Inventory and Management for Future Recreational Needs: Northern Washington County

1. Inventory and Management for Future Recreational Needs:Northern Washington County Pam Ehlers-Stec, Project Manager Jason Berkner, Jared Bernarde, Sarah Nelsen, Sarah Raith

2. Description of Study Area: • Location of Northern Washington County? • East Metro • Study Area Boundaries • St. Croix River • Hwy 36 • Ramsey and Anoka

4. Tour of Washington County

12. Existing Park Lands:

13. Existing Facilities: • Picnic shelters and tables • Fishing Piers • Swimming Beaches • Campsites • Trails • Biking • Walking • Horse

14. Participation in Recreation Activities: • Most Common Activities • Travel/sightseeing • Visiting Zoos • Walking in natural areas • Picnicking • Gardening

15. Activities Residents’ Want to do More Often: • Fishing • Camping • Walking in natural areas • Gardening

16. Reasons Residents’ Were NOT Able to Participate More Often: • Too busy— other responsibilities • Too busy— other free time interests • No one to do it with • Physically not able • Facilities too far away/too crowded • Don’t know anyplace • Too expensive

17. Too Many: Golf Courses Snowmobile Trails Inline Skating Paths Horse Paths Too Few: Fishing Piers Natural Areas Campgrounds Boat Launches Nature Centers Bike Paths Perceptions of Recreation Facilities:

18. Facilities Important to Residents’: • Natural areas • Fishing piers • Bike paths • Campgrounds • Boat launches • Nature centers

19. Types of Parks Residents’ Prefer: • 42% prefer natural • 12% prefer developed

20. Funding Parks and Open Spaces: • How to pay for increased park operating costs: • User Fees • Taxes • Be more efficient • Where does Parks and Recreation rank?

21. Government Spending on Parks and Recreation Compared to Other Services: • Fire • Police • Streets and highways • Libraries • Public health • Schools • Parks and recreation • Sewers • Public transit • Housing and redevelopment • Welfare • 98.7% • 98.2 • 95.3 • 90.8 • 90.4 • 88.0 • 87.8 • 87.7 • 74.6 • 60.8 • 35.5

23. Recommendations: Northern Washington County

24. Upgrade existing facilities for people with disabilities • Create more natural areas • Increase residents’ awareness and use of existing facilities

25. Build more fishing piers • Create more campgrounds • Create bike paths • Create more community gardens • Expand existing visitor centers

26. Upgrade existing facilities for people with disabilities: • Resident perceptions • Americans with Disabilities Act • Responsibilities • Goals of recreation managers

27. Create more natural areas: • Resident perceptions • Greenway corridors • Benefits • Available financing • Examples

29. Increase residents’ awareness and use of existing facilities • Residents’ perceptions • Possible solutions • Available web sites

30. In Conclusion...