Park System Plan & Implementation:
A Casselberry Story
Florida APA Conference
September 4, 2024
Prepared by:
Agenda
• Introduction
• The need for a park system plan in Casselberry
• The master planning process
• Implementation
• The GO Bond process
• We are funded, now what?
• Questions / Discussion
Who we are
Kelly Brock, PhD, PE, CFM, LEED AP, ENV SP
Public Works & Utilities Director, City of Casselberry, Florida
Kristin Caborn, CPRE
Parks and Public Spaces Director
GAI Consultants | Community Solutions Group
Blake Drury, AICP
Planning and Urban Design Director
GAI Consultants | Community Solutions Group
THE LINKAGE OF DESIGN, ENGINEERING, PLANNING, ECONOMICS, AND ENVIRONMENT IS WHAT SETS US APART AND ALLOWS US TO REALIZE OUR PASSION: WORKING WITH PARTNERS TO CREATE COMMUNITY
+ Master Planning
+ Land Use Entitlements
+ Park System Planning
+ Landscape Architecture and Design
+ Wayfinding Planning and Design
+ Public Engagement
+ Urban Analytics
+ Economics & Real Estate Consulting
+ Civil Engineering & Utilities
+ Transportation Engineering
+ Environmental Planning & Permitting
The Need
The Need
Why a Park System Plan for Casselberry
▪ High Interest in Park Improvements
▪ Lack of a Parks Master Plan
▪ Unclear & Competing Priorities
▪ Lack of Vision and Guiding Principles
▪ Lack of Funding Strategy
The Master Planning Process
City of Casselberry
Park, Recreation, Pathways and Open Spaces
Master Plan
2016-2017
Master Plan Purpose
▪ Plan for a future parks system that responds to changing demographics and future preferences
▪ Provide a ‘conceptual blueprint’ for improving, sustaining and enhancing the quality of life
The Master Plan Process
What was done:
• Ensured consistency with the overall vision of the City and the Comprehensive Plan
• Inventoried / evaluated existing parks system
• Conducted active outreach program to the community
• Identified improvement priorities and future needs
• Created an action plan that identifies acquisitions, projects, programs, and services
Methods of Gathering Input
Information used for the Master Plan update:
• Review of Past Plans/Studies
• Park and Trail / Pathway / Blueway Inventories
• Community Input:
Focus Groups (Oct. 4 & 25, 2016)
Community Workshop (Nov. 15, 2016)
Community Survey (Jan. 26 to Feb. 24, 2017)
284 completed surveys Reflected the needs for over 908 individuals
Lake Concord Boardwalk
Community Workshop
Park Inventory
• Extensive park inventory was completed over several days in August 2016
• Park inventory summary:
Replace park amenities in disrepair
Re-landscape to meet original design intent
Improve ADA accessibility
Upgrade wayfinding / information signage
Improve and maintain lakefront access
Master plan the underused sites
Plumosa Park
Secret Lake Park
Community Attitudes & Interests
Field
Based on the community involvement process, the following summarizes key community attitudes and interests:
• Improve / expand existing parks
• Improve pathway / trail / blueway system
• Improve recreation programs
• Develop partnerships
Seminole County School Board
Seminole State College
USTA
Friends of the Parks
Other public / private entities
Non-Programmed Play
Multi-Use Trail
Multi-Purpose
Guiding Principles
Eight (8) guiding principles to achieve the objectives, and key recommendations and strategies:
1. Maintain what we have in a safe, sustainable, and quality manner
2. Meet the demand for our future growth in a way that brings people together
3. Embrace and encourage active and healthy lifestyles
4. Strive to provide a variety of active and passive facilities, activities, and programs
5. Promote and expand awareness of the arts, culture, and music
6. Preserve, protect, and provide reasonable public access to our conservation areas and open spaces
7. Increase connectivity to parks, natural areas, and open spaces with pathways, bikeways, and blueways
8. Expand methods of communicating
Secret Lake Park
Key Recommendations
Guiding Principle 2: Meet the demand for our future growth in a way that brings people together
• Maintain current LOS standard of 5.0 acres / 1,000 population
- need over 80 acres of park land by the year 2040
• Recommend that the LOS standard be further broken down into park types:
• Community / Special Use Park - 3.0 acres / 1,000 population
• Neighborhood / Mini Park - 2.0 acres / 1,000 population
• Amend Recreation and Open Space Element to determine that the LOS be based on park land acreage of developed, opened to the public or funded in the current fiscal year
• Amend the Recreation and Open Space Element to define community park/special use park, neighborhood park, mini park and trails
• Evaluate and/or amend the City Unified Land Development Regulations for private parks to adequately serve new residential developments
Secret Lake Park
Level of Service
• Expand existing parks
• Golf course for pocket parks
• Partner with schools
• Partner with Seminole County
• Develop undeveloped parks
Implementation
• Service Enhancements – Guide for Development
• Potential projects have been subdivided by three categories:
Deficiencies – Existing items in need of repair / replacement and/or ADA accessibility
Deferred Maintenance – Existing items that need maintenance
Enhancements – Future projects to improve the park system
Estimated costs have been prepared to help clarify a budget for these improvements
Recommend increase in annual funding from general revenues in the recurring amount of $200,000 a year
City to evaluate dedicated funding mechanisms to fund parks
Lake Hodge Park
Implementation
Service Enhancements –
Summary of Capital Costs
Implementation
Implementation
After the Master Plan...
▪ 2017: Master Plan "accepted"; joint CC/PRAB Meeting on progress and next steps
▪ 2018: Focus narrowed to six parks; 4 consultants selected
o City Commission Workshops
▪ 2019: Developed conceptual plans and cost estimates & passed Ordinance to pursue bond
o Public engagement
o Multiple Workshops
Dew Drop Park Conceptual Plan
The GO Bond Process
The GO Bond: A Public Education Campaign
Prepping for the Campaign
October-December 2019
▪ Narrative of the 6 projects + reconcile cost estimates
▪ SPANISH TRANSLATIONS!
Wheel Park
Wheel Park is a currently undeveloped park slated to be developed into a family-oriented park. The proposed park is generally divided into two areas: the west active bike/skate park and the east family zone. To the west of N. Winter Park Drive will be the large bike/skate park area that includes a flow bowl, snake run area, street area, and associated parking. There will also be a formal ceremonial lawn with a pavilion and restroom building. Connecting east across N. Winter Park Drive are proposed raised crossings leading to the family area, which will have its own parking lot. The family area will include an ADA adventure playground, bicycle “Tiny Towne” training area for children ages 2–5, skills and pump track for children ages 5–12, a restroom building, and two pavilions. Lastly, space has been reserved in the park plan for future development of a sensory/community garden.
This project is projected to cost $8,855,612.43, based on the conceptual design cost estimate.
Research
October – December 2019
▪ Develop key facts
▪ Public opinion research: Comparative Campaigns Focus Groups (Polling)
▪ Campaign Planning
▪ Draft ballot language and financial details
The Campaign is Live!
January – March 2020
▪ The Traveling Show:
Rotary Club, Open Houses, Special Events- Concerts in the Park, Parks and Recreation Advisory Committee, City Council ▪ Earned Media ▪ Social Media Targeted ads & geofencing ▪ Direct Mail Meeting invites, targeted communities, utility bill inserts, postcards & flyers
Video ▪ GO Casselberry Parks 15s - YouTube
We are Funded!
We are funded! Now what?
▪ March 2020: Parks Bond Passes!
▪ July 2020: Secret Lake & "Wheel Park" - Phase 1 Design
▪ December 2020: Solicitation for CMAR Released
o Pros: design coordination, control, value engineering, efficiency, speed, adaptability during construction, "Guaranteed Maximum Price"
o Cons: paperwork/ complexity, administrative cost/overhead
"Wheel Park" Conceptual Plan
We are funded! Now what?
▪ Design of Remaining Parks
o March 2021: Art House Expansion
o April 2021: "Wheel Park"Phase 2
o July 2021: Wirz Park
o December 2021: Dew Drop Park
o March 2022: Sunnytown Park
▪ Construction Begins!
o December 2021: Secret Lake Park
o May 2022: Casselberry Arts Center
Groundbreaking for Art House Expansion
Challenges & Lessons Learned
Hyperinflation & Herding
Cats
▪ Inflationary market conditions
▪ Unanticipated field issues
▪ Staff turnover
▪ Even with CMAR, there's no such thing as a "Guaranteed Maximum Price"
▪ Many stakeholders, many deadlines, many challenges
Sunnytown Park Concept Plan
Where are we now?
Secret Lake Park
Where are we now?
Two down, Four to Go!
▪ Secret Lake Park
▪ Casselberry Arts Center
Casselberry Arts Center
Where are we now?
Two down, Four to Go!
▪ Secret Lake Park
▪ Casselberry Arts Center
▪ Wirz Park
Wirz Park Construction
Where are we now?
Two down, Four to Go!
▪ Secret Lake Park
▪ Casselberry Arts Center
▪ Wirz Park
▪ "Wheel Park" (Phase 1 & 2)
Wheel Park Construction
Where are we now?
Sunnytown Park
▪ Park walking audit
o Near term/low cost
o "Ultimate"
▪ Community meeting to re-plan
▪ FRDAP Grant application
Sunnytown Park "Walking Audit"
Questions?
Kelly Brock, PhD, PE, CFM, LEED AP, ENV SP Kbrock@casselberry.org
Kristin Caborn, CPRE k.caborn@gaiconsultants.com
Vision and Mission Statement
• Vision Statement:
The City of Casselberry envisions a well maintained, safe, interconnected, sustainable parks and recreation system that provides quality, accessible, healthy, community level recreation experiences in a manner that brings the community together; while enhancing opportunities for economic development, and preserving and protecting our natural resources through education and sound stewardship.
• Mission Statement:
The City of Casselberry is responsible for developing, operating, and maintaining an interconnected system of neighborhood and community level parks, recreation, and open space facilities, which enriches the quality of life for its residents, visitors, businesses, and employees.
Secret Lake Park