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HomeMy WebLinkAbout05032016 Planning & Zoning Work Session Packet SEWARD PARKS & RECREATION DEPARTMENT a o � MASTER PLAN SEWARD, ALASKA July 2016 DRAFT - Ver. 3.0 (March 9, 2016) Prepared by: The City of Seward Parks & Recreation Department Staff Prepared For and Adopted by: Seward Planning and Zoning Commission City Council of the City of Seward Seward Park&Recreation Department 2016 Master Plan TABLE OF CONTENTS Paae Number To is 1 Seward Parks & Recreation Mission Statement 2 Introduction 3 Plans/ Goals To Be Met 5 Cemeteries 6 - 9 Parks &Park Lands 10 - 1 1 Pocket Parks/Gardens 12 - 14 Trails 15 - 16 Fields/Playfields 17 - 19 Facilities & Out-buildings 20 - 21 Playgrounds 22 - 25 Campgrounds 28 Acronyms and Abbreviations 26 - 27 General SPRD Goals & Priorities Seward Park&Recreation Department 2016 Master Plan SEWARD PARKS & RECREATION MISSION STATEMENT The mission of the Seward Parks and Recreation Department (SPRD) is to provide and facilitate recreational, educational, social and cultural activities for our community and visitors. The departmental staff is professionally committed to protecting, improving, and promoting City of Seward park lands and natural resources. The department strives to improve the quality of life and the physical and mental well-being of individuals through positive opportunities and choices. Our goal is to provide "Mountains of Recreation" to all residents and visitors to Seward, AK July 2016 1 ib Seward Park car Recreation Department 2016 Master Plan INTRODUCTION With the above mission in mind, the Seward Parks and Recreation Department has developed this Master Plan in conjunction with the community to facilitate improvements and additions to parks and recreation facilities and to encourage preservation of park lands within the City of Seward. The process included several components, including an inventory of current parks and facilities and their condition, and a listing of proposed improvements, a time line and estimated cost for completion. Information used to compile this plan came from a variety of sources, including a community telephone survey completed for SPRD in January 1992. Four public meetings were held in the fall of 1992 to solicit community input. Recommendations from the Seward Comprehensive Plan were included along with informal contributions from the community. A formal petition for a park in Gateway was submitted to City Council in 1992. The Parks and Recreation staff contributed ideas and inforination, particularly regarding repair and maintenance of current facilities, and provided a comprehensive inventory of current facilities. Public meetings were held at the beginning of the process. A group of citizens volunteered to continue working on the plan in order to submit a working draft to the Planning and Zoning Commission and to City Council prior to the budget preparation for FY 15. Throughout 2014 and 2015, the ad-hoc Seward Recreation Committee, as appointed by the Mayor and Council, met during regular and special meeting times, reviewed, edited and added suggestions and long-term plans for park areas. Each section lists overall goals, priorities and benchmarks in the first paragraph. Then, each individual location provides specific-to-site actions. July 2016 2 ib Seward Park &Recreation Department 2016 Master Plan PLANS / GOALS TO BE MET The plan is designated as a S year plan for FY 2016 through FY 2021 (The Seward Comprehensive Plan will be updated in 2016 and 17.) In order to continue upgrading facilities and parks, this plan can and should be updated annually, prior to budget development for the following year. A new version of the Master Plan should be developed with public input and approved by council every five years. Priorities and needs can change, as funds may be available or in short supply. The plan is flexible enough to allow projects to move from year to year as needed. The goals listed at the beginning of each category heading were drawn from the wording from the Comprehensive Plan, our Mission Statement and public meetings. THE MASTER PLAN GOALS: Authorize and adhere to an action-oriented document to guide the City and partnerships in completing the improvement of outdoor and indoor recreation programs and places. The SPRD Master Plan becomes a component of the City of Seward Comprehensive Plan. Whereas the Comprehensive Plan contains both advisory and binding elements, this Master Plan contains only advisory elements comprised of goals, issues and actions. The binding element of the Comprehensive Plan is the Land Use Plan which is a legal document that must be adhered to and can be revise only by ordinance. An effective plan is one which is implemented. PLAN IMPLEMENTATION GOALS: For the City of Seward to realize the benefits of the SPRD MP,actions must be taken not only by the City of Seward,but by many other agencies, volunteers and key players within the community and other governmental agencies. July 2016 3 Ob Seward Park&Recreation Department 2016 Master Plan Following are specific actions which are necessary to ensure the successful implementation of this plan: Adopting a plan shows commitment and establishes policy. Council should, by resolution, adopt the plan based upon the recommendations of the community groups and the Planning and Zoning Commission. Use the Plan to guide the City of Seward in the appropriate quality growth and development of the programs, activities, parks and recreation sites. Consistent with its original intent, the plan will remain flexible. While it is intended that all actions presented in the plan should be 'implemented, it is recognized that changing conditions in the future may necessitate modifications of planed actions or the introduction of additional actions to satisfy local needs. The City recognizes the critical role of plans as key program documents to guide the community's capital budgeting process. Review the SPRD MP (Master Plan) annually and update every five years or more often, as need.. An annual review will help track accomplishment, changes and inadvertent omissions. July 2016 4 ; Seward Park c&Recreation Department 2016 Master Plan CEMETERIES CEMETARY GOALS: Improve the City cemeteries 10% each year. Level gravesites and grounds for effective maintenance. Level walking areas for safety. Create safe walking paths where there are none. Research and identify grave sites and mark unmarked sites. Consider and develop procedures for crematoriums and ashes sites. Develop a reservation system. City Cemetery Follow City Cemetery Plan and Historic Preservation Plan. Seek grant funding to research, purchase and place permanent markers per City Code. Level sunken sites and remove mounds in raised sites, add topsoil and grasses. Improve turf and landscaping by ten percent each year, repairing grave sites, markers, landscaping, trails, services, etc. Continue to host volunteer clean- up programs. The old, City Cemetery was closed to new grave sites in 2013. Begin use of the old Oddfellows cemetery area, temporarily named Cemetery East. Woodlawn Cemetery Continue hazard tree mitigation. Continue to maintain. Develop off-street parking for visitors and park staff. Consider selling the southern, (presumably unused or unoccupied) portion of this lot, with an intentional and improved land sale in which funds from the sale can be designated to other cemetery uses and improvements in Seward. Provide benches and tables. Work with Historic Preservation to develop a user-friendly directory or memorial to guide people to the proper sites. Improve or replace headstones, when needed. City Cemetery East Cemetery east must be measured and cordoned via a working grid, physically and on paper for future burial sites. General Continue to work with Community Development and Borough GIS specialist to enter cemetery sites into an on-line data base for record keeping and searches. Level sunken sites and remove mounds in raised sites, add topsoil and grasses. Improve turf and landscaping by ten percent each year, repairing grave sites, markers, landscaping, trails, services, etc. Continue to host volunteer programs. July 2016 5 Ob Seward Park&Recreation Department 2016 Master Plan PARKS PARK GOALS: Improve parks appearances,safety and turf by 10% each year. Grade and level turf areas. Create safe walking paths. Promote, improve and protect park lands and natural resources. Designate additional park and recreation areas. Enhance and improve historic park sites as identified as important by the community. Set aside a small,protected plot of land to grow healthy turf for turf patches in sports fields, parks and other. (Parks are not listed alphabetically, but generally listed in order from the south of Seward to the north.) Hoben Park Continue toward goals of the Leguineche plan and the Gateway Historic district plans. Contract an arborist to care for the giant poplar. Continue to monitor tree health. Eventual removal of post- 1940 trees: Spruce, Mountain Ash other. Eventual removal of ASLC garden in SW corner. Create an ADA, Code-quality hand railing prior to the reinstallation of old, historic wrought iron fence. Seek grant funds to create and install replica, 2-foot high, historic, wrought iron fence. Add concrete steps from Railway into the Park. Add historically accurate, southern border post and screen fence,per historic photos.Add bird houses. Remove and replace shrubs in southeast corner, replace with replica greenery, lilacs. Kawabe Park and Bus Stop Retain use as `City Square' and park. Retain use as bus stop, per construction grant requirements. Continue to improve and expand "Adapt-A-Park" garden program. Replace brick gardens and accent pieces. Improve turf health and gardens to highlight this park as a Level One garden. Eventually remove and replace sidewalks with thermal-heat-pump coils below the concrete, eliminating the need for street salt and plowing, providing longer, safer life to sidewalk. Improve ADA access and mitigate any safety concerns. Founders'Monument Area Beach erosion prevention activity required. Continue improvement via turf, gardens, memorial clean-up. Market as photo op and fishing area. July 2016 6 Ob Seward Park&Recreation Department 2016 Master Plan Lowell Canyon Picnic Area: Retain use as `Independence Day celebration' meeting area and park. Improve turf health and gardens to highlight this park. Clean and improve smaller trails for play and use. Improve picnic tables and add park benches, especially for thousands of visitors to this area during Independence Day events. Over time, improve and add parking along Lowell Canyon Road, immediately east of limited parking now. Discuss zoning this area, `Park.' Add outdoor music and rhythm elements for an interactive, outdoor music park. Place existing outdoor chimes here. Note: This picnic area is not zoned Park. Zoned Resource Management. Waterfront Park as a park Continue uses. Complete the development of Waterfront Park to meet the needs and expectations of the citizens of Seward who request a quality recreational facility along the Bay. Replace all flower gardens' borders, removing creosote and using treated lumber and/or rock or brick. Add updated Tsunami evacuation, drill, siren and information to bulletin boards. Update: Three flower gardens were upgraded from creosote railroad ties to decorative rock gardens in 2015. Update: The City recently received a permit to add B-Rock to the Resurrection Bay beach area to protect the bike path and Waterfront Park from additional erosion. Obihiro Park Improve ADA access;replace grills when needed;refurbish and reclaim path. Replace D1 (gravel) path with pavers or other,more structurally sound material; control vegetation and keep grass from growing into walkways, parking pads and gazebo areas; find larger, white, decorative rock for the Obihiro gift Gazebo's border; level surface on the west end; clean, pressure-wash, stain or replace benches, wall or structure of gazebo. Clean, pressure-wash, stain or replace interpretive panel on the water-side of the bike path. With volunteers,develop a Memorial Walkway(similar to Kenai's) with decorative bricks, pavers or tiles from the Loop to Obihiro Gazebo and around the garden. (Funds raised can be delegated to Waterfront Park &/or the City Cemetery.) July 2016 7 im Seward Park&Recreation Department 2016 Master Plan Williams'Park Remove brush and scrub. Add ADA camp sites & remove rolling bumps and divots for safer camping surfaces. Improve tent sites with identified tent pads with borders, i.e. Forest Service style,defined,tent pads.Plant younger trees to replace taller trees.Work with adjacent land-owners regarding fence repair. Add Sue Kaanta restroom/shower house &/or identify new location. Run electricity to the Pat Williams spruce tree for Christmas lighting and to the NE tree for possible future holiday lighting. Stub in possible, future utilities to one Campground Host campsite, at a minimum, when adding water and electricity for the restroom/showcr house. Two Lakes Park Inventory and identify bridges and little boardwalks for replacement and hand railing, where needed. Continue to add D-1 (gravel) to trails. Continue to seek volunteer groups for major projects. Seek overnight park hosts to report and prevent inappropriate park uses. Develop host camp site. Add and improve trail delineators to direct users to the trail and reduce off-trial, human uses. Request support and recommendations from Historic Preservation Commission regarding metal mining and other objects dotted throughout the park and trail. If to be retained, create intentional interpretive panels and methods to highlight, yet protect. If not historically significant, haul out of the park for safety and aesthetics. Second Lake Continue to use Second Lake for ice skating. Encourage use by properly maintaining ice with a lightweight ice resurfacing device. Add holiday lights around the border for improved visibility. Benny Benson Memorial Park and Lagoon Re-plat, erase lot lines, and provide utility easements. Develop and follow fish habitat plan. Develop floating dock plans to connect Third Ave Boardwalk to the Second Ave,paved bike path. Budget and contract Boardwalk replacement and improvement, hnprove turf area while developing parking and drive way areas. The City's Electric Department and other utilities using the power poles should underground utilities along this habitat. **See also Boardwalk comments, under Trails section. Update: The replat is before the Borough Assembly for action. July 2016 8 �! Seward Park &Recreation Department 2016 Master Plan Mariners'Memorial Add a small turf area after the completion of the memorial construction. Apply for LWCF and other grants to develop an ADA fishing pier. Build a small pocket park in the Northeast corner, behind parking area. Consider lease of ONE — and only one - portion of the park area (Bay or south side) for revenue-generating private use, such as a restaurant, and use lease funds to build and operate an encompassing Community Center, Aquatic Center or other. Install bumper stops, jersey barriers or other to delineate parking and prevent erosion or vehicle rolling. Whale Park/Bus stop Improve the western border retaining wall to be able to replant the spruce and shrubbery to remove the sight-line to Napa store. Repaint park elements as needed. Historic `junk'from Fort Raymond in Forest Acres Park After receiving "aye or nay" input from Historic Preservation and the City Council, haul rusted metal and concrete foundation pieces out of the park. Grade and improve with heavy equipment and fill. Expand camping opportunities, if continued minimal use of the Bittick BMX Track. Update: Due to Senior Housing complex action of 2015,a new entrance to the BMX track or other park uses will be required. Concrete slab, memorial in Forest Acres Park After receiving input from Historic Preservation and the City Council, contract to destroy and _ remove the large, empty, concrete,memorial foundation piece from the park. Continue to improve the area through hazard tree removal, landscaping and park amenities. If retention is recommended, clean, enhance and improve the memorials. Music Park, chimes, drums, other Work with Seward Music and Arts Council to select an appropriate location for outdoor art in the form of weather-hearty music and drums. The City owns chimes, ready for installation. Consider Lowell Canyon picnic area as music park site. Dog Park Work with concerned citizens to develop a, safe, "easy-to-maintain"dog park concepts and design for the eventual construction of an animal shelter and adjacent dog park. July 2016 9 ib Seward Park&Recreation Department 2016 Master Plan POCKET PARKS AND GARDENS POCKET PARK GOALS: Improve pocket parks 10% each year with color, safety, accessibility and care. Level walking areas and create safe walking paths. GARDEN GOALS: Improve or increase the City gardens or flower beds 10% each year. Continue to seek sponsors for annual Adopt-A-Park revenues to fund flowers. Buy or build a small, manageable greenhouse for a percentage of garden flowers; continue to purchase local flowers from private businesses. Larry Urbach's (Pocket)Park Remove or thin mugo pines into more attractive pieces or replacements. Work with sponsor to continue to improve the park with color. Select SPRD's best picnic table for this location. Trees with well-established root systems within the pines or other flora present a unique challenge to maintain long-term health. Continue to seek professional input on the health of the Mountain Ash and improvement of this park. Update: The City removed a dozen, looming and hazardous Cottonwood immediately north of this park in early 2016, such that the gardens may be more visible in future growing seasons. Rotary (Pocket) Park Volunteer work from the Seward Rotary Club constructed a seasonal picnic and pocket park area immediately south of the Rotary Gazebo on the south side of the Lagoon. The only access to the park is through the gazebo and down the back stairs. The area floods annually with tidal action. Parks and Recreation policy is to remove creosote railroad ties and old telephone poles, so the ties within this pocket park must be removed. Several planted spruce trees have died. The small walking loop around the park will remain intact after the railroad ties have been removed. Eventually, a second entrance to the park might be desired. July 2016 10 Seward Park&Recreation Department 2016 Master Plan Brotherly Love (Pocket) Park Built in 2015 with private funds by Matthew Genovese, in memory of his late brother, Jay, this new, little pocket park consists of a picnic table,bench, small garden and fire grill. Monitor eagle- roosting, hazard Cottonwoods; protect the beach from erosion. Start new tree growth. Add fill, gravel and dirt to maintain a safe, walking surface. Protect, improve and increase beach, rye grasses. Triangle (Pocket) Park Continue to improve the park through removal of bumps and dips in the turf Improve turf and mowing over time. Add interpretive panels and city maps. Remove shrub and unwanted invasive plants. Clear the west edge of the park to improve bike path use safety during dark hours. Badly buckled and damaged areas of the bike path need to be cut, removed and replaced. Continue to improve the inner portion via removing unwanted or hazard trees. Over time, add park benches and picnic tables. Add fill and engineer appropriate water runoff, drainage swales and culverts, etc. to prevent flooding, improve aesthetics and encourage park use. Other Gardens: Friendship Garden, Obihiro, Earth Day, Benny Benson Gardens, Tribute Garden, Forest Acres flower beds, Little League / Waterfront Park Welcome, Founders East and West Gardens, Kawabe Park Gardens, Whale Tail Park Gardens, Lagoon I, II& III Tri Gardens, and Six Wood Flower Boxes Continue to hire gardeners and designers to strategically plant and maintain the decorative gardens and pocket parks. Highlight Adopt-A-Park sponsors. Continue to develop micro-parks to welcome and attract guests who drive along Ballaine. Pair a small garden or outdoor art with each campground entrance. Improve 10% each year by focusing on late-September or early-October winterizing of gardens, after the season. July 2016 11 Ob Seward Park &Recreation Department 2016 Master Plan TRAILS TRAILS GOALS: Develop complete and connecting trail systems to access parks, the waterfront, the schools and Nash Road. Create and identify `bike lanes' if and where sidewalks or bike paths are not available. Develop a separate, budget line item to budget for major and minor trail improvements, ADA requirements and regular, annual maintenance. Zone trails as park. Lowell Canyon Picnic Area & Mini Trails Retain use as `Independence Day / Fourth of July' meeting area and park. Clean and improve smaller, internal trails for play and use. Over time, improve and add parking along Lowell Canyon Road, immediately east of limited parking now. Discuss zoning this area, `Park.' Note: This picnic area is not zoned Park - zoned Resource Management. National Historic Iditarod Trail Bike Path Update identifying signs and stencils. Improve the bike path, improve drainage, and add culverts. Protect Waterfront Park with beach erosion mitigation. Badly buckled and damaged areas of the bike path need to be cut, removed and replaced. The bike path outside of(east) of Boulder Field requires significant erosion prevention, protection and mitigation. Parts of the path flood in high tides or storms. Update: The Seward Iditarod Trailblazers are seeking Iditarod stencils to identify this bike path as part of the historic trail.The Iditarod symbol or logo will be painted on the asphalt bike path. Update: The City recently received a permit to add (Rip Rap, armor rock) B-Rack to the Resurrection Bay beach area to protect the bike path and Waterfront Park from additional erosion. The Jeep Trail The Jeep Trail is not officially under the purview of the Parks & Recreation Department, but staff often care for the parking area at the trailhead, signs and park benches. Identify and fund the appropriate level of care for this popular emergency trail access via City bi-annual budget. July 2016 12 0 Seward Park &Recreation Department 2016 Master Plan Scheffler Creek Area: Identify a section or shoulder area of "Lift Station Road" to the south side of Scheffler Creek Bridge as pedestrian and bike area,no vehicles. Develop a bike path from Scheffler Creek Bridge, north, along the Harborside Condos to the paved, Parking Permit Lot, then connect to the Fourth Ave sidewalk. Sign and stencil when completed. Remove creosote logs and used,power poles and replace with enviro-friendly or concrete bumper stops. Continue to track, monitor and mitigate against beach erosion. As park plans develop and beach protection provides more area,create bike path connections from Wellington Picnic Area, separate from "Lift Station Road." Two Lakes Trail Inventory and identify bridges and boardwalks for replacement and hand railing, where needed. Continue to add D-I(gravel)to trails. Continue to seek volunteer groups for major projects and for annual, minor maintenance. Seek overnight park hosts to report and prevent inappropriate park uses. Develop host camp site. Add and improve trail delineators, such as rock or treated lumber borders and edges, to direct users to stay on the trail and reduce off-trail, human uses. Request support and recommendations from Historic Preservation Commission regarding metal mining and other objects dotted throughout the park and trail. If to be retained, create intentional interpretive panels and methods to highlight, yet protect historic pieces. If not historically significant, haul out of the park for safety and aesthetics. Boy Scout steps Remove and replace steps. Add D-1 (gravel) to/from trails. Increase the height of the foot bridge from Second Avenue to the steps trailhead. July 2016 13 ib Seward Park&Recreation Department 2016 Master Plan Dale B. Clemons Memorial Boardwalk Several areas of the Boardwalk are failing. New support structure under the boardwalk is required to handle the load and heavy use. The seven or so boardwalk bump-out areas which display interpretive panels are the highest priority for replacement and repair. The decking of the boardwalk should be converted to aluminum or other metal grate-style decking,rather than treated lumber, to best assist with snow load, people-load, snow removal and improved daylight for fish habitat. The east-to-west connection of the boardwalk should be replaced with stronger or improved engineering for low-maintenance and high use. One proposed concept is to bring rip rap/an-nor rock to create a rock and gravel walking path, using culverts to allow tide influxes. A second concept is the idea of a floating dock or fishing platform, but the question of rising and falling and freezing and thawing tides are a concern. The remaining,short section of old boardwalk from Second Avenue to the Rotary Gazebo must be removed and replaced with improved engineering and design. Jesse Lee Area Overtime, develop the informal trail on the outside of Citizens' Field fence into an exercise trail &/or incorporate into the High School cross-country `Metco Trails' system. Develop a trail leading from the NW corner of the High School property's cross country trail north to the very back/west side of the Seward Long-Term Care Facility homes. Tie this loop into an eventual sidewalk or bike path to `Metco Trails' &/or the Seward Highway bike path. Bike Path from Softball field to Seward Highway Maintain surface by cleaning and sealcoating when necessary. Continue to improve and repair minor holes, etc. Add appropriate signs and stencils where needed. Maintain safe walking conditions year round. Seek grants for solar-powered lighted walkways for students and staff who daily use this path. July 2016 14 ib Seward Park&Recreation Department 2016 Master Plan FIELDS / PLAYFIELDS SPORTS FILEDS AND PLAYFIELDS GOALS: Improve City ballfields, sports fields and playfields 10% each year by purchasing and adding healthy, organics and top soil. Grade fields for water run-off for successful, short growing seasons. ADA accessibility is required to all fields. Jon Perry Field. Owned by Kenai Peninsula Borough Work with owner, KPB, to request 8-foot high or 10-foot high fence. Repair sloughing off hill onto Right Field. Add turf infield. Repair or replace warning track. Over time, remove and replace dugouts with larger and improved dugouts. ADA improvements required. Continue to develop and host volunteer,"Field-Lovin' Days"with caring,capable adults who donate time and skill to work on short-term, field and facilities' improvement projects. Update: Parks and Recreation has requested authorization to repair Right Field fence line. Parks and Recreation has notified the Borough of the request to increase the outfield fence height. Citizen's Field ADA access and improvements are required to the field and to amenities near the field. Improve infield and outfield. Add topsail and grass to promote healthy turf. Repair or replace warning track. Add information and regulation signs to the overall area/softball complex. Switch dugouts to appropriate fence openings to improve spectator viewing. Develop an overnight Park Host site for security. Continue to develop, expand and host"Field-Lovin' Days"with caring, capable adults to work on short-term projects. Add rip rap or other material behind Center Field to prevent further erosion. Overtime, develop the informal trail on the outside of the field fence into an exercise trail &lor incorporate into the High School cross-country `Metco Trails' system. Boulder Field Convert into a park, RV campground and parking. If retaining use as a ballfield: level the field; address the seasonal flooding from Scheffler Creek high tide floods, remove and replace fencing, small concession/storage building and dugouts,upgrading all to ADA specifications. Develop plan to improve the swale between Fourth Ave and D Street and the Scheffler Creek run-off area. Use rip-rap or other,then level the land between the Boulder Shack and the Wellington Picnic area for overflow camping and parking. July 2016 15 Ob Seward Park&Recreation Department 2016 Master Plan Seward Little League Field Note: Owned by the City. Consider sale of ballfield area to private, commercial for the use of the land sales to create a third baseball/softball field near the three schools and other fields: Jon. Perry and Citizens. Repair and replace fencing. Apply weed mitigation controls to encourage pure grass growth in the outfield and infield. Prevent vegetation from growing into the infield (skinned) dirt. If retained by the City, add topsoil and turf to safe levels. Add infield materials to safe levels. Remove and replace retaining wall behind home plate and back stop. Convert restrooms in Concession Stand to ADA standards. Evan Casey Skate Park Include the Evan Casey Skate Park in the to-be-written Playground Replacement Plan, as components will wear over time and new elements will add interest. Continue receiving input from skaters. Add top soil and grass seed behind Adams Street Restroom on the immediate west border of the Skate Park, to prevent erosion. Remove hazard trees and replace with young trees. Bittick BMX Track Convert to seasonal camping, which will require the addition of yards of fill and heavy equipment work, due to noted minimal use of this park as a bike path. Develop bike or pedestrian only entrance/egress from Dimond. (No vehicle access from Sea Lion.) Continue hazard tree assessment and removal. Plant and protect new trees. If continued use as a bike path, remove historic pieces, remove hazard trees, improve area for better use. Basketball Court, Tennis Court(Forest Acres) Remove and replace or rehabilitate basketball hoops, tennis standards and net. Use commercial materials (hot air lance, sealcoat, etc.) to level and resurface tennis court. Stripe half-basketball courts in addition to tennis courts. Continue the removal of hazard trees in the area. Improve signage, parking and add picnic tables and park benches along Dimond. (Develop temporary camping sites for overflow `peak' seasons such as Fourth of July and Salmon Derby.) July 2016 16 is Seward Park &Recreation Department 2016 Master Plan FACILITIES & OUT-BUILDINGS FACILITIES (BUILDINGS AND OUT-BUILDINGS) GOALS: Develop a City-wide budget policy which will forward-fund building and facility replacement. Continue to improve facilities and out-buildings each year by conducting regular and deferred maintenance. Level designated walking areas and create safe walking paths. ADA access is required and must be a top priority. Branson Pavilion Improve ADA access from Ballaine and from the Adams Street restroom to Branson Pavilion. Improve short, 20-foot ADA path south of`the grassy knoll' with sign and materials. Remove old park benches and replace with sponsored, matching recycled plastic benches. Install a short, retaining wall and railing on the east side of the pavilion, to delineate turf area from gravel area, and add interest to the landscaping. Continue to budget annual maintenance on the structure, windows, turf and barbeque grill and fan. Improve the drainage swale via depth &lor culvert that runs from Ballaine to the Bay, research materials such as for swales or drainage. Remove dying spruce and replace with intentional dirt mounds and new spruce and alders, thus identifying the swale,directing foot traffic to established pathways and providing an improved location for spruce trees or landscaping. Kawabe Restroom This kit restroom serves the community's visitors as the only downtown,public restroom. Regular maintenance on the facility is required. The possible heat-pump project at Adams Street may facilitate possible year-round 60-degree(warm) water to provide hot water for in-floor heating and customer uses. Kawabe Bus Stop/Pavilion Kawabe bus stop serves the community's visitors for picnic and transportation uses. Lexan `windows' were recently upgraded to more pleasing safety glass. Regular maintenance is required. ADA access via the sidewalk must be improved. Wood panels require maintenance. Remove and replace broken pavers and cracked concrete with heat-tube or similar such that sanding and salting sidewalks would NOT be required in the future. Flower beds need to be removed and replaced. July 2016 17 Seward Park&Recreation Department 2016 Master Plan Adams Street Restrooin Constructed of all concrete, this non-heated, cold-water restroom facility has outlived its useful life. The community and visiting park users are seeking a more aesthetically pleasing and greener facility that can operate year-round, despite cold temperatures. The possible heat-pump project at Adams Street may facilitate possible year-round 60-degree (warm) water to provide hot water for in-floor heating and customer uses. Solar-power, propane water heaters, in-floor heating and `green'(er) construction should replace this facility with an equal number of restrooms and seasonal shower facilities. First Lake Picnic Area & Gazebo Redesign and rework the park entry for more naturally flowing and logical use of interpretive panels, park and trail map, etc. Add a handrail to ADA entry path. Continue to improve ADA access to the waterfall. Continue to delineate park land from private ownership lots. Seek recommendation from experts on dates, times and schedules for installing and removing the creek grate in order to promote fish habitat and health. Add interpretive panels. Develop grassy, picnic area with table sand benches for `level' sandy area, west of the creek. Update: the area trail map has been relocated and better-positioned. Rotary Gazebo This gift from Seward Rotary to the City requires regular and deferred maintenance. The City has requested Rotary volunteers to sand the wood surfaces and refinish or repaint. A damaged floor (plastic) faux-board replacement is required. Wellington Picnic Area Create a smaller version of the Branson Pavilion for picnic area. Improve turf and turf area. Remove and replace concrete restroom with more efficient model over time. Consider moving the restrooms, bike path and pavilion project toward Ballaine for improved parking and increased greens space. Add a temporary, canvas-type `wedding tent' in the summer months to serve as a summer-use pavilion. Little by little, "move" Lift Station Road south, over time, nearer to the drainage swale to provide more,useable recreation space. July 2016 18 Ob Seward Park&Recreation Department 2016 Master Plan Wellington Restroom Constructed of all concrete, this non-heated, cold-water restroom facility has outlived its useful life. The community and visiting park users are seeking a more aesthetically pleasing and greener facility that can operate year-round, despite cold temperatures. The possible heat-pump project at Adams Street may facilitate possible year-round 60-degree(warm) water to provide hot water for in-floor heating and customer uses. Solar-power and green construction should replace this facility with an equal number of restrooms and seasonal shower facilities. When replacing the facility, proximity to the bike path and ftiture Wellington Pavilion should be considered for optimal space use and parking provision. Boulder Field Shack This shack served as a concession stand during the softball community's softball glory years of the 1970s and 80s. It has since been converted to Paid Parking storage of assets and serves as a quick meeting place for the ALPAR youth litter patrol crew. A vehicle damaged the south side, concrete wall. A faux exterior wall now covers the damage. This out-building should be replaced with a safer facility of similar size. SPRD Warehouse: 702 Aspen Lane,budget for new facility due to decline of this facility.Consider moving the PM&C operations base to: the abandoned Air Force Rec Camp property owned by the City in conjunction with Public Works Department relocation; Forest Acres Park; the Citizens' Field Complex or - nearer to Waterfront Park. Pre-sell the coveted hard woods used in flooring and siding. Use revenues from sale as budget for new project. Use `green' initiatives to reduce the annual operating expenses of the facility. Add improved ADA access for the public conducting PM&C business. TYC Council Concession Stand North Move the facility within the softball complex area to a location water, sewer and electricity can be added to operate the concession stand during athletic events. Forest Acres Restroom Constructed of all concrete, this non-heated, cold-water restroom facility has outlived its useful life. The community and visiting park users are seeking a more aesthetically pleasing and greener facility that can operate year-round, despite cold temperatures. Replace this facility with an equal number of restrooms and possibly seasonal shower facilities. July 2016 19 Seward Park&Recreation Department 2016 Master Plan PLAYGROUNDS PLAYGROUND GOALS: Develop local playgrounds by improving accessibility, surfacing and equipment. Increase toys & the number of playgrounds to serve growing residential areas & younger users. Playgrounds are an important part of the park system. The Parks and Recreation Department owns and maintains five Playgrounds. The playgrounds currently do not meet the Americans with Disabilities Act [ADA] standards for accessibility. The City could attempt to adapt the current facilities to meet ADA standards, or redesign the playgrounds and replace all the equipment with structures and surfaces which are accessible.ADA requires all facilities to be accessible as soon as possible. Third Avenue Playground Popular, well-loved, highly used playground. Add benches and picnic tables. Remove old rock surface and replace with updated ADA surface. Develop a long-term Playground Replacement plan for all playgrounds, which annually updates equipment, elements and amenities over time, rather than large, rare $100,000 projects. Include Evan Casey Skate Park (and similar) in Playground Replacement Plan. Sell this land only with a sound development plan. Recommend City Council adopt a policy to consider the sale of Park (or public or Resource Management type lands)only after 90%of the adjacent area(estimate two-square-blocks)is used in some productive capacity, not just empty lots used for parking or listed for sale. Update: The TYC Teen Council has adopted this playground as their "30 year anniversary Legacy Project." With the City - Manager's 2015 authorization, the Teen Council and alumni will raise funds to rehabilitate this downtown park and playground. PARKS Playground Continue to work with volunteers from PARKS Playground (named Seward Community Playground) regarding annual upkeep of the playground: adding surfacing materials, clean and refresh the art and paint and color upkeep, etc. July 2016 20 ib Seward Park &Recreation Department 2016 Master Plan &allaine Playground Remove and replace old elements with all-inclusive playground. Remove and replace short fence with an appropriate-height fence. Remove and replace gravel using appropriate and ADA safety surfacing. Address land-ownership issues with State Shop site, i.e, the playground and pitching/hitting cage is+l- 10 feet on State Shop land. State Shop fence is+l- 10 feet on Waterfront Park triangle area near the Sewer Dump Station. Gateway Park (playground on Dora Way) Conduct neighborhood polls on use. Improve via removing sand as surface material and adding ADA playground surfacing. Improve signs. Remove brush on City lands from outside the fence. Add a safe element to replace the beloved merry-go-round or carousel. Forest Acres Playground Remove existing structure and convert to a camp site. Develop and move a replacement playground south to the tennis court/basketball court area. Build with improved ADA and other climbing structures befitting the area, such as forest friends,tree health, camping and outdoor play. Remove sand or wood chips surfacing and replace with new,ADA-accessible, intentional and safe, low-maintenance playground surface. July 2016 21 Ob Seward Park&Recreation Department 2016 Master Plan CAMPGROUNDS CAMPGROUND GOALS: Improve parks appearances, safety and turf by 10% each year. Grade, and level parking and turf areas. Create safe walking paths. Identify and designate additional, future campground areas. Rename campground areas with relevant and useful names for improved communications and customer service. Enhance and improve park amenities such as water+electric camp sites,free Wi-Fi,more shower facilities,picnic tables, park benches, interpretive panels, fire rings and as identified as important by the community. Expand the volunteer park host and campground host program, when favorable to the City. Research, select and obtain a reservation system for a select, small portion of the campground as a test for success. Iditarod Park and RV area Retain uses as an RV camping and winter snow storage area. Eventually add water, sewer, electricity and internet for premium fees. Update Iditarod sign. Develop Wylie dog sled as a photo- op destination. Add landscaping. Continued winter snow storage use until the construction of utility sites removes that possibility. See also Waterfront Park, below. Waterfront Park Can:pground(as a campground) Continue to improve campground sites through site leveling, grading lanes,water run-off features, replacing spruce and cottonwood trees as needed, and recommending additional sites offering water, electricity and similar services. Track the successes and challenges of the automated pay stations and recommend needed changes. Continue to develop and improve the SPRD Volunteer Campground Host program. Add updated Tsunami evacuation, drill, siren and information to bulletin boards. Sewer Dump Station: Zoned Park. Retain use as a water refill and dump station. Add greenery, landscaping. Minimal other uses allowed. Note: the State of Alaska's State Shop fenced area encroaches onto Seward Park land about eight to ten feet. See also, Ballaine Playground, below. Update: $5 fee via automated pay station was added and used in 2015. Revenue budget was exceeded. July 2016 22 Seward Park &Recreation Department 2016 Master Plan Tent area: 22 dry sites: Remodel area, consider at least one, landscaping tier to reduce sloping camp sites. Move pay station and garbage location to increase one camp site. Add park benches as site delineation. Add wild rose bushes or other low-lying greenery to promote privacy and site separation. Improve turf. Allow RV camping. Resurrection South: 74 dry sites + 12 Utility sites: Remove the gentle slope by adding one tier at the utility site extension. Install water, sewer (if possible) electricity and internet. Increase camping fees. Continue to add green landscaping. Improve drainage. Remove "second driving lane" from Jefferson Street extended. Create several campsites and improve landscaping. Update: This area is slated to convert 40 dry camping spaces to 25 water+ electricity sites. Resurrection North: 74 Utility sites, 11 dry Develop and implement a sound, small scale landscaping plan and continue to provide greenery and turf without adding evasive weeds, plants or trees. Remove rock fire pits, replace with metal and ADA fire rings. Prohibit the use of beach rock for fire rings. Donut Loop. 14 dry sites: Redesign, remodel attractive camping sites. Budget and build water and electricity utility sites. Improve the entrance/egress. Landscape and improve the Ballaine berm. Williams Park: 31 dry sites: Redesign, remodel attractive camping sites. Improve and add ADA sites. Budget and build water and electricity utility sites, for a campground host at a minimum. Add Sue Kaanta Restroom here. Improve the entrance/egress. Landscape and improve the Ballaine. (See also Williams Park in the Park section, above.) Marathon: 50 dry sites: Y "No generator"sites: Continue to add D-1 to increase elevation of this low-lying area. Continue, winter snow-storage use. Many repeat customers appreciate this more affordable, no-utility camping option. SPRD will develop a plan to incrementally install utilities for premium camping, while providing solar- powered RVs an option to camp. Develop a plan to limit generator noise&lor develop a Marathon section which prohibits generators. Add a small, micro-park. Improve greenery, add landscaping. July 2016 23 �t Seward Park&Recreation Department 2016 Master Plan Mount Alice Camping: 13 dry sites: Continue to improve landscaping and site delineators, such as park benches. Work with professionals regarding the Scheffler Creek and run-off areas to continue to expand the camping square-footage. Harhorside: 27 dry sites: Develop a bike path from Scheffler Creek Bridge,north,along the Harborside Condos to the paved, Parking Permit Lot, then connect to the Fourth Ave sidewalk. Sign and stencil when completed. Remove creosote and replace with friendly or concrete bumper stops. Continue to track, monitor and mitigate against beach erosion. Forest Acres Campground: 44 dry sites: Retain as park use. Continue to remove hazards trees as needed. Continue to develop safe,healthy and attractive campsites as budget allows. Add a small picnic gazebo. Re-design entrance to encourage campers to pull into the park before payment. Overtime, remove and replace concrete, cold-water only restrooms with ADA improvements and hot-water and coin-op showers for campers. Replace dated and aging equipment. Fell trees to increase sunlight exposure. Add trees to replace hazard trees. See also Forest Acres Park, above. Add utility sites to five, entry sites and for Campground Host volunteer. Rehabilitate entrance/egress. Remove shrub and weeds from the park borders, add berms of dirt, and then plant sustainable greenery for park health and aesthetics. Research the costs and benefits of adding an additional camping sewer dump station along Dimond Boulevard to capture Forest Acres campers, residual Army Resort campers and Waterfront Park campers who choose not to wait in line. (There is often a back-up line at the WFP sewer dump station on Ballaine.) July 2016 24 Seward Park &Recreation Department 2016 Master Plan Spring Creek Campground(unlimited, maybe up to 70 dry sites): Retain use as a campground and fishing public area while SMIC continues to be developed. Consider adding a public restroom or vault toilet in partnership with SMIC development. Retain and protect the public access`roadway' from Nash to the Bay.Develop weather-hearty interpretive panels and signs to inform the public about sea life, fishing and SMIC development. Install a vault toilet or other to serve the public and replace port-a-potty with a stronger, more weather-resistant, more vandal-proof, high use, restroom facility. Retain use as camping and public access to fishing and sight-seeing. Air Force Rec Camp Obtain authorization to use green,grassy tent area for City-controlled,revenue-producing camping until the City Council determines the highest, best use of this lot. Other Develop minimal, dry camping in Resource Management land adjacent and created by the North Forest Acres Levy for over flow camping. July 2016 25 ' r Seward Park&Recreation Department 2016 Master Plan GENERAL SPRD GOALS AND PRIORITIES 1. SPRD staff will annually update the Capital Improvement Plan (CIP) to ensure the public and decision-makers are in tune with needs. Continue to inform all regarding the need for a waterfront erosion control plan, budget and activities, as a top priority. 2. Dovetail the SPRD ADA transition plan into the City's ADA transition plan. Budget and schedule improvements to be completed by 2020. Also a top priority. 3. Develop a long-term Playground Replacement plan for all playgrounds, which annually updates equipment, elements and amenities over time, rather than large, rare +$100,000 projects. Include Evan Casey Skate Park (and similar) in Playground Replacement Plan. Sell playground properties only with a sound development plan. 4. Recommend City Council adopt a policy to consider the sale of Park land (or public or Resource Management type lands) after 90% of the adjacent area is used in some productive capacity, not empty lots for sale or for speculation. 5. Recommend City Council adopt a policy to set a special account for Fish Habitat and Fish replenishment, comprised of 10% of the annual, revenue surplus (profit) from the campground operations. Develop and implement a plan for Two Lakes Park's lakes and creeks improvements; Scheffler Creek improvements; Benny Benson Improvements; Boulder Field area swales and drainage run-up improvements, etc. 6. Recommend City Council adopt a second policy to set a special budget or account for specific, campground amenities improvement, comprised of 10% of the annual, revenue surplus (profit) from the campground operations. 7. Complete and implement the Cottonwood Replacement &Abatement Plan 8. Contract the inclusion of commercially made and updated Tsunami warning and information signs. 9. Develop and implement uniformity policy regarding the design, look and presentation of park and campground area signs and specific area regulations. 10. Develop and implement an improved storm water run-off and rain water drainage plan and program for Waterfront Park and all other park and campgrounds areas. Protect the bike path and other pathways via intentional water run-off features such as swales, culverts, etc. July 2016 26 Seward Park&Recreation Department 2016 Master Plan 11. Over time, remove rocks from turf and camping areas. Create and post policies to prevent the use of rocks for unplanned fire pits. Goal: improved mowing and turf care; reduced safety hazard; improved beautification. Ex: only one fire pit allowed per camp site, in designated areas only. Encourage campers to use provided fire rings. Discourage campers from removing beach rock. Remove rocks from turf areas. 12. "No pushki, dandelions or devil's club in public areas." Encourage the use and growth of alders, spruce, hemlock, beach rye grasses, wild Alaska Sitka roses, other natural grasses and trees. Continue to encourage these plants in non-public park areas such as off-trail or wild areas where the public is requested to stay on the trails. 13. Add unidentified park areas to the Land Use Map and other official plans: Whale Tail Park; Lowell Canyon Picnic Area & Park; the Jeep Trail; Seward Meridian marker pull-out; Iditarod Trailhead; Woodlawn Cemetery; others. Improve Nash Road pull-outs for photo opportunities via services and interpretive panels. 14. Update and improve the SPRD Memorial Handbook Guide 15. Develop outdoor art and photo opportunities to continue to attract visitors and encourage "selfies" via the use of social media to market Seward for tourism and fishing. 16. Continue to update and improve all the addendum listed below: Master Plan Addendum: SPRD Memorial Handbook Guide update needed SWOT,All Divisions Hazard Tree Mitigation Plan & CRAP update needed Park Inventory Plan: Survey, List update needed Park Maintenance Plan update needed (Capital Improvement Projects) CIP update needed Gardeners'Guide Recreation Committee's Comments July 2016 27 ` Seward Park&Recreation Department 2016 Master Plan To be prepared: * Facility Assessment and replacement plan: restrooms; gazebos, etc. * Playground Replacement Plan (including Skate Park elements) * Inventory of community murals on SPRD sites or facilities * Public Comments Abbreviations: ASLG Alaska SeaLife Center City: City of Seward municipality PM&C. Parks Maintenance & Campgrounds (a Division of SPRD) MP: Master Plan SPRD: Seward Parks &Recreation Department WFP: Waterfront Park July 2016 28