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HomeMy WebLinkAboutCH8-ParksandTrailsPLAN OF STILLWATER Chapter 8 : Parks and Trails 8-1 Parks and Trails Introduction THE City of Stillwater has acknowledged the importance of providing park, trail, and open space opportunities that enhance the quality of life of its residents and visitors. Parks and recreation facilities are essential in promoting community wellness, connecting the individual to ecological value and stewardship, promoting cultural understanding, and fostering economic viability. Goals & Objectives The following goals and objectives have been reviewed and approved by the City Council and reflect the recommendations from the committees charged to refine the goals and objectives. Park and Trail Goals Goal 1: Provide a variety of passive and active parks and other leisure, recreational and cultural opportunities that are conveniently located, accessible, affordable, safe, physically attractive and available for all Stillwater residents. Objectives 1. Ensure that neighborhoods are adequately served with convenient and well-maintained neighborhood parks and that community parks provide benefits for local residents. 2. The city will provide recreation activity sites to respond to the active and passive needs of a diverse population. 3. In considering the location and redevelopment of parks, the city shall give thought to sites based on maximum geographic and handicapped accessibility, proper topography and visibility (for the safety of park users). Chapter 8 Contents Introduction ........................8-1 Goals & Objectives ..................8-1 Existing Park Conditions .............8-4 Trail System ........................8-8 Future Needs .......................8-8 Park Needs ........................8-11 Facilities by Geographical Distribution 8-11 Future Trails of Local and Regional Significance ........................8-11 Regional Trail Planning Efforts .......8-15 Emerging Trends ...................8-15 8-2 PLAN OF STILLWATER Chapter 8 : Parks and Trails 4. Provide adequate access to trails in Stillwater with trailheads located throughout the City. Trailheads should include: parking, destinations (parks, schools, retail areas), be located at approximate one mile increments throughout the City, strategically located to provide access to regional trail connections. Goal 2: Enhance and expand existing recreational facilities for Stillwater residents based on the recreational needs of the community and its neighborhoods. Objectives 1. Designate adequate park sites for the future development of the city. 2. Construct a city-wide trail/bikeway system that connects major activity centers, schools, downtown, scenic open space areas and lakes and other adjacent community systems. 3. Recreational facilities shall be evaluated annually for maintenance and replacement needs. 4. Design park and recreational facilities to serve the recreational and social needs of residents of all ages, economic situations and physical abilities. Goal 3: Work to develop an area-wide interconnected recreation and facilities plan with other local governments, the school district and Washington County. Objectives 1. Maximize opportunities for the joint use of public land and facilities, such as schools and areas under the jurisdiction of other public agencies that have land available for possible recreation purposes. 2. Evaluate potential partnerships with school district property and other public facilities in order to maximize the use of existing public facilities for year-round and evening use. 3. Identify recreation areas that are owned by the school district or other public entities and seek permission to use those lands for recreation programs or facilities. 4. Locate new neighborhood parks in areas not necessarily adjacent to schools in order to better distribute urban open space and to enhance neighborhood identity. 5. The development of private sector recreation facilities in the appropriate locations shall be encouraged. In addition to public park improvements required of developers, the city shall promote private open space and recreation facilities in large-scale residential developments. Goal 4: Preserve an ample amount of open spaces and natural areas within the community in order to provide residents access to the outdoors and the natural environment. Objectives 1. Reinforce the riverfront as the focus of the downtown Stillwater open space system and as a significant cultural and historical amenity. The riverfront and downtown Stillwater parks are attractive assets to tourists and visitors to the community. 2. Preserve and provide views of natural resources by aligning trails appropriately. 3. Provide alternative means to reach city parks, county parks, regional parks, state parks and other community destinations. 4. Preserve and enhance public-owned ravines. 5. In the design and maintenance of parks, consideration should be given to minimize the impacts on the environment. 6. The design, construction and management of trails and pathways should be carefully planned and executed in order to minimize environmental disturbance. PLAN OF STILLWATER Chapter 8 : Parks and Trails 8-3 Goal 5: Work to integrate the expansion of open spaces and preservation of natural areas into the development process. Objectives 1. Residential developments adjacent to parks or open spaces should be encouraged to provide direct access to and common open space contiguous with such areas. 2. Require all new development to dedicate land or pay a park fee according to the park dedication policy. 3. Control land development along designated trails and pathway corridors in order to provide sufficient right of way and to ensure that adjacent new development does not detract from the scenic and aesthetic qualities of the corridor. 4. When new development occurs adjacent to a designated trail and pathway corridor, the city should require the development to install the trails. 5. Public improvements such as roads that are to be located within trail and pathway corridors should be designed to provide safe and secure routes for trails, including grade separation whenever feasible. 6. Encourage the incorporation of trails and pathways into corridors used for public and utility purposes. Existing Partnerships The Stillwater Parks System relies on partners such as the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (MnDNR), Washington County, School District, and adjacent cities to provide access to parks, recreation facilities and recreation programming. These types of partnerships are listed below: • Parks and Recreation Commission: The Park and Recreation Commission is organized by City Code, Chapter 48. Its purpose is to advise the City Council and other advisory commissions regarding matters relevant to parks, open spaces, and recreation functions, including development and management of City Parks, trails and playgrounds. The parks commission consists of seven members, who serve for a period of three years. They meet once a month to discuss parks and recreation policy. • Washington County: Washington County maintains the Historic Courthouse located in Stillwater. Future Washington County recreation facilities in Stillwater include: Central Greenway Regional Trail that follows the western boundary of the city, and the Middle St. Croix Valley Regional Trail, which will connect to the eastern end of the Brown’s Creek State Trail and travel south along the St. Croix River to Bayport. • Stillwater Area School District #834: Stillwater Area Public Schools, also known as Independent School District #834, is a school district serving communities surrounding Stillwater. It currently serves about 8,300 students in 11 schools. Schools located in Stillwater include: * Early Childhood Family Center * Lily Lake Elementary School * Rutherford Elementary School * Stonebridge Elementary School * Stillwater Middle School * New Heights School • Friends of Stillwater Parks: Friends of Stillwater Parks is a volunteer community organization dedicated to promoting community involvement, stewardship of natural resources, and educational and recreational activities within our parks. This organization offers grants to groups conducting activities like special events, invasive plant reduction projects, and educational programs in local parks. • DIRO Outdoors: In 2018, Stillwater 8-4 PLAN OF STILLWATER Chapter 8 : Parks and Trails partnered with DIRO Outdoors to offer an outdoor self-serve bike rental station in downtown. The bike rental station is located outside of Water Street Inn, on the corner of Water Street and Myrtle Street. The program is managed and operated by DIRO Outdoors. Existing Park Conditions Stillwater includes a variety of community parks, neighborhood parks, and open spaces and natural areas that provide access to the outdoors for residents and visitors (see Figure 8.1). Over half of the city parkland is categorized as open spaces and natural areas, while neighborhood parks account for a little over 10% of the parkland acreage (see Table 8.1). Overall, Stillwater has developed 41 parks and recreation facilities – each one offers a variety of amenities and features (see Table 8.2). These facilities total approximately 393 acres and are described in more detail throughout this section. Community Parks Community parks serve as a focus for the community’s recreation, social, and cultural needs and activities. They can provide a wide array of recreation opportunities ranging from active to passive. Community parks may be located to take advantage of significant cultural, historic, or geographic features. Some community parks will serve the entire city depending on their purpose. Parks should be strategically located and uniformly dispersed throughout the community. Community parks are larger than neighborhood parks generally requiring 15 acres or more. Stillwater contains 12 community parks: • Boutwell Cemetery Park • Bridgeview Park • Brown’s Creek Park • Lily Lake Park • Lowell Park • Millbrook Community Park • Northland Park • Pioneer Park • Public Works Park • Stillwater Area Dog Park • Sunrise Park • Teddy Bear Park It is important to recognize the City is planning to add one more community park in the near future. In the Downtown Area, master plans have been completed for Lowell Park. These plans are being reviewed and coordinated in the downtown plan, to take into account the proposed flood levee improvements and the future recent St. Croix River Crossing bridge with its loop trail and ongoing conversion of the lift bridge to a pedestrian and bicycle bridge. Table 8.1: Stillwater Parks and Open Space Park Type Acres % of system Community Park 130 33% Neighborhood Park 43 11% Open Space and Natural Area 221 56% TOTAL City Parkland 393 100% Private Golf Courses 296 - Private Recreation 16 - Brick Pond South Twin Lake McKusick Lake Long Lake Lily Lake S t. C r o ix R i v e r ¬«15 ¬«66 ¬«12 ¬«24 ¬«23 ¬«5 ¬«5 ¬«55 ¬«64 ¬«5 ¬«11 ")36 ")95 ")95 ")5 ")96 NEALAVENGREELEYSTSOSGOOD AVE NCROIXWOODBLVD WASHINGTONAV E CURV E C R E S T B L V D W CURV E CRES T BLVD W 60TH ST NSTILLWATER BLVD N60TH ST N OWENS ST NO RLEANS ST W OAKGREENAVENPINE ST W 2ND ST NMANNING AVE N7 5 T H S T N B E A C H RDN3RD ST S6TH AVE SC H E S T N U T S T EMYRTLE S T E MAI N S T SSAINTCROIXTRLN 59 TH ST NMAINSTNOWENSST SS T O N E B R I D G E T R L NSTONEBRIDGETRLNMCKUSICK RD N OLIVE ST W MYRTLE ST W ORLEANS ST E CHURCHILL ST W CHURCHILL ST E HAZEL ST E DELLWOOD RD N LAUREL ST W P IN E S T E GREELEYSTSMANNINGAVEN62ND ST N NORELLAVENNORTHLANDAVE60TH ST N SAI NTCROI XTRL NMCKUSICK RDB O O M RDStonebridge Elementary School New Heights SchoolRutherford Elementary School Former Oak Park Elementary School Lily Lake Elementary School Old Athletic Field Jaycee's Fields Stillwater Middle School School District Office Anez Ridge Park Benson Park Bergmann Park Browns Creek Natural Preserve Browns Creek Park Creekside Park Croixwood Open Space Bridgeview Park Boutwell Cemetery Park Heritage Park Lakeside Park Legends Gazebo Legends Park Liberty Square Lily Lake Park Long Lake Natural Area Long Lake Open space Lowell Park McKusick Lake Trail & Dike McKusick Park Meadowlark Park Millbrook Community Park Nightingale Park Northland Park Pioneer Park Prairie Park Public Works Park Ramsey Grove Park Schulenberg Park Settlers Park St. Croix Valley Recreation Center Staples Field Sunrise Park Teddy Bear Park Triangle Park Washington Square Millbrook Neighborhood Park Fairy Falls Park Future Aiple Park Kolliner Park Oak Glen Golf Course Stillwater Country Club Stillwater Area Dog Park µ0 2,000 4,0001,000 Feet Community Park Neighborhood Park Open Space and Natural Area Golf course Recreation Facility School District Property Other Publicly Owned Property City Limit Parks and Open Space Figure 8.1: Parks & Open Space Table 8.2: Stillwater Parks Inventory (Source: City of Stillwater) Park Name Large Picnic SheltersPicnic ShelternotesSinglecovered tablesUncovered TablesElectricityGrillsBenchesTrash ReceptacleFlagPoleBathrooms SatellitesDrinkingFountainsWalking/HikingPathPlaygroundSoccer, Lacrosse, FootballFieldsBaseball/SoftballFieldsRecreational FieldsHorseshoePitsVolleyball courtsVolleyball Court notesTennisCourtslighted (tenniscourts)BasketballCourtsBasketballcourtnotesIndoor SkatingFacilityOutdoor SkatingRinksOutdoor SkatingRink notesOther Facilities 1 Pioneer Park 2 6 tables in each 8 1 2 20 10 indoor 2 1 1 Band Shell & Scenic View & Bulletin Board, Irrigation 2 Lily Lake Park 1 4 tables 2 6 2 3 12 indoor 2 1 2 1 sand 3 3 1 lighted 1 Fishing Pier, Irrigation on Fields 3 Washington Square 1 4 tables 1 4 1 1 2 1 1 Irrigation 4 Lowell Park 1 1 12 12 1 indoor 1 1 Gazebo & Scenic View & Fishing, Amphitheater, Irrigation 5 Northland Park - Lower 1 1 3 1 1 111 20 rubber 3 3 1 lights Roller Hockey, Irrigation on Field, Parking Lot Northland Park - Upper 11 1 6 Sunrise Park 2 7 1 111 1 7 Meadowlark Park 2 14 1 1 sand & lights 1 full size 1 lights 8 Ramsey-Grove Park 2 1 2 23 1 1 1 full size Sledding Hill 9 Staples Field 1 32 1 1 1 1 3 3 1 Community Garden 10 So. Broadway - Triangle Park 21 1 11 Schulenberg Park 1 2 tables 1 1 1 Sledding Hill 12 McKusick Park 1 11 Bike Repair Station, Kiosk, Parking Lot 13 Benson Park 2 1 1 11 4 1 1 1 1 1 1 sand 1 1 14 Anez Ridge Park 2 1 6 1 1 2 1 grass 15 Kolliner Park in WI (boat access only) 16 Nightingale Park 1 Pond 17 Brown's Creek Park 21 1 Parking Lot 18 Brown's Creek Nature Preserve 111 Cross Country Skiing, Parking Lot 19 Legends Gazebo Gazebo 20 Croixwood Open Space 1 21 Long Lake Open Space 1 22 St Croix Valley Rec Center 1 1 2 3 indoor indoor 21 Concessions, Warming House 23 McKusick Lake Trail & Dike 1 13 Fishing Pier, Boardwalk 24 Creekside Park 1 1 11 wetland area 25 Settlers Park 13 1 2 1 1 1 1 2 Irrigation 26 Heritage Park 1 no tables 3 1 12 1 1 1 1 27 Legends Park 1 11 1 Irrigation 28 Long Lake Nature Area 1 Lake View 29 Public Works Park 211 1 cemetery, batting cage, dugouts, irrigation 30 Prairie Park 1 31 1 1 1 31 Bergmann Park 3 2 tables in each 61 1 1 1 1 wetland area 32 Teddy Bear Park 11 Amphitheater, Irrigation 33 Liberty Square 1 4 tables pond 34 Skateboard Park 2 Skateboard and BMX bike facilities 35 Old Athletic Field 11 1 36 Millbrook Community Park 1 2 2 Sat 1 1 1 1 1 Parking Lot, Irrigation 37 Millbrook Neighborhood Park 38 Bridgeview 1 39 Aiple 40 15 & 96 TOTALS 11 14 28 5 7 112 73 4 9 12 18 20 9 5 11 2 4 11 9 5 3 6 PLAN OF STILLWATER Chapter 8 : Parks and Trails 8-7 Neighborhood Parks Neighborhood parks provide for the recreation needs of a surrounding residential neighborhood. These parks provide a location for informal play and opportunities for social gatherings that promote a sense of community. They also provide open green space and visual relief for a surrounding neighborhood that can be highly developed. Park sizes can range from 1 to 15 acres but are typically less than 5 acres. They are located as central as possible to a neighborhood they serve and are usually accessible from a trail or sidewalk. Neighborhood park features include picnic areas, playground equipment, a multipurpose playing field and/or playing courts. Neighborhood parks are typically spaced at 1/4 mile increments. Neighborhood Parks in Stillwater include the following: • Anez Ridge Park • Benson Park • Bergmann Park • Creekside Park • Heritage Park • Legends Gazebo • Legends Park • Liberty Square • McKusick Park • Meadowlark Park • Millbrook Neighborhood Park • Prairie Park • Ramsey-Grove Park • Schulenburg Park • Settlers Park • So. Broadway - Triangle Park • Staples Field • Washington Square Open Space and Natural Areas Open space serves to protect important natural areas in the community. They also provide a visual relief for a surrounding neighborhood that can be highly developed. Due to the sensitivity of the areas it is not anticipated that these areas will be developed for active recreation uses. Rather, they will remain in an undeveloped state and will offer selective passive uses including trails and picnic areas. These areas include: • Brown’s Creek Nature Preserve • Croixwood Open Space • Fairy Falls Park • Kolliner Park in WI • Lakeside Park • Long Lake Natural Area • Long Lake Open Space • McKusick Lake Trail & Dike • Nightingale Park Private Recreation Privately operated recreational facilities in Stillwater include the St. Croix Valley Recreation Center, Lily Lake Ice Rink and the Skateboard Park: • The St. Croix Valley Recreation Center serves a regional need. It provides indoor recreation facilities for all ages, including facilities for ice skating, hockey, soccer and walking. Its facilities may be rented for special events. Lily Lake Ice Rink serves as a secondary facility to the Recreation Center and provides additional ice during high demand times. • Lily Lake Park is one of the larger recreation facilities in the older portion of the community. This park contains softball fields, tennis courts, a basketball court, a sand volleyball court and an indoor ice arena (privately operated) with one sheet of ice and seating capacity of 787. The park also has a picnic shelter with six picnic tables, B.B.Q. grills, playground equipment, single picnic shelters scattered on the beach, and boat launch with dock and fishing pier. Two other facilities that provide important recreation opportunities are the Jaycee’s Fields and the Old Athletic Field, both owned by School 8-8 PLAN OF STILLWATER Chapter 8 : Parks and Trails District 834. As these fields provide numerous public benefits, it is the City’s hope to acquire them if the school district ever considers selling them. It is the City’s desire to continue to offer these two sites for public recreation purposes. Regional Parks There are no regional parks or regional park search areas identified within Stillwater. However, the Comprehensive Plan recognizes the regional efforts in building a stronger, more cohesive Regional Bicycle Transportation Network (RBTN) to link together parks, communities and other regional destinations. This network is discussed in more detail in the Transportation Chapter. Regional and State parks that are in close proximity to Stillwater and offer recreational options for Stillwater residents include William O’Brien State Park, Lake Elmo Regional Park Reserve, Pine Point Regional Park, and Afton State Park. Trail System Communities across the country have worked hard to improve their quality of life through developing trail systems – connecting individual trail segments to form larger recreation and transportation networks. Creating more trail connections among existing trails multiplies their effect and usage. Trails provide opportunities for people of all ages to walk to local destinations, bike to work, exercise, meet neighbors, observe local wildlife, and experience the outdoors with their families in an efficient and safe manner. Existing Trail Conditions In 2015, the city adopted the update to its Trails Master Plan. The goal of the plan is to develop and maintain a city-wide interconnected network of trails to provide recreational and transportation opportunities for city residents and visitors. More importantly, the Trail Plan identifies opportunities to connect regional and state trails, such as the Brown’s Creek Trail (see Figure 8.2). The proposed trail network is shown in Figure 8.3 Trails and Sidewalks. “Trails” in the older Stillwater neighborhoods are mainly sidewalks. The city has developed several trails that help to link the older neighborhoods with developing neighborhoods in western Stillwater, including the following: • The McKusick Ravine Trail • Trails and boardwalk around McKusick Lake • County Road 12 and 5 Trails • Stonebridge Trail • Eagle Ridge Trail Future Needs Stillwater residents value their parks and trails. Residents are interested in more unique destinations and facilities, such as aquatic facilities, outdoor/indoor pool, and outdoor splash pads for children. The Community Facilities section of the Comprehensive Plan addresses the needs and recommendations for these types of facilities in more detail. During the past two comprehensive planning processes, public input was collected on how the community felt about parks and trails. Many value the open space and uniqueness of natural surroundings. These values were confirmed as part of this update and with the Advisory Committee. These types of features should be preserved and made accessible when possible to enjoy up close. Overall the community values the park system, but sees opportunity for enhancement such as improving walkability and interconnectivity between neighborhoods and destinations. Expanding the trail system in multiple locations was a popular opinion voiced by many residents. Others in the community expressed the need for the following park amenities: • Public access to river (boat dock, fishing, swimming beach) • Public sporting complex that includes soccer, baseball, and softball fields • Public swimming pool/YMCA facility • Teen center St. Joseph Twp. Somerset Twp. Baytown Twp. Grant Lake Elmo Oak Park Heights Stillwater Stillwater Twp.CentralGreenwayCentralGreenwayMi d d l e S t.Cr o i x V a ll e y Browns Creek State Trail Regional Parks System 0 1 20.5 Miles City of Stillwater, Washington County Regional Parks Existing In Master Plan Planned Parks and Reserves Regional Trails Existing Regional Trails Planned Regional Trails Regional Trail Corridor Land Minnesota Valley National Wildlife Refuge State Parks State Wildlife Management Areas (Publicly Accessible) Scientific and Natural Areas (SNA) Other Parks and Preserves Existing State Trails Street Centerlines (NCompass) Lakes and Major Rivers Regional Park Search Areas and Regional Trail Search Corridors Boundary Adjustments Search Areas Regional Trails - 2040 System Additions Regional Trail Search Corridors Figure 8.2: Regional Trails Brick Pond South Twin Lake McKusick Lake Long Lake Lily Lake S t. C r o ix R i v e r ¬«15 ¬«66 ¬«12 ¬«24 ¬«23 ¬«5 ¬«5 ¬«55 ¬«64 ¬«5 ¬«11 ")36 ")95 ")95 ")5 ")96 NEALAVENGREELEYSTSOSGOOD AVE NCROIXWOODBLVD WASHINGTONAV E CURV E C R E S T B L V D W CURV E C RES T BLVD W 60TH ST NSTILLWATER BLVD N60TH ST N OWENS ST NO RLEANS ST W OAKGREENAVENPINE ST W 2ND ST NMANNING AVE N7 5 T H S T N B E A C H RDN3RD ST S6TH AVE SC H E S T N U T S T EMYRTLE S T E MAI N S T SSAINTCROIXTRLN 59 T H ST NMAINSTNOWENSST SS T O N E B RI D G E T R L NSTONEBRIDGETRLNMCKUSICK RD N OLIVE ST W MYRTLE ST W ORLEANS ST E CHURCHILL ST W CHURCHILL ST E HAZEL ST E DELLWOOD RD N LAUREL ST W P IN E S T E GREELEYSTSMANNINGAVEN62ND ST N NORELLAVENNORTHLANDAVE60TH ST N SAI NTCROI XTRL NMCKUSICK RDB O O M RDStonebridge Elementary School New Heights SchoolRutherford Elementary School Former Oak Park Elementary School Lily Lake Elementary School Old Athletic Field Jaycee's Fields Stillwater Middle School School District Office Anez Ridge Park Benson Park Bergmann Park Browns Creek Natural Preserve Browns Creek Park Creekside Park Croixwood Open Space Bridgeview Park Boutwell Cemetery Park Heritage Park Lakeside Park Legends Gazebo Legends Park Liberty Square Lily Lake Park Long Lake Natural Area Long Lake Open space Lowell Park McKusick Lake Trail & Dike McKusick Park Meadowlark Park Millbrook Community Park Nightingale Park Northland Park Pioneer Park Prairie Park Public Works Park Ramsey Grove Park Schulenberg Park Settlers Park St. Croix Valley Recreation Center Staples Field Sunrise Park Teddy Bear Park Triangle Park Washington Square Millbrook Neighborhood Park Fairy Falls Park Future Aiple Park Kolliner Park Oak Glen Golf Course Stillwater Country Club Stillwater Area Dog Park µ0 2,000 4,0001,000 Feet k Existing and Future Trailheads Stairs Bridge Paved Trail Future Trail Sidewalk Natural Path Bike Lane Future Shared Bike Route City Parks Golf course Recreation Facility School District Property Other Publicly Owned Property City Limit Trails and Sidew alks Figure 8.3: Trails and Sidewalks PLAN OF STILLWATER Chapter 8 : Parks and Trails 8-11 • Frisbee golf course • Public restrooms downtown and along trails • Obstacle course or adventure races for teenagers and adults Park Needs Understanding the community’s current park and recreation needs will help to plan for future park improvements for the projected 2040 population. In that respect, the City has established a goal of 7 acres of Neighborhood Park per 1,000 people and 3 acres of Community Park per 1,000 people. Table 8.3 shows the current and projected level of service based on these requirements. Based on the 2020 estimated population, Stillwater has a deficit of neighborhood park acreage of 101.2 acres. However, when including the surplus of community park acreage and if open space and natural areas acreage is included in the calculation, Stillwater meets its needs for 10 acres of parkland per 1,000 residents with a surplus of 206.0 acres for 2020 population and a surplus of 165 acres for 2040 forecasted population. Facilities by Geographical Distribution Stillwater has set a goal to provide park facilities within 1/4 mile or less of residents, with no major physical barriers within that 1/4 mile distance. Figure 8.4 shows the adequacy of the community’s park facilities including school facilities in terms of geographic distribution. It can be seen from the figure that there are two areas the city could consider for additional parkland. The first is south of New Heights School and north of Washington Square. In this area approximately eight blocks of residential neighborhood are not served by a park or school facility. A small neighborhood park could be placed on a blighted single-family lot in this residential area. There are a few small pockets of residential areas scattered around the northern boundary of the City that are more than ¼ mile from a park or school. These areas were previously considered within park service areas as they were near the golf courses. While the golf courses are open space, they do not provide the types of recreation facilities that neighborhood or community parks would normally provide. As these areas are already developed, it may not be possible to provide neighborhood or community parks within ¼ mile of some residential areas. The future Aiple Park will serve some underserved residential areas with park space within ¼ mile walking distance. The residential neighborhood between Stillwater Junior High and the Old Athletic Field does not meet the ¼ mile Park Service standard. It does however fall into the ¼ mile School Service standard. This area could also host a small neighborhood park to provide adequate recreational opportunities to residents. Many of the access issues are addressed in the future trail plan allowing safe pedestrian travelways to park destinations from residential neighborhoods. Additional trail planning will be needed as parks are added to the system. Future Trails of Local and Regional Significance Improving the local trail system involves identifying gaps and planning to fill those gaps in order to enhance connections between neighborhoods and destinations within and outside the City limits. These gaps have been identified through separate master planning efforts. As noted, Stillwater has adopted a Trail Master Plan (2015). The plan identifies important enhancements to the transportation system that allow residents, visitors and tourists an alternative means of getting to work, school, and employment centers. Findings and recommendations from the Trail Master Plan are highlighted throughout this section. Stillwater Trail Master Plan (2015) The Trail Plan includes specific direction for trail design, location, type, construction, maintenance and signage. It also discusses priorities for system improvements. Figure 8.3: Trails and Sidewalks 8-12 PLAN OF STILLWATER Chapter 8 : Parks and Trails The City is implementing the Trail Plan as a part of new development, and as improvements to roadways or other infrastructure occurs. The plan notes the following system issues that the city is continuing to work on: • Some trails are unfinished, or do not interconnect • Trails are not available to some primary destinations, such as elementary schools or parks • Trails are not sufficient to the St. Croix River or proposed future trail loop • Some older trails do not meet current design standards • There are needs for ongoing maintenance and consistent signage One significant ongoing trail project includes the conversion of the historic Lift Bridge to a pedestrian and bike connection, and development of new trails along the St. Croix between the Lift Bridge and the new St. Croix River Bridge, on both the Minnesota and Wisconsin sides of the Riverway. These trail projects are in process and plan to be completed Table 8.3: Level of Service Park Type Neighborhood Parks Community Parks Open Space and Natural Areas Total (incl. Open Space and Natural Areas) Number of Parks 19 13*9 41 Acres 43 130 221 393 Local Standard (per 1,000 residents) 7.0 acres 3.0 acres 10.0 acres 2020 Need based on Local Standard (2020 population est: 20,600) 144.2 acres 61.8 acres 206.0 acres 2020 Surplus (Deficit)(101.2 acres)68.2 acres 187 acres 2040 Need based on Standard (2040 population est: 22,800) 159.6 acres 68.4 acres 228.0 acres 2040 Surplus (Deficit)(116.6 acres)61.6 acres 165 acres *Future Aiple Park is included in the calculation of existing community parks. within the next few years. Furthermore, the Trail Plan recognizes the trail gaps in the western part of the community. This is the last part of the city to have pockets of open developable residential and commercial land. In conjunction with the development of this property, consideration should be given to adding to and improving the current trail system. One area of concern is around the Rutherford Elementary School. Many school districts are limiting bus service due to budget constraints and require students to utilize other means to get to school; e.g. walking and biking. Currently there is no trail available on the north side of County Road 12, which would make it dangerous to walk or bike to school from neighborhoods to the north of Myrtle Street. The Park and Trail Plan identifies the need at County Road 12 for a future underpass, which would safely connect future trails north of Myrtle Street to trails south of Myrtle Street. Brick Pond South Twin Lake McKusick Lake Long Lake Lily Lake S t. C r o i x R iv e r ¬«15 ¬«66 ¬«12 ¬«24 ¬«23 ¬«5 ¬«5 ¬«55 ¬«64 ¬«5 ¬«11 ")36 ")95 ")95 ")5 ")96 NEALAVENGREELEYSTSOSGOOD AVE NCROIXWOODBLVD WASHINGTONAV E CURV E C R E S T B L V D W CURV E C RES T BLVD W 60TH ST NSTILLWATER BLVD N60TH ST N OWENS ST NO RLEANS ST W OAKGREENAVENPINE ST W 2ND ST NMANNING AVE N7 5 T H S T N B E A C HRDN3RD ST S6TH AVE SC H E S T N U T S T EMYRTLE S T E M AI N S T SSAINTCROIXTRLN 59 T H ST NMAINSTNOWENSST SS T O N E B RI D G E T R L NSTONEBRIDGETRLNMCKUSICK RD N OLIVE ST W MYRTLE ST W ORLEANS ST E CHURCHILL ST W CHURCHILL ST E HAZEL ST E DELLWOOD RD N LAUREL ST W P IN E S T E GREELEYSTSMANNINGAVEN62ND ST N NORELLAVENNORTHLANDAVE60TH ST N SAI NTCROI XTRL NMCKUSICK RDB O O M RDStonebridge Elementary School New Heights SchoolRutherford Elementary School Former Oak Park Elementary School Lily Lake Elementary School Old Athletic Field Jaycee's Fields Stillwater Middle School School District Office Anez Ridge Park Benson Park Bergmann Park Browns Creek Natural Preserve Browns Creek Park Creekside Park Croixwood Open Space Bridgeview Park Boutwell Cemetery Park Heritage Park Lakeside Park Legends Gazebo Legends Park Liberty Square Lily Lake Park Long Lake Natural Area Long Lake Open space Lowell Park McKusick Lake Trail & Dike McKusick Park Meadowlark Park Millbrook Community Park Nightingale Park Northland Park Pioneer Park Prairie Park Public Works Park Ramsey Grove Park Schulenberg Park Settlers Park St. Croix Valley Recreation Center Staples Field Sunrise Park Teddy Bear Park Triangle Park Washington Square Millbrook Neighborhood Park Fairy Falls Park Future Aiple Park Kolliner Park Oak Glen Golf Course Stillwater Country Club Stillwater Area Dog Park µ0 2,000 4,0001,000 Feet 1/4 Mile Park Service Area 1/4 Mile School Service Area Residential areas more than 1/4 mile from City Park or School Stairs Bridge Paved Trail Future Trail Sidewalk Natural Path Bike Lane Future Shared Bike Route Community Park Neighborhood Park Open Space and Natural Area Golf course Recreation Facility Other Publicly Owned Property School District Property City Limit Level of Service Figure 8.4: Level of Service This page intentionally left blank. PLAN OF STILLWATER Chapter 8 : Parks and Trails 8-15 Regional Trail Planning Efforts The Metropolitan Council has required the City to include two additional trail segments in the master trail plan. These include the following: • Washington County Central Greenway Regional Trail (Future): This regional trail runs north-south in Washington County. It is intended to connect trail users to Cottage Grove Ravine Regional Park, Lake Elmo Park Reserve, and Big Marine Park Reserve. Part of the trail is located within Stillwater. In the future Washington County will be working with the City to plan more of the trail alignment. Much of the trail along Manning Avenue is in place today. • Middle St. Croix Valley Regional Trail Search Corridor (Future): This proposed trail would connect the Brown’s Creek State Trail that runs through the north part of Stillwater down along the St. Croix River to communities to the south. Emerging Trends As the City plans for the future, it should be cognizant of emerging trends for parks and trails. A few of these trends are captured in this section. Access to Water Stillwater has become a popular tourist destination in part due to its relationship to the St. Croix River. Visitors and residents alike are participating in boating and water sports. As the city expands and improves its park system, consideration will be given to creating public access to the river. Aquatic amenities in local parks such as splash pads, which provide water play features are also on the rise. Many cities throughout the country are constructing these water playgrounds as they become more popular and requested by citizens. They are also low maintenance for city staff to manage. Spray jets can serve dual purposes by providing an attractive water feature in a public plaza. Sustainability The need and awareness to be environmentally sensitive in the way residents and visitors impact the city’s natural surroundings is ever increasing. The City of Stillwater recognizes that in order for change to occur it must start by adopting goals and standards to protect resources for future generations. The city has ample opportunity to demonstrate and educate its residents on more sustainable practices through the park, trail, and open space system. Sustainability in park planning can take a variety of forms. By reducing impervious surfaces such as parking lots, water body quality can be improved as surface water runoff pollutants are reduced. Stormwater treatment through alternative methods such as rain gardens and native plantings can also reduce infrastructure costs. Utilizing the appropriate Best Management Practices (BMP’s) for park maintenance and new development will lessen human impact on the natural environment. Greenway Corridors A new trend in trail planning has emerged that engages transportation engineers, water resource specialists, ecologists, planners, and open space advocates. Today, trails have become part of greenway corridors that provide wildlife habitat and movement corridors, open space vistas, water treatment benefits, and the opportunity to interpret local history and culture. As part of the City’s trail planning efforts, best practices should be applied that enhance and protect natural resources and water quality. 8-16 PLAN OF STILLWATER Chapter 8 : Parks and Trails This page intentionally left blank.