Item 5E. CP Rail Regional Trail Renaming
Superintendent's Recommendation:
MOTION TO ADOPT THE NAME "BELTLINE REGIONAL TRAIL" FOR THE CP RAIL REGIONAL TRAIL NORTH OF NINE MILE CREEK REGIONAL TRAIL AND ADOPT THE NAME "HYLAND LAKE REGIONAL TRAIL" FOR THE CP RAIL REGIONAL TRAIL SOUTH OF NINE MILE CREEK REGIONAL TRAIL.
Prepared By: Danny McCullough, Regional Trail System Manager
Background:
The 21 mile-long CP Rail Regional Trail search corridor, as identified in the 2040 System Plan, generally follows the Canadian Pacific-Kansas City Railroad line traveling north/south through the cities of Crystal, New Hope, Golden Valley, St. Louis Park, Edina, and Bloomington (Attachment: CP Rail Regional Trail Search Corridor Map).
The CP-KC Rail line is still active and is envisioned to remain active in the foreseeable future requiring Three Rivers to work in partnership with the local communities and public to determine an alternative trail route as a shared rail/trail corridor was previously determined to not be feasible for the majority of the corridor.
An alternative (non-rail) route from the Crystal Lake Regional Trail to the Cedar Lake Regional Trail with connections to the Bassett Creek, Luce Line and North Cedar Lake Regional Trails through Crystal, New Hope, Golden Valley and St. Louis Park as well as the route from Nine Mile Creek Regional Trail to the Minnesota Valley State Trail via Hyland Park Reserve through Edina and Bloomington have been reviewed and approved by the local respective communities. Several segments of the approved route exist, have secured construction funding for 2029, and/or are candidates for 2028 design and construction funding.
With this forward momentum, staff recommend updating the 'planning-level' regional trail name to better reflect the actual approved route.
Three Rivers Board of Commissioners has the authority and responsibility for naming the regional trail. In accordance with Three Rivers policy, park and facility names will be named for a geographic, natural or historic feature of that park, local folk usage, historic events, or to commemorate people who have made an outstanding contribution to Three Rivers or persons of local historic or outstanding civic service. Regional trails typically, but not always, reference a significant water body or corridor.
Staff recommend 'Beltline Regional Trail' north of the Nine Mile Creek Regional Trail as this segment generally mirrors the TH 100 corridor which has been commonly referred to as the "Beltline" since the 1930's. Staff recommend that the segment south of Nine Mile Creek Regional Trail be called 'Hyland Lake Regional Trail'. This trail segment passes through Hyland Park Reserve near Hyland Lake and portions south of the park are already referred to as Hyland Lake Trail by Bloomington and its residents. See attached CP Rail Regional Trail Search Corridor Map for a visual representation of the naming recommendation.
If supported by the Board, staff will work to slowly transition to the new names as existing trail segments are conveyed to Three Rivers, new segments are built or planned, and/or maps and signage is updated. Further, staff will utilize the new name when updating park wayfinding signage through Hyland Park Reserve this summer.
The remaining segment between Cedar Lake and Nine Mile Creek Regional Trails through St. Louis Park and Edina is anticipated commence route planning in 2027.
Relationship to the System Plan:
The Request for Action supports the following goal(s) of the System Plan:
Goal 1: You Belong Here
Goal 2: Parks Matter
Goal 3: Lead by Example
Attachments:
