Municipality of Anchorage, Alaska Parks & Recreation Department

Transcription

1 Municipality of Anchorage, Alaska Parks & Recreation Department 632 W. 6 th Avenue, Suite 630 P.O. Box Anchorage, AK Tel URL MEMORANDUM Date: January 14, 2016 To: Cc: From: Project: Parks & Recreation Commission Joshua Durand, Parks Superintendent Taylor Keegan, Park Planner PRC 16-02: 2016 Fish Creek Playground Improvements INTRODUCTION For the past three years the Anchorage Park Foundation (APF) and Parks for All have worked to raise funds for Inclusive Play across Anchorage. Through Anchorage Parks and Recreation and the publicprivate partnership we now have five All Inclusive Playgrounds in Anchorage, which go beyond the ADA accessibility standards that are commonly used to design playgrounds. This upcoming 2016 season, our department hopes to do three playground improvements that will include updates to surfacing, equipment, and site amenities to increase this number of Inclusive Playgrounds. These projects are funded by a combination of private donations, Reitman Inclusive Play Funds, a Neighborhood Challenge Grant. State grants and Rasmuson Foundation Inclusive Play funds, Rasmuson Foundation Clean & Green funds. PLANNING AND PUBLIC INVOLVEMENT For the Fish Creek Playground Improvements of Kiwanis Fish Creek Park and Barbara Street Park, one community advisory group was formed. This was because of the proximity of the playgrounds, and in hopes that the playgrounds would be more complimentary with a unified process. CAG Member Tasks Assist Parks & Recreation by identifying and prioritizing park improvements Keep the Community Council informed of VIP Committee progress Recruit neighborhood volunteers for the volunteer-powered summer project Volunteer on the volunteer day Celebrate the completed park project! The Community Advisory Group prioritizes park improvements for each project. Additionally, they assist with the fix-it projects which focus on improvements to existing facilities in parks that have received poor reviews through the Anchorage Park Report Card. This year, park planners worked with two Community Advisory Groups Committees for three parks. For the Fish Creek Community Advisory Group, this included several individual input sessions, three public design workshops, two community council meetings, and a design charrette with the Girl Scouts of America. The results of this effort will be summarized in the following section. Kiwanis Fish Creek Park Kiwanis Fish Creek Park is a neighborhood use park located on Turnagain Boulevard in the Turnagain Neighborhood. The park includes basketball courts, tennis courts, a portion of the Fish Creek Trail, a small parking lot and play equipment for 2 to 5 and 5 to 12 year-olds.

2 PRC Staff Report January 14 th, 2016 Page 2 of 3 Anchorage Park Foundation secured $238K in funding; broken down into 27K donor match, a 65K Rasmuson Clean and Green funds, $120K Rasmuson Accessibility Funds, 20K Reitman Charitable Fund and $6.2K in state grant funds. P&R has been working with the Community Advisory Group and the Alaska Girl Scouts of Alaska to prioritize park improvements, in conjunction with Barbara Street Park improvements, to understand the needs of the community. P&R will be upgrading the play equipment and other amenities within Kiwanis. Park improvements will focus on the existing play area that was requested to have playground improvements. By focusing improvements on this area, P&R hopes to create space that facilitates positive use and provide more accessible play for the neighbors of Turnagain and Spenard. The proposed improvements will provide an all-inclusive playground and enhanced circulation Improvements Contracted Work: Purchase and install new play equipment Add ADA accessible surfacing to the play area Formalize existing circulation patterns and create an ADA accessible path to existing pavilion. Volunteer Effort: Landscaping activities including tree planting and education on Stormwater Management and riparian health along the Fish Creek Corridor. Remove trees that are invasive Prunus species to improve safety and visibility Barbara Street Park Barbara Street Park is a neighborhood park located in West Anchorage and is accessible via Barbara Street to the west and Brookside Drive to the east. The Park exists as a part of the Fish Creek Trail and Greenbelt, which connects to Kiwanis Fish Creek Park upstream. Currently onside, there is play equipment for 2-5year olds, a pedestrian bridge over Fish Creek, and some seating areas. The Park is popular in the winter for sledding due to the interesting topography on either side which slopes towards the creek. Anchorage Park Foundation secured $281K in funding, broken down into $15.5K Challenge Grant, a $15.5K Individual Donations, and $50K Reitman Foundation. In 2015, neighbors received a Challenge grant that outlined updates for the park. Shawna Toma and a local Eagle Scout James Allen requested updated play equipment for 2-5 year olds, artificial turf safety surfacing, amenity updates, and brush clearing. Through fundraising and personal time donations these requests are being realized through the 2015 and Based on feedback from the CAG, we will be working primarily within the existing playground footprint, and will be adding an embankment slide to facilitate recreation outside of the 2-5 year old target group. Because of the love for the tiny houses in the park, but the desire to have a updated equipment, the PARKS & RECREATION DEPARTMENT Municipality of Anchorage, Alaska

3 PRC Staff Report January 14 th, 2016 Page 3 of 3 decision was made to keep 2 of the tiny houses and update the third, that seems to be attracting negative activities. The intention is to use the remaining footprint to install play equipment that appeals to a wider age group, and provides a dynamic play experience Improvements Contracted Work: Update Play Surfacing to artificial turf Retro fit existing play equipment Install updated play equipment Volunteer Effort: Remove invasive bird cherry along the fish creek greenbelt to promote ecosystem recovery and improve sightlines STAFF RECOMMENDATION The proposed improvements for the two Neighborhood Park Improvement projects are supported by their relevant community council and have been selected by the Community Advisory Group committee for each Park. The Department recommends that the Parks & Recreation Commission pass the proposed resolution to support the improvements for the Neighborhood Park Improvements projects as presented. PARKS & RECREATION DEPARTMENT Municipality of Anchorage, Alaska

4 Municipality of Anchorage, Alaska Parks & Recreation Department 632 W. 6 th Avenue, Suite 630 P.O. Box Anchorage, AK Tel URL PRC RES NO Fish Creek Playground Improvements 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, Parks and Recreation planning staff utilized input from Spenard Community Council, Turnagain Community Council, the Fish Creek Community Advisory Group and the Girl Scouts of Alaska to guide the improvement of the playground at Barbara Street Park and Kiwanis Fish Creek Park; and WHEREAS, the improved playground as presented will provide new all-inclusive turf surfacing, upgraded circulation patterns, updated play equipment, and other amenities to improve the park users experience; NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Anchorage Parks and Recreation Commission approves the proposed design for the Playground Improvements at Kiwanis Fish Creek Park and Barbara Street Park. PASSED AND APPROVED by the Anchorage Parks and Recreation Commission this 14 th day of January, Chair Parks and Recreation Commission ATTEST: John Rodda, Director Parks & Recreation Department PARKS & RECREATION DEPARTMENT Municipality of Anchorage, Alaska

5 FISH CREEK PLAYGROUND IMPROVEMENTS Anchorage Parks and Recreation & Anchorage Park Foundation Summer 2016 Playground Improvement - Public Process and Design Overview Park Planner, Taylor Keegan. KeeganTH@Muni.org

6 % White % Afric an-americ an/bla ck % Alaska Native / American % Asian % Hawaiian/Pacific Islander % Other Ra ce % Multiple Race % Hispanic % White % Afric an-americ an/bla ck % Alaska Native / American % Asian % Hawaiian/Pacific Islander % Other Ra ce % Multiple Race % Hispanic community and project outreach The Fish Creek Playground Improvements includes forming one group that not only joins Spenard and Turnagain neighbors, but highlights the Fish Creek Greenbelt as a uniting factor instead of a dividing one (i.e. the community council boundary). Community outreach included working with neighbors involved in the 2015 Barbara Street Challenge Grant in helping facilitate the rest of the grant goals, which are inclusive turf surfacing and updates playground equipment geared towards 2-5 year olds. Expanding on the group that worked on fundraising and park improvements this summer, the Fish Creek Community Advisory Group was formed to facilitate complimentary designs at the two parks and think holistically about the public space that runs along the wonderful community asset that is Fish Creek and Fish Creek Trail. Outreach for this project included three group meetings that were focused on the analysis and design of both playgrounds, as well as an additional design charrette with the Girl Scouts of Alaska, whose office is one property away from the Kiwanis Fish Creek Park boundary. Additionally, with two other projects happening in close proximity to these playground improvements in 2017, it is important that dialogue be maintained between these entities working in the neighborhoods, and the voices of the community are heard. barbara street challenge grant fish creek community advisory group For more information about these processes, please reach out to the Park Planner on these projects, Taylor Keegan at KeeganTH@muni.org or park report cards, FLYERS, & departmental coordination Kiwanis Fish Creek Park 3907 Turnagain Blvd. E Park History This p ark w as th e 1976 Bic e nt e nni a l Proje c t for Kiw a nis C lu b of A n c h ora g e. It w as a lso th e fi rst p ark e v er d esig n e d b y La n d D esig n N orth. Th e Kiw a nis C lu b pro d u c e d e n gin e erin g a n d arc hit e c tural pl a ns for th e p ark, a n d th e P arks & Re cre a tio n D e p artm e nt pro vid e d th e re cre a tio n d e v elo p m e nt pl a n a n d a ll re cre a tio n im pro v e m e nts. C o nstru c tio n b e g a n in 1977 a n d a ll th e a m e nities w ere a d d e d in In 1998, th e Kiw a nis C lu b raise d fun ds to re pl a c e th e a gin g pl a y e q uip m e nt with a ccessible pl ay equipment. Neighborhood Statistics* Po p ul a tio n: 10,880 Perc ent of Population und er a ge 19: 29.1% Rate of referrals to Dept. of Juvenile Justic e: Low Ethnic C o m p ositio n: *2010 Census Data Park Facilities & Equipment A c c essible play e quip m ent for 5-12 ye ar olds Picnic shelter and ta bles Two barbecues Te nnis c o urts Multi-use court Parking lot with 14 sp a c es Lo c ate d in Fish Cre ek Gre enb elt A n c hora g eparkfound ation.org C OMMUNITY REPRESENTATIVES: M ayor D a n Sulliv a n m a yor@m uni.org 2011 Turn a g a in C o m m unity C o un cil C athy Gleason, President t c c presid e nt@y a h o o. c o m Asse m bly District 3 Ernie Hall - Harriet Drummond - h arrie tdru m m o n d@ a l ask a. c o m Al aska State Le gisl ative District 26M Re presentative Lindsey Holm es Lin dse y_holm es@le gis.st a t e. a k.us Se n a tor Hollis Fre n c h Se n a tor_hollis_fre n c h@le gis.st a t e. a k.us 2016 FISH CREEK PLAYGROUND IMPROVEMENTS WHAT WOULD YOU LIKE TO SEE Themed Play? INCLUSIVE INCLUSIVE PLAY? PLAY? N AT U R E INSPIRED PLAy? GROUP PLAY? BE APART OF THE IMPROVEMENTS! - Volunteer at the 2016 fix it events FOR BARBARA STREET PARK OR KIWANIS FISH CREEK PARK - Join the commmunity advisory group and give your input - GIVE INPUT THROUGH SURVEYS, AND/OR CONTACT THE PARK PLANNER WITH YOUR IDEAS! - MEET YOUR COMMUNITY MEMBERS AND PARTICIPATE IN THE PUBLIC PROCESS girl scout design charrette L Street Suite 200, (907) PARKS AND RECREATION CONTACT: Park PLANNER Taylor Keegan CONTACT: or KEEGANTH@muni.org *2010 Census Data Park Facilities & Equipment A c c essible play e quip m ent for 2-5 ye ar olds Sm all play are a midw ay through the p ark Be n c h es Trail is lit for y e ar ro un d use A c c ess to Fish C re e k Trail 2011 A n c hora g eparkfound ation.org Barbara Street Park 3109 Barbara Street Park History Th e p ark w as d e e d e d to th e city in 1971 a n d d e v elo p e d in Th e origin a l d e v elo p m e nt in clu d e d pl a y e q uip m e nt, a pl a y are a, a n d a trail a n d brid g e o v er Fish C re e k. Th e brid g e h as sin c e b e e n re pl a c e d. In 2003 th e pl a y e q uip m e nt w as repla ced with a ccessible toddler equipment. Neighborhood Statistics* Po p ul a tio n: 2,960 Perc ent of Population und er a ge 18: 19.9% Ethnic C o m p ositio n: C OMMUNITY REPRESENTATIVES: M ayor D an Sullivan m a yor@m uni.org Turn a g a in C o m m unity C o un cil C athy Gleason, President t c c presid e nt@y a h o o. c o m Asse mbly District 3 Ernie Hall - Harriet Drummond - harrietdrummond@ a l ask a. c o m Al aska State Le gisl ative District 26M Re presentative Lindsey Holm es Re prese nt a tiv e_lin dse y_holm es@le gis.st a t e. a k.us Se n a tor Hollis Fre n c h Se n a tor_hollis_fre n c h@le gis.st a t e. a k.us FISH CREEK GREENBELT IMPROVEMENTS BROUGHT TO YOU BY THE MUNICIPALITY OF ANCHORAGE MOA PM&E, & CRW TURNAGAIN STREET UPGRADE This project will evaluate alternatives to upgrade the Turnagain St and Turnagain Blvd to current MOA standards to improve both pedestrian and driver safety. Funding for construction currently being established. Visit for more information. PARKS AND RECREATION, ANCHORAGE PARK FOUNDATION & TBC BARBARA STREET Playground improvments following a 2015 Challenge Grant for the park which included an Eagle Scout Project, and vegetation clearing. Contact Park Planner Taylor Keegan for more information AMATS/ pm&e, sac, PTS, & CRW TRAIL REHABILITATION Trail resurfacing and lighting improvments along the Fish Creek Trail. Construction projected to start in Contact Robin Riech at for comments or questions or visit PARKS AND RECREATION, ANCHORAGE PARK FOUDNATION & TBC KIWANIS FISH CREEK Recent upgrades include a new Tennis Court- playground equipment last updated in Current stakeholders include the Girl Scouts of Alaska, the Kiwanis Club, and the Spenard and Turnagain neighbors. Contact Park Planner Taylor Keegan for more information L Street Suite 200, (907) SEE EACH PROJECT FOR CONTACT INFORMATION FOR QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS.

7 Bennett Turnagain KIWANIS FISH CREEK PLAYGROUND Feet 2016 Funding: 27k donor match 65k Rasumuson clean + Green 120K Rasumson accessibility Funds 20k Reitman CHARTABLE Fund 6.2k state grant funds $238k Gillam Strengths: SURVEY RESPONSES: CONCEPT ONE CONCEPT TWo CONCEPT THREE PURple Dinosaur Connects to creek greenbelt is really nice through the forested area, specifically biking through the natural areas Ample parking diverse users Preserve the art along the benches-like the wall, but it could be improved on girlscouts as stakeholders Kiwanis Fish Creek Playground Q1 How do you like to play? Answered: 11 Skipped: WEAKNESSES: Road edge, please work with road folk Poor along road edge- needs more trees Open grassy area rarely gets used Play equipment and surfacing, grass growing in play area Connection from mcray in park is spooky Invasive plant material- prunus sp. the area with wall and art is not a plaza that draws folks in, (could we get an artist to come in and enhance area?) Imagination Swinging? Climbing? Sliding? Places for Art Places for Science Places that are high Balancing? Rocking? Places that are cozy Animal Themed Spinning? Fun textures Bouncing? Crawling? Fun music and sound? # Responses 1 Please keep the purple dinosaur - my kids love to feed him and pretend with him. Is there a way to incorporate the creek more - it seems inaccessible and dirty right now. Even if it was just integrated enough so we could hear the sound of water. And if there are musical toys (like at the library), definitely include rain sticks that sounds like water. We love the ride-on bouncy toys. And we like having that sandy area to dig in. Slides and swings are keepers too. Trees between the playground and parking lot would be great. Big grassy area on other side is nice. Keep tennis courts too, and I love having art by the benches - that salmon mural. 2 Bike trail placed along Fish Creek or buffered by vegetation from Turnagain Blvd East. 3 If themed, should focus on Fish Creek and its importance as a waterway in the neighborhood - incorporate playground equip that has education aspect.. 4 Tires (insert many circles) 5 -Enhance connection to creek opportunity for learning. -Make lawn green space more inviting, feel safer. -Improve playground equipment. 6 I love the idea of a zip line and also would love to see a spider web to climb up. 7 Games 8 Some curres- that park needs some texture since it goes along the road and has a basketball court and tennis court. needs something round and eye pleasing. Nature Themed Play SCIENCE/IMAGINATION Water Themed SCIENCE/IMAGINATION CLIMBERS IN CONJUNCTION WITH? CANYON THEME/CLIMBING AND IMAGINATION ZIp Line In CONJUCTION with? Use Topography to inform play DINOSAUR THEME/Science and Imagination KIWANIS FISH CREEK PLAYGROUND CONCEPTS

8 f i s h c r e e k t r a i l PROPOSED IMPROVEMENTS highlight riparian health THROUGH native vegetation plantings AND signage vegetation clearing of invasive prunus sp. IN forest to improve ecological health and community safety Fish Creek Trail new ada accesible path to pavvilion add area for 2-5 year old sensory play TO activate plaza playground improvements that include zip line, swings, AND play system FOR 2-12 YEAR OLD PLAY parking f i s h c r e e k t r a i l TO mcray ave e TURNAGAIN boulevard TO spenard ave bennet ave PARK IMPROVEMENTS: For Kiwanis Fish Creek Park, there was overwhelming comment on the infrastructure of the site surrounding the playground; improvements along both the trail and the road were requested. As the context of this project specifically addresses the playground improvements, the focus was to reconnect the playground, thematically, to the Fish Creek. This will be done through capitalizing on the Girl Scouts as stakeholders in the park and facilitating connections between females and science regarding ecology and hydrology. For this reason, native plantings will be implemented on site with signage calling out the importance of vegetation for water quality and riparian health. Additionally, for an imaginative element, surfacing will be utilized to celebrate the river and the equipment will speak to forest ecology and vegetation. SPECIFIC GOALS INCLUDE: Provide All-inclusive turf surfacing for play surfacing Provide ada accesible path form parking lot to pavillion highlight connections to fish creek through thematic design elements of water and ecology native tree plantings and education on riparian health and buffers fix-it day clearing invasive prunus sp. that promotes sight lines and ecosystem recovery KIWANIS FISH CREEK PLAYGROUND

9 Brookside Brookside BARBARA STREET PLAYGROUND 32nd Feet Funding: 50k REITMAN FOUNDATION 15.5k APF CHALLENGE GRANT 15.5k Individual donations $81k Strengths: Great location! the Bridge, creek and open space are assets to the community Neighbors, children and adults like the little houses. The park is known as the Tiny House Park The pedestrian Connection to the Fish Creek Greenbelt, which provides a corridor to the coastal trail Neighbors have Eyes on the Park - literally, through camera surveillance Park is currently quiet, would like to keep quieter play. Used year round- Sledding is popular on both Barbara Street and Woodside Drive Sides SURVEY RESPONSES: Barbara Street Playground Q1 How do you like to play? Answered: 12 Skipped: 0 Imagination Places that are high Balancing? Bouncing? Fun textures Swinging? Places that are cozy Climbing? Places for Art Places for Science Sliding? Crawling? Animal Themed Spinning? Rocking? Fun music and sound? CONCEPT ONE CONCEPT TWo CONCEPT THREE # Responses 1 Please keep the baby homes, or something very similar. There are lots of other playgrounds for swinging/sliding/etc, and this park is so special because of the pretend play that it evokes. My 6 year old son is worried that he'll soon be WEAKNESSES: Could create interactions between top and bottom of hill on Woodside Dr Side Houses are enclosed, which creates negative activities Poor Pedestrian Connections at Woodside and 32 along the road Feels unsafe from park, needs more reinforcement Needs sidewalks and stop signs too big to fit in the baby homes - so something a bit bigger could be good for kids his age. The kids also like being able to climb on top of the homes too. Having one or more sides of a home be covered in chalkboard material could be a great space for kids to draw. I wonder if that would discourage the annoying spray paint graffiti that shows up? We have some ideas for the grassy area below the baby homes too. It's a great sledding hill, so please don't put something directly below that would obstruct that. But we would love to see something down there to engage kids more than bare grass. How about a small obstacle course? Or a mini bike course, with small mounds/hills, a jump, a ramp, and a small bike sized teeter totter... Or simple low wood structures in the shape of a maze - with very low walls (12-24in?) that kids could also use as balance beams? Or a "petting garden" or some similar vegetation that would invite people down there. 2 A theme- a rocketship or train or something cool that allows kids to imagine or kickstart play. 0-5 year olds love, love, swinging (infant seat next to older seat is best so you can push two kids of different ages). Also sliding and climbing are key. 3 (Abstract Drawing) 4 I support keeping the play equipment on the Brookside street part of the park. Ping pong balls will end up in the creek. Barbara St. Side: keep it natural and quiet. Perhaps a bench looking at the creek. 5 Climbing (insert drawing of climber) 6 small, quaint- retain quiet happenstance vibe. 7 Something fun, safley, that sparks toddler imagination 8 Climbing or game in lower area 9 Would like a playground for all- whatever is appropriate for people with challenges and disabilities. Places for parents and kids to *see each other*. Beautiful, cool modern materials with no grafitti! ) ALL AGES PASSIVE RECREATION. 2) TINY PUMPTRACK 3.) PUBLIC ART 3 LANDSCAPE STRUCTURES: Weevos BERLINER: TRii and Boo Hillslide: Using topographyt as all-season asset LANDSCAPE STRUCTURES : ALEXANDER s EXPRESS BARABARA STREET PARK CONCEPTS

10 PROPOSED IMPROVEMENTS PROPOSED LOCATION OF EMBANKMENT SLIDE WITH SAFETY SURFACING ALL INCLUSIVE TURF SAFTEY SURFACING KEEP 2/3 TINY HOUSES and bring in updated PLAY equipment for larger age group BROOKSIDE DRIVE TO Fish Creek Trail PARK IMPROVEMENTS: When the wider community was asked what they wanted, it was important to many of the neighbors that Barbara street appeal to a larger age group as well as maintain the quiet happenstance vibe that the park currently possesses. With this, a slide using the natural topography of the park was suggested, as this would not interfere with the winter sledding use of the park, and would provide a more dynamic experience for all ages. Additionally, after deliberation, two of the three tiny houses would like to be kept on-site, with slight updates. Specific Goals include: Provide all inclusive turf surfacing provide activities for wider age group than the current target age of 2-5 yr olds Remove one Tiny house that has been reported to attract negative activities This includes a proposed embankment slide as well as additional play equipment BARBARA STREET park