9. GUIDELINES. General Park Guidelines

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1 General Park Guidelines The purpose of the General Park Guidelines is to provide a framework for developing future Queen Creek parks. The Guidelines will help define those elements that the Town would like to see in future park and recreation facilities. The General Park Guidelines are focused primarily on the community parks and other community recreation facilities that the Town will build in the future. Neighborhood parks, designed and built by developers, will be per the design theme of each subdivision. Community parks and recreation facilities built by the Town will be different in character, creating diversity. There will be some common design elements that serve as identifiers of Queen Creek facilities such as fencing along street frontages and park entry signs. These park guidelines were developed to help achieve the desired character that the Town of Queen Creek would like for its park and recreation facilities. Parks are an important, visible element of a community and can be part of what keeps Queen Creek Unique. GENERAL DESIGN CONSIDERATIONS Aesthetics and innovative design solutions should be primary considerations during design and construction. Understand the physical characteristics of the park site and how well the site can absorb man-made intrusions. Understand the natural vegetation and drainage patterns of the site to avoid erosion and soil compaction problems. Provide adequate street frontage for the park. Parks should open up to the neighborhood and feel like a public place with wide open spaces adjacent to the street. Design parks that encourage alternative modes of travel other than automobiles to reach them. Provide universal access to all parks and facilities, thereby exceeding the Americans with Disabilities Act requirements for accessibility. Permanent park facilities should be designed to have a life expectancy of 25 years. Materials should be durable and of the highest quality affordable. This will add to the park aesthetics and will reduce annual operating maintenance costs. Life cycle cost should be considered during construction. Do not build permanent park facilities in a 100-year flood plain. When locating park facilities such as parking and lighting, take into consideration the surrounding uses and neighbors. 98

2 Plants should be working plants; they should be functional as well as look good. They should be selected for the function they perform shade, border, screening, pedestrian traffic control, or separation of play areas, to name a few. Plants should be selected for their xeriscape characteristics and be selected from the Arizona Department of Water Resources (ADWR) Phoenix Active Management Area Low Water Use/Drought Tolerant Plant List No more turf should be installed than is feasible and needed for active uses. AMERICANS WITH DISABILITIES ACT All new park and recreation facilities in Queen Creek shall conform to the Americans with Disabilities Act, which requires provisions for access routes to primary park amenities for persons with physical impairments. This includes access to parking, play structures and restrooms, to name a few. Park design should give preference first to persons with disabilities; not just follow the letter of the law. Barriers to existing park facilities will be removed when readily achievable. NEIGHBORHOOD PARK GENERAL GUIDELINES Community parks generally serve approximately a ¼ to ½ mile radius and are 1 to 2 acres or approximately one park per 1,000 residents. The following table (Table 14) summarizes some of the amenities generally located in a neighborhood park. Table 14: Neighborhood Park General Guidelines ELEMENT QTY OTHER Passive Elements Perimeter Landscape Gates Fences Signs Lighting Decorative Functional Entry Monumentation Directional Drought tolerant and xeriscape Extend across full street width and cover a vertical height between 10 inches and 4 feet above pavement Split rail or other fence of rural character Set park theme. Rural in character Place identity; warning as needed; routing information Visibility after sunset; aesthetically pleasing; vandal-proof; produce no light spillage; height per Zoning Ordinance Ramadas One per 5-10 acres Each with barbeque grill and picnic table. Steel roof. Columns of steel, brick, masonry or stone. Tables One table per acre. Min. length 6 feet. Shaded with ramada or trees. Plastic coated tops and benches. Benches At least 50% of all park seating to be accessible. Barbeques One for every two Barbeques located at accessible sites to also be accessible. tables Drinking Fountains One min. and one 25 feet from any sand play area. If located on accessible route, then 99

3 ELEMENT QTY OTHER Trash Cans Bicycle Racks Play Lots Informal Turf Area for Play Active Elements Walking Trails Volleyball, tennis, or sport court Horseshoe, shuffleboard per 10 acres One per acre they must be accessible. Min. four per park Buildings Restroom optional If restroom provided, it should be visible and reasonably close to a public street or parking area. Parking Optional. If provided, 10 to 20 spaces COMMUNITY PARK GENERAL GUIDELINES Community parks generally serve approximately a 3-mile radius and are 5 to 20 acres. The following table (Table 15) summarizes some of the amenities generally located in a community park. Figures 18 and 19 graphically represent an active and a passive community park. Table 15: Community Park General Guidelines ELEMENT QTY OTHER Passive Elements Perimeter Landscape Gates Fences Signs Lighting Decorative Functional Entry Monumentation Directional Drought tolerant and xeriscape Extend across full street width and cover a vertical height between 10 inches and 4 feet above pavement Split rail or other fence of rural character Set park theme. Rural in character Place identity; warning as needed; routing information Visibility after sunset; aesthetically pleasing; vandal-proof; produce no light spillage; height per Zoning Ordinance Ramadas One per 5-10 acres Each with barbeque grill and picnic table. Steel roof. Columns of steel, brick, masonry or stone. Tables Two per acre first 3 acres, then one table per acre. Min. length 6 feet. Shaded with ramada or trees. Plastic coated tops and benches. Benches At least 50% of all park seating to be accessible. Barbeques One for every two Barbeques located at accessible sites to also be accessible. 100

4 ELEMENT QTY OTHER Drinking Fountains Trash Cans Bicycle Racks Play Lots Amphitheaters Walking, Jogging Trails Active Elements Baseball and Softball Fields Soccer, Football or Multi-use Fields Tennis Courts Basketball Courts Volleyball Courts (hard and/or sand) Special Event Areas Skate Park Climbing Walls Aquatic Centers Community/Recreation Centers Maintenance Facility Restroom Building Concession Building Parking tables One min. and 1 per 10 acres One per acre Number based on activities provided in the park 25 feet from any sand play area. If located on accessible route, then they must be accessible. 5% of number of vehicular spaces Building should be visible and reasonably close to a public street or parking area. 101

5 Figure 18. Active Community Park Diagram 102

6 Figure 19. Passive Community Park Diagram 103

7 EXTERNAL DESIGN These elements are located on the perimeter of park and recreation facilities and include a plant palette and architectural features. Perimeter Landscape The perimeter landscape plant palette will be in accordance with the Town s landscape ordinance. This will help to create a cohesive and continuous landscape appearance along all the Town rights-of-way. The plant palette selected for the outside of the facility can be different than the plant palette for the interior but either palette shall consist of drought tolerant materials selected from the Arizona Department of Water Resources (ADWR) Phoenix Active Management Area Low Water Use/Drought Tolerant Plant List, which is also the recommended list in the Town s ordinance. There are many plants on the list, while being low-water users, have an agricultural character. The irrigation equipment should also be constant throughout the Town to facilitate maintenance and lower costs. Gates Park gates shall provide both decorative and functional purposes. They can limit public use during off-hours if desired by the Town. They provide a sense of arrival and, more importantly, they can provide an additional opportunity to augment the park theme. If the gates are intended to stop vehicular traffic when park facilities are closed, they will need to extend across the full street width and cover a vertical height between 10 inches and 4 feet above pavement. 104

8 Fences Fences help to control pedestrian, bicycle and vehicular access into park and recreation facilities and augment the exterior park theme. The split-rail fence used at Desert Mountain Park provides a rural quality to the streetscape. Whatever fence is selected, it should require minimum maintenance. Signs First and foremost, signs should be functional and serve the need for which they were designed. These differing needs might be expressed through different sign types including entry monuments, regulations, directional, trailhead/map, bulletin boards/special notices, facility names, trail information and interpretation. All of these sign types except interpretive should have a similar look and theme in order to consistently direct and inform the public. Interpretive signs should be custom designed to best respond to the feature being interpreted. The following are some key sign considerations: Signs should be noticeable but not intrusive. Sign information should be as simple and concise as possible inventive arrows and symbols can be confusing rather than helpful. Sign lettering styles and fonts should be simple with the message lettering contrasting from the background to improve sign readability. Signs should be kept to the minimum necessary with regard to number and content. Vehicular control signs should first meet Town, state and/or federal requirements. Provide for flexibility and modularity so that portions of appropriate signs can be replaced or changed to accommodate changing athletic schedules, special events, special notices or seasonal information. Use uniform national symbols to improve quick understanding of key features and help to cross language barriers. Sign locations should never present unnecessary hazards for pedestrian or vehicular traffic. Signs along walkways or corridors should be set back a minimum of 18 inches and placed at a height between 4 feet and 5 feet 6 inches. According to industry standards for site planning, signs with directional information should perform three functions 1) identify a place and indicate whether it is accessible to everyone, 2) indicate warning where necessary; and 3) give routing information. Directional information can be incorporated into many sign types. Materials should be durable, vandal resistant, long lasting and fade resistant. Fabrication, ordering and installation procedures should be simple. They could be done either in-house or specifications developed to allow outside bidding. 105

9 Entry Monuments Entry monuments are used to identify each park or recreational facility. The primary information should be the name of the facility and the appearance should set the theme of the park. Also consider including the facility address and the Town logo. A large and small entry monument standard would allow larger and smaller sites to be signed accordingly. Park Regulations These signs should incorporate the Town logo; facility name; regulation description and ordinance number; room for additional information; and directional panels to key site features. Park Regulation Signs Trailhead/Map These signs should incorporate the Town logo; facility name; a map of area with you are here identification (consider using aerial maps); room for additional information; and directional panels to key site features. In order to provide critical information to all users, objective information about the conditions of paths and trails should be included either on the map or in other formats such as brochures available at the site. This information 106

10 should document path/trail name or number; permitted users; path/trail length; change in elevation over the total length and maximum elevation obtained; average running grade and maximum grades that will be encountered; average and maximum cross slopes; average tread width and minimum clear width; type of surface; and firmness, stability and slip resistance. Bulletin Board This sign type should include the Town logo; facility name; bulletin board with space for brochures, fliers, pamphlets, small maps and temporary warnings, etc., preferably in a location protected from rain and direct sunlight; room for additional information; and directional panels to key site features. Feature Name This sign type can apply to features such as ramadas, arenas, or specific park areas. They should include the Town logo and feature name. In areas far removed from the park regulations sign discussed above, regulation descriptions and their corresponding ordinance number could also be added. Special Regulation This sign type would apply to very site specific circumstances such as No Fires, No Motorized Vehicles, No Vehicles Beyond This Point, or Private Property Beyond This Point, etc. These signs should include the Town logo, special issue regulation and where appropriate, the facility name. Trails/Paths There are numerous sign types that should be applied to a path and trail system. The basic sign component along these corridors should be a 4 x 4 square steel tube placed in a concrete footing with sign panels are attached to this tube. The sign types include: Single trail number/name with a directional arrow. Multi-trail numbers/names with at least two directional arrows on perpendicular or parallel panels. Small-scale trail directional with names or graphic symbols and directional arrows to key locations such as restrooms, telephones, or water on perpendicular or parallel panels. Trail regulatory/approved uses with graphic symbols to illustrate approved or disapproved trail use such as Hiking and Bicycling Only or Equestrians Only. Disapproved uses are shown with slashes through graphic symbol or use. This information can be used with directional arrows and placed on parallel or perpendicular panels. Trail etiquette refers to the trail user yield triangle that is used throughout the United States. It is typically yellow and graphically illustrates that all uses yield to equestrians and bicyclists yield to hikers (see Figure 20). This should be applied to trail sign posts at all entrances to the trail/path system. 107

11 All levels of trailheads should include a regulatory sign and a trailhead/map. Depending on the connections made from a particular trailhead, the bulletin board sign might also be appropriate. Trailhead Levels One and Two and the Neighborhood Equestrian Park/Trailhead should also include entry monument signs. INTERNAL DESIGN Lighting Lighting is predominantly used to provide visibility after sunset. The amount of lighting Figure 20. Trail Use Yield Triangle should be the minimum necessary for safety and to accommodate park functions. However, the aesthetic look of lighting fixtures is a very important and visible park component. According to industry standards, all access roads, paths and parking areas should be adequately lit at night. It is desirable to provide outdoor lighting around community facilities and some highly used recreation areas. The design and location of the light feature should be taken into consideration based on its intended use. Lighting can also be important for aesthetically accenting buildings and plantings. Fixtures should not be institutional looking, however, they should still be vandal proof, with unbreakable plastic (Lexan bullet-proof), recessed bulbs, or otherwise designed to reduce damage and replacement problems. Walkways should be lighted with hooded fixtures. Hooded fixtures illuminate the walks without light spillage. Pole fixture heights will be per Queen Creek Zoning Ordinance. Parking lots should be lit with enough intensity to discourage vandalism and create security. Fixtures should be hooded to eliminate light spillage. Pole fixture heights will be per Queen Creek Zoning Ordinance. All ball fields and sport courts will be lighted to provide the maximum amount of playing time. Fixtures should not cause light spillage onto adjacent properties. Pole fixture heights will be per Queen Creek Zoning Ordinance. 108

12 PASSIVE RECREATION AMENITIES Passive recreation amenities include ramadas, open turf children s play equipment, seating areas and barbecue areas. Once a site plan has been prepared, a list of site furnishings should be prepared. The list should define the form, size, texture, material and color of the furnishings. Ramadas Ramadas provide shaded areas for gathering. Ramada roofs should be constructed of steel. Support columns can be steel, brick, masonry, or stone veneer. Wood is not recommended for the Arizona climate. Stucco and red tile are discouraged as not appropriate to the Town s rural character. Provide one per every 5 to 10 acres. 109

13 Tables Tables are important items for park enjoyment. They can be provided with each ramada and also in other locations, preferably with shade provided from trees or shade screens. Plastic coated tops and benches are good heat resistors. Tables should be attached to the ground to prevent vandalism and theft. The minimum table length should be 6 feet. Provide approximately two tables per acre for each of the first 3 acres, then one table per acre. In neighborhood parks, provide one per acre. Of these, at least one out of every three tables should be ADA compliant with one seat removed or a table specifically designed to be universally accessible and located on the accessible route. Benches Benches should be provided at all playgrounds and athletic courts. In addition, they should be evenly distributed throughout the park. Benches can be stand alone, but seating can also be provided on low walls, low planter walls, or other objects such as boulders. At least 50% of all park seating should be accessible and on the accessible route, with companion seating located adjacently. Seating can be more effective in groups set in angles toward one another rather than in a row. Barbeques Barbeques should be only for charcoal use; gas is not recommended. They should be outside of any ramada roof structure to prevent possible damage. Barbeque styles available are generally similar and don t usually add or detract from a park s overall design theme. They should be selected for their durability and vandal resistance. Provide approximately one grill for every two tables. A group picnic area can use one grill for four tables. Drinking Fountains and Trash Cans Drinking fountains and trash receptacles are crucial in each park and recreation facility and shall add to the park aesthetics. They are important to the cleanliness of the park and to user enjoyment. Drinking fountains should be provided at a minimum of one per 10 acres of park or at least one minimum per park. Trash cans should be provided at one per acre or at least one minimum per park. 110

14 At a minimum, trash receptacles should be located near any parking areas, at restroom and concession buildings, at picnic and ramada areas and playgrounds and spectator areas. Barrels are not acceptable as trash containers. Other considerations include: Litter receptacles should be visible but not prominent in the landscape. Placement should not interrupt scenic views and park vistas. Litter receptacles should be easily accessible for maintenance. Along heavily used pedestrian paths, they should be about 150 feet apart. Along bicycle paths or secondary pedestrian paths, they should be about 250 to 500 feet apart. Litter receptacles can sometimes be offensive and should not be placed adjacent to areas where people want to stop and spend time. Bicycle Racks Providing bicycle racks encourages visitors to use an alternate mode of transportation. Racks should be located throughout the park near the different amenities. Play Lots Play lots should be provided for children up to approximately 12 years of age. The current standard is to provide separate play areas for children 2 to 5 years of age and for ages 5 to 12, separated by some distance or a feature such as a sidewalk. According to industry standards, the enclosed area for this type of equipment should be based on a minimum of 70 square feet per child, which is equivalent to the national standard of 21 square feet per family. To accommodate a full range of equipment a minimum of 2,000 square feet should provided in each facility. Play lots are found in both community and neighborhood parks. 111

15 A play lot should provide the following equipment: Play equipment such as climber, slides, swing sets, play walls, playhouses, play sculptures and a sand digging area. Accessible play equipment shall conform to the Americans with Disabilities Act and the National Playground Safety Institute guidelines. Follow standards provided by the International Play Equipment Manufacturers Association (IPEMA), U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSO) and the American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM) to minimize threat of injury. Studies show that the majority of playground injuries are a result of falls from the play structure to the ground. Consideration should be given as to what the critical fall height is that should be avoided. Provide shade both play structures and nearby seating. Provide a cushioning playground surfacing. A combination of materials can be used such as rubberized surfacing to provide universal access to the playground equipment and stabilized engineered wood fiber for the remaining area. ACTIVE RECREATION AMENITIES Baseball and Softball Fields Fields should be crowned in the center to drain to the sides. However, if specific site conditions make this unacceptable, other drainage options can be considered. The preferred field orientation has the back of home plate facing due north to northeast. All pole lights within or near a playing area, which are not protected by a fence, should have 6-foot high pole pads. Soccer and Multi-use Fields Typically, the long axis of the field should extend north to south. At a minimum, an area of 10 feet wide should be provided around the field with no trees, berms, planters, or sidewalks. Fields should typically have a corner pitch drainage pattern unless specific site conditions prohibit this. OPERATIONAL FEATURES These are the elements needed to operate the facility and provide for the basic needs of the users. These include elements such as bathrooms, parking lots and maintenance facilities. 112

16 Buildings Buildings are one of the most visible features that set the architectural theme of a park. Community parks generally have a concessions building, restroom and maintenance building. Buildings must have an architectural theme and detailing. The architectural materials palette and building style at Desert Mountain Park reflect a pleasant Western rural theme. These include the river stone accents, standing seam metal roofs with low angles and barn doors. Other considerations include: Restrooms should be visible and reasonably close to public streets. Restroom and concession buildings should have ample paving around them for ease of cleaning and to protect any nearby grass areas. Security lighting should be provided near the buildings. Parks larger than 35 acres should have their own maintenance facilities. 113

17 Parking Should not detract from the attractiveness of the surrounding area, or the park itself. Sufficient parking should be provided so that vehicles do not overflow into adjacent neighborhoods on a regular basis. The parking stalls should be comfortably large and plainly marked. Accessible stalls should be provided in accordance with ADA standards and located throughout the park near each of the accessible amenities. Parking access should be designed to coordinate with traffic flow on adjacent streets. Parking spots should be distributed to best provide access to all amenities. Parking lots should be shaded per the Town s Zoning Ordinance. Paving Paving is a utilitarian feature to provide access to all amenities but can also be an important aesthetic element. Asphalt and concrete can be colored and molded to almost any shape. Concrete can be stamped or scored in any design pattern. Any surfaces to be used by vehicles should be concrete or asphalt, as should be the accessible route through the park. Other walking surfaces can be compacted decomposed granite. All other nonpaved areas of the park should receive a topping of decomposed granite to keep down dust, color and size to be selected per park. Concrete This rigid paving material is the favored type of surface for use in specialized areas where permanence is desired. It provides uniformity, maximum durability and little or no maintenance. It can be used for walks, curbs and parking areas. 114

18 Specific Trail Guidelines These trail guidelines were developed to provide the Town with a toolbox of details that it can use to build unpaved trails, paved paths, access areas and special crossings. Likewise, these guidelines should be provided to developers so that trail related facilities in Queen Creek are consistently developed. This section will provide basic information necessary for typical trails, paths, trailheads, access points and crossings. Specific materials, widths and clearances are identified. A detailed set of equestrian/unpaved trail guidelines are forthcoming from the National Forest Service in the spring of 2006, which Coffman Studio co-authored. This document should be referenced for details that are used less often such as water bars, switchbacks and many equestrian oriented details. Selected details from this document are included in this report for convenience. Trails in this document refer to non-motorized, paved and unpaved routes intended for recreation and connectivity, and include those in parks, along drainage features and adjacent to vehicular routes. They do not include specific guidelines for on-street bicycle routes and bicycle lanes, which are predominantly intended for the bicycle commuter. This document does recommend, however, locations for bicycle lanes. All bicycle facilities should follow national standards found in the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO) Guide for the Development of Bicycle Facilities, Critical linkages are made between neighborhoods and key destinations such as downtown Queen Creek; Queen Creek and Sonoqui washes; the two official access points into the San Tan Mountain Regional Park; the historic Butterfield Stage Stop; Horseshoe Park and Equestrian Centre; neighborhood equestrian park/trailheads; and other various trailheads and nodes. Trail loops of various sizes are provided at both the neighborhood and regional scale. This section of the plan is organized by: Paths, Trails and Bicycle Lanes Access points Crossings Corridors PATHS, TRAILS AND BICYCLE LANES The trail and path concept provides a combination of facilities that accommodate a variety of uses in different settings. With the exception of wash bottom trails, all facilities are recommended to be shared-use. Shared-use is defined as non-motorized use accommodating such activities as hiking, bicycling, equestrians, jogging and roller blading. Material is self-selecting for some uses (e.g., roller bladders on paved surfaces and equestrians on unpaved surfaces). All path/trail facilities are for non-motorized uses. 115

19 The complete description of these facilities is listed in Table 16. The following is a summary of the system of paths and trails: Town Unpaved Trails. This widest trail type is prevalent throughout the Town, reflecting the regional trail significance of the San Tan Mountain Regional Park, and Queen Creek and Sonoqui washes as identified in the Maricopa Trail Plan. Additionally, this trail type follows major arterial street corridors, providing a variety of loops, and connecting neighborhoods to local and regional destinations and neighborhood unpaved trails. Neighborhood Unpaved Trails. This slightly narrower trail type reflects a stronger equestrian neighborhood trail system that allows for looped trail use within a neighborhood without having to cross a major arterial street. They are located throughout Queen Creek and link to the Town trails at numerous locations. Ellsworth Road Downtown Trail/Sidewalk Corridor. This trail type exists only along Ellsworth Road in downtown Queen Creek, from the Collector Loop Road, approximately ¼ mile north of Ocotillo Road, to Queen Creek Wash. It responds to right-of-way restrictions and the downtown environment by providing a narrower yet still usable unpaved trail through what will be a busy downtown. San Tan Foothills Trails. Two trails are proposed, one west of the park in privately held land and one within the Arizona Preserve Initiative (API) lands east of the park, along the park s main entrance road. Wash Equestrian Trails (exclusive use). The trails are provided in the bottoms of the Queen Creek and Sonoqui washes in addition to the paved paths and Town trails which are within the same corridors, but on one side of the wash or the other. Paved Paths with Standard Shoulders. Where paved paths are immediately adjacent to unpaved trails, a wide unpaved shoulder is not necessary. This situation exists along the path/trail corridor that goes east from Ellsworth Road heading toward the east entrance into San Tan Mountain Regional Park. Paved Paths with Wide Unpaved Shoulder. A 4-foot wide unpaved shoulder acts like a supplementary trail along the edge of most paved paths. These facilities follow Queen Creek and Sonoqui washes; Rittenhouse Road/railroad tracks; a north/south corridor linking these three corridors to downtown (in combination with bicycle lanes); and the San Tan Mountain Regional Park at its northern access point On-Street Bicycle Lanes. These facilities are recommended along all roads classified as arterial or collector street. Thereby, in combination with the paved paths, these bicycle lanes create an extensive and interconnected system of on- and off-street bicycle facilities. These are not mapped on the Trails Plan map. 116

20 Table 16: Proposed Trails and Paths FACILITY TYPE MILES USE Town Unpaved Trail Neighborhood Unpaved Trail Ellsworth Road Downtown Trail/Sidewalk Corridor San Tan Foothills Unpaved Trail Wash Equestrian Trail Paved Path w/standard Shoulders Paved Path w/wide Unpaved Shoulder TRAIL WIDTH HORIZONTAL/SHOULDER CLEARANCE 50 Shared 12 Min. 2 soft/mowed shoulder & 3 high x 3 wide clear each side 62 Shared 8 Min. 2 soft/mowed shoulder & 3 high x 3 wide clear each side.75 Shared 4 Min. 2 soft/mowed shoulder, one side adjacent to min. 5 sidewalk 10 Shared 3 Min. 2 soft shoulder & 3 high x 3 wide clear each side 12.5 Equestrian Only 18 min. surface cleared 3 high x 3 wide clear each side 3.5 Shared Min. 2 shoulder each side except where wide unpaved shoulder (see below) 32 Shared paved plus 4 unpaved Min. 2 shoulder, one side of paved path and 4 shoulder other side. Plus 3 high by 3 wide clear on 4 shoulder side. VERTICAL CLEARANCE SURFACE MATERIAL 12 min. Compacted ¼ minus decomposed granite 12 min. Compacted ¼ minus decomposed granite 12 min. Compacted ¼ minus decomposed granite and concrete sidewalk. 12 min. Native 12 min. Native 12 Concrete or asphalt 12 min. Concrete or asphalt and compacted ¼ minus decomposed granite ACCESS POINTS There are several types of improved access points planned which will greatly enhance safety and user experience. Most importantly, the overall success of a trail/path system largely depends on the ease with which people can access the facilities, either by walking, riding or biking from home or from driving to convenient, safe and well-equipped trailheads. The four types of access points are summarized below. More details about these access points are shown in Table 17. Figures 21, 22 and 23 provide conceptual graphic representations. Level One Trailhead. Level One is the largest trailhead, which accommodates all user types. Two Level One trailheads are proposed-one as part of Horseshoe Park and Equestrian Centre and one within Desert Mountain Park. This facility provides the greatest amount of parking and other amenities. Level Two Trailhead. Level Two is the smaller of the two trailheads. It also accommodates all user types, but has fewer parking spaces and other amenities. There are four sites: within the Municipal Complex, the west community park site, Crismon Road and Queen Creek Wash alignment and along the Sossaman Road alignment, approximately 2 miles south of Hunt Highway. Neighborhood Equestrian Park/Trailhead. This facility provides both local trailhead opportunities and neighborhood level equestrian amenities including a small 117

21 arena and round pen. There are three sites: within Horseshoe Park and Equestrian Centre, the park site at Sossaman and Chandler Heights roads and at Meridian Road and Queen Creek Wash. Trail Node. This walk and ride-in facility provides no parking facilities. It is considered a rest stop along trails and paths as well as a pedestrian scale gateway into Queen Creek. There are thirteen sites identified throughout the trail system. 118

22 Table 17: Access Points and Trailheads ACCESS TYPE SIZE PARKING SPACES* RESTROOMS PICNIC RAMADAS/ SHADE STRUCTURES LIGHTING AMENITIES: BENCHES, RULES/ NOTICES, DRINKING WATER, LAND-SCAPE/ SHADE, TRASH DISPOSAL SIGNAGE: LOCATION MAP, RULES, REGULA- TIONS, NOTICES, INTERPRET- TIVE Level One Trailhead 2.42 acres +/ total, 4-6** equestrian Yes Two single ramadas Yes Yes, plus ADA mounting blocks (Figure 24), hitching rails, hose bib to provide water for horses Yes Level Two Trailhead 1.8 acres +/ total, 2-3** equestrian Optional One single ramada Yes Yes, plus ADA mounting block (Figure 24), hitching rails, hose bib to provide water for horses Yes Neighborhood Equestrian Park/Trailhead 3 acres +/ total, 4-6** equestrian Yes One single, one group ramada Yes, optional arena lighting Yes, plus 1 arena, 1 round pen, hitching rails, hose bib to provide water for horses, ADA mounting block (Figure 24) Yes Trail Node.02 acres +/- None None One shade structure Optional Yes, plus hitching post and hose bib to provide water for horses when along an unpaved trail Yes *parking spaces for trailheads are in addition to number of required parking spaces for combined park sites **equestrian parking requirements: 12 min. width, 24 preferred x 60 min. length, 70 length preferred 119

23 Figure 21. Level One Trailhead 120

24 Figure 22. Level Two Trailhead 121

25 Figure 23. Neighborhood Equestrian Park/Trailhead 122

26 Figure 24. Equestrian Mounting Blocks (2 and 3 Steps) 123

27 CROSSINGS This plan identifies locations for special crossing treatments that fall into the five following categories: 1) grade-separated crossings (Table 18), 2) wash low-flow or dip crossings (Table 19), 3) multi-use enhanced at-grade crossings (Table 20), 4) mid-block crossings at washes (Table 21) and 5) roundabouts (Table 22). Grade Separated Table 18: Proposed Grade Separated Crossings CROSSING TYPE QUANTITY WIDTH HEIGHT/ CLEARANCE LIGHTING SIGNAGE OTHER NEEDS Bridge Underpass. The trail or path passes beneath a bridge for non-trail/path purposes. Existing: 5 Proposed: min. Continuous, all day Yes, both ends Trail/path above low-flow channel to minimize maintenance Shared Bridge. The trail/path that parallels a roadway passes above another use on the same bridge as vehicles. (This is the ultimate phase when roadway/bridge improvements/construction commences. Wash low-flow or dip crossing would be the initial condition). Existing: 0 Proposed: min. addl. 10 bicycle, 12 equestrian seethrough all sides Optional Yes, both ends Vertical separation between trail/path and traffic (i.e. Jersey Barrier) Pedestrian Bridge/Overpass. The trail/path passes over other use on separate bridge from vehicles. Existing: 0 Proposed: bicycle, 12 equestrian see-through all sides Optional Yes, both ends 124

28 Bridge Underpass Shared Bridge Figure 25. Grade Separated Crossings Pedestrian Bridge/Overpass 125

29 Wash Low-Flow or Dip Crossings Wash low-flow or dip crossings can be used in areas where a bridge structure is financially non-feasible or where drainage flows are very infrequent (see Figure 25). They can be installed as an initial phase and eventually replaced by a separate pedestrian/bridge overpass or a shared bridge, thereby ensuring year round use. Table 19: Wash Low-Flow or Dip Crossings QUANTITY WIDTH HEIGHT/ CLEARANCE LIGHTING SIGNAGE OTHER NEEDS Existing: 0 Proposed: 10 (interim until pedestrian bridge/overpass or shared bridge constructed) Same as path/trail. 12 min. Optional along roadway Yes, both ends - Unpaved trail crossing: washed concrete with 3/8-1/2 exposed broken aggregate. Or incise grooves in concrete perpendicular to direction of trail traveler, 1/4-1/2 1-2 intervals. Thickened edges. - Paved path crossings: heavy broom finish in concrete perpendicular to direction of path traveler. Thickened edges. 126

30 Figure 26. Low-Flow Crossing 127

31 Multi-Use Enhanced At-Grade Crossing The Multi-Use Enhanced At-Grade Crossing provides specific intersection design techniques that make it safer for any trail/path user to cross wide or busy streets (see Table 20). The design may include corner improvements on two, three or four corners and one, two, three or four cross-walk improvements, depending on the trails and paths coming to that corner (see Figure 27). Where trails are crossing a street, the corner design should allow the maximum maneuvering room for a horse and rider around the push button post. Table 20: Multi-Use Enhanced At-Grade Crossing (signalized intersections) QUANTITY HEIGHT/ CLEARANCE LIGHTING SIGNAGE OTHER NEEDS Existing: 0 Proposed: min. Optional at equestrian/ pedestrian scale Yes, along trail and roadway - Crosswalks and curb ramps at right angles to moving traffic, ladder marking of crosswalks, curb extensions with landscaping, detectable warnings and accessible pedestrian signals. Where trail crosses, crosswalk of washed concrete with 3/8-1/2 exposed broken aggregate. Or incise grooves in concrete perpendicular to direction of trail traveler, 1/4-1/2 deep at 1 to 2 intervals. - Adequate sightline distance considering time, visibility, amenities, warning signs and lighting. - Gathering spaces at each crossing corner. - Where trail crosses, push button activated crosswalk signal at 6 height and at pedestrian height. - Crossing island, or median (raised or flush) safe zone with curb ramps or cut-throughs same width or greater than trail/path. - Traffic calming techniques. - Fencing or barriers to separate trail from path, adjoining property, etc. 128

32 Figure 27. Multi-Use Enhanced At-Grade Crossing 129

33 Mid-Block Crossings at Washes This situation exists in two locations-along Sonoqui Wash at Sossaman Road and at Hawes Road where underpasses are unlikely (see Figure 28). Table 21: Mid-Block Crossings at Washes QUANTITY HEIGHT/ CLEARANCE LIGHTING SIGNAGE OTHER NEEDS Existing: 0 Proposed: 2 n/a Along roadway Yes, along trail & roadway - Adequate sightline distance considering time, visibility, amenities, warning signs and lighting. - Gathering spaces at each crossing side. - Push button activated crosswalk signals at 6 (equestrian) and pedestrian heights at sides of road and within median. - Detectible warnings at street/path/trail edge. - Crossing island, or median (raised or flush) safe zone with curb ramps or cut-throughs same width or greater than path/trail. - Traffic calming techniques. - Pedestrian warning signs (refer to MUTCD (15) for sign placement criteria. Consider yield signs, flashing yield signs, or traffic signals. - Refer to the AASHTO Guide for the Planning, Design and Operations of Pedestrian Facilities, July 2004, Section 3.4 Mid-block Crossings and the AASHTO Guide for the Development of Bicycle Facilities, 1999, pages for additional information. 130

34 Figure 28. Mid-Block Crossings at Washes 131

35 Table 22: Roundabouts QUANTITY Unknown T OWN OF Q UEEN C REEK P ARKS, T RAILS AND O PEN S PACE M ASTER P LAN Roundabouts Paths and trails can interact with a roundabout in a number of ways (see Figure 29). HEIGHT/ CLEARANCE LIGHTING SIGNAGE OTHER NEEDS n/a Street level lighting all around Yes, along trail & roadway 132

36 Figure 29. Roundabouts 133

37 Figures 30 and 31 provide additional details for trails/paths near or crossing railway tracks. Figure 30. Railway Trail Crossing Figure 31. Railway and Trail/Path Corridor 134

38 CORRIDORS Trail and path corridors generally occur in certain locations; along streets and roadways, between properties or within open space areas. Trail and path corridor widths should be maintained within these situations to promote safety, a respect for the environment and respect for neighbors. Where paths and trails parallel roadways, a setback should be maintained between the road and trail/path user that creates a sense of safety and security for the user. That setback should be greatest where the roadways are widest, busiest and noisiest. Narrower setbacks are needed along quiet neighborhood streets. There are some situations in the plan that place paved paths and unpaved trails within the same corridor. For safety purposes, an appropriate buffer should be maintained between these facilities as well. Tables are provided in the plan to give guidance for appropriate trail and path corridor widths dependent upon their general location. These include: Easement/Corridor Widths for a Paved Path or Trail Adjacent to Roads (Table 23 and 24, Figure 32) Easement/Corridor Widths for Trail and Path Adjacent to Roads (Table 25, Figure 33) Easement/Corridor Width for Trail or Path NOT Adjacent to Roads (Table 26, Figure 34) Easement/Corridor Widths for Trail and Path NOT Adjacent to Roads (Table 27, Figure 35) In the case of a trail or path adjacent to a road, the table is set up to determine a final corridor width by adding up the distance from the roadway edge to the path/trail, the width of the path/trail and the distance between the path/trail to the adjacent barrier or edge such as a fence or building. The final width will vary based upon the type of roadway and the type of trail/path. For example, the greatest corridor widths will occur when a Town trail or 12 paved path is adjacent to a freeway: 54. The narrowest corridor width will occur when a neighborhood trail is adjacent to a local street: 26. The tables also provide for guidance when the ideal corridor width is not available. It is always most important to provide as much distance between the road and trail/path, and then provide the other buffer distances when possible. The tables also give guidance on how to make use of available right-of-way when determining a need for additional easement to accommodate trails and/or paths. Figures 36 and 37 depict the Ellsworth Road Downtown Trail/Sidewalk Corridor and the Wash Equestrian Corridor, neither of which entails a table. 135

39 Table 23: Easement/Corridor Widths for Trails Adjacent to Roads TRANSPORTATION CLASSIFICATION TRAIL TYPE & WIDTH 2 (A) DISTANCE FROM EDGE OF ROADWAY PAVEMENT TO TRAIL EDGE 3 (B) DISTANCE FROM TRAIL EDGE TO ADJACENT BARRIER, EDGE OR PROPERTY LINE 3 (C) RECOMMENDED MINIMUM TRAIL EASEMENT/CORRIDOR 4 (A + B + C = D) Priority Level Freeway/ Expressway (Over 55 MPH) Town: Town: 54 Neighborhood: 8 Neighborhood: 50 Major/Minor Arterial and Collector Street (30-55 MPH) Town: Town: 44 Neighborhood: 8 Neighborhood: 40 Local Street (25 MPH & under) Town: Town: 30 Neighborhood: 8 Neighborhood: 24 1 If Recommended minimum trail easement/corridor width is not available, priority should be given first to providing the recommended distance between the edge of roadway pavement and the trail, and second to the recommended distance from the trail edge to the adjacent barrier, edge or property line defined as a fence, wall, building, etc. 2 If harness horses/carts are anticipated on any trail, the minimum trail width should be Includes recommended shoulder/vegetation clearance and sidewalk. 4 In order to achieve the recommended corridor width, an additional trail or path easement may be required. Queen Creek s typical buffer requirement is also recommended to accommodate a path or trail in lieu of dedicating additional right-of-way or easement. Increase corridor width as needed in areas of steep or difficult terrain to accommodate switchbacks, avoidance of obstacles, etc. 136

40 Table 24: Easement/Corridor Widths for Paved Paths Adjacent to Roads TRANSPORTATION CLASSIFICATION PATH WIDTH(A) 2 DISTANCE FROM EDGE OF ROADWAY PAVEMENT AND PATH EDGE 3 (B) DISTANCE FROM PATH EDGE TO ADJACENT BARRIER, EDGE OR PROPERTY LINE 3 (C) RECOMMENDED MINIMUM PATH EASEMENT/CORRIDOR 4 (D = A + B + C) Priority Level Freeway/ Expressway (Over 55 MPH) Major/Minor Arterial and Collector Street (30-55 MPH) Local Street (25 MPH & under) If Recommended minimum trail easement/corridor width is not available, priority should be given first to providing the recommended distance between the edge of roadway pavement and the trail, and second to the recommended distance from the trail edge to the adjacent barrier, edge or property line defined as a fence, wall, building, etc. 2 If harness horses/carts are anticipated on any trail, the minimum trail width should be Includes recommended shoulder/vegetation clearance and sidewalk. 4 In order to achieve the recommended corridor width, an additional trail or path easement may be required. Queen Creek s typical buffer requirement is also recommended to accommodate a path or trail in lieu of dedicating additional right-of-way or easement. Increase corridor width as needed in areas of steep or difficult terrain to accommodate switchbacks, avoidance of obstacles, etc. Note: Where paved paths parallel a roadway, consider deleting the separate sidewalk, thereby creating a heavier landscape buffer between the path and roadway and decreasing costs. See AASHTO s 1999 Guide for the Development of Bicycle Facilities, page 33, Shared Use Paths for more information. 137

41 Figure 32. Path or Trail Along a Road T OWN OF Q UEEN C REEK P ARKS, T RAILS AND O PEN S PACE M ASTER P LAN 138

42 Table 25: Easement/Corridor Widths for Trails and Paths Adjacent to Roads TRANSPORTATION CLASSIFICATION TRAIL TYPE AND WIDTHS (A) DISTANCE FROM EDGE OF ROADWAY PAVEMENT AND PAVED PATH 3 (B) DISTANCE BETWEEN TRAIL AND PAVED PATH 4 (C) DISTANCE FROM TRAIL EDGE TO ADJACENT BARRIER, EDGE OR PROPERTY LINE 4 (D) PAVED PATH 5 (E) MINIMUM TRAIL & PAVED PATH EASEMENT/CORRIDOR. 6 (F = A + B + C + D + E) Priority Freeway/ Expressway (over 55 MPH) Town: 12 Town: Neighborhood: Neighborhood: Major Arterial (45-55 MPH) Town: 12 Town: Neighborhood: Neighborhood: Minor Arterial/Collector (30-40 MPH) Town: 12 Town: Neighborhood: Neighborhood: Local Street (25 MPH & under) Town: 12 Town: Neighborhood: Neighborhood: If Recommended minimum easement/corridor width is not available, priority should be given first to providing the recommended distance between the edge of roadway pavement and the path, second to the recommended distance from the trail edge to the adjacent barrier, edge or property line defined as a fence, wall, building, etc. and third the distance between the trail and paved path. 2 If harness horses/carts are anticipated on any trail, the minimum trail width should be Includes recommended shoulder/vegetation clearance and sidewalk. 4 Includes recommended shoulder/vegetation clearance. 5 If high amount of shared-use will occur, where sight distances are limited and slopes encourage faster bicycle use, the minimum path width should be 12 (per AASHTO Guidelines). 6 In order to achieve the recommended corridor width, an additional trail or path easement may be required. Queen Creek s typical buffer requirement is also recommended to accommodate a path or trail in lieu of dedicating additional right-of-way or easement. Increase corridor width as needed in areas of steep or difficult terrain to accommodate switchbacks, avoidance of obstacles, etc. Note: Where paved paths parallel a roadway, consider deleting the separate sidewalk, thereby creating a heavier landscape buffer between the path and roadway and decreasing costs. See AASHTO s 1999 Guide for the Development of Bicycle Facilities, page 33, Shared Use Paths for more information. 139

43 Figure 33. Path and Trail Along a Road T OWN OF Q UEEN C REEK P ARKS, T RAILS AND O PEN S PACE M ASTER P LAN 140

44 Table 26: Easement/Corridor Width for Trail or Path Not Adjacent to Roads CLASSIFICATION TREAD WIDTH (A) 1 VEGETATION/SHOULDER CLEARANCE EACH SIDE DISTANCE FROM TRAIL/PATH EDGE TO ADJACENT BARRIER, EDGE OR PROPERTY LINE 2 (B) MINIMUM EASEMENT (NOT ADJACENT TO STREETS) (C = A + 2B) Town Trail 12 Min. 2 soft/mowed shoulder. Min. 3 high x 3 wide clear Neighborhood Trail 8 Min. 2 soft/mowed shoulder. Min. 3 high x 3 wide clear Paved Path Min. 2 shoulder San Tan Foothills Trail 3 Min. 2 soft/mowed shoulder. Min. 3 high x 3 wide clear If harness horses/carts are anticipated on any trail, the minimum trail width should be 12 wide. 2 Includes recommended vegetation/shoulder clearance. Table 27: Easement/Corridor Widths for Trail and Path Not Adjacent to Roads CLASSIFICATION TRAIL TREAD WIDTH (A) 1 DISTANCE FROM ADJACENT BARRIER, EDGE OR PROPERTY LINE TO PAVED PATH (B) DISTANCE BETWEEN PAVED PATH AND TRAIL (C) 2 DISTANCE FROM TRAIL EDGE TO ADJACENT BARRIER, EDGE OR PROPERTY LINE 2 (D) PAVED PATH 3 (E) MINIMUM TRAIL & PAVED PATH EASEMENT. (F = A + B + C + D + E) Town Trail Neighborhood Trail San Tan Foothills Trail If harness horses/carts are anticipated on any trail, the minimum trail width should be 12 wide. 2 Includes recommended vegetation/shoulder clearance. 3 If high amount of shared-use will occur, where sight distances are limited and slopes encourage faster bicycle use, the minimum path width should be 12 wide (per AASHTO Guidelines). 141

45 Figure 34. Path or Trail in Corridor T OWN OF Q UEEN C REEK P ARKS, T RAILS AND O PEN S PACE M ASTER P LAN 142

46 Figure 35. Path and Trail in Corridor T OWN OF Q UEEN C REEK P ARKS, T RAILS AND O PEN S PACE M ASTER P LAN 143

47 Figure 36. Ellsworth Road Downtown Trail/Sidewalk Corridor Figure 37. Wash Equestrian Corridor Note: No separate table is provided for this situation, as available space is very limited. Every effort should be made to first maintain a 5-foot minimum sidewalk width and 4-foot minimum trail width. The second priority should be to provide a setback between the sidewalk and the street. The third priority should be to provide a setback between the trail s clear zone and the adjacent buildings, walls, or fences. 144