To: Parks and Recreation Commission Members and Staff
From: Brian Peterson, Park Planning and Construction Manager
Title
Park Renovation Project Updates
Body
________________________________________________________________________________
Executive Summary
The Parks and Recreation Capital Improvement Plan (CIP) identifies the need for improvements to many of your existing Castle Rock parks through 2023. Butterfield Crossing, Mitchell Gulch and Plum Creek parks will receive the first upgrades planned for completion in 2021. Additional parks, including Castle Highlands, Metzler Ranch and Centennial parks, will be completed by 2023.
The Castle Rock Parks and Recreation Department is partnering with professional landscape architectural firms to engage residents before any changes are made. Beginning in June 2020, surveys, open houses and/or online forums will be hosted to help explain the proposed improvements listed below and to explore the potential for additional or upgraded amenities. Should you live in one of these neighborhoods, please keep a look out in the mail and on CRgov.com/parkimprovements for opportunities to participate.
These projects will be funded from the Conservation Trust Fund (Colorado Lottery proceeds) and Douglas County Shareback. The Douglas County Shareback tax is scheduled to sunset at the end of 2023.
Butterfield Crossing Park
Several improvements are needed within Butterfield Crossing Park, which was constructed over thirty years ago. The asphalt basketball and tennis court surfaces have deteriorated and the Mateflex tiles that were put in place to keep the courts playable have reached the end of their lifespan. The irrigation system also requires significant upgrades and the existing playground needs replacement. The 15-year old synthetic turf has also reached the end of its lifespan and the park requires accessibility improvements. The scale of improvements may provide the opportunity to consider relocating or adding additional amenities.
Progress Update:
- Landscape architect, Design Concepts, was awarded the design contract in February 2020 to work with both the Town as well as the community on creating an overall improvement plan.
- An on-site meeting took place with the Parks Operations and Maintenance and Recreation divisions to review current and future programming needs and maintenance issues. Suggestions included adding an inclusive playground, new basketball/tennis courts, potential pickleball court(s), upgraded LED lighting, new synthetic turf, a revised plaza area, upgraded amenities and revised irrigation.
- One online survey was sent out to the Adaptive Recreation community asking for their feedback in regards to fully inclusive playgrounds, a Miracle Field and Special Olympics programming.
- WebEx meetings were held to concept bubble diagrams for discussion purposes. These surveys will allow the immediate community to have an input on what elements they desire to see in the park as well as what they may not like to see in the park.
- Parks and Community Relations staff created a webpage to gather public input.
Mitchell Gulch Park
Mitchell Gulch Park was constructed over twenty years ago. The park does not have a dedicated parking area and the playground must be replaced. The park also contains undeveloped space that could support additional improvements.
Progress Update:
- Landscape architect, DHM Design Corporation, was awarded the design contract in February 2020 to work with both the Town as well as the community on creating an overall improvement plan.
- Park deficiencies identified include a lack of paved parking, the need for playground replacement, security lighting, the lack of a port ‘o’ let structure and the lack of a park sign.
- DHM and planning staff walked the site with the Park Operations and Maintenance and Recreation divisions to discuss challenges and opportunities
- Created a website - <http://www.mitchellgulchpark.com/> - that will be used to inform residents on upcoming surveys, the design process and tell the story of how the park design evolves.
- Surveys will be sent out to the surrounding residents to gather input on how to improve the park and what amenities the community may want to see added to enhance the park experience. The anticipated date for the survey is during the month of June.
Plum Creek North and South Parks
Plum Creek North Park:
The Town of Castle Rock acquired the Plum Creek North Park property from Southwest Greens in late 2019. The park is located adjacent to the Plum Creek Golf Club’s clubhouse and contains the former community pool, tennis courts, pavilion and walkways. The park is over twenty years old and has not been maintained for several years. A playground previously located on the site was removed several years ago and the tennis court, pool and pool building cannot be salvaged and must be removed. Improvements to this park were not included in the CIP plan; however, the Plum Creek South site was. DHM Design Corporation has been retained to evaluate and create an improvement plan for both parks in order to take a holistic view of how the parks will serve the overall neighborhood.
Plum Creek South Park:
This park is over twenty years old and contains a playground, half basketball court and site furniture, all of which will require replacement. Much of the property was actually planned as a future school site. The Douglas County School District has not used the property for this purpose nor have they released it from future consideration. This may limit the amount of funding that can be invested into the project. The property is also used extensively for walking and may have potential for a more formal trail system.
Progress Update:
o The Department will soon ask for community input related to this park. Post cards will be mailed to residents in the area, directing them to a website - <http://www.plumcreekparks.com/> - that will host a survey, provide information on the design as well as other important information.