Santa Clara South Hills Recreation Park Project Development and Management Plan

Transcription

1 Santa Clara South Hills Recreation Park Project Application for Land for Recreation or Public Purposes, City of Santa Clara, Utah Prepared for: Bureau of Land Management, St. George Field Office 345 East Riverside Drive St. George, Utah Prepared by: Brad Hays, Director of Parks, Trails & Recreation Santa Clara City 2603 Santa Clara Drive Santa Clara, Utah 84765

2 Table of Contents 1.0 INTRODUCTION LOCATION STATEMENT OF NEED DEVELOPMENT PLAN TIMETABLE AND COST ESTIMATES... 4 PROJECT FUNDING... 4 MANAGEMENT PLAN... 5 SUMMARY... 5 APPENDIX A: Aerial Overview of Park With Township Ranges and Sections... 6 APPENDIX B: Site Development Plan... 7 APPENDIX C: Pictures... 8 APPENDIX D: Amendment to Santa Clara Impact Fee Facilities Plan and Analysis. 10 Santa Clara South Hills Recreation Park Project 1

3 1.0 INTRODUCTION The City of Santa Clara Utah has requested to lease, under the Recreation and Public Purposes Act (RPPA) a 51 acre area of land administered by the St. George Field Office, Bureau of Land Management (BLM) for a Municipal Park. The Site is located in the western border of Santa Clara City adjacent to the Santa Clara River Reserve near the Cove Wash Trailhead. The proposed Santa Clara South Hills City Park will promote healthy lifestyles by creating outdoor recreation opportunities and support large group events. To ensure the conservation and preservation of local resources, the park will incorporate native plant and animal education amenities that promote conservation. In addition, archeological educational displays depicting historic rock art will be constructed to promote preservation of the Santa Clara River Reserve archeological sites. Geological displays will explain how the 360 degree panoramic views were formed. For the active lifestyles, the Park will have a 1 mile decomposed granite hiking and bicycling trail, a 9 hole Frisbee golf course, a bicycle riding skills (pump) track, and climbing boulders. A small outdoor amphitheater will be constructed facing Red and Pine Valley Mountains to conduct educational classes in natural history and hold small community events. Other Park amenities will include day use picnic areas for family and friends to gather, a large pavilion to host family reunions and sporting events, restrooms and parking facilities. Facilities will be dispersed around the park to maintain the natural setting. The Park will be constructed with minimal disturbance to native habitat to maintain its natural beauty. The Park can host trail running and mountains biking events such as the Huntsman World Senior Games, National Interscholastic Cycling Association (NICA), Cactus Hugger, and True Grit races that use the Santa Clara River Reserve Trail System and other nearby BLM administered trails. These events will provide economic benefits for Santa Clara City and surrounding communities. 2.0 LOCATION The proposed 52 acre site is located on BLM administered lands near the western Santa Clara City border next to the Santa Clara River Reserve Sections 17 and 20, Township 42S, Range 16w. 3.0 STATEMENT OF NEED Santa Clara City and surrounding communities are growing at a fast pace and visitors from afar are visiting the area in record numbers to enjoy the 30 miles of trails within and near the Santa Clara River Reserve. Washington County has seen substantial increases in visitors coming to the area for leisure and recreation. According to the National Parks Service, Zion National Park s visitors have increased since 2005 from 1 million annually to 3,662,220 at the end of In addition, the Washington County Utah population has increased from 94,000 in 2001 to 147,800 residents in 2013 according to the US Census. The expansion in visitors and residents in the County have drastically increased recreational use of the BLM owned lands near and within Santa Clara South Hills Recreation Park Project 2

4 the Santa Clara City boundary and the Santa Clara River Reserve. The recreational activities include trail running, mountain biking, target shooting, hiking, and off-highway vehicle riding. In addition, these world class trails are home to the True Grit Epic 50 and 100 mile Mountain Bike Races, Cactus Hugger, Red Mountain 50K & 30K, the Dirty Hurty Half Marathon, and more. The current BLM Transportation Plan has approximately 50 additional miles of single-track non-motorized trails planned for the immediate area. Several of the organized races that currently use the trail system stage at a nearby private property location near the subdivision called Green Hills. The Green Hills Staging area is currently under development and will no longer be available to stage these races. Santa Clara City hopes to stage these races in the proposed park to boost the local economy. Currently the Cove Wash Trailhead is inadequate to accommodate the large number of vehicles that park to access the trails. Visitors currently park on the Highway 91 right-of-way a mile from the trail head and often ride through private property for trail access. The City has received numerous complaints from private property owners concerning illegal parking and trespassing. The park would provide ample parking for all visitors. In addition, there are no restroom facilities and no trash collection. The area contains litter across the landscape caused by illegal dumping, pallet and furniture fueled fires, human waste, and debris from shooting. The City of Santa Clara wishes to construct the park to create a clean and safe place where people can recreate. The City of Santa Clara and Washington County are working with the BLM to create a safe location for target shooting away from recreational activities. The new park would encourage conservation and preservation of this precious resource. 4.0 DEVELOPMENT PLAN A site development plan has been prepared by the City of Santa Clara for construction of the Park. Upon approval of the land lease, the City will install utilities, road improvements, parking areas followed by restrooms and the day use picnic areas to remedy the more immediate issues. Additional park amenities construction will follow the timetable as listed in Section 5.0, Timetable and Costs Estimates. A variety of equipment will be used during construction to include road graders, dump trucks, track hoes, concrete trucks, and lift trucks. All staging and materials stockpile will be will be contained and secured within the construction area. Construction will occur during normal weekday hours. Safety measures will be strictly followed during construction to ensure safe access for patrons use of nearby trails. Santa Clara South Hills Recreation Park Project 3

5 5.0 TIMETABLE AND COST ESTIMATES First Year: 1. Engineering $12, Utilities, by City 8, Gravel access roads and parking lots within the park, by City 24, Restroom facility 145,000 TOTAL: $189,000 Second Year: 1. Picnic areas and large group pavilion $ 210, Educational Kiosks 32,000 TOTAL $242,000 Third Year: 1. Trails, 6 decomposed granite, by City $ 23, Frisbee golf course, 2, Pump track 120,000 TOTAL $145,500 Forth Year: 1. Children s museum play area $ 120, Rock wall area 60,000 TOTAL $180,000 Fifth Year: 1. Amphitheater $220,000 Total $220,000 Total estimated cost of Construction: $976,500 PROJECT FUNDING Funding for the South Hills Park construction will be paid through Parks and Recreation Impacts Fees, the City s General Fund to include Washington County Recreation, Arts and Parks Tax (RAP), and private donations. The City will actively apply for grants and solicit donations to subsidize construction costs. City crews will be used to install utilities, construct trails and erect pre-fabricated picnic and large pavilions facilities. The Amendment to the Santa Clara City Parks & Trails Impact Fee Facilities Plan, August 2013 added the South Hills Park with an impact fee eligible cost of $4,400,000 for improvements. In addition, Washington County RAP taxes may be used to construct the educational geological interpretive panels and historic education amenities. Santa Clara South Hills Recreation Park Project 4

6 MANAGEMENT PLAN The City of Santa Clara Mayor and City Council agrees to the following commitments; which commitments will be incorporated by reference in the conveyance of the subject lands: 1. To maintain the lands open to public use for recreational purposes without discrimination or favor. 2. To make no more than a reasonable charge for the use of facilities on the land and charge no more than is required for regular upkeep and maintenance. 3. To develop and manage the lands with the approved program of utilization, submitted in this application. 4. To secure approval from the BLM of all plans for construction prior to any improvements on the land. SUMMARY The requested land will be used as a recreation park near the Santa Clara River Reserve. The park will provide a clean and safe area for people to enjoy the South Hills and enjoy nearby BLM recreational opportunities. The City will provide maintenance and management of the park to ensure keeping the facilities in good repair. The park will include recreational opportunities while promoting preservation and conservation of precious resources through awareness and education. The access road improvements to the proposed parks have been completed through a joint effort between the BLM, City of Santa Clara, and Washington County. The road is maintained by Santa Clara City and is included in the City s Master Road Plan. All facilities will be maintained by the City of Santa Clara Parks and Recreation Department through the City s General Fund. The new Park is not expected to create revenue but a rental fee may be charged to patrons for park maintenance. There are no known environmental and cultural concerns on the proposed site. Santa Clara South Hills Recreation Park Project 5

7 APPENDIX A Aerial overview of Park with Township Ranges and Sections Santa Clara South Hills Recreation Park Project 6

8 APPENDIX B Site Development Plan Santa Clara South Hills Recreation Park Project 7

9 APPENDIX C Pictures New Park Location adjacent to the Santa Clara River Reserve Planned location for Geographical Interpretive Panel Santa Clara South Hills Recreation Park Project 8

10 Illegal dumping and shooting debris are plentiful throughout the area Illegal dumping, animal carcass Santa Clara South Hills Recreation Park Project 9