System Wide Improvements

During the master plan process, several system-wide improvements were identified and include:

NEW PARK SIGNAGE

The standard entrance sign was developed after an artist was commissioned by the Parks and Recreation Department in 2015 to develop a contextually sensitive sculptural sign for the Celery Bog Nature Center. The sculpture was titled “The Heron” and was adopted as the preferred direction for all future park monument signage. Although the new monument signage has been incorporated at several parks including Cumberland Park and Happy Hollow Park, many of the smaller parks either have outdated signage or have no monument signage at their entrances.

Wayfinding signage within parks also takes many forms. A wayfinding signage plan should be developed to design and plan for consistent signage throughout the parks system. This provides consistent messaging for users throughout the parks network but also helps visitors to understand when they are using a West Lafayette Parks and Recreation Department facility and when they are using a County or University facility.

The wayfinding signage plan should include updated mapping for the parks and trail network. The maps that are spread throughout the parks network have become outdated. The signage plan can also include a strategy for updating the maps to keep them current and while also including feasible funding for the updates.

PIP SAFETY SURFACING

One of the easiest ways for the Parks and Recreation Department to increase the accessibility of playgrounds at their parks is to replace the loose engineered playground safety mulch with pouredin-place (PIP) safety surfacing. Although it is not feasible to replace all of the playground surfacing withe PIP safety surfacing within the next five years, The Department should develop a plan to incrementally phase out the safety surfacing mulch and replace those playground surfaces with the PIP safety surfacing. The safety surfacing provides a smooth and level surface which is easier to navigate in a wheelchair but also provides a different play experience for the visually impaired and those with other physical disabilities.

INCREASED INCLUSIVE ELEMENTS

In addition to replacing mulch playground surfacing with PIP safety surfacing, incorporating additional inclusive elements into playsets and as a part of parks can provide more opportunities for park visitors of all abilities. This could include accessible paved trails to water, natural areas, and outdoor learning environments. Enhancing the trail network to provide connections across the city is another way to provide an inclusive experience. The Parks Department should continue to explore improvements within the parks network with a focus on incorporating elements for a wide variety of visitors with different physical abilities.

To increase accessibility the Department should focus on:

• Accessible paths between key amenities within parks • Regular inspection of playground safety surfacing mulch to be sure proper levels are maintained • Incorporating sensory-based experiences within new and existing playgrounds • Providing accessible routes from parking to larger areas of the park including through natural areas such as Celery Bog Nature

Area • Including accessible picnic tables and benches within parks

INCREASED ACCESS TO NATURE

Throughout this planning process we have heard how much the public values the amount of natural area within the city and their access to these areas. There was also demand for additional opportunities to interact with nature including more access to the Wabash River. In addition to improvements such as those recommended for Mascouten Park, the Department should continue to prioritize maintenance and responsible access to the natural areas within the network. Increased access could include canoe/kayak launches, more natural and paved pathways, and additional naturalization of under utilized areas like the LaGrange Street greenspace.

As the city’s largest natural area, the Celery Bog Nature Area and the Lilly Nature Center are wellmaintained and well-designed for a wide variety of habitat and user experiences. Although the majority of the Department’s nature programs are hosted at the Lilly Nature Center, there is still room for improvement with added programs. Additional indoor and outdoor learning space should be added to the Nature Center to accommodate these in-demand programs.

As the Department continues to grow and add parks to the network, a balance should be maintained between active park areas and naturalized areas to continue to meet the demands of residents. The Department is considered the unofficial steward for the city and this balanced approach allows more natural area to be developed and preserved while also creating more opportunities for education.

The Department is currently developing an Open Space Comprehensive Plan. This plan will identify areas throughout the city where park expansion is needed and start to evaluate potential land tracks for donation or purchase. Some potential acquisitions that have been identified by the Department include the Tippecanoe County Amphitheater and Tecumseh Trail Park. This acquisition would provide an outdoor concert venue, expand sport and recreation uses and create park offerings further north in the city. From this point, connections to Prophetstown State Park would also be feasible. Another acquisition identified included Hadley Lake. This site would be ideal for water recreation, rustic trails, and primitive camping.

INCREASED INTEGRATION TECHNOLOGY

Technology recommendations were included with the last plan update and should continue to be a priority for the Department. This could include a mobile app for the Department and the addition of community WiFi access within all parks.

Outdoor WiFi hotspots are becoming more common in public parks. In addition to providing WiFi access at the Community Center, all parks within the network should eventually incorporate new WiFi hotspots. The addition of public WiFi should happen incrementally, however, priority should be given to the most visited parks such as Happy Hollow Park and Tapawingo Park.

Another technology improvement that was recommended in the previous master plan update was the development of a West Lafayette Parks and Recreation Department mobile application. One of the most common reasons for not participating in Department activities was the lack of awareness of what is available. The mobile app could be used to keep residents up to date on park improvements, facility rentals, program offerings, and schedules. The app could also be used to share updated map information for the trails network including mile markers and routes to reach park destinations. Critical real-time information could also be shared through the app such as inclement weather or trail closings due to flooding. The app can also be an important resource for residents to submit issues within the parks network such as to report a downed tree or broken swing.

CONTINUED PARTNERSHIP WITH THE WEST LAFAYETTE TREE FRIENDS GROUP MUNICIPAL TREE NURSERY

The West Lafayette Tree Friends was created in 1981. This group is made up of citizens and the City Community Forestry and Greenspace Manager who are dedicated to improving the green infrastructure of the City. The group’s work centers around working with property owners and the City to enhance the beauty of the streets by adding plantings to the right-of-way. The group also coordinates one or two large planting projects each year.

The West Lafayette Tree Friends group is funded by private donations which are supplemented by matching grants when available. Volunteers are heavily involved in the group’s work with tasks including:

• Organized Tree Plantings in neighborhoods

• Spring tree pruning

• Fall sidewalk and street clearing

• Planning new areas for tree replacement or augmentation

• Watering new plantings The proposed Municipal Tree Nursery will become a resource for the West Lafayette Parks and Recreation Department system-wide. The land for the nursery has been donated and construction will begin on the nursery infrastructure in 2022. The Municipal Nursery is being funded by the Redevelopment Commission, West Lafayette Parks Foundation, and the West Lafayette Tree Friends.

The Municipal Tree Nursery will include greenhouses, expansion of existing hoop houses, 100 bare-root trees in the first year, shrubs, perennials and native plants. The plant material that is raised at the Municipal Nursery will be planted in the City parks and right-of-ways. Having a Parks and Recreation Department run nursery will lower the cost of planting for the city.

Additional staff will be needed for the Tree Nursery. A Community Forester/Nursery Coordinator will be needed to oversee the nursery, work with West Lafayette Tree Friends volunteers, and conduct educational programming. The educational programming will provide another revenue source for the Department but more importantly, provides additional educational classes centered around the environment.

PUBLIC GARDEN/ ARBORETUM

Public gardens/arboretum was the fourth highest new facility requested by respondents to the community survey. This indicates a demand within the city to incorporate this type of garden within the West Lafayette Parks and Recreation Department facilities. Public gardens and arboretums often require large expanses of land which the Department is currently lacking. While this need might be addressed with future land donations or city annexations, the Parks and Recreation Department is already working to provide a response to this need within the constraints of the current available resources. In addition to the Municipal Tree Nursery, which will be able to provide trees and plantings for the Department and the city, the Parks and Recreation Department is also evaluating designs within existing parks that are more botanical in nature. Design solutions might include botanic focused plantings at Wabash Heritage Trail Side Park as well as within trail corridors throughout the city. The Department continues to make efforts to treat trails as linear parks and not just as a means of transportation and recreation.

The Parks and Recreation Department are also evaluating potential partnerships with Purdue University to conduct botanical focused programs using their campus wide arboretum, Horticulture Park and the Jules Janick Horticulture Garden. The Jules Janick Horticulture Garden was designed to have a sample of every plan they can get. This garden is utilized by the university as a classroom. Horticulture Park is a 24-acre park with over 300 types of trees and plants and is also used as a classroom by the university and various other groups.