Chapter 05 Parks and TrailsCity of Chanhassen 2040 Comprehensive Plan82
Chapter 5Parksand Trails
City of Chanhassen 2040 Comprehensive Plan83
5 | Parksand Trails
System at a glance
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
24 PLAYGROUND AREAS
17 PICNIC SHELTERS
5 SWIMMING BEACHES
15 TENNIS COURTS
10 PICKLEBALL COURTS
28 DIAMOND FIELDS
22 RECTANGULAR FIELDS
19 BASKETBALL COURTS
5 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 & 4
PLEASURE RINKS
1 DOG PARK (IN PARTNERSHIP)
1 RECREATION CENTER
Chanhassen’s Park and Recreation System is a source of community
identity and pride that greatly contributes to residents’ quality of life.
The city has historically and will continue to place a strong emphasis
on parks and recreation. In the 2016 National Citizen Survey, resi-
dents indicated that they highly value Recreation and Wellness op-
portunities 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 Park and Recreation section of the 2040 Comprehensive Plan
provides an overview and analysis of the city’s existing system, iden-
tifies goals and policies that will guide park and recreation decision
making over the next 20 years, and establishes key initiatives that
will complete and enhance the current system. Chanhassen’s Parks
and Recreation System Plan is a separate document that provides
a more detailed overview of where the city’s park system currently
stands and how it will evolve into the future. The System Plan can be
accessed from the city’s website.
By the Numbers
»12 community events
»250 park programs offered
»1,373 watercraft rentals
»5,123 ice rink visitors
»More than 7,900 senior center participants
»15,000 group picnic participants
»24,400 swimmers at Lake Ann
5.1 | System History
Chanhassen’s parks 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.
City of Chanhassen 2040 Comprehensive Plan84
Three major bond referendums over the system’s history have allowed for major parks 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. 1988 saw the 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 7 miles of new community trails.
5.2 | System Components
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 Classification
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. Chanhassen’s 30 parks comprise 888 acres of city
land, providing 36 acres of parkland per 1,000 residents. These parks fall into four classifications: community parks,
neighborhood parks, special use parks, 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. There is an anticipated
shortfall in community park land after the year 2020. Since 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 communi-ty
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 Chanhassen Recreation Center.
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 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 Shorewood, but acts as a neighborhood park for residents north of
Lake Minnewashta.
Preserves
Preserves function to protect the city’s high-quality natural space, and usually involve minimal low-impact
development at most. The city currently owns almost 800 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.
City of Chanhassen 2040 Comprehensive Plan85
Lake Ann P ark
Lake Susan
Park
Bandimere
Park
City Center
Park
Chanhassen
Recreation Center
South Lotus
Lake Par k
Kerber P ond P ark
Pow er Hill Pa rk
Riley Ridge P ark
Nort h Lot us
La ke P ark
Meadow
Green Pa rk
Herman Field
Park
Pheas ant Hill
Park
Sunset R idge
Park
Stone C reek
Park
Pione er
Pass Park
Roundhouse Park
Curry Fa rm s
Park
Chanhass en
Hills Park
Carv er Bea ch
Park
Cathc art P ark
(O wne d by t he
City of S hore wood)
Sugarbush Park
Prairie K noll
Park
Ric e Marsh
La ke P ark
Bandimere
Heights Park
Greenwood
Shores Park
Carv er Bea ch
Playground
Minnewas ht a
Height s Park
Chanhass en
Es tate s Pa rk
Chanhass en High School
(J oint Fa cilities)
Manchest er Park
(To B e Com plete d
in 2018)
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FIGURE 5 - 1 | City Park Distribution
City of Chanhassen 2040 Comprehensive Plan86
5.3 | 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-defense, 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 Chanhassen Community Questionnaire, community events are the most popular type of
programming offered by the city. Annual events hosted by the city and supported by area businesses 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. 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 programming, such as aquatics, to meet the needs of those who can’t afford private facilities,
such as Lifetime Fitness.
5.4 | Trails
Chanhassen’s 76 miles of city 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,
and today there is a pedestrian bridge over Highway 5 as well as several underpasses city-wide. Natural surface trails
are present in Fox Woods Preserve, and desire has been expressed to expand this network to create more low-impact
connections between residents and natural areas.
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 to the south
which has a parking area and trail head area off of Bluff Creek Drive. Both of these trail corridors are owned by the
Hennepin County Regional Railroad Authority (HCRRA). A cooperative agreement between HCRRA and Three
Rivers Park District allows the corridors to be used for recreational purposes. Figure 5.2 displays the city’s existing
system of trails and sidewalks. Additionally, the Metropolitan Council has shown regional trail search corridors
along Highway 101, Highway 41, Highway 5, CSAH 61, and the Twin City and Western Rail Corridor.
Regional Bicycle Transportation Network
As bicycle trips often cross municipal boundaries, the Metropolitan Council established a network of regional
bicycle facilities for transportation called the Regional Bicycle Transportation Network (RBTN). The goal of the
RBTN is to create an integrated network of off-street bikeways and off-road trails that effectively and efficiently
improve conditions for bicycle transportation across the region. It is important to recognize that the RBTN is
different than the regional trail system, which is composed of existing and planned regional trails and trail search
corridors. The RBTN’s primary function is for transportation rather than the recreational and scenic values provided
by the regional trail system. However, both networks may overlap in locations and can serve both purposes.
The network is divided into two types with two tiers for regional planning and investment prioritization. They are
described below and shown on Figure 5-3:
City of Chanhassen 2040 Comprehensive Plan87
Pleasant View
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Chanhassen
Nature
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Lake Preserve
Bluff
Creek
Preserve
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Preserve
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Preserve
Pine Hurst
Preserve
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Preserve
North
Lake Riley
Preserve
MN River
Bluffs
Preserve
Hidden Creek
Meadows
Preserve
Lake Susan
Preserve North
Pine Hurst at
Lake Harrison
Preserve
Bluff Creek
Headwaters
Preserve
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Water Bodies
Municipal Boundaries °0 0.5 10.25
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FIGURE 5 - 2 | Trails, Sidewalks, and Open Space
City of Chanhassen 2040 Comprehensive Plan88
Alignments - Tier 1 and Tier 2 alignments are where specific route alignments have been designated through the Re-
gional Bicycle System Study process that included discussion with local agency staff. One of the Tier 1 Alignments
is the existing MN River Bluffs Regional Trail. The other alignments, Highway 5 and Highway 101 south of the
Minnesota River Bluffs Regional Trail, have portions of a trail in place but there are still gaps to address. Similarly,
the Tier 2 Alignments on Hazeltine Boulevard and the rest of Highway 101 follow existing city trails, though there
are still gaps to be addressed.
Corridors – Tier 1 and Tier 2 corridors are intended to allow flexibility among local government agencies to tailor
specific alignments for bikeway facilities through the local planning process. When specific alignments are desig-
nated through the local planning process, the regional corridor will be replaced on the RBTN map with the preferred
alignment. Chanhassen has no Tier 1 or Tier 2 corridors in the community. There is a Tier 2 corridor shown extend-
ing across the City of Shorewood that connects to Hazeltine Boulevard.
5.5 | Notable Facilities
RECREATION CENTER
The Chanhassen Recreation Center provides the community with year-round indoor and outdoor recreational facil-
ities. 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 woodcarving, field trips, art and education
classes, health and wellness programs, and card playing.
Nutrition
The CAP Agency Senior Nutrition Program provides nutrition options to Chanhassen seniors age 60+. Through
congregate dining, seniors enjoy hot, nutritious meals Monday through Friday at 11:30 am at the Senior Center.
Home delivery of meals is also provided. Friendly volunteers will deliver hot, nutritious meals right to resident’s
door. This service is available Monday-Friday to seniors who are considered homebound, those recovering from
surgery, or for long-term purposes. Menus include gluten-free, low-sodium, or reduced-calorie dessert options.
Act on Alzheimer’s
In 2015, Chanhassen began the initiative to become an ACT on Alzheimer’s community. There are more than
5 million Americans living with Alzheimer’s disease. These numbers are set to soar as the baby boomers continue
to enter the age of greatest risk for Alzheimer’s disease. The projected growth of Alzheimer’s has created a public
health crisis and Minnesota is taking action.
In 2009, the Alzheimer’s Association and our advocates led legislation to create a State Government Alzheimer’s
Disease Plan for Minnesota, which launched the formation of Act on Alzheimer’s. With over 60 nonprofit,
governmental, and private sector organizations, Act on Alzheimer’s serves as a volunteer-driven, statewide
collaboration who are preparing Minnesota for the impacts of Alzheimer’s disease and other dementias. We have
come together – community members, health care providers, government officials, caregivers, people with
Alzheimer’s, academics, and businesses – to better support individuals with Alzheimer’s disease and their families.
City of Chanhassen 2040 Comprehensive Plan89
NON-CITY FACILITIES
There are several non-city recreation facilities located in Chanhassen. The locations of these facilities are highlighted
in purple in Figure 5-1.
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 340 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 vehicle entry fee is required; however, the park is free
for those who arrive on foot or by bike.
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 eight 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 Plain, 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 western Chanhassen.
The Arboretum is a unit of the University of Minnesota and is a public botanical garden and an education and research
institution.
City of Chanhassen 2040 Comprehensive Plan90 CenturyBoulevardHazeltineBoulevardBluffCreek
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EMPLOYMENT NODES
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MN Valley State TrailMN River Bluffs Regional TrailLake Minnetonka LRT Regional TrailFIGURE 5 - 3 | Regional Bicycle Transportation Network
City of Chanhassen 2040 Comprehensive Plan91
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, a 9 hole course, and a 18 hole putting course.
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 Plain, 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 western Chanhassen. The
Arboretum is a unit of the University of Minnesota and is a public botanical garden and an education and research institu-
tion. 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, Hall 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, a 9 hole course, and a 18 hole putting course.
5.6 | Trends
In order to keep pace with the 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. By building
flexibility into the city’s recreation and park facilities by considering the implications of trends, Chanhassen will be able
to adapt quickly and efficiently in order to meet these new demands.
The following trends are relevant to the future of Chanhassen’s parks and recreation:
»Desire to create more memorable experiences » Increased importance of ‘place’ » Desire for conservation & natural connections
»Demand for green alternatives »More transient »Pinched government budgets
City of Chanhassen 2040 Comprehensive Plan92
»Increased interest in aging actively »Engaging new generations »Increased interest in weight loss & active living
»Rise in informal adult recreation versus league participation »Popularity of new & nontraditional sports
»Demand for group fitness events & races »Need for convenience »Increasingly anxious about safety
5.7 | Needs Assessment Key Findings
To understand the state of Chanhassen’s Park and Recreation System, the system planning process involved con-
ducting 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
– Seven Community Pop-Up Events
– Athletic Association Stakeholder Meeting
– Senior Stakeholder Meeting
– Three Online Community Questionnaires
– Two Online Social PinPoint Maps
– Community Open House
»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
The following are key findings that summarize what was learned throughout the needs assessment process.
Parks
»Chanhassen’s 30 parks provide about 36 acres of parkland per 1,000 residents, which exceeds the national
standards as well as that of surrounding communities. 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.
»Partnerships with school district have contributed positively to availability of facilities and efficiency of operations.
»At existing parks, user amenities like lighting, benches, grills, wifi, and permanent restrooms were suggested as
potential improvements
Facilities
»Chanhassen currently provides a diverse, well-distributed range of park and recreation facilities.
»The amount of playgrounds in Chanhassen is consistent with that of surrounding communities, and is within an
acceptable range for anticipated population growth.
»A desire of the community identified in the engagement process was for the inclusion of natural playscapes, which
are 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.
City of Chanhassen 2040 Comprehensive Plan93
»The city has sufficient traditional athletic facilities, like diamond fields (baseball, softball) and rectangular fields (soccer, football,
lacrosse), for both current and projected population figures. However, an analysis of field sizes finds that many of the existing
diamond and rectangular fields are not large enough for adult games so ensuring a mix of field sizes is an important consideration
moving forward. Future development should consider how to serve areas in the north, south, and west not otherwise served by
non-city facilities.
»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.
»Informal sport facilities, like tennis, basketball, sand volleyball, pickleball, and open fields, are well-distributed
throughout the community.
»While the amount of aquatic facilities is on par with those of surrounding communities, 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 expanding awareness
and adding more active recreation offerings, fitness facilities and meeting spaces.
»A key focus over the next 20 years should be the maintenance and replacement of aging facilities.
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.
»While the vistas created by open space are valued, desire was also expressed for increased access so users could
better experience natural areas, particularly around Lake Ann and within the Bluff Creek Corridor.
Trails
»Chanhassen’s 76 miles of trails have been identified as the most popular facility provided in the community.
»Safe crossings were a topic discussed throughout the system planning process. Currently the city has a pedestrian
bridge over Highway 5 as well as more than ten underpasses city-wide.
»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.
»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.
Programming
»The City of Chanhassen offers a range of recreation and social programs for all ages. 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.
»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. 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
City of Chanhassen 2040 Comprehensive Plan94
»Improved amenities that support events, like picnic shelters with amenities to support food preparation, would help
encourage existing and future programming.
Management and Operations
»There are concerns about deferred maintenance issues, especially in small neighborhood parks
(playgrounds, basketball courts, hockey rinks).
»Concerns also existing surrounding the maintenance of natural resources and lake water quality.
»Ongoing investments will be required to maintain the quality of the existing system into the future.
5.8 | System Plan
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 Commit-
tee 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 have also been attached to illustrate recommendations relative to parks, facilities,
preserves, and trails. A set of precedent imagery has also been prepared to help illustrate what some of the proposed
new facilities may look like.
Vision & Guiding Principles
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 through this evolution will require a set of guiding principles based on the
community’s shared vision.
These guiding 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, strength-
ening 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.
City of Chanhassen 2040 Comprehensive Plan95
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 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 business-
es 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.
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 number red 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 6-1.
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 separated, 2 to 5 year old playgrounds throughout the community.
City of Chanhassen 2040 Comprehensive Plan96
2040 Regional Trail
Search Corridors
The Metropolitan Council has estab-
lished general search corridors for
new regional trails or extensions of
existing regional trails. These cor-
ridors were designated in order to
create connections between regional
parks and trails. The map below
displays regional trail search corri-
dors that intersect with the City of
Chanhassen. While corridors have
been identified, the specific align-
ment of the regional trails will still
need to be determined through a
planning process led by the regional
park implementing agency.
L
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He ronDrive
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0
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""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
MilesLake Minnetonka LRT Regional TrailMN River Bluffs Regional TrailMN Valley State Trail
Regional Search Corridors
FIGURE 5 - 4 | Regional Trail Search Corridors
City of Chanhassen 2040 Comprehensive Plan97
Goal 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.
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.) in neighborhoods to enhance connections to surrounding amenities.
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 need warrants.
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.
Goal 3.
Ensure all residents have the opportunity to participate in recreation, education, cultural, 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. Program and support partners’ events to draw residents to park and recreation facilities.
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 by offering recycling and/or composting.
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 conserve energy.
4.9. Raise public awareness of the importance of sustainability and the city’s efforts through social media,
interpretation, and educational programming.
Goal 5.
Proactively plan for a high quality, efficient parks and recreation system that meets 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.
City of Chanhassen 2040 Comprehensive Plan98
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. Maintain and routinely review field management plan to ensure high quality fields through rotational resting
of fields based on a schedule/ level of use and postponement of use during and after significant rain events.
5.7. Continue strong partnership and communication with local associations, clubs, and other organizations to ensure facilities
are meeting their needs.
5.8. Integrate trails into the planning and design process for public improvements and land development.
5.9. 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.
5.10. 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.
5.11. Collaborate with Engineering Department on trail pavement management program.
5.12. Explore partnership opportunities for capital improvement costs and life-cycle system costs.
5.13. Maintain current management of fields as demand continues to increase.
5.13.1. Rotational resting of fields based on a schedule/level of use.
5.13.2. Postponement of use during and after significant rain events.
5.14. Continue to support the stated goal of parks in Chanhassen to reasonably meet city needs and promote a sense of community:
5.14.1. Expand the capacity of the athletic facilities through improvements and efficiencies within existing community parks.
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. Explore 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.
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
City of Chanhassen 2040 Comprehensive Plan99
FIGURE 5 - 5 | Park Initiatives
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 the
City 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 National
Wildlife Refuge
Olson Community
Garden
Minnetonka Middle
School West
CenturyBoulevardHazeltineBoulevardBluffCreek
Drive
West 78th S treet
Lyman Boulevard ChanhassenRoadCros stow n B oulevard
Pleasant Vi e wRoad
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n
s
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varia
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sBoul
evardKerberBoulevardLake Lucy Road
MinnewashtaParkwayCounty Road 140
L ake DriveEast
He ronDrive
Engler Boulevard
H un d ertm arkRoadEastGalpinBoulevardAudubonRoadPioneer Trail
82nd Street West
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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
City of Chanhassen 2040 Comprehensive Plan100
5.9 | Initiatives
Initiatives are specific actions or steps that are recommended for implementation. Initiatives are organized by
the topic areas of parks, facilities, trails, preserves, programming, and operations. The System Plan is the guiding
document relative to city Initiatives for the Parks and Recreation System. Prioritization of the initiatives separated
the actions in the time frames of short term, long term, and ongoing. The plan remains flexible so that all initiatives
will occur as opportunities arise.
The initiatives included in the System Plan are summarized by category below: and shown on the maps
on the following page:
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.
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
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, and 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
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
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
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
It is estimated that the priorities identified will cost $70
to $83 million to implement.
City of Chanhassen 2040 Comprehensive Plan101
FIGURE 5 - 6 | Facility Initiatives
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 the
City 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 National
Wildlife Refuge
Olson Community
Garden
Minnetonka Middle
School West
CenturyBoulevardHazeltineBoulevardBluffCreek
Drive
West 78th S t reet
Lyman Boulevard ChanhassenRoadCros stow n B oulevard
Pleas ant Vi e wRo ad
GreatPlai
n
s
Boulev
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r
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varia
R
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dSmithtownRoad
P i o n e erT railW estL o n g a c resDriv eVictoriaDrive
Arb oretu m Bo uleva r d Power
s
Boul
evardKerberBoulevardLake Lucy Road
MinnewashtaParkwayCounty Road 140
L ake DriveEast
He ronDrive
Engler Boulevard
H un d ertm arkRoadEastGalpinBoulevardAudubonRoadPioneer Trail
82nd Street West
F l y in g C lo u d D r iv e
Chas k a B o u le v ardLakeDrive
Pioneer Trail EastChestnutStreetNorthWest82ndStreet
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S h a k o p e e
C h a s k a
V i c 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
City of Chanhassen 2040 Comprehensive Plan102
FIGURE 5 - 7 | Trail Initiatives
CenturyBoulevardHazeltineBoulevardBluffCreek
Drive
West 78th S t reet
Lyman Boulevard ChanhassenRoadCross t own B oulevard
Pleasant Vi e wRo ad
GreatPlain
s
Boulev
a
r
dBa
varia
R
o
a
dSmithtownRoad
P i o n e erT railW estL o n g a c resDriv eVictoriaDrive
Arb oretu m B o ulevar d Power
sBoul
evardKerberBoulevardLake Lucy Road
MinnewashtaParkwayCounty Road 14 0
L ake DriveEast
He ronDrive
Engler Boulevard
H un d ertm arkRoadEastGalpinBoulevardAudubonRoadPioneer Trail
82nd Street West
F ly in g C lo u d D r i v e
Chas k a B o u le v ardLakeDrive
Pioneer Trail EastChestnutStreetNorthWest82ndStreet
")140
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¬«101
L
o
t
usL
a
k
eL a k e
S u s a n
LakeRileyR iceL akeLakeMinnewashta
LakeA n n
L a keL ucyR i c e M a r sh
L a k e
E d e n
P r a i r i e
E x c e l s i o r
G r e e n w o o d
M i n n e t o n k aS h o r e w o o d
To n k a
Ba y
J a c k s o n
Tw p .
S h a k o p e e
C h a s k a
V i c 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
»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 traiLLake Minnetonka LRT Regional TrailMN River Bluffs Regional TrailMN Valley
State Trail
City of Chanhassen 2040 Comprehensive Plan103
FIGURE 5 - 8 | Facility Initiatives
Pleasant View
Preserve
Chanhassen
Nature
Preserve Rice Marsh
Lake Preserve
Bluff
Creek
Preserve
Fox Woods
Preserve
Hesse
Farm Park
Preserve
Lake Susan
Preserve
Pine Hurst
Preserve
Bluff Creek
Preserve
North
Lake Riley
Preserve
MN River
Bluffs
Preserve
Hidden Creek
Meadows
Preserve
Lake Susan
Preserve North
Pine Hurst at
Lake Harrison
Preserve
Bluff Creek
Headwaters
Preserve
CenturyBoulevardHazeltineBoulevardBluffCreek
Drive
West 78th S t reet
Lyman Boulevard ChanhassenRoadCrosstown B oulevard
Pleasant Vi e wRoad
GreatPlai
n
s
Boulev
a
r
dB
a
varia
R
o
a
dSmithtownRoad
P i o n e erT railW estL o n g a c resDriv eVictoriaDrive
Arb oretu m B o ule va r d Powe
r
s
Boul
evardKerberBoulevardLake Lucy Road
MinnewashtaParkwayCounty Road 140
L ake DriveEast
He ronDrive
Engler Boulevard
H un d ertm arkRoadEastGalpinBoulevardAudubonRoadPioneer Trail
82nd Street West
F ly i n g C lo u d D r iv e
Chas k a B o u le v ardLakeDrive
Pioneer Trail EastChestnutStreetNorthWest82ndStreet
")140
")53
¬«101
¬«7
£¤212
¬«5
")61
¬«101
¬«101
L
o
t
usL
a
k
eL a k e
S u s a n
LakeRileyR iceL akeLakeMinnewashta
LakeA n n
L a keL ucyR i c e M a r shLake
E d e n
P r a i r i e
E x c e l s i o r
G r e e n w o o d
M i n n e t o n k aS h o r e w o o d
To n k a
Ba y
J a c k s o n
Tw p .
S h a k o p e e
C h a s k a
V i c 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 CorridorLake Minnetonka LRT Regional TrailMN River Bluffs Regional TrailMN Valley State Trail
City of Chanhassen 2040 Comprehensive Plan104