REGIONAL PARKS INITIATIVE PROMOTING COMMUNITY & ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
Friday 10 May 2013
5 cooperating municipalities focused on the PRIMARY MISSION of improved active, outdoor recreation opportunities.
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RECREATION BENEFITS… • Families • Fitness & Health • Community Attachment • Student Achievement • School Sports • Tourism • Construction Trades • College Courses • Real Estate Values The development of the Regional Parks will benefit you, your family, your business/organization and your community.
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THE NEED FOR THE “REGIONAL PARKS” Community discussions led to municipal discussions…. and a vision based on extended cooperation.
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THE NEED FOR THE “REGIONAL PARKS”
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OUR COMMON GOALS‌
1. 2. 3.
4.
Provide outstanding facilities, events & venues to residents and visitors. Strategically partner w/ the business community to grow the parks. Generate additional & sustainable revenue to offset operational costs. Showcase the region. 5
THE BENEFITS & COSTS… 1.
2. 3. 4.
5. 6.
Park Forest Community Swimming Pool Renewal Wm. L. Welch Community Swimming Pool Renewal Millbrook Marsh Nature Center – Educ. Bldg. Construction John Hess Softball Complex Renewal - 21 acres Oak Hall Regional Park, Phase 1 – 68 acres Whitehall Road Regional Park, Phase 1– 100 acres For 2002 through 2013 Municipal Investment/Commitments State Grant Investments Private & Public Donations TOTAL
$18,002,666. $ 1,801,166. $ 1,088,000. $20,891,832. *
* Plus loan interest through 2032 6
THE RENEWED JOHN HESS SOFTBALL FIELD COMPLEX 2011
2012
2013
Softball Fields in Service
3
4
4
Tournaments
7
9
10 Planned
257
397
Pending
1,482
1,488
Pending
Tournament Games Total Teams (Tournaments + League Play)
Tournament Lodging Report 2009-2012 (Attached): For 5 (of 9) reporting tournaments in 2012, 48 teams confirmed their commercial, weekend lodging in the Centre Region. 7
THE JOHN HESS SOFTBALL FIELD COMPLEX The Approved Master Site Plan
21 Acres
4 youth fields shown.
Optional Plan w/ 3 adult fields.
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OAK HALL REGIONAL PARK
The Approved Master Site Plan 68 acres
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OAK HALL – PHASE 1 • Grading for all park facilities (Phase 1 and future) • 4 All-Age Softball Fields (future lighting is planned on Field #OH-1) • 8 bleacher sets (2 per field), benches, trash/recycling containers, drinking fountain. • 1-mile, full-perimeter walking trail. • Restroom Building (with septic field) & Concession Room • Parking areas (crushed stone) w/ 6 LED lighting fixtures + 3 LED driveway fixtures for operational and security lighting. • Parks Maintenance Building (30' x 40', 2-bay) • Park Water System. • Fencing & backstops (black) for the 4 fields w/ safety netting. • All plantings required by the Municipal Land Development Plan. • Park Entrance Sign (by separate contract). • Additional trees & site furnishings (benches, interpretive signs and upgrades). Donations are solicited for these features. Approved Project Budget: $3,779,528.
FULLY OPEN: Spring 2015 10
OAK HALL – PHASE 1 REQUESTS To build on the established and growing success of the Hess Field Complex events, in March three Priority Additions were requested for CPCVB Capital Funding Assistance: 1. Lighting the main softball field (Field #OH1) and the balance of the parking area lights. Bid price: $210,366. 2. Full-length sideline fencing (6' high) on 3 of the ballfields for 1,206 linear feet (the sideline fencing on Field #OH1 is included in the current project). Bid price: $32,250. 3. The Tournament Headquarters Building. Bid price: $233,390. Total Request: $476,006. 11
WHITEHALL ROAD REGIONAL PARK
The Updated Master Site Plan – 100 acres 12
WHITEHALL ROAD REGIONAL PARK PHASE 1 PLANNING IN PROGRESS… Proposed Phase 1 Facilities (on 75-acre parcel): • 7 rectangular fields + 1 rectangular practice field (all turf fields, includes players benches and goals). • 1 larger baseball field. • Regional playground & basketball court. • 1 large community pavilion. • All grading, erosion / sediment control & stormwater mgmt. for the 75-acre parcel. • All parking & interior park roads. • 1 building w/ flush toilets and a concessions stand. • Perimeter trail and those interior walkways serving the Phase I facilities. ESTIMATED COST OF PHASE 1: $5,546,000. PROJECTED OPENING: Fall 2015
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FUTURE FUNDING CHALLENGES – OPERATIONS & CAPITAL Oak Hall Regional Park: (in addition to the Priority Additions) • Playground/Sprayground, • Picnic Pavilion, • Additional trees & other amenities, • Dog park, • Sledding hill & ice rink. Whitehall Road Regional Park: Future Phase facilities… • 2 Synthetic Turf, Rectangular Sportfields, lighted • 2 Proposed Buildings (Field Sports & Court Sports) John Hess Softball Complex: • Implement the Master Plan improvements Centralized Parks Maintenance Facility 14
THE BIG PICTURE (DEVELOPMENT)… DEVELOPMENT COSTS
TOTAL
PHASE 1
$5.7 million
$3.8 million
WHITEHALL ROAD
$12.9 million
$5.5 million
SUBTOTAL
$18.6 million
$9.3 million
$2.9 million
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OAK HALL
HESS COMPLEX TOTAL COST
$21.5 million
PHASE 1 FUNDING STRATEGY (at 2 parks) $8.9m in Municipal Contributions plus Community Contributions and a State Grant. PHASE 2 DEVELOPMENT PLANS (at 3 parks) By June 2014 the participating municipalities will discuss the funding of the continued development of the 3 regional parks. Community contributions will play a critical role.
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AN EXCITING FUTURE…
Proceed with the approved timeline events. Expand the partnership with the CPCVB. Finalize a Priority Scheduling Policy for contributors. Finalize and open the Capital Campaign.
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ITEMS FOR DISCUSSION… Municipal Requests for Oak Hall Reg. Park: 1. Sportfield Lighting for Field OH#1 $210,366 2. Baseline Fence Extensions – 3 fields $32,250 3. Tournament Headquarters Building $233,390 Initial CPCVB Response : (for Whitehall Road Reg. Park) 4. Focus on Synthetic Turf for one of the rectangular fields. 17
A PARTNERSHIP OPTION… The Regional Parks were planned to improve the opportunities for an array of special interests – Softball, Baseball, Soccer, Lacrosse, Football, Ultimate Frisbee, Rugby, dog parks, etc. – a collection of boats in our harbor.
Our joint challenge is to find the best way to “Raise The Tide” for active recreation. 18