Parks, Trails & Recreation Master Plan

UNIQUE DIFFERENCES ACROSS THE GROUPS The community engagement yielded results with many commonalities but, there are also some unique differences across the minority groups: LATINOS Safety was an issue of concern in both the Somali and Low-Income groups. However, it was not nearly at the high level of intensity and minority that it was for Latinos. The underlying factor for this concern about safety is related to experiences in the community of instances of bias and hostility towards immigrants. One person said Latinos are even mistrustful of churches and other large gathering spots because of government forces coming into communities. Easily accessing information about parks and trails was an interest expressed in the Latino dialogue. This group brought up the hotline idea a number of times with translation services as a way to improve communication. LOW-INCOME Unique responses from the Low-Income group were in the areas of favored activities and desired programming. The activities participants mentioned that they liked to do at parks in Shakopee were Frisbee (disc) golf and feeding the ducks at Memorial and Lake O’Dowd Parks. Participants wished all-day summer day camps were available in the parks in Shakopee, like they are in other communities PEOPLE LIVING WITH DISABILITIES The responses that were unique to this group were oriented towards making the parks more usable for People Living with Disabilities (PLWD). Participants pointed out how certain types of equipment can enhance the experience for PLWD such as rocking/swinging equipment and are good for sensory stimulation for all people but especially those with autism and other disabilities. In addition, equipment like climbing ropes and climbing walls help to improve motor skills but equipment like this should be on “squishy ground” in case of a fall.

Many PLWD are taken to parks by staff people providing them with assistance. Getting complete information about the location amenities available in these parks is important for these caregivers, many of whom do not live in Shakopee and are unfamiliar with all of the parks. Easily attainable information about each of Shakopee’s parks and their amenities would be great educational tools for service providers to identify where to take their clients for specific needs and wants.

RUSSIAN Participants highlighted skateboarding and especially volleyball as favorite activities of Russian teens at the parks. Unique ideas about new activities were community gardens for seniors, snowmobiling (if allowable) and fishing areas that do not require licenses or have catch limitations. The enhancements mentioned were improved wayfinding including trailheads with ‘you are here’ locations; recycling receptacles with proper signage and using rubber surfacing on playgrounds instead of the shredded material that is currently used. One reason was because it heats up too much. Loop Trails were a strong suggestion made by the Russian group. They enjoy the trails perhaps more than the other groups, but more than once, suggested that trails would be more interesting, if they were looping rather than straight. In addition, participants noted it would contribute to better health as people would use them more.

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