The URL can be used to link to this page

Home My WebLink About10/16/2006 , 1 . ~ (..J cA(r0-U'r/J ~~, IL' STUDY SESSION AGENDA CITY COUNCIL MEETING CITY OF WHEAT RIDGE, COLORADO City Council Chambers 7500 W. 29th Ave. October 16, 2006 6:30 p.m. APPROVAL OF AGENDA Item 1. Staff Reports Outside Agency Reports a) Rob Osbom- Wheat Ridge 2020 Item 2. Parks & Recreation Master Plan - Final Draft - Type 1/ Leader's Guide 2005 Summary ReportlMayor and City Council/Wheat Ridge, Colorado Work Session Typology WORK SESSION WORK SESSION WORK SESSION TYPE I TYPE II TYPE III PRE-REPORT DRAFT REPORTS BRIEFING Provide directIOn and Refine proposed reports and Brief Mayor and City gUIdance on maJor recommendations pnor to CouncIl on major Issues, Issues before staff analysIs and report formal presentation and upcommg opportumtles action. and operational matters. preparatIOn. TOPICS TOPICS TOPICS' I Define the Problems I. Present Background I Present Background InformatIOn 2. Idcntlfy Issues 2. ReView and HIghlights of 2. DISCUSS TopiCS AnalysIs and OptIOns 3 Establish Parameters 3. Revlc\\ and Refine 3. Explore City'S Role or and G U1dclll1cS Rccommcndatlons Need for ActIon 4 Focus on Possible 4 FinalIzc DeSired Goals 4 Focus on Overall Policy Outcomes and Outcomes DIrectIOn and GUidelines 5 Outline Process and 5 Outlme Next Steps Possible Next Steps 6 DeCide Whether or Not Worth PursUing Copyright CD 2005 Lyle Sumek Associates, Inc. 05-MAR-53 Section XI - Page I STUDY SESSION NOTES CITY OF WHEAT RIDGE, COLORADO October 16, 2006 Mayor DiTullio called the Study Session Meeting to order at 6 45 P m. Councilmembers present: Karen Adams, Karen Berry, Dean Gokey, Lena Rotola, Wanda Sang, Larry Schulz, Mike Stites, and Terry Womble Also present: Deputy City Clerk, Christa Jones; City Manager, Randy Young, Deputy City Manager, Patrick Goff; Director of Parks & Recreation, Joyce Manwaring; City Treasurer, Mary Cavarra; Executive Director for Wheat Ridge 2020, Robert Osborn; interested citizens. Item 1. Staff Reports Randy Young gave update on Cabela's. A public hearing is tentatively set for November 9, 2006. Outside Agency Reports a) Rob Osborn- Wheat Ridge 2020 Rob Osborn gave update on Wheat Ridge 2020's recent activities and distributed the information to Council in written format. (Attached) Item 2. Parks & Recreation Master Plan - Final Draft Joyce Manwaring introduced this item and thanked the Parks Commission for all their hard work on this final draft and City Council for their vision. She introduced Jana McKenzie and Chad Schneckenburger from EDAW, Inc. Jana McKenzie presented the plan. Council questions and discussion followed Meeting adjourned at 8'06 p.m. ~\ \\ ,\ ~- . [\\0Vll'- ' \t.J'\~ Christa Jones, Deputy'i ity Clerk C/.V?e~~ N()l q1}1 ~Tf rAI "I:.: IJ Wheat Ridge 2020 Report to City Council October 16, 2006 1 WR 2020 LENDING PROGRAMS a WR 2020 has approved $400,000 towards NO, and LOW Interest financing for residential, commercial redevelopment along the 38th avenue Corridor b Staff will begin promotion of the Lending Programs within 30 days c The loans are geared at Residential rehabilitation in key neighborhoods between 32nd, and 42nd from Sheridan to Prospect. d Commercial loans will be available for business along the 38t Ave corridor from Sheridan - Wadsworth Blvd e The approval of the loans will be based upon need and availability, and also the impact the proposed redevelopment provides for the community f WR 2020 has enlisted a team of Architects to assist in development of design criteria associated with these programs g These programs addresses items 2 and 4 of the NRS recommendations, by providing financing to update residential units, and facilitating the development of commercial clusters and sites 2 WR 2020 I WRBD AGENCY AGREEMENT a. WR 2020 and WRBD are entering an Agency Agreement to promote the programs and goals that organization's share The relationship will enable collaboration and leveraging of resources between each organization to prioritize resources to key areas as designated in the NRS 3 COMMERCIAL PROPERTY DEVELOPMENT a WR 2020 is currently working with two property owners for the development of an Urban Renewal Authority sponsored Redevelopment proposal b WR 2020 Staff have drafted an Environmental Assessment Grant for submission by the City to the Colorado Brownfields Foundation. This Grant will provide assessment services in Key areas of the City's Commercial corridors that are in need of revitalization c This work meets the NRS strategy to promote the development of key commercial sites Wheal Ridge 2020 P () Box 126X WHE<\T RIDUE, CO X0034-1268 (720) 275-9479 ~ 4. RESIDENTIAL PROPERTY DEVELOPMENT a WR 2020 is working to secure a prime residential redevelopment site fro Town home development. The proposed development could bring approximately 44 new upscale town homes geared at a sale price from $220,000 and up. b This project will need the support of Council as it will require potential zoning variances or changes. This project is consistent with the NRS strategies to develop new modern housing. c, WR 2020 is identifying available properties for redevelopment projects. WR 2020 will work to secure, rehab, and resell residential properties in key corridors to meet signature project goals identified in the NRS, We should have one or two properties under contract by the end of 2006. 5 WR 2020 GRANT to WR FOUNDATION FIELDS OF GREEN a. WR 2020 has approved a $20,000 matching grant to support the Field of Green Project. b The Grant will be distributed in two draws, $10,000 in 2006 and $10,000 in 2007 c. WR Foundation will work with WR 2020 to develop a match fro this grant. d This Grant is made in accordance with the NRS recommendation to promote the maintenance and improvement of our Public Recreation, and Open Spaces. 6 WR 2020 RESOLUTION SUPPORTING QUESTIONS 1 and 2 a WR 2020 passed a resolution in support of the City's initiatives. TO RETAIN $54,409 IN REVENUES FROM FISCAL YEAR 2005, and TO RETAIN AND SPEND THE FULL AMOUNT OF THE CITY'S TAXES AND OTHER REVENUE COLLECTED, INCLUDING ALL REVENUE RECEIVED IN 2006 AND EACH SUBSEQUENT YEAR. City of Wheat Ridge Office of the Parks and Recreation Director Memorandum 2006 DATE Randy Y oung, c~ger Joyce Manwming, Pmk, "nd R"reation D.redn~ Octobcr 9, 2006 TO FROM. SUBJECT Parks and RecreatIOn Draft Mastcr Plan - Study Scssion - October 2006 Attached is the final draft of the Parks and Recreation Mastcr Plan, Thc plan IS based on a compilatIOn of information acqUIred through the complctlOn of a Needs Assessment which Included. . Extcnsive public Input proccss which Included open houses, community survey and mterest group interviews. Analysis of eXIsting program, park and facility amenitIes Including conditIOn and service lcvels Trends m park and recrcation faCIlIties and amenities Compansons WIth other cities in the area Study Sessions WIth CIty Council . . . . Work sessions have been held with the Parks and Recreation CommIssIon throughout the process of comptlIng the Master Plan. A study sessIon was also held WIth the PlannIng CommiSSIOn for their review and input. Attached are the memos from EDA W, rnc (consultant) to the two commiSSIOns addressing their comments and questions. The attached draft includes these comments and amendments where appropriate. The Planning CommIssion adoptcd a ResolutIOn recommendIng adoption of the plan the October 6, 2006 meeting. This resolution is part of the process reqUlrcd of the CommiSSIOn to amend the city's comprehenSIve plan and wIll bc Included in the CounCIl Action agenda item for Master Plan adoption scheduled for November 13, 2006 The focus of the study scssion on October 16th is to reVIew the Master Plan as a guidIng policy document for the CIty and the Parks and Rccreation Department for the next 10-15 years. This document IS intended as a Vision statement for the parks and rccreatIon system. It includes recommcndations for future proJects as well as the probable costs of these projects. Adoption of thIS plan does not commIt the CIty finanCially to the recommended projects. EDAW I \tlO\i EDAW Ine 240 East Mountain Avenue. Fort Collins, CO 80524 T 970.484.6073 F 970.4B4.851B www.edaw com Memorandum From September 14, 2006 Meredith Reckert, AICP Senior Planner, City of Wheat Ridge Chad Schneckenburger Jana McKenzie Parks and Recreation Commission Amendments to the Draft Parks and Recreation Master Plan Date, To Subject: Distribution. Meredith Reckert; Joyce Manwaring Meredith, Below please find a bulleted list of proposed changes to the City of Wheat Ridge Draft Parks and Recreation Master Plan from the September 13, 2006 Parks and Recreation Commission meeting Please forward this list on to all members of the City of Wheat Ridge Planning Commission for their review prior to the September 21,2006 study session If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact either myself or Jana Mckenzie Yours sincerely, Chad Schneckenburger Proposed Changes and Amendments to the City of Wheat Ridge Draft Parks and Recreation Master Plan . Pa~e 1-9, Section D, Wheat Ridge Sub-Area Plans language will be added recognizing the 38' Ave Business District improvement efforts . Page 1-10, Goal 2, 2nd objective. Will be re-worded to state that" Greenbelt will serve as an amenity that encourages complimentary private redevelopment and development." not adjacent. EDAW i H:U..!\! EDAW Inc 240 East Mountain Avenue, Fort Collins, CO 80524 T 970.484.6073 F 970.484.8518 www.edawcom . Page 1-10, Goal 2: Additional objective will be added recognizing that development adjacent to the Greenbelt will be complementary, and will not compromise the natural values, integrity, character, and recreation experience of the area . Page 2-13, Section A, Neighborhood park Standards language will be added indicating that a neighborhood park can be active, passive, or a combination of both. . Page 2-23 Section A, Open Space Areas, Table2.7 Natural Area/Natural Corridor section will be expanded to integrate and define Conservation Areas Another section will also be added to include and describe Sensitive Resource Areas, . Page 2-25, Section A. Section will be added recognizing the value of the urban tree canopy, and that Parks and Recreation Department is responsible for maintaining and replacing trees within street rights-of-ways Also will describe that a proactive forestry program existed in the past, which assisted residents with tree issues (i e" education, replacement, maintenance, etc.) , which helped to have Wheat Ridge recognized as a "Tree City USA" . Page 4-5, Section A, Major Park/Facility Redesign, Anderson Park, 3rd paragraph language will be added indicating that city should balance priorities between revenue generation through creating a regional draw, local recreational needs, and impact on the park with any new aquatic projects . Page 4-10, Section A, Joint Use School-Park Upgrades language will be enhanced to further indicate that development of joint-school parks are a good opportunity to provide parks in underserved areas Also will enhance language indicating that the City will proactively work with Jeff Co R-1 School District to accomplish this. Also add language indicating that at many school facilities it would be beneficial from a park perspective to remove chain link fencing. . Page 4-11, section B Trails Projects language will be added indicating the need for specific design standards for off-street trails that recognize the varying needs of different trail users (i.e , soft surface trail needs). . Page 5-3, Section A, Project Prioritization Consideration, 5th paragraph, last sentence language will be changed to indicate that Prospect Park should become "a key urban park experience", not "the primary urban park experience" EDAW L\I:J.Jyq EDAW Inc 240 East Mountain Avenue, Fort Collins. CO 80524 T 970A84.6073 F 970AB4B51B www.edawcom Memorandum Subject: September 27, 2006 Meredith Reckert, AICP Senior Planner, City of Wheat Ridge Chad Schneckenburger Jana McKenzie Planning Commission Amendments to the Draft Parks and Recreation Master Plan Date To. From Distribution Meredith Reckert; Joyce Manwaring Meredith, Below please find a bulleted list of comments from the Planning Commission regarding the City of Wheat Ridge Draft Parks and Recreation Master Plan from the September 21 , 2006 Planning Commission meeting Listed after each comment is a formal response indicating the action that will be taken in regards to each item All comments and suggestions have been considered and taken under advisement. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact either myself or Jana Mckenzie Yours sincerely, Chad Schneckenburger Comments and Responses from the Wheat Ridge Planning Commission Regarding the Wheat Ridge Draft Parks and Recreation Master Plan Additional Sports Fields Comment: . There was concern by one member that there are not enough fields in the city for football and soccer It was his suggestion that 2 fields be added to the open space on what was formerly known as the Zarlengo property located on the west-side of 41 st Ave and Kipling SI. Response. This property has been formally designated by the City of Wheat Ridge as a Conservation Area, which is protected open space property and therefore not suitable for development as a park. The Parks and Recreation Master Plan does, however, propose the addition of one multi-purpose field at Fruitdale Park. EDAW /\1::(0\;1 EDAW Inc 240 East Mountain Avenue, Fort Collins, CO 80524 T 970.484 6073 F 970.4848518 www.edaw.com Wheat Ridge Greenbelt Comment: . There was concern from some members of the commission about the proposal to remove access to Johnson Park from Wadsworth Blvd and transition the property to greenbelt acreage It was suggested that additional pedestrian access be provided to this park, Response The Plan recognizes that there are currently safety and vehicular access issues with Johnson Park. Additionally, Johnson Park does not adequately serve the surrounding neighborhoods as a neighborhood park. As such, it is recommended that vehicular access from Wadsworth Blvd, be removed and the park transitioned to Greenbelt acreage, The Plan will, however, acknowledge the need for increased pedestrian access to the Greenbelt, including the Johnson Park area. Furthermore, the plan will propose a separate Greenbelt Master Plan that will address specific sites in more detail, which will include Johnson Park. Comment: . One commission member mentioned that trailheads within the city need to be made more visible and accessible. Response The Plan currently addresses the need for trail heads in the city to be made more visible and accessible. The Plan will also propose the creation of a Greenbelt Master Plan that will address the need for additional trail heads along the Greenbelt in detail Comment: . One commission member felt that it should be noted in the plan that Clear Creek acts as a recreational water amenity within the city of Wheat Ridge and is very important in that respect. He feels that it is a tremendous resource for the city for such activities as kayaking and tubing. . The same member also mentioned that the dam downstream of 44th Ave is very dangerous and presents a hazard and should be removed or enhanced to be safer Response The Plan will recognize the importance of Clear Creek as a recreational amenity and resource within the City of Wheat Ridge. The Plan will also propose the creation of a Greenbelt Master Plan that will be more specific regarding possibilities for increased water recreation in Clear Creek, including access, safety, and supporting amenities Comment: . One commission member felt that the property currently being identified as Miller Trailhead should not be a trailhead due to its location next to the former waste water treatment facility and that it should not be a recommendation within the plan Response The Plan currently acknowledges that Miller Trailhead is a vital and fundamental resource along the Clear Creek Trail The Plan also recognizes the strategic importance of acquiring the wastewater treatment facility as a critical step in further developing this trailhead as per the desires of the community for more access to the Greenbelt. EDAW \i::(,)'\', EDAW Inc 240 East Mountain Avenue, Fort Collins. CO 80524 T 970 484 6073 F 970.484.8518 www.edaw.com Public Art Comment: . One commission member felt that there should be mention of the importance of public art in Wheat Ridge and mention of the existing public art ordinance, Response The Plan will recognize the importance of public art within Wheat Ridge and suggest that appropriate locations for public art within the parks be identified Community Development Comment: . One commission member felt that it was important to mention the importance of including visual green space, urban plazas, and pocket parks as part of future community redevelopment projects Response. The Plan currently recognizes the importance of integrating future park projects with current community development planning efforts, including sub-area plans. The Plan will further elaborate on the need for inclusion of visual green space, urban plazas, and pocket parks as part of the Wheat Ridge community planning and development process Comment: . One commission member expressed concern about the safety of crossing 44th Ave to access Prospect Park and feels that crossing enhancements are needed. It was suggested by another member that street crossings in Wheat Ridge should be made on pedestrian needs as well as traffic issues Response. The Plan currently identifies the need for crossing enhancements along 44th Ave to access Prospect Park. The Plan will further elaborate on the need for Community Development and Public Works to consider pedestrian needs in addition to vehicular needs when planning for street crossings, Park and Recreation Operations Comment: . One commission member felt that there should be mention of the sledding hill at Everitt Middle School as a public recreation amenity within the city Response. The Plan has not addressed or provided for sledding opportunities within Wheat Ridge due to liability issues. Comment: . There was a question by one member regarding the effectiveness of the weed management plan in the city that was addressed by Joyce Manwaring, Response. This issue is beyond the scope of study for this Parks and Recreation Master Plan EDAW \tt.lJ q EDAW Inc 240 East Mountain Avenue, Fort Collins. CO 80524 T 970.484 6073 F 970.484.8518 www.edaw.com Comment: . There was concern by one member about the total cost of all projects listed in the plan. This member then asked about the total revenue for the Parks and Recreation Department that was answered by Joyce Manwaring. Response The Plan recognizes that all proposed projects can not be funded with the current Parks and Recreation budget and suggests that alternative funding will be necessary The Plan also suggests that projects could be prioritized and phased in as funding becomes available CITY OF WHEAT RIDGE PARKS AND RECREATION MASTER PLAN DRAFT 5 OCTOBER 2006 EDAW' , y. DRAFT City of Wheat Ridge Parks and Recreation Master Plan TABLE OF CONTENTS Executive Summary Chapter One - Introduction A. Purpose of the Plan B Planning Process and Document Organization C. City of Wheat Ridge History and Government Structure History. ............ Government Parks History o Relationship to Other Plans 1991 City of Wheat Ridge Parks and Recreation Master Plan. 2002 City of Wheat Ridge Open Space Management Plan . .... 2003 City of Wheat Ridge Open Space Wildfire Management Plan 2003 City of Wheat Ridge Weed Management Plan 2000 City of Wheat Ridge Comprehensive Plan ........ 2005 and 2006 Comprehensive Plan Addendums 2005 Repositioning Wheat Ridge Report 2006 Wheat Ridge Strategic Plan ............ Wheat Ridge Pedestrian and Bicycle Master Plan Wheat Ridge Sub-Area Plans E, Vision, Mission, Goals and Objectives Strategic Plan Vision 2020 Parks and Recreation Department Mission Statement Goals and Objectives. 1-1 1-5 1-6 1-6 1-6 1-7 1-8 1-8 1-8 1-9 1-9 1-9 1-10 1-10 1-10 1-10 1-11 1-11 1-11 1-11 1-12 Chapter Two - Existing Park and Recreation Resources, Standards and Level of Service A. Parks and Open Space Inventory Neighborhood Parks . Pocket Parks Neighborhood Park Standards Neighborhood Park Level of Service Community Parks Community Sports Complexes .. Community Park Level of Service Special Purpose Parks Open Space .......... . Open Space Properties Visual Green Spaces Open Tree Canopy Undeveloped Parkland Parks Outside of Wheat Ridge Other Park and Recreation Resources 2-1 2-9 2-12 2-14 2-16 2-20 2-22 2-24 2-27 2-28 2-30 2-31 2-32 2-32 2-33 2-33 City of Wheat Ridge Parks and Recreation Master Plan DRAFT B Existing School District Recreation Facilities, Kullerstrand Elementary School Martensen Elementary School..... ...... . ....... . Pennington Elementary School Prospect Valley Elementary School Wheat Ridge Middle School . Stevens Elementary School Wilmore Davis Elementary School C Trails .. ...... Regional Trails.. Local Trails 2-34 2-35 2-35 2-35 2-36 2-36 2-36 2-37 2-37 2-37 2-38 Chapter Three - Issues and Needs Analysis A. Population and Demographic Characteristics B Development Patterns . C Peer Community Comparisons D National Recreation Participation Trends E State of Colorado Recreation Trends and Issues.. ..... F City of Wheat Ridge Community Survey . Methodology Study Goals and Objectives Key Findings .. Conclusions . . . Responses by Question. G, Recreational Program Participation and Needs . Athletic/Sport Recreation Program Activity Non-Athletic/Sport Recreation Program Activity, H Existing and Future Recreation Facilities Needs I Existing and Future Parklands Needs. .. J Trail Needs 3-2 3-3 3-3 3-6 3-7 3-9 3-9 3-9 3-9 3-11 3-15 3-31 3-32 3-36 3-38 3-40 3-41 Chapter Four - Recommendations of the Master Plan A. Integration with Community-Wide Planning B Role of the Greenbelt in the Community C Park Projects Developing Existing Park Sites New Parkland and/or Amenities.... Major Park/Facility Redesign Facility Additions or Enhancements Joint Use School-Park Upgrades 4-1 4-2 4-3 4-3 4-8 4-9 4-13 4-16 DRAFT City of Wheat Ridge Parks and Recreation Master Plan D Trail Projects. .. , .. ... .. . . Clear Creek Trail Improvements .... Lena Gulch Trail Rocky Mountain Ditch Trail.. .. .. 4-18 4-18 4-20 4-20 Chapter Five - Implementation A, Project Prioritization Considerations . ........ B Estimated Costs for Parks, Recreation Facilities, and Trails C Implementation Actions. Management/Planning Actions Administrative and Management Actions Upgrades and Maintenance Actions Funding Actions. D Potential Funding Sources for Park and Recreation Projects Sales/Property Tax Increase .... Establishment of a Parks District Establishment of a Special Improvement District Sale of City-Owned Land, Hotel/Motel Tax. . ....... Subdivision Ordinance Requirements and Development Impact Fees Parks Fee Open Space Funds Conservation Trust Fund Great Outdoors Colorado (GOCO) Grant Program State Trails Program Safe, Accountable, Flexible and Efficient Transportation Equity Act: A Legacy For Users (SAFE-TEA-LU) State Historical Funds 5-1 5-4 5-9 5-9 5-10 5-10 5-10 5-10 5-11 5-11 5-12 5-12 5-12 5-12 5-13 5-14 5-14 5-14 5-14 5-15 5-15 List of Tables Table 2,1 Park and Open Space Inventory Summary Table 2.2 Detailed Parks and Open Space Inventory Table 2 3 Neighborhood Park Standards , Table 2.4 Existing Neighborhood Park Level of Service Table 2.5 Community Park Standards, Table 2.6 Existing Community Park Level of Service Table 2.7 Open Space Standards Table 2.8 Visual Green Spaces Table 3 1 Wheat Ridge Age Distribution Table 3,2 Summary of Community Comparisons Table 3 3 Total National Participation by Activity - All Ages Table 3 4 Total National "Frequent" Youth Participants Table 3.5 Participation by Type of Outdoor Activity Among Colorado Residents Table 3 6 Name/Location of Nearest Park Table 3 7 Frequency of Wheat Ridge Park Usage Table 3 8 Quality of Wheat Ridge Parks Table 3 9 Reasons for Wheat Ridge Park Ratings Table 3 10 Favorite Wheat Ridge Park 2-2 2-5 2-15 2-16 2-23 2-24 2-29 2-31 3-2 3-4 3-6 3-7 3-7 3-15 3-15 3-16 3-17 3-18 City of Wheat Ridge Parks and Recreation Master Plan Table 311 Table312 Table313 Table 3 14 Table 315 Table 316 Table 5 1 Table 5.2 Table 5.3 Reasons the Wheat Ridge Park is a Favorite ..... Reasons the Park Outside of Wheat Ridge is a Favorite ... .. Bicycling Activities .. ..... .......... Family Participation in Activities ........ ... ..... Summary of Athletic/Sport Recreation Program Activity Recreational Facility Needs Typical Park Project Item Costs ... .... Proposed Project Summary and Estimated Costs Current City of Wheat Ridge Tax Rates List of Maps Map 1 Map 2 Map 3 Map4 Map5 Regional Context .. .. ... .. Existing Parks, Trails, Open Space and Recreation Resources .. Neighborhood / Pocket Park Service Areas.. . . ......... Community Park Service Areas .. Proposed Master Plan. List of Figures Figure 3 1 Community Survey Distribution Areas. Figure 3.2 Wheat Ridge Residents Annual Park Usage Figure 3.3 Wheat Ridge Residents Park Quality Ratings Figure 3 4 Favorite Wheat Ridge Park. Figure 3.5 Favorite Park Outside of Wheat Ridge Figure 3.6 Parks that Need Improvement Figure 3 7 Reason the Park Needs Improvement.. Figure 3 8 Reasons for not Using Wheat Ridge Parks . Figure 3 9 Satisfaction with Wheat Ridge Parks and Recreation Figure 3 10 Respondents Use of Public School Playgrounds Figure 3 11 Greenbelt Access .. .. .. Figure 3 12 Not Enough of These Facilities in Wheat Ridge (of those with an opinion) Figure 3 13 Resident Support for Replacement Options of Anderson Park Pool DRAFT 3-19 3-20 3-28 3-30 3-32 3-39 5-4 5-5 5-11 1-3 2-3 2-17 2-25 4-5 3-13 3-16 3-17 3-18 3-19 3-21 3-21 3-22 3-23 3-24 3-24 3-25 3-27 DRAFT City of Wheat Ridge Parks and Recreation Master Plan The City of Wheat Ridge Parks and Recreation Master Plan will become the guiding document for the future as it relates to parks, trails, and recreation within the city As Wheat Ridge continues to transition and evolve as a premier community within the greater Denver metropolitan area, so will the park and recreation needs of the city Easy and equitable access to parks and recreation facilities is a highly valued element of any community A high quality public realm, including tree-line streets, safe pedestrian and bicycle environments, high quality natural areas, places to recreate and meet neighbors, attractive parks, recreational facilities and places for community gatherings and celebrations enhances community livability and desirability In addition, the urban forest, parklands, the Greenway, and other open spaces improve environmental health by providing cleaner air and water and preserving critical urban wildlife habitat. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY Why Was the Plan Developed? Town Center Park The benefits of a great park and public space system goes well beyond its contribution to the physical environment of Wheat Ridge The public park system is available to al\ citizens, regardless of their age or economic status - it is truly one of the great benefits for all people Quality parks, recreation, and parks that celebrate local culture, heritage and values improve physical and mental health, create opportunities to develop and enhance the community, add to civic pride, and provide positive opportunities for leisure time pursuits. Parks also provide for business, tourism, art, and cultural interests and needs This Master Plan is crucial to charting a clear direction for continued investment in this valued community asset An Involved and Public Process The Wheat Ridge park and recreation master planning process, which began in January, 2006, included regular work sessions with the Technical Advisory Committee (TAC) - a group of City Staff members from the Parks and Recreation Department, Community Development Department, Public Works Department, and the plan consultants, Staff and the TAC conducted multiple interviews with frequent park user groups, including local sports clubs, cultural and civic organizations, and other interested parties Additionally, three public open houses were held to solicit general community input. A comprehensive survey was also conducted in March, 2006 to gauge communitywide perceptions and needs for the parks and recreation system within Wheat Ridge City of Wheat Ridge Parks and Recreation Master Plan DRAFT amenities; make an aesllletic coiitributlon to the neighborhood; offer educational opportunities ., nurture and preserve the natural environ.tneii~ create an Image of identity for a. City or neighbor-hood; and boost morale by providing something residents can point to with pride, Christopher B. Leinberger and Gayle Berens, Creating a Better Urban Parks and Open Space, Urban Parks and Open Space, ULI and Trust for Public Lands, 1997 The plan also includes comparison studies with peer cities in the greater Denver area, as well as an analysis of the Colorado SCORP (State Comprehensive Outdoor Recreation Plan) and national recreational trends and statistics. In addition, prior and relevant plans were incorporated into this plan, including the 1991 City of Wheat Ridge Parks and Recreation Master Plan, 2002 City of Wheat Ridge Open Space Management Plan, 2003 City of Wheat Ridge Open Space Wildfire Management Plan, 2003 City of Wheat Ridge Open Space Weed Management Plan, 2000 City of Wheat Ridge Comprehensive Plan, 2005 Repositioning Wheat Ridge Report, 2005 and 2006 Comprehensive Plan Addendums, 2006 Wheat Ridge Strategic Plan, Wheat Ridge Pedestrian and Bicycle Master Plan, and Wheat Ridge Sub-Area Plans. The Parks and Recreation Master Plan is intended to complement and build upon the guidance and principles previously defined in these plans Inventory of Parklands, Open Space, Trails, and Recreation Facilities An important component of this plan is to identify, label, and map all parklands and recreational facilities owned and managed by the city in order to update and refine previous city park inventories. The plan also identifies areas of the city in need of additional parklands, open space, trails and trail connections, and recreation facilities, based on a standard level of service and service area. Meshing with Community Redevelopment Vision The plan defines Level of Service (LOS) for parkland and recreational facilities based on population and geography Ideally, each citizen should be within one-half mile of a neighborhood park and within one or two miles of a community park, Neighborhood parks are the backbone of the community, providing public outdoor recreational opportunities within neighborhoods, while community parks are invaluable citywide resources. An important component of this plan is the identifi- cation of potential residential growth and development areas, and areas of the city that will experience redevelopment in the future. Ensuring that both existing and new residents have adequate parklands to serve them in the future is of paramount importance likewise, it is important to the overall vision of the city to help identify the critical role parks and recreation will play in the future of the community. As such, it is imperative that this plan be coordinated with other community planning efforts, including Wheat Ridge 2020, and Wheat Ridge Sub-Area Plans This plan further defines the need for pedestrian and bike access, parks, and amenities important to achieving desirable results from parks and the overall city vision Community Needs The extensive study, public involvement, and inventory process identified several needs, Some of those needs include . the continued development of parkland to meet standard levels of service, . the need for upgrading certain facilities and amenities in various parks . the need for new trails and trail connections, DRAFT City of Wheat Ridge Parks and Recreation Master Plan . the need for an upgraded aquatic facility; and . the need for a park capable of handling large community events and performances Recommendations of the Plan Recommendations of the plan were formulated to address specific needs that arose from the planning process. Recommendations are located in Chapter Four of the document. Project priorities, as identified by the Parks and Recreation Master Plan Technical Advisory Committee and the Wheat Ridge Parks and Recreation Commission, are located in Chapter Five Recommendations take shape in the following six essential forms. . Development of existing park sites . New parkland and amenities . Major park redesigns . Facility additions and enhancements . Joint school-park upgrades . Trail enhancement projects Anderson Park This plan recommends that in the near term, the city select a few small projects that can be easily implemented across the community, while funding the planning and design of larger-scale projects. Smaller projects may include upgrades to playground equipment, shelter additions, and signage replacements. This may also include completion of key trail connections, closure of Johnson Park and its transformation into greenbelt acreage, and clearly marking the locations of trailheads with signage Discussions should also begin immediately with Jeff Co R-1 School District for select joint school-park upgrades While progress is being made on these projects, planning can begin on larger projects This plan recommends repairing and reconstructing Anderson Pool in a phased project, so it will be usable for another 20 to 25 years Concurrently, a master plan should be developed for Anderson Park, indicating how the functions of the Anderson Building can be transferred to the recreation center As such, the recreation center will need to be expanded to accommodate additional activities The master plan for Anderson Park should also exhibit a more functional layout for the park, as well as show how a new outdoor pool and minor aquatic facility could be located here City of Wheat Ridge Parks and Recreation Master Plan DRAFT Other major plan recommendations beyond the redevelopment of Anderson Park and Pool include · A master plan for Prospect Park and the integration of the park into the Orchard District Sub-Area Plan · Integration of the Greenbelt corridor into overall community planning efforts . Completion of the Clear Creek trail · Establishment of a new trail corridor along Lena Gulch · Upgrades of joint use school-parks to serve underserved neighborhoods · Development of new parks in underserved areas where joint use school- parks do not exist . Park amenity and facility upgrades DRAFT CHAPTER ONE - INTRODUCTION A. Purpose of the Plan The City of Wheat Ridge is an established mixed-use suburban community in the Denver metro area The city is located just west of Denver, south of Arvada, and north of lakewood To the east is unincorporated Jefferson County and beyond that, the City of Golden. Interstate-7o (1-70) runs east-west along the northern and western areas of the city, while Youngfield Street, Kipling Street, Wadsworth Boulevard, and Sheridan Street are major arterials that run north-south through the city Map 1, Regional Context, shows Wheat Ridge's location relative to neighboring communities, public lands, and significant natural features. City of Wheat Ridge Parks and Recreation Master Plan Although Wheat Ridge does not have a traditional downtown, major commercial and industrial corridors lie along Youngfield Street, Kipling Street, Wadsworth Boulevard, and 32nd, 38th, and 44th Avenues. The city's residential areas include a mix of residential housing styles that range from single family detached houses to apartments, along with established schools, parks, recreational facilities, open space and greenbelts, and a central trail system. The population within the City of Wheat Ridge is expected to gradually grow over time, primarily through in-fill and redevelopment. As the community continues to evolve, so too will the demand placed on existing parks, trails, and recreation facilities. With this in mind, the city retained EDAW Inc. to develop a parks and recreation master plan that defines the 20 to 25-year vision for the community The specific focus of the plan is to · Develop a detailed inventory of all parklands and quantify the level of service for existing and future residents · Assess the current condition of the city's parks, trails, and recreation facilities, including consideration of safety conditions and ADA issues. · Analyze and determine community needs through discussions with user groups, trends in recreational programs in parks, a community survey, and public meetings · Identify potential future redevelopment areas and changes in population to determine future parkland and facility needs, as well as opportunities for synergies between parklands and redevelopment projects · Identify existing underserved residential areas that are in need of additional parkland . Define level-of-service standards, a classification system, and general design criteria for parks Richards-Hart Estate Advocates of community gardens say they increase residents' sense of ownership and stewardship, provide a focus for neighborhood activities. expose inner-city youth to nature, connect people from diverse cullures, reduce crime by cleaning up vacant lots, and buud community leaders. Paul Sherer, The Benefits of Parks, Trust for Public Lands,2006 DRAFT City of Wheat Ridge Parks and Recreation Master Plan Map 1 (11 x 17) , Qj C'l "0 if +.I o Q) ..c 3 i I 'to- (r I 0 -, 0-'~1 'I) U1 " , -/'!' _1 " , 'J . 'I /~. ----I r-'-~>-'~-') '~~~ ,.,. j /' -r- , I J ~I ~~ ~ a Q: ~ 'I;i B ~ ~ .0 ~ 2 ~ ~I ct. ~ Cj . ~I B C1: Iii , a: ~ 'tl ~ .2:! c: " ] ~ ~ -" 'tl Iii g 5 .g ~ o~.c~= 3~~<(~ t <) I l::?: " " ~ ~ 88 5 E ~ Cl ~ ~ -ll -g '5 ~ ~ o 0 e: e: ; ~ ~ i'"" a=>=> ~ " .. X ell .. C 0 U ~ - 0 j! C ~ 0 .. .- CSt ell '" G: .. j - a. 'N 0 ~ "l 0 0 ~ 5 c: ~ ~ ~i.E~C:~ -" 0-0.- o C._ ..... Dl ..... E " 41 a:l c.t: F .... ~ :!2 ..D: ..D: 5 '5 (5 4) (j8.:l.:l::;z~~ " " ';-~ " ,,~ "" ~ Cl 'tl " ~ - ~.! ~i '" U I: .... .:C (1) II tJ .~ 01 0 l- )! Q.l ~~ ~ ~o= ~ 1 ~ e E ij ~ ~ e Q)-C2EE&o.~ 3i~~8~~tElf 'ia ~ \'?"""""" DRAFT City of Wheat Ridge Parks and Recreation Master Plan · Identify potential funding and acquisition strategies. · Develop an action plan for implementation. The emphasis of this plan focuses on how Wheat Ridge can upgrade and enhance its existing parks, trails, and recreation system to better meet the needs of current and future residents As part of this, the plan identifies opportunities for Wheat Ridge to increase its total parkland through the enlargement of existing parks, the construction of new parks where feasible, and joint-use agreements with outside partners The Parks and Recreation Master Plan should be revisited and updated periodically, ideally every five years, to ensure that it accurately reflects current and future needs, changing conditions, and to adjust priorities within the community as appro- priate B. Planning Process and Document Organization The plan was developed through a series of meetings with several groups, all of which provided insight, advice, and guidance The Technical Advisory Committee (TAC), which consisted of staff from the Parks and Recreation, Public Works, and Community Development departments, served as the primary advisory group, the group met six times during the process Five meetings were also held with the Parks and Recreation Commission and two with City Council to further provide insight and guidance Three public open houses were conducted as well to gather input from the general public, and the Wheat Ridge Planning Commission provided insight through one work session 38. Street in Wheat Ridge The planning process was structured with a series of tasks that built upon each other The tasks and chapters in which they are de- scribed are as follows Chapter One - Introduction Establish purpose of the plan and planning process. Document historical back- ground and existing relevant policy plans. Chapter Two - Existing Resources Develop classifications for various types of parks and standards for their locations, sizes, and other characteristics Conduct an inventory, and develop a detailed database and maps of existing parklands, trails, and recreational facilities Identify the service areas associated with various types of parks. City of Wheat Ridge Parks and Recreation Master Plan DRAFT AttracUve, safe and usable parks bolster their neighborhoods, but cities need a strong economic base to fix (or create) those parks in the first place. That economic base is hard to attain Wfthout middle- class taxpayers, who often will not . live somewhere that lacks decent parks. Peler Harnik, Inside City Parks, ULI and Trust for Public Lands, 2000 Chapter Three -Issues and Needs Identify issues and determine needs based on the results of the inventory; a communitywide survey; interviews with interest groups, recreation providers, and park and recreation staff; participation trends in organized and self-directed recreational activities; popUlation growth and distribution projections, and com- parisons with other communities Chapter Four - Master Plan Recommendations Develop recommendations and actions for the Parks and Recreation Master Plan, and define the standards for acreage of parkland to prOVide based on total population Identify specific park enhancement and upgrade projects, and potential locations for additional parkland, facilities, and trails. Chapter Five - Implementation Identify existing and potential tools for implementation (including regulations, funding sources and partnerships), and specific actions with identified responsi- bilities and costs. C. City of Wheat Ridge History and Government Structure History Wheat Ridge was founded as a community in 18591 During that year, a small group of farmers, some coming to Colorado in search of gold and silver, founded a rural village in this location By the late 1800s, fertile soils and plentiful water led to the development of a small farming community Up until World War II, Wheat Ridge was a major supplier of fresh produce to the greater Denver area. However, during the 1940s and 1950s as the city evolved, carnation production became a major growth industry For a time, Wheat Ridge was the largest producer of carnations throughout the world Although commercial wheat production is a thing of the past, the ridges upon which much of this agricultural activity occurred remain, providing expansive views of the Front Range Additionally, several carnation greenhouses remain in the northwest metropolitan area Each August, the city celebrates this heritage with the Carnation Festival Started in 1970, the festival draws thousands of people to this premier civic event. The city was fully incorporated in 1969 as a statutory city when it was faced with annexation by surrounding cities. As of 2005, there were approximately 32,172 people and 14,246 households, with an average household size of 2.20 people in the City of Wheat Ridge Government In 1977, residents of Wheat Ridge adopted a home rule charter In 1996, the charter was amended to provide for a council-manager structure of government. The Mayor, City Clerk, and City Treasurer are elected to four-year terms, and 1 Historical information referenced at the following weosites. htlp.//www ci wheatridge.co.us/abouUhistorical http://en.wikipedia,orgfw1kiIWheat Ridge, Colorado DRAFT City of Wheat Ridge Parks and Recreation Master Plan there are eight City Council members. The City Council, acting as the legislative body of the city, retains all typical legislative powers and functions of a municipal government. The City Council also appoints a City Manager to manage the city's daily affairs, be responsible for implementing City Council decisions, and oversee the administration of the city. Currently the city has a police force of approximately 68 officers and staff, and city fire protection is covered by several districts. The Arvada and West Metro Districts are full-time, professional districts, while the districts in Fairmont and Wheat Ridge are volunteer run The Jefferson County R-1 School District operates all public education within the city Currently there are six elementary schools, two middle schools, one high school, and one charter school in Wheat Ridge. There are also several private schools, including Foothills Academy, Colorado Catholic Academy, Saint Peter & Paul Elementary, and Beth Eden Baptist School Parks History Prior to incorporation as a city, the Wheat Ridge Recreation District was responsible for the acquisition and development of several parks in Wheat Ridge The district identified Clear Creek, which runs through the city, as a unique community resource and an ideal location for a system of parks and greenbelt trails Through time, and using the city's appropriated share of Open Space funds, Jefferson County Open Space funds, and a Great Outdoors Colorado legacy Grant, Wheat Ridge was able to acquire large tracts of land along the creek to be preserved as open space The value of open space and recreational opportunities has continued to be a priority for the city With the incorporation of the city in 1969, several recreation facilities (once owned and operated by the Prospect Recreation District) were also acquired by the city The Prospect Recreation District continues to serve nearby residents in unincorporated Jefferson County Wheat Ridge was the first city in Colorado to be awarded the "Tree City USA" designation based on extensive tree planting performed by the city in the late 1970s, as well as the development of a tree ordinance and an arborist board In 1982, the city was also designated a "Green Survival City" by the American Association of Nurserymen for its achievements in city arbor management. Richards-Hart Estate In November 1998, the city began construction of a 71,000-square foot recreation center, which opened in early 2000 Today, Wheat Ridge occupies approximately 10 square miles of area, with approxi- mately 140 acres of developed parklands and an additional 250 acres of open space Wheat Ridge is also currently home to three National Historical Sites Ye Old Fire House City of Wheat Ridge Parks and Recreation Master Plan DRAFT and one Colorado State Historical Site. The Wheat Ridge Historical Society, in cooperation with the Colorado Historical Society and the City of Wheat Ridge, is in the process of restoring one of the first log cabins still on the same site This building, known as the Baugh House, is anticipated to have restoration completed before 2008 The Colorado Parks and Recreation Association (CPRA) also makes its home in the historic Richards-Hart Estate, owned by the City of Wheat Ridge and operated by the Wheat Ridge Parks and Recreation Department. D. Relationship to Other Plans The Wheat Ridge City Council has adopted several guiding documents over the years that include principles and recommendations for the provision of parks and recreation This Parks and Recreation Master Plan will serve as the guiding document for providing parks and recreation facilities within the City of Wheat Ridge It builds upon previously adopted plans, and in the case of potentially conflicting information, supersedes the information in the previous documents regarding parks-related topics Recent relevant plans include 1991 City of Wheat Ridge Parks and Recreation Master Plan The goal of this plan was to provide a short and long-term Parks and Recreation Master Plan for the City of Wheat Ridge The plan addressed immediate needs, as well as future needs in response to the desire for additional types of services and facilities and a potential increase in population The plan documented existing park and recreation resources at the time, described the demographics of Wheat Ridge, identified park and recreation needs, provided recommendations, and offered an implementation strategy Updated and revised amendments were added to this plan in 1999 and are included in it as an appendix. 2002 City of Wheat Ridge Open Space Management Plan The purpose of the City of Wheat Ridge Open Space Management Plan is to establish a framework for setting priorities and provide specific management direction for natural, scenic and recreational resources within the Wheat Ridge Greenbelt, Lewis Meadows, and future open space acquisitions Implementation of the plan is intended to assist the Wheat Ridge Parks and Recreation Department in its efforts to preserve and enhance these areas for present and future generations. This plan was meant to be a working document, which should change and evolve with the Wheat Ridge Greenbelt, Lewis Meadows, and future open space areas over time Broad goals are outlined in the plan that provides the philosophical basis upon which it is based These goals are further defined, with specific objectives and recommended actions that formalize existing ad hoc management practices within Wheat Ridge's open space areas, and suggest substantive changes in long-term direction that will require more specific site plans and design work to implement. It addresses a full host of issues, including vegetation, riparian areas, water resources, wildlife, threatened and endangered species, wildlife, visitor use, resource management zones, management and maintenance, and rules and regulations DRAFT City of Wheat Ridge Parks and Recreation Master Plan 2003 City of Wheat Ridge Open Space Wildfire Management Plan The City of Wheat Ridge Open Space Wildfire Management Plan provides a framework for integrating fire management with other resource management activities, as outlined in the City of Wheat Ridge Open Space Management Plan. Implementation of the Wildfire Management Plan is intended to assist the Parks and Recreation Department in its effort to work with adjacent landowners, land managers, and local fire control agencies to reduce the potential impacts of wildfire on human life, private property, and the natural resources of Wheat Ridge's open space. It is composed of a background and general description of Wheat Ridge open space, describes the ecological role of fire, and provides specific steps for wildfire management, including prevention, suppression, and mitigation. 2003 City of Wheat Ridge Weed Management Plan The Weed Management Plan provides a framework for integrating weed management with other resource management activities, as outlined in the City of Wheat Ridge Open Space Management Plan. Through the Weed Management Plan, priorities have been set for the control or elimination of weeds that have already established in open space, according to their actual and potential impacts on native species and communities It is intended that the Parks and Recreation Department will act to prevent new infestations, and will assign highest priority to existing infestations that are the fastest growing, most disruptive, and affect the most highly valued areas within the open space It is composed of an introduction, management areas descriptions, a noxious weed inventory, priorities for weed management, and restoration principles. 2000 City of Wheat Ridge Comprehensive Plan In October 1999, City Council adopted the Wheat Ridge Comprehensive Plan The plan is intended to be used by the City Council, Planning Commission, city staff and various boards and commissions to determine annual work programs and budgets. It is also intended to be used as a decision-making guide for issues regarding community character, infrastructure improvements, land use, and environmental quality. The plan outlines specific community goals for the city to strive for It contains five key components, including: Future Land Use, Community Character; Community Amenities and Services; Transportation, Sustainable Economic Development and Environs, and Regional Cooperation. The Community Amenities and Services section addresses parks and recreation, and provides clear direction that more land be acquired for both recreational purposes and open space preservation, with special attention given to the equitable distribution of parks and open space throughout the city This section also describes in detail eight goals specifically related to parks and recreation City of Wheat Ridge Parks and Recreation Master Plan DRAFT 2005 and 2006 Comprehensive Plan Addendums In 2005, City Council adopted the Comprehensive Plan Addendums. The action taken by Council was part of the annual adoption of the Comprehensive Plan for areas outside Wheat Ridge City limits, as required by CRS 31-12-105(e)(I) The plans contain a general discussion of areas of potential annexation, but do not illustrate the areas on any maps or recommend any future uses in these general areas. The addendums provide specific policies for parks and recreation in relation to those areas outside the city limits. The addendums also provide specific policies and design criteria for trails. 2005 Repositioning Wheat Ridge Report In 2005, the City of Wheat Ridge worked to develop a plan to reposition Wheat Ridge The purpose of this plan was to identify and leverage important community assets, such as relatively low cost housing in the Metro Denver region, infill development opportunities, a strong sense of community, and access and location, and most importantly, a uniquely rich tradition of small-town life with rural accents just at the edge of Denver. The plan that was developed also recommended the creation of non-profit corporation, with the capability to facilitate and encourage appropriate development in Wheat Ridge The non-profit corporation that was developed is Wheat Ridge 2020 Repositioning Wheat Ridge mapped out the work that WR2020 would need to undertake as the primary vehicle in Wheat Ridge responsible for encouraging appropriate development necessary to retain and attract strong Jefferson County and Denver Metro area households. The plan also focuses on taking advantage of Wheat Ridge's current assets, and building on them to create a community that will be attractive to the strong households that will fill an important niche in the community 2006 Wheat Ridge Strategic Plan Each year the Wheat Ridge City Council updates the City's Strategic Plan, which outlines a strategic planning model for the future of the city This plan has five basic components that encompass the city's overall vision through the year 2020; an immediate five-year plan, the city's mission; the city's core beliefs; and an action agenda for the current year Parks, recreation, open space, and trails are addressed under each component through various specific principles and objectives. For example, a high priority item in the Action Agenda for the year 2006 is the completion of a Parks and Recreation Master Plan. Wheat Ridge Pedestrian and Bicycle Master Plan The City of Wheat Ridge has completed an inventory of all existing pedestrian and bicycle routes within the city After this process is completed, a community-scale pedestrian and bicycle master plan will be developed, indicating potential future locations for both off-street and on-street pedestrian and bicycle trails, lanes, and routes The Parks and Recreation Master Plan will coordinate with this plan to the extent practicable that it is complete DRAFT City of Wheat Ridge Parks and Recreation Master Plan Wheat Ridge Sub-Area Plans The City of Wheat Ridge has developed or is currently in the process of developing sub-area plans for several distinct areas of the city - the Northwest Area, the Wadsworth Corridor, the Orchard District, and the Wheat Ridge Business District. The Northwest Sub-Area Plan was completed in June 2006 The Wadsworth Corridor Plan and the Wheat Ridge Business District Plan are currently under development, and the Orchard District Plan will begin development in the fall of 2006 The Parks and Recreation Master Plan will coordinate with each of these plans accordingly, and each separate plan should independently address parks and recreation as an integral component of the sub-area planning process. E. Vision, Mission, Goals and Objectives As part of the process of providing insight, advice, and guidance in drafting the Wheat Ridge Parks and Recreation Master Plan, the Technical Advisory Committee (TAC) and the Parks Commission developed specific goals and objectives they felt should most appropriately guide future development of parks and recreation within the City These goals and objectives support the City's vision statement as defined in the 2006 Strategic Plan as well as the existing Parks and Recreation Mission Statement. The vision defines the desired end state of the community The mission defines the Parks and Recreation Department's role in achieving that vision. Goals and objectives provide specific direction to the community and its governing body in support of the vision, and provide the policy basics from which decisions can be made. Through these goals and objectives, the City is truly making a statement about its commitment to parks, recreation, and trails in the community Strategic Plan Vision 2020 Wheat Ridge is a family oriented residential community with a range of quality homes, mixed use urban villages and quality retail serving our residents as unique regional destinations Our residents have great access to Denver and the moun- tains, enjoy an active lifestyle, share small-town values and take pride in our community Parks and Recreation Department Mission Statement Embracing the community through exceptional programs and facilities that enhance opportunities for personal growth, well being, and healthy lifestyles, The future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams. Eleanor Roosevelt City of Wheat Ridge Parks and Recreation Master Plan DRAFT Goals and Objectives Goal 1. Provide a wide range of recreation, leisure, athletic, and cultural opportunities for all residents of Wheat Ridge. . Objectives: . Promote a balanced system of different sized parks, developed properties and natural conservation lands, specialized recreational, cultural and arts facilities, and varied recreational programming. . Design parks to provide for a variety of experiences that appeal to a broad range of interests, abilities, and ages. . Provide 2 5 acres of Neighborhood parklands and 4.0 acres of Community parklands for every 1,000 residents. . Develop new facilities/services as well as upgrade existing facilities . Accommodate various types of users on the trail system. . Ensure that future demands are met through redevelopment and the development of new facilities and services . Provide accessible facilities and rehabilitate existing facilities to meet the requirements of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). . Keep abreast of current trends and changing demands for recreational activities by periodically conducting a community-wide survey and updating the Master Plan Goal 2. Leverage the assets provided by parks, recreational facilities, open space, trails, and other leisure amenities to promote reinvestment in and redevelopment of strategic areas of the city. Objectives . Integrate with City of Wheat Ridge sub-area plans, Neighborhood Revital- ization Strategy, Strategic Plan, and other overall city planning efforts . The Wheat Ridge Greenbelt will serve as an amenity that encourages complimentary private redevelopment and development. Future develop- ment adjacent to, or near, the Greenbelt or other natural and conservation areas will be complimentary to, and shall not compromise the natural values, integrity, character and recreation experience of the area. . Wheat Ridge Park and Recreation assets will help to provide the City with notable gateways into the community . The ongoing maintenance of traffic islands in Wheat Ridge will provide the city with traffic calming and street beautification amenities DRAFT City of Wheat Ridge Parks and Recreation Master Plan Goal 3. Equitably distribute and conveniently locate parks, recreational facilities and trails throughout Wheat Ridge. Objectives. . Locate neighborhood parks within 1/2 mile of the neighbors they are intended to serve and in locations that are comfortably and safely accessible by pedestrians and bicyclists. . Develop additional lands, including joint school-park facilities, as adequately sized Neighborhood Parks in existing underserved neighborhoods. Where additional land is not feasible, provide safe and convenient pedestrian and bicyclist access to the nearest neighborhood park through construction of sidewalks, improved crossings of roadways and grade separated crossings of barriers if feasible . Locate parks conveniently to neighborhoods and in areas with good pedes- trian or trail access . Locate Pocket Parks where larger parks or adequately-sized undeveloped land is not available . Retain community parks, generally within 1-2 miles of residential areas and on sites that are accessible by trails, bike lanes and major roadways. . Centrally locate recreation/community centers and other facilities that are heavily used by youth, adults, and seniors on sites with visual and vehicular access from major roadways, with public transit access and with direct trail connections . Locate multi-purpose practice fields for youth sports in neighborhood parks as well as community parks. Size neighborhood parks adequately to allow for such uses. Goal 4. Provide safe, enjoyable and comprehensive bicycle and pedestrian connections throughout Wheat Ridge. Objectives . Provide a multi-purpose community-wide core trail system that connects major destinations (e g , Regional and Community Parks, large conservation lands, recreation centers, shopping districts, employment districts, major event centers, etc.) and provides opportunities for trail loops with areas of interest along the route . Connect Neighborhood Parks and neighborhood schools to a community- wide trail system with or neighborhood connector trails (where feasible and appropriate in the context of the neighborhood design), and on-street bike lanes and routes . Identify future trail corridors along drainages, irrigation canals and publicly owned property and easements City of Wheat Ridge Parks and Recreation Master Plan DRAFT · Locate trails to provide pleasant and safe user experiences · Provide both paved and non-paved trails to accommodate a variety of users · Provide pedestrian and bicycle access throughout neighborhoods to facilitate safe, enjoyable routes between homes and parks and recreational amenities. GoalS. Develop and maintain parks, trails, recreational facilities and open space at a high level of quality that is appropriate for the location, the type of use and nature of the facility. Objectives · Incorporate historic and cultural resources and art into park designs to celebrate the unique aspects of the community of Wheat Ridge and provide distinctiveness between parks. · Establish maintenance and design standards, and management plans for the various types of parks and other properties the City maintains. · Annually assess needed maintenance and renovation projects system-wide, including bringing existing facilities up to ADA standards. · Manage fields to prevent overuse and irreparable damage to playing surfaces · Select durable materials that are sustainable, resource efficient and non- toxic for construction of new facilities. · Identify key areas with high quality native vegetation, wetlands or wildlife habitats and manage to reduce invasive, non-native species · Periodically assess satisfaction levels of residents · Adequately staff and fund maintenance and operations to increase the level of maintenance to acceptable standards, and adjust staffing levels to keep pace with the addition of properties to the system Goal 6. Develop and maintain parks, trails and recreational facilities in an environmentally sensitive manner. Objectives · Place greater emphasis on the use of non-irrigated landscapes, native species and low water-requiring plant materials . Preserve areas of high quality natural vegetation · Avoid environmentally sensitive areas in locating trails and other developed facilities DRAFT City of Wheat Ridge Parks and Recreation Master Plan · Protect water quality through implementation of "Best Management Practices" in the design of storm water conveyance and detention facilities · Use permeable pavements, recycled materials, locally manufactured products, locally available materials and low energy requiring facilities and technologies to the greatest extent practicable. · Provide City residents with information on the benefits of sustainable landscapes through demonstration gardens, backyard wildlife programs and interpretive signage · Implement area-specific resource management plans for open spaces that define the appropriate level of public use and ecosystem management strategies. · Seasonally close areas and trails as warranted to protect sensitive resources · Provide for integrated pest management where/when necessary Goal 7. Develop adequate land acquisition, development, operations and maintenance funding sources and tools to realize the Master Plan vision. Objectives · Ensure that new residential development contributes its fair share for parks and recreational facilities to the extent allowed by state law · Seek public-private partnerShips where mutually beneficial and appropriate · Aggressively seek grants from available sources · Coordinate with other agencies and seek partnerships with these agencies to leverage available funding. · Support funding for additional park and recreation staff positions as the open lands, recreation, parks and trails system grows, · Periodically update park design standards in subdivision, zoning and other land-use and development regulations to incorporate the Parks and Rec- reation Master Plan recommendations. · Use residential special improvement districts or other special districts for park acquisition, development and/or maintenance where others means do not exist. · Clearly define developer responsibilities. · Coordinate with public works on streetscape improvements (traffic calming islands, etc ) City of Wheat Ridge Parks and Recreation Master Plan DRAFT Goal 8. Monitor, assess and adjust the existing intergovernmental and joint- use agreements, tools, goals, policies, action plan and priorities to meet changing or unforeseen conditions and/or needs in Wheat Ridge. Objectives. · Monitor and evaluate the effectiveness of past and current tools for providing parks, recreation programs, trails, conservation lands and recreational facilities · Review and, if needed, update the Parks and Recreation Master Plan for Wheat Ridge every 5 years in concert with the City Council Strategic Plan, and updates to transportation plans, comprehensive plans, sub-area plans and state statutes, to reflect changing needs and opportunities, . Monitor annual progress towards achieving the goals. DRAFT City of Wheal Ridge Parks and Recreation Master Plan CHAPTER TWO - EXISTING PARK AND RECREATION RESOURCES, STANDARDS AND LEVEL OF SERVICE This chapter documents the parks, open space, trails, and recreational facilities currently owned by the City of Wheat Ridge and maintained by the City of Wheat Ridge Parks and Recreation Department. It also includes information on facilities not owned by the city, but used regularly for recreational programming by the recreation department. Definitions of each park type are included, as well as standards for the desired level of service (acres per 1,000 population) and types of facilities that should be included within the parks Neighborhoods in Wheat Ridge that are served by local parks are identified, as well as the amount of parkland available to them During this process, areas were identified that currently do not have adequate access to parks, The inventory of parkland and open space is followed by a brief description of the school district resources, special recreational facilities and existing trails in the community A. Parks and Open Space Inventory The City of Wheat Ridge has several types of existing parklands and open space The classifications and a brief description of each are listed below Detailed definitions follow this section Neighborhood Parks . Neighborhood Parks - neighborhood-scale parks that are intended to serve residents in the neighborhoods surrounding the park. . Pocket Parks - smaller versions of neighborhood parks with fewer amenities, serving a smaller radius of homes Community Parks . Community Parks - larger multi-purpose parks that serve the entire community . Sports Complexes - parks dedicated to specialized sports that serve the entire community, often associated with community parks Other Parks . Special Purpose Parks - parks that serve a singular or focused community need. such as an environmental education center or historical park. . Undeveloped Parkland - land that is owned by the city and reserved for future park development. Stites Park Parks are a key element in rebuilding neighborhoods. You have to have good schools, good Ilbraries and good parks, They all work together. Richard Daley, Mayor of Chicago City of Wheat Ridge Parks and Recreation Master Plan DRAFT Open Space . Natural Areas -lands that place emphasis on protection of natural values. . Regional Open Space - lands that protect large areas with natural resource values of communitywide significance, and provide opportunities for nature- oriented outdoor recreation. . Visual Green Space - lands that are strategically-located visual amenities or buffers not associated with drainageways. Parks are classified based on their existing amenities, location within the community, size, and proximity to residential areas. Each classification of parkland is accompanied by standards that describe their characteristics and desired level of service These classifications and standards provide guidance in the development of a parkland system that offers consistent service to city residents Map 2 shows the locations of various parklands, open space, recreational facilities, and trails within the City of Wheat Ridge Table 2.1 is a summary of the types of parks and open space, while Table 2.2 is a detailed inventory of those lands and the facilities and amenities they contain Table 2.1. Park and Open Space Inventory Summary Classification Total Acres Developed Park Sites Pocket Park 8.00 7 Neiahborhood Park 49.20 7 Communitv Park 66.00 2 Sports Complexes 1600 1 Special Purpose Parks 475 3 Natural Areas 9.00 1 Reqional Open Space 250.00 1 Visual Green Space 0.87 17 Undeveloped Parkland 14.50 0 Recreation Center Properties 12.00 3 Total Parkland 430.32 42 Within the City of Wheat Ridge, there are a total of 42 sites that are parks, open space, recreation centers, or areas of visual green space totaling approximately 430 acres Of this, 7 sites are neighborhood parks (49.20 acres) and 7 sites are pocket parks (80 acres) Two park sites in the city are community parks (660 acres). These two community parks also serve as neighborhood parks for residents living nearby, which is generally considered within a 05-mile radius There is also 1 dedicated sports complex in the city (16 0 acres), 1 natural area (90 acres), 1 open space area (250 0 acres), and 17 areas of visual green space (0 87 acre). , r ,. I, I -\" issl'f~ . . iiI ' 1 !Qi ,.~.~~ . i .,;-1 '0 t " CU d'~ ~ I \i.." fr 0 7 ~ ~ u..... '" 'l '\' ~ ~ ) , q ~-~ 11 ~. 'SJ. '''1 , . ~ i ~j1' \ , C '" GI GI o,~ o :s .. 0 '" '" - GI ~ . .5 a: ~~ .. C ,~O --:.2 '" .. .a: a .. GI a .. a. ~ ~a: .5 -a 1:: C .- 0 X GI III" .. a N 0, 0,,,, a ~ c ,!!! ~ ti I i ;Q I: ~ {J 5 o ~ '" ~d ~ ~ ~ :<> 15 'ii ct :0:; 15 ti 5i -e (l) ~ Q) ~ & ~ , . 'l! & ." !J '8 '" .x ~8 o 'S ~ '" .~ ~ '" " '" , i1 ~ a S! Q: c: - 1< 0 :S: - as ~ ~i~~ ~!.. , .i!l " <:l e"g of: c: ..9 & ~ 'l! ~ )( E 8- 'l1 0 .!!! 0 " ~ ~ e. <Ll Q. ~ (l i' 1! '" ~ ~ ~ l} Ci :::i - Q. G '- - ~ oQ E 15 '" . <; ~ -~~E~~a~~ "0'".0,,-<>,,-,"" ; Cl. <: '-' '" 0 '" Cl: ::> Do '~I , I padO\8l\apun -l< .Sl.S'lIl'ld......, pUOdJa~e\ I -l< -l< seo'ls......oH -l' -l< -l< -l' ao~aq.l'E~a -l< -l' -l< -l< -l' -l' .., "6 UO\$S~u~ \.. ~ l.,.' "'.... ~ \: SW1~o-UeS/sUJOO~ lsa'd -l< -l' -l' -l' -l< -l< <l- lU8UlUO.!^U3 \lUn181'l -l< -l< -l' -l' \000 ,lOOPlOO .slU<y.) i.l\un....UJO:l J,a\ua~ uO\le&J~~ sllS \1l<>I'OlS!W....nssnl'l 6U\"'S\~ -l< 18\\8"S ~\u~\dIUO\l\,.eo -l' -l' -l' -l' -l< -l< -l< -l' -l' -l< -l<-l< -l' -l' -l' -l< -l< S3\q,el ~\u~\d -l' -l< -l< l'uno.lll.!..\d -l' -l' -l' -l' -l<-l< -l' -l' -l' -l' -l< -l' n'C:Jl p8^ed.ll\.led a)l,~9 -l' -l< -l< -l' .., ~ '" \1(\<Y.) S\UU8 ~ '" ~ \\'iH:n8'J\~j'e9 ~ ~ P\S!~ U.qlO"& ~ aSSOJ:>'i!1/P\8\:\ J.<):l-:)oS '" '" ~ '" ~ u.qllOS 'u.qsse9 '" ~ '" ~ ~ ~ u\e\uno:\. 6u\'i\U~J.O ~ ~ g '" 0 ~ g 0 0 0 ~ g~ 0 0 g g 0 0 '" 0 '" 0 " 0 ~ .q;; N 0 0 0 ~ .. N 0 ~ ~ N 0 1 ~ s- ui .., '" '" .., ... -- ~ " . . . > '" ~ ro o.~ m~ . c . . > 0 ~o ~~ r 0 (.So 0.0 ~" ~~ ~'g o c ~ " ro-:; 00. > 0 ~ ~, 'ci ~ 'Ii't u ~ ~~ o~ 4. " " ro ffi~ - "- o " ~ EO ~ C " 0 o 0 0- ",. o ",' -'" ro_ o." 0'" - " ~ " 30. 0." -00 u 0 ~ ~ 00 ~~ o.-Q! . ~~ lil"S ~";;. _ ro ~ c "'C.Q ,,- ~~ %-~ , . o 0 ..." ~ ~s t\ 0.3 ~~ ~] ~~ 'i- ~ '-' '0 316 ~l '.0 <:po 0. co...... .s 0 ~ ~ ~l[' ~s to <3 <II <1\ .0 ~ C <l.I Z ~ 0 U <II rIl 6~ 'Q) ~ ~ 0- g~ ~% ~~ ~~ -; g ~ v) 1\2 gs ~iO O-~~ :9-D .:o.::(~ $- t ~~.g (I.' c ,-"'0 <II ~~ 2~'& ~~:t~o.;'i6 ~~t~.~i=> ~'-2 c.~-o ~ .g~5~SIl) ~'6~~0l~ ~ '6 ro ~ -t:- & g,~ (\) ~ ~ ~~~';'~S %~~~~1> .c..cll)'Q)ro= ill~~~~~ '!!. a-% ~ 'gO ;i8';1A~ c ~ '!' 2. ro 'f .q ~~~~~ ~E~~-;~ ~ 0. 'O,'':=-1: ~ 1%~~ro~ ro 0 \)...... 0-'" :o~~1!G~ ~~~~s,~ o C" 0. al 0 gg~'6Io~ - ~ . ~ ~~ ~ ~; ~ E ~ E 0. III ~8~2z~ 4. ~ ~ :' " c ~ 'b ~ ." c \:\ o o o '" C o c o o 0, ;; 0. '" ~ ~ ~ 'i,\ ro 0. f> " ~ ~ '" o " c ;; " ll:I '? " ~ c '" ~ c "' '" "" . 0. o C " - ." . . c:~ ~~ _0 ro - '> " *:s . '" 0." TI C ~ ro E~ c u o '" " 0 c " 8 ~ 00. 0" o c ",ro ~ ';i; ~~ is ro a,a; ~. ~~ 0-" ~ 0 " 0 o '" o . o ~ ~ " f~ c . $~ ." N C .... ro "5 ~ ~% ro'" . u ~ ro ."' '09 Co ~ . ~ mt ~ ~ "4. ~~ .",,, %~ 0. 0 !II ~ 1- "I. I. , i c ro c 2 c " E ~ " ~ 0. " " " ~ " ~ 0. ro E " ~ c ro c o ~ . . o c: . " . 'i. ~ .... TI 'E, 'd ~~ co. ~E "'0 ~~ 0. 0 38 o ro ~ ~ . . . 0. o.~ 0...':2 ro ~ ~2 - " ~ . 9. ~ . . ~'& " C 20' ,,0 . ro tco> o . ~ > ,~ -c91 .~ ~~ ~8 '0 ~ ~o:r. %2 ~~ ~~ '" ~ 'fuiii 0.- ~& c ." . ",,, . . . - ~ '" ",0. ~ 0 . ~ .~ 0% g'~ ~% ~ e. ",- c ~ . ~ .a: 0" c t ~~ .g. .... ' s o o . ~ c o C N o ' :0 ro ~~ go 0" 'gB ",0 , ;I: ~ c ~~ %'1\ "f9. ro ~ .ro ~ . %~ o c ~% ~ . ~~ !?~ ~\ 0. ~ ~ . 3 . ~ ro 2. . ro , ~ ro , '" ro ~ (J; ro ~ ~ '" $) " . " ~~ 8~ c:- S <: '" ~ '" <> '" ~ <J) C '" ~ o '0 C '" ~ ~ ~ '0 ~ 's '" C> '" <>i '" ~ I- ~ . ~ . dO ~ " o o '" c 9 '6 c \I " g, S " % ~ ~ " c ro " '" o 0, ;; 0. " o .g, -3 c o ~ o ~ , ~ " 0. o ~ , " ,. c ro " ~ ~ ~ dO " c 4. 0 -~ t ~ E . u " " o 0 o g, 'g ~ c , p'ro if' 0. ~ , 50 " c " c ro ~ . \:\ ro " o 0. o 0: " o <7 " . c o '" . , $) ~ . o o ~ " '; o \;; . 0. " ~ 'Ii " dO ~ ~ 0. '" c 5. 0. 0" .;,. c o~ <, ro '6 > 0" ~~ 1l" -"I e ~ 2~ "'~ ~ Q) _ 0 C . . - t- ~- . ro "'c c 0 ro 0 Q- '1ii ~ fo 0 o . g ~, S ~ ro . , \)~ c '" :g'.c TIo; fu '? c . S E c 0 o - o' - . ~~ . ~ c: ~ o 0 '" ro o p ro ~ :t c o ro ~ " ro C ~ \l ro 0; ~ u o o '" c,.; o ro ->;:. a. "TI c 0 82 g2 ",{;; c;, lI.> _ c . - . ~ E ~.~ ~.? ro~ ,,'? c- o- o 0 _ c "'- ~~ c-" $) ~ C o t o % '& TI ~ % <; '" ~ '" " c <j. ~ '" ~ " " '" o " . en " c o o ~ ro 0: - ~ S ro <<. ~ " " " S 6 '6> " 0. ~ ;< ,,; c 1\ .. '" ~ '5 E E \l . -p .~ - . u " ro 4. ~ Ii 0 ~ g- o ~ ~:i .. ~ ~\~ ! ~ .. " ~ ~ ... 0 c '" '" \~\ 2 ~.:t . . ro .. '" 0> " 0. .. '1' 1; !i: ro c 1; 0- ~ " " .. ~ ~ .. .. ~~ ~ '" ~ ro 0. '" \\\~ .. c ~ 0. .. " 0. ~ " 0. 0 . " '" " ~~ .. 0. 0. . C- o ro . . " E ~ . c- O- '" " '" " '6 ro 0 '" '. ~ c 'if, ~ 0 ~1 " ro . " E TI -f C TI 0. ~ '> i c 3 , c ro c !l .. 'b b .. " \ " . 0 o. 0 2 \ ~ ~ I " ro I!- ;}: 0 if, c-' \ 0 a: co '" CI' .... - ~ ~ CI' .. .. - ------- i- ---,~ padOl8AapUn J.,e.4ij4dW'<f PUDd/8>!.e1 sao'tHSJOH an::>aqJea UOISStY.)UO:) Slal-o-ueS/swoo~ lSa}:l lUewUOJ!AU3 le.mleN lood JOOPl"O JOllie:) AJ!unwwo:) J8lUaO UO!leaJ:)a~ el'S 1e:)!JOlSIH/wnasnw BU!lIs!.::! JaJla~s :)!U:)!d/UO!l!^ed s81Qe.l :)!U:)!d punOJ8,(eld l!eJl paM~d/lned 8>!.!8 ~no::> SIUUOJ. Ileqla>tsea PI8!~ ueq,oo~ aSSOJ::>el'PI81::i J8:):)OS ~ .s c: ., > c: ., <.l '" Q. Ul c: ., Q. o '0 c: '" <II '" ~ '" ll. '0 ~ J!! ., Cl OJ N ., :a '" I- UeqjJos 'Ueq..ea U!elUnO.::l 6u!>!.u!JQ . . c . E f , , .: . I> . I :i .. ~ ~ z [.. n o C ~ ~ ro~ ~c ..... .::: 0 c ~ ill g ~ ot~1: ~- ~ -g ;j3 ~ ~ (1)- ~ ~~~.9 ~ ~ g, ~ ~ g ~,~ ~ -g c:- ~ ~ ~j,~ ~2~~ a..'?ro-..::.:: g-~~~c a..-a=.clll 6~llI.go.. ~ <Jl"'5 -0 CJ <l.l"'O 0 u-:;; -g ~ 0.(5 (\'j o:('::~E~ .9 g:: * ~ <l.l Cl.lll >.""0 ~ g>~ ~ ~ E g,g !; III E.9 ~ c ~ ~ UI 'E ~ 6 g~ -~ dl m c. ~ ~ ~ ~~-5-s~ u ~o al a. ~ ~ 8.$2 ~ c ~ -0- -0 ~ 1ij 111 ~]1 2 o~~~~ C I :J-O '~ -~ ~ ,~ ; ~~~~~ ~ ~ ,~ e r Ul ~ ~ ~ ffi i:;' ~ ~-= a. ~ ~ !!:g ~ muS-e~ ~ lij ~ ~ ~ ~~~~i !!::E ~ 8 !!: a.. 0 Q) OlU m o .13 En ; , . . -l< . -l< -l< -l< -l< -l< -l< ., -l< -l< -l< -l< . N N N N o o ~ N I I ~ II ~ o o ~ U"'O<J ill ~ ~ G,!;; ~ -g~~ ro c . o~ ~ ~ ~ c ~ 0 ~~~ <On. S ffi 2 c ~ ~ ~ $ >< ~~ ~ ctl '" iij ~-,~ ~ iij 0.; o."'(i ~ 8 ~ ~ ~-g2.6 ~ 0 '" ::I [) 01__ '" ~,I;.E (i; eE~O CL g O"E 0>.::. -g ~ ~ :i3 ~ 1:: :2~ ~~ '0 ctl ~ c ID ~ ~lii ~ ill c -- t '" 0 01 6 ~ :}l ~ [) 15 :::1_ ~:: ~ '3: c ~ t-t: 2 Sl ~ a ~aJ~~ o '" ..J::. ~ ~ ~ ~ _ OJ u 1:2 <I) = U '" ~~ ~ 8 ~~~E ~~~~ ~ ~ ~ ~ Q.ctl"O-6 (I)"'(i _. c E 01) C ::I _ .... _90 ~ i'6 ~ 6~8-5. -l< -l< -l< -l< N -l< -l< -l< -l< -l< -l< N N '" o o DO M c< ffi 0. c ~ ~ c <: ~ ffi 0. 1l o it o ii: ~ c O~ <ii lli "iii2:a.. u 0 ~ .2 (I) -~ E -t ::I o ro E .;:a..E 01) ~ 0 glliu c ~ c ~~.s ID e ~ ~~~ E ro u a ~~ M:0;,} o u . o ro ro (',.0 01) !; .3 0 ~ (I) E no. ~ g 5 OJctl-.;:o g- <( ~ ,; ~-2_ ~%~ ]~~ u 0 . 0'" '" C( 'g ~ '";" 8 a (1)-02 noo "(Do- i:: OJ (I) ~ ': ~ nO. . ~ 0 ~ ~ ~ ro n u g,iii-g ~ n ro ~ c . fE~ ro '" 0 01) >-.;:. :I:.!!t(l) .;..._ 0. ~ ~'~ ~ ~i~ ~~ ~ c-;-~ 01) (I) ~ ~ -a;_1; iJ~:== <( ~ 3: o o ..; '" o '" ro e .'1 . ~ ; ~ ~ .~ ~ & = r~ -l< -l< -l< -l< -l< -l< N o o cD ~~ "'.. -.. -t ro 0. . n , c< o o Co ~IJ ~I Iii ~8 .'lI ~~ i ~ ~ ~ I II) , S f E o * o E g o l' n ~ c' . ~ C <ll -iij u_ g-~ - E o c roo lli ,'2! ~> *0 2~ .2 lli 00. on > c c m ~. NO 1i ~c ~~ o ~ c._~ ~g 15~ '00 €oo oI ~~ - vi c w 0.;:0 ~ '~ g'E , ro '" . u c ';:: o :200 ;~ c c o 0 E5 ro 0 c<n ~ c ~ (1)_ - 0 ~~ ~o ~~ z~ -l< -l< o o c< m "- " u ~ I M N .. . C o n m '" o ~ ro ~ ~ o " ~ a: ~ ro ID u ~ o 0 -;;; a. c ~ o 0 n - ~ c ~E! c ~ 00 ~~ c ~ On E 0 o . o C i.: <0 o > Cl::iIl u . ~ ~ "' 0 I. -a ~ ~ ~ 15 ~ {fj c 0 ~- ~ ~ . ~ Olctl ro !;"'(i C :g ri> ~ ~ ~ ,2 0"0 01) '0- C n ro (l) ~ C 2 (ij o c > ~ m ro S ~ ~ ~ ~ 5} (I) (l) = -= u ctl l~~ -l< -l< -l< -l< o '" M o ~ w m ~ n m ~ u ti' -l< .. 15 N o '" ~ ~ -l< '" N o .. ~ at .. ~ ~ * o o ~ ~ c: n o o >- o II ~ :1 .. c ~ . l! . a: 'g ~ ~.. ~ i padOlaAapUn J8,0841l4dW\f pUOd/8~O' seOl{S8SJOH anoaqJea UOISS&OUO:) S~81-o-ueSISwoo~ ~se~ JuewUOJI^U3 II.lnJUN IOOd JooPJno J8JU8:) ~unwwo:) jalU&:) UO!leaJ:>&~ 9J!S te:tIJOJSIl"lIwn8Snw 6U!lIS!.:t J8J184S :)!UOldlUO!I!^8d s81qe.l O!UO!d punOJ6Aold l!eJ.l paAl!dlll.led 8}{!8 J,Jno:) SIUU8.L Ileql8}{Sea PI8!~ lIoq,oo~ ~ o c: Q) > .= Q) o CO Q. /J) c: Q) Q. o '" c: co III ~ CO 0.. '" ~ CO Q) Q '" N Q) :c CO f- aSSOJoelJPI&!:I j&OOOS lIeq:yos lueq8ses u!elUnO:l 6uPIU!JO o c ~ .c ~ o ~ , ~ " u .2 rn c o " C ID E ~ ID " . c . o Z. (j . 10 . E ~ rn J ~ o ",~"'.' ~ 2 ~'ii' 13 "S rn ~ 5 t- o ~ U ID .... ~ '! ID U o o C ID U o ~ . ID L:'9: ID " g-~ " . o c UO :,.':>, ~ ~ ~ ~ -;_ ~ 8 . .;;,,,~ :'~, u " ~ . E . z ID II i +: o o '" _~ >.~ I t- Q)a::~~--g8 ~ ~ ~ 1~-5 ~xQ)ou(/) ;t::~~~~~ gu2<u-g:g -wL~~'2 ~ Q) ~ L"O.'".::: ~u_~~~~ 511l~L~UJ u~co.!S!"O-c .S ~ ~ ~ E ~ -g .: 5. ~ 3! 2 g2,g..65&5 ~ ! ,~ ~ ~ ~ 5(ijc..~~2 U Ul E..c: ro...... ~ ~ E 13,~.8 i;'om:.c"E:= ~ ~.~ $: -g ........ '~('I]'Cij Q) -g:suU)~~_ ~ g,g 13 ~.s me c g 5.~ :: ~ ~ ~.s-g .~ -g 'C.E -g ~ ~~:~Ui"'6 "~~~~"5 ('1]. L.. L.. +' 0 S ~ ~2;,-g iij.!!! = ~."!::::: > ~~~E<:J~ :s!~3lc16"O ~-g~8~~ ge~c6-~ro >- ('I] a. ro I- ~ oj( .' .' +: +: -l< -l< +: N o o '" g ~ u " ~ o '0 ." <; o .. . . .. " ~ . z ;; -0 .... .~ . f . I I o o o "' N " "' c v l" <:J ~ 0: rn v ~ .~~. o o ci ~ N ~ ~ u " . ~ 0. VI " ID 0. o rn c o '0, . '" " -0 .... i ~ t .. E S~ ,:': ~'i i~ Ig D g o o ci ! III . 0> . ~ u " . . ID .. ID ~ , o . . a: " .~ 0. III ;; -0 .... I ~ I ~ ~ fiI Ii I I i I it .. . I- ID ~ ;; ~ u c . c , " ID ~ " c <"' m E c o " > <5 . ~ ~ 0. "'" ... '0 '" ID '" ~ a. in :0 Iii o c:i 0 ~ I j ti LH . '0 . ~ c ~ <U~ Q) ~,~ Q) ~~ ~ U):; ~ ~~> f1 ~ ! ~ .;1 (")cl- .- padOlaAapUn J8Ie8~1!~dW'<f Puod/.~e, sao~saSJOH an:>aqJea UOlssa:>uo::> s~al.o.ueSJswoo~ lsa~ luewuOJ!^U3 leJnleN IOOd JOOPlnO Je~u9:) ~unwwo::> Jalua:) UO!leaJ:>a~ aIlS 1e:)~olsIHfWnasnw 6u!llS!.d Jalla~S :>IU:>ld/uoIIIAed salqeJ. :>!u:>!d punOJ6~eld l!eJJ. paAedJll~ed a>t!8 J,lno:) SIUU&J. neqla>tsea PI8!~ lIeqloo~ c:- o C '" > c: '" " .. Q. Ul c: '" Q. o '0 c: .. III '" ~ .. a. '0 ~ ~ '" C N N " :c .. I- aSSOJ:>el/Pla!.d Ja:>:>og lIeqUOS'lIeqeses u!eIUno.d 6u!>tu!JC ro ID -" ~ i3 ~ ~ " . Q :g ~ ID to ID ~ o "- ID 1! [i N . E ~ ro ~ u ~ J!l ~ .~ "'--, ~ ~ 8 e (: ~ E ~ ~ ~ * ~ g.'~ (]) W '" 0 c ~ '=:- ~ 8 Ui -g (ij >, ~ ::J a... 0 ::J e -a (]) .c ",;; 1ij :, ~ E:i1 :2 ~ "^,'f ~ Iii o 0 (5 0 ..c >, 0. .c ffi ~ if ~ o 0 ill <ii o U') -'>(; c :> ~ R ~ 3: -tS (]) .2 ~ ~ ~ 2 g ~ m ~ o . ~ * I .; ~ ~ 15 (]) k<~~, J:iIi a.. ct: c. -l< -l<-l< ! ." f~. . -l< . ~ .. ~ o "' cO . E . z I I ... I ~ I i 0: L i6 .. " o ~ ID ~ " o "- ID .n ~ o w W ID U :i. '" ~ ro N ~ o " ~ C t ~ 1i" o ., ~ 1ti gs ~ ro L c ;; W .. " o ~ .; jl II ID " C :::> 0..... ~ ro ~ " c ~ " ~ ~ ~ .p " ro ~ .0 'C 'S o L ~ ~ ro 'C E c ~ ro o 'C E ~ u E ~ fij Q) 0 c u:; 0: ~ 1Il.g U (ii X c: .,'::; 11> 8 0 c o ~~ o 0 ~ a. .;::; a. .~ ~ [ (ij g ~ .0 U ro V U 0. ~ a: ~ ro c ~ .0 ,~ ~ ~ 0 '" ~~ E co.. m .- III C, ~-li> e ::J U ~ ~ 5 u 0 Q)"::'::cLL ~~~.2 ~,~ ~ ~ ~~~~g ~E ~ ~ ~ o C ::J Q) a.~ c -5 ~ o '- 11> '- Q) ~~~~~ :3E~~8 -l< .,.,~ -l< -l< -l< -l< -l< -l< o o ;: " E ~ (f) 1; E ID U 2.Z. c E ~ ~ U E ,~ g ~ :20::0 ~I~ ~ c:2:2 oIYIY Ill.......... '- '- m ro <Ll (1) 11> (1)..... ~;t:;t:~ '" c ;;; ~ o .c " E ~ ~ ~ .0 'C ~ ro C ro E -l< -l< o o ~ . ~ w ~ ill ~ . . o .n g w 0, ~ C ro ~ m rn m .n .n ~ ~ ~ rn (ij e ~ ~ ~ ro ro w ..Cl .c ~ N ~ '" ro u u ~ N w ~ ~ m m ,;:: .;::: ":~ o o N L0 ~ ~ $ ~ . u ~ 'E ~ E E o u '2 o :; ~ ~ ~ fj :l ~ o " >- E 1.1 ~ ~ i ~ . Q) C OJ W E~E>o ii~ ~ ~ l'-tfJ0l0 J.~2'E ~ i=Sro~~ 0>::::2: 0.. D:: C o jj ~ C o u ro ~ ;; ~ l' ~ 5 u '0 ~ en L m I w o '" ~ g ffi e ~~ u , ~ 0 - '" w 0 C.c ~ g C ID ron E '" w ID ~~ ~u W C "0 .~ o ~ ~ g 3:~ <!2i l'J" ~~ w ' ~:@ o m mo ~ c ro w E.'" ~~ ~c ~ 0 o~ -E ~ is 0-.;:: ~ 0 ~ '" c C iil (1) C c 8 8 w ~ 0 ~ ~ ~ di~~ U 0 ro l.l ~ 0. o ro_ woo N W ' o ro ~ Z. ~ Hi Sl ~ ~ ::::,-'>(;(]) ~ ~ g- o 0 2~~ N -= 0.. .E ~ .. ~ ~ .. ~ w . '" ~ c m '" Vi m ~ ~ 5]1] 2 ~ ~ w c C c-- ~~~ tti Ol OJ E C C i3 U ~2~ " w o (: C j~~ (ij rn ffi a. E E iJi i5 is ~ ~ ~ -a 6 c5 ~ <J) '" '" (]) ~~-g~ ~a...a..(j -l< N N N '" N N N COL0CO ~ NMM N g ~ ~ '" " - (/) 1,3 ~~~ :2cw ~ ~.~ IQ~ it; :2wO ~"''' ......co ~~E ;:3J~ w w o C ii ~ ro I l' . g U ro L . c Q o C o c 3 c '" ro ~ " :0 ~ o -" '" c o " o ~ ~ o ~ o o m ID W > W ;;; ID w C <U:<::: ~- ~'" 1ij~ ~: .n ~ ro 0 L 0 2:;; 15 ~ 1 :1 o ID E ' _ ro cl:f, oE ~~ ~ ~ ~ [ 0"'- ~ 0 O~iil o ro 0 U .::0 ~ ~o-5 ID > ~ W 0 >,.2(1) .c -E' c dll.C)m m", C ~ ~ ~ E ro 0 o w ~~~ -aU')-g ~~~ ~:;: , 0_ (: ~ ~.2 6 E:S.c: 2-~~ ~~.2 ~ ,~~ 3:~:i1 o U - W U 2 (]) ro "'Eo<;( -CD ~.@<C iil 8.~ c ~ E !;Or-- 0..60 ~~~ ~ ~ 8 -l< -l< -l< -l< -l< -l< -l< o o N .. N -" ro 0.. I " ,. e () ~ o c l' o o ~ ro 0. -~ o c o!" ~ '" ro c 0,'" ~c ::J-;' .215 " ' 02 "" .~ "w ~ ~ o 0 ~ ~ o~ i~ ~'" o ro ~~ a: E iil ;g ~~ o~ 2", " ~ ~E .n . w U o , ~ 0 ill tl N 0 C W o 0 ~- o~ , 0 o . ~ 0 ,,~ .n ' ro ~ ~ ro '" ~c ~ E g E . ~ ID m ~ 0 ro , ~ ~ ... a ... . 0> . 0.. -l< -l< o o '" o '" .,; ~ N . '" -" ro ~ ~ 0.. :l ~ ~ "S ~ o , E 0 "' w 1: . o II: 0.. o ~ .c V;i 0 Q) .. o ~ DRAFT City of Wheat Ridge Parks and Recreation Master Plan Additionally, there are 3 undeveloped park sites within the city (145 acres) There are also 12 other sites that provide recreation resources for the city, including various schools that serve as neighborhood parks or sports complexes, Jefferson County Open Space amenities, and the city's indoor recreational facilities. the Wheat Ridge Recreation Center, the Wheat Ridge Community Center/Senior Center, and the Anderson Building at Anderson Park. The city also uses the Ye Olde Firehouse and the Berbert House in Prospect Park for community meetings and youth sports storage respectively Neighborhood Parks Neighborhood Parks are parks that serve a residential neighborhood, and may be full-size neighborhood parks or pocket parks, which are smaller They are the backbone of the Wheat Ridge parks system, and serve as critical elements of healthy neighborhoods and places that provide relief from the built environment. They are located primarily in developed residential areas, and typically have landscaping and walking surfaces that can withstand high levels of use They are spaces where neighbors can gather, children can play, and people can watch other people as well as engage in recreational activities. Generally, Wheat Ridge's parks are in relatively good condition, but many are in need of updated facilities, walks and landscaping. Founders' Park Founders' Park is located at 3705 Jay Street, just north of West 35th Avenue Founder's Park is 5,2 acres in size and contains picnic shelter, restroom, paved walking path, and several native areas with soft-surface paths. The park also contains a large public art sculpture The park is adjacent to the Wheat Ridge Community Center/Senior Center and therefore is quite popular with seniors who frequently use the park, This is the newest park in the Wheat Ridge system and was constructed on top of a former brownfields site. While it does not provide a turf playfield or athletic courts, it remains one of the more popular parks in the city due to its unique nature and strategic location near the Senior Center No up- grades or modifications are currently needed at Founder's Park. Founders' Park Fruitdale Park Fruitdale Park is located at 4700 Miller Street, north of West 44th Avenue and south of 1-70 Fruitdale Park is 12 acres in size and contains a basketball court, playground, picnic shelter, restrooms, barbeques, horseshoe pits, drinking fountain, off-street parking, and soft surface walking trail The park also has passive areas and areas of native vegetation with soft surface paths. All amenities in the park are in good physical condition The park receives a high amount of use during the day from the neighboring Foothills Academy The park is located in both a low income area as well as in the Wheat Ridge motel zone This may contribute to the high level of vandalism and vagrancy observed in the park. While City of Wheat Ridge Parks and Recreation Master Plan DRAFT no physical upgrades or modifications are currently needed at Fruitdale Park, it may be necessary to address the ongoing vandalism and vagrancy issues through further activation of the park and such measures as athletic programming or establishing a small dog park. Hayward Pari< Hayward Park Hayward Park is located at the corner of West 29th Avenue and Wadsworth Boulevard, adjacent to Wheat Ridge Municipal Building Hayward Park is 5 acres in size and contains a playground, picnic tables, water feature, and paved walking path. Installed in 2001, the playground is in good condition. The Park is also home to the Veteran's Memorial Gazebo The park also contains numerous passive areas. While Hayward Park does not offer any athletic fields or courts, it does provide a pleasant park experience near City Hall. Johnson Park Johnson Park is located at the corner of West 49th Avenue and Wadsworth Boulevard, along the Wheat Ridge Greenbelt. Johnson Park is 4 acres in size and contains a playground, picnic tables, barbeques, restrooms, and a drinking fountain The Clear Creek trail is also located adjacent to the park. As the park sits along the greenbelt, it offers numerous natural areas and provides opportunities for fishing and other recreation associated with Clear Creek. In general, the park is degraded and most park amenities are in need of replacement. Street access to Johnson Park is very difficult and only available to cars traveling south on Wadsworth Boulevard through a right-hand turn It is not possible to turn left into the park while traveling north on Wadsworth Boulevard. The street entrance to the park is also difficult to see and not visually appealing or attractive. As the park lies well below the road level, visual access and line of sight is poor, producing safety concerns The park also lies entirely within a floodplain as it sits adjacent to Clear Creek. Consideration should be given to closing street access to Johnson Park and transitioning it from a neighborhood park to Wheat Ridge Greenbelt acreage with pedestrian access from Wadsworth Boulevard Johnson Park DRAFT City of Wheat Ridge Parks and Recreation Master Plan Panorama Park Panorama Park is located at the corner of West 35th Avenue and Fenton Street. Panorama Park is 9 acres in size and COntains 4 tennis courts, 1 basketball courts, 2 baseball/softball fields, 2 soccer/lacrosse fields, a playground, horseshoe pits, picnic shelter, restrooms, barbeques, and drinking fountains The outfields softball/baseball fields also serve as a football field in the fall. Panorama Park has good street access and offers 3 off-street parking lots Ample passive area is also provided. Panorama Park is very popular and the tennis courts are heavily utilized In general, the park is in good condition, however, some upgrades and improvements are needed Paved walks are needed throughout the park as well as ADA access to the ballfield backstops and picnic shelters The existing public art sculpture is severely deteriorated and needs refurbished or replaced New benches are also needed in the ballfield dugouts, the play equipment is beginning to age and should be replaced in the future Panorama Park Paramount Park Paramount Park is located at the corner of West 29th Avenue and Kipling Street, across the street from Crown Hill Regional Park, Paramount Park is 9 acres in size and contains 2 soccer/lacrosse fields, a softball/baseball field, basketball court, playground, horseshoe pits, picnic shelter, restrooms, barbeques, and drinking fountain Paramount Park was originally constructed on top of a former landfill and was subsequently refurbished in 1989 As part of Paramount Park the triangular-shaped parcel across Oak Street is maintained as park property The park is currently home to the Wheat Ridge High School Girls Softball team and the fields are heavily used Overall, the park is in good physical condition, however, a few improvements are needed ADA access needs to be provided to the ballfield backstops and new benches are needed near the play areas The basketball court also needs to be resurfaced The restrooms and play equipment are in good condition Paramount Park City of Wheat Ridge Parks and Recreation Master Plan DRAFT Randall Park Randall Park is located at the corner of West 43rd Avenue and Gray Street. Randall Park is 5 acres in size and contains 2 softball/baseball fields, 2 basketball courts, an all purpose court, playground, picnic shelter, barbeques, restrooms, and drinking fountain. There are also 2 off-street parking lots located at the park. Randall Park is also home to one of the few lighted ball fields residing in a residential neighborhood, the ballfields are in good condition. The playground and picnic shelter are beginning to age and should be considered for replacement in the future Overall, the parking layout on the east side of the park is poor with more asphalt paving than necessary Additionally, access to the park from the south parking lot is prohibited by a large chain-link fence along the third baseline of one of the ballfields Patrons utilizing this parking lot must walk through the east parking lot to gain access to the park area. Randall Park Pocket Parks Apef-Bacher Park Apel-Bacher Park is located at the corner of West 45th Avenue and Vance Street. Apel-Bacher Park is 2 acres in size and contains 3 tennis courts, a playground, picnic shelter, barbeque, and drinking fountain. All park amenities are in good condition, and there is adequate ADA access throughout the park and to the tennis courts. Bonnie's Park Bonnie's Park is located at the corner of West 3th Avenue and Upham Street. Bonnie's Park is 0.25 acre in size and contains a playground, picnic tables, and horseshoe pit; all are in good condition, There are no restroom facilities and all parking is on-street. While not a very large park, Bonnie's does provide nearby residents with needed park space in which to relax and children space to play Boyd's Crossing Boyd's Crossing is located at the corner of West 45th Avenue and Everett Street. Boyd's Crossing is 1 acre in size and contains a playground, picnic tables, and concrete footpath bisecting the park north and south There are no benches, restroom, or drinking fountain, and the playground is old and in need of replacement. The park sits in a low income area of the city and there is a high occurrence of vandalism there DRAFT Happiness Gardens Happiness Gardens is located at 4226 Ammons Street, adjacent to the rear of Wilmore Davis Elementary School; it is 1 acre in size Happiness Gardens is the city's community garden area and is well used by the public. Residents can rent a 10' x 20' garden plot for $20 for the season The parks department tills the soil in the spring and fall and provides on-site water for irrigation Other than one picnic table, Happiness Gardens contains no traditional park facilities or amenities. The gardens are separated from the rear turf areas and filled space of the elementary school by a split rail fence There is ample opportunity to partner with the school to provide well needed turf area to the south for a more traditional neighborhood park in this underserved area. Louise Turner Park Louise Turner Park is located at the corner of West 38th Avenue and Parfet Street; it is 1 acre in size Other than a small playground (new in 2006 with ADA access) and a few picnic tables, the park does not offer any traditional park facilities or amenities The park has substantial passive turf area, which is in good condition, and adequate shade from mature trees. The addition of a picnic shelter would greatly enhance the park's appeal Although this park does not offer many typical park amenities, it does provide nearby residents with needed passive park space City of Wheat Ridge Parks and Recreation Master Plan Happiness Gardens Stites Park Stites Park is located at the corner of West 29th Avenue and Newland Street. Stites Park is 2 acres in size and contains a baseball/softball field, basketball court, playground, and picnic tables The playground and other park amenities are in good physical condition and there is good street access to the park; however, ADA access throughout the park is poor The swing-set is old and needs replaced with a more current model There is also a need for new bleachers as they are not currently safety compliant. Due to its limited size, Stites Park does not function well as a full neighborhood park. Louise Turner Park City of Wheat Ridge Parks and Recreation Master Plan DRAFT Town Center Park Town Center Park is located in a shopping plaza parking area at 4084 Wadsworth Boulevard and is 0.75 acre in size. The park contains park benches and a water feature As the park is located in the middle of a shopping plaza, there is poor access and poor visibility from the street leaving the park difficult to locate Although the water feature was recently refurbished, the park is underutilized by the general public. A high level of vagrancy exists at the park, requiring high levels of maintenance from the parks division. Town Center Park Since the parcels are small, they have limited use for larger neighborhood gatherings, youth sports prac- tices, self-directed activities such as kite-flying, and other activities that require larger open areas Table 2.3 lists the specific standards for neighborhood parks. Neighborhood Park Standards Neighborhood parks should be adequately sized to provide space for a variety of activities, and are ideally a minimum of 3 acres They should be centrally located within the residential area they serve, and are often located adjacent to an elementary or middle school. Neighborhood parks can be active or passive in nature, but most commonly provide a combination of both Programmed sports activities in neighborhood parks should normally be limited to practices, as the need to be compatible with surrounding residential land uses limits the intensity of use Exceptions may be necessary if no other facilities exist, or if the use is not detrimental to the neighborhood While pocket parks supplement the neighborhood park system and provide visual relief within the urban landscape, they are not substitutes for adequately-sized neighborhood parks. In Wheat Ridge, pocket parks are typically 1 to 2 acres in size, which often makes them more of an amenity to the immediate neighbors rather than the larger neighborhood They are similar to neighborhood parks, except they offer only a few neighborhood park amenities due to their limited size DRAFT City of Wheat Ridge Parks and Recreation Master Plan Table 2.3 Neighborhood Park Standards Classification Purpose/Function Site Characteristics Neighborhood 3-10 acres; Provides nearby recreation and Locate adjacent to 2 to 3 acres / Park slightly leisure opportunities within walking greenway, open space, 1.000 pop, smaller size distance (one-half mile) of elementary or junior high may be residential areas. Should serve as schools when possible. acceptable if a common area for neighbors of all adjacent to ages to gather, socialize and play Centrally locate within other They can be passive or active area served, parkland! parks, or a combination of both. natural areas Accessible via walkway or greenway A more active neighborhood park or urban trail. parks while may include a paved, multi- accommo- purpose area for court games!in- If the park is to be more dating larger line skating or two tennis courts, a of an active oriented neighbor- multi-purpose play field with park, versus passive, hood park backstop, play equipment, ADA portions of the site purposes! accessible trails and shaded areas should be relatively flat to functions. for picnics and sitting within a accommodate fields and landscaped setting that is a blend facility development. of full irrigation for active uses and xeriscape. Features such as At least Y, of the park, interpretive signs, water bodies, two sides. shall be and areas of natural vegetation bordered by a street in may also be included where order to provide easy appropriate. In most cases, public access, visual programmed sports activities surveillance and parking. should be limited to practices, On- Surrounding the site with street parking is typically the back property lines of adequate, and separate parking houses is strongly lots are discouraged. discouraged. School!Park facilities include many of the same neighborhood standards, except that school!parks should include. game fields (preferably two), off-street parking that is s'ituated for school and park purposes, and a playground designed for age groups not served by school playgrounds. Pocket Park 2 acres or Serves a neighborhood where Same as those required Not applicable less opportunities for a larger park site for Neighborhood Park. Part of are unavailable Typically neighborhood considered to serve residents park within one-quarter mile of the park. standards. Due to limited size, may only contain a few of the elements typical of a standard neighborhood par' * Most Front Range communities have adopted \e':e\ of service standard5 within Ihis range City of Wheat Ridge Parks and Recreation Master Plan DRAFT Neighborhood Park Level of Service Wheat Ridge has a total of 14 neighborhood parks, 7 of which are small pocket parks Combined, these parks total more than 57 acres and provide a level of service of 1 8 acres per 1,000 population based on a population of 32,172 (See Table 24). Anderson and Prospect parks also serve neighborhood park functions for the neighborhoods within a 05-mile radius When 10 acres of each of these parks is included in the average, the effective level of service rises to 2.4 acres per 1,000 population All of the neighborhood parks meet the 3-acre desirable minimum standard Map 3 shows the 0 5-mile and O.25-mile service areas and level of service (acres of parkland per 1,000 population) associated with each developed neighborhood and pocket park, Service areas around community parks that can be considered to function as the adjacent residences' neighborhood park are also shown Ten acres of each community park were considered as "Neighborhood Park" for the purposes of determining the level of service for the surrounding neighborhoods The service areas on Map 3 represent the immediate neighborhood that has access to that park without crossing an arterial roadway, active rail line, river or other barrier, which prevents easy access via walking or by bicycle The extent of existing residential development is also generally shown Table 2.4. Existing Neighborhood Park level of Service Neighborhood/Pocket Effective level of Service Parks 2005 Population' 32,172 Existing Developed Neighborhood/Pocket Parkland (acres) 57.20 Level of Service 1,8 ac/1 ,000 pop Effective Level of Service** 2.4ac/1 ,000 pop . 2005 Population: 32,172 (DR COG 2006) .. Effective level of service is calculated by factoring in 10 acres each of Anderson and Prospect Parks which serve neighborhood park functions to residents within '/'-mile radius. Actual neighborhood park acreage does not increase and acreage is nol double counted between neighborhood and community parks. .It a .. cu a .. a.CC .. cu cu " "I '("",-.It ._ """"~ ":' ~- 0.. V"'''''- a. cu "'" - '-"' "'a o o .c .. o .S2 .c Ol .- cu Z 11 1-+..4 ,... Tl \!!'oo ~ -1J'~ ~ ~ '-i 0: -j ,- r ~ ,II ~ !!!\ ' I~_~! ~l Tr_ f~! 6 :t:i . ~ Q) Ie ~ '"0 .. ..I 61 :!~j. ~' J! -I · ~. 6' l Ci. ~ :;'-'~~ i ,i~ ~~i~ ",~i I '4.. .. r . 0 i:c-"~:S '.-= u~ & " ~ III ,i! ~ '- J.S , '" -",,- & i, ~ ~ . 8- ~., , I~ --'It -'1 ' , , , ~'l ;~ I ;~= }=O:=J I I,--r- '---r-----------. II .~u , ~ i! .~n , ~-- ,;-::."""" v.. "'~, ;.~~ :?- ,. , : . ..' . ~' ~ " c ~ ~ ~ cl ~ 00 M A. a 2 o E '" o E ~ lil '" o ~ ~ 5> ,~ .g ~ ~ 0 oq ~ ::J ~ i!; cli .~ !) ;>. tJl <: "" '" .S ~ ~ \,) :5 i!; ~ ~ ~~ & ~ Ci: il -g :~2~'\j li .~ '" ~ :l1 "" <:;:s Cl:;:s 10 of! & ." 6 8 ;Q ~ ~g d ~ ~ ~ '" 0 11, ~ '5 :!lIS 2 Cl: 5 "-2~ ~i~~ L!.. - .'!i ~ :e~ ~ 5 J2 '" E ~ ~ )( e CI. ]: 0 ..!!:! 0 "ts i:f^~~~~~ o ::J ..... Q. a.... - _:~~]~tl~ i!~~IS.Q.&.Q.~:S :. 't,1 .. I DRAFT City of Wheat Ridge Parks and Recreation Master Plan Although Wheat Ridge is relatively well covered by the distribution of neighborhood parks, there are a few residential areas that are currently not served by neighborhood or pocket parks These are particularly notable in the following neighborhoods the area around 44th Avenue and Kendall Street; the area immediately east of Stevens Elementary School; the area north of 44th Avenue and west of Wadsworth Boulevard, the area east of the Einarsen property; the area east of Everitt Middle School, the area surrounding Lutheran Hospital; the area to the south, east, and west of Prospect Valley Elementary School, and the area east of Kullerstrand Elementary School. A few existing developed areas of Wheat Ridge may be undergoing redevelopment and infill in the future, with new residential units being constructed in key strategic locations throughout the city This future increase in population presents challenges for providing adequate parkland because the City of Wheat Ridge is primarily surrounded by developed communities Retrofitting and redesigning existing neighborhood parkland has the potential, in some instances, to enhance the level of service to existing neighborhoods The development and redesign of school lands might increase level of service in these areas as well Access to existing neighborhood parks in underserved areas could also be improved by enhancing pedestrian and bicyclist connections across existing barriers, This may be accomplished through constructing arterial roadway and railroad grade underpasses, enhancing crosswalks, and installing trail bridges at strategic locations across arterial roadways and rivers. Boyd's Crossing Park Attractive and Ister their neighborhoods, but cities need a strong economic base to fix (or se parks place. That economic base is hard to attain without middle-class taxpayers, who often will not jive somewhere that lacks decent parks. Peter Harnik, Inside City Parks, ULI and Trust for Public Lands, 2000 City of Wheat Ridge Parks and Recreation Master Plan DRAFT Community Parks Community parks are larger parks that serve the entire community They should be equitably distributed throughout the city and easily accessible by all residents Ideally, they should also be connected via the core commuter off-street trail system to reduce the need to drive to the park. Sports complexes are also often associated with community parks. These are typically parks or areas of community parks that have dedicated sport facilities available for use to the entire community While many community parks contain sports complexes, not all sports complexes are a part of a community park or contain park-like facilities. In Wheat Ridge, both existing community parks have a different character For example, Anderson Park is the showpiece of the Wheat Ridge park system with a variety of facilities, amenities, and terrain, including the city's only outdoor pool Anderson Park is also home to the city's annual Carnation Festival held each August, and home to a community center, some park offices, and a skatepark. Prospect Park has many similar features to Anderson Park, however, it is slightly larger and is divided into two distinct sections. Anderson Park Anderson Park is located on the south side of 44th Avenue at Field Street intersection and is 27 acres in size The park contains 2 baseball/softball fields, 2 soccer/lacrosse fields, 2 basketball courts, a skate park, in-line hockey rink, playground, picnic shelters, restrooms, barbeques, seasonal concessions, and drinking fountains. Anderson Park is also home to the Anderson Pool, the city's only outdoor swimming facility, and the Anderson Building, which is programmed for selected indoor fitness programs. Anderson Park is located along the Wheat Ridge Greenbelt and the Clear Creek trail, offering visitors numerous options for natural resource-based recreation, such as walking, hiking, wildlife viewing, and bicycling The park is also home to communitywide events, such as the annual Carnation Festival held each August and hosted by the Carnation Festival Committee. The Parks, Forestry, and Open Space Division offices and maintenance shop are also located at Anderson Park Many of the facilities at Anderson Park are in good physical condition, including the restrooms, playgrounds, and rental shelters However, many other facilities are beginning to deteriorate. The outdoor pool needs replaced or refurbished and an evaluation and feasibility study was conducted for this purpose in 2004 The in-line hockey rink is not currently regulation size and needs resurfaced The skate park is also somewhat undersized and should be relocated to a more centralized location outside of the park, Other elements of the park also need addressed, including the aging irrigation system, erosion of the bank along Clear Crook and adjacent ditches, and the overall layout of parking Lastly, the Anderson Building should be remodeled or replaced in DRAFT City of Wheat Ridge Parks and Recreation Master Plan overflow fitness activities that cannot be accommodated in the main Recreation Center However, it is undersized, the amenities are outdated and deteriorating and, as such, it does not adequately serve users. In general, Anderson Park would greatly benefit from an individual master plan that addresses the overall purpose and function of the park relative to other city parks and facilities; the location and desirability of a new or upgraded pool and skate park; and the overall layout of recreational facilities and parking within the park itself Prospect Park Prospect Park is located at the corner of West 44th Avenue and Robb Street and is approximately 39 acres in size The park contains 2 baseball/softball fields, 1 football field, 1 basketball court, 1 tennis court, playgrounds, picnic shelters, 2 restrooms, seasonal concessions, barbeques, drinking fountains, horseshoe pits, and an amphitheater Prospect Park is also located along the Wheat Ridge Greenbelt and Clear Creek trail, offering numerous opportunities for natural resource-based recreation These opportunities include walking, hiking, biking, and wildlife viewing Prospect Lake, located at the rear of the park, divides the park into two units Across the lake is the Prospect Park annex, which offers a Habitat Garden, soft surface trail, playground and picnic shelter Fishing is also available along the banks of Prospect Lake The Parks and Recreation Department also maintains the Berbert House, which is located in front of the park along West 44th Avenue Currently, the residence is only used for storage Overall, many of the park amenities are in good physical condition, including the playgrounds, picnic shelter, and restrooms, and there is adequate ADA access throughout. Lighting upgrades have been added at the ballfields, and the tennis court located here is the only city-owned and maintained court west of Kipling Street. The pedestrian crossing across 44th Avenue leading to the park needs enhanced as it is not adequately marked for such a busy thoroughfare Currently, the park is not organized well to handle large citywide events. A master plan should be created for the park illustrating how Prospect Park may become a new community festival and cultural focal point within Wheat Ridge The park should also be integrated into the larger Orchard District Sub-area Plan that is currently being developed Prospect Park Prospect Lake City of Wheat Ridge Parks and Recreation Master Plan DRAFT Community Sports Complexes Creekside Park Creekside Park is located at the corner of West 49th Avenue and Marshall Street and is 16 acres in size Creekside Park contains 2 baseball/softball fields (1 of which is a Colorado Rockies field), a football field, playground, picnic shelter, portable toilets, and ample passive space. Creekside is also located adjacent to the Wheat Ridge Greenbelt and the Clear Creek trail. While the existing facilities at Creekside Park are heavily programmed and in good condition, the park only functions in a limited capacity as a sports complex. There is no ADA access to the ballfield backstops and throughout the park itself Additionally, the park sits in a floodplain that receives drainage runoff from 1-70, and often the water compromises the integrity of the sports and recreational amenities within the park. The Parks and Recreation Department would like to install permanent restrooms and some type of concession or vending area for visitors during games. In addition to addressing the more immediate drainage issues at Creekside, there is also an opportunity to improve the quality of native vegetation in unusable areas, such as steep banks Community Park Standards Community parks should be adequately sized to accommodate a variety of diverse activities, including passive uses They are ideally 25 to 100 acres in size, and often combine developed parkland for self-directed or programmed activities (festivals, performances, fitness trails, sports fields and courts, picnic shelters, etc.) with natural areas or other interesting elements (water features, forests or gardens). They should be centrally located and accessible to everyone in the community An off-street trail system should also be connected to community parks, allowing for access not reliant on automobiles Table 2,5 lists the specific standards for community parks, ~ Creekside Park DRAFT City of Wheat Ridge Parks and Recreation Master Plan Table 2.5 Community Park Standards Classification III.... . .... Purpose/Function --- Site Characteristics PARKS Community Parks Community 25-100 Provides opportunities for Portions of the site should 3 to 5 Park acres community wide activities and be relatively flat to acres / facilities, Should maintain a accommodate fields and 1,000 balance between programmed facility development if the pop sports facilities and other park site allows, Special community activity areas such as site features such as urban forests, gardens, historic streams, lakes, forests, rock features, water features, outcrops, historic or performance areas, festival archaeological sites and spaces, plazas, etc. and have other interesting elements features that appeal to the may add to the unique broader community character of the park. Sports complexes are not Ideally, will have good complete community parks as access from a collector or they are very special-purpose arterial street. However, they contribute to the overall level of service for Direct access to primary community parks. See definition community trail system below desirable Community Parks should generally be located so as to provide all residents access to a community park within 1- 2 miles of their home, Community Parks may also serve as the local neighborhood park for residential areas within Y2 mile. Sports Varies Provides opportunities for Majority of site should be Part of Complex community-wide programmed relatively flat to communit and self-directed sports such as: accommodate sports fields. y park baseball, softball, soccer, tennis, level of in-line hockey, and skateboarding Locate away from residential service in higher intensity use facilities. areas to avoid traffic, light standard. Limited areas for passive and noise conflicts. recreation uses and other features that appeal to the broader community Strategically locate to fill service gaps for specialized sports facilities. * Most Front Range communities have adopted level of service standards within this range. City of Wheat Ridge Parks and Recreation Master Plan DRAFT Community Park Level of Service Wheat Ridge has a total of 2 community parks and 1 sports complex. Combined, these parks total approximately 82 acres and provide a level of service of 2.6 acres per 1,000 population based on a population of 32,172 (See Table 2,6). The two community parks within Wheat Ridge meet the 25-acre desirable minimum standard. Creekside Park is only 16 acres in size, however, since it does not function as a true community park but rather a sports complex, this amount of acreage is appropriate given its existing facilities and intended purpose Map 4 shows a 1-mile service area for each developed community park, which illustrates their relatively even distribution throughout the city This map also shows community parks outside the city limits that are in close proximity to Wheat Ridge and serve residents within a 1-mile radius Community parks are often destination parks. It is not uncommon for residents of other cities to use them, or for residents of Wheat Ridge to use community parks outside of their own community The two parks shown on Map 4 are Inspiration Point Park and Sloan's Lake Park, both City of Denver community parks. Because community parks are considered citywide destinations, the service areas span arterial roadways and other barriers However, providing easy pedestrian and bicycle access is strongly encouraged, and the City of Wheat Ridge should work to provide better on street trail links to community parks Table 2.6. EXisting Community Park Level of Service Community Effective Level of Service Parks 2005 Population' 32,172 Existing Developed Community Parkland (acres)" 82.00 Level of Service 2.6 ac/1 ,000 pop. . 2005 Population: 32,172 (DRCOG 2006) .. Includes acreage for Creekside Park. ~ '" .. a a CIJ D...( ~CIJ ~ ~ ve ~ C oS ~_ ::I .. "oE~ I g u .. .., a. a 2: - ~ i ~ i~. ') ',I ~r 'I I i, ! , '. ;; ~- I ~:!C .Y< 1.1S300~ ;-i 'f/ OJ ~ d I~ E ~ c- <( .g .~ '9 c 0 ~lll -l'! ~.~ " u 5 ';, i ~ .i '" ., ,~ 'll 5 c:c l: .Q E '2 ~ ~ ~~~~ @ ~ Cl. .., 5 ~ ~ t: ~ ~ 8 8~ "" '\1 ~ ~ ~ 5 ,til ~<3 ill I) 0: 5 , '" _ 1< . .. e.~~ ~ ~.::s..... L.. =.. .1l & :e~ -e: t:.2 8 ~~ III ~ E C( 'l! <> - 13 11 ~~e.a~~8- ~~&Ra-li '" ~ - '" "2 ~ l..r::: E .2 t:: t l.;. "15 - v .~ ~ ~ ~ 0 ~ ~ t~~a~O~ct::5 : ~I , I DRAFT City of Wheat Ridge Parks and Recreation Master Plan Special Purpose Parks Special purpose parks are those that tend to serve a singular or very focused purpose or community need Examples of special purpose parks include environmental education centers, horticulture centers, working farms, performance areas, festival areas, fairgrounds, urban plazas, equestrian centers, or other parks that serve a specific purpose or need within a community As these parks vary greatly in nature, they do not have typical characteristics. Additionally, they do not have a specific level of service unless they specifically contribute to meeting neighborhood or community park needs Historical Park Historical Park is located at West 46th Avenue and Robb Street. Historical Park is 1 acre in size and does not contain any typical or traditional park amenities, except for picnic tables The park does contain a variety of historical features and amenities relative to the City of Wheat Ridge, including the Wheat Ridge Sod House, a museum dedicated to the history of Wheat Ridge, the Coulehan-Johnson Cabin (originally relocated from Johnson Park), Wheat Ridge's first post office, and a variety of other historical features, including traditional farm equipment located in an adjoining storage building. In 1973, the Sod House was listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The park recently had a new irrigation system installed It is also home to the Wheat Ridge Historical Society and is often a favorite field trip destination for local schools The Baugh House, another historical property owned by the city, is separated from Historical Park by two private lots to the south The city hopes to one day acquire these lots and combine the two into one large park area. Richards-Hart Estate The Richards-Hart Estate is located at West 28th Avenue and Benton Street and totals 3 5 acres in size This ornate residence was built in 1869 by James Richards, a local farmer and successful businessman It was originally constructed in the Italianate style and later added onto in the Queen Anne Cottage style The property only saw two other owners, the Manby family and the Patrick F Hart family, before being bought by the City of Wheat Ridge in 1976 The property has since been transferred to the control of the Wheat Ridge Parks and Recreation Department, and is now listed on the National Register of Historic Places The facility provides a popular public resource as a community Historical Park Rlchards.Hart Estate Sitting Area City of Wheat Ridge Parks and Recreation Master Plan The enjoyment of scenery employs the mind without fatigue and yet . e~ercises it; tranquilizes It and d mind over the body gives the effect of 'refreshing rest and reinvigoration to the whole system. Frederick Law Olmstead, The Yosemite Valley and Mariposa Big Tree5;1865 DRAFT meeting center and rental facility, namely for weddings and receptions, The structure's design causes the interior plaster to deteriorate due to moisture, which will be an ongoing maintenance issue The 3 5 acres of grounds offer a picnic area, playground, benches, and a sizeable amount of well landscaped passive area with 23 species of trees and plants. There is also a large Demonstration Gardens located at the Estate While the property is in excellent condition and well used, a historic management plan would be advisable Ye Olde Firehouse Ye Olde Firehouse is located at 3232 Depew Street and covers approximately 0.25 acre The Firehouse is one of the original garages that housed fire engines in the City of Wheat Ridge and is now available to the public for use as a meeting space The Firehouse is currently in excellent condition. Open Space Open space areas, including regional open space, natural areas and corridors, and sensitive resource areas and conservation areas, protect natural values on various sized parcels of land and provide opportunities for trail and habitat connections The degree to which each area is "natural" depends upon its size, configuration, location, and level of use, all of which influence its ability to function in a native state. Open space areas are frequently located along stream or river corridors and often provide opportunities for nature-oriented outdoor recreation, which often contain a multi- purpose trail or segment of a trail system. However some open space areas may be sensitive in nature and therefore closed to public access in the interest of protecting the resource Open Space Classifications Table 2.7 lists classifications and characteristics of the 3 different types open space Regional open spaces are typically 100 acres or greater in size, and protect large areas with natural resource values of community-wide significance Regional open spaces also provide opportunities for nature-oriented outdoor recreation. They typically have an emphasis on achieving an appropriate balance between resource protection and public use As regional open space never has identical characteristics in two locations, there are no set standards for level of service Natural areas are another type of open space with management emphasis placed on habitat and natural resource protection, with some public access These properties may be in a narrow corridor configuration or exist as larger pieces of land, There are no set site characteristics of natural areas and corridors, however, limited areas of the site can be dedicated to leisure and outdoor oriented recreation uses and contain recreation amenities such as trails, benches, picnic sites, and environmental interpretation and education areas As natural areas and corridors are usually provided for when available, and do not specifically serve park functions, there is no set level of service Sensitive resources areas and conservation lands protect areas with important cultural, natural and other community values These may include areas of significant vegetation, important and sensitive habitats, scenic areas, wetlands, or areas that DRAFT Table 2.7. Open Space Standards City of Wheat Ridge Parks and Recreation Master Plan Classification Level of Service Desirable Acreage Purpose/Function Site Characteristics OPEN SPACE Regional Open Space/Park Regional Open Space/Park 100 acres or greater Protects large areas with natural resource values of community- wide significance. Provides opportunities for nature-oriented outdoor recreation. Emphasis on achieving an appropriate balance between resource protection and public use. NoLOS standard. Natural Area/Natural Corridor Natural Areal Natural Corridor Varies, but typically 8 acres or greater Protects natural values on smaller parcels. Often located along stream corridors. Provides opportunities for nature-oriented, outdoor recreation, which may include multi-purpose trails. Emphasis on resource protection or preservation with some public access provided. Limited site area can be dedicated to leisure and nature oriented recreation uses, such as roads, parking areas, trails, environmental ed ucation/interp retive areas, picnic sites, and visitor support facilities. No LOS standard. Sensitive Resource Area/Conservation Area Sensitive Resource Areal Conservation Area Varies Protects areas with important cultural, natural and other community values. These may include areas of significant vegetation, important and sensitive habitats, scenic areas, wetlands, or areas that contribute to the urban shaping and buffering goals of the community Emphasis is on protection of the values that qualify the area for designation as a sensitive resource area or conservation area. In many cases, public access will not be provided and typically no facilities will be developed. If public access is not desirable or needed, conservation easements may be a suitable preservation tool. No LOS standard. City of Wheat Ridge Parks and Recreation Masler Plan DRAFT contribute to the urban shaping and buffering goals of the community Conservation lands are distinctly different from urban parks and cannot be considered a substitute for intensively used parks that are needed within urban settings Conservation lands are different from urban parks because their emphasis is on preserving or enhancing the natural environment rather than providing lands for intensive use by humans. Their character is defined by their inherent natural, ecological, historic and scenic values. Open Space Properties Wheat Ridge Greenbelt The Wheat Ridge Greenbelt is located adjacent to and along Clear Creek, running from Youngfield Street at the west side of the city, past Harlan Street near Creekside Park on the east side of the city The Wheat Ridge Greenbelt is a valuable, regionally-known resource for the city and is heavily used by both residents and non-residents alike of all ages The greenbelt is a total of 250 acres and contains the Clear Creek trail, restrooms, drinking fountains, fishing access, and several lakes Originally owned by Coors Brewing Company, the City of Wheat Ridge took ownership of the land in 2003, The Colorado Division of Wildlife recognizes the greenbelt as one of the most significant wildlife habitats along Colorado's Front Range The presence of the creek corridor and the diverse riparian vegetation provide valuable habitat for a wide range of songbirds, waterfowl, and both small and large mammals Clear Creek itself is a valuable and highly appreciated recreation resource within the community During warm weather Clear Creek is used for kayaking, canoeing, tubing, fishing, and swimming Wheat Ridge Greenbelt contains all three classifications of open space within it. Youngfield Trailhead There are 8 trailheads from which to access the greenbelt; however, the Youngfield trailhead and the Miller trailhead are the most popular The Youngfield trailhead is located at the western edge of the city along Youngfield Street. It contains a large paved parking lot, restroom, and access to both West Lake and Tabor Lake Miller trailhead is located near the former water treatment plant at the terminus of Miller Street. Currently, use of the trailhead property is provided through a licensing agreement with the wastewater district. This licensing agreement provides vital access to the Greenbelt in an area of the City where access is limited It is also strategically located near the Wheat Ridge Recreation Center The Parks and Recreation Department is in the process of pursuing acquisition of this property Other trail heads are located at the following locations just west of 1-70 adjacent to the Cabela's property; at Prospect Park; at Kipling Street just south of 43rd Avenue, at Anderson Park; at Johnson Park; at the northern terminus of Otis Street; and at Creekside Park. Four City of Wheat Ridge parks are located adjacent to the greenbelt: Prospect Park, Creekside Park, Anderson Park, and Johnson Park. DRAFT City of Wheat Ridge Parks and Recreation Master Plan Overall, the greenbelt is in good condition and well maintained Much of the day-to- day management is addressed under the 2002 Wheat Ridge Open Space Management Plan, 2003 Wheat Ridge Weed Management Plan, and 2003 Wheat Ridge Wildfire Management Plan. Although many people utilize Clear Creek for recreational purposes, the water rights are owned by Coors Brewing Company The Clear Creek trail is also in excellent condition, having been resurfaced and reconstructed over the past four years. The only exception is that a vital connection is missing between the Miller trailhead and the trailhead located on Kipling Street at 43rd Avenue Currently, trail users heading east must exit the trail at the Miller trailhead, cross under Kipling Street near the Recreation Center, and re-enter the trail at the terminus of Independence Street. Lewis Meadows Open Space Lewis Meadows is located in a residential area at the corner of West 33rd Avenue and Union Street. Lewis Meadows is 9 acres in size and contains no park amenities, except for a crusher fine trail that meanders through the park. Lewis Meadows is managed as open space and is transected by Lena Gulch Lewis Meadows is in excellent condition, however, it would greatly benefit from a trail connecting this park to others throughout the city, preferably along Lena Gulch Lewis Meadows can be classified as a natural area, using the classification system described previously Visual Green Spaces Lewis Meadows Open Space Visual green spaces are park areas that form vegetative islands, which break up the atmosphere of congestion in densely urban areas and provide a space for compatible forms of quiet recreation. Their primary purpose is to enhance community aesthetics and, as such, should be located in visually accessible areas. No level of service for visual green space areas has been calculated nor is it desired, because these types of areas are dependent upon the neighborhood character and do not often prOVide for typical park functions. Table 2.8. Visual Green Spaces Classification Purpose/Function Visual Green Spaces Strategically located and highly visible natural or manicured lands that contribute significantly to the visual quality of the community May have little or no public access or recreational activities. Varies Site Characteristics May be part of a larger public project (e.g. arterial streetscape or public building landscape). Community should be very selective in accepting maintenance , responsibilities lor these types 01 spaces No LOS standard. City of Wheat Ridge Parks and Recreation Master Plan DRAFT The City of Wheat Ridge Parks and Recreation Department currently maintains several areas of visual green space for a total of 0,87 acre These include the 38th Avenue streetscape, the Harlan Street Walk, and numerous (72) small traffic islands located throughout the city Urban Tree Canopy Another critical natural element within Wheat Ridge is the urban tree canopy. The City of Wheat Ridge was the State of Colorado's first officially designated "Tree City USA" based on extensive tree planting performed by the city in the late 1970s, as well as the development of a tree ordinance and an arborist board. In 1982, the city was also designated a "Green Survival City" by the American Association of Nurserymen for its achievements in city arbor management. Unlike many newer suburbs in the Denver area, large segments of Wheat Ridge's urban forest have matured, providing excellent tree coverage within city parks, the Greenbelt, and along roads. Although the Forestry Division within the Parks and Recreation Department is currently responsible for maintaining and replacing trees within rights- of-ways, it is not quite as active in the community as it once was, due to budget constraints Formerly the forestry program was proactive in assisting residents with a full range of tree issues including education, replacement, and maintenance. Baugh House Undeveloped Parkland The City of Wheat Ridge currently owns 3 properties that are tentatively reserved for future park development. The first of these is a 2.7-acre parcel located on 44th Avenue at Kendall Street. This parcel, although small, has excellent street and visual access and will provide needed park space in a currently underserved area. The second undeveloped parkland is an 8.3-acre parcel called the Einarsen Property, located at 3700 Kipling Street near the Wheat Ridge Recreation Center This parcel has excellent street and visual access, and would provide needed neighborhood parkland in a currently underserved area of the city. The final piece of undeveloped parkland is the Baugh House and property located at West 44th Avenue Robb Street, near the Historical Park. This property contains a historic cabin with a Victorian house built around it. Currently, the Wheat Ridge Historical Society is performing historical renovations on the house in order to salvage the original historic cabin. The Baugh property is separated from the Historical Park by two private properties, and it is hoped that one day the two properties can be joined to establish one large park. DRAFT City of Wheat Ridge Parks and Recreation Master Plan Parks Outside of Wheat Ridge As the City of Wheat Ridge is surrounded by developed communities, residents often rely on parks outside the city limits to accommodate their needs There are numerous parks and recreation resources within a short distance of the City of Wheat Ridge As such, it is important to recognize the parks that residents of Wheat Ridge utilize on a regular basis. Chester-Portsmouth Park Chester-Portsmouth Park is located at the southwest corner of Wheat Ridge along West 27th Avenue near 1-70 Chester-Portsmouth is a City of Lakewood neighborhood park, 13 acres in size, and contains a playground, paved path, multi- purpose playfield, and substantial passive space Due to its close proximity to Wheat Ridge city limits and the fact that many Wheat Ridge residents utilize the park, the City of Wheat Ridge provided $40,000 for upgrades of the playground in 2001 Wheat Ridge Parks and Recreation does not program any activities at this park. Crown Hill Regional Park Crown Hill Park is located along the southern boundary of Wheat Ridge along Kipling Street West 32nd Avenue, and West 28th Avenue, and is a very important park/open space resource to the community, Crown Hill was purchased by the City of Wheat Ridge, the City of Lakewood and Jefferson County Open Space It is administered and maintained by Jefferson County Open Space and totals 242 acres. Crown Hill contains restrooms, drinking fountains, 6.5 miles of paved and soft surface trails, picnic shelters, a fitness course, and fishing access on Crown Hill Lake and Kestrel Pond Created in 1979, Crown Hill Park is an outstanding resource that provides both an excellent wildlife habitat area as well as active and passive recreation opportunities. Common wildlife at the park includes waterfowl, migratory birds, coyote, and fox. Using the classification system described previously, Crown Hill is a Regional Park/Open Space Other Park and Recreation Resources Anderson Building The Anderson Building, located at Anderson Park, was the former recreation center for the City of Wheat Ridge prior to the construction of the current facility in 2000 The facility contains a full-sized basketball court and fitness room, as well as restrooms and locker rooms The building is currently used to house select fitness and sports programs for the Recreation Department that cannot be accommodated in the new Recreation Center due to the space available for the quantity and type of programs needed In general, the building is in deteriorating condition and undersized to accommodate its current uses Any future plans for this building should be addressed under a master plan for Anderson Park. The science is clear. The fundamental reason our children are overweight is this -100 many children are eating too much and moving too little. Kids need to spend more time on the playground and less on the PlayStaoon. Richard H. Carmona, U.S. Surgeon General Vice Admiral, NRP A Congress, 22 October 2003 Anderson Building City of Wheat Ridge Parks and Recreation Master Plan DRAFT Wheat Ridge Recreation Center The Wheat Ridge Recreation Center is located at 4005 Kipling Street on an 11-acre site; it was constructed in 2000 The center is a 70,000-square foot facility containing leisure and lap pools, steam room, sauna, and whirlpool, men's, women's and family locker rooms; a game room; children's pavilion; fitness floor; climbing wall, open gymnasium, racquetball courts, and event rental facilities, including community rooms The facility is currently at capacity in its ability to accommodate recreation program functions. Strong consideration should be given to the feasibility of expanding the Recreation Center in order to accommodate additional programming, and to combine the programming currently at the Anderson Building. Wheat Ridge Senior Community Center The Wheat Ridge Senior Community Center is located at 6363 West 35th Avenue on a 1-acre site. The Senior Community Center is a multi-use facility accommodating many of the senior-specific programming in Wheat Ridge Originally constructed as a church, the Senior Community Center is adjacent to both private open space and the rear of Founder's Park. The center is a valuable and well used resource within the community, providing a range of amenities including meeting rooms, rental space, computer lab, lobby with reading material, arts and crafts room, and a lunch facility Programs available to seniors include day trips, extended travel trips, arts and crafts programs, computer classes, Wheat Ridge Senior Community Center fitness classes, reduced costs lunches, dances, a walking group, and volunteer opportunities B. Existing School District Recreation Facilities The city Inter-Governmental Agreements (IGA) with various Jefferson County R-1 schools to share use of facilities for certain sports programs and activities. Priority for use of school facilities is given first to school needs, then to the Parks and Recreation Department. The following schools have specific facilities that are maintained by the Parks and Recreation Department: DRAFT City of Wheat Ridge Parks and Recreation Master Plan Kullerstrand Elementary School Kullerstrand Elementary is located at 12225 West 38th Avenue. The Parks and Recreation Department is responsible for the following maintenance activities: irrigation, mowing, and field marking for spring soccer; fertilization and weed control for boy's baseball, and field marking for fall soccer There is also a Joint Use Agreement in place that states that the Parks and Recreation Department will be responsible for fencing, aeration, reseeding, resodding, and landscaping at the site The school is responsible for all other maintenance The Wheat Ridge Greenbelt borders the rear of the park, providing ample open space Although a joint-use agreement is in place for these facilities, they do not function as a true neighborhood park. There are portable restrooms provided on a seasonal basis, but no, benches, or picnic areas, and the playgrounds are not included in the agreement for park use There is a need to improve the function of this facility so it operates as a neighborhood park in an area that is currently underserved. Martensen Elementary School Martensen Elementary School is located at West 45th Place and Pierce Street. The Parks and Recreation Department programs 1.2 acres, including 1 baseball/softball field after school hours The school district is responsible for maintenance of the fields except for field dragging which is the responsibility of the Parks and recreation Department. This area does not function as a true neighborhood park. There are no restrooms, benches, or picnic areas, and the playgrounds are not included in the agreement for park use There is a need to improve the function of this facility so it operates as a neighborhood park in an area that is currently underserved Pennington Elementary School Pennington Elementary School is located at West 46th Avenue and Independence Street. The Parks and Recreation Department is responsible for field dragging for boy's baseball and field marking for fall soccer All other maintenance is the responsibility of the school district. This area does not function as a true neighborhood park. There are no restrooms, benches, or picnic areas, and the playgrounds are not included in the agreement for park use There is a need to improve the function of this facility so it operates as a neighborhood park in an area that is currently underserved. City of Wheat Ridge Parks and Recreation Master Plan Prospect Valley Elementary School DRAFT Prospect Valley Elementary School Prospect Valley Elementary School is located at 3400 Pierce Street. The Parks and Recreation Department is responsible for field dragging for girl's softball and field marking for fall soccer. The school district is responsible for all other maintenance This area does not function as a true neighborhood park. There are no restrooms, benches, or picnic areas, and the playgrounds are not included in the agreement for park use. Private open space exists at the rear of the school as well as ample open space associated with the Baptist Church next door There is a need to improve the function of this facility so it operates as a neighborhood park in an area that is currently underserved Wheat Ridge Middle School Wheat Ridge Middle School is located at West 38th Avenue and High Court. The Parks and Recreation Department is responsible for field marking and dragging There is also a Joint Use Agreement in place that states that the Parks and Recreation Department will be responsible for all ballfield lighting (maintenance and utility costs), fencing, restroom and bleacher maintenance, There is also a drinking fountain and portable toilet available for use The Parks and Recreation Department should pursue any opportunities to share use of future facility upgrades that may occur Stevens Elementary School Stevens Elementary School Stevens Elementary School is located at West 40th Avenue and Reed Street. The Parks and Recreation Department is responsible for field marking for spring soccer. The school district is responsible for all other maintenance The fields at Stevens are in good condition; however, the facility does not function as a true neighborhood park. There are no restrooms, benches, or picnic areas, and the playgrounds are not included in the agreement for park use Stevens is adjacent to Wheat Ridge Middle School and separated only by split-rail fence in many locations. There is ample opportunity to establish a designated neighborhood park between Stevens Elementary and Wheat Ridge Middle School to provide parkland in an underserved area DRAFT City of Wheat Ridge Parks and Recreation Master Plan Wilmore Davis Elementary School Wilmore Davis Elementary School is located at West 41st Avenue and Allison Street. The Parks and Recreation Department is responsible for field marking for spring soccer and weed control for girl's softball. All other maintenance is the responsibility of the school district. The fields at Wilmore Davis are in good condition, however, the facility does not function as a true neighborhood park. There are no restrooms, benches, or picnic areas, and the playgrounds are not included in the agreement for park use As the school fields and passive space are located adjacent to Happiness Gardens, there is an opportunity to establish a designated neighborhood park in an underserved area. C. Trails The City of Wheat Ridge has not adopted specific standards for trails, however, it is currently in the process of developing a Pedestrian and Bicycle Master Plan that recognizes the need for a system of continuous connections between parks, recreational facilities, natural open spaces, as well as urban centers, schools, and transportation links Regional trails are those that cross several municipal boundaries, serve the greater Denver Metropolitan Area including Wheat Ridge, and are maintained by several jurisdictional authorities Local trails are those that exist primarily within the City of Wheat Ridge parks and are intended primarily for use by Wheat Ridge residents. Both regional and local trails exist within the City of Wheat Ridge, and have been primarily developed along water and drainageways and within existing parks and open space areas Regional Trails Clear Creek Trail The Clear Creek Trail is a regional trail corridor that is planned to be a10-foot wide concrete trail extending from the intersection with the South Platte River trail near 1-25 and 74th Avenue in west Commerce City, to near the intersection of Washington Street and Colorado State Highway 93 in Golden The trail is not complete through Wheat Ridge, with a gap in the vicinity of Kipling Street. On its continuous sections, it receives heavy use from bikers, hikers, and runners, and is used by both Wheat Ridge and regional residents. Equestrian use is also permitted, there are soft surfaced trail spurs along the western portion of the trail for equestrian use only There is also sporadic use of the trail in the winter for Nordic skiing There are 8 trailheads within Wheat Ridge along the Clear Creek Trail, including Creekside Park, at the northern terminus of Otis Street; Johnson Park, Anderson Park; Kipling Trailhead at Kipling Street Johnson Park Trailhead City of Wheat Ridge Parks and Recreation Master Plan DRAFT just south of 43rd Avenue, Miller trailhead at 41 sl Avenue, Prospect Park; just west of 1-70 adjacent to the Cabela's property; and the Youngfield trailhead Signage to the trailheads could be improved Local Trails Crown Hill Park Trails Crown Hill Park contains approximately 6.5 miles of trail, 3 5 miles of which are paved Horse trails are also available, mainly at the southwest corner of the park. The nature preserve includes 0 7 mile of trail that is ADA accessible There is also a 1-mile long fitness course within the park. DRAFT City of Wheat Ridge Parks and Recreation Master Plan CHAPTER THREE - ISSUES AND NEEDS ANALYSIS This chapter documents the issues and needs that influence the types and number of parks and recreational facilities that are needed in the community The needs assessment phase of a parks and recreation master plan documents the demand for services from current and future residents and, in association with the inventory of existing facilities, highlights potential areas of shortfall or oversupply, which in turn will give direction to future master plan recommendations. Identifying levels of satis- faction, perceptions, use patterns, and priorities for recreational programs and facilities through contact with the user public is an important part of this process. Accurately assessing the current and future needs of residents requires a diverse approach, using many different techniques to gather information Collectively, the data from these various sources creates a picture of what is needed within Wheat Ridge, and can serve as the basis from which to develop a list of projects, priorities and actions, which will be the next step in this planning process, Each technique used in this process provides valuable information, but the data from anyone technique should not be viewed in isolation and without comparing the needs to the Vision, Goals and Objectives of the community Areas of the community that do not have convenient, safe access to neighborhood and community parks were identified in Chapter Two This chapter includes population and growth projections, demographic characteristics, and locations of planned residential growth, which may affect the locations and quantities of addi- tional parklands, amenities, and sports facilities. Peer communities were also surveyed to determine the levels of service they provide for parkland and common recreational facilities This database serves as a benchmark when determining the levels of service that are appropriate for Wheat Ridge Recreational preferences and the level of demand for additional parks and recreational opportunities are also addressed in this chapter Pertinent information from national databases on recreation participation levels and data from the Colorado SCORP 2003-2007 have been considered In March and April of 2006, a formal communitywide mail-back survey was conducted in Wheat Ridge by Left Brain Concepts, Inc., a Denver based research and consulting firm, to measure satisfaction levels, identify what people do in parks, and determine what facilities or amenities they believe there should be more of in parks. Additionally, interviews were conducted with representatives of other public and non-profit recreation providers in Wheat Ridge to assess any specific needs their organizations may have The results of this analysis are summarized at the end of the chapter Strongevidenoe shows that when people have access to parks, they exercise more. In a study published by the coe, creation of or enhanced access to places for physical activity led to a 25.6 percent Increase in the percentage of people exercising on three or more days per week. Paul Sherer, The Benefits of Parks, TrusltorPublic Lands,2006 City of Wheat Ridge Parks and Recreation Master Plan DRAFT A. Population and Demographic Characteristics In 2005, the City of Wheat Ridge had a population of 32,1721 and 14,246 households with a negative growth rate of -0 5% annually By comparison, Jefferson County, in which Wheat Ridge lies, had a modest growth rate of 04% annually The average household size for the City of Wheat Ridge was 2.20 people, which is somewhat lower than the Jefferson County average of 2.52 Approximately 21% of the population is under the age of 18, with 12% age 5 to 14 - the predominant age of children who are most active in programmed recreational sports leagues Twenty-seven percent (27%) of households have children under the age of 18 Nineteen percent (19%) of the total population in Wheat Ridge is age 65 or older Nineteen percent (19%) are age 20 to 34, and 39% are age 35 to 64 Table 3.1 illustrates these numbers in detail. Table 3.1 Wheat Ridge Age Distribution Location Median Under 5 5 to 14 15 to 19 20 to 34 35 to 54 55 to 64 Ages Age years years years yea rs yea rs years 65+ Wheat 40.0 61% 11.5% 5.5% 19.0% 30.0% 8.9% 18.9% I Ridqe Colorado 34.3 6.9% 141% 71% 22.5% 314% 7.9% 97% I The population of Wheat Ridge is also aging. The median age in Wheat Ridge is 40 years, and approximately 19% of the population is age 65 or older The city's senior population is roughly double that of the rest of Jefferson County at 10% By the year 2030, there will be more Americans over age 65 (20% of the total population) than under age 18 Programs and facilities in parks will need to adjust to meet the needs of an active, yet less mobile and athletic clientele, Being phys- ically active is key in maintaining independence and a high quality of life In general, people become less physically active as they get older; nearly 40% of people over the age of 55 nationally report no leisure-time physical activity Challenging exercises and physical activities, done regularly, can help many older adults improve their health, even when done at a moderate level2 The ethnic makeup of Wheat Ridge is somewhat less diverse than state and regional averages, with whites comprising 89.2% of the population. Approximately 13 5% of the population report some level of Latino decent, while 1.9% report American Indian decent and 1 8% report Asian decent; 1.2% of the total population in Wheat Ridge is African American Changes in diversity should be monitored over time to determine if changes in culturally-related programs or facility design based on ethnic preferences and culture should be made The median income for a household in the city is $38,983 The overall per capita income for the city was $22,636, 8 9% of the population and 5 9% of families were below the poverty line, while 11 5% of those under the age 18 and 8.2% of those 65 and older were living below the poverty line3 1 Denver Regional Council of Governments (DRCOG), July 31,2006 2 National Institute on Agiog - Exercise A Guide from thEe National Institute on Aging, 2001 DRCOG 2006 DRAFT City of Wheat Ridge Parks and Recreation Master Plan Annual employment growth for Wheat Ridge in 2005 was 1 6%; 41 % of the employ- ment base is in services, 21 % retail trade, 8% manufacturing, 7% construction, 7% miscellaneous, 4% wholesale trade, 4% public administration, 4% finance, insurance, and real estate, 2% agriculture and mining, and 2% in transportation, communication, and public utilities. Some of the larger businesses within Wheat Ridge include Exempla Lutheran Medical Center, Coors Glass Plant, and Star Guide Corporation B. Development Patterns Since Wheat Ridge is more or less surrounded by fully developed communities, most of the city's growth is occurring as infill or redevelopment in existing areas. Recently, Wheat Ridge annexed a portion of unincorporated Jefferson County (located south of Hwy 58, west of 1-70 and north of W 32nd Avenue) for the construction of a Cabela's retail facility The facility will involve the construction of a 185,000-square foot flagship store with an additional 270,000 square feet of associated retail space No residential development is planned as part of this annexation Future residential development may occur in the vicinity of a planned Light Rail transit stop, which is targeted north of 1-70 in the northwest portion of Wheat Ridge Potential new residential developments that are currently in the planning stages are listed below, with information provided by the City of Wheat Ridge Community Development Department. . 52nd Avenue and Quail Street: Proposed development for 25 single family residential housing units. . 33rd Avenue and Parfet Street: Proposed development for 13 single family residential housing units. . 33rd Avenue and Wadsworth Boulevard Proposed development for 5 duplex lots containing 10 residential housing units C. Peer Community Comparisons A detailed community comparison analysis was conducted among various communities along the Colorado Front Range, documenting their level of service for certain recreational facilities and parkland They were then contacted to solicit information regarding the acres of parks and numbers of recreational sports facilities they provide to their residents. This database serves as a benchmark when determining levels of service that are appropriate for Wheat Ridge Communities that were compared were identified by the Technical Advisory Committee (TAC) and City Council included Westminster (pop 105,177), Arvada (pop 103,004), Englewood (pop 32,491), Broomfield (pop 47,500), Lakewood (pop 143,611), Golden (pop 17, 731), Thornton (pop 101,763), Boulder (pop 97,367), Longmont (pop 80,612), and Denver (pop 556,855) City of Wheat Ridge Parks and Recreation Master Plan DRAFT Table 3.2 lists the average number of facilities provided by the 10 other com- munities, and indicates the amount of developed parkland they provide as well as the parkland standard they have adopted when available (refer to the appendix for the complete table). In general, Wheat Ridge's level of service for all recreational facilities is higher than the average of the 10 communities compared, with the exception of ice rinks. This is not surprising, since most cities do not have an ice rink until they reach a population approaching 100,000 There are ice rinks in other nearby communities available for use by Wheat Ridge residents As such, consideration of constructing an ice rink in the city should be weighed carefully against other, more pressing needs within the community Table 3.2. Summary of Community Comparisons # of Facilities or Acres per 1,000 Population Average Level of Service Average Level of Service for Front Range for Public Recreational Facility Communities Wheat Ridge Soccer Fields/PoDulation 1 :5,058 1 1,609 Football Fields/PoDulation 1:11,715 1:10,724 Baseball/Softball Fields/Population 1.3,508 1:1,462 Outdoor Basketball Courts/PoDulation 1 : 5,809 1,3,217 Tennis Courts/PoDulation 1.3,808 1.3,575 Pools/PoDulation 1 17,614 1 :16,086 Ice Rinks/PoDulation 1 :89,040 0:32,172 Skateboard Parks/PoDulation 1 :51 ,846 1.32,172 Full-Size Gvmnasium/PoDulation 1.31,498 1 :16,086 In-Line Hockey Rinks/PoDulation 1'47,046 1 :32,172 Community Park Developed 291 acres 82 acres Developed Park/Population 2.1 acres/1000 2.6 acres/1000 Parkland Standard 4,4 acres/1000 Neighborhood Park Developed 275 acres 57 acres Developed Park/Population 2.4 acres/1000 1.8 acres/1000' Parkland Standard 2.5 acres/1 000 Area Maintained (grounds and facilities maintained by the Parks and Recreation DeDartment\ 556 acres 454 acres Annual Park Operation & Maintenance Budget (for parks, streetscapes, public grounds and facilities maintained by Park Department) $3,159,426 $1,748,475 Average Cost Per Acre For Maintenance $5,682 per acre $3,851 per acre Maintenance Budqet Per Citv Resident $4766 per resident $54.35 per resident 'Level of service is 2 4 when 10 acres each of Prospect and Anderson Parks are included. DRAFT City of Wheat Ridge Parks and Recreation Master Plan Wheat Ridge is most like the communities of Golden, Broomfield, and Englewood in terms of overall recreational levels of service If Wheat Ridge desires to maintain this high level of service, existing facilities will need to be maintained and additional facilities constructed if infill development or redevelopment increases the number of city residents. For example, if the city increases in density by 10% to 20%, this may add another 3,000 to 6,000 people, who would then need additional recreational facilities to meet their needs. The average level of service in Wheat Ridge for community parkland (including sports complexes) is slightly higher than that of other communities. The level of service for community parks in Wheat Ridge is 2.6 acres for every 1,000 people compared to 2.1 acres for every 1,000 people in other communities. The level of service for neighborhood parkland in Wheat Ridge is slightly lower than the average, with 1 8 acres for every 1,000 people compared to 2.4 acres for every 1,000 people in other communities. However when 10 acres each of Anderson and Prospect Parks are factored into the calculation (because these parks serve neighborhood park functions for residents within a 0 5 mile radius), the neigh- borhood park level of service rises to 2.4 acres for every 1,000 people It is often difficult to directly compare the main- tenance budgets of other communities. The Parks Maintenance divisions of various communities are responsible for different functions, and therefore their budgets may be organized differently and include different items For example, the Parks Maintenance division in one community may be responsible for forestry duties, while in another community they may not be. However, in comparing general park maintenance budgets with this in mind, it appears that Wheat Ridge has a somewhat smaller overall per capita park maintenance budget than other communities, which is due in large part to Wheat Ridge's smaller population and smaller system It also appears that Wheat Ridge spends less money per acre and slightly more money per resident on parkland maintenance than the average of the other communities surveyed It is worth noting that virtually all communities report that they do not have adequate funds for maintaining their parks systems to the level of quality that they prefer Generally speaking, developed parks that have large turfgrass areas and trees are less expensive to maintain per acre than pocket parks and visual green spaces, which require maintenance equipment to be moved from site to site, hand weeding, and mowing by hand or with smaller riding mowers that are less efficient. It is estimated that pocket parks cost approximately 30% more than larger parks to maintain Randall Park Cily of Wheat Ridge Parks and Recreation Master Plan DRAFT D. National Recreation Participation Trends The Sporting Goods Manufacturers Association (SGMA) has commissioned an annual mail survey of American households to determine what activities they participate in at least one time per year Approximately 15,000 completed mail surveys are received and responses are balanced to reflect U S Census para- meters for age, gender, race, household income, and geographic region. The responses reflect people age 6 and above The last few SGMA surveys have been more comprehensive than previous years, therefore benchmark data is not available for many of the categories As shown in Table 3.3, the most popular activity is recreational swimming, followed by walking, free weights, biking, fishing, hiking, and running/jogging. Many activities have seen a decline in total numbers over the past 12 years, including many of the organized team sports However, three relatively new activities have made large gains in popularity - in-line roller skating, free weight use, and mountain biking Data was not available by region, but it is likely that mountain biking involves a larger percentage of the population in this region than nationally Table 3,3 Total National Participants by Activity - All Ages 2004 Activity Percent Change Participants Since 1987 (in 1 ,ODD's) Recreational Swimminq Na 95,268 Recreational Walkina Na 92,677 Free Weiahts + 131% 52,056 Recreational Bicvclinq Na 52,021 Fishin(J -18% 47,906 Fitness Walkina +48% 40,299 Dav Hikinq Na 39,334 Runninq/Joqqinq 0% 37,310 Basketball -4% 34,223 Golf -2% 25,723 Vollevball -38% 22,216 Tennis -13% 18,346 In-Line Roller Skatinq + 270% 17,348 Football Na 16,436 Softball -24% 16,324 Soccer +3% 15,900 Horseback Ridinq Na 14,695 Yoaa Na 12,414 Skateboardinq -3% 10,592 Baseball -36% 9,694 Artificial Wall Climbina Na 7,659 Mountain Bikinq + 253% 5,334 Sports Participation Trends 2004, Sports Research Partnership, April 2005 DRAFT City of Wheal Ridge Parks and Recreation Master Plan According to a 1997 SGMA reports4, the most popular sports for youth based on "frequent" participation are (Table 34)' Table 3.4 Total National "Frequent" Youth Participants Number of Participants Activity in U,S. (in 1,000's) 12,803 6,971 5,229 3,591 3,590 3,022 2,824 2,717 2,079 2,021 Seven of the 10 most popular activities are team oriented, 8 of the 10 require specialized outdoor facilities More recent data is not publicly available from this organization, but since 1997 when this study was conducted, it is well known in the parks and recreation industry that interest in in-line skating, skateboarding, and rock climbing has increased dramatically, and lacrosse and bmx/hill jump biking is emerging in popularity E. State of Colorado Recreation Trends and Issues According to the Colorado SCORP 2003-2007, 94% of the population in Colorado engages in some form of outdoor recreation Table 3 5 shows both the percentage and actual numbers of participants for a variety of activity types among Colorado residents Table 3.5. Participation by Type of Outdoor Activity Among Colorado Residents Activity Percent Millions of Type Participating Participants 2003 2003 Outdoor Recreation Participant 94.38 313 T raillStreetlRoad Activities 87.35 2.90 Individual Sports 3341 111 Team Sports 2452 0.81 Spectator Activities 75.06 2.49 ViewinqlLearninq Activities 8762 2.91 Snow/lce Activities 3741 1.24 Campinq 45.21 1.50 Huntinq 1055 0.35 Fishina 3521 117 Boatina 32.67 108 Swimmina 4101 1.36 Outdoor Adventure Activities 6179 2.05 Social Activities 8734 2.90 NSRE,20UO-2003 Versions 1 14, No1 001, Interview dotes. 7/9~ to 3/03. From Co/aroaa SCORP ?OU,j 4 SportillrJ GO(Jds M8IlufactlHf'r'S Assnciation study cnnd\lcted annually by American Sports Data. Inc. 1997 City of Wheat Ridge Parks and Recreation Master Plan DRAFT The SCORP also states that "Colorado's proactive open space protection efforts provide the venues where the full range of Colorado's outdoor recreation attractions are enabled to flourish for the enjoyment of residents and visitors alike, Yet today Colorado faces a substantial challenge in satisfying the outdoor recreation demands of a rapidly expanding population, while meeting the responsibility to conserve the world class outdoors resources for which Colorado is renowned. Millions of visitors to Colorado continue to enjoy a wide diversity of outdoor recreation activities, yet recreation management agencies across the community, state and federal spectrum report difficulty keeping up with public expectations for quality outdoors exper- iences." As such, there are several social, economic, and environmental trends and influences that have shaped the strategic action elements of the SCORP that should be considered, many of which are relevant in Wheat Ridge. These include trends in the way Coloradoans choose to recreate, demographic trends of population growth, strong statewide open space protection efforts, recreation access, and unprec- edented environmental conditions and stresses, such as drought. The SCORP has identified six issues of statewide significance that Colorado must address to most effectively meet the challenge of satisfying the outdoor recreation demands of a rapidly expanding population, while meeting the responsibility to conserve the special outdoors resources for which Colorado is renowned. Many of these issues pertain directly to Wheat Ridge and include 1. Colorado's citizens and visitors need more effective ways to access the wide array of information about recreation sites and their host communities, and outdoor recreation providers need to better integrate outdoor recreation marketing and management to sustain Colorado's outstanding recreation attractions, its economic vitality, and resulting quality of life. 2. Communities must invest in outdoor infrastructure through well planned, ongoing commitments to meeting a growing population's expectations for a wide range of safe, up-to-date sites at which to enjoy the outdoors 3 Public recreation agencies faced with tight budgets yet increasing demand for recreation services are considering increased reliance on fees and creative pUblic/private partnerships to enhance public services. 4 The sustainability of natural and cultural landscapes and our capability to be stewards of those resources must be considered when agencies and communities plan for and manage the location and scope of outdoor recreation activities. 5 Public access to outdoor sites and management of travel on public lands is challenged by the capacity of our statewide transportation infrastructure and of our natural resources to accommodate the volume of demand 6 Recreation agencies can more effectively engage Colorado's citizens and visitors in resource stewardship responsibilities through youth outreach and volunteer programs DRAFT City of Wheat Ridge Parks and Recreation Master Plan F. City of Wheat Ridge Community Survey The City of Wheat Ridge commissioned a survey of Wheat Ridge residents as part of the formulation of the city's parks and recreation needs assessment and master plan. The objective was to help the city better serve residents by understanding their satisfaction with Wheat Ridge parks, their preferences concerning park and facility usage, and their level of participation in various recreation and athletic activities Often, parks and recreation departments hear from user groups and politically active citizens, but do not have access to people who do not participate in the public meeting process A random survey of residents provides objective data and is a way to identify opinions of a representative cross-section of the community Methodology The survey was conducted via US Postal Service in March and April 2006 A total of 2,500 surveys were mailed to a random sample of households in Wheat Ridge A total of 275 surveys were completed for a response rate of 11 %, The maximum margin of error for this sample size at the 95% confidence level is + 5 9% Study Goals and Objectives The objective of the survey was to learn the opinions of a representative cross- section of Wheat Ridge residents. The survey focused on. . The degree to which Wheat Ridge residents participate in a variety of athletic and leisure activities, . Whether people participate in these activities in Wheat Ridge or if they go elsewhere, . The degree to which residents use existing parks, open space, trails, and re- creational facilities in Wheat Ridge, . Resident's level of satisfaction with the parks, open space, trails, and recre- ational facilities in Wheat Ridge, . Determining why residents like some parks, trails, and recreational facilities more than others, . If people feel additional, or alternative, parks, open space, trails, and rec- reational facilities are needed in Wheat Ridge Key Findings . The parks Wheat Ridge residents cited as being closest to their homes were Anderson, Crown Hill, Prospect and Panorama. More than 4 out of 5 (87%) of the respondents visit these parks at least once annually " Four out of five (84%) rated these parks as excellent or good n People value parks that are well maintained, those that are kept clean, and ones that have paths or walking trails People who rated these parks as fair or poor indicated that the parks are small, are not well maintained, and/or have poor or unsafe playground equipment. City of Wheat Ridge Parks and Recreation Master Plan DRAFT The earlier a city develops a vision for, its parks and open :space, the easier and less expensive it is to implement the plan, before land uses are set, , buildings constructed, waterways altered and opportunities lost. Peler Harnik, Inside City Parks, ULI and Trust for Public Lands, 2000 . Wheat Ridge residents cited a number of parks as their favorites, including the greenbelt/Clear Creek Trail, Crown Hill, Prospect and Anderson Park. o Respondents gave a number of reasons for preferring the parks, including liking those that are well maintained, parks that have walking trails, those that are large, and parks that have natural, undeveloped areas. . People feel Wheat Ridge parks can be improved with better maintenance, more attractive landscape designs, a stronger police presence, and newer or safer playground equipment. . Wheat Ridge residents' 4 favorite parks outside of Wheat Ridge are Crown Hill, Berkley, Washington Park and Sloan's Lake People like these parks because of the walking trails, natural areas, the range of available activities, and visual appeal . The main reasons people do not use Wheat Ridge parks or use them more frequently are safety concerns, access to the parks, lack of restrooms, poor maintenance, and a lack of parking . In rough order of participation, adults in Wheat Ridge 1 Attend concerts and festivals. 2. Engage in outdoor activities such as walking or biking. 3 Enroll in classes or other programs. 4 Participate in self-directed sports such as jogging 5 Take part in team sports . The top 6 facilities that people feel are lacking in Wheat Ridge are 1 Natural open space 2. Large multi-purpose community parks. 3 Outdoor education/nature centers 4 Natural surface pedestrian trails. 5 Picnic shelters 6 Off-leash areas. . More people are satisfied than dissatisfied with the quality of Wheat Ridge parks (71 %), the number of parks in the city (61 %), park maintenance (60%), access to parks and trails (68%), and the recreational programs (59%) and facilities (63%). However, people are less satisfied with the distribution of parks throughout Wheat Ridge (48%), the amount of protected lands in the city (45%), and with the Wheat Ridge trail system (49%) . Use of Wheat Ridge parks by residents is high compared to other similar Front Range communities, 87% have used a Wheat Ridge park at least once a year; one-third (36%) use them 21 + times a year DRAFT City of Wheat Ridge Parks and Recreation Master Plan . Numerous survey respondents expressed an awareness that something needs to be done to improve Anderson Pool, 69% support some type of improvement to the existing facility Many provided written suggestions supporting the construction of a water park and refurbished pool capable of holding state-level swim meets . Only 4% of Wheat Ridge residents' recreational activity is spent on play- grounds at public schools. . Three-quarters of respondents feel that the greenbelt in Wheat Ridge is easily accessible · About three-quarters reported they own a bicycle People spend most of their cycling activity to exercise and for pleasure Conclusions . Use of Wheat Ridge parks is high, 87% have used a Wheat Ridge park at least once a year More than one-third (36%) use them 21 + times a year Also, satisfaction with Wheat Ridge parks is high, 60% or more are satisfied with the quality of the parks, the maintenance of the parks, and the number of parks in Wheat Ridge . Wheat Ridge residents' satisfaction with the city's parks can be improved with better maintenance, and by improving the landscaping and the playground equipment. An increased police presence would also help to improve satisfaction. . Wheat Ridge residents' satisfaction with the city's park system could further be improved by adding natural open space areas, large parks, nature centers, trails, and dog parks. Survey Areas in Wheat Ridge A total of 2,500 households were sampled throughout Wheat Ridge Figure 3 1 illustrates the distribution of responses for the three areas of Wheat Ridge that were sampled 1) east of Wadsworth Boulevard, 2) east of Kipling Street and west of Wadsworth Boulevard, and 3) west of Kipling Street. Figure 3 1 shows the actual distribution of households in Wheat Ridge and the distribution of responses to the survey by home residence For example, there are 4,119 households west of Kipling Street, which represents 29% of the total households in Wheat Ridge There were a total of 91 responses from people in this geographic area, which represents 33% of the total responses to the ,surveY[SII 0'0'0' B'B'Q --- ~~~ 3 & & t)-(l)(l) (l)::r::r .., 0 0 oQ:Q: """" '^ '^ ~~S' 0 ~ 3 ~ .~ O~:::f1"""li.1 ~ ~(l) ~O' ,0 '^ 'w Q """ ~ Q.. ,.,. ~ ~ 11 ,,~~ ~ N N ..... ~ (1) ~1Jt~ ~ iQ \.1i 0 (t) t:: r"1o, o 11 :::s ~l ~ -. Q.;, '~\Q ~ "" ~ 0\ ~ 1J t:: ,Q .., \~ <:: '^ ~ g tJQ.. -. 3;J '^ 'w' ~ g I ::! (1) tfQ ,... !:!' .... o' f"'to :::S' -. g I~i '" ~'at ~ \., (t) ,:0 Q ,~ '^ g I 10 !> 'I;: !i o in ~~ tt 1+ ELDRIDGE IT . '1 . ~ , '" ,'It , ," ,'\ ~ , : Ii ' I' -;', 1\ \ I, ., 11\ '. \\ I ~Ob,.'" ,dl:J)T ~ ~:. ~"#_.. ,":,""'" .t. ";. 0:"",. : \; ~ ~~! " ~ I, '\ TABOR ST \ \\ \\ \~\ I' h 'Ii !~ ~ ~ :,:.l.'....""...'p'nct ,,: " ~ . < .H\\'"'''' " ELDRIDCL Sf ~ ,. ~ TABOR S~ : '''''''l ,!"f '..,,,,.,,,,,,,,u, i~ ,> < ;,."",,,,.......,.......,,, ..." '<<" " ~ \ll""",.. ,~.I...'.""tttt-..~-U...,...... Kipling ST. \ ~ '1 ,. < :..,......" ~,: ;-;~. -,....: ....-; "_0': ~ > < j(JPL"vGsr ~ 1 ~ , II ~ T~r I . l<-t+1,..~"w~~ST ~ II ~ i ~ > < CARR!r PIERCE ST MARSHAU 51 , , tNDEPfNDENCf 51 \ , , ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ > < I '-wADSWORTH;BD 1 ~" '~-\ . '1 ,. < ,I ~~, HARUWrr ...,,,,,,,,,,...........1\,,. '""'''. ,"'" i ''''~ ,,,,,,,,,,,...1 \ t \ '~~ ~ \~ ~ ~~ : < ""- ~ : I ~ ~ : ' :-. ~ (- I ' ~ -~ DRAFT City of Wheat Ridge Parks and Recreation Master Plan Figure 3.1. Community Survey Distribution Areas DRAFT City of Wheat Ridge Parks and Recreation Master Plan Responses by Question Name/Location of Nearest Park Residents were asked to identify the name of the park nearest to their home. This information was also used by respondents to help answer follow-up questions regarding frequency of usage and quality of parks. The most frequently mentioned Wheat Ridge parks are Anderson, Prospect, and Panorama Crown Hill Regional Park was also mentioned by 15% of respondents. People who live east of Wadsworth were more likely to mention Panorama Park. Those who live east of Kipling and west of Wadsworth were more likely than others to mention Anderson Park. Those living west of Kipling were more likely to mention Prospect Park. Table 3.6 Name/Location of Nearest Park East of East of Kipling West of Total Sample Wadsworth / West of Kipling Wadsworth Anderson Park 20% 8% 48% 3% Crown Hill Park 15% 7% 20% 18% Prosoect Park 11% 4% 6% 24% Panorama Park 10% 30% 1% - Greenbelt 6% 4% 5% 9% Paramount Park 5% 1% 3% 11% Founder's Park 3% 10% - - Randall Park 3% 8% - 1% NOTE. The total sample does not equal 100% because a number of other parks and locations were mentioned outside of Wheat Ridge; however, none by more than 2%. Frequency of Park Usage Respondents were asked to indicate how often they use the park that they mentioned as closest to their home Almost all of the respondents (87%) visit the Wheat Ridge park nearest their homes at least once annually Only 13% of the respondents reported they never visit the closest Wheat Ridge park. People who live east of Wadsworth reported less frequent park usage than other Wheat Ridge residents, however, only by a small margin. As would be expected, people who have children in their homes reported greater park usage than those who do not have children Table 3.7. Frequency of Wheat Ridge Park Usage East of Total East of Kipling/ West of Sample Wadsworth West of Kipling Wadsworth Never 13% 18% 11% 11% 1-10 times/vear 38% 40% 39% 36% 11-20 timeslVear 13% 13% 13% 11% 21 + times/vear 36% 29% 37% 42% Total 100% 100% 100% ~OO% -- - - --~,_." - City of Wheat Ridge Parks and Recrealion Master Plan DRAFT Figure 3.2. Wheat Ridge Residents Annual Park Usage Annual Park Usage 40% Never 1-10 times/year 11-20 times/year 21+ times/year Quality of the Parks The overall quality of Wheat Ridge parks was measured Respondents were asked to rate the quality of the park that was indicated as nearest their home Four out of 5 (84%) respondents rated the parks closest to their homes as excellent or good People who live east of Kipling and west of Wadsworth were more likely than respondents in other parts of Wheat Ridge to rate the park closest to their homes as excellent. As part of rating the quality of the Wheat Ridge park nearest their home, respondents were asked to give a reason why they rated that park the way they did As the following table illustrates, people value parks that are well maintained, those that are clean, and those that have playground equipment. In contrast, people rate parks as fair or poor largely when they feel the parks have poor or unsafe playground equipment, are not well maintained, and/or are too small Table 3.8. Quality of Wheat Ridge Parks East of Total East of Kipling/ West of Sample Wadsworth West of Kipling Wadsworth Excellent 19% 17% 17% 22% Good 65% 64% 72% 64% Fair 12% 14% 10% 9% Poor 4% 5% 1% 5% Total 100% 100% 100% 100% DRAFT City of Wheat Ridge Parks and Recreation Master Plan Table 3.9. Reasons for Wheat Ridge Park Ratings Park ratings of: .... ... .. ExceUl)lltlGood Well maintained 38% Clean (no trash, swept UP, etc.) 36% Paths, trails walkinq paths 24% Location - easy to qet to, close 16% Attractive, scenic, landscaped, fiowers 11% Picnic areas, grills 11% Plavqround is good, safe, adequate 9% Natural, undeveloped 9% Restrooms, fountain, open vear-round 9% Sportinq areas - ballfields, tennis, golf 8% Large, open, lots of room 8% The wildlife 8% It is a nice park in qeneral 8% It is safe 8% Natural - creek, lake, pond, trees, shade 7% Variety, year-round activities 6% Lots of activities 5% Sense of community, lots of people there 4% Park ratings of: Fair/Poor 19% 16% 16% 16% 13% 13% 9% 9% 9% 6% 6% 6% 3% Figure 3.3. Wheat Ridge Residents Park Quality Ratings Quality of Parks 70% 60% 11>" Exrl'llcnt GO(1d FAir P(l<lr City of Wheat Ridge Parks and Recreation Master Plan DRAFT Favorite Wheat Ridge Parks Survey respondents were asked to identify their favorite park or recreation area within Wheat Ridge and the reasons why they rated it as such. Most people responded that the Wheat Ridge greenbelt was their favorite park or recreation area. People's list of other favorite Wheat Ridge parks closely followed their responses about the parks closest to their homes, with Anderson, Crown Hill, and Prospect parks being listed as favorites. Table 3.10, Favorite Wheat Ridge Park East of Total Sample East of Kipling/ West of Wadsworth West of Kipling Wadsworth GreenbeltlClear Creek Trail 29% 23% 28% 37% Crown Hill Park 27% 29% 33% 19% Prosoect Park 16% 8% 16% 25% Anderson Park 11% 10% 17% 3% Panorama Park 5% 13% 2% - Recreation Center on KiDlin~ 2% - 3% 3% Founder's Park 2% 4% 2% - NOTE. The columns do not equal 100% because a few other parks and locations were mentioned; however, none by more than 1%. Figure 3 4 Favorite Wheat Ridge Park Favorite Wheat Ridge Park 1'l c . "C C o Co ~ . '" . ~ o .... 35% 30% 25% 20% 15% 10% 5% 0% ~ <-' 0'<- (f ~, r:P "" ",0 0" 0,0 l" >" ~o Park/Recreation Area DRAFT City of Wheat Ridge Parks and Recreation Master Plan Respondents were also asked to give a reason why they favor certain parks in Wheat Ridge The reasons most often cited are the parks have a lot of paths and trails, they are in a convenient location, and because of the natural features present. Table 3.11 Reasons the Wheat Ridge Park is a Favorite East of East of Kipling West of Total Sample W d rth / West of K' r a swo Wadsworth Ip Ing 39% 35% 43% 40% 27% 24% 31% 24% 21% 24% 18% 22% 20% 26% 20% 16% 17% 20% 12% 20% 16% 17% 16% 16% 11% 9% 8% 18% 10% 4% 10% 16% 9% 13% 2% 13% 8% 11% 8% 4% 8% 7% 6% 11% 8% 4% 12% 7% 7% 7% 8% 7% 7% 7% 6% 9% 6% 2% 4% 13% 6% 6% 8% 4% 5% 11% 2% 2% 5% 4% 2% 9% 3% 4% 2% 2% Favorite Park Outside of Wheat Ridge In order to get an idea of the park amenities residents of Wheat Ridge enjoy the most and are willing to travel to use, respondents were asked to identify their favorite park outside of the City of Wheat Ridge and the reasons why Wheat Ridge residents' favorite parks outside of Wheat Ridge are primarily Crown Hill Park and Berkley Park. People like these parks for a number of reasons, including the paths for running, the natural features, the large open space, and the dog-friendly nature Favorite Parks Outside of Wheat Ridge Figure 3.5 Favorite Park Outside of Wheat Ridge 2% 3% 7% 5",~ I rn--C;~~~-HI~old~~ ,_Berkley Pari< o Washington Park o Sloan's Lake . Apex Complex lJ Belmar Park in lakewood . Denl.€r City Park o White Ranch Park . Tanglewood Park I E.1 Clear Creek ParK in Golden I !OTIlltG(Jlden Park City of Wheat Ridge Parks and Recreation Master Plan DRAFT A number of other parks were given, but none by more than 2% of the respondents. Table 3.12. Reasons the Park Outside of Wheat Ridge is a Favorite East of East of West of Total Sample Wadsworth Kipling / West Kipling of Wadsworth Paths, trails, walkinq paths 27% 23% 32% 24% Natural - creek, lake, pond, trees, shade 24% 31% 19% 21% Laroe, ooen, lots of room 22% 26% 22% 17% Doq-friendly, doq park 15% 11% 19% 14% Natural, undeveloped 13% 9% 14% 17% Lots of activities 12% 14% 8% 14% Children activities, olav area for kids 12% 6% 22% 7% Location - easv to Qet to, close 11% 17% 8% 7% Variety, year-round activities 11% 20% 5% 7% Attractive, scenic, landscaped, fiowers 10% 9% 8% 14% Well maintained 9% - 19% 7% SDortinq areas - ballfields, tennis, qolf 9% 3% 14% 10% Plavqround is Qood, safe, adequate 7% - 11% 10% Beautiful view 6% - 11% 7% Picnic areas, grills 6% 9% - 10% Clean (no trash, swept up, etc.) 5% 3% 5% 7% The wildlife 5% 11% 3% - It is a nice park in general 5% 3% 11% - It is safe 5% 3% - 14% Sense of community, lots of people there 5% 9% 3% 3% Ice skatinq rink 5% 6% 8% - Pool, iacuzzi 4% 3% 5% 3% Bike trails 3% - 3% 7% Wheat Ridge Parks that Need Improvement Respondents were asked to identify if there is a park in Wheat Ridge that needs improvement and list the reasons why Two-thirds (65%) could not name a park that they feel should be improved A low percentage of the total respondents mentioned anyone specific park. But, among those who voiced an opinion, Anderson, Crown Hill and Johnson were mentioned most frequently DRAFT City of Wheal Ridge Parks and Recreation Master Plan Figure 3.6 Parks that Need Improvement Wheat Ridge Park that Needs Improvement 14% J!J 12% c ~ 10% " c 0 8% 0- . 6% &! ~ 4% 0 .... 2% 0% q~'+- <('b~ <('b~ A...~ 'b~ <('b~ <(-8~ <(q,~ .s~0<' <(~'+ <('b~ ~<(1)* ~n~ ..;S- 0<:- .Jl';- 0'<<' ~'b x"" ~":J '" ~ -h -,..'~" ":r 'V Cj CJ'lF -!lj rS-' AV 'Orb ''''4' '01> ).O~- u 00' #' ';00 <. <P~'\!. 0<' <.QO 0- 0"::> ~{:, 'bv q,(:I. "?-(;' 0' ':P (}0'b q Q,'l><;' <<.0"::> v <.: ~0 ~ ~ ~ 0(!l' ",0 0,0 Park Name NOTE. A number of other parks and locations were mentioned, but none by more than 2% of the respondents. The percentages in Figure 3 7 are based on the 35% of the people in Figure 3 6 who identified one or more Wheat Ridge parks that they feel needs improvement. The things that people feel need to be improved in parks was consistent with feedback on previous questions, maintenance and unsafe playground equipment Respondents also mentioned undesirable park users and poor landscape design Figure 3.7 Reason the Park Needs Improvement 11% 4% 4% Reasons the Park Needs Improvement I [J Poor maintenance (trees, grass, etc.): i . Not clean, trash, broken glass I , 0 Needs upgrading, updating, ' I completion i 0 Teen hangout/bums/graffiti/need : police 1 J. Poor landscape design, not attract 7, [) No/inadequate parking, no easy access . Playground equipment not safe, poor condition o Grass in bad shape, weeds, paths overgrown . No restrooms, dirty, not open year o round 17 (L1 No trails, poorly maintained trails o Smalllnot much to do o Duck pooplb"d poop 13% . No pool, pool not operational NOTE A number of other reasons \"-'8re mentioned. hilt none by more than 4U! of the respondents City of Wheat Ridge Parks and Recreation Master Plan DRAFT Reasons for Not Using Wheat Ridge Parks Respondents were asked to indicate the reasons that might have prevented them from using Wheat Ridge parks and trails. The primary reason indicated for not using Wheat Ridge parks, or use them more frequently, is safety concerns, difficult access, a lack of restrooms, poor maintenance and a lack of parking, Other deterrents are the distance between the parks and people's homes, overcrowding, and design issues. Other interesting information gathered from this question are: · Women were more likely than men to cite safety concerns, lack of rest- rooms, and poor facility design as reasons for not using a Wheat Ridge park; and . People who live east of Wadsworth were more likely than those who live west of Wadsworth to cite distance from home as a reason for not using the parks more Figure 3.8 Reasons for not Using Wheat Ridge Parks 100% 90% .l1 80% ~ l: 70% Ql "C 60% l: 0 c. 50% III Ql 40% 0:: '0 30% ~ 20% c 10% 0% El Very mUCh/someW.hjt . Not at all <:-'" Fo'" ",,'" ~c'f' ""e. .>:-'0 e.~ ~-$:''0 .~ ,~ .s-e. -~j. e. 0"" 0" ~ & _,v 4f ~, 0 <T 6' ,0 ",'Ii ':'0!b- ~e. o""/:)e. 4>~5 .,,<:- ,.....'Ii r!;i' ...e. is' ~'< :..' 'V~ o~ e."'."o _\ <T ~' ,e. ,;,,:<0 .,0 0 0 e.' 0 .r, .'Ii ,,~ ,k~ _,0 ~v "<(0 e.'" 0'" <( 'Ii<T o'~ ~e. ^~. " ~ ~c'f'.~ /:) " 0v V 00 .n.' ~...~ 0 '0" <( ",'" .....e.'Ii R'< 'Ii<:- Q' _,0 ,&-v'Ii . v>>5 " >:' it ,<:-'Ii ,<v ",,0 ",,0 Reason NOTE. The columns do not equal 100% due to repetition of responses. DRAFT City of Wheat Ridge Parks and Recreation Master Plan Satisfaction with Wheat Ridge Parks In summary, more people are satisfied than dissatisfied with each of the issues queried. However, people are less satisfied with the amount of protected lands in the city and with Wheat Ridge's trail system Other interesting results from this question (divided by category) include the following . Quality/maintenance/number of parks: .,/ Satisfied with the overall quality of the city's parks (71 %) .,/ Satisfied with the number of the city's parks (61 %) .,/ Satisfied with the level of maintenance in the city's parks (60%) . Recreation facilities and programs: .,/ Satisfied with the types of recreation facilities (63%) .,/ Satisfied with the city's recreation programs (59%) · Park access/distribution of parks/trails/open space/access: .,/ City parks and trails are easily accessible from my home (68%) .,/ The city's trail system provides good connections (49%) .,/ Parks are equitably distributed throughout the city (48%) .,/ Satisfied with the amount of protected open lands in and around the city (45%) Figure 3.9 Satisfaction with Wheat Ridge Parks and Recreation 80% 70% '" - 60% c: ., 1:1 50% Ell Agree c: 0 c. 40% . Neutral '" ., i 0 Disagree c::: 30% -- 0 20% ~ 0 10% 0% ><-'" ~ ,,,,<< 0~ 'S'''' & .~" ~ 0" '" h 0 ",'" 0'" >:-'" ",,,, ~~ . ~". if? ,}'" .i:;i ,,,,,'" ~o ;:fi v ,~ !1> 'OS) ,ji '" v ,,_ ",,<< oQ) ,,,,<< . ",><!" ....'Ii "," >:-'" ,y'" ",0' >:- <<~ (;~" ",,,IS' ,:;,0" 0 0<< cP'" 'Ii o ,:;,0 '" ~ ",'Ii ....0 00 0~" ,.l _,co'li '$' .:f "'v~ "",v <f ",'Ii ,,(" ",V' {:' ",<0'. & ~ ~o ",'" \'" ~ .",\ ,,& I.'" '" 0....<< :"IS ",,,,'Ii G~" ",'1> ",'Ii <,(<CO .,~ ,,\0 ~w ,,0 I:.<- ., ~ o~ ;$-" 0 ,,,-v" <('1> "'(:' ,,0 '1>'" Y ",,,'" 1:.<-'" ';''' <('1> -<..\ Satisfaction Category City of Wheat Ridge Parks and Recreation Master Plan DRAFT Use of Public School Playgrounds Residents of Wheat Ridge were asked to indicate how much time they choose to take their children to public school playgrounds to recreate Many of these school recreation facilities are operated as Intergovernmental Agreements with the parks and recreation department. Overall, use of these facilities is currently very low Figure 3.10 Respondents Use of Public School Playgrounds % of Time Respondents Use School Playgrounds % of Re sponde "ts 40% 70% 80% 60% 50% 30% None 1% - 25% 26% - 50% 51% -75% 76% _ 100% %ofTlme Greenbelt Access Residents were asked to indicate whether or not they felt that the Wheat Ridge greenbelt was easily accessible to them. Three-quarters (74%) of the respondents feel that the greenbelt in Wheat Ridge is easily accessible. People who live east of Wadsworth were less likely than those who live west of Wadsworth to report that the greenbelt is easily accessible Figure 3.11 Greenbelt Access Is the Wheat Ridge Greenbelt Easily Accessible? DRAFT City of Wheat Ridge Parks and Recreation Master Plan Facilities in Wheat Ridge Survey respondents were given a list of available recreation facilities and park and open space features They were then asked to indicate whether there are too many, enough, not enough, or that they had no opinion of each type of facility and/or feature in Wheat Ridge to meet the needs of them and their family When the data was analyzed to exclude those who did not have an opinion, which focuses on those people who are assumed to know enough about the facilities to have an opinion, the results show that the top 6 facilities that people feel are lacking in Wheat Ridge are. 1) natural open space areas, 2) large multi-purpose community parks, 3) outdoor education/nature centers, 4) natural surface pedestrian trails, 5) picnic shelters and 6) off-leash areas in parks Figure 3.12. Not Enough of These Facilities in Wheat Ridge - Of Those With an Opinion Natural open space areas Large, multi~purpose community Outdoor education/nature centers Natural surface pedestrian trails Picnic shelters Off-leash areas in parks Dog parks Teen recreation center Trails Ice hockey rinks Exercise equipment Outdoor recreational pool ~ Indoor warm water recreational pool s:: Performance areas Q,) Areas for community events E Outdoor lap/compelitiw pool ~ _ ~ Public gyms. I 0 Not-Eno~gh I ~ Climbing walls Playgrounds .~ Indoor lap/competitive pool u. Golf courses Exercise/dance rooms Outdoor basketball courts Tennis courts Inline hockey rinks Arts and crafts rooms BMX bike area Soccer fields Indoor community rooms Skateboard/skate park Senior recreation center Lacrosse fields Football fields Baseball fields Softball fields 0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% % of Respondents Cily of Wheat Ridge Parks and Recreation Master Plan DRAFT Other interesting results from this question include the following · People under the age of 55 were more likely than those 55 or older to indicate that there are not enough: ./ Natural open space areas ./ Natural surface pedestrian trails ./ Trails ./ Dog parks ./ Of-leash areas in parks ./ Outdoor recreational pools ./ Public gyms ./ Outdoor lap/competitive pools ./ Exercise/dance rooms . People who have children in their households were more likely than those who do not have children to indicate that there are not enough: ./ Natural surface pedestrian ./ Trails ./ Off-leash areas in parks ./ Teen recreation centers ./ Outdoor recreational pools ./ Public gyms ./ Playgrounds ./ Soccer fields ./ Skateboard areas/skate parks ./ BMX bike areas ./ Inline hockey rinks ./ Lacrosse fields · Respondents with two or more adults in their households were more likely than those in one adult households to state that there are not enough: ./ Natural open space areas ./ Natural surface pedestrian trails ./ Trails ./ Outdoor recreational pools ./ Tennis courts . Men were more likely than women to indicate there are not enough: ./ Ice hockey rinks ./ Climbing walls ./ Softball fields DRAFT City of Wheat Ridge Parks and Recreation Master Plan Anderson Park Pool Residents were asked to provide their opinion as to the future of the pool at Anderson Park. The pool is in need of repair and the city wanted to gauge citizen opinion on the type of facility that should replace the current pool Respondents were split between favoring seeing the pool repaired so it can hold state-level swim meets (30%), and reconfiguring the pool so it is both a water park and competitive pool (29%). One in five (20%) did not have an opinion Figure 3,13 Resident Support for Replacement Options of Anderson Park Pool Anderson Park Pool 5% 4% 13 Repair/make capable state-le\€l! meets , . ReconTIgurelmake water park & I' competiti\€ pool o ReconTIgure and make water pari< I o Remo\€ pool and do not replace I it . Not sure mOther 29% City of Wheat Ridge Parks and Recreation Master Plan DRAFT Bicycling within Wheat Ridge The city is currently creating a master bicycle and pedestrian master plan. As such, residents were asked a series of questions regarding their use of bicycles, where they ride, and the type of destinations they ride to Some interesting results of these questions include the following' . Almost three-quarters (71 %) of the respondents reported they own a bicycle . People who are more likely to own bicycles are: ./ Aged under 55 ./ Have college educations ./ Have household incomes of $75,000 or more ./ Have two adults in their households ./ Have children in their households ./ Own their residences . About half (55%) of the respondents reported they ride their bicycles off road or on trails. The others ride their bikes on the roads or streets (37%) or on sidewalks (8%). · About half (44%) of the respondents indicated they would be willing to ride their bicycles one to three miles for commuting The remaining 56% reported they would ride their bikes more than three miles . One in five (18%) of the respondents reported they would ride their bicycles one to three miles for recreation The remaining 82% indicated they would ride their bikes more than three miles . As the following table illustrates, people ride their bicycles mostly to exercise and for pleasure They make less use of their bikes to get to work, to go shopping, or to visit friends and family Table 3.13 Bicycling Activities Never 1-2 times 3-4 times 5+ times a a week a week week To 00 to work 92% 3% 3% 2% To 00 shoppino 84% 14% 1% 1% To visit friends and family 68% 28% 2% 2% To exercise 16% 57% 17% 10% For pleasure 13% 62% 16% 9% . Two-thirds (64%) of the respondents reported they do not ride their bicycles more because they do not have the time About half (48%) said there are conflicts with traffic, and one-third (36%) cited a lack of sidewalks, paths, or bicycle lanes. DRAFT City of Wheat Ridge Parks and Recreation Master Plan Family Participation in Activities Survey respondents were also asked to indicate the number of times in the past 12 months that a family member has participated in each of the following activities - whether it was in Wheat Ridge or another community. In rough order of involve- ment, families in Wheat Ridge partake in 1) concerts/festivals, 2) outdoor activities, 3) classes/facilities, 4) other sports, 5) team sports. Other interesting results include . People under the age of 55 were more likely than those 55 or older to report that they participate in: ,( Volleyball ,( Soccer ,( Basketball ,( Tennis ,( Outdoor swimming ,( Jogging/running ,( Cycling ,( Indoor swimming ,( Water aerobics . Wheat Ridge residents aged 55 or over were more likely than those under 55 to report that they participate in: ,( Senior center trips ,( Senior center activities . People who have children in their households were more likely than those who do not have children to report that they participate in: ,( Volleyball ,( Soccer ,( Basketball ,( Skateboarding ,( Use a climbing wall ,( Ice skating ,( Fishing ,( Outdoor swimming ,( Jogging/running ,( Cycling ,( Indoor swimming . Women were more likely than men to report that they participate in: ,( Indoor exercise programs . Respondents with two or more adults in their households were more likely than those in one adult households to report that they participate in, .,/ Dance classes .,/ Water aerobics .,/ Guided nature walks City of Wheat Ridge Parks and Recreation Master Plan DRAFT ,; Nature observation, walking, use of open space ~ Walking or other general park activity Table 3.14 Family Participation in Activities ';.E~r.f$f1~R~~ 1-5 6-20 21+ Never Lacrosse 3% 1% 2% 94% In-Line Hockev 5% 1% 2% 92% Ice Hockev 6% 1% 3% 90% Baseball 9% 4% 5% 82% Football 11% 5% 3% 81% Volleyball 14% 3% 6% 77% Soccer 8% 7% 8% 77% Softball 12% 6% 7% 75% Basketball 15% 11% 6% 68% OTHER SPORTS 1-5 6-20 21+ Never Disc qolf 6% 1% - 93% Handball 6% 2% 1% 91% BMX Bicvclinq 6% 3% 4% 87% In-Line Skatinq 8% 6% 3% 83% Skateboardinq 9% 3% 6% 82% Use of Climbinq Wall 15% 3% 3% 79% Horseshoes 19% 4% 2% 75% Ice Skatinq 20% 4% 2% 74% Tennis 19% 7% 5% 69% Golf 17% 9% 9% 65% Fishinq 24% 9% 9% 58% Outdoor Swimminq 24% 16% 12% 48% Joqqinq/Runninq 16% 16% 28% 40% Cvclinq 17% 19% 26% 38% Indoor Swimminq 28% 19% 21% 32% CLASSES/FACILITIES 1-5 6-20 21+ Never Gymnastics 3% 4% 2% 91% Senior Center Trips 8% 5% 4% 83% Dance Classes 11% 4% 2% 83% Water Aerobics 8% 7% 6% 79% Use of Arts & Crafts Facilities 13% 7% 2% 78% Swim Lessons 8% 10% 5% 77% Senior Center Activities 12% 6% 8% 74% Indoor Exercise Proqrams 18% 18% 19% 45% Weiqhts/Cardiovascular 15% 14% 26% 45% OUT[)OORACTIVITIES . 1-5 6-20 21+ Never Guided Nature Walk 12% 4% 2% 82% Picnic in a Park 52% 20% 9% 19% Nature Observation - walk, use open 20% 25% 40% 15% space Walkinq or Hikino on Trail Svstem 21% 26% 40% 13% Waikinq or Other General Park Activity 16% 29% 49% 6% CONCERTS/FESTIVALS 1-5 6-20 21+ Never Attend Outdoor Concerts/Perform 50% 13% 6% 31% Attend Community Fairs/Festivals -- -- 59% 13% 9% 19% DRAFT City of Wheat Ridge Parks and Recreation Master Plan G. Recreational Program Participation and Needs Many of the large, intensively used facilities in a parks and recreation system are used by participants of organized recreation programs Understanding program participation rates and trends allows the city to identify specific activities that may be underserved by facilities. Programs that have waiting lists may indicate a need for either more facilities or program staff In addition, different age groups, abilities, and skills often require different types and sizes of facilities. Understanding the differences in these user groups will help the city more specifically determine what needs to be provided in the system. To determine program usage, Wheat Ridge Park and Recreation personnel, as well as local interest groups who provide recreational activities, were interviewed to determine how many participants they have enrolled in various programs The interest groups interviewed were also asked for information regarding the quality of facilities, need for additional facilities, percentage of participants who are city residents, and facilities used for each program The parks and recreation depart- ment offers a variety of organized sports and activities to the community Additionally, a number of other programmed sports are available from non-profit or private organizations in Wheat Ridge, including the Rocky Mountain Thunder swim team (USS), Men's Senior Baseball League (Denver Senior league), Wheat Ridge Piranhas summer swim club, Wheat Ridge Youth Basketball Association (WRYBA), Wheat Ridge Area Baseball Association (WRABA), Wheat Ridge Girls Softball Association (WRGSA), Wheat Ridge Avalanche Soccer Association (WRASA), Wheat Ridge Area Midget Football (WRAMF), and the Jefferson County R-1 School District. Several other private and non-profit organizations and interest groups provide non-athletic oriented recreational activities within Wheat Ridge as well These groups were also interviewed to assess how they use the parks and recreation system and to gauge their individual needs. These groups include the Wheat Ridge Historical Society, Wheat Ridge Rotary Civic Service, Wheat Ridge Senior Center Advisory Committee, Wheat Ridge Cultural Commission, Prospect Recreation District, Wheat Ridge Arts Council, and Wheat Ridge Art League, . ., . .. .. ..' ..... ... City of Wheat Ridge Parks and Recreation Master Plan DRAFT Athletic/Sport Recreation Program Activity Table 3 15 provides a summary of all athletic/sport recreation program participation in the City of Wheat Ridge Table 3.15 Summary of Athletic/Sport Recreation Program Activity Sports Approximate Programs Number of Trends participants Wheat Ridge P&R Men's and Coed Softball 384 Steady Men's Senior Baseball 50 Steady or qrowinq Wheat Ridge Area Baseball Association (WRABA) 240 Steady or qrowinq Wheat Ridge Girls Softball Association (WRGSA) 260 Steady or qrowinq Wheat Ridge Youth Basketball Association (WRYBA) 126 Steady or declining Wheat Ridge P&R Women's and Coed Volleyball 100 Steady or qrowinq Wheat Ridge Avalanche Soccer Association (WRASA) 210 Steady or qrowinq Wheat Ridge Area Midget Football Association (WRAMF) 208 Steady Wheat Ridge Piranhas Summer Swim Club 120 Steady Rocky Mountain Thunder Swim Team 150 Steady or qrowinq Wheat Ridge High School Swim Team 60 Steady Wheat Ridge P&R Coed Kickball 100 Steady Baseball/Softball Programs There has been steady demand for organized youth baseball and softball, as well as adult softball within Wheat Ridge The overall number of individual baseball players from Wheat Ridge participating in all programs was estimated at approximately 290 for 2005, and according to the providers, is either steady or growing The overall number of individual girls softball players from Wheat Ridge participating in all programs was estimated to be approximately 260 for 2005, and according to providers, is either steady or growing as well The overall number of individual adult softball players from Wheat Ridge participating in all programs was estimated to be approximately 384 for 2005 The Wheat Ridge Parks and Recreation Department operates three separate adult softball leagues in both the spring and fall seasons. There is a recreational men's league, a recreational co-ed league, and a competitive co-ed league, for a total of 32 teams during both seasons with approximately 380 players The teams utilize the south field at Randall Park, Manwaring Field at Creekside Park, and the north field at Prospect Park. DRAFT City of Wheat Ridge Parks and Recreation Master Plan The Men's Senior Baseball League (MSBL) is affiliated with the Denver Men's Senior Baseball League MSBL competes in different age divisions: the 18 and over league, the 28 and over league, the 38 and over league, and the 45 and over league There are approximately 50 players from the City of Wheat Ridge in this league MSBL primarily utilizes the baseball field at Anderson Park for both games and practices. The Wheat Ridge Area Baseball Association (WRABA) consists of 8 divisions including T-Ball, 8 yrs, 9 yrs, 10 yrs, 11 yrs, 12 yrs, 13 yrs, and 14 yrs. There are typically 17 to 20 teams in the league with approximately 12 players per team. WRABA typically utilizes the east field at Panorama Park, the north and south fields at Randall Park, Manwaring Field at Creekside Park, the ballfield at Stites Park, the north and south fields at Prospect Park, the field at Martensen, the east field at Wheat Ridge Middle School, and the field at Pennington for both games and practices. The Wheat Ridge Girls Softball Association (WRGSA) described their organization as consisting of 7 divisions They listed these divisions as. T-Ball, 1s1 Midget, 2 Midget, 1 sl Junior, 2nd Junior, Intermediate, Senior, and Competitive There are typically 17 to 20 teams in the league with an average of 14 players per team. WRGSA utilizes the west field at Panorama Park, the north and south fields at Randall Park, the east field at Creekside Park, the ballifeld at Stites Park, the softball field at Paramount Park, and the west field at Wheat Ridge Middle School Providers report that all fields are in excellent condition, and they have an excellent relationship with the parks and recreation department. Most providers feel that there is a need for more field space, as they often encounter scheduling conflicts. Dedicated fields for the younger divisions and T-Ball would be helpful as well This would free up valuable field space for the older division teams. Men's Senior Baseball reports the need for a warning track and practice mounds at Anderson Park field, as well as a green tarp on the top one-third of the backstop to assist in following foul balls in the bright sun. Basketball Programs There is a fairly steady demand for organized basketball in Wheat Ridge, although enrollment has declined somewhat over the last few years The total number of individual basketball players for all programs was estimated to be 126 for 2005 The Wheat Ridge Youth Basketball Association (WRYBA) is affiliated with the Jefferson County youth basketball league WRYBA reports a very good relationship with the Wheat Ridge Parks and Recreation Department. They typically use school gym facilities; however, the costs have gotten very high and this must be passed along to the kids This may explain, in part, the declining enrollment in this program Additionally, the school can cancel out their reserved time if they decide they need to use the facility The parks and recreation department has been very helpful in that they conduct walk-in registration for the league They also opened up Anderson Gym last year for use at a much lower cost. As such, the league will try to use the Anderson Building for all needs next year, and hopefully be able to reduce the player fees City of Wheat Ridge Parks and Recreation Master Plan DRAFT Soccer Programs Competitive youth soccer in Wheat Ridge is operated by the Wheat Ridge Avalanche Soccer Association (WRASA), and interest is growing steadily WRASA hosts 8 separate age brackets the under 11 bracket through the under 18 bracket, in both the spring and fall seasons. In 2005, there were 14 teams with 210 players involved in the program Avalanche Soccer utilizes fields at Anderson Park, Paramount Park, Kullerstrand Elementary, and the field at Kipling adjacent to the recreation center Wheat Ridge Avalanche Soccer reports an excellent relationship with the parks and recreation department. They state that the department is very accommodating to their needs, and continually tries to improve the soccer program in Wheat Ridge by addressing any requests they may have They also report the fields they use at Anderson Park, Paramount Park, Kullerstrand Elementary School, and Kipling Field at the recreation center are all in good condition Overall, they report no pressing needs, although they state that it would be nice to have a synthetic field with lights available for use Recreational youth soccer is operated by the parks and recreation department. The Wheat Ridge Youth Soccer program has remained steady with enrollments over the past few years. In 2005, there were 330 players in the spring and 311 enrolled for the fall season Normally there are between 30 and 35 teams per season. The parks and recreation department currently utilizes four different areas as game fields Anderson, Kipling, Kullerstrand East and Kullerstrand West. This is one more field than in past seasons and is necessary due to additional competitive teams playing this fall Due to the loss of Pennington Elementary School's game field, the department was able to make improvements to Kullerstrand West to make it playable as a game field Practices occur at 12 additional fields at Panorama Park, Wilmore-Davis, Prospect Valley, WRMS, and Paramount Park, where each location has multiple fields Additionally, some open space at Anderson Park has been configured as an additional micro-soccer field, and some use has been secured at Slater Elementary, a Lakewood school located just south of Wheat Ridge The department reports that all fields are in excellent condition as of August 2005 The department knows that the need for field space is directly linked to the size of not only their program, but the local Avalanche competitive program as well. In years where the parks and recreation department program tops out at the upper enrollment range, finding enough field space for teams to practice can be difficult. This is complicated further during seasons where the Avalanche is also fielding more teams As such, they feel it is important to add at least two more potential practice/game sites that can be configured for a variety of field sizes (micro, intermediate and full-sized). Not only would this ensure that they have the necessary space to continue with a quality program, but the extra fields could also be scheduled into normal park and recreation department field rotations, thereby improving the overall health of all soccer fields in the city DRAFT City of Wheat Ridge Parks and Recreation Master Plan Football Programs Recreational football in Wheat Ridge is hosted by Wheat Ridge Area Midget Football (WRAMF) and interest appears to be steady There are 7 age divisions (age 7 through 14), and in 2005 there were a total of 208 players across the 7 divisions. All practice and games occur during the fall, and they utilize the fields at Prospect Park, Randall Park, Panorama Park, Creekside Park, Stevens Elementary School, and Martensen Elementary School. WRAMF reports that fields are in good condition, and they have a great working relationship with the parks and recreation department. They state that they have plenty of practice space, however, they do indicate that it would be nice to have two additional games fields one 100-yard field and one 60-yard field for the younger divisions Swim Programs There is strong and active participation in various swim programs throughout Wheat Ridge Rocky Mountain Thunder (RMT) is a co-ed, competitive United States Swimming (USS) registered swim team that is based in Wheat Ridge RMT competes year-round and utilizes both the Anderson Park pool in the summer as well as the pool at the Wheat Ridge Recreation Center There are 5 youth divisions, including the under 8, ages 9-10, ages 11-12, ages 13-14, and ages 15+ There is also a master's bracket for swimmers ages 19 through 55 In 2005, there were a total of 150 swimmers across all divisions. RMT reports an excellent relationship with the Wheat Ridge Parks and Recreation Department. They state that the facility at the recreation center is a superior facility; however, there is a need for a timing system to be installed They feel strongly that if the city decides to replace the Anderson Park Pool, it should be done so with a facility capable of holding state- level swim meets It is their opinion that a 50-meter pool would provide the ability for state-level meets to be held there, and would thus provide a financial benefit to both the city and community, attracting teams and participants from throughout the state They state that these tournaments typically charge large fees for participants and contribute largely to local economies. They also state that at the very least, the pool at Anderson Park needs new blocks and lanes because the current ones are worn out. The Wheat Ridge Piranhas summer swim club is affiliated with the City of Wheat Ridge and Foothills Summer Swim Association. They have a total of 6 age brackets, including under 8, ages 9-10, ages 11-12, ages 13-14, ages 15-16, and ages 17-18 In 2005, there were a total of 120 participants, and they compete at the 25-meter or 25-yard level The team competes from May until August, practices at Anderson Park, and hosts home meets at the recreation center The first year for the team to host home meets at the recreation center was 2005, however, they can only host 2 to 3 meets per season due to scheduling conflicts They can no longer utilize the pool at Anderson Park because the movable bulkhead is broken, and thus they cannot compete at the 25-meter or 25-yard level They feel the team needs access to an outdoor facility, either a 50-meter pool with a movable bulkhead or a dedicated 25-meter pool Having this type of facility would allow them to host leagues, meets, invitational and state competitions They feel this would be beneficial because the team could then raise money from concessions, t-shirt sales, etc They state that the Summer Swim Club is a wonderful program for kid's self- esteem, as they reward all competitors, not just the winners I Whereas companies - or sports learns. for that matter, that get financial in. centives can pull up and leave at virtually a moment's notice, investments in amenities like urban parks, for example, last for generations. Other amenities - like bike lanes Qr off-road trails for running, cycling, rollerblading, or just walking your dog - benefit a wide swath of the pOpulation. Richard Florida, Rise of the Creative Class, Perseus Books Graup, 2002 City of Wheat Ridge Parks and Recreation Master Plan DRAFT The Wheat Ridge High School swim team uses the recreation center pool Monday through Friday from 3-5 pm. They have a total of 40 female swimmers and 20 male swimmers, and compete in the winter and spring Overall, they report an excellent relationship with the parks and recreation department and currently have no needs Volleyball Programs The Wheat Ridge Park and Recreation Department offers a volleyball program for adults, which includes spring and fall leagues with both a co-ed recreation division and a women's competitive division. In 2005, there were a total of 10 teams with approximately 100 players in all divisions. Most practices and games occur at the gym in the Anderson Building. Kickball Programs The City of Wheat Ridge offers an adult co-ed kickball league in the spring and fall for players ages 16 and up The spring season plays for 10 weeks, beginning in mid-April The spring kickball league plays at Prospect Park, while the fall kickball league plays at Manwaring Field at Creekside Park. In 2005, there were a total of 10 teams in both leagues with approximately 100 players Non-Athletic/Sport Recreation Program Activity Wheat Ridge Art League The Wheat Ridge Art League was organized in 1974, and originally affiliated with the Wheat Ridge Parks and Recreation Department. Their purpose is to promote the creation and appreciation of art to the residents of Wheat Ridge Certain members of the Wheat Ridge Art League report a less than amicable relationship with the parks and recreation department. They state that at one time, they were fully funded by the city; however, in the last 10 years, there has been no financial support. They now have to pay for the use of meeting space at the Wheat Ridge Senior Center as well as for space for their workshops, which are a critical element of what they do. Since many members are seniors on a fixed income, this has become very difficult financially for them. Also, the Art League has had to hold workshops outside the city because it is cheaper to rent meeting space through Lutheran Holy Cross Church The only support they currently receive from the city is use of a copy machine for production of their monthly newsletter The Art League displays their work at local businesses throughout the city, and has signs associated with each piece that states "Supported by Wheat Ridge Parks and Recreation Department." They feel they are not getting adequate support and the city is lacking in their commitment to their organization Wheat Ridge Historical Society The Wheat Ridge Historical Society helps to promote the history of Wheat Ridge and maintain its historical facilities, including the Historical Park, the Baugh House, and the Richards-Hart Estate Overall, the Wheat Ridge Historical Society reports a good working relationship with the parks and recreation department. Currently, the Historical Society office is only open on Fridays with two volunteers There is too much work for existing volunteers to handle, and they would like to see one additional person hired to work approximately 20 hours per week, as was the case in the past. Most volunteers are seniors, and they feel it will be important to have DRAFT City of Wheat Ridge Parks and Recrealion Master Plan someone to pass the information along to when they step down The city provides a person to regularly clean, but the Historical Society reports that it is only done sporadically. They would like to see someone come on a regular basis, ideally one hour per week. They also report they need a flagstone walk from the front door to the front gate, and would also like a drip system for the perennial flowers Lastly, they would like to see more interest and involvement from the city in the Historical Society, as it is a very important element to the culture of Wheat Ridge. Wheat Ridge Rotary Civic Service The main objective of the Wheat Ridge Rotary is service The Rotary consists of professional men and women who work as volunteers to improve the quality of life in their home and community. Club membership represents a cross-section of local business and professional leaders The Rotary club reports an excellent relationship with the parks and recreation department. They meet weekly in the community room at the recreation center, for which they donated $30,000 to help construct. They also donate $1,000 per year for upgrades to the room, including AV equipment, podium, etc. They currently have $5,000 earmarked for the recreation center this year Last year, the Wheat Ridge Rotary took over beer sales at the Carnation Festival, and it is now their largest fundraiser The only needs they report are more parking, electrical hook-ups, restrooms, lighting, and covered areas available for the Carnation Festival. Senior Advisory Committee This group advises the parks and recreation department on the operation of the senior center Generally, they report a very good relationship They feel that as the senior population in Wheat Ridge continues to grow, an expansion of the senior center will be needed (as they are already tight on space). They would like to see the city purchase the land adjacent to the center for expansion, which would also provide a direct connection to Founders' Park. The Senior Advisory Committee also feels there needs to be better distribution of park and recreation information, such as simplified maps and/or brochures available around the city as well as more patrols along the greenbelt. Wheat Ridge Cultural Commission The Wheat Ridge Cultural Commission was created to promote culture and the arts in the city, and foster cultural enrichment and education opportunities for the citizens of Wheat Ridge In addition, the commission helps provide revenue for these activities by encouraging production of exhibitions, fairs, and similar events The Cultural Commission reports a very good relationship with the parks and recreation department. In general, they feel more attention needs to be given to cultural programs in Wheat Ridge The commission feels that joint use agreements for cultural facilities between the schools and the city would provide needed venues for cultural programming that does not currently exist. The commission also feels that the culture within a community contains three components. the cultural community, the city government, and the business community It is their opinion that if the city would provide support and resources for cultural events to be held near business areas, everyone would benefit. They report that this model has been highly successful in other communities City of Wheat Ridge Parks and Recreation Master Plan DRAFT Wheat Ridge Arts Council The purpose of the Wheat Ridge Art Council is to promote the creation and appreciation of art to the residents of Wheat Ridge In general, the Wheat Ridge Arts Council reports a good relationship with the parks and recreation department. They host an annual Taste of the Arts fund raiser; they would like to hold the event at the recreation center, but cannot because the rental fee is too high. Ideally, they would like to see parks and recreation reduce or waive this fee altogether, as the council directly supports the community Prospect Recreation District Prospect Recreation District serves residents who live outside of Wheat Ridge in unincorporated Jefferson County Many of their residents use Wheat Ridge recreation facilities, but must pay non-resident fees. Additionally, some Wheat Ridge athletic teams use Prospect Recreation facilities, they must pay a flat fee as do all Jeff Co teams that use these facilities. Overall, they report a good relationship with the parks and recreation department and try to be good neighbors Jefferson County R-1 School District The Jefferson County R-1 School District reports an excellent relationship with the parks and recreation department. They currently have several intergovernmental agreements with the department for use of facilities at several elementary and middle schools within the city Of all the joint-use arrangements they have in the county, they report that the one with Wheat Ridge is by far the best. They also report that the parks and recreation department is an excellent partner, and no problems or issues have arisen in 5 years. They are currently working on potential joint-use arrangements for several new facilities in Wheat Ridge if a proposed bond issue passes These facilities may include a baseball complex, girls lacrosse field, and locker room facilities at Wheat Ridge Middle School; a boys lacrosse field and softball complex at Pennington Elementary School, and tennis courts, baseball and softball fields, a multi-purpose athletic field, weight room, locker rooms, gymnasium, wrestling room, team room, all-weather track, and a football field at Wheat Ridge High School H. Existing and Future Recreation Facilities Needs Table 3 16 lists the current level of service for various active recreational facilities that groups and individuals in Wheat Ridge use, as well as the average level of service for other communities in the Rocky Mountain West. Based on these levels of service, both current and future needs and deficits are given. These numbers also assume ongoing partnerships with the Jeff Co R-1 School District, and that use of the current facilities by Wheat Ridge residents continues According to this analysis, which uses a standard based on the average of other communities, there is currently not a need for additional recreational facilities in Wheat Ridge There may, in fact, be a need for additional facilities in the future due to possible future growth However at the moment, Wheat Ridge is not experiencing any growth (-05% growth rate in 2005) Additionally, no definite growth buildout number has been established by the city DRAFT City of Wheat Ridge Parks and Recreation Master Plan As such, a target level of service that is based on averages in other communities has been applied to determine current recreation facility needs, If Wheat Ridge targeted a level of service that was average for peer communities along the Colorado Front Range, the City would not need any additional recreational facilities based on its current population This does not take into account differences in the age, quality, accessibility or other design characteristics of the facilities. Table 3.16 Recreational Facility Needs Recreational Facility Current (2005) # of Facilities in Wheat Ridge Average Level of Service for Wheat Ridge' (population per facility) Average Level of Service for Front Range Communities (population per facility) 2006 # of Facilities Needed (based on average) 2006 Deficit SoccerlLacrosse 20** 1'1,590 1:6,200 5 0 Fields Football Fields 3 1 10,620 1 11 ,720 3 0 Softball/Baseball 22"'** 1 1,450 14,020 8 0 Fields Outdoor Basketball 10 13,190 1:6,520 5 0 Courts Tennis Courts 9 13,540 1.3,860 8 0 Swimming Pools 2 1'15,930 1'18,440 2 0 Ice Rink 0 0:32,172 1 :89.040 0 0 Gymnasium 2 115,940 1.31,490 1 0 Skateboard Parks 1 1.31,869 1'51,850 1 0 Inline Hockey Rink 1 1:31,869 1 47,050 1 0 'Pop 32,172 Denver Regional Council of Governments (DRCOG), July 31,2006 " 12 fields at school facilities "'10 fields at school faciiities These numbers differ somewhat from the recreation provider interviews and the community survey The Wheat Ridge Area Baseball Association and the Wheat Ridge Girls Softball Association both state that at least two more fields as well as a dedicated T-Ball field are needed to relieve current scheduling conflicts. However, the community comparison analysis reveals there is an abundance of fields, Even if the fields located at schools are removed from the comparison, Wheat Ridge would still have a high level of service (1.2,681) than the average of Front Range communities As such, it is not recommended that construction of additional fields is needed at this time Wheat Ridge Avalanche Soccer expressed a desire for access to a synthetic turf field with lights, While it is not recommended that the parks and recreation department construct one, access may be available through Jeff Co R-1 School District if they are successful in the construction of new facilities at the various schools within Wheat Ridge Wheat Ridge Area Midget Football also expressed a need for one additional 100-yard and one additional 60-yard field The City of Wheat Ridge is only slightly better than the average of Front Range communities for football fields If there is available space to construct one additional multi-purpose field at an existing park, it is recommended that it be done sometime in the near future Both the Rocky Mountain Thunder and Wheat Ridge Piranhas City of Wheat Ridge Parks and Recreation Master Plan DRAFT swim teams have expressed need for a new competition level outdoor pool at Anderson Park. The current pool is quickly deteriorating and is no longer adequate to serve their needs. It is recommended that a new 50-meter competitive pool with a movable bulkhead be built in place of the current pool As there is no organized ice hockey program in Wheat Ridge, there was no expressed need for an ice rink within the city Approximately 45% of survey respondents did, however, say that there is not enough of that type of facility within the city The construction of an ice rink requires a large capital investment and they are typically a regional attraction in nature. As such, construction of such a facility within the next 10 years is not recommended and resources should be devoted to more pressing needs. Other notable amenities and facilities that respondents of the community survey said there were not enough of (that the City of Wheat Ridge does not currently provide) include a dog park, a teen recreation center, and more trails. Although there are no specific standards for these types of facilities, the community clearly desires them. Dog parks are quickly becoming one of the most popular recreational amenities in communities, both regionally and nationally The addition of such a facility could be accomplished at a relatively low cost and would provide a high amount of satisfaction in the community Teen recreation centers are provided in many communities along the Front Range, as well as regionally and nationally The construction or incorporation of one into an intergeneration facility should be considered, as it offers a needed and well respected resource for teens within the community, much like a senior center Additionally, many teen-specific amenities (such as climbing walls or skate features) could be incorporated into such a facility I. Existing and Future Parkland Needs The community survey indicated that people are relatively content with the overall quantity of parkland in Wheat Ridge Currently, the level of service for neighborhood parks in Wheat Ridge is 1.8 acres/1,000 population When 10 acres each of Anderson Park and Prospect Park are included in that average, which serve neighborhood functions to those residents within 0 5 mile, the level of service rises to 2.4 acres/1,000 population. This level of service is comparable to that of many communities along the Front Range, which averages 24 acres/1 ,000 population (see Table 3.2 for parkland comparisons). Wheat Ridge may want to continue to monitor satisfaction levels of residents and develop existing undeveloped parklands as needed The city may also want to expand existing parks and be proactive with developers of infill and redevelopment projects to ensure that adequate resources are being placed on the provision of parks and recreational services within the city DRAFT City of Wheat Ridge Parks and Recreation Master Plan Map 3, Neighborhood Park Service Areas, in Chapter Two shows the areas within Wheat Ridge that are underserved by neighborhood parks. In areas where a service radius does not exist, it is either because there is no available neighborhood park or access to a park is prohibited by a barrier, such as a major roadway, Although the overall level of service for neighborhood parkland is comparable to the Front Range average, careful consideration should be given to the provision of parklands to those areas of the city that are currently underserved Many of these underserved areas could be accommodated through the enhancement of existing joint-use school park facilities. Many of these facilities do not adequately serve as neighborhood parks and thus cannot be considered as such However, minor improvements in access, visual appeal, and amenities would greatly improve their function and provide nearby residents with needed parkland Currently, the level of service for community parks in Wheat Ridge is 2.6 acres/1,OOO population This level of service is somewhat greater than the average of other communities along the Front Range, which average 2.1 acres/1,000 population (see Table 3.2 for parkland comparisons) While there does not appear to be a need for additional community parkland, there is strong community support for a large multi-purpose community park and performance areas. Strong consideration should be given to the role that both Anderson Park and Prospect Park serve within the community It is recommended that a master plan for each park be developed so that each park can best serve the existing and future needs of the community. J. Trail Needs Time and again when Colorado residents are surveyed, the most frequent activities in city parks, trails, and open space systems are walking, nature observation, bicycling, picnicking, and jogging.5 For example, in Arvada, 80% of residents surveyed walked/hiked on a trail system, 79% observed nature or walked in an open space area, and 66% bicycled on a trail system Comparatively, 20 to 25% of residents played soccer, golf, softball, outdoor basketball, or tennis. Colorado Springs and Fort Collins survey results show similar trends. Similarly, more than 60% of Wheat Ridge residents feel there are not enough natural surface bike/pedestrian trails and paved trails Additionally, only 49% are satisfied that the city's trail system provides good connections to parks and other important destinations Based on community survey results as well as a comparison with other communities along the Front Range, there is a strong need for additional primary-level trails and trail connections within the city Currently, there is somewhat limited opportunity for residents to easily and safely travel or commute throughout Wheat Ridge via alternative transportation, such as biking, skating, or walking. The Clear Creek Trail provides a tremendous east-west travel route The only 5 EDAW, Inc City of Wheat Ridge Parks and Recreation Master Plan DRAFT exception is that a vital connection is missing between the Miller Trailhead and the trailhead located on Kipling Street at 43rd Avenue, Currently, trail users heading east must exit the trail at the Miller Trailhead, cross under Kipling Street near the recreation center, and re-enter the trail at the terminus of Independence Street. Additionally, there are no north-south connections for residents to access Clear Creek Trail Also, there is little ability to travel between park and recreation destinations within Wheat Ridge via either an off-road system or an on-road route network. There have been initial efforts to create a pedestrian and bicycle master plan for the City of Wheat Ridge, however it has yet to be accomplished This should become a high priority for the city so that a blueprint for an extended future trail network can begin. DRAFT City of Wheat Ridge ParKs and Recreation Master Plan CHAPTER FOUR - RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE MASTER PLAN This chapter includes a discussion of the integration of this plan with other community planning efforts, the role of the Greenbelt in the community, and specific project recommendations that are needed to meet existing and future urban recreational, park, open space, and trail needs in the City of Wheat Ridge A master plan map is also included that graphically depicts the locations of specific project recom- mendations These recommendations include ways to address existing deficiencies, projected needs, and changes in recreational habits, and other issues identified through the inventory and needs assessment. A. Integration with Community-Wide Planning Apel-Bacher Park As the City of Wheat Ridge moves forward with future citywide planning efforts, such as the Neighborhood Revitalization Study Strategies, Wheat Ridge 2020, and individual sub-area plans, it is imperative that the Parks and Recreation Master Plan be coordinated with these efforts. City leaders have taken progressive steps to outline a vision for the future of the city and how it will look. These planning efforts encompass all elements of the city, including traffic, housing, employment, neigh- borhood design, and commercial districts. Likewise, they should also fully incorporate and integrate parks and recreation There is broad consensus within the community that the parks and recreation system is both the backbone as well as the face of the city; it is the largest publicly visible and used component - the public realm. Residents and civic leaders alike agree that unique resources, such as the greenbelt and recreation center, help to differentiate Wheat Ridge from other communities in the area. It is these resources that will help continue to make Wheat Ridge a desirable place for new families to want to relocate to in the future While other communities desperately search for ways in which to acquire additional park and open space land to promote redevelopment and economic development in their community, Wheat Ridge is far ahead in the possession of these resources However, simply possessing these resources may not be enough. These resources should be celebrated and endorsed through integration into all future planning efforts. In order to encourage thriving natural and human communities, green infrastructure planning treats open spaces as a necessary and beneficial aspect of urban and suburban environments By incorporating green space networks into communities, City of Wheat Ridge Parks and Recreation Master Plan DRAFT Numerous studies have shown that palks and open space increase the value of neighboring residential property. Growing evidence points to a similar benefit on commer- cia properly value. The availability of palk and recreation facilities is an Important quality of life factor for corpor- ations choosing where to locate facilities and for well- educated individuals choosing a place to live. Paul Sherer, The Benefits of Parks, Trust for Public Lands, 2006 B. Role of the Greenbelt in the Community Over and again, residents within Wheat Ridge consider the Greenbelt to be not only the single greatest asset of the community, but also one that is identifiable with the City and uniquely separates them from the rest of the greater Denver area. In addition to established open space and recreation opportunities, the Greenbelt provides the City with a natural buffer from Interstate 70 and communities to the north. However, the Greenbelt could also prove to become an economic incubator for the city as well The greenbelt corridor and associated park and recreation facilities should be established as anchors from which future mixed-use redevelopment should focus. This type of interconnected green infrastructure is becoming an increasingly important and valuable component of community planning The draw of people who desire to be close to and recreate in areas such as the greenbelt, is a powerful incentive for businesses to locate here. Wheat Ridge has an unprecedented opportunity to capitalize on their current resources to successfully revitalize areas that will produce positive economic, residential, and aesthetic benefits. In order to fully capitalize on the assets of the Greenbelt, without compromising the integrity of the natural character and environmental values that make it special, strong consideration should be given to incorporating the Greenbelt into broader community planning efforts, in particular the Orchard District Sub-Area Plan. This incorporation should fully encompass the entire Greenbelt area within Wheat Ridge and examine it in a wholistic manner Special attention should also be given to the potential of the Greenbelt as an economic incubator in the community Integration into broader community planning efforts would provide an opportunity to address how site specific areas, such as Anderson Park, Prospect Park and Johnson Park, interface with the Greenbelt. Other critical issues that should be addressed include the need for additional trail heads and their locations along the Greenbelt, the use of Clear Creek as a recreational amenity within the City, and strategic property acquisitions along the Greenbelt corridor Lastly, a central piece of future Greenbelt and community planning should address overall access to the Greenbelt. Identification of ways in which access could be improved should be addressed including, but not limited to, improved street crossings, additional trailheads and parking, additional on and off-street trails leading to the Greenbelt, and the provision of public transportation to the area. '..""" ''';; '2$~ ~1 <:, 'I "ij:;!!""v, xc III~ ~ I w%{i~"'0/ffl~'J/v"'" i"t, " '" ~J' , 0j~'&: tko.:, \1'/%,:''' '" J' ~ ~ ,'R", 11 X' ' 'll ~;,,,, .. ~ t <<: "" ij'i" ";\;;%1('L <\);0 ~';}'t,i1l61fk'j&,~,~" llm&~@;J~'" ~m \0 '[ ~ ,] @j;\Qin;tt1qtH;%tJ1",@,*~>~'"}~J ,% JRecOmmCltllllatlQns 0", ttie Master Plan" '.$, '" , '~'Y' '" !;"f!t~Y';~, 0 , "" ~ 'i !\ ~ ~ ", DRAFT City of Wheat Ridge Parks and Recreation Master Plan C. Park Projects Although Wheat Ridge is not currently deficient in parkland compared to other Front Range communities, there are areas within the city that are underserved by neighborhood parks The community survey supports this, as only 48% of respondents felt that parks are equitably distributed within Wheat Ridge Other indicators related to park needs uncovered in the community survey relate to park and recreation facilities and amenities, trails, and trail connections throughout the city According to the survey, one primary reason people in Wheat Ridge do not use parks, or use them more frequently, is because they lack facilities or features they are looking for Some of the features people feel are lacking in Wheat Ridge include large, multi-purpose community parks; outdoor education and nature centers, natural surface pedestrian trails, picnic shelters, off-leash areas in parks, dog parks, teen recreation centers, and trails An analysis of trails within Wheat Ridge also reveals that while the Clear Creek Trail provides an excellent off-street east-west route, there is no safe, off-street alternative in which to travel north-south There are also no identified routes or trails that link other park, recreation, and school destinations within the city This is supported by the fact that only 49% of respondents feel that the city's trail system provides good connections. Additionally, the City of Wheat Ridge has always recognized the importance of public art within the community and has established an ordinance supporting it. As part of an effort to continually improve the overall appearance of Wheat Ridge parks, appropriate locations should be identified within parks for the display of public art, In order to meet the needs of existing and future residents, several proactive steps will need to be taken by the city that ensure an increase in resident satisfaction and improvements in the geographic service of parks within the community As Wheat Ridge is not generally lacking in overall neighborhood or community parkland, it is not recommended that the city immediately pursue acquisition of property for parkland development unless an exceptional and unique opportunity arises As such, current undeveloped parklands should be developed into neighborhood parks, and other efforts should be made to improve the function of existing parks. Additionally, enhancements can be made to joint school-parks to help them function more appropriately as neighborhood parks These actions will help to solve existing needs and deficiencies in underserved areas. A number of trail upgrades and developments should also be made to improve the overall system, and improve access and connectivity to parks and recreation resources. Develop Existing Park Sites The City of Wheat Ridge currently owns three parcels of land for development of neighborhood parks Careful foresight and planning on the part of the Parks and Recreation Department has allowed them to acquire and "bank" these parcels and designate them for future park purposes Map 5, Proposed Master Plan, shows the locations of the undeveloped park sites, that when developed will help to enhance service to current and future residential areas that are underserved -I ~ c ~ \i a - a. .. cu ~ ~ .. ~ a ~ 2 j! :1 0 ." cu ~ 0 Q. 0 '" .. 0 a. ~~ 00 1ft Q. a 2- 2 0 '0 e , , 0 , I '" :>. '" :t: .: u e & ~ CG ~;g~ '2 ~ ~ :I! " ~&!~ .\ -\~ is sro'~i$- 1-1 as '~ '. 01' --j --, ~~ "'C I r . __. i' ~ c= ..., o ~, ~. '~Kf ~'j~~ ""~:' ,,,: ~ ~ ~- 'I i i 15 30Iiwcfa '~^-!i ',o,,./;-j .. . ,) . . ~^ C0 -" L!l ~ i ~ E! & i E IV 5 0) .- E 8 ~"€~i<{5 1!w1!a: 5-E 8oo:).~w ... Q. :t:! t: Q) =g'g...!..:SO.5 c~~8tf"g5 ..-".r:.--O'" E~,,~.e:3iu Q. <( GI 0: ... ." .0;>.....0.00) :>>-",::>~a.8 .~=~o~'" ;.~~~~~& .10+"....<1 Jl: 6 a. '0 e o '8 .r:; g ~ ~ ~ '8 2 <3 -5 .r:; 8 ~ ~ 8 e ~ ~ j....-s ~8 i:ii -g g 0:: c ..b:lS.c_~g - - Q. = - Qi Q) _02el.r:.~ 'i~a. t-..~_ '::2.=.1:.. ~ 'l: 8 :>.'0 -e ~ 6 8. E:e cu x E 8- 8:>.~~{8il -E:t:!~~ecQ. o 5 a. Q. 0 .2 ..Q j ~ E :2 ';; t g ~ ..~.~g~~o~"g .a.zua-O~C::J :. . 'I . DRAFT City of Wheat Ridge Parks and Recreation Master Plan Map 5 DRAFT 44th and Kendall Street This parcel is 2 acres in size and located near the intersection of 44th Avenue and Kendall Street. Although somewhat small in size for a full neighborhood park, development of this site will provide well needed parkland in an underserved area of the city The parcel has road frontage on 44th Avenue, which will provide good access, both physically and visually As the land is already owned by the City, costs of park development will be lower than if the land would need to be purchased This park should provide basic park amenities, including a playground, picnic shelter, restroom, shade structures, and a multi-purpose playfield if the site is large enough to accommodate this use City of Wheat Ridge Parks and Recreation Master Plan 44th and Kendall Einarsen Property The second undeveloped park property is 8 3 acres in size and located along Kipling Street between 38th Avenue and 35th Avenue This site is adequately sized for a full neighborhood park and has excellent access, both visually and physically, along Kipling Street. Development of this park will not only provide a neighborhood park in an underserved area, but also provides an outstanding opportunity for other needed park features in a centralized location within the city It is recommended that consideration be given to providing a dog park at this location as well as skateboarding features, in addition to other traditional neighborhood park amenities such as a playground, picnic shelter, restroom, and shade structures. This is an ideal location for a dog park due to its centralized location, easy access, and proximity to other park and recreation amenities, such as the Wheat Ridge Recreation Center, which is located approximately one block away As skateboarding and in-line skating have become increasingly popular, the addition of elements designed specifically for these activities would be ideal in this location as well By co-locating a dog park near the skate features, the park will be activated in a manner that provides for self-policing of the skate area by dog park users as well as other park users There would also be good line-of-site from Kipling Street as the parcel is narrow in shape Since the site slopes somewhat steeply from south to north, the inclusion of a multi-purpose turf field may not be possible without major retaining walls. An attractive, low, transparent fence should be provided along Kipling, allowing visibility into and surveillance of the park, while preventing inadvertent conflicts between park users and traffic Einarsen Property City of Wheat Ridge Parks and Recreation Master Plan DRAFT Baugh House The final piece of undeveloped parkland is the Baugh House and property located at West 44th Avenue Robb Street, near the Historical Park. This property is 3,5 acres in size and contains a historic cabin with a Victorian house built around it. As the Historical Park and Baugh House are located in the Orchard District area of the city, they should both be incorporated into the forthcoming sub-area plan. Acquisition of the properties that divide the two parklands should be pursued to allow for one continuous park property, which could then be developed into a neigh- borhood/pocket park with amenities such as a playground, picnic tables, and restrooms This area also provides an excellent opportunity to establish a cultural interpretation/ living history site related to the agricultural history of Wheat Ridge, and would be a nice accompaniment to nearby Prospect Park. New Parkland and/or Amenities Map 3, Neighborhood and Pocket Park Service Areas, located in Chapter Two, illustrates portions of Wheat Ridge that are currently underserved by such parks. In an effort to address these deficiencies, the city should consider strategies that will provide residents with either adequate facilities and amenities within 0.5 mile, or improved access to existing neighborhood park amenities. Although one option may be to improve joint school-park upgrades, there are locations that do not currently have joint school-parks In these areas, the acquisition of land and construction of new parks may be in order Map 5, Proposed Master Plan, shows conceptual locations for new parkland, which will help to enhance service to current and future residential areas that are underserved Following is a description of each location and suggested park developments. Lutheran Hospital Property Between 32nd - 38th, West of Wadsworth Currently, there is no neighborhood park, nor adequate access to one, for residents in the area south of 38th Avenue and north of 32nd Avenue, west of Wadsworth Boulevard In an effort to address this problem, the city should aggressively pursue acqui- sition of property in order to provide these residents with the needed facilities. If acquisition of property is not possible, then other options should be pursued One possibility might be a partnership with Exempla Health Systems at the Lutheran Hospital located along Lutheran Parkway Any park provided should contain all typical neighborhood amenities, including a playground, picnic shelter, restroom, shade structures, and a multi-purpose playfield. Another benefit of providing a park at this location would be its adjacency to the proposed Rocky Mountain Ditch trail, which would meander through this location Northwest Sub-Area As part of the Northwest Sub-Area Plan currently being developed, a new high density residential development project is being considered in conjunction with the anticipated RTD Light Rail Station If this new residential project comes to fruition, DRAFT City of Wheat Ridge Parks and Recreation Master Plan a neighborhood park will be needed in this area to serve these future residents. It is recommended that any new park constructed in this area be done so as part of the overall redevelopment project. This park should contain typical neighborhood park amenities, including a playground, picnic shelter, restroom, shade structures, and a multi-purpose playfield, Major Park/Facility Redesign In order to improve overall service to residents, some parks and recreation facilities will need major redesign Map 5, Proposed Master Plan, identifies parklands and recreational facilities proposed for major redesign, which will help them function more efficiently and better serve residents in the provision of parkland and recreational amenities Following is a description of each location and suggested park developments Anderson Park Anderson Park is widely considered one of the crown jewels of the Wheat Ridge park system. It is centrally located, easily accessible, and recognized by residents as one of the most important assets in the city The lack of consistency in which amenities have been added to the park over time have left the park with a sense of no clear organization or central core Although highly popular, park elements are not visually appealing, and vehicular roads and parking interrupt park elements. Pedestrian flow through the site appears secondary to vehicular flow The maintenance building along the street frontage prevents visibility into the site, where a front door to the park should exist. The Anderson Building and associated parking are located in the middle of the park, between the maintenance building and the park area next to Clear Creek. Several changes and enhancements could be made to this park to make it function more effectively Anderson Park The city should begin by preparing a renovation master plan for Anderson Park. The development of such a plan will illustrate ways in which the park could be redesigned to improve its overall effectiveness and efficiency, in addition to its general relation to the city as a whole Although the Carnation Festival is currently held here, it is recommended that this function eventually be transferred to Prospect Park, which may be better positioned in the future to accommodate such Park Pavilion at Anderson Park events As this happens, Anderson Park could evolve into more of a multi-generational family activity park. To accomplish this, much would have to be done in terms of facility relocation and redesign This may City of Wheat Ridge Parks and Recreation Master Plan Example of New Pavilion Structure DRAFT include the removal of the Anderson Building and transferring those activities to the Wheat Ridge Recreation Center. All pavilions will need to be updated and circulation throughout the park improved The relationship with and visibility from 44th Avenue will need to be improved through such measures as the removal of the maintenance building, as well as a redesigned entryway and parking areas. Other improvements in the park should include a relocated and redesigned skate park and in-line hockey rink, improved trailhead designation, and replacement of the irrigation system. Lastly, the pool is in immediate need of repair and replacement. The current pool should eventually be removed and the entire area redesigned to be more of an all-inclusive aquatic facility The pool should be replaced with a competition level, 50-meter pool with a movable bulkhead, which would provide the capacity for the city to host state level swim meets A splash park with multiple water features should also be added to provide residents with a desired summer outdoor aquatic facility Although it is not recom- mended that a full-scale water park be constructed, there is clearly a desire and demand for some type of Anderson Park Tot Pool Area modern aquatic facility beyond a simple pool These types of facilities are becoming very popular in other communities and would provide a unique element to one of Wheat Ridge's most popular parks The master plan process could determine the extent of water play elements, and whether or not the splash park components are open to the public for free, or if a fee should be charged for their use. Regardless of the final decision of what type of aquatic faCility to provide, the city should carefully balance its priorities. Careful consideration should be given to desired revenue generation from the facility through creating a regional attraction versus the local recreational needs of the community as well as the overall impact to Anderson Park. Example 01 Poolslde Awning Example of Splash Park @.4).10.... .".~. ";~..\ffi0!l:~\ffih~'l!.~t~jk~i,'0".: ';@!l:';;' ~;'~>l'," k' .hlhR...~otitieni:latl~bl.~i ttie Master Plan"' ;Fst!!'k~111, ~-J" : n ,~~ F ~! h * ' DRAFT City of Wheat Ridge Parks and Recreation Master Plan Johnson Park Johnson Park is uniquely located adjacent to the Wheat Ridge greenbelt and Clear Creek Trail. Physical access to the park, however, is extremely difficult, and can only be achieved while traveling south on Wadsworth Boulevard or from the Clear Creek Trail itself Visual access to the park from the street is also prohibited as it sits well below street level. There are no sidewalks along Wadsworth Boulevard adjacent to the park, preventing safe access to the park from nearby neighborhoods. As such, it is recommended that vehicle access to the park be closed (except for service and emergency) and the park be removed from park inventory The park acreage should be transitioned to the greenbelt. The restroom should be upgraded as a trail amenity and the playground removed An oversized walk/trail connection should be added to Wadsworth in this area, and a trail connection provided to the Clear Creek Trail near Johnson Park, which is well below street level Johnson Park Prospect Park Prospect Park is another jewel of the Wheat Ridge park system and widely popular with residents It too is centrally located, highly identifiable, and easily accessible in the Orchard District area of the city The city will soon be creating a sub-area plan for the Orchard District as one of the objectives of the Neighborhood Revitalization Study strategies and Wheat Ridge 2020 initiative to help the city identify how it should grow and redevelop in the future Part of this initiative is to capitalize on current assets and resources that residents identify with and are proud of The greenbelt and park system are continually identified as some of these top resources. As the city currently lacks a dedicated community festival and cultural focal point to develop around, it is recommended that Prospect Park evolve into this function Mixed-use development should be encouraged around the park and greenbelt in this area. Prospect Park City of Wheat Ridge Parks and Recreation Master Plan DRAFT Prospect Park should be fully integrated into the Orchard District Sub-Area Plan. In advance of this land use planning process, a site master plan should be developed for the park and historic properties across 44th Avenue to define the area's potential, with the goal of transition into the community festival and cultural focal point the city needs and desires. Events such as the Carnation Festival could then be relocated here. Additional lands may be required adjacent to the park to improve access and provide adequate area for various functions. Other upgrades and enhancements that should be considered include improved trailhead designation for the Clear Creek Example of Festival Area Adiacent to River Trail and an enhanced, more safe pedestrian crossing at 44th Avenue Strong consideration should also be given to removal of the Berbert House and garage if they do not possess any historical significance to the community These structures are currently used for storage for youth organizations, and other accommodations would need to be made to ensure adequate storage is available Senior Center In recent years, the number of senior aged residents in Wheat Ridge has steadily grown. As this has occurred, there has been added pressure on the senior center in terms of a lack of available space for needed programming. There is a strong desire from many residents within the community for the senior center to be expanded to add more meeting space, a fitness room, and a larger community room, However, there has been a national trend for communities to develop intergenerational facilities as opposed to dedicated senior centers. These types of facilities might include teen center components as well as other community space As such, it is recommended that Wheat Ridge conduct a feasibility study to best address how to accommodate the growing needs of the senior population. If it is determined that an intergenerational facility is not conducive to the needs of the community, then consideration should be given to expansion of the current facility This might include working with adjacent land owners to utilize private open space This would allow the city to expand the facility without relocating it, and then form a continuous link of park and recreation land between the senior center and Founder's Park. Senior Center Wheat Ridge Recreation Center Although constructed in 2000, the Wheat Ridge Recreation Center is already operating at full capacity for its programming needs Several programs are currently scheduled at the Anderson Building in Anderson Park, which is a deteriorated facility and no longer adequate to handle such intensive programming The recreation center is considered by many to be an outstanding facility and focal point within the city Therefore, it is recommended that as part of the master plan process for DRAFT City of Wheat Ridge Parks and Recreation Master Plan Anderson Park and the feasibility study for the senior center, strong consideration be given to expanding the current recreation center This expansion would allow for programming at Anderson Park to be relocated here in addition to added programming in the future It may also allow for the construction of an intergenerational facility if it is determined that one is needed in this location There is ample room on the 12-acre site for such an expansion, however, the soccer field would have to be relocated (potentially to Anderson Park) and the parking lot would need to be reconfigured Facility Additions or Enhancements Most of the parks in the Wheat Ridge system are in good condition, however, some may need minor improvements to help modernize them. Map 5, Proposed Master Plan, identifies parks and park areas that are proposed for minor enhancements and facility additions to help them function more effectively and serve nearby residents more efficiently Following is a description of each location and suggested park developments Boyd's Crossing There are no benches, restroom, or drinking fountain at the park, and the playground is old and in need of replacement. The park is located in a low income area of the city and there is a high occurrence of vandalism As such, the playground should be replaced and new benches and picnic tables added to the park. New lighting should also be installed to help minimize the amount of vandalism occurring at Boyd's Crossing. It is not recommended that a permanent restroom be added, however, con- sideration may be given to the addition of portable toilets. Creekside Park Creekside Park is the only dedicated sports complex in Wheat Ridge, but it is lacking some fundamental features Permanent restrooms are needed as well as a building to house a concession or vending area during games. ADA access is also needed to the backstop area of the ballfields Improvements to the quality of the native vegetation around the park and trailhead signage for Clear Creek Trail should also be considered Lastly, as the park lies in a floodplain and receives high amounts of runoff from area streets, there are continual drainage issues that compromise the integrity of the park features and amenities This should be addressed as soon as possible to prevent future damage Boyd's Crossing CreekSide Park City of Wheat Ridge Parks and Recreation Master Plan Fruitdale Park Northeast Fruitdale Park Southeast Panorama Park DRAFT Fruitdale Park Overall, Fruitdale Park is in good physical condition except for occasional vandalism, which could be reduced through further activation of the park with uses As there is an expressed need for at least one additional 100-yard football field, this would be an ideal location. There is ample turf space to accom- modate such a facility and placement would help to activate the park, bringing more people here and hopefully reducing the incidences of vandalism. Fruitdale could also be another potential location for a future dog park, although it is not quite as desirable a location as the Einarsen property, which is more centrally located in the City Historical Park/Baugh House As the Historical Park and Baugh House are located in the Orchard District area of the city, they should both be incorporated into the forthcoming sub-area plan. Acquisition of the properties that divide the two parklands should be pursued to allow for one continuous park property, which could then be developed into a neighborhood/pocket park with amenities such as a playground, picnic tables, and restrooms This area also provides an excellent opportunity to establish a cultural interpretation/living history site related to the agricultural history of Wheat Ridge, and would be a nice accompaniment to nearby Prospect Park. Panorama Park Overall, Panorama Park is in excellent condition; however, some upgrades and improvements are needed Paved walks should be constructed through- out the park in addition to ADA access serving the ballfield backstops and picnic shelters. The existing public art sculpture is a much appreciated amenity, but it is severely deteriorated and needs to be refurbished or replaced There is a need for new benches in the ballfield dugouts Likewise, the play equipment is beginning to age and consideration should be given to replacing it in the near future DRAFT Paramount Park Paramount Park is in good condition, except for a few minor enhancements ADA access should be provided to the backstop areas of the ballfields, and new benches installed in and around the playground areas. The existing half basketball court is crumbling along the edges and needs to be resurfaced The parks and recreation department also maintains a triangular parcel across 27th Street from the park. This is an ideal space to establish landscaping and provide public art in conjunction with the Wheat Ridge Art League, Wheat Ridge Arts Council, and/or the Wheat Ridge Cultural Commission Randall Park While Randall Park is generally in good condition, there are some design flaws that need to be addressed The parking lot on the east side of the park is deeper than necessary Portions of the asphalt paving should be removed and replaced with landscaping. Access from the south parking lot to the park area is also very difficult. Acquisition and development of the adjacent corner property as additional parkland would greatly improve this situation. Lastly, the playground and picnic shelter at the park are beginning to age and should be replaced Stites Park While small, Stites Park is a well used amenity in this area of the city, but it does not function well as a neighborhood park. This could be addressed by providing neighborhood park amenities, such as a picnic shelter and restrooms. Due to its limited size, the addition of amenities may be difficult, so consideration should be given to the acquisition to property for park expansion Although there is ADA access to the playground and basketball court, there is need for access and concrete walks to the backstop area of the ballfield. Lastly, the swing set is old and should be replaced with a more modern model. City of Wheat Ridge Parks and Recreation Masler Plan Backstop Area of Paramount Park South Parking Lot at Randall Park Town Center Park While Town Center Park is rather new and in good condition, it sits in an obstructed location behind a fast-food restaurant and adjacent to a shopping plaza parking lot. As such, the park should be redesigned in conjunction with future redevelopment plans of the surrounding properties Stites Park Cily of Wheal Ridge Parks and Recreation Master Plan Example of New Park Playground Example of Park with Trail, Shelters and Playground DRAFT Joint Use School-Park Upgrades The City of Wheat Ridge has agreements with many Jeff Co schools in the city for joint use of some of their facilities, such as ballfields, While this agreement helps provide residents with needed athletic space, most of the school facilities that the parks and recreation department utilizes do not act as true neighborhood parks. Several school facilities are fenced in and not inviting to park users. From a parks perspective, it would be beneficial to remove much of this fencing, add park amenities, and post signage that would encourage use of the areas as city parks. Many of these schools are located in areas of the city that are underserved by neighborhood parks. As such, full utilization and development of these facilities would provide an excellent opportunity to provide needed parkland in underserved areas of the community The City of Wheat Ridge should pro- actively work with the Jefferson County R-1 School District to capitalize on park development oppor- tunities at various schools in the City Map 5, Proposed Master Plan, identifies joint school-park facilities that are in need of an upgrade to make them function as more traditional neighborhood parks and serve nearby residents more efficiently Following is a description of each location and suggested improvements Kul/erstrand Elementary Although there is a joint use agreement at Kullerstrand for use of 2 softball/baseball fields and 2 soccer fields, the area does not feel like or function as a neighborhood park. Fencing prohibits easy neighborhood access and no clear entry exists. Park signage should be included as well as amenities such as walks, benches, picnic areas, a park playground, and restrooms, The area makes an ideal location for a park, as this area is presently underserved Additionally, Kullerstrand Elementary backs up to the Wheat Ridge greenbelt, thereby providing ample natural habitat beyond the school-park. Although access to the greenbelt was closed in the past to protect wetlands, options should be explored to re-open access from the school- park while being mindful of environmental considerations This would provide much needed southern access to the greenbelt through an existing school-park facility Pennington Elementary A joint use agreement is in place for the parks and recreation department's usage of 1 softball/baseball field and 1 soccer field, however, the area does not function as a neighborhood park. It is recommended that a sigll be added, indicating this is a joint school-park. Other needed additions include walks, benches, picnic areas, restrooms, and a playground dedicated for park use This area of the city is currently underserved, so this upgrade would be a great bellefit neighbors DRAFT City of Wheat Ridge Parks and Recreation Master Plan Prospect Valley Elementary There is currently a joint use agreement for the use of 2 softball/baseball fields and 2 soccer fields by the parks and recreation department. The property does not, however, function as an adequate neighborhood park in an area of the city that is underserved by parks, Desirable amenities include walks, picnic areas, benches, restrooms, and playgrounds for park use There also needs to be signage indicating that this is a joint school-park. Lena Gulch runs through private open space that lies adjacent to the rear of the school, providing a great opportunity to connect to the future Lena Gulch trail Everitt Middle School A joint use agreement should be pursued with Everitt Middle School to provide a neighborhood park in an area of the city that is currently underserved Typical amenities, playground, picnic areas, benches, and a restroom should be provided to utilize forthcoming athletic field upgrades would also be beneficial Stevens Elementary This is a good opportunity to establish a neighborhood park in conjunction with adjacent schools. Although a joint use agreement allows for the use of 1 soccer field by the parks and recreation department, the property does not function well as a neighborhood park in a portion of the city that is underserved. Stevens Elementary lies adjacent to Wheat Ridge Junior High School and, as such, there are large portions of unused turf space that could be utilized for neighborhood park purposes after school hours. Desirable amenities include walks, restrooms, a picnic shelter, benches, and a park playground Wilmore Davis Elementary/Happiness Gardens Wilmore Davis Elementary school sits immediately adjacent to Happiness Gardens, the official public community gardens for the City of Wheat Ridge Happiness Gardens is a very popular and well used facility, but it does not function as a neighborhood park. There is an opportunity to combine the functions of Happiness Gardens and the rear turf areas of the school to provide a neighborhood park in an underserved portion of the city In order to do this, certain amenities would need to be added, including a park playground, picnic shelter, and restrooms. The construction of concrete park walks would also be a nice addition .~ Border Between Stevens Elementary School and Wheat Ridge Jun',or High Happiness Gardensl Wilmore Davis Elementary School such as a The ability City of Wheat Ridge Parks and Recreation Master Plan DRAFT Wheat Ridge High School As planned athletic field upgrades occur at Wheat Ridge High School, the parks and recreation department should pursue joint use agreements for these facilities to augment their own field inventory The use of a synthetic field, in particular, would be welcomed by many athletic organizations, including the Wheat Ridge Avalanche Soccer Association and Wheat Ridge Midget Football, D. Trail Projects As illustrated in Chapters Two and Three, there is a need for improved access to the Clear Creek Trail, particularly from areas of the city south of the trail. Overall pedestrian and bicycle connectivity to parks and recreation facilities needs to be improved as well. Ideally, this should be addressed through both a network of off-street trails as well as on-street bike lanes and street crossing enhancements. This master plan addresses off-street trail projects as they relate to parks and recreation within the City of Wheat Ridge. Future on-street bike routes and pedestrian connections should be addressed under a separate Founders Park Trail plan through the departments of Public Works and Community Planning. As this plan is developed, consideration should be given to pedestrian and bicycle needs, such as improved street crossings, enhanced signage, and other safety issues This bike/pedestrian plan should also include specific design standards for of-street trails that recognize the varying needs of different trail users in the community (Le, soft surface trail needs, equestrian use, etc.) Map 5, Proposed Master Plan, shows the location of new proposed off-street trails and trail connections. The following is a description of these proposed trail projects. Clear Creek Trail Improvements Clear Creek Trail Connection A critical connection is needed along the Clear Creek Trail between the Miller Trailhead and the trailhead Example of Interpretive Kiosk located on Kipling Street at 43rd Avenue, which is approximately 0,5 mile. Currently, trail users heading east must exit the trail at the Miller Trailhead, cross under Kipling Street near the recreation center, and re-enter the trail at the terminus of Independence Street. Construction of this vital link would provide for uninterrupted travel along the entire length of Clear Creek Trail, from the South Platte River trail near 1-25 and 74th Avenue in Commerce City to near the intersection of Washington Street and Colorado State Highway 93 in Golden ~r4l11J'@.'l\\\8_\,(.",,,,~A1t',.i!j_%I~_~_''''.\\'l1S:l:li,g,._''; '%~'I~ll"" Y';.' . RJe-ommendatlonlli'of the Masi:l,'Plan ", e; .~~, ~,~ 'J ',,;~)~}''"' '1 ~ ,~ ",;" /", c ~ ~ ~ ~'i't,~~P ~ cO ,,<' 'X DRAFT Additionally, there are no designated north-south connections for residents to access Clear Creek Trail. There is also little ability to travel between park and recreation destinations within Wheat Ridge via either an off-road system or an on-road route network. There have been initial efforts to create a pedestrian and bicycle master plan for the City of Wheat Ridge, however it has yet to be accomplished This should become a high priority for the city so that a blueprint for an extended future trail network can begin City of Wheat Ridge Parks and Recreation Master Plan Miller Trailhead Miller Trailhead has the potential to be an outstanding, centralized trailhead and access point for Clear Creek Trail Several improvements are needed to make the approximate 1-acre trailhead more accessible and visually appealing, including signage along Kipling Street, a paved entry drive and parking lot, permanent restrooms, and interpretive signage Efforts to acquire the former wastewater treatment facility to the east of the land on which the trailhead is located should continue, as this land would make an ideal addition to both the trailhead and the greenbelt. It would also provide additional space for maintenance storage, and is an alternative location for a dog park. Otis Trailhead The Otis Trailhead is in a strategic location serving the northeast area of the city; however, due to its obscure location, it is hard to locate Much could be done to make the approximate 1-acre trailhead more accessible and visually attractive Suggested improvements include better signage indicating the location of the trailhead, directional signage to the trailhead on Wadsworth Avenue, a paved parking lot, permanent restrooms, and interpretive signage The site is owned by CDOT, so a joint use agreement needs to be secured with this agency, or the City should pursue its acquisition Clear Creek Trail Signage Otis Trailhead Additional Clear Creek Trail Enhancements Various enhancements are needed along the length of Clear Creek Trail within Wheat Ridge One major part of these enhancements includes the upgrade of signage along portions of the trail A citywide sign initiative has been in place for some time, and many signs need to be replaced to conform to the new sign guidelines Additionally, more signage could be added throughout the city to guide users to trail heads Another necessary enhancement along the trail is the Harlan Street entryway Portions of the trail surface along this section of trail are deteriorating and need to be repaired in the immediate future Lastly, access from the south side of the city to the Clear Creek Trail needs to be improved, including providing wide pedestrian walks along Wadsworth and trail connections at former Johnson Park from Wadsworth to the trail below the street level City of Wheat Ridge Parks and Recreation Master Plan Green space in urban areas provides substantial. environmental benefits. The U.S. Forest Service calculated that over. a 5O-year lifetime one tree generates $31,250 worth Of oxygen, prQvides $62,000 worth of air pollution wntrol, 'recyqes $37,500 worth of water, and controls $31 ,250 worth of soil erosion. U,S, Department of Agriculture, Forest Service Pamphlet #R1.92.100, cited In Benfils of Trees in Urban Areas, Colorado Tree Coalition DRAFT Lena Gulch Trail In an effort to improve access to Clear Creek Trail from the south and to improve overall connectivity within Wheat Ridge, it is recommended that a trail be constructed along Lena Gulch This trail should begin in Chester-Portsmouth Park just south of Wheat Ridge, and follow Lena Gulch to the Wheat Ridge Recreation Center, approximately 2.5 miles. From the recreation center, an improved trail connection could be made to both the Miller Trailhead and the Kipling Street Trailhead Lena Gulch provides a natural drainage and associated open space, which makes an ideal corridor in which to place an off-street trail Additionally, this alignment would traverse through Lewis Meadows open space and come near Prospect Valley Elementary School, providing both a valuable connection between recreational and school amenities as well as an integral north-south trail route to Clear Creek Trail Immediate efforts should be made to begin any necessary acquisition of trail easements along the gulch that would aid in the construction of the trail Additionally, immediate pursuit of partnerships should be made with entities such as Jefferson County Open Space and Great Outdoors Colorado (GOCO) to leverage funding for the acquisition and construction of the trail. Rocky Mountain Ditch Trail In an effort to improve access to Clear Creek Trail from the south and overall connectivity within Wheat Ridge, it is recommended that a trail be constructed along Rocky Mountain Ditch The ditch meanders in a north-south manner between 32nd Avenue and 38th Avenue One point of the trail should begin near the intersection of 32nd Avenue and Morningside Drive, just west of Kipling Street. It would then travel northeast to a point near 38th Avenue, where it again begins traveling in a southeast fashion to a point where it would end near the intersection of 32nd Avenue and Teller Street. At the point where the trail bends at 38th Avenue and Dudley Street, a spur trail could then continue northwest along an existing ditch, where it would connect with Clear Creek Trail. The entire trail would be approximately 2.7 miles in length Rocky Mountain Ditch provides a natural drainage and a good corridor in which to place an off-street trail This alignment would also traverse near Wheat Ridge High School as well as the Exempla Hospital complex, where a neighborhood park is needed It would provide both a valuable connection between recreational and school amenities as well as an integral north- south trail route to Clear Creek Trail. Immediate efforts should be made to begin the necessary acquisition of trail easements along the gulch that would aid in construction of the trail Additionally, immediate pursuit of partnerships should be made with entities such as Jefferson County Open Space and Great Outdoors Colorado (GOCO) to leverage funding for the acquisition and construction of the trail. 'W~~1;; <li;"'if'~iJ f\;%"'~:r~ ~E~1Jf,*'~6~Fi~,,'~'l.!ifti "'\ ~ ,"'~' il' "'~,,4 ~iML""h\d 4'~ "':2'':i~t:L',: "~':i#f ~ ~ ",~2!,!:w_~!tfl~@m"..#,q"'0_Pfu'!\.l\1$il".\_~\'ifu!i\k ,f. ',' '1''''''1%'_0 ..s.'..,,'I!i;iRecomm....d1rnQns of the M.$ter P'.n DRAFT City of Wheat Ridge Parks and Recreation Master Plan CHAPTER FIVE - IMPLEMENTATION This chapter lists prioritization considerations, costs, and implementation actions that will help to achieve the vision of the Parks and Recreation Master Plan. A. Project Prioritization Considerations Since future park, recreation, and trail projects will compete for funding, it is helpful to define criteria that can guide the identification of highest priority actions Chapter Four identified specific projects based on the outcome of the inventory and needs assessment process, and the community survey revealed that citizens of Wheat Ridge have interests and needs that range from neighborhood scale to community scale Large, high profile projects that affect a large number of people and contribute to current goals of redevelopment may generate great public support, but should be carefully balanced with projects that provide connections and park amenities to currently under- served residents. Ongoing upgrades of existing facilities and the addition of smaller scale amenities to enhance existing parks should also be considered This plan is intended to be flexible and fluid, so that as opportunities for land acquisition or easements and park development become available, the city can immediately capitalize on these opportunities without being committed to a pre- determined project that was identified in an action plan The following list presents criteria that should be carefully considered when attempting to prioritize projects. There should not be a numeric weighting of these criteria, as the importance of each varies with each situation, available funding, need, and opportunity Projects that address immediate issues of public health and safety should certainly take precedence over other choices. Project Prioritization Considerations Health, Safety, Welfare, and Code Compliance · Does the project involve upgrades that will bring a park into compliance with codes, and ensure the health, safety, and welfare of park users? Ease of implementation · Does the project capitalize on opportunities that are easily implemented (i e., low cost project with large gains, ready implementers, available property, etc.)? Economy of Scale · Does implementing several projects or portions of projects simultaneously save money or time (e g , bulk purchase of materials, more efficient project management, etc )? Area Adjacent to Senior Center I City parks and open space improve ou r physical and psychological health, strengthen our communities, and make our cities and neighborhoods more attractive places to live and work. Paul Sherer, ,The Benefits of Parks, Trust for Public Lands,2006 City of Wheat Ridge Parks and Recreation Master Plan DRAFT Community Significance . Does the project provide benefits to a large number of people within the community? . Does the project contribute to a larger city vision and community goals? Community Balance . Does the project contribute to the balance of needs across the community (i e., neighborhood parks, community parks, trails, open space, underserved neighborhoods )? Partnerships for Funding . Does the project leverage available partnership opportunities for funding (Le , urban drainages, GOCO, CDOW, private, Wheat Ridge School District, adjacent cities, etc,)? Satisfies Urgent Need . Does the project satisfy urgent park and recreation needs within the com- munity? . Does the project serve underserved neighborhoods? . Does the project help to fill a recreation facility/amenity shortage? Completes Phasing of Current Projects . Does the project help to complete ongoing phases of current projects that have yet to be finished? Ongoing Maintenance Costs . Are the future ongoing maintenance costs proportionate to the money invested in the construction of the project and benefit that the community receives? Anderson Park Although there are a myriad of large-scale projects that could be addressed, the Technical Advisory Committee (TAC) and the Wheat Ridge Parks and Recreation Commission have expressed a need and desire to see that a few select projects be addressed first. The greatest of these is the need to address the deteriorating Anderson Pool, which requires the overall redesign and eventual redevelopment of Anderson Park. Due to the scale of this project and its direct connection to other projects (such as the recreation center expansion), it is recommended that this be conducted in three phases The first phase would include repairing the pool so it will be functional for another 3 to 5 years in its current loca- tion In conjunction with this, a site-specific master plan should be developed for Anderson Park. The second phase would involve expanding the Wheat Ridge Recreation Center so that programming at the Anderson Building could be relocated there The third, final, and largest phase would involve redesigning and redeveloping Anderson Park, including either a new pool and/or additional aquatic facilities DRAFT City of Wheal Ridge Parks and Recreation Master Plan Lastly, there is strong support in the community for completion of the Clear Creek Trail system and enhancements, and acquisition of land and easements for future construction of an off-street trail along Lena Gulch This new trail corridor would provide the community with a much needed north- south connection to the greenbelt and additional opportunities for enjoyment of the outdoor environment. Prospect Park Another large-scale project that was identified as important to the community is the redesign and redevelopment of Prospect Park in support of the redevelopment goals for the Orchard District Sub- Area. As this area redevelops, Prospect Park should become the community gathering area and cultural focal point of the city, as well as a key urban park experience along the greenbelt and Clear Creek trail Priority Projects as Identified by theTAC and ParksCornll1lssion: . Three-phase redesign and redeVelopment of Anderson Park and Pool(toiricllJde site- specific master plan). . Redevelopment of Prospect Park and integration into Orchard DIstrict Sub-Area Plan. . Completion of Clear Creek Trallsystem. . Joint school-park upgrades, In the near term, it is recommended that the city select a few small projects that can be easily implemented across the community, while funding the planning and design of larger-scale projects Smaller projects may include upgrades to playground equipment, shelter additions, and signage replacements. Discussions should also begin immediately with Jeff Co R-1 School District for select joint school-park upgrades These upgrade projects are somewhat smaller in scale, require a lower capital investment from the city to accomplish, and serve a dual purpose of providing underserved areas with needed parkland and amenities while at the same time being highly visible to the public. This visibility is valuable in that it shows that progress is being made on the park system, thus generating further support for future larger-scale projects. Another easy-to-implement, low cost, and high visibility project includes the closure of Johnson Park and transition to greenbelt acreage While progress is being made on these smaller projects, site master planning can begin on select larger projects, which will require a greater investment of capital and take a longer, often multi-year timeframe to accomplish This long-range planning may also involve the establishment of a perpetual fund or "land bank" to strategically acquire parcels for projects (such as trail development) that may become available in the future City of Wheat Ridge Parks and Recreation Master Plan DRAFT B. Estimated Costs for Parks, Recreation Facilities, and Trails The cost for trail and park construction varies widely, depending on the specific elements to be included in each project, the terrain, utilities, necessary road crossing, and other physical features that require more extensive design solutions For the purposes of assigning an order of magnitude of cost to the master plan recommendations, general cost estimates have been assigned to each project. Costs have been assumed that are in order with the costs EDAW has experienced in designing and overseeing the construction of similar facilities along the Front Range and throughout the Rocky Mountain region. The cost estimates are approx- imate and are intended to illustrate order of magnitude, not detail Actual costs for land acquisition (if needed) and development should be developed more specifically Costs for some of the typical park amenities are listed below to provide an understanding of the basis for the estimates These costs are in 2006 dollars and must be escalated yearly to compensate for inflation Table 5.1 Typical Park Project Item Costs Item Unit Cost Basketball Court $50,000 each Skate Park $250,000 each Neiqhborhood-Scale Plavaround $80,000 each Communitv-Scale Plavaround $150,000 each Sinqle Picnic Shelter (20'x20;) $35,000 each Larqe Group Picnic Shelter $180,000 each Small Restroom $80,000 each Lame Restroom $120,000 each Parkino Lot Liaht $3,000 each Pedestrian Liqht $4,500 each New Parkinq Lot $6.00 square foot Picnic Tables $1,500 each Bike Racks $650 each Benches $1,500 each Trash Containers $750 each Irriqation Svstem Reolacement $1 00 square foot 8' Concrete Multi-Purpose Trail $36.00 linear foot 6' Gravel Trail $9.00 linear foot Native Landscape Restoration $0.75 square foot Turf and Shrub Landscaoe $3.50 square foot Deciduous Trees 12.5") $500 each Other items specific to certain projects are not listed above, but may include demolition, utility relocation, entry plazas, signs, historical restorations, special recreational facilities, maintenance facilities, crossing enhancements, ballfield construction and design, engineering, and contingency fees It should also be noted that additional staff, resources, and maintenance will be needed as more parks and facilities are added to the system within Wheat Ridge These costs should be accounted for and included into overall budgets for any new projects DRAFT City of Wheat Ridge Parks and Recreation Master Plan Table 5.2 summarizes initial projects proposed in this plan for inclusion in the city's park and recreation system, and provides estimated costs associated with each project. Costs are estimated in 2006 dollars and will need to be adjusted relative to inflation as time progresses They are listed in the order described in Chapter Four, which does not imply an order of priority If implemented in their entirety, all recommended projects within this plan would cost approximately $43 million The priority projects alone, as identified by the TAC and Parks Commission, would cost approximately $34 million. Currently, the Parks and Recreation Department receives approximately $800,000 per year for new projects, project upgrades, and project maintenance If current funding streams were to continue at the same rate over the next 15 years (the anticipated life of this plan), total available revenue for future projects would be approximately $12 million This amount would only be capable of funding roughly one-fourth of all proposed projects and would leave a potential budget shortfall of $31 million. Therefore, it is recommended that the City of Wheat Ridge immediately begin to pursue additional funding mechanisms for development of future park and recreation projects. Table 5.2 Proposed Project Summary and Estimated Costs Size Proposed Cost Description Name Classification Dellel6pExistingPark Sites .... . Prepare site master plan and 44'h and construction documents. 2 acres Neighborhood $500,000 . Neighborhood park needed to Kendall provide parkland to underserved area. . Prepare site master plan and Einarsen construction documents. 8.3 acres Neighborhood $2,200,000 . Neighborhood park needed to Property provide parkland to underserved area. NewParklal1d and/or Arnenities . .. Between 32"" . Neighborhood park needed to - 38rh, west of N/A Neighborhood $1,000,000 provide parkland to underserved Wadsworth area. Northwest . Construct neighborhood park in Sub-Area N/A Neighborhood $0 conjunction with future RTD Light Rail mixed-use development. Maior Park/Facility Redesign . Prepare renovation master plan for park. . Transition park to a multi- generational family activity park. Anderson . Remove Anderson Recreation 27 acres Community $12,000,000 Building and relocate activities to Park Wheat Ridge Recreation Center (expansion recommended). . Remove or upgrade pool and replace with competition pool and splash park. t~~lson Park . Remove from park inventolY and 4 acres Open Space $200,000 transition into established greenbelt acreage City of Wheal Ridge Parks and Recreation Master Plan DRAFT Table 5.2 Proposed Project Summary and Estimated Costs (continued) Name Size Proposed Cost Description Classification . Prepare site master plan. . Integrate park into Orchard District Sub-Area Plan. Prospect 39 acres Community $12,000,000 . Establish as new community Park festival/cultural focal point within city . Make capable of more efficiently accommodating citywide events. Fl!cllitvAcldltipn$Q(l;nhllncll.li1el1ts "; .> " .... ;" ;;. ;') ;. Senior Community . Conduct feasibility study for 1 acre $75,000 renovation/relocation of center Center Center and added programming. . Expand center to include Wheat Ridge Community activities from Anderson Recreation 12 acres Center $6,000,000 Building and possible Center lntergenerational Community Center . Replace playground; add Boyd's 1 acre Pocket $100,000 benches and picnic tables; Crossing install/upgrade lighting to help minimize vandalism. . Install permanent restrooms; Creekside 16 acres Sports Complex $200,000 Install concession or vending Park area and contract with for private vendor to operate Fruitdale 12 acre Neighborhood $200,000 . Install 100 yard football/socce r Park field . Incorporate into Orchard District sub-area plan. . Prepare site specific master plan for both properties. Historica/ . Upgrade to neighborhood park Park/Baugh 4.5 acres Special Purpose $1,000,000 to provide basic amenities to House serve currently underserved area. . Pursue acquisition of adjacent properties to connect park areas. . Upgrade restroom; Provide Panorama concrete walks throughout; 9 acres Neighborhood $1,000,000 Provide ADA access to Park baCkstops and shelters; Upgrade dugouts and replace benches. Paramount . Provide ADA access to Park 9 acres Neighborhood $200,000 backstop; Re-surface basketball court; Replace benches. DRAFT City of Wheat Ridge Parks and Recreation Master Plan Table 5,2 Proposed Project Summary and Estimated Costs (continued) Name Size Proposed Cost Description Classification . Redesign parking layout on east- Randall Park 5 acres Neighborhood $1,000,000 side to reduce asphalt area and increase turf; Improve access from south-side parkin!:llot. . Improve function as neighborhood Stites Park 2 acres Pocket $300,000 park through provision of nei!:lhborhood Dark amenities. Town Center o 75 acres Pocket $0 . Redesign park in conjunction with Park redevelopment plans. JoirttSchool,ParkUDl'ltadll$ ... .. . . .>>............. . Improve area to function as more traditional neighborhood park and Kullerstrand serve currently underserved area. Elementary 5 acres School $300,000 . Develop improvement plans in conjunction with the school district and with neighborhood input as aoprooriate. . Improve area to function as more traditional neighborhood park and Pennington serve currently underserved area. 5.6 acres School $300,000 . Develop improvement plans in Elementary conjunction with the school district and with neighborhood input as appropriate. . Improve area to function as more traditional neighborhood park and Prospect serve currently underserved area. Valley 2.8 acres School $300,000 . Develop improvement plans in Elementary conjunction with the school district and with neighborhood input as aoorooriate. . Improve area to function as more traditional neighborhood park and Stevens serve currently underserved area. Elementary 3.8 acres School $300,000 . Develop improvement plans in conjunction with the school district and with neighborhood input as aoorooriate . Improve area to function as Wilmore neighborhood park in conjunction Davis with Happiness Gardens, and Elementary! 2.6 acres (1 School $300,000 serve currently underserved area. Happiness acre) . Develop improvement plans in Gardens conjunction with the school district and with neighborhood input as aopropriate. City of Wheat Ridge Parks and Recreation Master Plan DRAFT Table 5.2 Proposed Project Summary and Estimated Costs (continued) Name Size Proposed Cost Description Classification . Pursue joint-use agreement to establish park in association with Everitt 3.5 acres School $0 athletic field upgrades to serve Middle currently underserved area of city . Pursue joint-use agreement to utilize new athletic field uoarades. Wheat School $0 . Pursue joint-use agreement to utilize Ridae Hiah new athletic field uDarades. trails and TtaiIC&ririeiiU&ns ... ......... ......... ..... ........ ............... ..Y <.E... ..... . Provide trail connection between Clear Creek trailhead at Moore Street and trailhead at Kipling Clear Trail Street. May include underpass at Creek Trail 0.5 Miles Connection $1,150,000 Kipling Street. Connection . Connection will provide for uninterrupted travel along Clear Creek trail without having to exit the trail and cross over Kipling. . Improvements needed to make trailhead more accessible and Miller @ 1 acre Trailhead $800,000 visually attractive Trailhead . Suggested improvements include improved access, paved parking lot, restrooms, and improved signage. . Improvements needed to make trailhead more accessible and Otis @ 1 acre Trailhead $200,000 visually attractive. Trailhead . Suggested improvements include improved access, paved parking lot, restrooms, and improved siqnaqe. . Provide trail along length of Lena Gulch within Wheat Ridge, extending from Chester-Portsmouth Lena Gulch 2.5 Miles Off-Street Trail $750,000 Park on the south, past the Wheat Trail Ridge Recreation Center, and connecting to the Clear Creek trail. . Will provide needed north-south off- street trail alonq existinq qulch. . Provide trail along Rocky Mountain Ditch between intersection of ditch with 320d Street west of Kipling and Rocky intersection of ditch with 32nd Street Mountain 2.7 Miles Off-Street Trail $810,000 east of Wadsworth with a spur north Ditch Trail of 381h Avenue connecting to the Clear Creek trail. . Will provide needed north-south off- street trail along existing ditch. (Does not include cost of recreation TOTAL $43,185,000 center expansion or maintenance facility relocation \ DRAFT City of Wheat Ridge Parks and Recreation Master Plan c. Implementation Actions The following are specific actions that should be considered by the Wheat Ridge Parks and Recreation staff, which may assist in the implementation of the proposed projects The actions are organized into planning, upgrades and maintenance, administrative and management, and funding categories, and are not listed in order of priority Management/Planning Actions . Work with the Community Development Department and developers in the acquisition of parkland and trail corridors associated with any new residential development. Identify spe- cific parcels that are key to neighborhood park development in underserved areas. . Develop master plans and construction documents for Anderson Park, Prospect Park, and Baugh House/Historic Park, and the Recreation Center expansion. Include man- agement plans as part of master plans. . Develop improvement plans for school parks, in conjunction with the school district, and with neighborhood input as appropriate . Develop site master plans and construction documents for 44th and Kendall and Einarsen property parks. . Update and clarify park impact fees and land dedication ordinances to cover the cost of design and construction of parks for new residents, as well as accommodate for land needs for neighborhood parks. . Conduct planning processes and prepare design documents for neighborhood park upgrades Include management plans as part of master plans. . Work with the Public Works Department to up- grade pedestrian and bicycle connectivity in neighborhoods 44. and Kendall Park Site Einarsen Property City of Wheat Ridge Parks and Recreation Master Plan DRAFT Administrative and Management Actions . Prepare an annual report card on progress toward achieving the Parks and Recreation Plan . Coordinate with Department of Public Works and Community Development Department to ensure that the development of a pedestrian and bicycle master plan is implemented, and that crossing enhancements at key locations are implemented to facilitate easier access to parks and trailheads . Regularly update the parklands inventory and maps to reflect existing con- ditions. . Establish clear mechanisms for interdepartmental and interagency coord- ination on planning and design issues, and to ensure consistency with the Parks and Recreation Master Plan Upgrades and Maintenance Actions . Rehabilitate or replace existing playgrounds, restrooms, and other park facilities, including bringing existing facilities up to ADA standards . Evaluate existing parks for additional needed upgrades Funding Actions · Actively pursue granting and funding opportunities to serve underserved neighborhoods with parks · Explore the level of community support for additional funding sources such as property or sales taxes, and development impact fees. · Continue to pursue agreements with the Jeff Co R-1 School District to share use of public lands and recreational resources. D. Potential Funding Sources for Park and Recreation Projects While the Wheat Ridge Parks and Recreation Department primarily receives funding through the City General Fund, there is no established reserve fund for future park development projects As such, additional strategies should be considered to meet the needs of both existing and future residents. The following list of strategies and funding sources should be considered when developing a specific implementation plan for city projects and programs Hayward Park UI\r\1 I I...IllY VI VVIIt::c:11. 1\luyt:: ralr,::, allV r'lt::LIt;;c:1l1VIIIVla:::'ll;:1 rldll Sales/Property Tax Increase Most of the parks and recreation budget comes from the City General Fund, which is supported primarily through city sales and property tax. Table 5.3 shows the breakdown of current tax rates within the city The City of Wheat Ridge could consider an increase in either city sales or property tax. Any additional increases in these city taxes would most likely result in additional revenues going into the General Fund, of which parks and recreation would only benefit proportionately as they already do Most likely, this would still result in a large shortfall for any future park and recreation project. To avoid this, City Council would need to specifically earmark funds, or the language in the approved tax increase would need to specifically state that the purpose is for park, trail, and recreational facility development. Tax increases of this nature are most often passed as bond issues. Table 5.3. Current City of Wheat Ridge Tax Rates Rate Tax 2.9% State 3.0% City 1.0% Regional Transportation District 01% Scientific & Cultural Facilities District 01% Football Stadium District 0.5% Jefferson County Open Space 7.6% General Merchandise - Total Establishment of a Parks District The city could consider the establishment of a dedicated parks and recreation district that would cover all parks within the city This method would provide a steady, reliable, and predictable source of income through a designated tax for the new Parks and Recreation District. The department would then function as its own entity apart from the City of Wheat Ridge These districts are typically established for areas within unincorporated counties or as districts encompassing multiple smaller communities without the ability to operate their own parks and recreation departments. Additionally, there is currently a Jefferson County Open Space Tax of o 5%, of which portions of the revenue go to support Wheat Ridge park projects. For these reasons, establishment of an additional district may meet some resistance within the community City of Wheat Ridge Parks and Recreation Master Plan OWners of small companies ranked recreation, p~rks and John l. Crompton, Lisa L. Loveand ThomasA ,.' uAn dy ofth Recreation, ,Parks and Open Space In Companies' (re) Location Decisions," Journal of Park and Recreation Administration (1991),37-58. DRAFT Establishment of a Special Improvement District The city could consider the establishment of a special improvement district (SID) for specific park and recreation facility projects. City Council would have to amend the municipal code to include parks and recreation facilities in order for this to occur, and would also have to establish the boundaries of the district as well as the levy to be assessed Typically, SID's contain a sunset clause stating that once all projects are completed, the SID and any associated taxes will be abolished, While this might not be practical for the entire city, it may be useful for park and recreation improve- ments associated with sub-area plans (i.e., Orchard District). Sale of City-Owned Land The City of Wheat Ridge could consider liquidating any surplus properties it owns and has no plans to develop or reserve for future uses The city could also consider swapping vacant land it already owns for other, more appropriate sites to allow for park development. Any revenues from these sales could be directed to parks and recreation Hotel/Motel Tax The city currently imposes a 10% lodging tax in lieu of city sales tax on all rental rooms of less than 30 days. Currently, 5% of this tax goes into the City's General Fund, while the other 5% is earmarked for other purposes. The city could consider designating the difference between the hotel tax and the city sales tax (2.4%) to parks and recreation. This would require an amendment to the municipal code by City Council Subdivision Ordinance Requirements and Development Impact Fees Currently, the City of Wheat Ridge subdivision ordinance states that when a proposal for a new residential development is received, the city shall review the proposal for impact to the city's current parkland and parks and recreation programs A recommendation will be made whether the city shall require a dedication of a portion of the total site acreage of the development for park, parkland and recreation purposes or fees in lieu of dedication; or a combination of land and cash in lieu of land If land dedication is recommended, the land dedicated shall be a developed park constructed to city standards and specifications. If cash in lieu of dedication is required, the amount will be paid prior to building permit issuance Credit toward parkland dedication requirements or a portion thereof may be considered through the provision of on-site recreation facilities or trails, provided they meet certain requirements outlined by the city Unless specifically approved by city council or the planning commission, credit for private, on-site recreation facilities shall not exceed 50 percent of the total parkland acreage required to be dedicated The land area to be dedicated shall be calculated using the following formula. Total number of dwelling units multiplied by .016 acre = total acreage required DRAFT City of Wheat Ridge Parks and Recreation Master Plan In lieu of dedicating such area within the proposed subdivision, the subdivider may dedicate an alternate parcel of the required size within 0 75 mile of the proposed subdivision (which is acceptable to the city council) after a review and recom- mendation by the parks and recreation commission and the planning commission, based on established standards and considerations, In the event a land dedication is not approved, then a cash contribution in lieu of land dedication shall be required The cash contribution shall be calculated using the following formula. Total acreage for dedication multiplied by the dollar value per acre as determined by market value = total cash amount required The cash in lieu fee shall be equivalent to the full market value of the acreage required for parkland dedication Value shall be based on anticipated market value after completion of platting and construction of public improvements The city could consider increasing the current development impact fee to fully cover the cost of acquiring and developing the parks, trails, and recreation centers needed as a result of new or additional residential development. A development impact fee should reflect the adopted level of service standard and cover the cost of acquiring and developing future parkland If the development impact fees were amended to include the cost of acquiring parkland, all relevant subdivision ordinances would need to be amended to reflect this Currently there is no dedicated funding source for trail corridor acquisition and trail construction or requirements for development to provide these An option available to the city might be to create a subdivision ordinance requiring adjacent developments to dedicate future master-planned trail corridors in the city, as well as provide secondary trails connecting the developments to the primary trails. This would only apply to new residential developments, however, and most likely not cover the majority of needed trail corridors. Some communities are also including a full spectrum of leisure services in their development impact fees, which contain costs for recreation centers, trails and open space, in addition to parks. The city could also consider imposing this fee on commercial devel- opment; however, this is rarely done in other communities. Randall Park Parks Fee The city could consider establishing a parks fee, which would be included as part of the monthly utility bill Typically funds from this fee are used to cover the maintenance associated with development of new parks that are partially funded out of development impact fees However, a modest parks fee may be able to be used for new park acquisition as well The fee would be calculated based on the number "' 01' l' 0" ,,; 'ill 11:-:;>){ I 1: ~ , ~ '0l~ 1 ,"'; '" " ~ ~ 3 :4i%1rii'iilililrii..ta1.loll:iii,^,\'M'k"iij)!~~ ~,p0 Q ffi:h"', ~ '''1 'lh':1tt~'-t,"':'04~%Od.;u ld%~ ~ ~W ,) <" ~ " ",,~:J~' t~" "% Hi ~ 5.1 ~ :-iT" ~ , " City of Wheat Ridge Parks and Recreation Master Plan DRAFT of active residential utility (electric, water, etc.) accounts. An average growth rate and inflation rate should be incorporated into the fee, and a rebate program for low income households could be considered as well. Since the city does not operate a utility, this may be difficult to implement. Louis Turner Park Open Space Funds This fund receives a 1/2-cent sales tax per capita allotment through the Jefferson County Open Space program for the purpose of acquiring, developing, and maintaining open space and park properties within the City of Wheat Ridge The Open Space Fund generates approximately $850,000 annually in revenues. Monies from this fund are typically used for park maintenance salaries and operating costs. It is anticipated that this funding stream will continue for the foreseeable future Conservation Trust Fund This is a revenue source from the Colorado lottery. Funds are distributed annually by the state, based on population. Many other communities dedicate their annual Colorado Lottery funds to trail corridor acquisition and trail construction projects. Currently, the City receives approximately $280,000 annually, which has historically been used for new projects as well as maintenance projects to improve existing parks Great Outdoors Colorado (GOCO) Grant Program This is a statewide pool of revenue from Colorado Lottery proceeds Funds are available on a competitive grant basis for park and open space land acquisition and development, outdoor recreation, environmental education and capacity building, The City regularly applies for these funds for various projects, but cannot rely on grants as a steady funding stream. State Trails Program Established in 1971, this program is funded with revenue from GOCO, TEA-21 Section 1112 Recreation Trails Program, and Off-Highway Vehicle (OHV) registration fees Funds are available for trails on a competitive basis. A 25 to 50% match is required Since the state funding pool is relatively small, this resource is proposed for a small component of the trails system. The City regularly applies for these grants. $-~1A~ "J,1N't""t'kt",,,,~,0"'3'f\~]k1'1"',1;;#{it~";t?!,~'"fl'fif~1fu;l1ai;1b'%f<*,",'t^ji,,,,,},'t)fu~~~~"1~0'*'i!B' "~I "'"", ~ ~,~ 1;g~ ''\q/)!!,'; ~ 'C'"" t''''FI ,;II- ~ ,," ,,: /"" ~'~":1 ~, ~; ,,' ~ '~8<'t;. ~;,:l" ~ ~ '"ap e. ve DRAFT City of Wheat Ridge Parks and Recreation Master Plan Safe, Accountable, Flexible and Efficient Transportation Equity Act: A Legacy for Users (SAFE-TEA-LU) This is the reauthorization of the Transportation Equity Act for the 21 st Century (TEA-21). Section 1202, "Enhancement Grants," are available from the federal government through the Denver Regional Council of Governments on a competitive basis to fund bicycle transportation, wetlands improvements and historic preservation, among other things. These grants are a possible and supplemental source of revenue for some trail improvements. Specific funds have been allocated through SAFE-TEA-LU by the federal government for the Congestion Mitigation and Air Quality program (CMAQ), which is jointly administered by the FHWA and the Federal Transit Administration (FTA). This program, in conjunction with its umbrella entity, are intended to realign the focus of transportation planning toward a more inclusive, environmentally-sensitive, and multimodal approach to addressing transportation problems, and its funds are allocated to CDOT, MPOs, and transit agencies to invest in projects that reduce air pollutants generated from transportation-related sources. This program may be a good funding source for the Kipling Street underpass State Historical Society Funds A portion of state gaming revenues are transferred to the State Historical Fund and administered by the State Historic Society Grants are available for projects of his- toric significance I . urban parks have tremendous value - hard , economic value - and cities that recognlze the fact do better than those that do not. Although the fiscal benefits generahy do not show Up at a turnstile or tiCKet booth, they are reflected in real ' estate value. . . retail and restauraht vatue . . , and in tourism value. Peter Harnik, /nslde City Parks, ULI and Trust for Public Lands, 2000 "'., "'I'" ".' """ '''"'''''<'''''''' "Ck,. ", ,,"" .. ' "'" 1,=r~'1,1 :H'M'1i""il" ""'ill"" x,i'q ;m~,~'%"""'-=\ft'wm;(<r;,1ilm!'W0~7~~'%j"'S8'>> 1~{W 10" "; %"" , "', i%d"ii\'J!"fu<~*!'1 w~~~~ "':F' ~ ~ "" 1$.1 fr;;li '", ~~~, 5 15 , mr>>; e~~~ .'IO~ 1> ,,>, ~ ~~~:~d'"s%;:'0~~::8> > r""', ~ :"';~ " % , .