Browsing by Author "Duluth, Minnesota Parks and Recreation"

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    Duluth Parks and Recreation Master Plan Final Report, 2010
    (2010) Duluth, Minnesota Parks and Recreation
    This plan establishes a blueprint to achieve an economically sustainable park and recreation system. The Guiding Principles and the action plans of this Master Plan set a course to: reduce operating and capital costs, enhance efficiency, improve parks, strengthen partnerships, connect the city with trails, increase access to nature, increase and stabilize funding, create equitable access to healthy recreation, and enhance stewardship. The plan recommends new sources of funding be dedicated to Duluth Parks and Recreation and that those funds be invested in: Park maintenance and stewardship - Duluth is fortunate to have a large and diverse network of park lands. Acquiring park land is often the most difficult and costly part of creating a park and recreation system. With the park land system largely in place, the City and its partners can focus on park improvements, upkeep and stewardship of parks and natural resources. Trail and bikeway connections – Duluth has several of the most important trails and parkways in Minnesota, but needs connections and enhancements to realize the potential of these gems. The Lakewalk, Munger Trail, Superior Hiking Trail and Skyline Parkway are wonderful assets that can form the backbones of a future trail and bikeway network. Trails are the most popular recreation feature and attract tourist and locals alike. Recreation facilities and programs – Convenient and equitable access to recreation facilities and programs is a hallmark of a healthy and vital community. Fully utilizing schools as community places and targeting city investment in people and sustainable recreation facilities will foster community, family and individual health. Realization of this vision will take time, dedication and funding, but it will result in a park, trail and recreation system that will help drive economic growth and enhance quality of life for decades to come.” Not much reference is made about water resources in the master plan files available on the city website; most of the survey pertains to non-water recreational park use.
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    Duluth Parks and Recreation Master Plan: Principles and Objectives
    (2010) Duluth, Minnesota Parks and Recreation
    12 slide Powerpoint presentation. Principles, listed below, in addition to specific objectives for each are included. Principle 1: Provide Safe, Clean, Fun and Beautiful Parks Principle 2: Ensure Adequate and Stable Funding Principle 3. Build Partnerships Principle 4: Ensure equitable access Principle 5: Connect the community Principle 6: Connect with Nature Principle 7: Continue to meet evolving natural resource needs Principle 8: Be sustainable Not much reference is made about water resources in the master plan files available on the city website; most of the survey pertains to non-water recreational park use.
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    Trends and the Implications for Park and Rec
    (2009) Duluth, Minnesota Parks and Recreation
    This Powerpoint presentation contains numerous images but very limited content related to water resources. The Duluth Parks and Recreation website contains the following executive summary: “For the past 16 months, City staff, Parks Commissioners, and park planning consultants have been working on a master plan to guide the future of Duluth’s parks, recreation, and trails system. Key elements of the Master Plan are to: • improve the quality of existing parks (especially neighborhood parks), • focus on connecting the community through trails and bikeways, • have fewer, but higher quality recreation buildings, • enhance stewardship of natural resources, • expand partnerships with schools for community recreation and gathering, • increase use and recognition of volunteers and volunteer groups, and • create stable and sustainable funding sources to improve the park system. The Plan is based on extensive public input gathered in surveys, meetings, and focus group sessions. Kathy Bergen, Duluth’s Manager of Parks and Recreation said ‘Feedback from the community was overwhelmingly in favor of a high quality parks, recreation, and trails system. We heard from many people who moved to Duluth to be close to nature and close to recreation. Our parks, recreation activities, trails, and natural resources are a huge part of the local economy and attract visitors from across the world. We needed a plan to protect and enhance that resource.’ The Plan does not recommend the addition of many new parks. Park planning consultant Greg Ingraham of HKGi praised Duluth’s park system. ‘Duluth has a great system of park land, but due to budget constraints some parks and recreation buildings are in sad shape and are not meeting resident’s expectations. Improving existing parks and connecting the community with trails and bikeways should be the focus. That will take additional funding and a commitment of the community, but parks and recreation are a vital element of Duluth’s future and deserve the investment.’ The next step in this process is to present the Master Plan to the City Council for their support and adoption. We hope to accomplish this at the December 20th City Council meeting. Implementation of the Action Steps in the Plan will begin in January. The Master Plan is a ‘living plan’ and as such will need to be reviewed and updated periodically to keep pace with our dynamic civic, economic, and natural environment. Action Steps will be prioritized and public involvement will be encouraged for each Action Step. We hope you will get involved in the Actions that interest you or impact your neighborhood. Future information about these opportunities will be provided on this webpage.”