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~; <br />a <br />.. <br />5.30.84 <br />RECREATION OPEN-SPACE DEVELOPMENT GUIDE/POLICY PLAN <br />ISSUES PAPER <br />INTRODUCTION <br />The Metropolitan Council is reviewing its Policy Plan for Regional Recreation <br />Open Space and will adopt a revised plan by early 1985. The .Council seeks com- <br />ments about the strengths and weaknesses of the current plan and also seeks new <br />issues which people believe should be considered in the revision. This issue <br />papew is the .first part of that public process. It has been prepared by the <br />Metropolfitan Parks and Open Space Commission to prompt discussion at a series <br />of public meetings in Juiy and August, 1984. <br />The goals from the 1980 plan, with some questions, are listed as a first issue, <br />followed by a series of specific issues received from individuals and .agencies. <br />Issues were selected to provoke public reaction as well as to list what the <br />commission-and Council hope to hear about. The commission is confident that <br />other issues exist and hopes they will come forward during the meetings. The <br />meetings. will also give the public a chance to speak for or against any <br />specific or general topics they believe should be considered about the regional <br />recreation open space system. Following *,he meeting, a revised draft policy <br />plan will be developed and circulated for a public hearing, currently scheduled <br />for November of 2984. After the hearing, a final revised policy plan will be <br />reviewed .and adopted. <br />BACKGROUND <br />In 1974, following extended discussion, the Minnesota Legislature passed the <br />Metropolitan Parks Act. The law makes the Metropolitan Council, with the <br />advice of the Metropolitan Parks and Open Space Commission, responsible for <br />preparing and adopting a.policy plan for a regional recreation open space <br />system. The parks act requires periodic Council review of this policy plan.: <br />The first policy plan was adopted as a chapter for regional recreation open <br />space in the Council"s Metropolitan Development Guide in 1974. Following <br />extensive discussion, the plan was revised-and adopted again in 1980., <br />The regional recreation open space system is implemented by 10 agencies-- <br />counties,. municipalities and special park districts. Implementing agencies are <br />eligible to receive grants from the Council for acquisition and development of <br />regional parks in accord with master plans which the agencies prepare. The <br />Metropolitan Council reviews master plans for consistency with the regional <br />recreation open space system policy plan and then approves them. The imple- <br />menting agencies own and. operate the regional parks. <br />~-~ C;i" ~ ~° t <br />~° , <br />