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HomeMy WebLinkAboutAgenda - 02-14-2000 - 10ORANGE COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS ACTION AGENDA ITEM ABSTRACT Meeting Date: February 14, 2000 Action Agenda Item No. 10-a SUBJECT: Re ort on Fairview Park Ball Field O tions DEPARTMENT: County Manager PUBLIC HEARING: (Y/N) No ATTACHMENT(S): Memo -- Paul Thames -- 2/8/00 Memo -- Bob Jones - 2/9/OQ Memo -- Bob Jones - 2/8/00 INFORMATION CONTACT: Greg Wilder, ext 2314 Paul Thames, ext 2303 Bob Jones, ext 2661 TELEPHONE NUMBERS: Hillsborough 732-8181 Chapel Hill 9fi8~501 Durham fi88-7331 Mebane 33fi-227-2Q31 PURPOSE: To give a report to the BOCC on options to provide a ball field for use by the Fairview community during CY 2000. BACKGROUND: Orange County currently owns a 40 acre tract, known as Fairview Park, which contains approximately twenty acres of abandoned landfill area once owned and operated by the Town of Hillsborough. Within the last year, some residents of the Fairview Park community constructed a "sand-lot" type baseball field in the northwestern end of the park, in an area thought to have been used for landfill activities. Due to the potential presence of environmental hazards associated with landfill activities, use of the ball field has been discontinued. Adjacent to Fairview Park on the east side, the Town of Hillsborough currently owns a 26 acre tract. This tract is and has been primarily undeveloped and unused with the exception of approximately 6 acres which has been used for a yard waste storage, grinding and mulching operation. The Town of Hillsborough and Qrange County agreed last year in principle to evaluate the joint use of the Town and County properties for development of athletic fields and other associated public purposes. However, much of the land in question has been historically used for landfilling activities and little is known about the structural bearing capacity of the landfilled areas or the presence of environmental contaminants. Accordingly, the Town and the County agreed that it was desirable and necessary to investigate the geo-technical and environmental characteristics of the property to determine if it had reasonable utility for recreational development and if it represented a potential threat to public health and the environment. Together the Town and the County budgeted a total of $30,000 ($ 11,40Q from the Town and $18,600 from the County) to cover the cost of ageo-technical investigation and an initial environmental analysis of the property. On January 20, 2000, the BOCC approved a professional services contract with Trigon Engineering Consultants, Inc. for the geo-technical investigation and a Phase I and preliminary Phase II environmental investigation at the Fairview Park Landfill and the adjacent Town of Hillsborough tract. This investigation includes the area used by the Fairview community for a ball field. At the BOCC joint meeting with the Town of Hillsborough Board of Commissioners on January 31, 2000, the Board expressed concern regarding the expected lack of a ball field available for use by the Fairview community during CY 2000. The Board asked the County Manager and staff to explore various options to provide the Fairview community with a useable ball field for CY 2000. Based on initial discussions by staff, four potential options were developed for investigation and consideration. The four initial options were as follow: 1) Use of the Existing Fairview Park Ball Field 2) Use of the Hillsborough Elementary School Field 3) Use of the Central Elementary School Field 4) Construction of a New Field at an Appropriate Location at Fairview Park on County Property or Town of Hillsborough Property OPTION #1 : Use of the Existing Fairview Park Ball Field Prior to considering options that would involve the relocation of the Fairview community's sports activities to an alternate site, it is worth acknowledging that the current ball field may be available for use by residents for CY 2000. As noted in the attached memorandum by Paul Thames, environmental testing of the ball field should be completed within the next month and a half. The county has requested expedited testing of the ball field area, and this would mean that the testing and laboratory work for the ball field should be complete by mid-March. If this testing can be completed and the results prove the field environmentally safe, the ball field could be available for use as early as April 1, 2000. It should be noted, however, that the addition of a dirt cover one foo# in depth to the field and associated grading mac be necessary before actual play could begin. This could possibly delay the availability of the field until May 1, 2000. The cost for this grading and fill work, according to Paul Thames, could total as much as approximately $30,000. It should also be noted that this scenario would dictate the development of an agreement between anon-profit and the county for the non-profit to direct use and oversight of the Fairview ball field. Even with these requirements, it is expected that this alternative would provide the least disruption and confusion for the Fairview community's recreational activities for CY 2000. A secondary consideration under this option would entail the county becoming the lead coordinator of activities involving the Fairview ball field. This would, of course, also require an environmentally safe finding as part of the geo-technical investigation. The county would then begin analyzing areas for improvement necessary to upgrade the ball field and its secondary facilities to county specifications. These upgrades as well as the additional responsibilities associated with a new recreational site would create additional costs for the county. The expected costs in both these areas are not currently available, but estimates could be developed following more extensive investigation. Under this secondary consideration, however, it should be noted that any action is more likely along-term option and will probably not address the immediate CY 2000 need for a Fairview community recreation field. Option #2 : Use of the Hillsborough Elementary School Field A second option for consideration for the Fairview community's athletic activities would be the utilization of the field at Hillsborough Elementary School. Randy Bridges, Orange County Schools Superintendent, has informed staff that any group, including the Fairview community, could utilize the Hillsborough Elementary School field beginning on June 9, 2000 and extending through mid-August. Use could begin at 5:30 p.m. and extend until dark (the Hillsborough Elementary field is not lighted). According to Superintendent Bridges, groups from other schools will be using the field until June 9~' and this precludes any other parties, including members of the Fairview community, from using the field prior to that date. It should be emphasized that, as Superintendent Bridges stated, the field would be open to use by any - - groups, not just the Fairview community, and this would require organization regarding the field's use as well as scheduling requirements. To prepare the field for use by the Fairview community (and others), some minimal improvements may be necessary. As detailed on the first attached memo from Bob Jones, some basic work to the field surface and installation of base inserts may be necessary to enhance the field's viability for play. The cost of these improvements has been estimated at $3,070. It is also worthwhile to note that other improvements to the field may be identified which would obviously increase this cost. Estimates for any of these other improvements can be developed fallowing identification of the needs. It is also necessary to note some issues which may need to be addressed as it relates to the Fairview community's possible use of the Hillsborough Elementary field. As Bob Jones states in his first attached memo, a proper agreement for use of the field would be necessary with the Orange County Board of Education. Arrangements would also need to be made regarding the management and maintenance of the field to avoid conflicts by user groups and ensure adequate maintenance of the field. Another issue may be transportation to Hillsborough Elementary for the Fairview community. With approximately'/2 mile and US Highway 70 separating the Fairview community and the school, it may be necessary to address some means of transportation to and from the Fairview area and the school. Option #3 Use of the Field at Central Elementary School The third option proposed involves the use of the field at Central Elementary School. Superintendent Randy Bridges has informed staff that the Central Elementary School field would be available for use in the late afternoon after school has dismissed. One of the major issues to acknowledge regarding the use of Central Elementary is the limited size of the playing area. As noted on the second attached memorandum from Bob Jones, the left field portion of the Central Elementary field has a depth of only 141 feet to the tree line. Right field has a depth of 160 feet. In comparison with other fields in Orange County, and based on the standard field sizes for various age groups, the playing field at Central would be small (See second attached memorandum from Bab Jones. It may be worthwhile to note that the Hillsborough Elementary field has a depth of 270 feet in left field and over 300 feet in right field.). 4 If the Central Elementary field proves to be the best option available to provide a recreational facility for the Fairview community, then there are several alternatives to consider to prepare this field for play by at least 7 8~ 8 year olds. Those alternatives, as detailed in Bob Jones' second attached memo, are: A. Use existing backstop which is sufficient for the age group that can play on this field. B. Use existing outfield dimensions even though left field is very short. Preparation would include remove grass far a skinned infield based on a 60' base line, install home plate and base inserts, and apply appropriate field dressing (Turface) = $3,040. C. Additional expenses would be needed if the left field is expanded to 160' to make the field uniform to a 7 -- 8 year old league. Approximately a 20' x 100' strip of wood line would have to be cleared, graded; and seeded far approximately $4,000 - $6,000: It should also be noted that some of the same issues relative to the Fairview community's possible use of the Hillsborough Elementary field may also need to be addressed concerning possible use of the Central Elementary field. As Bob Jones noted in his first attached memo, a proper agreement for use of the field would be necessary with the Orange, County Board of Education. Arrangements would also need to be made regarding the management and maintenance of the field to avoid conflicts by user groups and ensure adequate maintenance of the field. Another issue may be transportation to Central Elementary for the Fairview community. With approximately'/z mile and US Highway 70 separating the Fairview community and the school, it may be necessary to address some means of transportation to and from the Fairview area and the school. Option #4 Construction of a New Field at an Appropriate Location at Fairview Park on County Property or Town of Hillsborough Property The fourth option reviewed concerns the construction of a new field at an appropriate location at Fairview Park on county property or on Town of Hillsborough property. As noted on the attached memorandum, Paul Thames investigated this possibility by conducting an on-site evaluation of the Fairview Park/Orange County/Town of Hillsborough property with Hillsborough Town Manager Eric Peterson. Topographic maps of the properties were also reviewed and a possible ball field construction project on the properly was discussed with a local grading contractor. Based on the on-site evaluation and review of all documentation, it was determined that the provision of a ball field for CY 2000 on the Fairview Park/Orange County/Town of Hillsborough property would not be possible. The many various factors leading to this conclusion are noted in Paul Thames attached memorandum. FINANCIAL IMPACT: Evidenced in each option. RECOMMENDATION(S): The Manager recommends that the Board accept the report as information and further direct staff regarding next steps. 5 MEMORANDUM TO: Greg Wilder, Assistant to the County Manager FROM: Paul Thames, PE, County Enginee DATE: February 8, 2000 SUBJECT: Development of ball field, temporary or otherwise, at Fairview Pazk As per the request of the County Manager and the BOCC, I visited Fairview Park in the company of Eric Peterson, Hillsborough Town Manager, on February 1, 2000. The purpose of this visit was to determine if there was a site on either the County's Fairview property or the Town's adjaining property that would be suitable for developing a baseball field to replace the so-called "Field of Dreams". My general -- understanding about the pre-requirements for this field was that the field had to be ready for play in the 2000 baseball season and that the field be at least as good as the existing "Field of Dreams". Based on my site visit, an evaluation of topographic information contained in an old (1982) park development study and a conversation with a local grading contractor (Roy Wilkerson), I have determined that there is no new site available on either of the two properties that meets the two criteria noted above. The azeas on the Fairview Park parcel that have not been impacted by landfilling activities -the extreme northern and southern ends of the property -have site limitations that cannot be overcome readily and without significant expense. The northern end of the property is traversed by a deep drainage channel with accompanying steep slopes. The central portion of the wooded area at southern end of the property is occupied by a wet or swampy azea that is noted on the USGS topographic maps of the area and on the 1982 pazk development study cited above. Furthermore, even if the topography of these areas were suitable for developing a baseball field, the process of designing, bidding/contracdng and constructing a field in an azea where large trees and tree stumps would have to be removed and the playing surface graded, compacted and seeded would be a lengthy one. It is unlikely that the field would be ready for playing before eazly fall at the very soonest. It is, in fact, more likely that the field would not be ready prior to the 2001 season. For the purpose of basebalUathletic field development, the topography at the southern end of the Town of Hillsborough property (adjoining the east side of the Fairview parcel) is the most satisfactory portion of non-landfilled area in the Countyffown Fairview property complex. It is likewise the most satisfactory for development of a Town motor pool complex Unfortunately, developing an athletic field in very the southern-most portion of the Town's property appears to be likely to disrupt the traffic pattern design planned when the entrance to the area from the NC 86/NC 57/Public Works access intersection was laid out. Atliletic field development north of the point where the Public Works access road would cross the Town property would span the entire width of this tract and could block off or hinder internal access to the portions of the tract in the northern end The cost of constructing an athletic field in this area would be at least $60,000 for grading and seeding alone, assuming there would not be a rock removal issue. In that we have previously encountered rock during shallow grading on the Public Works site and we have anecdotal information about shallow rock in the landfilled portions of Fairview Park, we should assume that rock will be encountered on the Hillsborough site as well. The removal of rock and the requirement that rock removed from the site be replaced by imported fill could easily raise the cost of grading to more than $75,000. In addition, this site would not be ready for play until early fall of 2000 under absolutely optimum conditions. The more likely scenario would be for a field constructed in this area to be ready for play in 2001. In conclusion there is no site on any portion of the Fairview/Hillsborough property complex that we can guarantee to be ready far play this year. It is possible that we maybe able to complete testing of the existing "Field of Dreams" and clear that area far play by mid-March. It is also possible that environmental testing may turn up data that eliminates this area from use until the appropriate mitigation measures have been determined and implemented. If I may provide additional information at .this time, please advise. . MEMORANDUM ~~ TO: Greg Wilder Assistant to the Manager FROM: Bob Jones, Director Recreation & Park Department DATE: February 9, 2000 RE: Ballfield at Hillsborough Elementary School As an option to locate a ball field to facilitate the Fairview Community baseball program, the following estimate was prepazed to utilize the multi-purpose field located behind the Hillsborough Elementary School. Prior to any work/improvements to the site, proper agreements for Facility Use will be required and approved by the Orange County Board of Education. According to the Community Schools Coordinator, the Fairview baseball program could utilize this site with a similaz agreement that the Hillsborough Youth Athletic Association has in using other school sites as long as they are anon-profit agency and the program is available to all school aged children in the district. To prepaze the field for use by the Fairview Community (and others), some improvements may be necessary. Some basic work to the infield surface and installation of base inserts will be necessary to enhance the field's viability for play. The cost of these improvements has been estimated at $3,070. It is also worthwhile to note that other improvements to the field may be identified which would obviously increase this cost. Estimates for any of these other improvements can be developed following identification of the needs. Fn: FairFdl MEMORANDUM ~" TO: Greg Wilder Assistant to the County Manager FROM: Bob Tones, Director Orange County Recreation & Parks DATE: February 8, 2000 RE: Evaluation of Central Elementary School Field As a follow up to the evaluation of the ball field at Hillsborough Elementary School, further assessment has been completed of the possible use of Central Elementary facilities. As was determined earlier, there are limitations for the use of this field, mainly that it would be restricted for the very young participants (7 to 8 year olds). Most common field dimensions and ages of players of existing fields in our azea are: Collins Fields: Ages 7 - 8 years; 160 feet outfield Exchange Club: Ages 9 --10 years; 17S feet outfield Schley Field:. Ages 11 - 12 years; 200 feet outfield School Fields: Ages 13 and up; 2S0 feet to 300 + feet Central Elementary: The existing field at Central Elementary is cleazed far 141 feet left field to the tree line and 160 feet right field to the bottom of a slope leading up to the existing black top basketball courts. Options to prepare this field for play aze: A. Use existing backstop which is sufficient for the age group that can play on this field. B. Use existing outfield dimensions even though left field is very short. Preparation would include remove grass for a skinned infield based on a 60' base line, install home plate and base inserts, and apply appropriate field dressing (Turface) _ $3,040. C. Additional expenses would be needed if the left field is expanded to 160' to make the field uniform to a 7 - 8 year old league. Approximately a 20' x 100' strip of wood line would have to be cleared, graded, and seeded for approximately $4,000 - $6,000. Again, the playing area would limit the age of players utilizing this field. Also, the parking area is much smaller than Hillsborough Elementary. By comparison, the Hillsborough Elementary field would facilitate all ages of participants including the younger teenagers.