Parks, Trails & Recreation Master Plan

Parks are a significant contributor to a city’s sense of place, identity, and community building through socialization and cultural exchange. Parks are a major provider of spaces and programs that allow residents to gather, socialize and be around their neighbors. Residents consistently cite parks, trails and the natural environment as the area’s most attractive features, and 96 percent of residents also feel that the Twin Cities is a better or much better place to live than other metropolitan areas (Metropolitan Council, 2010a). Strong feelings about a park or trail help develop a sense of place and the building of social capital. Communities with high amounts of social capital tend to be more connected, more trusting of one another, and have a greater number of networks and groups that exist to enhance the quality of life for their city (Putnam, 2000). The role of parks, trails, and open spaces in Shakopee continues to be redefined, but it has always had a large impact on the community’s identity and appeal to residents. Several of the stakeholders interviewed mentioned that the parks, trails, and open space system were one of the leading reasons for their family’s decision to move to Shakopee. High quality parks and recreation are reflective of the type of community that supports them and have been a critical part of Shakopee’s identity throughout the city’s history.

THEWILSON ROSE GARDEN AT THE MINNESOTA LANDSCAPE ARBORETUM PROVIDES A NATURAL LANDSCAPE OF RESPITE AND CONTRIBUTES TOTHE IDENTITY OF THE PLACE.

SECTION REFERENCES

ANTON, P. (2005). THE ECONOMIC VALUE OF OPEN SPACE: IMPLICATIONS FOR LAND USE DECISIONS. SAINT PAUL, MN: WILDER RESEARCH.

CROMPTON, J. (2007A).THE IMPACTOF PARKSANDOPENSPACESONPROPERTYTAXES. INT. F. DE BRUN (ED.),THE ECONOMICBENEFITSOF LANDCONSERVATION. SANFRANCISCO, CA:THETRUST FOR PUBLIC LAND.

CROMPTON, J. (2007B). COMPETITIVENESS: PARKS ANDOPEN SPACE AS FACTORS SHAPINGA LOCATION’S SUCCESS INATTRACTINGCOMPANIES, LABOR SUPPLIES, ANDRETIREES. INT. F. DE BRUN (ED.),THE ECONOMIC BENEFITS OF LAND CONSERVATION (PP. 48-54). SAN FRANCISCO, CA: THE TRUST FOR PUBLIC LAND.

METROPOLITAN COUNCIL (2010B). 2009 METRO RESIDENTS SURVEY. SAINT PAUL, MN: METROPOLITAN COUNCIL.

MINNESOTADEPARTMENTOF HEALTH (2002). HEALTHCARE COSTSOF PHYSICAL INACTIVITY INMINNESOTA. RETRIEVEDONMARCH24,2010 FROMHTTP://WWW.HEALTH.STATE.MN.US/NEWS/PRESSREL/ INACTIVITYFS.PDF.

PRONK,N.,GOODMAN,M.,O’CONNOR,P.,&MARTINSON,B.(1999).RELATIONSHIPBETWEENMODIFIABLEHEALTHRISKSANDSHORT-TERMHEALTHCARECHARGES.THE JOURNALOFTHEAMERICANMEDICAL ASSOCIATION 282(23): 2235-2239.

PUTNAM, R.D. (2000). BOWLING ALONE: THE COLLAPSE AND REVIVAL OF AMERICAN COMMUNITY. NEW YORK, NY: SIMON & SCHUSTER.

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