Crow-Hassan Park Reserve Master Plan

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Consultation has concluded

Prairie visitor.

Three Rivers Park District is developing an updated master plan for Crow-Hassan Park Reserve, located at the northwest edge of Hennepin County on the Crow River in the cities of Rogers and Hanover. The large, uninterrupted expanse of land contained within the park reserve is a unique space providing wilderness and wildlife habitat in the Twin Cities metropolitan area.

The master plan process will further define the importance of the park’s natural resource protection balanced against recreational access.

Key goals of the master plan include:

Goal 1: Preserve the unique natural resources.

Goal 2: Celebrate the Crow River.

Goal 3: Introduce people to nature and outdoor recreation.

Three Rivers Park District is developing an updated master plan for Crow-Hassan Park Reserve, located at the northwest edge of Hennepin County on the Crow River in the cities of Rogers and Hanover. The large, uninterrupted expanse of land contained within the park reserve is a unique space providing wilderness and wildlife habitat in the Twin Cities metropolitan area.

The master plan process will further define the importance of the park’s natural resource protection balanced against recreational access.

Key goals of the master plan include:

Goal 1: Preserve the unique natural resources.

Goal 2: Celebrate the Crow River.

Goal 3: Introduce people to nature and outdoor recreation.

Consultation has concluded
  • Three Rivers Board Reviews Updated Draft Master Plan

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    The Three Rivers Park District Board of Commissioners reviewed the updated Crow-Hassan Park Reserve draft master plan, available here, at its meeting on January 2 and did not request any additional changes. Commissioners expressed their appreciation for the public’s engagement throughout the process. More than 300 comments were submitted about the master plan and Park District staff met with several stakeholder groups as the plan was being developed and refined.

    Next steps

    Three Rivers will seek resolutions of support from cities adjacent to the park and anticipates submitting the master plan to the Metropolitan Council for its consideration this spring. Once the Metropolitan Council has approved the plan, the Three Rivers Park District Board will consider final approval of it.
  • Updated Draft Crow-Hassan Master Plan is Available

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    The updated Crow-Hassan Park Reserve draft master plan is now available. The updated plan includes changes that were made as a result of the comments received during the public comment period between July 24, 2019, and September 5, 2019; input from the people who spoke at Three Rivers Park District Board of Commissioners meetings; and conversations with key stakeholders that took place this fall.

    Thank you to everyone who provided feedback and comments on the plan. Here is a summary of the changes that were made as a result of public and stakeholder input. The full version of the updated draft master plan is available to view here.


    Throughout document:

    · Corrected grammar, spelling errors and other typos

    · Increased the flow of text/sections


    Chapter 2

    · Added continued stakeholder engagement updates.


    Chapter 5

    · Improved the legibility of maps throughout the chapter.

    · Clarified guiding principles and how they helped guide proposed recreational development.

    · Inserted Crow River Regional Trail design guideline recommendations.

    · Clarified trailhead parking lot design guideline recommendations.

    · Added winter recreation guideline recommendations.


    Appendix B

    · Added service area demographics.


    The Three Rivers Park District Board of Commissioners is expected to consider the updated draft master plan for approval at its meeting on January 2, 2020.
  • Project Update - December 3, 2019

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    Here is the latest update on our timeline and process related to the Crow-Hassan master plan.

    We are connecting with key stakeholders to get feedback about our recommended changes to the draft Crow-Hassan Park Reserve master plan based on public and stakeholder comments. The updated draft master plan will be posted in mid-December on this site. We anticipate presenting the draft master plan with the proposed changes to the Three Rivers Park District Board of Commissioners in January.

  • Technical Issue Delayed Delivery of Some Comments

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    Three Rivers Park District staff recently learned that a technical problem had prevented delivery of some email messages submitted to CrowHassanMP@threeriversparks.org during the public comment period. The issue has been resolved and the messages have been reviewed by Park District staff, added to the public record of comments received, and will be considered as decisions are made about the park. To view the updated record of public comments, please visit this link.

    Three Rivers Park District apologizes for any inconvenience this issue may have caused.
  • Project Update - October 10, 2019

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    Thank you to everyone who took time to review the Crow-Hassan Park Reserve draft master plan and make comments. The comments that were submitted provided valuable insight and ideas for refining the plan.

    Park District representatives are following up in person with groups identified as key stakeholders to ensure we thoroughly understand each perspective. We will continue to meet with groups over the next few weeks. Summaries of the stakeholder group meetings, along with the public comments received, are available to view in the Document Library.

    We anticipate sharing preliminary recommendations with stakeholder groups in mid-November. Proposed recommendations and changes to the master plan will be presented to the Three Rivers Park District Board of Commissioners no earlier than December 2019.


  • Project Update & Next Steps

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    We are very appreciative of everyone who took time to review the Crow-Hassan Park Reserve draft Master Plan. The many comments we received provided valuable perspective and additional ideas for further improving the plan and the park.

    As we consider the comments and feedback received, we are also following up in person with key stakeholder groups to ensure we thoroughly understand each perspective. We will continue to engage these groups over the next few weeks and will bring forward proposed changes and recommendations to the Three Rivers Park District Board of Commissioners, anticipated at their November meeting at the earliest. A copy of all written comments and summaries of each stakeholder meeting are available for review in the Document Library. Summaries may take up to five days to be posted following the meeting date.
  • Master Plan Comment Period is Closed

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    The public comment period for the Crow-Hassan Master Plan has closed. Thank you to everyone who submitted feedback. Comments are being compiled into one document which will be posted on this site when it is available.

  • UPDATE | Crow-Hassan Master Plan Comment Period Extended

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    The Three Rivers Park District Board of Commissioners has approved the draft master plan for Crow-Hassan Park Reserve.

    Guiding principles of the master plan are to preserve the unique natural resources of the park, celebrate the Crow River, and introduce people to nature and outdoor recreation. FAQs have been generated to assist with commonly asked master plan questions.

    The public has the opportunity to provide comments about the master plan through Thursday, September 5. The master plan is available here. Comments about the plan may be made below, submitted by e-mail to CrowHassanMP@threeriversparks.org or by mail to: Three Rivers Park District, Crow-Hassan Park Reserve Master Plan, 3000 Xenium Lane North, Plymouth, MN 55441.

    Printed reference copies of the plan are available at the Three Rivers Park District Administrative Center, 3000 Xenium Lane N., Plymouth, MN 55441; Rogers City Hall, 22350 S. Diamond Lake Rd., Rogers, MN 55374; the Rogers Library, 21300 John Milless Dr., Rogers, MN 55374; Hanover City Hall, 11250 5th St. NE, Hanover, MN 55341; and Eastman Nature Center, 13351 Elm Creek Rd., Dayton, MN 55369.

    Add your comments about the draft master plan below.
  • Master Plan FAQs

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    Have a question that may have been asked by others? Find your answers to frequently asked Crow-Hassan master plan questions below.

    What is a park master plan? A park master plan is a long-term guide for natural resource management, future development and programming at a park. Elements of the master plan include boundaries and acquisition costs (when applicable), stewardship plan, demand forecast, development concept, conflicts, operations, public services, engagement and awareness, accessibility and natural resources management. A typical master plan has a shelf-life of 10 to 20 years. The plan is conceptual in nature and not intended to address detailed issues related to engineered site design. Crow-Hassan’s first master plan was completed in 1972 and most recently updated in 1997.

    How are my comments used to influence the master plan? Public engagement and participation are necessary to ensure the master plan is authentic and respectful to the recreational and natural resources needs of the park and the community. All public feedback received during the master plan process is summarized and documented. A survey with over 1,100 responses was conducted in Fall of 2018 to assist planners with the draft master plan document. Feedback, was and will continue to be, measured by its ability to meet the Crow-Hassan Park Reserve master plan goals, which include: 1) preserving the unique natural resources, 2) celebrating the Crow River, and 3) introducing people to nature and outdoor recreation. A summary of public feedback will be published, with responses provided where applicable.

    Why is the Crow River Regional Trail included in the Crow-Hassan Master Plan? The master plan and route for the 32-mile Crow River Regional Trail (CRRT) was approved by the Park District and Met Council in 2017 after public engagement and review. The CRRT Master Plan established a paved regional trail presence within Crow-Hassan Park Reserve. The draft 2019 Crow-Hassan Master Plan reflects the Park District’s intent of providing a regional trail that is respectful of the park reserve’s natural resources and user groups. The paved trail will have at least a 50-foot buffer where the CRRT comes into proximity of an unpaved trail. If there are critical/sensitive natural resource areas, this may be reduced to 20 feet for short segments. The CRRT is the only park trail to be paved. No existing trails will be utilized to accommodate the CRRT.

    What about equestrian parking? How will it change with the new master plan concept? The Park District has proposed separate equestrian and general use parking areas. The current shared-use parking lot accommodates 12 equestrian trailer spots. The proposed new equestrian parking lot will accommodate 18 equestrian trailer spots, four equestrian overnight camping stalls and an equestrian gathering area to socialize including seating and highlines. Overflow equestrian parking will continue to be allowed along the main entrance road shoulder.

    Are any equestrian trails being eliminated? No. In fact, a 1.25-mile unpaved hiking and horse loop is being added to the southern portion of the park reserve, a separate equestrian parking lot is being proposed and additional individual horse camping options are being added.

    How is the park going to accommodate families with small children and those with mobility limitations? Public feedback indicated the need to provide a way for families and those with mobility limitations to experience the park’s unique natural resources. The master plan proposes three miles of fully ADA accessible trails (unpaved), expanded camping options, improved trail directional and educational signage, smaller trail loops and improved accessibility. Additional education programming was also important to responders; therefore the plan proposes to expand self-guided and instructor-led educational programming offerings.

    How do I provide comments? You can submit comments via one of the following methods:

    Website: www.letstalkthreerivers.org

    E-mail: CrowHassanMP@threeriversparks.org

    Mail: Three Rivers Park District, Crow-Hassan Park Reserve Master Plan, 3000 Xenium Lane North, Plymouth, MN 55441
  • Master Plan Executive Summary Available

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    Don't have time to read the master plan but want the highlights? Please see the Executive Summary which outlines engagement themes, draft proposed concepts and estimated costs.