To: Parks and Recreation Commission Members and Staff
From: Jeff Smullen, Assistant Director of Parks and Recreation
Title
Park Renovation Project Update
Body
________________________________________________________________________________
Executive Summary
The Parks and Recreation Department allocates funding for repair and replacement of existing parks through the Conservation Trust Fund, which is derived from lottery and Douglas County Shareback revenues. The Department’s 2020 budget includes funding for planning and public outreach for needed renovations at Mitchell Gulch, Butterfield Crossing and Plum Creek parks and its 2021 budget includes an over $3 million allocation for final design and construction for all projects combined.
The purpose of this agenda item is to review the progress and obtain feedback from the Parks and Recreation Commission. A dedicated design team is working with staff and residents to define the scope and scale of each project. Input has been solicited on the Town’s website and online surveys were distributed (see Attachment A for survey results). Renovation concepts to address capital replacement needs as well as the preferences discovered in the surveys are also included for review and discussion (Attachments B-D).
Funding for projects will be prioritized to address safety and accessibility first and then improving user experience through new and improved amenities as the budget allows. The attached concepts provide detail related to proposed changes.
Mitchell Gulch Park (Design Firm - DHM Design)
The Mitchell Gulch Park playground will be 25 years old at the time of planned renovation and must be replaced. The park still does not have a paved parking area and contains undeveloped space that could support additional improvements, such as tennis, which currently does not exist in the Founders / Castlewood Ranch neighborhood. Partnership opportunities with the Founders Metropolitan District may exist.
Butterfield Crossing Park (Design Firm - Design Concepts)
Constructed more than 30 years ago, Butterfield Crossing Park is in need of several improvements. The asphalt basketball and tennis court surfaces have deteriorated and the Mateflex tiles installed to mitigate court issues have reached the end of their lifespan. Irrigation improvements are also necessary and the playground and synthetic-turf field both require replacement. Accessibility improvements are also required.
Plum Creek North and South Parks (Design Firm - DHM Design)
The Town of Castle Rock acquired the Plum Creek North Park property from Southwest Greens in late 2019. Improvements to this park were not included in the Parks and Recreation Department’s Capital Improvement Plan (CIP) as the plan was prepared prior to the site’s acquisition. The Plum Creek South Park, however, was included in the CIP. DHM Design is evaluating both parks in order to take a holistic view of how they can best serve the overall neighborhood.
Plum Creek North Park
The Town recently acquired this park property located adjacent to the Plum Creek Golf Course Clubhouse that contains the former community pool, tennis courts, pavilion and walkways. This park is more than 20 years old and has not been maintained for several years. A playground previously located on site was removed several years ago, and the tennis court, pool and pool building cannot be salvaged and must be removed.
Plum Creek South Park
This 20-year-old park contains a playground, half basketball court and site furniture, all of which require replacement. Much of the park 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.
Attachments
Attachment A - Survey Results
Attachment B - Mitchell Gulch Park Renovation Concepts
Attachment C - Butterfield Crossing Park Renovation Concepts
Attachment D - Plum Creek North and South Park Renovation Concepts