Parks, Trails & Recreation Master Plan

THE ROLE OF PARKS AND RECREATION The importance of parks, trails, and open space is consistently reinforced by new studies, analyses, and public surveys both nationally and within Minnesota. There is a recognition that parks and recreation can provide essential services to communities including: » » economic value » » health and environmental benefits and » » social importance

trails, and natural areas as the most important feature of attractiveness in a community, at a 5-to1 ratio, to the next most attractive feature (Metropolitan Council, 2010b). Parks are economically important drivers of indirect revenues to the local economy through tournaments and special events, tourism, recreation equipment sales, food and beverage sales, and many other private sector business connections. Revenues are often generated directly from fees and other charges to help support parks and recreation development and operations, making the investment into parks and recreation a sound economic decision. Shakopee has a few regional destination private recreation centers such as Valley Fair and Canterbury Park, and have hosted large sporting events in the past, such as the MN Bike Ironman and the State Amateur Baseball Tournament, that have brought significant crowds to the city from outside areas. Outdoor recreation opportunities can potentially be a health care savings approach for communities. In 2000, medical costs in Minnesota associated with physical inactivity were estimated to be $495 million (Minnesota Department of Health, 2002). Recreation opportunities have been shown to decrease these expenses. For example, a 1.0 percent increase in trail or off-trail related activity is associated with a 0.07 percent decrease in overweight population (Rosenberger, Bergerson & Kline, 2009). Further, just one additional day of physical activity per week has been found to reduce medical charges by 4.7% (Pronk, Goodman, O’Connor & Martinson,1999).

Parks and open spaces provide critical ecosystem services to the community that tangibly improve air and water quality, reduce flooding impacts, preserve biodiversity and wildlife, and buffer communities from the effects of climate change. They also provide numerous economic and quality of life benefits for the community. Parks improve the local tax base by increasing surrounding property values of private parcels. National studies have shown that real estate markets demonstrate that buyers are consistently willing to pay more for property located closer to parks, trails and open spaces (Anton, 2005; Crompton, 2007b). This was echoed by local developers in Stakeholder Interviews. Businesses are often drawn to communities with a higher quality of life (developed by parks and recreation) to attract and maintain educated workers (Crompton, 2007a). Twin Cities metropolitan residents consistently identify parks,

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