LAWRENCE PARKS AND RECREATION DEPARTMENT

PARK SITE EVALUATION CRITERIA GUIDELINES

            These procedures were developed in January, 2006 to be used as a guide to aid the Parks and Recreation Department and City staff in assessing property for future parks.  This process was endorsed by the Parks and Recreation Advisory Board on January 10, 2006.

            A standing committee made up of representatives of Parks and Recreation, Planning, Public Works and Utility Departments will meet periodically to evaluate sites for potential parks and to be part of staff recommendations to the Planning Commission and City Commission.  As needed other organizations would be consulted, such as Lawrence USD 497 school district, ECO² committee and others for input in the evaluations.

SITE FEATURES

Topographic/Drainage (depending on proposed uses)

            0 pts.   Prohibitive slopes (>30%)

1 pt.     Severe slopes (16% - 30%), greater than 10% in 100 & 500 year floodplain and/or downslide from major drainage way.

2 pts.   Moderate slopes (7% - 15%) and/or <10% in 100 year and 500 year floodplain.

3 pts.   Slight slope (<7%) and/or no floodplain

Vegetation

            0 pts.   Dense vegetation (>75% trees and undergrowth)

            1 pt.     Primary vegetation (50% - 75% trees and undergrowth)

            2pts.    Partial vegetation (25% - 50% trees and undergrowth)

            3pts.    Open (<25% trees and undergrowth)

Size

            0 pts.   Less than 5 acres

            1 pt.     5 – 10 acres (neighborhood park standards)

            2 pts.   10 – 25 acres

            3 pts.   25 or more acres

Soils and Geology

            0 pts.   Multiple layers of exposed rock outcropping throughout site

            1 pt.     Isolated rock outcropping, inconsistent topsoil depth

            2 pts.   Little exposed rock, shallow soils, consistent depth

            3 pts.   No exposed rock outcroppings, deep soils, consistent depth

INFRASTRUCTURE/SERVICES

Access/Transportation

            0 pts.   No existing or proposed streets to site.

            1 pt.     No existing streets to site, but is on a logical planned extension

            2 pts.   Existing streets adjacent to one side of site/arterial street within ½ mile

3 pts.   Existing streets adjacent to two or more sides of site/arterial street adjacent to site

Sanitary Sewer

            0 pts.   Currently not serviceable by city sewer system

            1 pt.     Site is serviceable, force main required, not existing system within ½ mile

            2 pts.   Existing service required extension (1/8 to ½ mile) to site

            3 pts.   Existing service is adjacent to or within 1/8 mile of site

Water Service

            0 pts.   Currently not serviceable by city or rural water systems

            1 pt.     Existing service requires extension (1/8 to ½ mile to site)

2 pts.   Existing service is adjacent to site but inadequate supply, quality or pressure

3 pts.   Sufficient supply, pressure, quality and service exists adjacent to site

Electrical  Service

            0 pts.   No existing 3-phase electrical service within ½ mile

            1 pt.     Existing 3-phase electrical service within ½ mile to 1/8 mile

            2 pts.   Existing service with adequate supply within 1/8 mile

            3 pts.   Existing service with adequate supply adjacent to site

Gas Service

            0 pts.   No existing service within ½ mile of site

            1 pt.     Existing service with adequate supply within ½ mile to 1/8 mile

            2 pts.   Existing service with adequate supply within 1/8 mile

            3 pts.   Existing service with adequate supply adjacent to site

Accessibility

            0 pts.   Site not adaptable for accessibility

            1 pt.     Major site renovation required to make site accessible

            2 pts.   Minor site renovation required to make site accessible

            3 pts.   Site easily adaptable for accessibility

ANTICIPATED COSTS

Site Preparation/Grading Costs

            0 pts.   Clearing and re-grading of prohibitive slopes; extensive demolition

            1 pt.     Some clearing/re-grading of severe slopes; moderate demolition

            2 pts.   Re-grading of moderate slopes; slight demolition

            3 pts.   Slight re-grading; no demolition

Street Costs

            0 pts.   No roadway within ½ mile

            1 pt.     Unimproved roadways within ¼ mile

            2 pts.   Improved roadways within 1/8 mile

            3 pts.   Improved roadways adjacent to site

Utility Costs

            0 pts.   No utility within ½ mile of site

            1 pt.     Sewer and/or water service less than ½ mile, all other utilities closer

            2 pts.   Sewer and water service less than ½ mile, all other utilities closer

            3 pts.   Sewer and water service adjacent to or within 1/8 mile

Land Acquisition Costs

0 pts.   Condemnation likely involving one or more multiple “non-agreeable” owners

            1 pt.     Purchase required with multiple agreeable owners at market rate

            2 pts.   Purchase required with one agreeable owner at market rate

            3 pts.   Entire property to be donated or is currently owned by City

COMMUNITY PLANNING ISSUES

Community Growth Patterns

            0 pts.   Decentralized to existing and projected population centers

1 pt.     Located in area planned for projected population growth, not immediately adjacent to existing population center

2 pts.   Located in area immediately adjacent to existing population centers

3 pts.   Centralized to existing and projected population centers

Community Traffic Patterns

0 pts.   Site has no immediate adjacent access to highway or major arterial streets

1 pt.     Site is located adjacent to local access streets or minor arterial streets only

2 pts.   Site is located adjacent to one county arterial street only

3 pts.   Site has adjacent access to highway and arterial street

Surrounding Land Uses

            0 pts.   Heavy industrial use

            1 pt.     Commercial/light industrial and/or open space

            2 pts.   Low density single family residential/churches

            3 pts.   High to medium density residential

Environmental Issues (Wetlands, Floodplain, Wildlife and Olfactory Pollution)

0 pts.   Not suitable for development, extensive negative impact will result due to location of site

1 pt.     Development will have moderate impact to wetland and wildlife

2 pts.   Development will have moderate impact to wetland and wildlife (less than 10% of site with sensitive ecology in tributary system)

3 pts.   Surrounding land is undeveloped, no immediate plans for development

Expansion Potential

            0 pts.   Site is landlocked and surrounded by existing development

            1 pt.     Site can expand in one direction with expansion area of less and 5 acres

2 pts.   Site can expand in multiple directions with surrounding land being greater than 5-10 acres

3 pts.   Surrounding land is undeveloped, more than 10 acres and no immediate plans for development

Pedestrian Connector/Trails

            0 pts.   No trails and/or local connector streets currently exist to site

1 pt.     Non-dedicated, unimproved trail and no local connector streets exist with no improvement plans

2 pts.   Non-dedicated unimproved trails and/or local connector streets exist with improvements in discussion

3 pts.   Existing improved trails and/or local connector streets exist to the site

Proximity to Schools (K – 12)

            0 pts.   No schools within 1 mile of site

            1 pt.     Schools within ½ mile of site

            2 pts.   Schools within ¼ mile of site

            3 pts.   Schools adjacent to or within 1/8 miles of site

Potential for School Park Site (K – 12)

            0 pts.   No potential for school- park site

            1 pt.     Possible school-park site

            2 pts.   City & school district cooperating for school-park site

Views to Surrounding Properties

            0 pts.   Views from site are limited of industrial/unattractive and offensive uses

            1 pt.     Views from site are limited of unoffensive uses

2 pts.   Views from site are expansive and of unoffensive uses toward on direction only

3 pts.   Views from site are expansive of natural ecosystems and of unoffensive uses toward more than one direction

Visibility of Site for Identification and Marketability

            0 pts.   Site location offers little or no visibility

            1 pt.     Site location offers visibility with limited potential

2 pts.   Site location offers moderate visibility and potential for identification and marketability

3 pts.   Site location offers high visibility and strong potential for identification and marketability