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Home My WebLink About03 04 2019 Parks Master Plan Update PresentationPrior Lake Parks & Trails System Master Plan Community Engagement Survey Results March 4, 2019 1 What is a Park System Master Plan? A strategic and comprehensive master plan providing an overall community vision for the parks, trails and recreation for the next 20 years. It guides future investments for developments and improvements by establishing goals, policies, objectives, and overall priorities. What do we want the Master Plan to accomplish? 2 3 Meet New Recreational Trends & Demands Inclusive & Sustainable Community 4 •Age •Ethnicity •Income Level •Abilities •Population Shifts •Underserviced Populations 5 Consideration of Evolving & Diverse Demographics Strengthen Community Pride and Sense of Place 6 Project Overview 7 Community Engagement Meetings and Events •Lakefront Days •Beach Party •Music & Movie in the Park •Fall Community Fest •Idea Boards at Club Prior & City Hall •Mayor’s Virtual Town Hall Video & Survey •Mayor’s Town Hall 8 Online Engagement Online Engagement – Social Pinpoint •Over 400 Map Comments City Social Media •Facebook posts •Community Survey #1 (330) •Community Preference Survey #2 (270) 9 Community Feedback Community Loves Their Parks and Trails! •Lakefront Park is the community gem •Parks are well maintained & attractive •Like having access to the regional parks •Suggestions for meeting recent trends and more age groups •Good overall suggestions for improvements or additions 10 Park Assessments Park ratings based on: •Age •Condition •Accessibility •Design & Character Rating Breakdown: •Gold Star is high rating (meets/exceeds basic standards) •Green is medium to high rating (good condition) •Yellow is medium (fair condition, some issues) •Red is low (not meeting basic standards)11 Assessments Analysis & ratings tell us: •Neighborhoods lacking adequate recreation •Areas with over-duplication of amenities •Accessibility concerns •Future prioritization efforts 12 Assessments Trails •Gaps •General Conditions •Safety Concerns •Destinations Buildings •Sand Point Beach Concessions •Watzl’s Beach Concessions •Lakefront Pavilion •Considerations for improvements vs constructing new 13 Community Preference Survey #2 Mission Statement, Goals & Priorities 14 Regional Park Regional parks provide spaces and facilities for the larger region beyond just the surrounding community and are usually run by a larger regional organization, not the city. •Spring Lake Regional Park •Cleary Lake Regional Park •Murphy Hanrehan Park Reserve . 15 Community Park Community parks are generally larger in size to serve the greater community with more diverse recreational amenities and can have dedicated special uses, such as programmed athletics, beaches, etc. •Lakefront Park •Sand Point Beach •The Ponds •Thomas Ryan Memorial •Memorial Park (Veterans Field) •Heritage & Grainwood (Special Use) •Pike Lake & Spring Lake (Undeveloped) 16 Neighborhood Park Neighborhood parks are generally smaller in size, provide a mix of active and passive recreation for the community residents and tend to be spaced out to be within ½ mile distance to residences. •~42 Parks 17 Survey Results •What do the results mean? •Is council in agreement with public sentiment findings? •General discussion and feedback •What are the next steps? 18 Mission Statement The City of Prior Lake offers safe, attractive and fun outdoor recreational experiences that encourage a healthy lifestyle, meet the diverse needs of its residents, connect people to the outdoors, preserve the natural resources and open spaces, and highlight its cultural resources. 19 2%2% 9% 62% 25% Highly Disagree (2.2%)Disagree (1.83%)Neutral (9.16%)Agree (62.27%)Highly Agree (24.54%) Goal #1 Create flexible and unique parks that respond to the evolving demands of recreational trends, populations, demographics, and income levels. 20 3% 5% 12% 46% 34% Highly Disagree (2.59%)Disagree (5.56%)Neutral (12.22%)Agree (45.56%)Highly Agree (34.07%) 21 Goal #1 Objective Ranking Rank in order of preference, with 1 being highest priority A.Develop and maintain Community Parks meeting the broader needs of the community at a high-quality level. B.Develop and maintain Neighborhood Parks with meeting neighborhood level needs at a medium to high-quality level. C.Allow for flexible park spaces to meet new recreational trends and demands. D.Collaborate with various groups and agencies to avoid duplication of facilities and services and encourage cost effective measures. E.Continually collect input to identify current recreational needs and demands not being met. Goal #2 Provide an interconnected system of high quality, accessible multi-use trails and greenway corridors for recreation and pedestrian transportation. 22 2% 6% 16% 34% 42% Highly Disagree (2.26%)Disagree (6.04%)Neutral (15.85%)Agree (33.96%)Highly Agree (41.89%) 23 Goal #2 Objective Ranking A.Give priority to trails along major routes to be implemented as part of roadway improvement projects. B.Give priority to identify and complete existing trail gaps. C.Give priority to trails that connect to schools, churches, parks, and service or commercial centers. D.Where feasible, provide separated trails along major roadways instead of only bike lanes. E.Collaborate with developers to implement trails or retain suitable lands along greenways for trail development. F.Implement a wayfinding signage program to guide trail users throughout the city’s trail system. G.Provide adequate lighting and outdoor furniture on trails with heavy pedestrian use or safety concerns. Goal #3 Reserve and acquire recreational lands, such as shoreline, significant natural areas, greenway corridors, and lands suitable for parks and trails, ahead of new developments. 24 4% 4% 16% 42% 34% Highly Disagree (4.14%)Disagree (4.14%)Neutral (15.41%)Agree (42.11%)Highly Agree (34.21%) 25 Goal #3 Objective Ranking A.Acquire lands suitable to expand upon existing community park athletic facilities. B.Acquire and reserve sufficient park and open space land to fulfill the needs of the present and future projected populations. C.Acquire lands along existing lakes and other desirable water bodies to provide pedestrian access to parks, trails, overlooks, and lake related recreation. D.Acquire lands / easements along natural resource areas suitable for trail development for scenic natural routes. E.Seek a “first right of refusal” or similar agreement with existing land owners for future acquisition of desirable lands suitable for park and trail development. F.Set aside undeveloped lands as natural resource protection areas that enhance the existing park, trail and greenway systems and overall community character. G.Collaborate with developers to ensure dedicated lands are suitable and reasonable for the development of new parks and trails in terms of characteristics, location, access, and overall connectivity 26 Goal #3 Objective Ranking A.Acquire lands suitable to expand upon existing community park athletic facilities. B.Acquire and reserve sufficient park and open space land to fulfill the needs of the present and future projected populations. C.Acquire lands along existing lakes and other desirable water bodies to provide pedestrian access to parks, trails, overlooks, and lake related recreation. D.Acquire lands / easements along natural resource areas suitable for trail development for scenic natural routes. E.Seek a “first right of refusal” or similar agreement with existing land owners for future acquisition of desirable lands suitable for park and trail development. F.Set aside undeveloped lands as natural resource protection areas that enhance the existing park, trail and greenway systems and overall community character. G.Collaborate with developers to ensure dedicated lands are suitable and reasonable for the development of new parks and trails in terms of characteristics, location, access, and overall connectivity Goal #4 Implement the recommendations of the Park and Trail System Plan 27 1%2% 29% 52% 16% Highly Disagree (1.54%)Disagree (1.54%)Neutral (29.34%)Agree (51.74%)Highly Agree (15.83%) 28 Goal #4 Objective Ranking A.Secure funding necessary to carry out the mission of the Park and Trail System Plan. B.Employ a Director of Parks and Recreation to manage and oversee the city’s parks, trails and recreation department. C.Maximize collaboration opportunities through the development of fair and equitable working joint partnerships. D.Continually assess and update the park and open space land dedication policy requirements to be in line with similar communities. E.Seek out grant opportunities for implementation of park and trail developments. F.Promote park, trail and recreation development and improvements in accordance with a five-year capital improvement program, updated on an annual basis. Goal #5 Maintain a safe, attractive, well- maintained, and accessible park and trail system. 29 1%1%5% 46% 47% Highly Disagree (1.18%)Disagree (0.79%)Neutral (4.72%)Agree (46.06%)Highly Agree (47.24%) 30 Goal #5 Objective Ranking A.Provide proper maintenance in an environmentally responsible and aesthetically pleasing manner to keep the parks and trails safe and in good condition. B.Development of land for parks and trails should take into consideration potential conflicts with adjacent land uses and ongoing maintenance and replacement costs. C.Design and maintain parks with proper lighting, landscaping, circulation, and access to ensure a high degree of public and property safety. D.Ensure adequate qualified staff to manage, operate, program, and maintain park and trail systems. E.Ensure consistent city funding to adequately provide ongoing maintenance and operations of parks and trails to industry standards. Goal #6 Provide recreational programs meeting varying ages, abilities and interest groups. 31 2%3% 13% 44% 38% Highly Disagree (1.56%)Disagree (2.73%)Neutral (12.89%)Agree (44.53%)Highly Agree (38.28%) 32 Goal #6 Objective Ranking A.Develop a year-round system of recreation programs that appeal to the diverse needs of the citizens of the community. B.Continually gather input to identify unmet needs and encourage community participation. C.Foster a sense of community, collaboration, volunteerism, and a shared identity through recreational and cultural programs and opportunities. D.Ensure there are adequate and appealing facilities and qualified staff to meet programming needs. Future Considerations New Recreational Amenities: Of the key input and ideas received from the community during the planning process, please rank the following ideas in order of priority for consideration with 1 being highest. 33 A.Community splash pad B.Pickleball court facility C.High-quality skate park D.Additional large Town Ballfields E.Additional small to medium ballfields (T-ball, baseball, softball) F.Additional turf fields (soccer, lacrosse, football) G.Refrigerated outdoor hockey rinks H.Community Center building I.All-inclusive playground J.Outdoor climbing wall feature K.Challenge / Ninja Course features Future Considerations Community Park Priorities: Of the key input and ideas received from the community during the planning process, please rank the following ideas in order of priority for consideration with 1 being highest. 34 A.Ensure adequate parking to meet the needs at the Community Parks B.Expand upon The Ponds Community Park through acquisition and development of additional lands, as feasible C.Assess Thomas Ryan Memorial Park for overall improvements and parking expansion, as feasible D.Upgrade and modify Lakefront Park to focus on a variety of community activities and recreation, with new and improved amenities E.Redevelop Sand Point Beach Community Park to adequately meet lake-related park and beach activities F.Consider removal of the entrance parking fee at Sand Point Beach Community Park G.Develop Spring Lake Park as a Community Park that blends with the adjacent Spring Lake Park Reserve H.Develop Pike Lake Park as a passive-use Community Park and work with the SMSC to implement a trail around Pike Lake I.Search for future park lands to be acquired and developed as a Community Park in the north section of Prior Lake J.Search for future park lands to be acquired and developed as a Community Park in the west section of Prior Lake (including future annexation areas) Future Considerations Community Park Priorities: 35 A.Adequate parking at Community Parks B.Expand upon The Ponds C.Assess/Improve Thomas Ryan Memorial Park D.Upgrade Lakefront Park E.Redevelop Sand Point Beach F.Remove entrance fee at Sand Point Beach G.Develop Spring Lake Park H.Develop Pike Lake Park I.Search for future Community Park lands in north section J.Search for future Community Park in the west section Future Considerations Neighborhood Park Priorities: Of the key input and ideas received from the community during the planning process, please rank the following ideas in order of priority for consideration with 1 being highest. 36 A.Redevelop existing Neighborhood Parks not currently meeting the needs of the surrounding residential neighborhoods B.Implement improvements that make the parks more unique and complementary C.Remove over-duplicated and underutilized amenities from Neighborhood Parks D.Search for future park lands to be acquired and developed as a Neighborhood Park for future development areas Future Considerations Trail Priorities: Of the key input and ideas received from the community during the planning process, please rank the following ideas in order of priority for considerations with 1 being highest. 37 A.Focus on replacement and repair of existing trails B.Focus on the major trail connections along Hwy 13 and connecting to adjoining communities C.Focus on new trail development, with priority to filling in missing links/gaps in the trail system D.Incorporate a grade-separated pedestrian crossing (bridge or underpass) at Hwy 13 in close proximity to downtown Prior Lake Funding Considerations Funding: In terms of funding park and trail improvements, please select the following initiatives for funding that you would support beyond existing park dedication funds and grant opportunities (select only items you would support) 38 A.City Franchise Fee: A specified percentage added on to city utility billings for residents, resulting in higher available funding over a shorter timeline. B.Sales Tax: A specified percentage added on to city sales taxes resulting in more available funding over a shorter timeline with amounts based on actual revenue from city sales taxes. C.Park Bond Referendum: City bonds that would provide higher amounts of immediate funds and would increase the resident’s yearly property taxes for a specified period of time (generally 15 - 20 years). D.General Levy: General city funds dedicated to parks and trails that can result in a reallocation or increase in city taxes for modifications, and generally provide smaller funding amounts. Next Steps 39 •Planning Recommendations •Concept Designs •Cost Estimates •Prioritization Schedule March-April: Develop Draft Plan and Conceptual Considerations May: Draft Plan Review •Steering Committee Mtg •Council Work Session Review •Public Presentation June: Finalize Plan 40 THANK YOU 41