2018.04.04 PREC Packet - Laserfiche WebLink

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5-68 New Brighton Comprehensive Plan | 2040 DRAFT treNDS IN parKS aND reCreatION Many emerging trends have an impact and influence on the objectives and policies within the Comprehensive Plan. The following is a summary of those key trends: Emphasis on quality One trend in parks, and society in general, is an emphasis on quality. People want to play hockey on indoor ice rather than in outdoor rinks, more and more ballfields are being built with dugouts, comfortable bleachers, irrigated or artificial turf, etc. For the most part, the City is no longer building new parks and now has an opportunity to focus resources on providing more than functional facilities and equipment. Attractive spaces and facilities will attract more park users and keep them coming back. An emphasis on quality can include a number of improvement types: »Screening of unsightly areas such as restrooms, utilities and off-site views. »Garden/Landscape accents around signs, seating areas, etc. to provide color, texture and visual interest and to attract the park user’s eye. »Picnic shelters or other “signature” park elements can help create a positive park identity. »Attractive park signs to help the user identify with the place and the city. »Improved materials such as brick, block or stone, rather than wood, which are more durable, and give an impression of greater wealth. »Providing concrete bench and picnic pads to improve aesthetics and maintenance. »Multi-use indoor field house. »Standardized materials and aesthetics to provide a sense of place and community. Desire for natural areas and open space As the population ages and the amount of natural areas and open spaces diminish in urban environments, natural areas and open space become more valued by residents. There is a growing need for passive recreation places to walk to, to sit in, to have a picnic, or to watch birds or other wildlife. Even for those who do not use these natural or open spaces, there is a comfort knowing that these areas exist and have been preserved. Research has shown that proximity to parks and open space is an important factor in retaining or growing property values and deciding where to live. Desire for walking and biking paths Use of trails has become the number one recreation activity in America. Trails have universal appeal for all ages and abilities. They perform recreation and transportation functions. People like connectivity, trail loops and destinations. Roads have become busy, noisy and unsafe for walking. Trails or walks detached from roads have especially become popular as a quick way to increase recreation in our busy lives. ""Free space is good. Connected. Safe. Lit. Maintained. all a must. Makes it feel like a community. We need sidewalks. We need safe paths.