fencing, striping, net Tennis Courts $125,000 $1,000/Court 25 Assumes 12,500 Sq. Ft. Double Court. Resurfacing includes striping of both tennis and pickleball cost of $10,000 per court Basketball Courts - Half $15,000/Court $600/Court 25 Includes base, paving, hoops, striping Basketball Courts - Full $25,000/Court $600/Court 25 Includes base, paving, hoops, striping Combined Basketball/Tennis Court $35,000/Court $600/Court 25 Includes base, paving, hoops, striping, nets Sand Volleyball Court $10,000/Court 25 Includes sand and nets Playground - Small $25,000 $1,000/Site 25 Assumes neighborhood build - includes equipment only Playground - Medium $60,000 $1,200/Site 25 Assumes neighborhood build - includes equipment only Playground - Large/premium $100,000 $1,500/Site 25 Assumes neighborhood build - includes equipment only Nature Play Areas $50,000-$100,000 $1,000/Site 20 Assumes 1 to 2 signature features and remainder natural materials Skate Park Equipment $40/Sq. Ft.$3,000/Site 15 Includes equipment only Outdoor Hockey Rink $80,000-$100,000 $9,000/Rink 20 Full size rink with wooden boards Community Gardens $10,000-$20,000/Acre $800 Acre - Off-Leash Dog Park $10,000-$50,000 Acre $800 Acre 15-20 Fishing Pier $25,000 20 Includes 100’ long wood pier with railings Dock $10,000 20 Includes 40’ long metal dcok Swimming Beach $15,000 25 Includes grading and sand Splash Pad $600,000 $5,000 15-20 Amphitheater $800,000 50 Assumes open stage and seating for 200+ Disc Golf Course $25,000 25 Neighborhood Park Amenity Package $35,000/park Included in general park costs 20 Assumes 1-$25,000 shade structure; 2- $2,000 benches with concrete pad, 2- $2,000 bike racks with concrete pad, 2-$1,000 waste receptacles Community Park Amenity Package $55,000/park Included in general park costs 20 Assumes 1-$40,000 shade structure; 4- $2,000 benches with concrete pad, 2- $2,000 bike racks with concrete pad, 3-$1,000 waste receptacles 6-77 ImplementationOCTOBER 2017 Project Review Process One of the most challenging things for a parks and recreation department is knowing when to say “yes” to a potential project and when to say “no.” The project review process outlined in Figure 6-1 provides a sample outline for a systematic review of new requests. This type of review ensures that new projects that are in-line with system-wide goals can be adequately funded, staffed, and maintained prior to implementation. To ensure the project review process is as efficient as possible, a project proposal worksheet (Figure 6-2) has been developed. This worksheet should be filled out by the organization, association, or individual who is approaching the City with a project idea. Completed worksheets will allow the City to review and, if approved, begin implementing the new project more efficiently. Park Element Capital Cost Annual O&M Cost Estimated Life (Years)Notes ATHLETIC FIELDS Field Lighting $225,000/field $500/field 30 Fencing $40/Linear foot 20 8 ft black vinyl chainlink fence Diamond Field - Low maintenance $1,500/acre new seed; $25000/acre new sod $800/Acre 25 Includes play surface & striping; non- irrigated, practice field Diamond Field - Average maintenance $1,500/acre new seed; $25000/acre new sod $2,300/Field 20 Includes play surface & striping; non- irrigated Diamond Field - High maintenance $27,000/acre new seed and aglime; $50,000/acre new sod $4,200/Field 15 Includes play surface & striping; irrigated Irrigation System $50,000/field $500/field 15 Rectangular Field - Practice field, low maintenance $15,000 25 Includes grass surface, striping Rectangular Field - Youth size, average maintenance $25,000 - $65,000 $800 - $4,200/Field 15 Includes grading, grass surface, striping; cost range based on sod/seed, and irrigated/non-irrigated field Rectangular Field - Youth size, high maintenance $60,000 10 Includes grading, grass surface, irrigation updates Rectangular Field - Adult size, average maintenance $2,250/field new seed; $37,500/field new sod $2,000/Field 10 Includes grass surface Rectangular Field - Adult size, high maintenance $30,000/acre new seed; $65,000/acre new sod $4,200/Field 10 Includes grading, grass surface; irrigated * Costs are for turf/field/irrigation only, no additional amenities Note: All costs are planning level estimates in 2017 dollars and do not include costs for engineering, design, and staff facilitation time. 6-78 Chanhassen Parks & Recreation System Plan OCTOBER 2017 COUNCIL ACTION: authorize project and authorize maintenance and continued funding 1. IDEA EVALUATION PHASE 2. PLANNING PHASE Idea Generation »Idea may come from Parks and Recreation Commission, public, stakeholders, or staff »Complete project proposal should include: description of project, facilities affected, need, benefits, costs, funding sources, timeframe, permits needed, availability to the public, and description of how it meets criteria set forth in decision principle checklist Implementation »Construction documents »Construction »Program delivery »Method for measuring success is defined Operation of Facility or Programs & Maintenance »Facility or program is now serving the public need »Reporting provided to Commission and Council »Include routine maintenance and upkeep in budgets and schedules 3. IMPLEMENTATION PHASE Planning »Concept refinement »Preliminary plan »Final plan »Program timetable Program Prioritization »Project is prioritized based on policy decisions, public needs, and other initiatives Funding Allocation »Funding for all aspects of the program/project are approved and annual operations and maintenance and staffing costs are addressed COUNCIL ACTION: authorize funding City Council Review »Review proposal, evaluating if the idea has merit, how it relates to guiding principles and policies, and broad-based fiscal implications COUNCIL ACTION: authorize staff to proceed to planning phase or not Baseline Evaluation by Staff »Test idea against system plan guiding principles, recommendations, and decision principles »Depending on the scope of the idea, decision can be made by staff or introduced to the Parks & Recreation Commission STAFF ACTION: authorize project Parks & Recreation Commission Review »Review proposal, evaluating if the idea has merit, how it relates to guiding principles and policies, and broad-based fiscal implications »Depending on scope of the idea, decision can be made here or sent on to the City Council P+R COMM. ACTION: authorize project Decision Principle Checklist Will the project... serve an unmet need? provide a new recreational opportunity? inspire community pride? increase awareness of history, culture, and art? advance outreach, communication, and community building with cultural groups? build community awareness, advocacy, and passion for recreation and parks? support healthy living and choices? improve efficiency of parks and recreation services? fulfill other city goals or policies? affect the environment positively or negatively? help engage and connect people, parks, trails, and open spaces? address a geographic or programming need identified in the system planning process? improve pedestrian and bicycle connectivity? be economically sustainable in the short and long term? have adequate future funding for life cycle and operational costs? be a catalyst for private sector investment? be served by partnership and volunteer opportunities?WHO? WHAT? WHY?HOW?WHERE?Figure 6-1. Decision Principle Checklist 6-79 ImplementationOCTOBER 2017 MAKE YOUR OWN PROJECT PROPOSAL Write your idea here! What is it? Page 1 Who does it?Where would you do it? Please fill out the following questions to the best of your ability, and feel free to attach any additional information if needed Will the project... serve an unmet need? provide a new recreational opportunity? inspire community pride? increase awareness of history, culture, and art? advance outreach, communication, and community building with cultural groups? build community awareness, advocacy, and passion for recreation and parks? support healthy living and choices? improve efficiency of parks and recreation services? fulfill other city goals or policies? affect the environment positively or negatively? help engage and connect people, parks, trails, and open spaces? address a geographic or programming need identified in the system planning process? improve pedestrian and bicycle connectivity? be economically sustainable in the short and long term? have adequate future funding for life cycle and operational costs? be a catalyst for private sector investment? be served by partnership and volunteer opportunities? Please check all that apply and include a brief description of how each applicable question is addressed WHO? WHAT? WHY?HOW?WHERE?(Complete this worksheet and submit it to the City Parks and Recreation Department.) Figure 6-2. Project Proposal Worksheet 6-80 Chanhassen Parks & Recreation System Plan OCTOBER 2017 List Additional Resources & Considerations for the Project ADDITIONAL INFORMATION Page 2 Proposer’s Name/Organization Goal/Motivation What is the primary reason for proposing this idea? What do you hope to achieve? Objectives What are the tangible/measurable outcomes you’d like to see in the short term (next 6 months)? Action Steps What needs to happen for your idea to become a reality? Who do you think would be responsible? Set a deadline! Action Responsibility Deadline 6-81 ImplementationOCTOBER 2017