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H-1.e. 2040 Comprehensive Plan Discussion - Park & Recreation I Chapter 6 PARKS & RECREATIO 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, 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 Park and Recreation section of the 2040 Comprehensive Plan provides an overview and analysis of the City's existing system, identifies 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 15,000 group picnic participants 250 park programs offered 24,400 swimmers at Lake Ann 1,373 watercraft rentals 5,123 ice rink visitors More than 7,900 senior center participants SYSTEM AT A GLANCE SYSTEM HISTORY » Over 900 acres of city- Chanhassen's parks and recreation system is the result of almost 50 years owned parks, preserves, and of planning and City and citizen commitment. In addition to adding parks and trails to the system in conjunction with development, the community has open space » 30 community& supported major park improvement initiatives throughout the years. neighborhood parks Three major bond referendums over the system's history have allowed for » 14 preserves & 1 special major parks and recreation improvements. The first bond referendum for use park parks was passed in 1969, resulting in the acquisition of Lake Ann Park,the » Almost 80 miles of trails 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 Facilities 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 24 playground areas 1996, resulting in: improvements in 18 parks system-wide; the construction of Bandimere Park;the reconstruction of City Center Park; preservation of over 40 17 picnic shelters acres of open space; and 7 miles of new community trails. ® 5 swimming beaches 15 tennis courts SYSTEM COMPONENTS Today,the City's park and recreation needs are met by a combination of: 10 pickleball courts city parks; city trails and sidewalks; school district facilities; private facilities; recreation programs; as well as non-city amenities including regional parks and 28 diamond fields trails and facilities in surrounding communities. 22 rectangular fields Park Classification Park classifications are used to ensure that a park and recreation system has 19 basketball courts sufficient diversity and geographic distribution to serve various neighborhood and community needs. Chanhassen's 30 parks comprise 888 acres of City 5 sledding hills land, providing 36 acres of parkland per 1,000 residents. These parks fall into four classifications: community parks, neighborhood parks, special use parks, 4 sand volleyball courts and preserves. 1 skate park Community Parks Community Parks provide opportunities for City-wide recreation and typically 1 disc golf course 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 1 garden plot site 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 7 docks & 3 fishing piers 2020. Since most of the new residential growth is anticipated to occur in two ® 5 outdoor hockey rinks & 4 areas; south of Lyman Boulevard and on the west side of Lake Ann, it makes pleasure rinks sense to look for new community parks in these areas 1 dog park (in partnership) 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. 6-3 Chanhassen Comprehensive Plan DRAFT Figure 6-1. City Park Distribution Ba Greenwood dl r Excelsior Shorewood ri Minnetonka Cathcart Park __(onaedby the Minnewashra City of Shorewood) Neights Park __,__—_____—__—__—__—__—__ —_____—_____—___________—____.—__—__—__ _ Minnetonka Middle j Herman Field School Wesl F- % Park Curry Fanr tte , (`J\ Park ) Pheasant HIII North Lotus Park Lake Lucyftd Lake Park ) i Roundhouse Park Minnewashla Garver Beach Carver Beach j Regional Park Playground Park ' Manchester Park �) (ro Be Com p'eted .20 Meadow , Greenwood Green Park- a Shores Park I pl+ Longa` e° 6� a�+• `��^` a � 101 Sugarbush Park , Kerber POM Park i 'am Bo:rkrard "- ^i Lake Ann Park Olson CommunMy V I c t O r l a z. 1,64 Garden— 'S S¢uth Letlil; City Center pke.Paik j 8 6� Park West'8h shred Chanhassen enenhg5 ef; I University of Minras of Recreation Center Estates Parks` j Landscape Arboretum 53 a•e;. _ , — Lake Susan _ slum.Cmek ) �rk Rice Marsh I I':��k Suns0lflU00 lake Park j i Park I Praire Knot ��oa port j Power HIB Park Park j E d e n r Chanhassen High Schon j P r a l r l e t•"(Johm Facilges) I Chanhassen Rley.Rldge Park Hilts Park j S BandimarB Be there Heights Park ) Park f I I iPioneer Pass Park 1B1 I ) P.—Td I P'�'=' Privately Owned 2 Pgneer trod Et51 I � � PubUc ball Course � Chaska Y MN VaNey National Qw - WildUfe Ref ge 4 I 1 LEGEND ph Bnekva Raguatwildlile 101 } /f_� Management Area —��•--�^�.y Open Space ;� j,•�� -Community Park f j Neighborhood Park Cro stown F.'e o j Preserve j _ Special Use i -Non-City Parks&Open Space Shakopee Public School ;7 Surrounding Municipal Parks 6 r- J a c k s o n T v!p Wafer Bodies 0 0.25 0.5 1 Municipal Boundaries �_1-- Miles JULY 2017 Parks & Recreation 6-4 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 Chanhassen and acts as a neighborhood park for residents north of Lake Minnewashta, but is owned by the City of Shorewood. Special Use Parks Olson Community Garden Special Use Parks are used to identify park facilities and amenities that target a specific user group and aren't associated with an existing park. Olson t Community Garden is the City's only Special Use Park, and is an extremely 6a popular amenity in the community. 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 Vill almost 800 acres of open space protected throughout Chanhassen's fourteen Tennis league preserves. These acres encompass a large portion of the Bluff Creek Corridor, as well as other treasured wetland and woodland areas. 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 more 6.5 Chanhassen Comprehensive Plan DRAFT programming, such as aquatics, to meet the needs of those who can't afford private facilities, such as Lifetime Fitness. Trails Chanhassen's 76 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, 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 Recreation Center Weight Room i 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)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 Senior Center Card Playing Event interim recreational purposes. Figure 6-2 displays the City's existing system of trails and sidewalks. Notable Facilities City 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 woodcarving, field trips, art and education classes, health and wellness programs, and card playing. Non-City Facilities There are several non-city recreation facilities located in Chanhassen. The locations of these facilities are highlighted in purple in Figure 6-1. Schools (ISD 276 & 1 t2) 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 JULY 2017 Parks & Recreation 6-6 Figure 6-2. Trails, Sidewalks, & Open Space a -.Greenwood,, 1 B ) r J Fr Exe r Shorewood _r Minnetonka �-� P S ------------------------------------------ -- Hidden reek , Pleasant View Meadowsj Preserve { Preserve t _ Pkasart lM1�� JJJ r fPine Hurst nmexrxao- j Preserve i i _ I Pine Ht/af (_ Lake: arrison t (Preserve I � , --e Qz �o —71 BluffCreek Y 161 Headwaters i- IS Fraser Victorialnrha sn Nature LakeBusanPCh BluifCraePreserve•No�ih PreserveL� /Ri c ie Marsh North\ " . —� Lake Preserve Eden I (v{L Lake Susan Prairie j, Bluff '� t Preserve Lake�Riley Creek preserve Preserve i i Fox Woods k Preserve S 12 MN River Bluffs Preserve 61� 40 Chaska I Hesse 1 j Farm Park Preserve e1 i � 1 I 4 I LEGEND ,�rBR�,. 101 i ----------- Open Space Preserve I tt Existing Sidewalk Existing Trail ' n -Non-City Parks&Open Space ®Public School Shakopee Existing Regional Trails „r.: - Surrounding Municipal Trails Jackson�j`- Twp � Water Bodies ' Municipal Boundaries 0 0.25 0.5 1 Miles 6-7 Chanhassen Comprehensive Plan DRAFT 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. Lake Minne�-rashta Regional Park 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 Minnesota Landscape Arboretum 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 Minnesota Valley National Wildlife Refuge 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 Camp Tanadoona 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. JULY 2017 Parks & Recreation 6.8 Goff 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. 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, R� trends, cultures, and activities will affect facility and programming needs. By building flexibility into the City's recreation and park facilities by considering the ---s implications of trends, Chanhassen will be able to adapt quickly and efficiently r 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 » 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 rsa4• » Demand for group fitness events& races » Need for convenience » Increasingly anxious about safety .. 1 6-9 Chanhassen Comprehensive Plan DRAFT NEEDS ASSESSMENT KEY FINDINGS To understand the state of Chanhassen's Park and Recreation System,the system planning process involved conducting a critical evaluation of the City's existing conditions, peer communities, nation 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. Aa The evaluation process included: Pop-Up Event » 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 d - Athletic Association Stakeholder Meeting - Senior Stakeholder Meeting ' - Three Online Community Questionnaires - Two Online Social PinPoint Maps 1 _ - Community Open House » Evaluation of the entire system of parks, trails, natural resources, Open Nouse Participants connectivity, programs, and facilities, including an update of the Park System Inventory ®�M�„ ,p p p » Demographic analysis » Evaluation of current park classification system and standards :• __ _, r __ » Evaluation of service areas, future growth, and development needs `• ® 0 » Identification of issues and opportunities at a system-wide level ; » Comparison of existing supply, quality, and distribution of features and a facilities to national standards and to peer communities •• Aw: Q ¢ » Evaluation of emerging trends influencing future needs of the system to '� 6t O U• 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 o surrounding communities. With the expected population growth of over Social PinPoint Map 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 JULY 2017 Parks & Recreation 6.10 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. » 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, though 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. 6-11 Chanhassen Comprehensive Plan DRAFT 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, i 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. » 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. JULY 2017 Parks & Recreation 6-12 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 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 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. y 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. 6-13 Chanhassen Comprehensive Plan DRAFT Engagement Chanhassen's Parks and Recreation system welcomes residents of all �z 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. 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 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 1/2 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. JULY 2017 Parks & Recreation 6-14 2040 REGIONAL TRAIL SEARCH CORRIDORS The Metropolitan Council has to create connections between been identified, the specific alignment established general search corridors regional parks and trails. The map of the regional trails will still need to for new regional trails or extensions below displays regional trail search be determined through a planning of existing regional trails. These corridors that intersect with the City process led by the regional park corridors were designated in order of Chanhassen. While corridors have implementing agency. Figure 6-3. Regional Search Corridors • �i — 4 i rf I s C7D WNAAVf 00 � I P-4`TO U- • 'y '� -_ 53 ---------- LEGEND - _ ----LEGEND , i Overpass Trail Head t i Underpass - - —Existing,Sidewalk = , j - ----Futum,Sidewalk Existing,Trail Future,Trail it Open Space , I Community Park 212 Neighborhood Park I I - 4 1 Preserve • j '.. Special Use I Ate___ '•• j Non-City Parks 8Open Space �..Y`_;! j `� i 1 ••�"�� +101 4 Public School Water Bodies 1 ,,r 1`,._`�� )• Municipal Boundaries Surrounding Municipal Trails r_ r �� -, -------- it � r,. /' ( Surrounding Municipal Parks I f !' j -��.•' i • +� Existing Regional Traits A� i 'v � •y►•+' Regional Trail Search Corridor Regional Trail-2040 System Addition 6-15 Chanhassen Comprehensive Plan Table 6-1. City Park Classifications Classification Use Service Area Size(Typical) Examples Community Provides facilities serving the community with Community wide in strategic, 15 to 100 acres Lake Ann Park, programmed,active recreation areas and access consolidated locations at a few sites Bandimere Park to natural areas.May serve regional visitors, although not as primary function. Neighborhood Primary recreation facility to meet the day-to- 1/2 mile radius,free of major barriers <15 acres North Lotus Lake Park, day needs of neighborhoods.Provides active such as highways or waterways Pioneer Pass Park recreation and informal gathering spaces for families and groups of neighbors.Fields are sized for practice/youth games. Preserve Areas focused on the provision of natural Community&Regional Draw Centered around Fox Woods Preserve, environments,passive recreation,and natural resources and Bluff Creek Preserve ecological education, amenities Special Use Areas primarily serving a single-use activity. Community&Regional Draw Site specific Olson Community Garden 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. I Goa12. 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. i 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 need warrants. JULY 2017 Parks & Recreation 6-16 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& 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. Goa/t Bea 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. 6-17 Chanhassen Comprehensive Plan DRAFT Goal& 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 j 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 I 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 I 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. 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. JULY 2017 Parks & Recreation 6-18 Goa/& 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. I I I I i I I i I i 6-19 Chanhassen Comprehensive Plan �onr 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(1 to 5 years), mid (5 to 10 years), long (10+years), and ongoing. The initiatives included in the System Plan are summarized by category below: and shown on the maps on the following page: Parks Creek Corridor » Maintain Lake Ann Park as the premier community park " Collaborate with other agencies to protect the Seminary » Add amenities to Bandimere, City Center, and Lake Fen Susan Community Parks » Collaborate with other agencies to protect the Use a maintenance and replacement schedule to keep Minnesota River Valley �> neighborhood park facilities up to date » Expand marketing&wayfinding » Seek opportunities to expand the park network to serve " Expand opportunities to interact with and explore changing community needs and preserve natural nature amenities. » Identify& protect natural areas that link parks, preserves, &destinations Facilities » Develop natural resource management plan » Identify and construct a year-round signature recreation facility in the community Programming » Add a destination splash pad at a community park » Continue to host at least 5 major community events » Establish an interpretative center with outdoor lab » Expand informal, year-round events&nature-based space and nature-based play programs » Add community-scale nature play at a community park » Collaborate with new&existing partner organizations and unstructured nature play throughout the community to provide events&programming as appropriate » Establish an Event Management Plan » Improve user amenities at existing facilities » Annually assess pricing structure » Explore opportunities for a second community garden Operations » Implement recommendations of the Athletic Fields „ Use System Plan as basis for budgeting&Capital Study Improvement Plan Trails » Incorporate sustainable design&maintenance » Address trail gaps and trail crossing safety issues practices to make Chanhassen a model » Work with partner agencies to reopen Minnesota River » Create a tobacco use policy Bluff LRT Regional Trail » Communicate benefits of parks and recreation » Complete trail connection to Minnesota River » Establish formal review process for program&event » Increase maps and wayfinding to identify loops, development distances, &destinations Programming and Events, and Operations. It is estimated » Provide more user amenities that the priorities identified will cost$70 to$83 million to » Expand the number of natural surface trails implement. » Explore opportunities to add trailheads » Initiate a single-track mountain bike trail study Preserves » Continue to preserve sensitive lands within the Bluff JULY 2017 Parks & Recreation 6-20 Figure 6-4. Park Initiatives Ka 13 r e e n w o o d B Excelsior Shorewood J Minnetonka Cathcart Park {Ovmad City of shxee�od) —--—--—--—--—--—--—--—--—--—--—--—-- —- Minnetonka Middle Herman veld School West Curry Faq,;.,,. Park Park 7 .,iilm North Lold� 'AOL Park Lake Park FIN Carve,Beach G—e,Beach floonahoms,P�'l� flcgioral ark Playground Park Mad,h,sler P,ul, (T,13,C.,ncded Meadow 9 Green Park Priority Expansion Area • facility&hockey warming Lake 11IF I Olson Commm house V i c t o r i a Garoea City Cent Pat* Chanha'Se Center NO Recreati �r "ca E53 Stone ek Lake 7 1 LAKE ANN PARK Pifl Snnset nage Park Park >) Expanded parking rm t r p Develop a master plan to: Nion. nall Add permanent restroom • Define the limits of park facility expansion to the north and west i Park facility I'. , ,,"trrr"i Pc,,e,Kill Park >) Lighting and structured n • Preserve natural areas • Complete a loop Irail aroundlad f hassen 4h S,1�, seating for the baseball field take Ann [--(Joint FaciRds) • Identify new facility and user amenities >) Implement existing master plan Sandi shelter Construct picnic Park shelter Wilil reStfOOMS - Add field lights o Build sport court . Add a splash pad Pas,P CITY-WIDE INITIATIVES ••••• 1011 - Add a hockey )> Seek opportunities to expand the • warming house capacity of the community park network to serve athletic and • community event needs. 1) Use maintenance and replacement schedule to plan s k a • for phased replacement of neighborhood park facilities (i.e.playgrounds,sport courts, shelters,etc.) .......... LEGEND Open Space • • —SOUTH CHANHASSEN Communty Park • Neighborhood Park Add parks and/or preserves as - development occurs in the Bluff Preserve Greek Golf Course,Bluff Creek special use Corridor,and County Road 61 Non-City Parks&Open Space Corridor Plan areas Public School Jackson Surrounding Municipal Parks 1 Twp. Water Bodies 0 0.25 0.5 1 L-1 Municipal Boundaries mmmmlzz��Mites 6.21 Chanhassen Comprehensive Plan DRAFT Figure 6-5. Facility Initiatives s � Excelsior Shorewood rJ �T Minnetonka Cathcart Park (Owned by the Mkmewasha City of Shaevrootl) !' Minnetonka Middle f� Herman Field School West Curry Fa+}n;,. ^) Park (7 park i Pheasant Hi® North Lotus Park lake Park Flountlhouse Park M;nne,:ashta Carver Beach Carver Beach - ReyioraijP,arF:#'' Playground tdanchester NA f Qo Be Cam peted ' .2018 Meadow i Greenwood Green Part i Snores Park RECREATION CENTER Develop and implement » Complete a study to plan for expansion a phased plan for E:,wrl ush Park of facility and services Kerber P�yp ark improvements to the Improve accessibility(i.e.handicapped lake Ann Park o6onComm Comment skate park Victoria parking,trip haiards,door access) Gard Center `a4;e Pa;k ' (5) Pati: Chanhassen urnre.su;crr _. Recreation Center tanOSI�R I ,. » Complete a study to plan [a Stone Creek Agolake Susan for expansion of facility tI Paik Sunset Ridge ParkltIand services » Identify and construct a year-round signature recreation Park )> Improve accessibility(i.e. facility in the community that includes indoor,outdoor,and PralrieKnot handicapped parking,trip passive spaces.Complete an aquatic facilities need study, , Por:er Hii:Pa APark hazards,door access) recreation center study,and senior center study. Add a destination splash pad with parking and user "nnscnoa Prairie amenities at a community ark. Facneea) » Chanhassen Riey Ritll a Park Support pickleball by adding user amenities like seating, ` HJ!,Park wind screens,and sun canopies. \ Improve existing volleyball facilities within community parks through improved seating,nets,and shelters. 4 Bandimere` " saedimera » Add community-scale nature play at a community park. Park- Ne115 Park i u Add unstructured nature play throughout the community as I tz appropriate. Rnnae Add permanent concrete » Pass Park tee boxes and improved Establish an interpretative center with an outdoor lab space � Cgt) and a nature based play area to support natural resources !_ site amenities to support outreach and education. disc golf users Explore opportunities for a second community garden. Privately OwnaO » Complete an audit of system ADA accessibility and address Pu61ic Gall Course i issues identified.Prioritize Recreation and Senior Centers. Pilot facilities for new or trending sports to assess appropriateness for park system,cost,durability,and ? e, i demand. ! MN Valley Nalij i yf Install additional ballfield safety fencing as needed. y wuuhra Na;uge j if Implement the recommendations of the Athletic Fields p� Study. - I LEGEND no� open Space -Community Park Neighborhood Park Preserve I i -Special use /� ? -Non-city Parks 8 open space 2 Shakopee Public School ;7 Surrounding Municipal Parks Jackson Twp. Water Bodies 01, Municipal Boundaries 0 0.25 0.5 1 �- Miles JULY 2017 Parks & Recreation 6.22 Figure 6-6. Trail Initiatives a ;Greenwood}, Exc i t Shorewood J }/1 _J_ Minnetonka �f x - - 1 �'� rte. i c '�J r I Victoria - � - 163 i \ - i 1 Eden V v _ � Prairie � Irv! y.; epi I x LEGEND CITY-WIDE Existing Overpass » Address trail gaps and trail crossing i Existing Tran Head safety issues. • Existing Underpass » Increase awareness and expanded Work with partner In trail use through maps and trail agencies to reopen the K Identified Safety Crossing Concern wayfinding to help identify loops: Minnesota River Bluff Trail Gap distances,and destinations. LRT Regional Trail —Existing Sidewalk » Support trail accessibility through Existing Trail the identification of easily accessible routes that do not have steep slopes, i Open space gaps,or challenging transitions. community Park Enhance user experiences through I Neighborhood Park kiosks/signage at existing trailheads. Preserve benches,lighting,garbage cans,etc. I , special use » Expand the number of natural i Complete the connection ®Non-city Parks 8 open Space surface trails by mapping existing to the Minnesota River r" Pubncscnool locations,identifying opportunities, through the construction Existing Regional Trails and incorporating trail expansion in of a trail along Bluff Creek the Capital Improvement Plan. Drive or Great Plains Shakopee Surrounding Municipal Trails Explore opportunities to add k s o n Boulevard Surrounding Municipal Parks '` trallheads. w p. Water Bodies Initiate a single-track mountain bike �- 0 0.25 0.5 1 L —;municipal Boundaries trail study. Miles 0 iJ 6-23 Chanhassen Comprehensive Plan DRAFT Figure 6-7. Preserve Initiatives a Greenwood B v F_ E x c Shorewood Iy xc _T Minnetonka Hidden Creek Pleasant View I Meadows Preserve Preserve ]1 f. Pine Hurst I 'Preserve ++I Pine He Harrion son U /t Preserve r % Continue to preserve sensitive ___ .... lands within the Bluff Greek �.-... Bluff Crcek ••• �011'I(IOr t 107 III esc!V4 - t Victoria •t��•�.• Chanhassen •• • • ••. • LakeSusan ® a,., _ tJature • •�utf Creek) Preserve•N rth ``�� r lieu live ••• twilleVe1/ • , Rice Marsh r North \ : s Lake Preserve ••• • i �JJ Eden Prairie Bluff Bluff ) Lake Susan r' • Preserve Lake Riley Creek • Preserve a ;Preserve; Y i �` CTIVES t `{5 Fox Woods i » Expand awareness of preserves Preserve through marketing and wayfinding. j » Encourage expansion of ; MN River opportunities for increased ! `';� 12 Bluffs r• interaction and exploration of i Preserve'�y.} _ nature(i.e.natural surface trails, j ••.�� ••.• ••• �1 i interpretation,programming, '•.. •• signage,wayfinding,maps,etc.) » Identify and prioritize the protection °"` "``' ! ••••••.• �•, j of natural areas that provide rka corridors/linkages between parks, •Hessepreserves,and other destinations. i rrm Park » Prioritize the development of j °i%`'e natural resource management plans. i LEGEND Collaborate with other10 WOW ! Open space government agencies —i in the protection of Preserve Seminary Fen Existing Sidewalk gn A't osns.e Fo•,d 1 „\ •.•••. Existing Trail i r,, 0 7d 3;1 k1i 4;11,11A 1119 Non-city Parks a open space f Collaborate with other Public school government agencies ,_7 S ha k in the protection of the Existing Regional Trails Minnesota River Valley Twp Surrounding Municipal Trails r F'' Jackson. , . Water Bodies �-—� 0 0.25 0.5 1 Municipal Boundaries / � Miles JULY 2017 Parks & Recreation 6-24