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1 families and retirees moving to Pequot Lakes have increased wealth and leisure time, as well as a stronger <br /> 2 connection to the outdoors and an awareness of the importance of health and fitness. Combined,these trends will <br /> 3 put added pressure on Pequot Lakes to provide a diverse array of recreational opportunities and facilities for its <br /> 4 growing, recreationally-minded population. <br /> 5 POLICIES <br /> 6 The following policies are proposed to guide future recreational growth and development in Pequot Lakes: <br /> 7 Preserve the integrity of city lakes by limiting development in sensitive shoreland areas. Levels of recreational <br /> 8 use for many activities are high in relation to surrounding areas; two examples are hunting and fishing. Much of <br /> 9 the present and future development in Pequot Lakes is concentrating on lesser value lakeshore where fish and <br /> 10 wildlife habitat values are high; programs are needed to preserve some lakeshore from development. <br /> 11 Make lakes,wetlands, and public forests more accessible to the public.The lakes and wetlands are scenic spots <br /> 12 for recreating residents and tourists. Since development is prohibited on wetlands, they are prime locations for <br /> 13 recreational opportunities such as hunting, birding, or winter trails. City lakes should offer more locations for <br /> 14 public access in order to expand the lake experience to people beyond private shoreline owners. Lake plans and <br /> 15 water surface management plans, including traffic management, no-wake zones, and time-of-use limits should be <br /> 16 created to help preserve these city treasures. <br /> 17 Partner with other public entities owning undeveloped property in Pequot Lakes to create a coordinated plan <br /> 18 for future recreational use. The integration of public land could greatly enhance recreation opportunities in <br /> 19 Pequot Lakes. City parks, State forests, and County and State trails can add connections for all kinds of recreation. <br /> 20 It is essential for the City to coordinate preservation of public space for future use. Now is the time to possess the <br /> 21 foresight before Pequot Lakes finds all open space completed divided out and privately owned. <br /> 22 Maintain private resorts and facilities for public recreational use. Private recreation facilities act to provide <br /> 23 balance for a variety of income levels. Due to this fact,they should be encouraged to continue the trend of offering <br /> 24 affordable recreation options for families.Since private facilities are currently the only way for some residents and <br /> 25 visitors to have access to water, the City should try to maintain their existence. This can be accomplished by <br /> 26 providing incentives to private recreational owners to maintain the existing public recreational use on their <br /> 27 property. <br /> 28 Seek to increase the existing recreational resource base and to connect all new and existing recreational <br /> 29 features and facilities. Recreational activities and use of facilities by both residents and non-residents has <br /> 30 increased significantly in recent years, but the resource base available has actually decreased. Most of this <br /> 31 recreation takes place on the limited amount of public lands and waters. Thus, preservation of key recreational <br /> 32 features must be a component of all new developments.The City must take advantage of opportunities to expand <br /> 33 and connect existing and future outdoor recreational facilities. <br /> 34 ACTIONS <br /> 35 SHORT-TERM ACTIONS (WITHIN 1 YEAR): <br /> 36 7, Partner with the school district to coordinate activities and explore indoor recreational opportunities. <br /> 19IPage <br />