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Everett Parks and Recreation Parks Natural/Special Use Areas, Golf Description: Natural areas contain resources that are managed for This designation is abroad category of open space that may conservation, environmental education and nature-based, serve a specific need related to protecting natural unstructured, low-impact recreational opportunities, such as environments, providing for a specific recreation activity (golf), walking and nature viewing. Natural areas include areas of the preserving cultural artifacts or serving as a gateway helping city which are subject to natural hazards; contain land form define the character of a specific area within the city. Each of features involved in carrying, holding, or purifying water; or the following defines a type of use within this category. support unique, fragile, or valuable natural resources. This includes dedicated watersheds or natural/non-developed Natural areas. Example—Johnston Kelly Environmental Park and Jetty Island Typical Natural Area users: Natural and special use designations include areas for • Come from throughout the city. protection and management of the natural/cultural • Arrive by auto, bus, bicycle or foot. environment with recreation use as a secondary objective. • Visit the park for one or more hours. Recreation use might include passive recreation such as • Maybe looking for a passive park use experience viewing and studying nature and wildlife habitat. There are no specific standards for size or acreage other than they should Site Selection: be sufficient to protect the resource and provide for • Site size should be based on natural resource needs appropriate usage. • Site size should be based on acreage needed to Many of these areas are considered "Critical Areas." The City preserve or protect the resource. of Everett has adopted ordinance 2909-06 to designate critical • Provide visible point of access to neighborhood, areas and to adopt development regulations to protect critical community, sidewalk, trail or street areas (RCW36.70A060 and .170 and WAC 365-194-410). • Consider emergency vehicle access Critical Areas are usually characterized by the following Provide: features: • hard and soft surface trails where appropriate • Steep sloped areas • ADA access opportunity • Geotechnical hazards such as erosion, slides, • On-street or off-street parking based on facilities or groundwater springs provided • Wetlands or riparian shorelines, such as • Directional signage and park rules riverbanks or lakeshores • Wildlife and habitat areas Consider: Amenities provided should be limited to the • Stream beds numbers and types of visitors the area can accommodate, 32 Everett Parks and Recreation