Public Forum on Future of Eagan Park System
City of Eagan
Published January 11, 2006
Imagine the Future of Eagan’s Parks:
Public Invited to Share Their Suggestions
For Programs, Priorities & Facilities
Imagine using satellites and Global Positioning System devices to go hiking in the suburbs in search of treasure. Is that what high tech parks in the future will be like?
Actually, you don’t need to wait until the year 2020 to participate in the sport known as “geocaching.” The adventure game—where GPS users navigate longitude and latitude to locate and add to a treasure trove—already exists in Eagan’s Central Park.
But the Advisory Parks and Recreation Commission (APrC) still wants to know what kind of parks, programs and facilities Eagan residents want to see in the next 15 years. It is all part of the 20/20 Vision Project for parks, recreation, and open space. Those who live or work in Eagan are invited to share their thoughts at a public forum Thursday February 17, at 6:30 p.m. at the Eagan Community Center.
“We want to know if people are satisfied with the recreation opportunities they have today, what they would like to see in the future, what recreation opportunities might be missing from Eagan, and what facilities or open spaces they utilize now or would like to use in the future,” said Terry Davis, Chair of the Advisory Parks and Recreation Commission.
In coming weeks there will also be surveys sent out to Eagan residents and a hotline number they can call with their thoughts about the park system and its programs.
With 110 miles of walking trails, 54 city parks, some 350 lakes and ponds, a community center, an ice arena, and the Cascade Bay aquatic facility, Eagan already has a parks system and recreational amenities that are the envy of many. But with research showing that for every additional mile people walk they add 20 minutes to their lives and that mentally challenging activities reduce the risk of dementia in older adults, the Parks and Recreation Commission wants to know what implications that has for programs in the future.
The APrC also wants to know what priorities citizens place on open space acquisition. “Whether for green space or park facilities, whether for youth or senior citizen programs, these discussions will greatly assist the determination of priorities for the next 15 years,” says Terry Davis, Parks Commission Chair.
The Eagan Community Center, where the public forum will be held, is at 1501 Central Parkway, located one block north of Yankee Doodle and Pilot Knob Road. Those with additional questions are welcome Parks and Recreation at (651) 675-5500.
