Inventory and Management Recommendations for Future Recreational Needs: Anoka County

1. Inventory and Management Recommendations for Future Recreational Needs: Anoka County Presented by Brian Valentine, project manager, Jonathan Burkham, Michelle Chaney, Lara Christley, and Amy Jo Petersen

2. Where is Anoka County?

3. Virtual Tour of Anoka County • A wide variety of parks and landscapes ranging from natural to developed • 102 natural parks • 280 developed parks

14. What Residents Like To Do:Outdoor Recreation Compared to Other Free Time Interests

15. What we found • Population • concentration • projection • Number of parks • Basic facilities • Sports facilities • basketball and tennis courts • baseball and soccer fields • hockey and skating rinks

16. Population Distribution in Anoka County

17. Population Projections • Fastest growing • Ramsey (37%) • Andover (37%) • Slowest growing • Spring Lake Park (-12%)

18. Number of Parks in Anoka County • County manages 21 parks • 382 parks in Anoka County

19. Basic facilities: picnic shelters and playgrounds • County manages 51 picnic shelters and playgrounds • Seating capacity -- 2,514

20. Sports facilities: basketball and tennis courts, baseball and soccer fields, hockey and skating rinks • Coon Rapids has 151 sports facilities

21. Anoka County Residents’ Recreation Patterns and Desires

22. Residents’ Recreation Patterns and Desires Continued: Residents’ Perception of: • Recreational Activities • Recreational Facilities • Needs and Ways to Fund Parks and Open Spaces Recommendations

23. Recreational Activities:What Do Residents Want to do More Often? % • Visiting Zoos 38 • Fishing 36 • Camping 34 • Walking 28 (in Natural Areas) • % • Biking on Paved 27 • Trails (in Large Parks) • Non-Power Boating 27 • Swimming at Beach 25

24. Why Don’t Resident’s Participate More Often? Too Busy Facility Too Far Away • Visiting Zoos • Camping • Walking (in natural areas) • Biking on Paved Trails (in large parks) • Non-Power Boating • Swimming at a Beach

25. Too Expensive • Visiting Zoos • Camping • Non-Power Boating Facility Too Crowded • Camping • Swimming at Beach

26. Recreational Facilities:Facilities Residents Want More Of: % • Bike Paths 43 • Fishing Docks 41 • Natural Areas 38 • Campgrounds 38 • Hiking Trails 37 • Beaches 35

27. Opinions of Parks Parks are Valuable

28. Opinions of Parks Will Need More Park Land in the Future

29. There are Two Kinds of Parks in the Twin Cities Metro Area Natural and Developed

30. Developed Park • Ball fields • Skating rink • Tennis Courts • Playground • Recreation center Natural Park • Large tract of land • Beach • Picnic area • Hiking, biking and skiing trails • Boat launch on a lake • Naturalist programs

31. What Types of Parks do Residents Want? % • Need more natural parks 39 • Need more developed parks 10 Residents want Natural vs. Developed parks 4:1

32. How do Residents Feel About Being Charged Fees? “I think people should be charged an admission fee to use …” • a natural park • a developed park

33. Charge Fees to Use Parks

34. How Should We Meet Increased Park Operating Costs? % • Increase user fees 57% • Increase taxes 13% • Reduce park services 11%

35. Local Government Should Spend the Same or More on: % • Fire 99.0 • Police 96.6 • Streets and Highways 95.1 • Libraries 93.0 • Public Health 91.3 • Schools 90.3 • Parks and Recreation 90.0

36. Recommendations Regarding: • Additional Facilities • Improving Existing Facilities • Programming

37. Additional Facilities Build Paved Bike Trails Create Additional Beaches Preserve Large Open Spaces • Improving Existing Facilities • Expand Water Park in Bunker Hills • Increase Toilet and Drinking Facilities • Increase Canoeing Opportunities

38. Programming Provide Funding for Zoomobile Create Nature Trails with Educational Theme

39. Build Paved Bike Trails (in large parks) Rum River Central Residents want more • There are “too few” of this facility: • 43% residents • Reason for not participating: • facility is too far away Why is this important? • National trend in bicycling Where ? Mississippi West Co. Bunker Hills

40. Preserve Large Open Spaces Residents want more • 4:1 residents prefer natural parks to developed parks • There are “too few” of this facility ranked 2nd most important Why is this important? • Promote ecological awareness and protect ecosystems Where? • Burns Township • Area has a diverse plant and animal community

41. Expand the Water Park at Bunker Hills Regional Park Residents want more • Reason for not participating: • Facility too crowded Where? • Improve existing facility • water slide, lazy river How? • Publicly financed • income generated from entrance fees, concessions, locker rentals

42. Thank you for your time and attention