2006 Parks, Trails and Open Space Plan - City of Lakeville

Chapter
1
Plan Introduction
Introduction
The Lakeville Comprehensive Parks, Trails, & Open Space Plan sets forth a vision of a
fully developed park, trail and open space facility system. This vision is founded upon
community characteristics, an assessment of existing facilities and the projected needs
of the City for on-going development through 2030. The Parks, Trails and Open Space
Plan’s objective is to propose logical physical improvements to new and existing
facilities in order to maintain the system as a significant community asset that
contributes positively to the quality of life and character of the City of Lakeville.
In 1998, the City of Lakeville completed an update of its Comprehensive Plan and
another update will be completed by 2008. The 2008 Comprehensive Plan update will
establish a framework and policies that guide continued community growth in an orderly
and efficient manner through the year 2030 based on the Regional Development
Framework. In accommodating continued development of the City, the current
Comprehensive Plan places a strong emphasis on several goals related to the City’s
Parks, Trails and Open Space Plan, and are outlined as follows:
• Develop a natural resources inventory and management plan, and identify financing
mechanisms for the acquisition of significant environmental areas.
• Establish greenway corridors as a means to protect environmentally sensitive areas,
maintain natural open spaces, define neighborhoods, provide for pedestrian trails,
increase storm water infiltration, and provide wildlife corridors.
• Design facilities to maintain a sense of community identity and recognition.
• Provide an appropriate balance between active, passive, and cultural recreational
areas and activities, tailored to the needs of the population throughout the
community.
The quality park and trail systems which exist in Lakeville today are representative of
past planning efforts. The initial Lakeville Park System Plan was completed in 1970 and
updated four different times, the most recent being in 2000. These plans inventoried
existing facilities and assessed the needs of different park types based upon future
growth as it was then projected. The Lakeville Trails System Plan was prepared in
1987 and updated in 1992. These trail plans identified future pedestrian and bicycle
trail corridors, and outline policies for their design, acquisition, development, upgrade
and maintenance. The trail plans were joined with the Park System Plan to create the
2000 Comprehensive Parks, Trails & Open Space System Plan for purposes of guiding
the City in recreational facility planning through 2020. Through the proactive
implementation of these planning tools, the City has established a high-quality,
comprehensive network of recreational spaces that contribute to the quality of life within
the community as well as to the community’s overall identity.
City of Lakeville, Minnesota
Chapter One
2006 Comprehensive Parks, Trails, & Open Space Plan Page 1