Title
Presentation/Discussion on the Master Plan for the Expansion of The Courts at Gabe Nesbitt and Associated Park Amenities
Summary
COUNCIL GOAL: Direction for Strategic & Economic Growth
MEETING DATE: May 12, 2016
DEPARTMENT: Parks, Recreation and Open Space
CONTACT: Rhoda L. Savage, Director of Parks, Recreation and Open Space
Jenny Baker, Senior Park Planner
RECOMMENDED PARK BOARD ACTION:
• This master plan is being presented for the Board’s discussion and feedback. No action is required.
ITEM SUMMARY:
• The proposed plan shows the expansion of The Courts at Gabe Nesbitt tennis facility by adding 12 outdoor courts and modifying the center championship court.
• There is also a placeholder for a future-phased 6 court indoor tennis facility, which does not currently have funding identified.
• Other items associated with the tennis expansion are the addition of approximately 260 parking spaces, a play structure geared for 2-5 year olds, landscaping, and lighting.
• This project also includes enhancements to other park areas within Gabe Nesbitt that are outside of the tennis center. These include:
o Repurposing the Green Garden by the water tower as a trail head with a pavilion, bike rack, signage, etc.
o Adding hike and bike trail connections
o Adding park amenities such as gathering spaces, playgrounds, open space, practice areas, etc.
o Adding a restroom that will more conveniently serve the skate park
o Adding small maintenance building for parks maintenance
o Enhanced landscaping/design features at the Alma Road entrance which includes a dry river bed as an attractive way to accommodate detention/drainage.
• This plan is conceptual in nature. While the intent is that all of the enhancements shown will be constructed, this will be further refined as we move further into the design process and cost estimations become more realistic.
• The overall project budget is $7,000,000.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION:
• A public meeting was held on March 23, 2016. Four different layouts were presented showing various tennis layouts/location of courts. The intent was to gain feedback from the participants about the preferred layout. The attendance was much lower than predicted, with only a handful of residents in attendance. Almost 200 invitations were mailed out, specifically focusing on those who lived in close proximity to the site.
• The 4 different plan options with an associated survey were also placed online as another way to get feedback. Surveys were handed out at the tennis facility as well. We received 90 survey responses, with the majority favoring the plan that is being presented to the PROS Board, MCDC and City Council.
• This concept plan generally corresponds to the Master Plan for Gabe Nesbitt Community Park which was approved by City Council in October of 2015.
BOARD OR COMMISSION RECOMMENDATION:
• The concept plan will be presented to the City Council on May 16, 2016 and the MCDC Board on May 26, 2016.