ROOT RIVER ARK MASTER LAN ADOTED BY OLMSTED COUNTY BOARD OCTOBER, 2016 AUGUST 2016 REVIEW DRAFT
Acknowledgements COUNTY BOARD Stephanie odulke, Chair, District 1 Ken Brown, District 2 aul Wilson, District 3 Matt Flynn, District 4 Jim Bier, District 5 Sheila Kiscaden, District 6 Lou Ohly, District 7 ARKS COMMISSION Sheila Kiscaden, County Commissioner Jess Nation, Youth Commissioner Stephanie Deng, Youth Commissioner Dawn Littleton, District 1 Jeff Ihrke, District 2 Leslie McGillivray-Rivas, District 3 Joel Dunnette, District 4 Chris Schad, District 5 Jim Foote, Chair, District 6 Terry Leary, District 7 hil Wheeler, At Large OLMSTED COUNTY ARKS STAFF Mike Sheehan, ublic Works Director Tom Ryan, County arks Superintendent Lori Collins, ublic Works Clerical Staff Rachel Gunderson, ublic Works Clerical Staff Tom Eckdahl, Chester Woods Josh Drilling, Chester Woods Russ Jensen, Chester Woods Celeste Lewis, Chester Woods Karlin Ziegler, Oxbow & Zollman Zoo Tim Buri, Oxbow & Zollman Zoo Lonnie Hebl, Oxbow & Zollman Zoo Clarissa Josselyn, Oxbow & Zollman Zoo at Gerken, Campus Roger Harty, Campus MASTER LAN CONSULTANTS HKGi EOR SEH i Root River ark Master lan DRAFT
Contents Executive Summary iv CHATER 1: INTRODUCTION 1 Master lan urpose 2 roject rocess 2 Overview of Olmsted County ark System 2 ark Overview & Description 3 Regional Significance 4 Regional Context 5 CHATER 2: EXISTING CONDITIONS 7 Site Location & Context 7 Issues & Opportunities 15 CHATER 3: VISION & UBLIC VALUES 17 Vision Statement 17 Local & Regional Demographic Information 18 ublic Health Values 18 Economic Development & Tourism Opportunities 19 Relevant Recreational Trends Information 19 Summary of ublic Open Houses & Online Input 20 CHATER 4: DEVELOMENT MASTER LAN 23 Development lan 23 Acquisition lan 26 CHATER 5: NATURAL RESOURCES LAN 27 Land Management 27 Implementation 29 CHATER 6: IMLEMENTATION, MANAGEMENT, & SUSTAINABILITY LAN 31 Overview 31 Operations & Management 33 rogramming, Marketing, & Evaluation 35 Funding 36 DRAFT Contents ii
Tables + Figures Figure 1. County Facilities 3 Figure 2. Table 1. City, County, and State ark and Open Space Lands in Olmsted County 5 Olmsted County City, County, and State ark and Open Space Lands Inventory 6 Figure 3. Root River ark Context 9 Figure 4. Existing Conditions/Issues & Opportunities 10 Figure 5. Topography 13 Figure 6. Minnesota Land Cover and Classification System (MLCCS) 14 Figure 7. Root River ark Development Concept 24 Figure 8. Future Acquisition Area 26 Figure 9. DNR Collaboration and State Lands 26 Figure 10. Root River ark hasing Diagram 32 Figure 11. Root River ark Willing Seller Long Term Development Concept 33 Table 2. Development Concept Capital Cost Estimate 37 Table 3. Natural Resource Recommendations Cost Estimate 38 iii Root River ark Master lan DRAFT
Existing conditions are noted in white, while issues are red, opportunities are green, and other big ideas are identified with blue. lease note any unidentified issues or opportunities directly on the maps with the provided markers. Executive Summary 80 ST Historic Stagecoach Bridge Restoration ollinators Maintenance Building Ash Trees Along Roa d Existing Trailhead & icnic Tables/ Restrooms * Caretaker s Residence Root River ark is a high quality natural resource based park with beautiful views of the natural landscape, peaceful hiking trails, Root River access, and picnic areas surrounded by nature. * Existing House Structural Issues Oak Savanna Restoration ple Valley olf and ntry Club Vision River Access Young Forest ROOT RIVER ARK Established Former asture Opened in 2007 Size Former asture Amenities Restored rairie 125 acres of prairie and woods along the Root River Valley River Access icnic Equestrian trails Natural hiking trails Groomed cross country ski trails Apiary and research Historic Stagecoach bridge Savanna High Quality Natural Area arking Existing Trail ark Boundary 0 200 400 Feet COMMENTS 0 400 Root River ark is the newest Olmsted County ark. The Opened in2002007, Feet park consists of rolling fields, trails along wooded slopes, and the winding Root River. This document is intended to guide future investment and development in this park, making Root River a destination for recreation and natural resources. 43 AVE s The Root River ark Master lan seeks to plan and prioritize for the next JUNE 21 COMMUNITY OEN HOUSE 20 years of park development, operations, maintenance, and programming. The plan will also serve as a guide for natural resource management. The plan was developed to meet the requirements of the Greater Minnesota Regional arks and Trails Commission (GMRTC) in order to attain regional designation and seek funding for future improvements. ROJECT ROCESS This master plan was created as part of a larger project to identify future needs for the Olmsted County ark System as a whole and for each individual park unit within the County. During the spring and summer of 2016, the project staff and consultant team worked to develop plans for Chester Woods ark, Oxbow ark and Zollman Zoo, Root River ark, the White Bridge ier, and the Olmsted County ark System by analyzing existing conditions, conducting community engagement, and developing concepts. DRAFT Contents iv
Apiary and Research Old Stagecoach Bridge Restore as Funding Becomes Available + ark Development Occurs Caretakers and Maintenance Continue to utilize for park management Buffer from trail and roadway with landscaping Restore Glen 80 ST Group icnic avilion + Fireplace Events Weddings rotect Rare Mussels in Root River k Create Wetland ie W al r Floodplain Forest Restoration Create Wetland Addition of natural surface trails through prairie and glen lantings to support Apiary New Road rairie Restoration otential Extension of Road to Increase Access to River Cultivate Savanna Forest Management High Quality Natural Area Active Space Creation of wetlands to facilitate stormwater management and improved animal habitat Oak Savanna Restoration arking icnic Site icnic Shelter Glen restoration in northern pocket of park 200 400 Feet 43 AVE River Access v 3 river access points with Consolidation of maintenance buildings and yards New Trail 2 ADA accessible picnic areas, one with a shelter and one with picnic sites for a table and fire pit Long-term extension of road to create new picnic area by river Existing Trail 0 3 Season icnic avilion at site of existing home Restoration of Old Stagecoach Bridge air ADA Accessible rairie icnic Area 4 Terraced icnic Sites icnic Tables Vault or ortable Toilets arking Future improvements at Root River ark include low impact development in order to allow the natural beauty of the site be the focus of the park. Activities such as picnicking and hiking will be the primary program of the park. lanned improvements for Root River ark include: Create Wetland ADA Accessible icnic Shelter Area Shelter 2 Fire its Vault Toilets arking DEVELOMENT MASTER LAN Root River ark Master lan Floodplain forest restoration in lowlands near river DRAFT