HomeMy WebLinkAboutMemo from Parks Department
Will Berg
From: Doug Strong
Sent: Tuesday, January 23, 2007 3:24 PM
To: Tammy de Weerd; Joe Borton; Keith Bird; Charlie Rountree; David Zaremba
Cc: Will Berg; Anna Canning; Bill Nary
Subject: Memo Southridge Park
Attachments: Memo Southridge Park.doc
Please see the attached memo regarding comments on the South ridge Development.
1/23/2007
Page 1 of 1
Memo:
To:
Mayor and City Council
From:
Doug Strong, Director
Meridian Parks and Recreation Department
Subject:
Proposed Neighborhood Park in Southridge Development
Date:
January 23,2007
I want to express my support of the Council approving the neighborhood park proposed
in the Southridge Development as a city park. From a Department perspective I offer the
following comments:
· On the city's future land use map a park is identified in this mile and from the
very beginning of the planning process Jim Jewett has been working with the
Parks and Recreation Department to define a public park. In meetings spanning
more than a years time, he has consulted with department staff and the Parks and
Recreation Commission to gain a recommendation for approval from the
Commission. In this process he has addressed numerous concerns and has
willingly made changes to address those concerns. He has taken out building lots
to increase acreage, he has reduced the size of the irrigation lakes to increase
green space, he has re-oriented the club house and swimming pool to better
address the issue of separation, has increased the size ofthe public parking lot,
and has designed signage and landscape buffering to provide clear separation of
public and private use areas.
· There is no history in the city, that I am aware of, that justifies not approving the
park as a city park based on the fact that there will be an adjoining club house and
swimming pool that will be a private homeowner facility.
· Neighborhood parks, as described in the Parks Action Plan, are designed to serve
a one mile radius of the park and are recommended to be in the center of the
neighborhood. This park is easily accessed by a collector street and pathway
system that will make access easy from a larger area.
· The Park offers geography that to date has not been available to community
residents for more passive uses and for activities such as disc golf where a varied
terrain is needed. Views from the park will be spectacular and will offer an
experience that can not be found in our more active use designed parks.
· The development of geographically located neighborhood parks are part of the
Department's ten year capital improvement plan and this park was identified in
the recent CIP update to help meet the goals of the plan.
· The propose donation of the park acreage and green up provide significant cost
savings to the Department in the total cost of providing neighborhood parks to the
community.
Memo - Mayor and Council
January 23,2007
Page Two
. Lastly, before the decision is made to not accept the park as a city park based on
the location ofthe homeowner's club house and swimming pool, I would
recommend that the developer be asked to move these facilities to another
location in the development.