Parks, Trails & Recreation Master Plan

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Introduction + Planning Process

INTRODUCTION + DOCUMENT PURPOSE Sited on the bank of the Minnesota River, the City of Shakopee is rich in cultural history, physical resources, and a booming population of active and involved citizens who care deeply about their home. City leaders have curated over time a place that is diverse in entertainment and cultural offerings, strong private sector investments, ample public green spaces, and a vision for the city’s future while staying rooted in its enthralling history. From historically robust Native American settlements in this area to today’s sprawling development, the Shakopee area has been special to its inhabitants for all of its history.

embrace this natural resource both physically and emotionally has never been greater. The city is rapidly growing, and its demographics are shifting along with this growth. Shakopee is larger, more diverse, and more connected to the metropolitan region than it ever has been in the past. Historically, Shakopee has provided innovative parks and set aside natural landscapes to meet the needs of its residents. This document is intended to provide a new vision for Shakopee’s parks that will help the city meet the needs of its changing resident make-up, and face the challenges of the modern world where people have more choices than ever about where to locate their home or business. The Parks, Trails, and Recreation Master Plan will provide a comprehensive vision and framework for staff and elected officials to use to plan, build, communicate, and strategize about how parks can help Shakopee become the community its citizens continue to desire.

As the Twin Cities metropolitan area continues to expand, Shakopee remains a stand out resource in the area for entertainment offerings, cultural offerings, and as an imperative point in connectivity for regional recreational routes. The benefit of preserving natural amenities and providing access to these amenities has proven to improve quality of life for those who are able to access the natural environment even on a semi- regular basis. Through careful city planning and early visioning, Shakopee has been able to provide for its residents a vast array of parks and green spaces, and has the opportunity now to plan for the next generation of what these parks and connections will look like for years to come. One of the greatest physical resources in the city is the Minnesota River and the adjacent green spaces along this great river valley. With a downtown born from and still oriented along the Minnesota River, opportunity to re-

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SHAKOPEE PARKS, TRAILS, AND RECREATION MASTER PLAN | INTRODUCTION + PLANNING PROCESSES