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Neenah Creek Regional Park Master Plan
St. Cloud, Minnesota
Task Force Meeting
October 25, 2006
Meeting Summary 10/25/06
Introduction
The Neenah Creek Regional Park information and background was
introduced to Task Force members. The City’s consultant for the project, SEH, gave an overview of the existing conditions, past reports and current GIS information.
All participants introduced themselves by giving their name and the interest they represent. The Neenah Creek Regional Park plan will use the St. Cloud Comprehensive Plan Update to guide the planning process.
A visualization exercise was used to break the ice, “Close your eyes – What is your first image you see of Neenah Creek Regional Park?” The following are those images:
- Balance of active/passive
- Gateway - life ‘Good Karma’
- Trails and maintenance building
- Creek
- Trails/bridges/sports fields
- Nice big place, people
- Anchor/balance; refuge/neighborhood
- Woods, prairie, creek
- Family Picnic, trees
- Kids at play, natural areas
- Woods, prairie, creek, trail system
- Oak forest with rock outcrops, woods
- Outcrops, beautiful bubbly creek
- Oak tree hanging over water
- Sporting fields
- Trails, bridge, athletic fields
- Fly fishing, overnight camping, center, trail, streams
- Soccer field non-evasive, woods, open space, bike
- Trail, skiing and walking trails around picnic area
- Creek, rock outcrops, trees
- Trail around unique recreation, disc golf, lacrosse
- Creek
Participants then broke into small groups and told their visions and ideas for improvements.
These thoughts and ideas are summarized below:
QUESTION: What is the single most important feature to you and why?
- Old farm site photo #7 - The vision from this location
- To work with, accent, highlight, work around, protect and fully utilize the creek. It would be great to showcase several of the key features;
- Oaks, ponds, prairies, keep gravel pit as its own feature, all at the onset & trails. Commerce with recreations fields, buildings and other items later.
- The Natural areas with trails and paths waterways creek, I find it important to have these natural areas available for people to experience.
- Maintenance, buildings and trails
- The creek - it is the most unusual amenity on the site - I can see it bringing value in many ways from sitting near it to fishing to nature study
- To develop soccer fields for the community using the sizes from U6-U19. To remove some of the load off Whitney Complex.
- Creek, and than multi purpose sporting fields in area #5 (farmland) with the possibility of lights.
- Soccer Fields
- Accessible trails for active recreation.
- The Creek and the preservation of it, the woodlands, trout fishing
- This Master Plan should not have parameters placed upon the land that is not congruent the uses. By adding city needs this probably can’t be done with out further land purchase.
- The natural areas, especially the woods and creek, they provide an opportunity for people living in the city to experience nature.
- The environmentally sensitive areas, forest, rock outcrops with prairie grass, trout streams, natural areas and open space are under siege. Development pressure threatens to further fragment and destroy these features.
- The natural areas, because as the city grows there are fewer natural areas available to citizens and because we have a moral obligation to preserve our environment, for the sake of community’s health and the health of the planet.
- Trout stream and preservation and reestablishment of shade along stream (native trees). Avoidance of impermeable surfaces at least 500’ feet each side of stream in order to prevent “bounce” and temperature rise
- A park with a native oak savannah - re-established native prairie species on ground and regenerating red oaks (almost no young oaks left in our community)
- Elevated vistas and the chance to provide a healthy balance
- Woods, natural beauty
- The vast amount of open space and environmental variety as a developer, I see more and more land disappearing and preservation of this unique land is important to St. Cloud. With limited area of expansion for the City, this property may be the last for the City to secure.
- The Creek, why? unique amenity for community, barrier to PED movement, greenway opportunity, truly sensitive, high priority, development discharge(storm), wildlife corridor
- The Creek because it draws wildlife (birds) important because of the beauty it adds
- Rock out-cropping, oaks. Leave some type of forethought our forefathers did, protection, be more proactive
- Granite, cropping, creek, woods
- Gorgeous trails surrounding a park that has unique sports such as disc golf, paintball, lacrosse, etc and also has fields in the same area with baseball, soccer, football, etc.
QUESTION: How would you envision this park to be used?
- Balance of active/passive recreation
• Soccer, baseball, softball, paved trails, active recreation areas, playgrounds, picnic pavilion, splash pad
• Enhanced natural features, access, boardwalks, bridges, woods, trees etc
• Access to all aspects/geography of the park with out negotiation
- As a wonderful regional park that is utilized by the community and other communities, a wonderful attraction to St.Cloud, that has many different functions of passive and active recreation
- Sports area, trails throughout, learning area wildlife and plant info
- As truly the “Park of St. Cloud” a majestic site for nature and preservation and a destination for activity and sport and walking, jogging or just people watching
- Used by everyone in St. Cloud and surrounding areas
- Recreation, picnics, educational excursions
- Gravel and tar walking trails to encourage exercise, maintain creek, gravel parking lots
- To be a place for everyone to unwind in their own way
- For recreational purposes, ball games, camping or picnic’s, for families to enjoy together for years to come: Not a place for a fire station, there already is one south of the proposed park.
- A variety of user groups, from ball player to bird watchers. And all between. If it is a regional park it will be used folks not just from central MN. The value of this park lies in the natural features and should be preserved
- Trails for walking and skiing. Variety of activities that are compatible with the natural features. It should be used for park and recreation purposes and not for other public facilities.
- Combining “passive” uses (which are not usually “passive”), in ways that preserve or enhance natural areas, with “active” recreation that does not threaten the peace, integrity of the natural areas. Only park uses of park land are appropriate on their property.
- I envision the old farm fields to be used for active recreation such as soccer, baseball, softball, etc. I imagine that the natural areas remain protected and buffered for the enjoyment of all. I envision these natural areas form a green belt that will connect to other natural areas outside the park. I envision that the Natural areas are far enough from the ball fields that people can have. I envision that there is a Bike/Walking path around the perimeter of the park ( where appropriate.) In the winter it can be used for cross country skiing both day and night. I envision people fly fishing for trout in the creek.
- Walking trails, biking trails, connections to other longer trails. Nature education – interpretive center, picnic area, soccer fields in former Ag areas, only impermeable pavement for parking.
- A balance of active and passive recreate as well as balance of development and natural features
- Trails, sitting areas, sports ie. Soccer, baseball
- As a regional destination for learning and playing, connectivity to adjacent neighborhoods, and space for community facilities compatible with the uses of the park
- Regional amenity, neighborhood amenity, school amenity, public facilities, year round, non motorized, pedestrian accessibility
- Multi purpose for every age, nature trail, natural areas limit use of buildings
- Something for everyone, south side of town needs facilities for leisure recreation, “Whitney South” including area for senior citizens, more passive recreation
- Something for everyone: trails, seating areas, sports,’ Whitney south’ with picnic and park shelter, regional destination for learning, neighborhood features – playgrounds, and year round uses. Trails surrounding unique sports fields along with ordinary sports
- The open field space with the beauty around
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Community Vision
Overview
Goals and Strategies
Concepts/Maps/Graphics
Project Photos
Project Schedule
Public Involvement
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