Dunsmuir Community Park

Transcription

1 Dunsmuir Community Park Master Plan September 2016 ENGAGEMENT SUMMARY #2 Introduction Public engagement is integral to the development of the Dunsmuir Community Park Master Plan. Two park open houses were held in September 2015 and September 2016 with corresponding questionnaires. The intent of the first open house was to meet the community and to hear what improvements they would like to see at the park. The Electoral Area H Parks and Open Space Advisory Committee (POSAC) reviewed the input from the first open house and identified the following improvements and additions they wish to see at Dunsmuir Community Park: Improve court facilities (sport court and tennis courts); Provide a small traditional playground, with area for future expansion; Provide washroom facilities; Provide informal picnic area with tables; Investigate feasibility of developing walking/biking trail through the park; Provide off-road parking; and Improve site lines into the park. Two concept plan options were developed and presented back to the community for their feedback at the second open house. The following open house material was made available to the public on the Park webpage ( along with a brief questionnaire.

2 Page 2 of 7

3 Open House #2 - Summary of Comments The second open house was held at the park on September 16, 2016 from 5:00 pm 7:00pm. Approximately 30 people attended. The RDN Parks Manager and park planner along with Director Veenhof and POSAC members were present to welcome people to the park and to talk with the community. By way of a questionnaire, the public was asked to provide feedback regarding which elements they would prefer to see in the park. A total of 33 questionnaire responses were received. The following is a summary of the responses: Page 3 of 7

4 SAFETY /SECURITY MEASURES 70% of respondents supported the following safety/security measures incorporated into the conceptual plans; 30% of respondents felt the measures were not adequate and provided further comment. 1. Off-road parking lot for 10 cars; 2. Improve sight-lines into the park by limbing up tress and removing underbrush on the neighbouring property (permission from the landowner has been granted); 3. Improve park identification by providing larger, more prominent entrance signage; 4. Provide a lockable entrance gate (open only during daylight hours). - Provide fence around the back perimeter would be good to keep animals out (bears & cougars) - gate access to trails. - wider roads in the area to make it safer for kids / people to walk/ride to the park/river/beach - Add street light for safety - Would like a cross walk and lowered speed limit from before the park just past the Leon/horn lake intersection. - Need road signage to slow down for park and children on road. Page 4 of 7

5 PARK IMPROVEMENTS Respondents were asked to identify which park improvements they supported. Sport Court Improvements 90% of respondents supported resurfacing the sport court 90% of respondents supported installing perimeter chain link fencing 80% of respondents supported new basketball hoops - Lines for Pickleball court - seating for parents and grandparents - no improvements needed, just paint lines, only half a court Tennis Court Improvements 62% of respondents supported re-surfacing 71% supported only doing minor surface improvements e.g. crack repair - Nets - pickleball good - Make it a multi-use court for pickleball - Reline suitable for pickleball - Don t re-surface, just put in pickleball - New tennis net needed - Skate park, take out tennis court Picnic Area 85% of respondents supported having a picnic table located in an open area near the playground - Provide a timber frame picnic shelter (2) and a drinking fountain - Would like picnic tables located closer to the middle or back of the park - include a 'modern' workout park - picnic table located too close to next door neighbour - more than one table? - put the toilet where the picnic table is shown on the plans - Outhouse; Garbage/ recycling Page 5 of 7

6 Playground 84% of respondents supported having an accessible children s playground for a crosssection of ages 26% of respondents supported having a traditional playground 21% of respondents supported having a natural playground 74% of respondents supported having a combination of both traditional & natural playground elements 74% of respondents supported including swings (Concepts A and B) 53% of respondents supported including a zip line (Concept A) 42% of respondents supported including boulder and rope climbers (Concept A) 21 % of respondents supported including a traditional play structure (Concept B) 16 % supported including stump thrones (Concept B) 32 % supported including stepping posts (Concept B) - Boulders are sometimes dangerous - Disk-golf baskets (2-3 would be ok) Pedestrian and Biking trails 74% of respondents supported developing a boardwalk / raised trail through the forested area 21% of respondents supported developing a bike pump track 69 % of respondents supported developing a mountain bike skills park - Linking up trails to the Big Qualicum River and adjacent area would be great (not sure of the park boundaries) - Fenced off-leash dog park - Trails through the old growth grove to the hatchery - Just need to work with existing trails - Connect with existing trail from Horne Lake Road to Big Qualicum River - Don't need pump track or mtn bike park - Natural features (e.g. not concrete) Page 6 of 7

7 GENERAL COMMENTS: - Great to hear about the park. We have a 2-year-old and there are no parks in our neighbourhood. A water fountain and a covered structure would be great (especially in winter). I think swings are important in every park - there are some awesome natural designs. Mixed ages would be great. - We love and want Concept A. Thank you for all your hard work. - A usable park here is well needed for everyone - How soon? Let s get it done! Thanks - Shrub/bush along existing pathway removed when removing other bushes would be nice. - Explore fire hazard/materials used (wood fibre/tall grass?) - Expand park if Fort Nelson Band ever subdivides their holdings. - Access road is below minimum requirements as it is less than 15 meters wide- one half a road width - withhold development until access is reasonable; there is only one legal access to the property - along the Old Island Hwy road (Whistler Rd). Need to protect this access! The "driveway" may be existing access but is not wide enough for legalities. Page 7 of 7