Parks, Trails & Recreation Master Plan

SYSTEM WIDE TRAIL ISSUES AND OPPORTUNITIES

While Shakopee has quality local trails and regional facilities that have the potential for a robust system, there are key gaps and critical infrastructure that could be added to transform the system from average to great. This is important beyond the recreational needs and desires of the community. A complete, safe, attractive trail system will benefit existing businesses, school safety, provide transportation equity, attract development, and create a healthier and more vibrant community. Many areas require a variety of improvements that could enhance the user experience throughout Shakopee’s park system. In many instances, the needs are specific to the location and neighborhood. The city should continue to discuss these areas with residents and search for solutions as budget, priority, and road reconstruction projects occur. This plan focuses more on system-wide trails that have community-wide importance. An overriding issue to the trail system in Shakopee is the prescience of major highways and arterial roads that divide the city and create significant barriers. These barriers often divide neighborhoods and physically separate residents from key parks and trails amenities that are within visual sight but physically impossible to connect to. Several projects highlighted in Chapter 4 propose solutions to these issues that would make a significant and dramatic impact. As shown (right), four types of cyclists have been categorized from extensive research. This plan seeks to provide better connections for those who are currently interested, but may be concerned with some of the options that currently exist. These users typically include those with children, the elderly, and casual riders. The most successful trails attract the greatest number of these interested, but concerned riders. Shakopee has the ingredients for an excellent trail system with a few key recommendations that follow, and specific projects found in Chapter 4.

FOUR TYPES OF CYCLISTS

•

• 7% STRONG AND FEARLESS • 5% ENTHUSIASTIC AND CONFIDENT • 51% INTERESTED, BUT CONCERNED • 37% NOT ABLE OR NOT INTERESTED Jennifer Dill and Nathan McNeil, “Revisiting the Four Types of Cyclists: Findings from a National Survey,” Transportation Research Record: Journal of the Transportation Research Board, 2587: 90-99, 2016.

109