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HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOUNCIL - AGENDA ITEM - 06/28/2016 - SOUTHEAST COMMUNITY PARKDATE: STAFF: June 28, 2016 Craig Kisling, Landscape Architect Kurt Friesen, Director of Park Planning & Development WORK SESSION ITEM City Council SUBJECT FOR DISCUSSION Southeast Community Park. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY The purpose of this item is to inform Council of the proposed design for Southeast Community Park and present options for funding the construction budget shortfall. Southeast Community Park is located at the intersection of Ziegler and Kechter Roads in southeast Fort Collins. GENERAL DIRECTION SOUGHT AND SPECIFIC QUESTIONS TO BE ANSWERED City staff is presenting the design for Southeast Community Park and is seeking direction on solutions to the funding shortfall. 1. What feedback does Council have regarding the park design? 2. What direction does Council have regarding the proposed solutions to the funding shortfall? BACKGROUND / DISCUSSION Park Design Process Overview Design and construction of Southeast Community Park has occurred in two phases. The first phase began in 2004 when Fossil Ridge High School was constructed. At this time, the City partnered with Poudre School District (PSD) to construct a shared raw water irrigation pond, two tennis courts, a temporary ball field, and a temporary BMX track relocated from Edora Park. The City also partnered with PSD in the shared cost of street construction, including Saber Cat Drive and Lady Moon Drive. The second phase of the project began in July 2013 with a community meeting to gather input on potential park elements. Following this meeting, several park concepts were developed and presented at an open house in October 2013. Based on community input, these concepts were refined into one, which was presented at a third open house in December 2013. At this time, numerous complaints were received from neighbors south of the park site. Complaints were primarily focused on lighting, parking, and potential traffic congestion along Kechter Road. At the same time, an opportunity arose to repurpose two silos near the intersection of Timberline Road and Prospect Road. The silos require removal in order to widen Timberline Road at the Prospect Road intersection. Based on neighborhood feedback and the silo relocation opportunity, the park concept was changed considerably. The current and final plan was then presented at a fourth open house in February 2015 with overwhelming support for the park theme, layout, design and characteristics. Park Features Southeast Fort Collins, like much of the city, has a rich agricultural heritage. McClelland Creek, which runs through the park, is named after the McClelland family who were once apple farmers in southeast Fort Collins. The Webster family once lived on the park site, and raised sheep and other livestock. Building upon this agricultural heritage, Southeast Community Park will provide a place for visitors to explore a variety of food production technologies, and enjoy some common farm experiences, including driving down a long narrow driveway, playing in a barn, picking fruit from an orchard, sitting on a porch, growing a garden, and playing in a creek. June 28, 2016 Page 2 The core area of the park, or “homestead” area, is divided into two parts. The east side is the active zone, and includes a drop off, a shaded play barn with repurposed silos, a restroom, and an area where visitors can play in the creek. The west side of the homestead is conceived as a quieter retreat space, comprised of a group shelter that resembles a farm house, a community garden, fruit orchard, a large harvest room including a harvest table and hydroponic vertical gardens, a hops trellis, and “back porch” deck that overlooks McClelland Creek. These zones are connected by a small lawn area, which provides a space for events, picnics, or other uses. The park includes a combination of naturalistic and manicured landscapes. A naturalistic landscape is provided adjacent to McClelland Creek, which is a very popular place for residents to walk and for children to play today. Crusher fine trails extend along the north and south sides of the creek and through the native areas, creating a variation of walking loops around the park. Sweeping landforms with native grasses along the north edge of the park, or “coulees”, create a naturalistic overlook and a place for picnics. These native landscapes significantly reduce the long term raw water irrigation needs of the park. Two lighted ball fields, a dog park, a basketball court, BMX course, and turf multipurpose fields complete the park design. These help meet the growing recreational needs of many users in the southeast part of the city. In order to provide convenient and accessible access to all park elements, and reduce the amount of parking within the park, on-street parking is provided along Saber Cat Drive and Lady Moon Drive, in addition to the off- street parking provided centrally within the park. Multiple sidewalk connections are provided to the Fossil Ridge High School parking lot, which provides overflow parking when needed. Partnerships The Park Planning & Development Department partnered with the Stormwater Department and Nature in the City to complete two key components of the park. As part of Stormwater Stream Rehabilitation Program, the banks of McClelland Creek will be stabilized, and additional plantings provided to enhance the creek edge, providing a sustainable and naturalistic creek environment. A creek play area, which provides safe access into McClelland Creek for water play, has been incorporated into the park and is the first major project being funded through the Nature in the City program. Community Park Level of Service Comparison Community parks are funded through impact fees collected at the time of residential building permit issue. These fees are saved until sufficient funds are available to begin design and construction of the park. Over the last 20 years since the inception of the park impact fee system, parks have been designed to match or exceed the level of service, character, and quality of previous parks. The last two community parks constructed in Fort Collins are Fossil Creek Park and Spring Canyon Park. As shown in the chart below, both parks are larger than Southeast Community Park, and include more amenities, such as a skate park, more restrooms, multiple shelters, more multi-purpose fields, and more tennis and basketball courts. In order to provide a comparable level of service as these two existing parks, elements such as a harvest room, creek play area, orchard, and community garden have been provided in Southeast Community Park. These unique amenities help create a special and memorable park experience for visitors, are eagerly anticipated by residents, and enable a comparable level of service as Spring Canyon and Fossil Creek Parks. Community Park Level of Service Comparison Fossil Creek Community Park Spring Canyon Community Park Southeast Community Park Park Acreage 99.5 110 54 Shelters 2 group shelters, 1 picnic shelter 5 group shelters, 3 picnic shelters 1 group shelter Restrooms 2 3 2 Tennis Courts 5 3 3 Multi-purpose Fields 2 5 2 Baseball Fields 2 lighted fields 2 unlighted fields 2 lighted fields June 28, 2016 Page 3 Fossil Creek Community Park Spring Canyon Community Park Southeast Community Park Basketball Courts 2 lighted courts 3 lighted courts 1 unlighted court Playground ½ acre 1 acre ½ acre Water Play Splash Park Spray Park Creek Play Dog Park 1 acre 2 acres 1 acre Skate Park 1 1 0 Walking Trails .85 miles 1.6 miles .8 miles Parking Spaces 468 395 225 Unique Elements  In line hockey rink  Mountain bike trials course  Sand volleyball courts  Veterans Memorial  Harvest Room  Fruit Orchard  Hops Trellis  Community Garden  BMX course Funding Shortfall Funding for Southeast Community Park has been provided from numerous appropriations over the last 14 years. Project appropriations to date total approximately 14.5 M. Approximately 4M was spent on the park during the first phase of construction in 2003-2004, to construct the raw water irrigation pond, tennis courts, road improvements and temporary baseball field and BMX track. The current available balance for park construction is 10 M, with an additional 1.6M needed to fully realize the park design. In order to keep the project on schedule with a park opening promised to residents in the summer of 2017, the park was bid by a contractor with numerous alternates, and a construction contract for 8.3M awarded. Construction is currently underway, and can be viewed via on site cameras online at www.fcgov.com/parkplanning <http://www.fcgov.com/parkplanning>. A summary of the funding shortfall is provided below. Construction Base Bid Park Construction $ 9,752,500 Contract for Play Equipment $ 693,300 Contract for BMX Track Construction $ 53,000 Construction Contingency $ 780,200 Total Construction $ 11,279,000 Permits/Fees Fort Collins Loveland Water District Water/Sewer Tap Fees $ 363,300 City of Fort Collins Development Fees and Permits $ 328,600 Construction Materials Testing - Quality Control $ 49,600 Construction Administration $ 97,500 Total Permit/Fees $ 839,000 June 28, 2016 Page 4 Funding Community Parkland Fund $ 10,000,000 Nature in the City Contribution $ 100,000 Stormwater Contribution for McClelland Creek Restoration $ 380,000 Total Funding $ 10,480,000 Funding Shortfall $ 1,638,000 Funding Options There is approximately 2.8M available in Community Parkland Capital Expansion Reserves, which is sufficient to fund the shortfall. This money can only be used to fund community parks, and is available for this purpose. If reserves are not appropriated, Options 2 and 3 are provided to illustrate what will not be constructed. All funding options include a transfer of $300,000 from the Lee Martinez project to the Southeast Community Park project. This money was intended to be used for the raw water conversion of Lee Martinez Park. However, a recent property sale eliminated the raw water source, making the raw conversion project no longer feasible. Instead, the money could be applied towards raw water purchase at Southeast Community Park. Option 1 - Complete Park Build Out An appropriation of the available reserve balance would fully fund the park as designed: Lee Martinez Park Raw Water Appropriation $ 300,000 Community Park Capital Expansion Reserves $ 1,338,000 $ 1,638,000 Option 2 - No Sports Field Loss This option provides the park to be constructed without the ballfield restroom, orchard, harvest room, community garden and other park features. Restroom utilities would be installed to allow for future construction once additional funding becomes available. This option would not require an appropriation of reserves. Lee Martinez Park Raw Water Appropriation $ 300,000 Eliminate Ballfield Restroom $ 386,000 Eliminate Back Porch, Harvest Room, Orchard $ 405,000 Eliminate Basketball Court $ 49,000 Eliminate Community Garden $ 63,000 Eliminate Gabion Walls $ 18,000 Eliminate Pervious Pavers $ 32,000 Eliminate Supply of BMX Asphalt $ 16,000 Eliminate BMX Fencing $ 24,000 Concrete Band Scope Deduction $ 27,000 Eliminate Hops Trellis $ 28,000 Eliminate 50% of Park Trees $ 160,000 Eliminate 50% of Park Shrubs $ 100,000 Eliminate 50% of Park Perennials $ 30,000 $ 1,638,000 June 28, 2016 Page 5 Option 3 - No Harvest Room & Orchard Loss This option eliminates the ballfield restroom, all ballfield lights, dog park, back porch wood deck, hops trellis and many trees and shrubs. The ballfield lights infrastructure and ballfield restroom utilities would be installed to allow for future construction once additional funding becomes available. This option would not require an appropriation of reserves. Lee Martinez Park Raw Water Appropriation $ 300,000 Eliminate Ballfield Restroom $ 386,000 Eliminate Ballfield Lighting $ 326,000 Eliminate Basketball Court $ 49,000 Eliminate Community Garden $ 63,000 Eliminate Dog Park $ 42,000 Eliminate Gabion Walls $ 18,000 Substitute Pavers for Wood Decking at Back Porch $ 30,000 Eliminate Pervious Pavers $ 32,000 Eliminate Supply of BMX asphalt $ 16,000 Eliminate BMX Fencing $ 24,000 Eliminate Hops Trellis $ 28,000 Concrete Band Scope Deduction $ 27,000 Eliminate 50% of Park Trees $ 160,000 Eliminate 50% of Park Shrubs $ 100,000 Eliminate 62% of Park Perennials $ 37,000 $ 1,638,000 Construction Contingency Best practices suggest an 8-10% contingency be held for unforeseen conditions during construction. Staff recommends an 8% contingency for this project. For Option 1, the construction contingency is $780,200, nearly half of the 1.6M needed to fully fund the project. However, this money may not be needed. Staff Recommendation Council will consider an ordinance on July 5, 2016, to look at making a decision to approve option 1, which requires an appropriation of 1.6M and would enable the park design to be fully realized. If the additional funding is approved the park construction for full design will begin immediately. ATTACHMENTS 1. Location map (PDF) 2. Powerpoint presentation (PDF) Park Location 3 Mulberry Mulberrry ulb ry Prospect Drake Horsetooth Harmony Ziegler Kechter I-25 Timberline Lemay Park Site Khtt K ATTACHMENT 1 Kurt Friesen, Park Planning & Development Director 1 6-28-16 Southeast Community Park ATTACHMENT 2 Questions for Council 2 • What feedback does Council have regarding the park design? • What direction does Council have regarding the solutions to the funding shortfall? Park Location 3 Mulberry Prospect Drake Horsetooth Harmony Ziegler Kechter I-25 Timberline Lemay Park Site Design Process Overview • 4 project community meetings conducted • Park design changed considerably in 2014 in response to neighborhood concerns and the silo relocation opportunity • On line survey comments received • The park as designed has received enthusiastic support from residents 4 Running Natural Play Baseball Water Play Climbing Wall Ropes Course Sports BMX What We Heard from Citizens 5 Dog Walking Gardening Trails Orchard Picnicking Wildlife Viewing What We Heard from Citizens 6 Neighborhood Concerns • Traffic congestion along Kechter • Lighted fields near homes • Playground close to Kechter • BMX course highly visible from Ziegler 7 Neighborhood Concerns Addressed • Park entry off Ziegler instead of Kechter • Dispersed parking • Ball fields lighted away from homes • Playground centrally located • BMX course in discreet location BMX P P P P Playground Lighted Ball Fields Multi-purpose Fields Prairie Landscape 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 15 16 The Coulees Multi- Purpose Fields Ball Fields Dog Park BMX Prairie Landscape Pond The Homestead 16 17 The Homestead 17 18 The Homestead ACTIVE 18 19 The Homestead ACTIVE RETREAT 19 20 The Homestead ACTIVE ALIGNS WITH CENTURY COTTONWOOD EVENT RETREAT 20 21 The Homestead ACTIVE ALIGNS WITH CENTURY COTTONWOOD EVENT RETREAT 21 22 23 Community Garden Hops Trellis Farm House Shelter Harvest Table Back Porch Orchard Vertical Gardens Creek 24 Farm House Shelter 25 Hydroponic Vertical Gardens 26 Harvest Table Silos – Timberline & Prospect 27 28 29 30 Photo of mclelland creek 31 32 33 Level of Service Comparison 34 Fossil Creek Community Park Spring Canyon Community Park Southeast Community Park Park Acreage 99.5 110 54 Shelters 2 group, 1 picnic 5 group, 3 picnic 1 group Tennis Courts 533 Multi-purpose Fields 252 Basketball Courts 2 lighted 3 unlighted 1 unlighted Dog Park 1 acre 2 acres 1 acre Skate Park 110 Unique Elements In Line Hockey Mountain Bike Trials Course Sand Volleyball Veterans Memorial Harvest Room Fruit Orchard Hops Trellis Community Garden BMX Course Park Funding Summary 35 Construction $11,279,000 Permit/Fees $839,000 Total $12,118,000 Funding Available $10,000,000 Nature in the City Contribution $100,000 Stormwater Stream Rehabilitation Program $380,000 Funding Shortfall $1,638,000 Funding Options 36 Description Reserves Appropriation Lee Martinez Raw Water Appropriation Option 1 Complete Park Build Out Construct entire park as designed $1,338,000 $300,000 Option 2 No Sports Field Loss Eliminate restroom, deck, harvest room, orchard, basketball court, community garden, pervious pavers, BMX asphalt & fencing, hops trellis, 50% trees, shrubs & perennials $0 $300,000 Option 3 No Harvest Room & Orchard Loss Eliminate restroom, ballfield lighting, basketball court, dog park, community garden, pervious pavers, BMX asphalt & fencing, hops trellis, 50% trees & shrubs, 62% perennials $0 $300,000 Staff Recommendation Staff recommends Option1 • As designed, the park provides a comparable level of service with other community parks • The park provides some unique elements not found in other parks in the City • The park design has been enthusiastically received by residents of southeast Fort Collins 37 Questions for Council 38 • What feedback does Council have regarding the park design? • What direction does Council have regarding the solutions to the funding shortfall? 39 39