PRECA 09-05-1979 - Laserfiche WebLink

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The policy plan, adopted in 1974, incorporated the Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board and the city of St. Paul as implementing agencies, in recognition of their historical role in providing large urban parks that serve residents from throughout the Metropolitan Area. Carver County was designated as an implementing agency for Baylor, Lake Minnewashta and Lake Waconia Regional Parks. Eden prairie and Bloomington were designated as implementing.' agencies. too, because they were already involved in the acquisition of the Anderson Lakes Park Reserve area, and Eden Prairie was also acquiring Bryant Lake_Regional Park. Besides the 11 implementing agencies listed earlier, the city of Fridley has become an implementing agency.. Its role is limited to implementing a program under only one of the five categories in the regional recreation open space system --.the special recreation use category. The Interim Special Recreation Use policy plan amendment adopted by the Council in 1977 said that municipalities could be implementating agencies for special recreation use facilities of regional significance. 'Other municipalities have expressed interest in being designated as implementing agencies for programs in the regional trails and special recreation use categories. .Lino Lakes and Hugo are interested in being designated the implementing agency for part of the Otter-Bald Eagle Regional Park. It seems reasonable that the Council and Commission should limit the number of implementing agencies involved in the regional recreation open space system. Although many municipalities have park facilities that serve people who don't live in their communities, few have facilities that serve the Region to the same degree as the units in the regional park system. Communities with parks that do .provide regional service already are implementing agencies. By not designating additional implementing agencies, the Council and Commission would be able to carry out their administrative role more efficiently and effectively. Limiting the number of implementing agencies will become increasingly important as the. regional park system evolves from the acquisition and development phase to operations and maintenance of parklands. !t would also support the .premise that regional parks serve areas with populations greater than a municipality. 5• OPERATION AND MAINTENANCE FUNDING FOR THE REGIONAL PARK SYSTEM Should the policy plan address the issue of funding sources for operation a_nd maintenance of re Tonal parks, and the procedures for administration of funds? _ The existing policy-plan concentrates on the acquisition of regional recreation open space. -Now.-that much of the land has been acquired and a number of the facilities have been developed, the question becomes one of what policy should be developed regarding park operation and maintenance. 7 ~r _ - -- __,_ _--- --__