|
In this Issue
Parks in the Twin Cities metro win awards: Just ask the
Trust for Public Land, which placed our park systems at the top of a comparison
of the 100 largest U.S. cities. This nation-leading system is actually a
partnership among local, regional and state entities, which together manage
these critical assets for residents.
The seven-county Twin Cities metropolitan area is home to a
system of regional parks and trails that are nationally renowned for their
beauty, size, and variety of features. The parks range from urban lake
environments and suburban nature centers to a working farm and large tracts of
rural open space. The Council plays a unique role in the
regional parks system in that it oversees acquisition and development of all 54
regional parks in the metro. The parks are
operated by 10 partnering
cities, counties, and special districts.
Within the region, we have a
number of different types of parks, but to many of us, it can be hard to see what
distinguishes regional parks from local parks or state parks. Local parks are typically more
developed than regional parks and provide a variety of built facilities for
recreation such as athletic fields, courts, playgrounds and pools. They are
designed to serve a neighborhood or community and are located in every Saint
Paul neighborhood. Regional parks such
as Como are much larger than local parks (between 200 and 500 acres of land)
and cater to a regional audience. They typically contain nature-based activities
and are more preserved landscapes than local parks. State parks are managed by the Minnesota Department of Natural
Resources (DNR) and are geared toward nature observation and education, but are
not meant for intensive recreational activities.
The regional parks system
includes nearly 55,000 acres open to public use and more than 350 miles of
regional trails. In 2015, more than 47.3 million visits were recorded –
millions more than the Mall of America. The Twin Cities region regularly
appears on “best parks in the US” lists because we see our parks as important
resources for our residents’ quality of life. By 2040, the regional parks
system is planned to expand to nearly 70,000 acres and 1,100 miles of trails.
New regional parks are planned in Anoka, Carver, Hennepin, Scott, and
Washington counties. New regional trail corridors will link regional parks
throughout the metro area. Our goal is that all residents of the Twin Cities
metro have the access and opportunity to take advantage of this regional asset.
At least $6.8 billion
in investment has been tallied along the existing METRO Green Line and Blue
Line and the proposed Southwest and Blue Line Extension Light Rail Transit
(LRT) projects, the Metropolitan Council announced today.
These investments include new construction such as the Optum headquarters in
Eden Prairie, as well as redevelopment or rehabilitation of existing buildings,
such as Custom House Apartments in downtown St. Paul and Riverside Plaza in
Minneapolis. The total development likely exceeds the $6.8 billion
as many developments along the routes have not publicly disclosed their project
value.
“Businesses continue making strategic investments along existing and planned
light rail lines, demonstrating their conviction that light rail is a valuable
asset to local communities along these routes,” Metropolitan Council Chair Adam
Duininck said.
Kelly Doran, principal and founder of Doran Companies, says proximity to the
Southwest Green Line extension is a major selling point in attracting tenants.
“Clearly, the decision to construct the Southwest Light Rail line is a
significant boost to the marketing of The Moline, our multi-family apartment
project opening in Hopkins this fall—but even more, to future development in
the Southwest metro,” Doran said.
Read the complete article on our website.
Robert Connoy has the kind of job that allows him to work from home.
But since the A Line opened just a few blocks from his Mac-Groveland residence, he’s started venturing out to a co-working space in downtown Minneapolis, a commute that involves a quick trip on the rapid bus line and light rail.
“I didn’t used to go out as much, but now it’s become really effortless to get downtown from where I live,” Connoy said as he headed toward home on a recent afternoon commute.
Connoy is among thousands of customers who have come to appreciate the region’s first rapid bus line, which runs between the Rosedale Transit Center and the METRO Blue Line’s 46th Street Station on Snelling Avenue, Ford Parkway and 46th Street.
Almost eight months to the day after opening, the A Line surpassed 1 million total rides on Tuesday, Feb. 14. Average weekday ridership on the A Line corridor, including local Route 84, has increased by about one-third since the new service began.
Customers riding the A Line this week said its biggest perk is faster, more frequent service, which allows them to travel without needing to use a schedule. A Line buses run every 10 minutes most of the day and every 15 minutes in the evenings.
Riverview Corridor Policy
Advisory Committee – On Thursday, Feb. 9, I represented the Council at the Riverview Corridor Policy Advisory Committee meeting. This month, the PAC received a detailed update on evaluation criteria the technical staff will be using to review possible routes. These committee meetings are open to the public and I
encourage you to attend if you would like to learn more about the study and
possible future transit along the corridor. The next meeting will be held
on March 9 at Union Depot in St. Paul.
Riverview alignment tour with Allina Health – On Friday, Feb. 10, I along with MTS Director Nick Thompson took a tour of Allina Health’s United Hospital and Children’s Hospital campus in St. Paul. The hospital is located on Smith Avenue in downtown St. Paul - which is being considered as a possible light rail/BRT alignment in the Riverview Corridor Study.
OLLI’s Discussion Roundtable – On Monday, Feb. 13, I presented at the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute's (OLLI) biweekly Discussion
Roundtable series. The OLLI is part of the University of Minnesota College of
Continuing Education Program and has more than 1,200 senior-citizen members.
Attendees included about 15 community members with diverse backgrounds ranging
from university professors to former public servants. My presentation focused
on the history and foundations of the Council.
Saint Paul Area Chamber of Commerce Dinner – On Wednesday, Feb. 15, I attended the 149th Annual Saint Paul Area Chamber Meeting at the InterContinental Hotel in downtown St. Paul. I was joined by a number of elected officials and business owners also in attendance. The keynote speaker for the event was Amanda Brinkman, chief brand and communications officer at Deluxe.
|
