Chapter 8 - Implementation_ 7.18.06Chapter Eight Implementation
New Scandia Township
Comprehensive Parks, Trails, Open Space and Recreation Plan 8-1
Adopted 18 July 2006
CHAPTER EIGHT
IMPLEMENTATION
INTRODUCTION
This Comprehensive Parks, Trails, Open Space and Recreation Plan serves
as a guide for New Scandia Township in developing a system that meets the
needs and desires of its residents. Earlier chapters of the Plan analyzed
existing conditions, identified park and recreation needs, and proposed park,
trail, open space and recreational facility recommendations. This chapter
assists the Township in implementing the recommendations of the Plan. It
discusses implementation goals and strategies, priorities, financing, phasing,
and maintenance.
GOALS AND STRATEGIES
The following goals and strategies relate to implementation of the Parks,
Trails, Open Space Plan and Recreation Plan. The goals are broad, general
statements that New Scandia Township will strive to attain. The strategies
are specific, action-oriented statements that provide the framework for a
wide range of open space decisions that the Township will make through the
year 2025. The Township should periodically review and update the goals
and strategies expressed in this plan. The implementation goals and
strategies are as follows:
Goal 1: Involve the public in all aspects of parks, trails, open space
and recreation facilities and programs planning. To accomplish this
goal, the Township establishes the following strategies:
1. Continue to encourage residents to serve on the Park and Recreation
Committee and its subcommittees.
Chapter Eight Implementation
New Scandia Township
Comprehensive Parks, Trails, Open Space and Recreation Plan 8-2
Adopted 18 July 2006
2. Formally express appreciation and recognize the efforts of the Park
and Recreation Committee, volunteers, and the various individuals
and organizations that contribute to parks, trails, open space and
recreation facilities and programs.
3. Promote discussion of parks, trails, open space, recreation facilities
and programs at annual community meetings, community events,
through community newsletters and on the New Scandia Township
website.
4. Periodically seek input from residents about existing parks, trails,
open space, recreation facilities and programs and respond to the
input.
5. Involve residents in the master planning process of parks, trails, open
space and recreation facilities.
6. Recruit and make use of volunteers for special projects.
Goal 2: Clearly communicate decisions related to parks, trails, open
space and recreation facilities and programs. To accomplish this Goal,
the Township establishes the following strategies:
1. The Park and Recreation Committee, Township Staff, Planning
Commission, and Town Board will come to consensus regarding the
goals and strategies of this Plan.
2. Involve the Park and Recreation Committee in the early phases of
discussing potential subdivisions, road improvements, and the like.
3. The Park and Recreation Committee will make clear, written findings
and recommendations to the Planning Commission and Town Board
related to parks, trails, open space and recreation facilities decisions.
The Park and Recreation Committee will base its findings and
recommendations on the adopted goals and strategies of this Plan.
4. The Township will promote review of this Plan by affected agencies,
the area school districts, and adjacent communities.
5. The Planning Commission will hold a public hearing and the Town
Board will formally adopt this Plan.
Chapter Eight Implementation
New Scandia Township
Comprehensive Parks, Trails, Open Space and Recreation Plan 8-3
Adopted 18 July 2006
Goal 3: Maintain safe, efficient, and attractive facilities. To accomplish
this Goal, the Township establishes the following strategies:
1. Develop a maintenance management plan that provides guidelines
and schedules.
2. Plan and budget for improvements to existing facilities.
3. Develop a risk liability inventory of existing facilities and prepare a
plan to effectively address the risks.
4. Consider aesthetics in addition to function throughout the
development of facilities.
Goal 4: Continue to develop park master plans for each park.
To accomplish this Goal, the Township establishes the following strategies:
1. Develop a model format for the master planning process.
2. Identify and prioritize parks that need master planning and design.
3. Reflect the goals and strategies of this Plan in each park master plan.
4. Ensure architectural integrity and continuity in master plan designs.
5. Use park-planning professionals to prepare master plans and
construction documents.
Goal 5: Periodically review and update this Plan. To accomplish this
Goal, the Township establishes the following strategies:
1. Annually review demographic conditions, funding issues, priorities,
and so on and make necessary changes to this Plan.
2. Plan to provide a complete update of this Plan in 2025.
Goal 6: Set priorities for implementing this plan. To accomplish this
Goal, the Township establishes the following strategies:
1. Prioritize park improvements and acquisition.
2. Prepare a five-year Capital Improvement Program and annually
update the program.
3. Identify expected and potential funding sources.
Chapter Eight Implementation
New Scandia Township
Comprehensive Parks, Trails, Open Space and Recreation Plan 8-4
Adopted 18 July 2006
IMPLEMENTATION PLAN
IMPLEMENTATION PROCEDURES
There is a logical sequence of actions needed by New Scandia Township to
adopt and implement this Plan:
1. Inform Township Staff, residents, and developers about the Plan.
2. Conduct a public hearing on the Plan.
3. Adopt the Plan as part of the Township’s Comprehensive Plan.
4. Prepare and adopt master plans with acquisition and development
cost estimates and establish priorities for areas to be acquired or
developed.
5. Allocate funds through the Township budgeting procedure for
staffing, acquisition, and development to accomplish the Plan
objectives.
6. Apply for funding assistance from appropriate agencies to
supplement Township funding.
7. Begin acquisition of areas designated in the Plan.
8. Prepare detailed development plans and Contract Documents and
award construction contracts according to established priorities.
9. Expand staff and equipment as needed to ensure a high level of
maintenance and use of additional parks and trails.
10. Review and update the Plan at regular intervals.
ACQUISTION FUNDING SOURCES
The Township will need a variety of acquisition sources to successfully
achieve the acquisition of properties identified in this Plan:
1. Acquire land through parkland dedication wherever possible.
2. Negotiate purchases when necessary.
3. Consider long-term leases.
Chapter Eight Implementation
New Scandia Township
Comprehensive Parks, Trails, Open Space and Recreation Plan 8-5
Adopted 18 July 2006
4. Require easements for use or protection when desired.
5. Consider land trades or transfer of development rights.
6. Seek assistance or cost sharing with other agencies.
7. Encourage donations, bequests, and foundations.
8. Explore acquisition of tax-forfeited land.
9. Apply for grants through federal, state, private agencies and
organizations.
SELECTED MnDNR GRANT PROGRAMS
The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources offers several grant
programs for land conservation, habitat improvement and community
forestry. For additional information on all Minnesota DNR grants, refer to:
www.dnr.state.mn.us/grants. Some of these programs are listed below:
1. METRO GREENWAYS
a. Program’s Purpose: To protect, connect, restore and manage
a regional network of natural areas, parks and other open
spaces interconnected by ecological corridors through
collaborative public/private partnership.
b. Eligible Projects: Land restoration and acquisition (fee title or
conservation easement) on sites within Metro Wildlife
Corridors Focus Areas with high overall ecological
significance, willing landowners, local support and project
readiness.
c. Application Deadline: Typically in late fall to be funded the
following year in July- confirm with MnDNR.
2. REMEDIATION FUND GRANT PROGRAM
a. Program’s Purpose: To acquire lands for protection and
restoration of natural resources, compensating the State of
Minnesota for damage to resources from the release of
hazardous substances from closed landfills.
Chapter Eight Implementation
New Scandia Township
Comprehensive Parks, Trails, Open Space and Recreation Plan 8-6
Adopted 18 July 2006
b. Eligible Projects: Fee title acquisition of natural areas and
administrative costs associated with the donation of fee title
for natural areas; funding may also be available for
restoration.
c. Application Deadline: Late March for projects funded in July
of the same year- confirm with MnDNR.
3. NATURAL AND SCENIC AREA GRANTS
a. Program’s Purpose: To increase, protect and enhance scenic
areas.
b. Eligible Projects: Up to 50% of the cost of fee title and
permanent easement acquisition by local units of government
and school districts.
c. Application Deadline: Late March for projects funded in July
of the same year- confirm with MnDNR.
4. OUTDOOR RECREATION GRANTS
a. Program’s Purpose: To increase and enhance outdoor
recreation facilities.
b. Eligible Projects: Up to fifty percent of the cost of park
acquisition, development and/or redevelopment.
c. Application Deadline: Late March for projects funded in July
of the same year- confirm with MnDNR.
5. SHORELAND HABITAT RESTORATION GRANT
PROGRAM
a. Program’s Purpose: To expand the diversity and abundance
of native aquatic and shoreline plants, improve and protect
the quality of shoreline habitat, enhance and protect water
quality and raise awareness of the value of native shoreline
and aquatic vegetation.
b. Eligible Projects: Shoreline habitat improvements and
restoration (e.g. planting native species in buffer zones and
related education and monitoring).
Chapter Eight Implementation
New Scandia Township
Comprehensive Parks, Trails, Open Space and Recreation Plan 8-7
Adopted 18 July 2006
c. Application Deadline: September 1 for projects starting the
following year- confirm with MnDNR.
6. ENVIRONMENTAL AND CONSERVATION
PARTNERSHIPS GRANT PROGRAM
a. Program’s Purpose: To encourage the enhancement of fish,
wildlife and native plant habitats, research and surveys of fish
and wildlife directly related to specific habitat improvement
projects and to encourage environmental projects, and related
education activities through cooperation by private
organizations and local government.
b. Eligible Projects: Up to 50% of the cost of habitat
enhancement project and related research/survey and
environmental service (e.g. natural area clean up).
c. Application Deadline: Late March for projects funded in July
of the same year- confirm with MnDNR.
7. MINNESOTA RELEAF PROGRAM
a. Program’s Purpose: To assist Minnesota communities with
planting and caring for their trees to increase energy
conservation, reduce atmospheric carbon dioxide and achieve
other environmental benefits.
b. Eligible Projects: Up to fifty percent of the costs of purchase
and planning of predominantly native trees to conserve
energy, benefit wildlife and establish community windbreaks,
actions to preserve and maintain healthy community forests
(e.g. oak wilt control), educational programs in conjunction
with these activities, and conducting tree inventories for land
use and comprehensive planning.
c. Application Deadline: To be determined- confirm with
MnDNR.
Chapter Eight Implementation
New Scandia Township
Comprehensive Parks, Trails, Open Space and Recreation Plan 8-8
Adopted 18 July 2006
PROPERTY ACQUISITION OPTIONS
New Scandia Township will use whatever means are most appropriate to
acquire land for parks and trails. Sensitivity to landowners and dedication to
accomplishing the goals of the Plan will be important ingredients in the
negotiation process. The following lists possible acquisition options:
1. Acquire land from willing sellers.
2. Life tenancy of current owners.
3. Purchase – lease back.
4. Options and right of first refusal.
5. Relocation.
6. Tax advantages.
7. Land exchange.
PARK DEVELOPMENT FUNDING OPTIONS
The Township should explore a variety of funding sources for park
development including the following:
1. Annual Township budgeting and Capital Improvements Program.
2. Grant programs through federal, state, and local agencies (see section
“Selected MnDNR Grant Programs” above).
3. Park dedication fees for new subdivisions.
4. Periodically review and update the dedication requirement as
necessary.
a. The 2005 Municipal License & Permit Fee Survey (see
Resources) surveyed communities across the State of
Minnesota for their park dedication requirements for
commercial/ industrial, residential, and planned unit
developments. According to the 2005 survey, Forest Lake
was recorded as requiring $2,000.00 per lot as park dedication
fee for residential areas. New Scandia currently requires
Chapter Eight Implementation
New Scandia Township
Comprehensive Parks, Trails, Open Space and Recreation Plan 8-9
Adopted 18 July 2006
$1,500.00 per lot (2006). The Township should reevaluate
their fees in keeping with similar communities in the
surrounding area.
5. Private or non-profit organizations and local businesses.
6. Volunteer labor and contributions.
PRIORITIES AND INDICATORS
It may take 20 or more years to fully achieve the goals of the Parks, Trails,
Open Space and Recreation Plan. Progress towards meeting the goals
generally occurs in increments or phases, rather than all at once. Therefore,
to help ensure continuous progress, the Township may prioritize and divide
the goals into high and moderate priority goals. Although it is important for
the Township to follow the guiding vision of the Plan, it is also important for
the Township to be flexible in implementing the vision. Therefore, the
Township should periodically review and refine the goals and priorities of
this Plan. The following provides general recommendations for high and
moderate priority goals.
High Priority Goals. High priority goals reflect actions that the Township
should take over the next couple of years. Some high priority goals may also
reflect actions that are very important to the community, but that the
Township may not actually implement in the short term. For example, New
Scandia Township identified the importance of developing a corridor for the
Gateway Trail within the Township, and that this corridor should connect
with other Township trails. A high priority goal would involve building
consensus with regard to identifying the search area for the Gateway Trail
extension and acquiring property for the trail. The development of the
Gateway Trail itself may take many more years to complete.
It is also helpful to develop high priority goals that will have an immediate
impact on the community. For instance, the Township may develop
uniform signage for the park and trail systems or provide landscaping to
improve the appearance of existing parks. These types of actions would
likely not require a great deal of effort or cost, but it would likely inspire a
desire to implement other projects. Developing high priority goals and
making tangible progress in implementing these goals will help the
community develop and meet other goals that may be more involved or
long-term.
Chapter Eight Implementation
New Scandia Township
Comprehensive Parks, Trails, Open Space and Recreation Plan 8-10
Adopted 18 July 2006
Primary high priority goals of this Plan are as follows:
1. Develop existing undeveloped parcels as an integral part of New
Scandia Township’s Park System for the benefit of residents and
visitors.
2. Evaluate property located in park and/or recreational facility search
areas for purchase, lease, or easement to augment the existing Park
System, if and when it becomes available.
3. Identify the Gateway Trail Extension Search Area.
4. Promote trail connection between Big Marine Park Reserve and
William O’Brien State Park.
5. Develop and install uniform park system signage (to include park,
trail, open space and recreational facility components).
6. Provide pedestrian crosswalk on Olinda Trail North between the
New Scandia Community Center and the Gammelgarden/ Barton
Johnson Memorial Park.
7. Explore how the immediate needs for athletic fields can be met.
8. Continue development of master plans for all existing parks.
9. Implement the German Lake Management Plan, as per CMWD
recommendations.
10. Develop a Landowner Outreach and Stewardship Program, as per
CMWD recommendations.
Moderate Priority Goals. Moderate priority goals reflect actions that the
Township should take over the next five to ten years. Primary moderate
priority goals of this Plan include the following:
1. Develop neighborhood parks in growth areas as development
warrants.
2. Continue development of trail network throughout the Township.
3. Update (or replace, if necessary) and enhance existing recreation
facilities in existing parks as identified in park master plans.
Chapter Eight Implementation
New Scandia Township
Comprehensive Parks, Trails, Open Space and Recreation Plan 8-11
Adopted 18 July 2006
4. Complete a Comprehensive Wetland Management Plan, as per
CMWD recommendations.
5. Develop a Formalized Greenway Corridors Plan, as per CMWD
recommendations.
6. Establish a Natural Resource Monitoring Program, as per CMWD
recommendations.
Again, the Township should periodically review and refine the priorities set
forth in this Plan.
Indicators. The Township should develop indicators to help evaluate
progress in implementing this Plan. For example, a goal of this Plan is that
the Township should provide recreation facilities that meet the needs of
residents. A survey of residents and recreation organizations could indicate
if the Township is making progress towards this goal. Other indicators
might involve monitoring water quality, and so on.
The Township should periodically review the findings of its indicators. If
the indicators show that the Township is not making progress on meeting its
goals, then the Township should either refine its goals or develop new
strategies for meeting its goals.
Chapter Eight Implementation
New Scandia Township
Comprehensive Parks, Trails, Open Space and Recreation Plan 8-12
Adopted 18 July 2006
VISION
It is appropriate to conclude this Plan where it started – New Scandia
Township’s vision. The vision succinctly states the community’s preferred
future as it relates to parks, trails, open space and recreation. The Township
should periodically review and update the vision statement to ensure that it is
relevant and meaningful.
“Vision without
action is merely a
dream….
Action without
vision merely
passes time….
Vision with action
can change the
world.”
Joel Barker
“We envision the New Scandia Township’s parks, trails, open space and recreation
system will preserve our rural character, protect our natural beauty and recognize our
history.
“We support our Community Center as the heart of New Scandia Township from which a
strong network of parks and trails extend throughout the township and beyond to serve the
needs and desires of all residents.
We value the natural environment of the Lower St. Croix River Valley and recognize
that the River is a unique regional asset and national icon.
We encourage the stewardship of our lakes, streams, wetlands, woodlands, prairies and
agricultural lands toward a healthy ecology that supports a diversity of habitat and
recreation opportunities.
We strive for New Scandia’s parks, trails, open space, recreation facilities and programs to
be appropriate across all age and ability levels.
We will promote the New Scandia Township’s Comprehensive Parks, Trails, Open Space
and Recreation Plan as a versatile and innovative guide for our future growth, while
encouraging compatible development and preserving significant open space as a complement
to the New Scandia Comprehensive Plan.”
-Adopted by the New Scandia Township’s Town Board
18 July 2006