municipality of anchorage 11-03 neighborhood...spenard community council – vip committee –...

2011 Neighborhood Parks of 4

MUNICIPALITY OF ANCHORAGE

ANCHORAGE PARKS & RECREATION

PRC 11-03 DATE: March 3, 2011 TO: Parks & Recreation Commission FROM: Suzanne R. Little, Senior Park Planner SUBJECT: PRC 11-03 2011 Neighborhood Park Fix-it Projects Overview Approaching our third year of Volunteer-Powered Park Fix-it Projects done in collaboration with the Anchorage Park Foundation and Community Volunteers, Park Planning Staff is enthusiastic about implementation of neighborhood park improvements. Parks were selected for a fix-it based upon information from the 2008 Parks Report Card process as well as input from Parks Maintenance Staff concerning major maintenance needs. Key Goals for 2011 Neighborhood Park Fix-its: 1. Take Better Care of What We Have 2. Plan Smart – Don’t Create Unreasonable Work for the Long-Term Local & Internal Planning: • Very Important Parks (VIP) Committees were appointed by local Community Councils for each Fix-it

Park. The VIP Committees assisted Parks Staff in planning each project – a total of 90 VIP Committee Volunteers – contributed 540 hours of planning time to date.

• Department Staff assured good communication and coordination with Community Work Service, Park Maintenance, Horticulture, Youth Employment in Parks functions to assure implementation is coordinated and maintenance expectation is achievable post-construction.

Leveraged Resources, Efficient Process: • The Anchorage Park Foundation leveraged capital funding for all the Neighborhood Park Fix-it

improvements and contributed its own Clean and Green funds for each project. • Volunteers will implement Volunteer-powered components of each project enabling us to stretch the

dollars farther. • The Park Foundation will hold the construction contracts for all the Neighborhood Park Projects and

construction management will be accomplished by The Boutet Company, also under contract with the Anchorage Park Foundation

2011 Neighborhood Park Projects

1. Harvard Park Government Hill Community Council – VIP Committee – Robert Atkinson, Aaron, Darlene & Kyle Beasley, Bobbie Bianchi, Bob French, Melinda Gant, Gaby Brion, Dan, Ingrid & Zoey Lowery, Nick Szymoniak, Mavis Hancock

2. Cope Street Park Spenard Community Council – VIP Committee Chair Rene Haag


3. Carlson Park Rogers Park Community Council – VIP Committee – Per Pedersen, Jim Wright, Peter Briggs, Harvey Dougherty, Bob Churchill, Barbara Edwards, Lori Horning, Kristin Main, Georganna Derrick, Wendy Davis, Rob & Jana Church

4. Ira Walker Park North East Community Council – VIP Committee – Aaron & Hollie Beebe, Scott Kohlhaus, Terry Cummings, Lant Platner, Jeff Linderman, Tamonica Shannon, Ptarmigan Principal Lori Cheek

5. Little Dipper Park – Phase I Spenard Community Council – VIP Committee – Franklin Durr, Ruth Durr, Michelle Pamer, Jerianne Lowther, Cathy Cart, Judy Alward, Sidney Alwarad, Mark Hill

6. William B Lyons Park - Phase I Mountain View Community Council - VIP Committee – Ms. McIntyre’s Entire Class at Clark Middle School, Clark Middle School Principal Cessilye Williams, Scott Williams, David Varney, Glenn Howson, Clark Yerrington, Kep Pierce, Marge Chord, Kevin Doniere, Chad Taylor, Amber Craig, Breanne Davis, James Barbee Jennifer Walker, Steven Bassett, Rhian Gay, Robert & Wisteria Ward

7. Sand Lake Park Russian Jack Community Council – VIP Committee – Marietta “Ed” Hall, David Moore, Connor & Lily VanAlstine, Jay & Moira VanAlstine, Sand Lake Elementary Principal Patrick Garrity, Lyn Lemon, Anette Heckert

VIPs – Who Are They? Each Community Council was asked to recruit volunteers for the Very Important Park Committee with the following affiliations:

2 Community Council representatives 2 Unaffiliated Representatives from the neighborhood 2 Children, between the ages 10 – 18 from the neighborhood accompanied by their parents

VIP Committee Member’s Job Identify what is special about the park and achieve a supported priority list for Park Improvements Make consistent reports to the Community Council on action taken by the VIP Committee; Recruit neighborhood volunteers for the volunteer-powered project and Volunteer on the

volunteer-powered day; and Join in the neighborhood celebration of the completed park project!

Park by Park Highlights - What are the main elements? At each park entry signage will be updated in an effort to reduce maintenance costs and improve the entrance appearance. This includes a single post-supported park sign, an updated park rules kiosk, a trash can and a dog mitt station. Harvard Park Located on Government Hill, Harvard Park is a beloved neighborhood park used for recreation and walking year-round, sledding in the winter and tennis & basketball in the summertime. The Curling Club and the Square and Round Dance Buildings are located in this park and are responsible for winter maintenance of the parking lot. Old basketball equipment and courts need updating and the VIP Committee decided to prioritize improvements at the entrance, the tennis court and trails. The Improvement plan allows for rehabilitation of ½ of the basketball court, turning the other half into a picnic area. The Youth Employment in Parks crews will be improving the trail from the East end to Brown’s Point Park and contractors will carefully improve the views at Brown’s Point and Suzan B Nightingale Park. The Volunteer-powered work day at Harvard Park is scheduled for Saturday, May 21st from 9 – Noon with a Neighborhood Celebration from Noon to 2 PM. The Total In-The-Ground Budget for Harvard Park is $69,230


Cope Street Park A sweet little neighborhood park, Cope Street will benefit from the VIP Committee plans to improve signage, update picnic tables, install a picnic plaza and new pathway to the playground. The Volunteer-powered work day at Woodland Park is scheduled for Saturday, June 11th from 9 – Noon with a Neighborhood Celebration from Noon to 2 PM. The Total In-The-Ground Budget for Cope Street Park is $38,000. Ira Walker Park Located on 6th Avenue East of Boniface in the Eastern Part of town, the park is only accessible from 6th Avenue. VIP Committee priorities include expansion of the children’s play area and installation of 4 new play equipment pieces. We will purchase components to repair existing play equipment and replace the fall-surfacing with engineered wood fiber, a handicap accessible material. We are still exploring the possibility of volunteer-powered removal of the existing picnic shelter with permanently-installed picnic tables on the remaining concrete plaza. The Volunteer-powered work day at Ira Walker Park is scheduled for Saturday, June 25th from 9 – Noon with a Neighborhood Celebration from Noon to 2 PM. The Total In-The-Ground Budget for Ira Walker Park is $92,258. William B. Lyons Park – Phase Two Located adjacent to the Mountain View Community Recreation Center that is operated by the Boys and Girls Clubs of Alaska, William B. Lyons Park was named after the long-time pastor of the adjacent church. An exciting plan has been established for William B. Lyons Park consisting of two phases – Phase One which was accomplished in the summer of 2010 re-claimed part of the adjacent parking lot and removed dilapidated play equipment. Phase Two has engaged Clark Middle School Students under a Career Exploration class at Clark Middle School encouraged by Principal Cessilye Williams and Teacher Heather McIntyre (a former YEP Crew Member) and led by American Society of Landscape Architect Volunteers Kevin Doniere and Chad Taylor. Students have achieved a design concept – the Global Village – and the design team will be presenting the completed design to the Parks and Recreation Commission at the April meeting. The Volunteer-powered work day at William B Lyons Park is scheduled for Saturday, July 23rd from 9 – Noon with a Neighborhood Celebration from Noon to 2 PM. The Total In-The-Ground Budget for William B Lyons Park is $182,063. Little Dipper Park – Phase One Little Dipper Park’s Eastern edge abuts Fort Richardson property and consequently has stunning views of the Chugach Range from the center of the park. The VIP Committee is very concerned about unsafe and mischievous use of the park so made recommendations for improvements to create additional safety. The existing entrance path is sometimes used by youth who ride bikes off the slide and right out into the street on a blind curve. This entrance will be removed and trees planted as barriers with the entrance path relocated to the East. Play equipment will be repaired and Eagle Scout Franklin Durr will coordinate removal of the sand fall-surfacing for contractor replacement with engineered wood-fiber. The Utility gate will be moved from the main entrance to the South and slight fill will be installed to make the lawn area even. The Volunteer-powered work day at Little Dipper Park is scheduled for Saturday, July 9th from 9 – Noon with a Neighborhood Celebration from Noon to 2 PM. The Total In-The-Ground Budget for Little Dipper Park is $52,775. Carlson Park Located behind residential lots with only a pathway entrance, Carlson Park contains Lake Otis and is not far from Lake Otis Elementary. A very secluded and private-feeling park, the VIP Committee was concerned about upgrading play opportunities in the playground for local children. A composite play structure will be installed and one existing element removed. The sand fall-surfacing will be replaced with engineered wood-fiber fall surfacing. A bench will be installed at the lake edge and updated signage will be installed at the pathway entrance. The Volunteer-powered work day at Carlson Park is scheduled for Saturday, June 8th from 9 – Noon with a Neighborhood Celebration from Noon to 2 PM. The Total In-The-Ground Budget for Carlson Park is $63,772


Sand Lake Park As early as weather allows, volunteer divers have agreed to remove fishing debris and broken glass from Sand Lake, a concern expressed by the VIP Committee. Other priorities for the park include improving the North entrance where a culvert extends under the path, replacing existing benches and trash cans and repairing the burned dock. Volunteers will build an access trail from the South entrance of the park to the dock and rocks will be placed in the path to discourage foot-traffic onto adjacent private property. The Volunteer-powered work day at Sand Lake Park is scheduled for Saturday, July 16th from 9 – Noon with a Neighborhood Celebration from Noon to 2 PM. The Total In-The-Ground Budget for Sand Lake Park is $37,560. Upcoming Project Schedule VIP Committee Members will meet one more time for a walk-through after the snow melts to see talk-and-walk about the plan details and to agree on the tasks for the volunteer work day and neighborhood celebration. Each VIP member is in charge of recruiting neighborhood participants for the volunteer work day and celebration. Any play equipment or park amenities like benches, trash cans or picnic tables will be ordered through the Anchorage Park Foundation enable delivery by the scheduled work days. The Department Maintenance, Horticulture, Planning, Recreation and Administrative Sections are all collaborating together to make the 2010 neighborhood parks projects successful. Staff Recommendation The Parks & Recreation Department, the Community Council’s VIP Committees and the public have made good achievements to find common ground resulting in prioritized Fix-It Plans with Detailed Budgets for Seven Neighborhood Parks and schedule for construction. Staff recommends the Commission approve the attached PRC Resolution 2011-02 for the Fix-It plans for all parks except William B Lyons Park (to be presented at the Commission’s April meeting).

MUNICIPALITY OF ANCHORAGE

ANCHORAGE PARKS & RECREATION

PRC RES 2011-02

2011 Neighborhood Park Fix-It Plans

WHEREAS, the Anchorage Parks and Recreation Commission serves in an advisory capacity to both the Mayor and the Assembly; and

WHEREAS, the Anchorage Parks and Recreation Commission has the

responsibility and duty to provide for the long-term vision of our park system by ensuring that a balance of parks, natural resources, and recreation facilities provides for the health, welfare, and safety of all residents of the Anchorage Bowl; and

WHEREAS local Community Councils cultivated seven Very Important

Parks (VIP) Committees, 90 people total, giving them responsibilities for advising the Department on prioritization of remediation work in selected neighborhood parks, and

WHEREAS, the VIP Committees have concluded the first phase of their work, the prioritization of tasks at each selected neighborhood park with the presentation to the Parks and Recreation Commission of fix-it plans, priorities and scheduled for work at Harvard Park, Cope Street Park, Carlson Park, Ira Walker Park, Little Dipper Park and Sand Lake Park. (William B Lyons Park improvement plans will be presented to the Commission at the April PRC meeting).

NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Anchorage Parks and Recreation Commission approves the improvement plans, priorities and schedules submitted by the Department and VIP Committees for the six submitted 2011 Neighborhood Parks projects.

PASSED AND APPROVED by the Anchorage Parks and Recreation Commission this 10th day of March, 2010.

_____________________________

Chair Parks and Recreation Commission ATTEST: ________________________________ John Rodda, Director Parks & Recreation Department

NW PARK DISTRICT HARVARD PARK

PRELIMINARY IMPROVEMENTS

711 E. LOOP ROADANCHORAGE, AK 99501

The Boutet Co.

Department ofParks and

Recreation

Municipality ofAnchorage

HealthyParks

HealthyPeople

Harvard Park

Anchorage Parks & Recreation

What we will do:Refurbish Tennis Courts

Refurbish ½ court basketballReplace Old Signage

Install New Trash CansInstall New Benches

Build D-1 Pathway Brown’s Point with YEP Crew

Plant 3 Ornamental Trees

Project Construction Budget $69,230

NW PARK DISTRICT COPE STREET PARK


3405 COPE STREETANCHORAGE, AK 99503

The Boutet Co.


Recreation


HealthyParks

HealthyPeople

Neighborhood Parks Project

What we will do:• Remove Graffiti

• Replace Trash Cans, Picnic Tables

• Add Benches• Improve Informal North Pathway to 4’ D-1 Path• Repair Existing Play

Equipment• Install 881 Square Feet of

Pavers for Seating Area• Upgrade Sign, Kiosk at

Entrance

Cope Street Park

Total Park Improvements:$38,000

Fix-It Day June 11th

IMPROVEMENT PLANThe Boutet Co.

NE PARK DISTRICT CARLSON PARK

2214 STANFORD DRIVEANCHORAGE, AK 99508

Neighborhood Parks

Carlson Park

What we will do:

• Remove Graffiti•Replace Trash Cans

• Add Bench Near Lake• Enlarge Play Area & Install New

Play Equipment• Remove Sand Fall-Surfacing and Install Engineered Wood

Fiber• Upgrade Sign, Kiosk at Entrance

Total Park Improvements: $63,772

NE PARK DISTRICT IRA WALKER PARK


5850 E. 6th AVENUEANCHORAGE, AK 99504

The Boutet Co.


Recreation


HealthyParks

HealthyPeople

Neighborhood Parks

Ira Walker Park

What we will do:

• Replace Damaged Parts on Play Equipment

•Install 4 New Play Equipment Pieces

•Replace sand fall-surfacing with engineered wood fiber

• Upgrade Sign, Kiosk and Trash Cans

• Add Lighting at Light Pole• Repaint Hop Scotch

Total Park Improvement Value:

$97,258

NE PARK DISTRICT LITTLE DIPPER PARK


8551 LITTLE DIPPER AVENUEANCHORAGE, AK 99504

The Boutet Co.


Recreation


HealthyParks

HealthyPeople

Neighborhood Parks

Anchorage Parks & Recreation

What we will do :

• Replace damaged parts on Play Equipment

• Relocate Dangerous Pathway• Replace sand fall-surfacing with

engineered wood fiber• Relocate maintenance access gate from

front entrance to South• Upgrade Sign, Kiosk and Trash Cans

• New Picnic Table• Eagle Scout to provide labor for

excavation of sand and installation of park sign

Total Park Improvements Valued at $52,755

Little Dipper Park Replace!

SW PARK DISTRICT SAND LAKE PARK


3886 CARAVELLE DRIVEANCHORAGE, AK 99502

The Boutet Co.


Recreation


HealthyParks

HealthyPeople

What we will do:• Update Signage

• Repair Asphalt at Culvert Crossing

• New Benches & Trash • Repair Burned Dock

• Install D-1 Gravel Path from South Entrance

• Remove dead & down trees

• Work

Sand Lake Park

Total Park Improvement Value $37,560

Project In Design Development

Clark Middle School Students led by American Society of Landscape

Architect Volunteers, Kevin Donierre & Chad Taylor, developed ‘Global

Village’ design concept. Parks staff will present design next month.

William B Lyons Park

Total Park Improvement

Value $182,036

municipality of anchorage 11-03 neighborhood...spenard community council – vip committee –...

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