Hot Springs State Park Report of Recommendations

Transcription

1 Hot Springs State Park Report of Recommendations Prepared by the Hot Springs State Park Master Plan Steering Committee April 2015

2 ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS Steering Committee Brad Basse, Hot Springs County Commissioners Phil Beamer, Wyoming State Engineer s Office Ellen Sue Blakey, Greater Learning Foundation Justin Bleak, C/O Best Western Plaza Jim Boles, Burlington Northern Railroad Dave Deutz, State Engineer, Division III Dave Evans, HSC Recreation District State Senator Gerald Geis, Legislator Stefanie Gilbert, HSC Economic Development Board Angie Guyon, Wyoming Dinosaur Center Dan Herdt, Owl Creek Graphics James Lash, HSC School District Andy Layton, C/O Best Western Plaza Roland Luehne, C/O Star Plunge Bill Malloy, Town of Thermopolis Dorothy Milek, Pioneer Association and Historical Society Jim Mills, C/O Days Inn Mary Mills, C/O Days Inn Amanda Moeller, Travel & Tourism Dan Moriarity, C/O Tepee Pool Michelle Panos, Office of the Governor Meri Ann Rush, Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Don Schmalz, WYO State Parks Commissioner Cheryl Shero, Gottsche Rehabilitation Center Barb Vietti, Citizen Randy Wahler, Citizen State Representative Nathan Winters, Legislator Lindsey Woodward, HSC Weed & Pest Steering Committee (Invited unable to attend) Leslie Shakespeare, Eastern Shoshone Tribal Liaison Gary Collins, Northern Arapahoe Tribal Liaison i

3 Wyoming State Parks, Hot Springs State Park Kevin Skates, Superintendent John Fish, Assistant Superintendent Jeff Dittmer, Landscape Designer Jody Lange, Trades Technician Monica Hamilton, Trades Technician Brad Handford, CCO-QC Trades Specialist William Motley, Law Enforcement to Hot Spring State Park Staff Wyoming State Parks, Historic Sites and Trails Todd Thibodeau, Planning and Grants Manager Julie Huntley, Concessions and Revenue Manager Lance Marrs, Engineering Manager Mabel Jones, Planner Consultant Team Tina Bishop, ASLA, Principal, Mundus Bishop Becky Froeter-Mathis, ASLA, RLA, Landscape Architect, Mundus Bishop Kari Sholtes, EIT MSEE, Water Resource Engineer, Lidstone and Associates Adam Maxwell, PE PTOE, Transportation Engineer, Martin/Martin Aldo Coronado, Director of Aquatic Design, Ohlson Lavoie Collaborative ii

4 TABLE OF CONTENTS INTRODUCTION... 2 Project Purpose... 2 Mission of the Steering Committee... 2 Goals of Steering Committee... 2 SITE HISTORY SUMMARY... 3 EXISTING CONDITION SUMMARY... 3 RECOMMENDATIONS... 5 Steering Committee 1 Report of Recommendations

5 INTRODUCTION Project Purpose The Hot Springs State Park Master Plan will provide a 20-year master plan to guide the long-term physical improvement, use, and management of the entire 1,100-acre park. This includes the bison pasture, publicly and privately owned buildings, and lands west of Hwy 20, as well as the thermal and recreational features. The master plan will provide a comprehensive planning and decision-making structure to accommodate the development of recreational amenities, access and infrastructure in balance with the preservation of natural and cultural resources. Mission of the Steering Committee A steering committee representing a broad range of interests will guide the planning process. The mission of the steering committee is to provide guidance and a report of recommendations to the Wyoming Division of State Parks, Historic Sites & Trails for the development of a master plan that addresses development, land use, maintenance, natural and cultural resource preservation, management, programming, interpretation and education, promotion, partnerships and public accommodation at Hot Springs State Park. Goals of Steering Committee The goals of the Committee are to provide a recommendation concerning the following issues: 1. Development, historic preservation, reconstruction, and demolition at HSSP (to include the exterior, interior, and surrounding landscape) 2. Improve park circulation system 3. Protection and maintenance of the natural, cultural and social resources at HSSP 4. Management, staffing, programming and funding at HSSP 5. Interpretation and educational opportunities at HSSP 6. Maintaining and developing partnerships at HSSP 7. Promoting and advertising HSSP 8. Addressing community and economic impact 9. Providing tourist accommodations at HSSP 10. Appropriate sale, transfer, lease, purchase of land. Steering Committee 2 Report of Recommendations

6 SITE HISTORY SUMMARY The thermal springs along the Bighorn River have attracted people for hundreds of years. The springs were originally held by the Shoshoni and Arapaho Indians, who viewed them as sacred due to their healing powers. By the late 1800s, European Americans began to flock to the region. In 1896 a treaty ceded the springs to the federal government, which was granted to the State of Wyoming, on the stipulation that there always be free public access to the therapeutic waters. Immediately afterwards, the surrounding community boomed and the state granted leases to various businesses: bathhouses, sanitariums, and hotels. The adjacent area became settled with ranchers and farmers, and outlaws hid out in the surrounding mountains. Despite the remoteness of the area, the sick and ailing made the difficult journey to stay at the hot springs for extended periods of time. In 1929 Hot Springs State Park was formally established, and today it maintains the healing and therapeutic tradition. Several private and public organizations continue to lease park land. Today the park is the most popular among all of Wyoming s State Parks, with recreational amenities in addition to the free, State Bath House. The park is significant for its role in providing a public health retreat that characterized the humanistic aspirations of the early 20th century. As part of a national movement to provide care and respite for the ailing and terminally ill, the commercial development of the park is a reminder of this period in Wyoming and national history. EXISTING CONDITION SUMMARY Hot Springs State Park in Hot Springs County is set along the Bighorn River, adjacent to the Town of Thermopolis in west-central Wyoming. Hot Springs State Park is a popular year round destination attracting visitors from throughout central Wyoming, other counties, and visitors in route to Yellowstone National Park. The park has the highest visitation of all Wyoming State Parks and Historic Sites, providing significant economic benefit to the local community and the state. The 1,042 acre park is composed of a broad array of natural and cultural resources, including foothills, the river, rolling grasslands, a bison herd, hot mineral springs including Big Horn Spring and several smaller springs. Since the mid-1800s, the Big Horn Spring has been used by people either living in or visiting the area for therapeutic and water-recreation purposes. A wide offering of recreational and tourist amenities occur within the park through state park owned and managed visitor facilities such as a free State Bath House with soaking tubs, picnic areas, accessible and natural surface trails, interpretive areas, group shelters, playgrounds, public gardens, and river access. 180 acres of Hot Springs State Park is leased through long-term concessionaire and public agreements. Long term concessionaires offer visitor services at privately owned facilities including two pool operations (Star Plunge and Tepee Pool) and two hotels (Plaza Best Western and Days Inn). Several public facilities operate on state park land. The State Park owns and operates nine facilities totaling over 31,000 SF that support the administrative and maintenance needs of the park. Two buildings the Tepee Restrooms and Armory are in fair condition and require minor repair or upgrades. The Maintenance Building, in poor condition, is outdated and is no longer needed for park maintenance operations. The remaining buildings State Steering Committee 3 Report of Recommendations

7 Bath House, Park Headquarters, heat exchange building, stage / pavilion, bison corral, and Superintendent s Residence are in good condition. Concessionaires own and operate four facilities on land leased from the state the Star Plunge, Tepee Pools and Days Inn Hotel are in disrepair due to age and need extensive improvements. The Plaza Hotel is in good condition and was recently updated. Hot Springs County owns and operates ten facilities on land leased from the State. Foundations own and operate four facilities on land leased from the state. The condition of these facilities was not evaluated. Two buildings are historic the Plaza Hotel and the Old Carnegie Library. The State owns and operates six shelters and four bridges that are in good condition. Three structures the Gazebo (Washakie Shelter or Mondale Shelter), Big Horn Spring Shelter, and Swinging Bridge are historic. One bridge owned and maintained by the Burlington Quincy Railroad, is deteriorated, and limits the size of vehicles that can enter into the park. The eastern section of the park has five roads with on-street parking that create the historic looped park road. A total of 330 parking spaces occur within the park proper 215 within concessionaire facilities, and 115 spaces within the park. Park roads are in good condition. Parking is insufficient during high-peak seasons. In natural areas the park roads are winding and extend to scenic overlooks. Park roads and parking in natural areas are in good condition. Two different types of pedestrian movement occur within the park. In the park proper, concrete walkways are along roads and connect destinations and parking facilities. Within natural areas, the trails are unpaved and provide 3.5 miles of trails to natural and cultural features. The Spirit Loop is universally accessible. A few routes are steep, with some areas of erosion. Most trails are in good condition. Small scale features include water features, playgrounds, walls, fences, lighting, signage, and site furnishings. Some of the features water features and walls are historic. Three water features are historic, the Rainbow Terraces, Tepee Fountain, and Chamber of Commerce Fountain. A non-functional water feature is centrally located in the gazebo (Washakie Shelter). The Feather Fountain at the Pioneer Home is not operational. A range of play equipment, including climbing structures, swings, traditional play equipment, and talk tubes, is in the park proper. Some of the equipment is outdated and does not have a wide range of play value. Walls at the Big Horn Springs, White Sulphur Spring, Hot Spring County Fair Grounds, along the river walk, and adjacent to Buffalo Street are historic. Additional non-historic walls are located throughout the park for erosion control. Walls are generally in fair condition. A broad range of fencing, lighting, signage, and site furnishings occur throughout the park. The features range in condition, but most are in fair condition with deterioration of components evident. Utilities in the park include irrigation water, potable water, sanitary, storm sewer, electrical, natural gas, and the hot mineral water that is fed by the Big Horn Spring. Known utility deficiencies include the outdated irrigation mainline and non-operational electrical system at the bison corral. One quarter of the hot mineral water is set aside for public use. A portion is used for the indoor and outdoor pools at the State Bath House. The remainder flows over the Rainbow Terraces, where travertine deposits create unique multi-colored terraces over a man-made wooden platform. Based on reliable historic and contemporary water flow data from the Big Horn Spring, flows have been decreasing since record keeping began. Mineral water is distributed to the Star Plunge, Tepee Pool, Plaza Hotel, Days Inn, and Pioneer Home. Due to the corrosion of the valves, the flow of the mineral water to Star Plunge and Tepee Pool is not currently monitored. Steering Committee 4 Report of Recommendations

8 RECOMMENDATIONS The following recommendations were developed by the steering committee by topics Resources: Water, Geological, Cultural, Social; Recreation and Wellness; Tourism and Lodging; and Land Use, Circulation, and Transportation. The recommendations are organized into categories based on goals. 1. Development, historic preservation, reconstruction, and demolition at HSSP (to include the exterior, interior, and surrounding landscape) HSSP and concessionaire facilities need to have a WOW factor. Visitors want a sophisticated spa experience for adults with high quality soaking facilities, separate from active recreation. o Build on historic legacy to create an identity o Hotels should embrace the river o Expand indoor-outdoor connections, i.e. porches, terraces, balconies o Work to develop industry standards for the park Explore hot water and fresh water recreational experiences such as: o Lazy River could be utilized for aerobic/therapeutic exercise o Splash/spray park indoors or outdoors o Recreational swim o Slides o Climbing wall Expand river-based recreation such as: o Accessible overlooks o Shore fishing o Boating, kayaking, canoeing, rafting, tubing, and other water based activities o Advertise river put-in and take-out locations o Create river specific events within the park Expand park-based recreation such as: o Game courts, zip lines, disc golf, bocce ball, curling, etc. o Promote recreational opportunities within the park and town, i.e. pickle ball, golf course, skate park, etc. o Allow camping in park Concessionaire operated RV and tent/yurt camping/glamping Allow primitive tent camping at T Hill site Expand winter-based recreation such as: o Ice skating, snowshoeing, cross country skiing, etc. o Promote thermal waters as winter-based recreation Add new facilities to improve the visitor experience o Provide support facilities for new uses, i.e. camping o Add a new Nature Center / Visitor Center / Children s Nature Park / orientation o Provide a new greenhouse o Provide artist studios o Allow temporary facilities, i.e. culture stands or food carts Redevelop underutilized sites into new uses o Redevelop old maintenance yard into a new use o Consider a new use for the Superintendent s House o Expand the State Bath House Expand and connect the park trail system to other trails outside of the park Steering Committee 5 Report of Recommendations

9 o Add trails at T Hill o Extend river walk to both sides of the river, and upstream to conservation corridors o Improve the trail experience after the swinging bridge o Create a connection from the Swinging Bridge to the Hospital Site o Expand natural trails into the bison pasture o Consider extending a trail though BLM land to Kirby Creek County o Consider extending a trail from T Hill through the Cal King property to Roundtop o Consider a trail to Black Butte Integrate sustainable and best management practices into new development, i.e. dark sky compliant fixtures 2. Improve park circulation system Provide a comprehensive, connected pedestrian circulation system o Improve connections to and from downtown o Improve trail signage and markings Improve vehicular circulation into the park o Add a welcome sign in town for the park o Address issues at the traffic signal o Consider providing additional signage for an alternative, oversize vehicle entrance to the park from Broadway with improved signing for the entrance at Park Street o Consider moving the main entrance signing to the Broadway entrance o Replace existing overhead height signs with new identifier signs o Consider a mural on the railroad o Update the interpretive driving park tour (Channel 1610) Improve parking facilities within the park o Designate RV parking areas o Expand parking on Big Horn Springs Drive o Expand parking at Star Plunge o Improve parking at State Bath House and Star Plunge o Utilize parking at the school district and provide walking connections to the park o Consider using a shuttle to transport visitors from off-site parking into the park o Protect green areas in park core by limiting parking Improve the park entry experience, including park wayfinding and orientation o Begin the entry experience in downtown Thermopolis. Consider street trees, banners, and additional, improved signage to direct visitors to the two park entrances 3. Protection and maintenance of the natural, cultural and social resources at HSSP Preserve and protect the hot mineral water o Reduce and optimize water usage o Adhere to water resource allocation o Re-saturate mineral water (add limestone to the mineral water system) o Test and potentially utilize discharge water Preserve the park s physical and cultural features o Maintain viewsheds o Maintain dark skies o Maintain ponds and wetlands Steering Committee 6 Report of Recommendations

10 o Maintain wildlife o Maintain natural and cultivated landscapes o Maintain the Pioneer Home as a state operated facility o Manage flooding, drainage, erosion, and sedimentation caused by storms Utilize land resources for best use Preserve the T Hill site as a natural area with increased recreational opportunities 4. Management, staffing, programming and funding at HSSP Increase visitation at the park overall, including the State Bath House, by extending hours Increase staff to meet usages and demands, possibly law enforcement Increase volunteers Promote sustainability by providing recycling facilities Explore funding mechanism for park and concessionaire development, i.e. donations 5. Interpretation and educational opportunities at HSSP Increase interpretation and educational opportunities, i.e. wildflowers, ranger programs, storytelling 6. Maintaining and developing partnerships at HSSP Develop partnerships with local groups and organizations, i.e. the museum, Dinosaur Center, Children s Nature Park, Burlington Northern, Master Gardeners, etc. Create a center for orientation / interpretation (could be at Visitor Center) Develop evening events for visitors, including youth Expand cultural heritage tourism, i.e. festivals, workshops, demonstrations Start a bicycle share program (bike docks and bike racks in park and downtown) Develop a friends group for funding 7. Promoting and advertising HSSP Create a year-round marketing campaign Coordinate park resources, setting, and town for a cohesive marketing campaign Promote walkability from HSSP to downtown Thermopolis Build upon the state park marketing campaign Monitor how the park is rated online to inform marketing 8. Addressing community and economic impact. 9. Providing tourist accommodations at HSSP Reestablish the park as a premier destination: natural setting, WATER, lodging, food, lounge, technology, recreation, therapeutic, healing, etc. o Provide a broad range of full-day visitor experiences for a broad range of user groups o Provide year-round visitor experiences o Expand opportunities for active adults o Improve the concessionaire facilities o Improve technology throughout the park, including Wi-Fi o Provide a full-service hotel with restaurant within walking distance of pools o Provide high quality lodging throughout park by replacing outdated facilities Steering Committee 7 Report of Recommendations

11 o Improve food options by adding a consistently open restaurant with hours for breakfast, lunch, dinner, and evening (lounge) o Attract additional conferences by improving event and conference space and increasing number of rooms, which may benefit the town and park Build upon our audience and park to become a destination Build upon regional, national, and international case studies to improve the visitor experience. 10. Appropriate sale, transfer, lease, purchase of land. Consider land transfers between the county and state o Hot Springs County Airport Consider land sales or acquisitions o Cal King Site o Fountain of Youth o Connection to BLM land o Connection to Roundtop Steering Committee 8 Report of Recommendations

12 Report of Recommendations April 2015