City of Monroe Park & Open Space Plan 2020 – 2025 Prepared by: City of Monroe Staff CITY OF MONROE – Parks & Open Space Plan --- DRAFT --- www.cityofmonroe.org CITY OF MONROE – Parks & Open Space Plan --- DRAFT --- www.cityofmonroe.org CITY OF MONROE – Parks & Open Space Plan --- DRAFT --- www.cityofmonroe.org ACKNOWLEDGMENTS : 2019 City Council Louis Armstrong, Mayor Brooke Bauman, Alderperson Mickey Beam, Alderperson Michael Boyce, Alderperson Joshua Binger, Alderperson Donna Douglas, Alderperson Robert Driver, Alderperson Tammy Fetterolf, Alderperson Kelly Hermanson, Alderperson Richard Thoman, Alderperson 2019 Board of Parks & Recreation Commissioners Brian Saugstad, President Emily Bartels Kelli Brunton Barb Gelbach Eric Losenegger Barb Moser Robert Driver Braden Rindy Reid Stangel 2019 City Plan Commission Louis Armstrong, Mayor William Bethke, Commissioner Michael Boyce, Commissioner Luis Carus, Commissioner Nate Klassy, Commissioner Jeff Maliszewski, Commissioner Ron Spielman, Commissioner Prepared By Al Gerber, Director of Public Works Josh Trame, Parks & Forestry Supervisor Marge Klinzing, Recreation Director Matt Skibba, Recreation Supervisor Margie Johnson, Recreation Secretary CITY OF MONROE – Parks & Open Space Plan www.cityofmonroe.org 1 TABLE OF CONTENTS: ACKNOWLEDGMENTS ......................................................................................................Page 1 TABLE OF CONTENTS .................................................................................................. Pages 2-3 I. INTRODUCTION ...............................................................................................................Page 4 Purpose of Plan ...................................................................................................................Page 5 Definitions ..................................................................................................................... Pages 5-6 II. PLANNING PROCESS .....................................................................................................Page 7 III. GOALS AND OBJECTIVES ................................................................................... Pages 8-10 IV. COMMUNITY AND PARK INVENTORY ................................................................Page 11 Population Demographics, Trends and Forecasts.............................................................Page 11 1. Population Totals and Projections ......................................................................Page 11 a. Table I ....................................................................................................Page 11 b. Table II ...................................................................................................Page 11 c. Table III ..................................................................................................Page 11 2. Age Distribution ..................................................................................................Page 12 a. Chart A ...................................................................................................Page 12 3. Gender Distribution .............................................................................................Page 13 a. Chart B ...................................................................................................Page 13 4. Racial Distribution ..............................................................................................Page 13 a. Table IV .................................................................................................Page 13 5. Household Characteristics and Forecasts ............................................................Page 14 a. Chart C ...................................................................................................Page 14 Park Classification System ........................................................................................ Pages 15-16 Park Classifications - Acreage Breakdown ......................................................................Page 17 Existing Recreational and Open Space in the Monroe Area ............................................Page 17 Individual Park Descriptions ..................................................................................... Pages 18-26 Schools & Other Recreation Facilities ...................................................................... Pages 26-27 Outdoor Recreation Opportunities ............................................................................ Pages 28-30 Historic Sites ............................................................................................................. Pages 30-32 CITY OF MONROE – Parks & Open Space Plan www.cityofmonroe.org 2 V. PARK AND FACILITY STANDARDS ........................................................................Page 33 Acreage Standards ............................................................................................................Page 33 Activity/Facility Standards ...............................................................................................Page 34 State Needs Assessment by Area .....................................................................................Page 35 Public Input ......................................................................................................................Page 36 VI. FUNDING/IMPLEMENTATION ................................................................................Page 37 Local Funding Sources .....................................................................................................Page 37 Statewide and Federal Funding Sources .................................................................... Pages 37-39 Regulatory Strategies ................................................................................................ Pages 39-40 VII. APPENDICES ........................................................................................................ Pages 41-67 Appendix A: Maps Area Parks Area Schools Appendix B: 2020-2024 Capital Improvement Plan Appendix C: Park Facility Matrix Appendix D: 2019 Parks & Open Space Survey Results CITY OF MONROE – Parks & Open Space Plan www.cityofmonroe.org 3 I. INTRODUCTION: Parks, recreation and open space are important elements in the quality of life for all communities. Parks provide intrinsic environmental, aesthetic and recreation benefits to our cities. They are also a source of positive economic benefits. They enhance property values, increase municipal revenue, bring in homebuyers and workers and attract retirees. Along with expected leisure amenities, parks can also provide measurable health benefits, from providing direct contact with nature and a cleaner environment, to opportunities for physical activity and social interaction. A telephone survey conducted for the American Public Health Association found that 75 percent of adults believe parks and recreation must play an important role in addressing America's obesity crisis. Monroe is home to sixteen (16) public parks. These parks have varying uses from scenic views for relaxation to fields for athletics. Additionally, the Badger State Trail and the Cheese Country Trail are two regional multi-purpose trails that pass through Monroe – connecting Monroe to nearby Madison and other smaller cities and villages. Through implementation of the City’s Park and Open Space Plan, the community has worked to best utilize these features through its public park system. The Park and Open Space Plan for the City of Monroe is an expression of the community’s goals and objectives, current and future needs and demands for recreational facilities. The intent of this document is to plan for the improvement and maintenance of Monroe’s recreational and open space resources by outlining a strategy to manage existing resources wisely and to develop new resources to meet future needs and demands. Parks can serve a limited neighborhood area, a portion of the City or the entire community or region and provide area and facilities for outdoor recreation for residents and visitors. Open space can take the form of parks, greenbelts, wetlands and floodplains. Open space can also serve many functions for a community other than recreation, such as the following: Preservation of scenic, cultural and natural resources Flood management Protecting the area’s water resources Buffering incompatible land uses A well-designed parks and facilities plan should incorporate private as well as public open space areas in the community. The development and continual updating of a Parks Plan, such as this, becomes a valuable asset to a community and contributes to its stability and aesthetic appeal. CITY OF MONROE – Parks & Open Space Plan www.cityofmonroe.org 4 Purpose of Plan The specific purpose of this Plan is to guide the development and improvement of the City’s outdoor recreation facilities over the next five years in order to meet the recreational needs and demands of the local residents. It also provides a tool for evaluating progress being made within the City’s park system. It is not the intent of the plan, however, to restrict the use of parks in any way. Policy decisions recommended by the City’s Board of Parks & Recreation Commissioners, Board of Public Works, Plan Commission and City Council for park programs and improvements shall be guided by the goals and objectives, findings and recommendations of this adopted Plan. Actual public policy decisions or choices are contingent on