08-H Parks Master Plan Amndmnt - Laserfiche WebLink

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"useable" feet should be avoided and narrow corridor sections kept to a minimum. One- hundred foot corridor widths and wider give flexibility in design and are encouraged wherever possible. Natural Areas Natural areas are spaces containing ecosystems in a non-disturbed state with minimal man- made intrusions. Natural areas lend a certain aesthetic and functional diversity to a park network and urban landscape. Although the benefits of natural areas are hard to quantify, they are numerous and include preservation of wildlife habitat and opportunities for nature study. When flood plains are preserved as natural areas they offer a resource to aid in the protection from flooding. A resource based approach should be used, due to the unique character and availability of natural resources in a city like Paris. This approach enables the City to identify the natural resources found in the community, and define how those areas will be used in order to best satisfy the needs of the citizens. There are no national standards for natural areas within a city due to the extreme variations found in natural resources from region to region. The City of Paris should, through the established planning processes, adopt open space policies which reflect the natural resources of the community. Natural areas or open lands with environmental significance should not be included in a level of service standard since these lands have limited capability for recreational use beyond desirable and limited passive recreation, interpretation and environmental education. It is important that natural areas not be perceived as surplus land which can be used for more active forms of recreation as the need arises.