Memorandum

City of Lawrence                                       

Parks and Recreation Department

 

TO:

Dave Corliss, Interim City Manager

Debbie Van Saun, Assistant City Manager

 

FROM:

Fred DeVictor, Director, Parks and Recreation Department

 

Date:

October 16, 2006

 

RE:

Greenbelt Park

 

 

Please place the following item on the City Commission agenda for consideration at their October 24, 2006 meeting:

 

Greenbelt Park Development

Review Phase I development plan for greenbelt park (east of George Williams Way and Harvard Road).  Receive summary of input from public meeting.

 

Parks & Recreation staff has put together a plan for the first phase of development of the greenbelt park that meets the goals expressed for the park, specifically providing playground equipment for the park area and a trail system for the neighborhood.

 

Project Background:  A public meeting was held September 20th at Langston Hughes Elementary School to gather additional neighborhood input and feedback on the plan for the 40-acre greenbelt park east of George Williams Way and Harvard Road.  During the 2007 budget deliberations, the City Commission approved $200,000 for Phase I development of this park.

 

Over 100 neighbors attended to provide feedback and discuss options for the park.  Staff’s power point presentation pictured a variety of playground equipment and trail types in Lawrence.  Public input was received at the meeting and those in attendance were invited to leave written feedback.  Attached are the e-mails and written input including a petition with 325 signatures presented in support of a trail and installation of playground equipment.

 

While some attendees at the meeting did not want a trail behind their homes, most supported a trail system and overall support of beginning the park was expressed.

 

We met with the Public Works Department to begin finding property line markers within the park property. We mowed a trail throughout most of the greenbelt area, giving adjacent property owners a sense of the location of a future trail. We will coordinate final trail layout with the City stormwater engineer and Utility Department, since there is a sewer line through some of the greenbelt area and we do not want to adversely impact any drainage concerns.

 

Last week our staff walked the area of the greenbelt that is located between Wavely Dr and Stonecreek Dr and flagged a potential route for a trail. In the first phase of the park development this trail section would be a natural trail that would consist of clearing the underbrush and minimal improvements to the walking surface. A route was identified that would preserve all of the big trees. The trail will be constructed this winter by Parks & Rec staff using small power tools and chain saws. The final route will be discussed with neighboring property owners before beginning the project.     

 

Project Funding:  In order to stretch the allocated funds further, staff can proceed with in-house work to lay out a trail and design a playground.  Please see attached map.  We can approach bidding the first phase of the project with the following budget figures in mind:

 

$40,000             Playground equipment   

$15,000             Playground surfacing, surfacing containment and sidewalks in the park

$5,000              Other park amenities (benches, outdoor classroom, signs)

 Estimate of $60,000 to develop the park area.

 

$110,000           Develop 8’ wide concrete trail in the SW part of the park (behind Longleaf Dr)

$25,000             Develop 8’ wide limestone screening trail in the NW leg of the park (Harvard to Harvard)

$5,000              Develop natural trail on east leg of park, including creek crossings

                        Estimate of $140,000 for trail development.               

 

Subject to City Commission approval, staff plans to begin the project this fall to allow for some trail construction before winter and to bid and install play equipment. We will schedule regular maintenance and trash pick up beginning next spring to keep the park clean after construction. 

 

Additional Information: Staff research of the connecting conservation easement that is east of the city-owned land indicates that the easement does not currently convey a right of public use or possession to the green space. The easement does allow for a private walking path and other private park amenities such as benches, tables and an arboretum but not public improvements. There is also a significant grade change on the west side of Legends Dr that would create a significant design issue for a trail connecting the conservation easement to the greenbelt area.  Further discussion of potential connectivity between this conservation and the proposed greenbelt may be warranted.

 

Action Item:  Receive summary of public comment.  Approve Phase I development of greenbelt park (east of George Williams Way and Harvard Road), as presented by staff, if appropriate.