HomeMy WebLinkAboutAgenda - 06-02-1997 - 10a 1
• ORANGE COUNTY
BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
Action Agenda
Item No. /O_Q
ACTION AGENDA ITEM ABSTRACT
Meeting Date: June 2, 1997
SUBJECT: Efland-Cheeks Community School Park
DEPARTMENT: Manager's Office PUBLIC HEARING: (Y/N) {
BUDGET AMENDMENT: (Y/N)
ATTACHMENT(S): INFORMATION CONTACT:
Master Plan Study Albert T. Kittrell, Assistant County Manager
TELEPHONE NUMBERS: -- ext. 2300
Hillsborough 732-8181
Chapel Hill 968-4501
Durham 688-7331
Mebane 227-2031
PURPOSE: To review the park design for the Efland-Cheeks Community School Park.
BACKGROUND: On June 3, 1996 the Board adopted a resolution establishing the Efland-Cheeks
Community School Park Task Force and authorizing this group to develop a comprehensive plan for
design for a park. The task force composed of representatives from the County School Board,
Efland-Cheeks School PTO, Efland-Cheeks School Staff, United Voices of Efland-Cheeks, and
County Staff have met monthly since July 1996. The task force has conducted surveys,public
meetings, and toured other community-school parks.
On February 3, 1997 the Board approved an agreement with Woolpert, a park planning firm, to
design the proposed park. The firm has met with the task force several times and conducted a
community park design meeting to receive citizen input. Woolpert and the task force have
presented the proposed park design to the Orange County School Board on May 19, 1996.
Although the firm has designed a comprehensive plan for the park, implementation can be
completed in phases as funds are available.
RECOMMENDATION(S): The manager recommends that the Board receives the report as
information.
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Efland-Cheeks School Park 2
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EFLAND-CHEEKS SCHOOL PARK
MASTER PLAN STUDY
Prepared For:
Orange County Parks & Recreation
Prepared By:
Woolpert, LLP
8731 Red Oak Boulevard
Charlotte, NC 28217
Woolpert Park Blaster Pian April 1997
Efland-Cheeks School Park 3
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
Description Section
Executive Summary . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1
Site Analysis . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2
Public Comments . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3
Land Use Alternatives 4
MasterPlan . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
Estimate of Probable Cost . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . b
Woolperr Park Master Plar. April 1997
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Efland-Cheeks School Park 4
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
EFLAND-CHEEKS SCHOOL PARK MASTER PLAN
The Efland-Cheeks School Park provides for a multipurpose park that utilizes
properties provided by both the County of Orange Recreation Department and the
Orange County Board of Education. This park design combines the resources of both
agencies into a community facility that will be multi-use in nature yet specialty in its
applications toward learning and public enjoyment.
The public participation has been unique especially in the enthusiasm of the people
and the cooperation of the two separate agencies. This group participation
determined a number of different uses for the park that ultimately provided for a
facility design that will serve both the community and the elementary school at the
some time. Care was taken in the design to provide a park that offered joint facility
uses that could be isolated when needed by the elementary school but available to the
entire public when desired.
srrE ANALYSIS
The 27.5 acre site was reviewed by the consultant for the many opportunities that the
joint properties would offer for recreation. The site was found to include a number of
interesting areas including a heavily wooded area, a potential wetlands area, open
play areas and three streams that traverse the site. Wildlife is present as well as an
active community that surrounds the joint park site on three sides. The joint site is
currently being used by the community but the use is restrictive when school is ii-i
session.
PUBLIC PROCESS
The most interesting portion of the design process was the Saturday design session
that was held at the Efland-Cheeks Elementary School. This planning session
combined the interested residents of the area into five design teams. The groups
combined children, young adults and senior citizens in mixed groups so that a variety
of Ideas could be realized. Each team was given a different program statement which
defined a different emphasis for designing their particular park project. Three
mixtures of recreation needs were stated and each design team was given the project
site map, markers, tracing paper and one Landscape Architect from the consultants
team.
The teams each developed a park plan. The five teams then presented their individual
ideas to the other teams in an open presentation forum. The mix of ideas were then
discussed and a list of acceptable uses for the park were obtained. In consensus it
was agreed that the park should be a mixed use park with both passive and active
recreation areas. High marks were given to an environmental instructional area that
could be developed on a small portion of the park and a multi-purpose recreational
field.
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Efland-Cheeks School Park
All of the ideas were identified on a flip chart. Those in attendance then ranked the
uses as primary and secondary. The rating was then used as a guide for the
consultant to plan the park layout.
LAND USE CONCEPTS
Two land use concepts were developed that combined the many ideas presented at
the public input session. These ideas were then presented in an additional public
review during the regularly scheduled Recreation Committee meeting. The concepts
were reviewed and a final master plan direction was agreed upon. Again this
directive followed a passive and active theme for the park.
FINAL MASTER PLAN
The final master plan combines an interesting balance of active and passive
recreation that allows for joint use of the park during school hours, with the
opportunity to isolate uses during special times. These special times would generally
be outdoor school classroom sessions.
The illustrative master plan at the end of this section represents the entire park build
out. The individual aspects of the park are as follows:
• A new entrance to the community building which includes new signage,
landscaping and security gates.
• Three new parking lot layouts that distribute parking into three major use areas
of the site.
• A new large shelter area is provided along with a combined toilet facility.
• Three other smaller shelters are provided throughout the park for picnics and
instructional uses.
• The existing basketball courts have been razed and three new ones were
strategically located to provide a buffer between the older and younger children.
• A multi-purpose field location was designed that can be converted to three
different uses. The area can be utilized as two mini soccer fields, one large
soccer field or as a softball field.
• Volleyball and horseshoe areas area provided near the community center and the
outdoor shelters.
• Playgrounds are provided in both the school grounds area and the community
park area.
• An open play area is provided for the school to allow for unstructured play.
• Structured play areas are provided adjacent to the school with rubberized
pavement and standard play symbols shown on the pavement.
• An outdoor environmental interpretive area is provided that supplies study areas
attached to boardwalks and observation areas.
• An outdoor amphitheater is located adjacent to the front of the school for outdoor
presentations.
• Two loop walking trails are provided in both the community park section and the
school portion of the park.
• A direct linkage between the elementary school and the community center is
provided in the design.
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Efland-Cheeks School Park
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• Space is also allocated to provide for an expansion of the community center.
Area is also reserved for a gymnasium addition to the community center.
• Finally, an outdoor plaza is provided for the school to support additional outdoor
programs when necessary.
PHASE-1 DEVELOPMENT
The entire planning process was developed with the thought of phasing the park
implementation. The first phase of this park includes the following items:
• The multi-purpose athletic field area.
• The main outdoor play area for the elementary school.
• The relocation of three basketball courts.
• One large shcher.
• A new entrance to the park.
• Two partial parking lots installations.
• One loop walking trail.
The estimated cost for the first phase is estimated at just under $600,000.00
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Efland-Cheeks School Park
F SITE ANALYSIS
GENERAL SITE INFORMATION
The proposed park project is an 27.5 acre site located in Efland, North Carolina. The
park project is a joint development project between the Efland-Cheeks Elementary
School and the Orange County Parks & Recreation Department. The main objective
of this project is to provide a park facility that will have a multitude of uses available
to both the local residents and the Elementary School.
The park is bounded to the west by Richmond Road, a major collector road, that
services the residential area bordering the park. Primary access to Richmond Road is
from Highway 70. The proposed park is also bounded on the southern edge by the
Bus Access Road to the Elementary School. Both of these roads provide dual access
opportunities to the proposed park.
Residential development is present around two thirds of the proposed park. The area
to the north of the park is currently left in a natural state.
The current joint site presently has a number of recreation activities. The Elementary
School has a number of newly renovated playground areas and two outdoor
basketball court areas. There also exists an outdoor amphitheater adjacent to the rear
of the school and an open ball field that appears to get limited use due to the constant
wet conditions that exist. The Community Center portion of the site has two
structured picnic areas and one large playground facility. The current connection of
the two portions of the site comes when the Efland-Cheeks Elementary School second
grade class meets with the Senior Citizens at the Community Center for joint
activities. The students gain access to the Community Center by walking up the Bus
Access Road and then along Richmond Road to the center.
The site can be broken into two distinct sections. The Community Center portion of
the site is almost entirely covered with vegetation including a good mixture of
hardwoods, softwoods and pines. The Elementary School portion of the site is
completely void of trees except for the decorative plant materials around the school
building. Parking, maintenance access and open play areas compose most of the
outdoor spaces.
There is one major sanitary utility corridor that traverses the joint site from the north
western edge of the Community Center site to the south eastern edge of the
Elementary School site.
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Efland-Cheeks School Park
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ANALYSIS PLANS
Three analysis maps were prepared for the proposed Efland-Cheeks School Park site.
The individual aspects of the analysis process are detailed in the text that follows:
• Natural Elements, includes the existing vegetation limits, the natural drainage
and stream areas, the existing vegetation area and miscellaneous high point areas
and potential wet areas. The major slopes on the site includes three
classifications. The first slope types are the areas from 0-5% slope. The second
classification of slopes is 5-10% slopes and the third slope classification is 10%
or greater slopes.
• Cultural Analysis, includes the location of all major and secondary roads,
utilities, views, zoning and the combined existing property holdings that compose
the joint park development. Noise infiltration is also indicated along with the
major roadways as well as potential pedestrian access from the surrounding
residential development. The soils limitations within the project study area are
also indicated on this map.
• Site Suitability, includes the designation of key development areas of the site
based upon the findings of the two previous analysis maps. The three
classifications include low, moderate and high development potential.
ZONING
The proposed Efland-Cheeks Elementary School Park site is zoned R-1 which will
allow for the development of parks and school facilities on the site. This property is
also in the Upper Eno Protected Watershed and is classified as U-ENO-PW.
EASEMENTS AND RIGHT-OF-WAYS
There is one apparent utility easement that crosses the proposed park site. This
easement includes a 20' foot wide sanitary sewer easement that crosses the upper
portion of the site from west to east.
PARK ACCESS
Access to the Efland Cheeks School Park comes from two Primary locations. The
primary vehicular access comes off of Richmond Road. This major collector road has
single travel lanes. The existing access into the park is located along the northeast
edge of the property just north of the current Bus Access Road. There is adequate site
distance along Richmond Road to provide a safe turn into or out of the park.
An additional roadway entrance to the parks perimeter comes off of the Buss Access
Road on the southern edge of the park. This roadway is used primarily for bus access
to the Elementary School. Local traffic is not a major influence here.
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Efland-Cheeks School Park
GREEN WAYS/BIKEWAYS
No green ways or bikeways are present either within the proposed park or adjacent to
the park. The traffic along Richmond Road and Highway 70 is very busy most of the
time and excessive winds and drafts can occur. This condition is very dangerous for
bicycle riders and pedestrians. The surrounding residential areas do utilize the park
and the new facilities will require that some type of bike and pedestrian access be
considered. No City or County wide green ways have been planned to date for or
adjacent to this proposed park site that we have found.
UTILITIES
Telephone and electric service are available along the western perimeter of the
proposed park. This service comes from Highway 70 and is also available from the
north east comer of the park site where Fuller Road adjoins the property at the school
parking lot. There also is electric service that penetrates the site along the Bus Access
Road near the bus parking area. The sanitary sewer is an 8" diameter collector line
located within the northern portion of the park site traversing between Richmond
Road on the eastern side of the park to the northeastern edge of the park site. Water
is available along the west side of the park on the west side of Richmond Road. This
is a 6" diameter line suitable to provide fire service to the park. Water is also located
on the eastern side of Fuller Road on the east side of the Efland-Cheeks Elementary
School. This is also a 6" diameter service line. Discussions with the local utility
companies indicate that service to the park will not be a problem.
SOILS
Major soil types comprising the study area include the Georgeville, Herndon,
Lignum and Urban Land soil types. The majority of soils on the property exhibit
features that are classified as too clayey with limited strength for large structures.
This condition should however pose only slight to moderate restrictions to the
proposed recreational development.
The only potentially problematic soils within the park site are the Georgeville and
Lignum soils which do impose limitations regarding shallow rock capabilities. The
overall soil types within the study area are as a general rule, within the clayey types
of compositions and they are within the moderate classification level for
development.
WETLANDS
A preliminary wetlands review of the joint site did not find the presence of any
existing wetland areas. This is not to say that any possible wetlands do not exist.
Further review of the site will be completed when a direction for the development is
agreed upon. This direction will be determined from the initial master plan concepts
that will be prepared later in the design process. Should wetlands delineation be
required than this will be dealt with on a location by location basis. The preliminary
site review did not exhibit any concern at this time.
SLOPES
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Efland-Cheeks School Park 10
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_ The terrain of the park site ranges from 112 to 72 feet above sea level. The site is
characterized as having gently rolling terrain throughout three quarters of the
proposed park site There are defined, narrow drainage ways which are predominant
in the northwestern portion of the park site. The drainage corridors collect surface
run off from storms, general run off and underground springs. Ninety percent of the
slopes are split equally between 0-5% and 5-10% grades. The steep slopes of 10% or
greater are located in the southeastern portion of the site. The main concern however
is that there is no mapping that shows the entire site. The analysis maps were
assembled utilizing the information provided by the County and there is a concern
regarding how the maps fit together. More detailed mapping will be required when
the construction document portion of this project begins.
PLANT HABITATS/VEGETATION
The site offers a mosaic of vegetative communities dominated by mixed hardwoods,
pine forest areas, minimal open areas, a utility easement and wooded drainage
corridor areas. The site is 50% wooded and 35% open. The majority of the rest of
the proposed site is covered with pavements and buildings. Moderate to steep sloped
areas, continue to support some majestic old growth canopy trees. Wooded upland
areas typically support mixed stands of red, white, and willow oak, red cedar, tulip,
beech, sweetgum, and pine. Dogwood, redbud, ferns and a variety of vines are
common in the under story.
No special vegetation was observed that was in need of preservation. The
development of the conceptual plans will further designate where the key
development areas of the site will be. Additional reviews of the plant material will be
done when the actual plan is identified.
WILDLIFE
The existing vegetative communities offer food, cover, and protection for many
species of wildlife. In addition, the mosaic of cover types, including wooded areas,
open areas, and drainage corridor areas, create many edges or ecotones. Ecotones are
typically high in species' diversity. Resident wildlife likely tolerates human activity
but it does not appear that there are many families living on the site. At best it
appears that the wildlife that occupies the site are of the smaller nocturnal type of
species particularly because of the maintained open areas and the utility easement, as
well as the perimeter residential development and the evidence of trail activity
throughout the park site. Species common to the area include squirrel, fox, rabbit and
raccoon. The site is also expected to support opossum, skunk and field mice. In
addition, the site also at times may become residence to a small deer population
which appears to penetrate the site looking for food.
DEVELOPABLE PROPERTY/SITE SUITABILITY
The synopsis of the site analysis indicates that the park's property offers a variety of
use opportunities. The site is highly usable for passive and light active recreation
activities. Up to 80 % of the site would be available for this type of use. Massing of
active recreation is restricted due to the amount of varied grades, slopes, and mature
vegetation areas that are present. The Site Suitability Map indicates that 15% of the
Woolpert Park Master Plan April 1997
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Efland-Cheeks School Park
-; site is in a low developable area due to the constraints that exist. Moderate
developable areas of the study area include about 10% of the site with the remaining
75% of the site being highly developable. This percentage breakdown is in direct
relation with the accepted program that will be generated throughout the design
process.
The scenic beauty of the property is however one of the biggest attributes of the park.
The beauty of the mixed terrain and open areas along with the large vegetation areas
enhance the proposed park property. The multitude of different areas within the park
study area make the project well worth the efforts to develop.
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Woolpert Park Master Plan April 1997
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Efland-Cheeks School Park
E, PUBLIC INPUT SESSION #1
GENERAL
The initial public input session was held on Saturday April 12, 1997 at the Efland-
Cheeks Elementary School. This session was held as a hands on community input
session and it involved the local public, both old and young, to develop options on
the development of a joint use school and County park. The information that was
obtained provided a source of data that was pertinent in the preparation of the two
Concepts under this portion of the master plan process. A total of over 50 people,;
including staff and consultant were in attendance.
The uniqueness of the joint school and County park site offers a wide variety of
design options that will need to be carefully considered so that the most effective
balance of facilities, nature and educational opportunities can be achieved. The joint
use of the park by the citizens of the Efland-Cheeks area and the elementary school
requires that creative planning of the park be a must.
THE PUBLIC PROCESS
The citizen working session offered a variety of ideas from five different groups of
interested citizens, assembled under the umbrella of individual park design teams.
Each team was given a different park approach and they were coupled with one
member of the Woolpert park design staff. The teams were then asked to provide a
schematic park layout based upon the needs of the park program that was supplied.
The different scenario's included a design emphasis based upon passive and active
recreation. Each team received a written direction for the park and they were asked to
develop suitable use areas for the park based upon the program given and then
present their ideas to the combined group.
The itemized list of ideas for each schematic park plan were as follows:
Team#1 (Passive Park)
• Trails
• Outdoor Teaching Areas
• Outdoor Picnic Areas
• Horticultural/Wetland Interpretive Areas
• Water Observation/Demonstration Areas
• Separate Parking Areas By Use Area
• Playground Areas For The Elementary School
• Community Garden Area
• Outdoor Basketball Courts
• Picnic Shelters
• Open
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Efla School Park 13
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1 Team #2 (Active Park)
• Baseball Field With Concession Area
• Gymnasium Addition To The Existing Community Center
• Outdoor Basketball Courts
• Volleyball Courts
• Additional Parking
• Outdoor Instruction Area
• Outdoor Swimming Pool
• Playgrounds
• Picnic Shelters With Toilets
• A Stop Light At Richmond& Fuller Roads And The Bus Access Road
• Tennis Courts
• Walking Trails
• Wetlands Interpretive Areas
Team #3 (Passive/Active Park)
• Structured Walkways Between The School & Community Center
• Amphitheater
• Wetland Interpretive Areas
• Baseball Field
• Soccer Field
• Outdoor Shelters
• Water Fountains
• Basketball Courts r
• Nature Trail
• Library
• Large & Small Playgrounds
• Gymnasium/Meeting Center
• Large Open Play Area
• Volleyball Courts
• Additional Parking
Team #4 (Active Park)
• Dual Use Softball/Soccer Area
• New Picnic Shelter With Restroom
• Fitness Trail _
• Walking Trails
• Tennis Courts
• Basketball Courts
• Volleyball Courts
• Softball Field
• Playgrounds
• Environmental Teaching Area
• On-Site Pond
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Efland-Cheeks School Park 14
A"hk Team #5
(Passive Park)
• Fitness Course
• Petting Zoo
• Bike Trail
• Horse Shoe Pits
• Putt-Putt Golf
• Gymnasium
• Small Play Area With Water Splash
• Nature Instruction Area
• Botanical Gardens
• New Access Road & Expanded Parking
GROUP CONSENSUS
Each team presented their team's park design to the overall group. When all five
groups had presented then a consensus of opinion was obtained from the group. In
the fmal review of the projects and the process for the day, the following key issues
were agreed upon as the key elements of the park:
• The park should be a mixture of active and passive recreation.
• There should be a direct link between the elementary school and the community
center.
• The community center should be expanded with a gymnasium for indoor use.
• The site should have a nature study area.
• There should be an outdoor instructional area in the environmental interpretive
area.
• Softball and/or soccer should be provided with an emphasis towards younger
youth use.
• Picnic shelters and separate outdoor picnic table/grill areas need to be provided.
• There needs to be a toilet facility that is not in the community center or the
elementary school.
• Outdoor basketball is needed but it needs to relocated away from the elementary
school area.
• There needs to be a dual park access route.
• Additional parking is needed for the park to be accessible.
• There needs to be loop trails and walkways that can be measured.
• All of the available property needs to be utilized.
• The park should be partially revenue generating and provide jobs for the
community.
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Ef and-Cheeks School Park
LAND USE ALTERNATIVES
GENERAL
The public process provided a number of interesting alternatives for the proposed
joint use park. Based upon the information obtained during the initial public
participation process, the staff and the recreation department of the County of
Orange, two concepts were prepared that have a definite passive/active flavor to
them.
Concept-A
The primary objective of Concept-A was to develop a park that provided a suitable
mix of passive and active park activities. The site was analyzed from the perspective
of providing recreation for the community and the elementary school both jointly and
as individual entities. The uniqueness of the site provided a number of challenges as
well as opportunities for the development of the site. Individual aspects of Concept-A
are as follows:
• This concept utilizes a single dual lane entrance to the park. This entrance road is
located off of Richmond Road opposite the existing community center. This
roadway establishes the entrance of the site with a major sign feature and
decorative landscaping. The dual entrance road also leads to a structured drop-off
loop adjacent to the entrance of the community center. This loop will be used
primarily for dropping off senior citizens at the center.
The entrance road leads to three separate parking areas that are strategically
located to serve the different areas of the park development. The lots are planned
to take advantage of key vegetation groups in the field. This plant material can be
left in key areas to break up the asphalt pavement that is present with all of the
parking areas. Where specimen tree areas are found care will be taken to
preserve them by structuring the parking around them also.
• Active recreation is located on the southern edge of the park site adjacent to the
Bus Access Road and Richmond Road. Three new structured basketball courts
are located at the southwest comer of the site near the two roadways. It is
anticipated that these courts will be for adult use and they are located to take
advantage of the visibility and noise reduction opportunities that this location
offers.
Two midget soccer fields are also present along the Bus Access Road. These
fields are for youth up to 10 years old. Their sizes are 220' x 160' and they are -
terraced into the landscape to take advantage of the natural terrain. One of the
fields bridges the existing drainage channel therefore expanding the site for an
additional field and in the process providing a physical tie of the two pieces of
property.
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Efland-Cheeks School Park 16
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Two tennis courts are provided in the southeastern part of the site adjacent to the
elementary school parking lot. This placement of the courts was provided because
of the available space and the opportunity to have a facility that was not
contingent on other facilities in the park. Parking for this facility would be in the
elementary school parking lot.
Two sand volleyball courts and two horse shoe areas are located at the shelter
area near the new entrance road to the park.
• The active soccer recreation fields are screened from the multi-use play surfaces
by mounds. These mounds will provide dual purposes for the park. First, they
can be planted to screen the maintenance area from the fields and play areas.
Secondly, the mounds can be used to provide seating for the soccer fields as'well
as the multi-use play surface areas. Third, the mounds will screen the children
using the multi-use play surface from the soccer fields so that two separate
activities can be accomplished at the same time.
• A gymnasium is provided in this concept. This facility will expand the use of the
park during the evening hours, inclement weather and during the colder winter
months. This gymnasium would support an indoor basketball court system that is
convertible to other uses. Some office and storage space will be provided along
with a small locker room area.
• An environmental interpretive area will be developed in the northwestern portion
of the park. This area will take full advantage of the interesting wetland area by
providing walking trails, instructional shelter areas, a raised instructional stage
area with fixed seating, a small pond area, boardwalk areas over sensitive
wetland areas and a waterfall. Each aspect of the area will be for educative
purposes. This area will be easily accessible from both the elementary school and
the community center.
• A series of trails are provided throughout the park to allow for access to the
many use areas. Loop trails are provided when possible so that measured walking
can be done. The surface treatment for these trails will be a combination of
asphalt, wood chips and natural surfaces. The natural and wood chip surfaces will
primarily be located in the environmental area.
The key loop trails are located around the soccer field areas, the gymnasium, the
open play yard north of the paved school play area and around the front play area
on the northeast side of the elementary school.
• Three major changes have been made to the spaces used for outdoor exercise by
the children who attend the elementary school. The rear play yard has been
enhanced by providing a direct link to the community center. This area is done in
a creative pattern that allows the opportunity for different use groups to be using
the space at the same time. Two multi-purpose play surface areas are provided
that have the rubberized surfacing with marked play uses such as hop scotch and
basketball.
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Efland-Cheeks School Park
This main access between the two major park tenants is linked by a small
reflecting pond fed by the drainage swale under the midget soccer field. A large
play structure is located northwest of the elementary school. This area has a loop
walkway with bench seating areas around the perimeter of the walk. The central
section of the circle area is a sand surface.
The open area now occupied by the existing softball field will receive a loop
walkway with a paved surface. The softball backstop will be removed and the
space regraded to provide for positive drainage so that the area can be used after
wet weather. A mini playground will also be provided near the exposed rock
areas.
The final area of change will be the play area to the east of the elementary
school. This area will receive a mini loop trail with a tie to the existing school
walk system. A small outdoor amphitheater with fixed seating is provided in this
area as an outdoor teaching area. The existing play equipment will be enhanced
and left in place.
• A number of shelters have been indicated in this concept. Only one of the
proposed shelters will be equipped with toilets. The other shelters will be a
mixture of three small shelters of approximately 20' x 30' and two large shelters
with the dimensions of 30' x 40'. The shelters are located in major use areas such
as the active recreation areas and the environmental interpretive areas. Public
restrooms will be provided in the shelter near the midget soccer fields
Picnic tables will be provided under the shelters as well as in the areas adjacent to
the shelter areas. Outdoor grill areas will also be provided at each shelter and at
strategic locations in the picnic table groupings.
• Playgrounds are provided throughout the park. In some cases the original play
structure is to be enhanced or replaced. The existing large playground area that is
located north of the community center would be the relocated to the south side of
the community center. Two playground areas are also located in the multi-use
play surface area of the elementary school. An additional play area is located in
the open play space provided for the elementary school. The play areas in the
southwest and northeast sides of the school will remain with an enhancement to
the play areas on the northeast of the elementary school.
CONCEPT-B
The development of Concept-B includes the design of a dual use park that also has a
mixture of passive and active facilities similar in nature to Concept-A. The location of
facilities varies from the first concept by interspersing the activities.
• This concept includes two different vehicle access routes into the park. The first
route replaces the existing entrance road off of Richmond Road to the community
center. A drop-off is provided at the entrance to the community center and three
different parking areas are strategically placed off of the access road to provide
parking near a major use area.
Woolpert Park Master Plan April 1997
18
Efland-Cheeks School Park
The northern most parking lot will provide parking for the environmental
interpretive area. The other two lots provide parking for the proposed midget
soccer field and the first two basketball courts as well as the community center.
The second parking area is accessed off of the Bus Access Road. This parking is
provided for the shelter, the second two basketball courts and the soccer field. In
all cases the parking will be installed to take advantage of any specimen plant
materials that can be saved. The lot designs and the access roads are placed to be
sensitive to the existing terrain while providing a minimum impact on the site.
Park identification signage will be at both entrances.
• Active recreation is located in two locations of the park. The first area is the
development of a midget soccer field along with two groupings of basketball
courts in the southwestern pan of the site. This location for the active recreation
facilities will allow for easy access and monitoring of the spaces from both access
roads and parking lots. This area is complimented by a shelter and playground.
The second area of active recreation is the combined multi-purpose fields that
includes a softball field with a midget soccer field overlaying the outfield of the
softball field. This area will need to be regraded to provide for positive drainage
allowing for a dryer playing surface. The exposed rock will also need to be dealt
with in the planning of the new field layout.
• The service access to the elementary school is relocated under this concept to
allow for the expansion of the tot play area on the southwest corner of the school.
Mounds have been placed to screen the play area from the maintenance access
road. This play area design includes the expansion of the current play equipment
and a sand play area.
• The existing outdoor amphitheater south of the cafeteria is removed in this
concept. The handicapped access has already removed a portion of the seating
areas. The new design will include an outdoor plaza with seating for the
enjoyment by students and adults. Screening from the a handicapped ramp and
the maintenance parking area is also provided.
• An environmental interpretive area is again included in this concept. It will be
developed in the northwestern portion of the park. This area will take full
advantage of the interesting wetland areas by providing walking trails and an
instructional shelter area combined with a raised deck and boardwalk areas over
the sensitive wetland areas. This area will be primarily for educative purposes.
This area as in Concept-A will be easily accessible from both the elementary
school and the community center.
• A series of trails are provided throughout the park to allow for access to the
many areas of the park. No major loop trails are provided but measured walking
can be done on the meandering trails throughout the park. The surface treatment
for all of the trails will be a combination of asphalt, wood chips and natural
surfaces. The natural and wood chip surfaces will be located in the environmental
area.
• Shelters are provided in the central core of the park. Two shelters are located in
the wooded areas and one in the elementary school play area . All three shelters
Woolpert Park Master Plan April 1997
19
E and-Cheeks School Park
1
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`,\:✓a are to be 20' x 30' open air shelters. Picnic tables will be provided under the
shelters and in the areas adjacent to the shelters. There will be grill areas
provided at each shelter and at strategic locations throughout the picnic areas.
A separate restroom facility is provided in the center of the park,just east of the
community center. This facility can also be a storage building for maintenance
equipment on the site.
• The final area of improvement is the multi-use play areas for the Elementary
School. The play area adjacent to the northeast corner of the school will remain
as is except that so mounding will be provided to better define the use area. The
other area of improvement is to the play area on the west side of the school.
Two different links are provided from the play area to the other areas of the park.
One link goes to the active recreation fields and the community center and the
other link goes to the environmental interpretive area of the park. }
• Three new use areas are included in this concept just outside of the elementary
school on the west side. A new circular outdoor amphitheater is placed directly
outside of the side door from the school. This area is based upon the theater in
the round concept with fixed steps and a paved floor. This space can be used for
outdoor teaching, relaxing or games, as required.
The next area of improvement is the multi-purpose play surface northwest of the
elementary school. This area will be an ideal location for outdoor play during
good and inclement weather. The surface will be a rubberized play surface with
markings for basketball, hop scotch or other structured play events. The area is
to be screened from the active multi-purpose fields by mounding.
The third area of improvement is the open play area adjacent to both of the
aforementioned play areas. This area will be an open turf area with a shelter and
a new large playground.
All three of these improvement areas consolidate the outdoor experience for both
the students and the faculty while restricting movement to the other active areas
of the park. Observation of the students is enhanced by the placement of a loop
walk system.
• Finally, playgrounds are provided at key locations in the park. The large
playground adjacent to the community center will remain. A new playground will
also be located adjacent to the shelter near the basketball and soccer field
complex. Additional small play units are to be added to the tot play area. A new
play area will be developed in the open play area west of the elementary school.
This play area will be accessible to the physically challenged. The play areas in
the front of the school will remain as they are.
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Woolpert Park Master Plan April 1997
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21
EFLAND-CHEEKS ELEMENTARY SCHOOL PARK
ESTIMATE OF PROBABLE PHASE-I CONSTRUCTION COST
PHASE-1 DEVELOPMENT
All
1 CLEARING AND GRUBBING 4.3 AC $3,500.00 $14,875.00
2 GATES (ENTRY& EXIT LANES) 1.0 LS $6,000.00 $6,000.00
3 GRADING/EROSION CONTROL 42,000.0 CY $3.00 $126,000.00
4 STORM DRAINAGE 1.0 LS $40,000.00 $40,000.00
5 CONCRETE CURB AND GUTTER 1,310.0 LF $10.00 $13,100.00
6 ASPHALT PAVEMENT 2,390.0 SY $10.00 $23,900.00
7 NATURE TRAILS 1,850.0 LF $10.00 $18,500.00
8 CONCRETE WALKS 29,050.0 SF $2.50 $72,625.00
9 LARGE SHELTER 1.0 EA $45,000.00 $45,000.00
10 ENTRANCE SIGN 1.0 EA $12,000.00 $12,000.00
1 1 11 BASKETBALL COURTS (CONC.) 3.0 EA $14,000.00 $42,000.00
12 BACKSTOP (1 FIELD) 1.0 EA $5,000.00 $5,000.00
3 GOAL$ (2 MIDGET FIELDS) 4.0 EA $3,600.00 $14,400.00
14 PLAYGROUNDS 2.0 EA $15,000.00 $30,000.00
15 RELOCATED PLAYGROUND 1.0 EA $5,000.00 $5,000.00
16 DEMOLITION 1.0 LS $4,000.00 $4,000.00
17 SITE FURNISHINGS 1.0 LS $6,000.00 $6,000.00
18 SEEDING 3.9 AC $2,500.00 $9,750.00
19 2" PVC PIPE 250.0 LF $6.00 $1,500.00
20 VALVES 1.0 EA $2,500.00 $2,500.00
21 WATER FOUNTAINS 1.0 EA $3,000.00 $3,000.00
22 ELECTRICAL 10 LS $5,000.00 $5,000.00
23 RELOCATE ELECTRICAL POLE 1.0 LS $2,500.00 $2,500.00
E24 MOBILIZATION 0.05 % $517,050.00 $25,852.50
25 CONTINGENCY 0.10 % $542,902.50 $54,290.25
TOTAL COST $597,192.75