Since the earliest development plans for The COR (an acronym for The Center of Ramsey) in 2001 (then known as Town Center), parks, pedestrian connections and a prominent public realm have been defining elements and the foundational framework for Ramsey's downtown. The park elements had an east/west armature (like The Draw, and planned for greenway west to the Lake Itasca Community Park) and a north/south axis like the regional trail along Center Street, and the planned for Municipal Plaza.  Each update to The COR's land use plan carried forward these important features and pedestrian connectivity.

In December of 2017, City Council authorized the development of *schematic design for two remaining park spaces in The COR, The Waterfront and Municpal Plaza.  In July of 2018 the Park and Recreation Commission reviewed all details of this completed schematic design, and accordingly approved the park plans.  Since then, the essence of these plans, together with imagery and a narrative describing the theory and function of these public spaces in The COR has been organized into a promotional magazine.  Approval of this magazine and communications piece is the purpose of this case.


*The following is an excerpt of the December 2017 Council case:
"The Schematic Design will take the park planning to the next level for [The Waterfront] and ‘Municipal Plaza’ described in the COR Parks + Public Places – Public Realm Framework document dated January 2016. The proposal outlines the specific tasks needed to translate existing concept ideas into Park Programming/Schematic Design recommendations. This work will help guide near-term excavation/grading operations needed to prepare both sites: the ‘Municipal Plaza’ site as it relates to the proposed adjacent development, and the water-centric park site as it relates to additional (future) park improvements and grade elevations at that location. *One key element of this is the preliminary investigation to identify how much fill sand would be available for other development sites in The COR from the excavation of the 'lake feature'.
 
The COR Parks and Public Realm Framework was the basis for the total cost estimates for build-out, of the two park project work sheets within the Capital Improvement Program (Municipal Plaza $3.5M, and the water-centric park $6.2M).  These estimates were assumptions of potential construction costs based on similar park development in the region, and 'rough numbers'.  For Municipal Plaza this equated to $40 per square foot, and for The Waterrfront $11 per square foot.
 
The schematic design project for these two parks, will result in plans (not construction documents) for these parks that have reliable cost specificity, allowing the Park and Recreation Commission and City Council to better consider future capital improvements.  The detailed plans will also allow many of the park program components to be done in increments or phases (E.g. mass grading, then landscape, then splash pad etc.)."
 

Significant public engagement occurred throughout the city as part of the 2040 Comprehensive Plan process—additionally, public engagement sessions occurred unique to the park space in The COR, specifically for The Waterfront.

While the above referenced magazine and communication piece describes parks in The COR, it is important to point out that these public investments (like the amphitheater) are destinations and amenities for the whole community—and a connected park and trail system to and with The COR is a deliberate strategy, in alignment with the city's Strategic Plan and Comp Plan.  The second attachment is a brief excerpt from the 2040 Comprehensive Plan, and below is also a narrative element from the Comp Plan that describes the value of a connected community (The Circle of Ramsey Greenway):

"Planned Park System and Recreation Districts
Most residents cherish their park system. Given the choice, most would like more parks, especially near their homes. However, financial priorities continue to challenge city leadership to build and manage a park system that meets those desires, yet meet the financial obligations to build and maintain these improvements. Currently, the overall amount of acreage devoted to Ramsey’s park and open space system is over 1,800 acres, or approximately 10% of the of the City’s 28 square miles. Given this large available area, the focus is on using these spaces wisely and connecting them effectively.

The gap between the desire for more parks and the stark reality of limited annual maintenance funding calls for a strategy to plan a system of interconnected parks and trails distributed reasonably and equitably throughout the community. Ramsey can achieve this goal by viewing Ramsey’s park system as divided into ten ‘Recreation Districts.’ These districts are delineated by major roadways or other barriers, and provide a means for more effective planning in determining future park needs at the scale of larger groups of neighborhoods (see attached map).

A broad overview of the existing park system in Ramsey reveals a number of small, underutilized park spaces scattered throughout rural areas of the community. These low-density (or large lot) developments do not support high use of a neighborhood park system and thus can lead to inefficiencies. Larger scale community parks [and those planned for in The COR, like a splash pad], which would provide park and recreation opportunities not available within private yards or large lots, would prove a more effective and efficient use of a park and recreation system for these areas, and at the same time serve both rural and urban areas of Ramsey—especially if well connected by trails or greenways.

It should be clarified that these Recreation Districts are not only a planning tool, but are an organizing structure of aggregating neighborhoods in order to interconnect them with the ‘Circle of Ramsey’ greenway. This greenway encircles the community, while connecting each Recreation District to each other, as well as to destinations like retail areas, schools, and workplaces."

More information on park planning is available at:   https://www.ci.ramsey.mn.us/DocumentCenter/View/1605/Comprehensive-Plan-for-Adjacent-Review

As described above, the promotional magazine and communications piece is intended to convey the intention of the plans and land use in The COR, detail future capital improvements, and moreover, iterate the city's commitment for high quality urban parks in The COR—which is essential for attracting quality developers and retailers, and at the same time, responding to resident desires across the breadth of Ramsey. 



 

No funding is authorized as part of this case.

Staff recommends approval of the communication piece and magazine as presented (the first attachment).

Based upon discussion, motion to approve/not approve the Promotional Magazine for Proposed Parks in The COR.