Workshop Item - Jerome Krieger, Senior Parks and Recreation Manager & Nate Monahan, Recreation Manager
Title
Title
Blaine Wetland Sanctuary Trailheads and Potential Future Trails
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Background
In 2014, the City Council hired a consultant to develop a detailed master conceptual plan for improvements in the 500+ acre open space west of Lexington Avenue and north of 109th Avenue now known as the Blaine Wetland Sanctuary (BWS). The plan included a trail system throughout the northern, central, and southern portions.
In December 2020, the Natural Resources Conservation Board (NRCB) and City Council met jointly to discuss the conceptual trail plan. The consensus at the joint meeting was to reduce the total length of trails to allow for a more cost-effective trail system. Trail loops were removed, and priority was given to connecting trailheads with surrounding neighborhoods. A subcommittee of the NRCB was formed to consider the cost to construct trails, the permitting process, and trail locations. City staff has been evaluating options for the build-out of the BWS trail system that will minimize wetland impacts while providing trail connections to surrounding neighborhoods. Consideration will be given to limit the installation of trails directly behind homes, as that was a request frequently brought up by residents at previous public meetings.
Recent restoration work in the southern portion has helped staff to distinguish between the uplands and wetlands in the BWS. In turn, this will help develop an updated conceptual trail plan.
This topic is being brought forward for discussion at this time based on development of North Meadows which has led to a high volume of inquiries staff has received regarding the next phases of trail construction. Additionally, residents have increased utilization of the haul roads that were established during the restoration project in the winter of 2021. The haul roads were intended for contractor access during the restoration project and are not suitable for regular residential use.
The City received a final approval letter from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers confirming the wetland bank amendments for the proposed trail alignment through the northern and central portions of the Blaine Wetland Sanctuary. This will allow for design and ultimate construction of the trail network to be completed in the wetland bank areas.
The 2022 Open Space Budget appropriated $50,000 for consulting activities to provide: a feasibility study; an updated BWS trail system design, and a phased construction plan based on funding estimates laid out in the 2022-2026 Open Space Capital Improvement Plan (CIP). The results will be shared with the City Council and NRCB for review and approval prior to any public engagement with residents of surrounding neighborhoods.
The current BWS northern portion trail is roughly one mile in length and is a mix of boardwalk, gravel, and asphalt. Its construction was completed in 2017 at a cost of about $1 million. The proposed trail network on the current conceptual drawing is approximately 2.4 miles long and a mix of boardwalk and gravel.
The city’s wetland bank has the potential to create up to 81 acres of wetland credits. Credits are released to the city when specific plant quality metrics are met as a result of the ongoing wetland restoration project. To date, the city has received 39.735 of the possible 81 credits, and 27.3681 of these credits have been sold. Based on the pro forma for the northern portion (Site 7), the amount of funds generated from the sale of credits was based on a price of $1.75 - $2.00 per square foot and would result in revenues of approximately $7 million. The wetland credit sale price is market driven and recent sales have been averaging $2.50 per square foot and could result in greater revenues than the original estimate based on the pro forma.
Staff will review the attached Blaine Wetland Sanctuary conceptual map which includes trailheads and trails and the 2022-2026 Open Space CIP.
Staff Recommendation
Staff is seeking direction and approval to continue to work with the NRCB on reviewing conceptual trail designs. Staff is also seeking approval to send request proposals from consultants to develop a project scope, design a trail system plan, and prepare both a feasibility study and a phased construction plan.
Attachment List
BWS - Conceptual trailheads and trails map
2022 - 2026 Open Space CIP Budget