City of Lonsdale Master Park & Open Space Plan
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City of Lonsdale Master Park & Open Space Plan DATE: MARCH 29, 2007 PREPARED BY: LONSDALE PARK & RECREATION BOARD TABLE OF CONTENTS ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS ............................................................................................. 3 MASTER PARK & OPEN SPACE PLAN ..................................................................... 4 OBJECTIVE: .................................................................................................................. 4 PROCESS: ...................................................................................................................... 4 COMMUNITY INPUT: .................................................................................................. 4 FINDINGS: ..................................................................................................................... 4 COMMUNITY CHARACTER ....................................................................................... 6 HISTORY: ...................................................................................................................... 6 REGIONAL SETTING:.................................................................................................. 6 DEMOGRAPHICS: ........................................................................................................ 6 PARK SYSTEM ................................................................................................................ 9 PARK CLASSIFICATION SYSTEM: ........................................................................... 9 INVENTORY OF EXISTING PARK LAND: ............................................................. 11 PARK ASSESSMENT: ................................................................................................ 19 PROPOSED PARK IMPROVEMENTS: ..................................................................... 24 PARK SEARCH AREAS: ............................................................................................ 28 TRAILS / SIDEWALKS ................................................................................................ 30 REGIONAL TRAILS: .................................................................................................. 31 LOCAL TRAILS AND PEDESTRIAN WAYS: ......................................................... 32 TRAIL CLASSIFICATION SYSTEM: ....................................................................... 33 PROPOSED IMPROVEMENTS: ................................................................................. 34 PARK ASSESSMENT SURVEY .................................................................................. 35 STRATEGIC PLAN ....................................................................................................... 52 GOALS AND RECOMMENDATIONS: ..................................................................... 52 MAINTENANCE AND OPERATIONS: ..................................................................... 53 MARKETING AND PUBLIC RELATIONS: ............................................................. 55 FINANCIAL RESOURCES: ........................................................................................ 56 Page 2 ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS The following members of the Lonsdale Park & Recreation Board, City Council, and City Staff participated in the development of the City of Lonsdale Master Park & Open Space Plan: PARK & RECREATION BOARD Kevin Kodada, Chairperson Chris Kraimer, Vice-Chairperson Laura Carpentier Stacey Farrell Troy Jackson Chad Vosejpka CITY COUNCIL Tim Rud, Honorable Mayor Dave Dols Fritz Duban Kevin Kodada Blaine Smith CITY STAFF Tami Brokl, Office Assistant Joel Erickson, City Administrator Janet Jirik, Office Manager Kevin Kawlewski, City Engineer Joyce Skluzacek, City Treasurer Russ Vlasak, Public Works Director Tom Washa, City Planner The City of Lonsdale used the City of Sauk Center Master Park Plan and the City of Eagle Lake Park & Open Space Master Plan as source guides in developing the plan. Page 3 CITY OF LONSDALE MASTER PARK & OPEN SPACE PLAN OBJECTIVE: In order to ensure existing park and recreational opportunities meet the needs of residents of Lonsdale today and in the future, the Lonsdale Park & Recreation Advisory Board has developed this Master Park and Open Space Plan. The purpose of the plan is to create a framework to ensure the community secures sufficient and appropriate land for park development with a high quality of recreational opportunities, open space, and trails, which meet all age groups and facets of the community and develops existing park areas with amenities needed and desired by the residents who use them. PROCESS: The Master Park Plan was developed through the following steps: • Review of existing parks and pathways • Identification of park and pathway users • Community Input • Needs Assessment with analysis of national local standards • Development of Goals, Objectives, and Policies • Development of Implementation Plan COMMUNITY INPUT: The residents of the City of Lonsdale provided the input in the development of the Master Park and Open Space Plan development through a park assessment survey, which was distributed with the City’s Quarterly Water Bill, with 231 households or 22% responding. Community meetings were also conducted for each individual park that invited residents that were within 350 feet from the outer boundaries of the park to obtain input on current and future park and recreation needs. Approximately 42 residents attended these meetings over the course of the year. Members of the Park Board and city staff also provided input and guidance. FINDINGS: Through the Master Park and Open Space Planning Process, the following findings were made: Page 4 • Based on the Comprehensive Land Use Plan 2025, the population of Lonsdale will grow to approximately 10,264 by 2025. (7,863 new residents) • Growth will occur on all sides of the City, with the least occurring on the northwest side. • The existing park system has adequate park acreage and distribution to meet the existing needs. • Further development within existing parks is recommended as well as acquisition and development of new parks to adequately serve the new projected population growth. • Improvements to make existing parks more accessible are recommended. • Recreational deficiencies include a volleyball court, little league baseball field, football field, soccer field, small softball fields, large softball field, and local sidewalks/trails to link existing parks and provide safety along Central Street (Highway 19), Main Street (CSAH 33), and Railway Street (CSAH 4) to Montgomery-Lonsdale Elementary School East. • Goals and recommendations for the future (re) development of park and recreational sites, activities and trails have been developed and outlined in this plan. • Financial resources for the re (development) of parks and recreational sites and activities and trails have been identified. Page 5 COMMUNITY CHARACTER The identification of trends in population growth and other demographic data is an important step in the comprehensive planning process. It can provide clues to future growth patterns and indicate what types of housing and public facilities may be needed in the future. For example, an increase in young couples with children would require starter housing, new parks and schools, and new or upgraded community facilities. Conversely, an increase in the elderly population would lessen the need for schools and increase the need for specialized housing. The information contained in this Section has been obtained through statistical data released by the United States Census Bureau, the State Demographer’s Office, and City of Lonsdale’s Comprehensive Land Use Plan 2025. HISTORY: From the initial population of 184 persons in 1903, the City saw an increase to 541 persons by 1960. Since then, the City’s population has experienced much faster growth. During the 1970s, the City doubled to 1,160 persons. The City is experiencing a second population explosion with 2005 population estimates at 2,401 people. REGIONAL SETTING: Lonsdale is located approximately 45 miles south of Minneapolis and approximately 6 miles west of Interstate 35. State Highway 19 connects the City to Interstate 35 to the east and to the City of New Prague to the northwest. Lonsdale is also located in the northwest corner of Rice County. Rice County is on the fringe of the Twin Cities Metropolitan Area and has been experiencing increased pressure for growth in recent years. DEMOGRAPHICS: The following demographic analysis of Lonsdale is based on 2000 US Census Bureau data. In summary, Lonsdale’s residents are slightly younger in age, less ethnically diverse, more affluent, and more likely to own their own home. POPULATION The accelerated rate of growth in Lonsdale, makes it difficult to predict future population levels. The population figures used for this plan are based on continued growth trend and influencing factors such as Lonsdale’s cost of land and home prices, proximity to the southern metropolitan area and relatively few barriers to continued development. Page 6 POPULATION 2000 2004 2005 % /YR 2025 % /YR PROJECTION POPULATION POPULATION POPULATION PROJECTED POP. PROJECTED (2000 ESTIMATE CHANGE ESTIMATE CHANGE CENSUS) 2000-2005 2005-2025 Lonsdale 1,491 2,101 2,644 15% 10,264* 14.4% Rice County (State Demographer Statistics) 56,665 N/A 60,680 1.4% 76,320 1.3% AGE The City of Lonsdale had 1,491 residents in 2000 with the majority of residents between the ages of 25-44 years old. 31.1% of Lonsdale’s population in