HomeMy WebLinkAbout1992-07-06 - MinutesPRAB REGULAR MEETING JULY 6, 1992 Members Present: Alexander, Anderson, Einert, Jenkins, Waite/SeIJ�S Staff Present: Clark, Cox, Edmonston Guests Present: Dr. King Media Present: MB Lohr-Morning News, Rusty Garrett -NWA Times BUSINESS: I. $OTION:ANDERSON/EINERT The minutes from the June 15, 1992 meeting were approved unanimously 4-0. II. CROSSOVER PARK Clark and Dr. Simpson viewed Crossover Park for the possibilities of a youth center site. Dr. Simpson requested a plan he could present to the school board. DISCUSSION: Einert- Are they going to put sidewalks in that area? Alexander- There are a lot of kids riding bikes and walking around that area to Root School. Are they thinking of building a school at Crossover Park? Clark- One drawback of this property is that it opens onto major highways. Waite- The schools do need more classrooms, especially the elementarys. Einert- We should consider still looking in that same area but if we do not know what the school is going to put there, we can't make a decision., Anderson- We need to see a map of the area. Jenkins- Is this a place people would drive to? III. Green Space Plats Adams Street Townhomes Developer/Owner: Glenn Sowder Location: N Gregg Avenue & Adams Street (1 block south of North, Street) Park District: Southwest Multi -Family Units: 22 1(1.79 acres) Land Dedication Required: .44 acres Money in Lieu: $3,960 PRAB Page 2 NOTION:JENKINS/EINERT The PRAB recommends to the Planning Commission to accept money, $3,960, in lieu of land for the green space requirement for Adams Street Townhomes MOTION APPROVED UNANIMOUSLY 6-0 Shady Acres Developer/Owner: BMB Properties Location: Between Hwy 45 & Kings Drive Park District: Southeast Single Family Units: 24 (10 acres) Land Dedication Required: .6 acres Money in Lieu: $5,400 MOTION:WASELUES/ANDERSON The PRAB recommends to the Planning Commission to accept money, $5,400, in lieu of land for the green space requirement for Shady Acres. MOTION APPROVED UNANIMOUSLY 6-0 Savanna Estates Phase I Developer/Owner: Location: Park District: Single Family Units: Land Dedication Required Money In Lieu: Mark Foster/Buddy Peoples S of Skillern Road Northeast 22 (13.35 acres) .55 acres $4,960 Savanna Estates Phase II Developer/Owner: Mark Foster/Buddy Peoples Location: S of Skillern Road Park District: Northeast Single Family Units: 21 (27.48 acres) Land Dedication Required: .53 acres Money In Lieu: $4,725 MOTION: WASELUES/JENKINS The PRAB recommends to table Savanna Estates Phase I and II to view the land. DISCUSSION: Anderson- There will probably be a lot of development in the future along Skillern Road, we will need a neighborhood park. MOTION APPROVED UNANIMOUSLY 6-0 IV. PRAB Page 3 GULLEY PARK PUBLIC MEETING Some of the suggestions from citizens. 1. widen the trail 2. sign to read, "Pedestrians 3. bathrooms 4. pavilion 5. night lights 6. adventure playground DISCUSSION: Alexander- Einert- Waite- Einert- I would like the paper. We might ask about it being a herbicide free park. I can help with the questionnaire? There really are not that many questions. It needs. to be a. short questionnaire. have right-of-way" to pursue a questionnaire in The matching funds grant for Gulley Park will be on the agenda for the August 4, 1992 City Board meeting. OTHER BUSINESS: Dr. King from the University of Arkansas was present to discuss the Vegetation Management Plan: DISCUSSION: Anderson- What does 30% infested mean exactly? King- That is open to some interpretation. It could be per certain square feet, or how much cover. I would think we would want to be better that 30% either way it is interpretated. King- This . is an outline document, will not cover every contingency. There are other intervals for ballfield besides herbicides. i.e. sprigging, proper mowing, watering, fertilizing, etc: Herbicides will need to be used sometimes, even with these procedures. Jenkins- Will we need trained staff? King- There is $10,000 in the plan to train staff. Clark- It would be good if there were two or three people within the City staff that could interpret the plan. Jenkins- Will there be a lot of paperwork? Clark- Yes King- A doctor gives two or three medicines for an ailment, just as we give two or three herbicides to a certain problem. We do not use all 21 types in one area. When using herbicides, only 10% can be picked back up when wet and less than 1% when dry. Herbicides are really not harmful and ten years of recordkeeping is a long time. PRAB Page 4 MOTION:EINERT/WAIT$ The PRAB supports the Vegetation Management Plan and recommends to the City Board of Directors to adopt the plan. MOTION APPROVED UNANIMOUSLY 6-0 Jenkins reported that the District 11 and .12 year old tournament is this week. There will be people from the whole district in Fayetteville. The Parks maintenance staff has done a great job, but it is still embarrassing having the weeds on the fence rows. They need to be taken care of. He also stated that the new bridge at Walker is a beautiful job. Clark said the bridge is completed but the parking lot is now completed. The Animal Shelter is trying to construct an animal park.. They have conferred with the Parks Department on its development. Einert inquired on the Wilson Park sidewalks. There will be a report at the next meeting. MOTION:JENRINS/ANDERSON Meeting adjourned at 6:30 p.m. Minutes Approved: Secretary OJILESSUQBEMBE 1. Do you use Gulley Park? Yes: 69 2. Please check activities you enjoy at Gulley Park. walking/jogging: 68 birdwatching/nature: 22 picnicking: 13 children play area: 25 volleyball: 4 other: 4 Photography, bicycle, kite flying, kids play in creek, soccer practice 3 Would you be in favor of the listed additions or modifications to Gulley Park? play equipment Yes: 43 No: 13 widen trail Yes: 42 No: 20 restrooms Yes: 39 No: 22 basketball courts Yes: 18 No: 37 parking Yes: 35 No: 24 lighting Yes: 36 No: 20 pavilion Yes: 21 No: 30 gazebo Yes: 25 No: 29 GULLEY PARK COMMENTS 1. No pool, no courts, no youth center. Enjoying the quiet. 2 A few minor changes would be nice but the main objective is to keep the park as a nature park. 3. we like it the way it is but change is good if not overdone. 4. There are MANY parks with playground equipment. Lets leave this as a SAFE place for walkers and joggers. We have no sidewalks in our area and the streets is too busy to walk in. 5. Scheduled concerts music and talent shows. We see the need for playgrounds for children. Let's keep it quiet. Widen trail for bicycles. We are senior citizens, but enjoy the park. 6. Limited parking. Keep as natural as possible. Wild flowers. 7. We don't want a lot of cement in such a wonderful natural park. No sports complex! Bicycling, kite flying, kids playing in creek. 8. The adjoining open land should be acquired to expand the park and trails. 9. Would be ideal location for pool and youth center in this part of town. This would be selling point for these family subdivision. 10. Keep it green and as open as possible! 11. Widen trail prefer separate bicycle path. Enjoy wild flowers, trees, rabbits. 12. Park should be kept in its natural state as much as possible and used more for serenity activities (walking, picnicking, ect.) rather than used for athletic activities. 13. If we had children we would use it for that purpose. Put youth center and swim pool somewhere else. 14. We enjoy walking in the park - it's very quiet. Let's keep the park on a natural theme! It's very peaceful this way. 15. Water fountains. 16. Biking. Please leave the park as natural as possible. No huge building, no pool,, no youth center. 17. Less is More. 18. Trails needs to be wider or a pool. I have. children. equipment. We really enjoy have a bike trail would not want I would love to see more play the family oriented setting. 19. It's a great place to see people. It's Great. We need areas to get out after work. It's safer than the street. 20. I would like to have the park remain as natural as possible I enjoy the sight, sounds, and smells of nature. 21. No bicyclists on trail. Mow portions of grass regularly. 22. Tennis courts, pool. 23. More paths leading to sand box, benches, water fountains, ect. A Duck Pond. Separate bike paths and roller skates. Drinking Fountains. 24. I would like exercise "stations" positioned along walking/jogging trail. 25. The EAST ENTRANCE is to narrow and will hurt someone if not fixed! 26. I like the natural state it is in now and would like to see it kept that way. 27. FLUSH TOILETS ONLY. No Basketball courts. There is plenty of play equip already. 28. Biking. Soccer fields yes. 29. Bike riding. Please no additional parking on country way. Thanks! Clearly mark distance around park. Widen trail or add another trail. 30. Please clear up more around walking trails. 31. Leave park alone!! Do add water fountains. 32. No Youth Center. Love the park. 33. Lighted tennis courts, outdoor swimming pool, biking and jogging trail along old wire road old- Missouri to mission blvd. to Crossover. 34. We have a 3 -year-old. Park definitely needs more play equipment (on west side of park). Would also like tennis courts. 35. Dogs should not be permitted in play areas. 36. We're in favor of a 25 yd. pool and tennis courts. And a larger children's play area. 37. Need several tennis courts; impose curfew on lighted areas to keep late-night noise down. 38. Security Lights Only - Mrs. W. A. Walters. 39. Water Fountains - Lighting (w/timers) to protect nearby neighborhoods. 40. Would appreciate softer jogging trail - such as wooden chips ect. 41. Perhaps have flowers; fish in the pond. Please, leave it as natural as possible - a real park in the original sense of the word - not a sports park, or "cement" park with all sort of buildings. 42. Meeting Friends. Wonderful area for exercise, relaxing, visiting, etc, seeing nature. 43. Extend trail north of creek to complete oval. 44. our family would like a swimming pool. Also need water fountains. 45. Could the area between the bench and the trail be paved to help people who are allergic to chiggers? No joke - they can cause severe reactions. 46. Water Fountains, For people and Dogs, would be welcome. Don't over -develop! 47. One additional playground and parking lot at the north township entrance with the gazebo or pavilion could be used. Leave Gulley Park a family park, not a sports complex. 48. Open field for multiple uses (frisbee, softball, soccer, ect.) Limit use of asphalt or cement. 49. Enhance with native vegetation, leave as natural as possible, leave creek natural, keep as botanical park. 50. No rec center more soft trails for walking more trees along trails for shade. 51. Parking already ok. Add 2-3 regular swings. 52. As a recovering heart by-pass patient I walk one hour per day, seven days a week in the park. I find the park as is to be a much needed addition to Fayetteville's recreational facilities. For me it's pastoral nature makes it a very pleasurable place to walk and anything that would injure or destroy this setting would be a grave mistake. The construction of a small dam across the narrows of the creek, just North of Township, could create a small shallow pond which would add scenic beauty to the park and if stocked with fish could be a great attraction for children. 53. My children love playing in the creek. We have also had soccer practice there. I would like to see tennis courts and workout stations on the walking path. I would like the creek to stay clean enough for kids to play in. 54. I can observe it is used extensively for walkers and those seeking calm recreation - a more family and social park. There are several other parks in this town and all are well within driving distance of less than 3 miles for many residents of Fayetteville. I would like to see Gulley Park remain a 'walkers' park. 55. I realize that the vocal "conservation" group is in favor of leaving the park in it's current naturalist state. To me this is wrong. The current facilities in Fayetteville are lacking. It is too inconvenient to drive to Wilson Park all the time to enjoy outdoor activities. Please put in the park. Develop it reasonably - - our town needs the Facilities!! 56. I have prioritized them (suggestion) at least for our families needs: 1. Restrooms 2. Play equipment 3. BBQ facilities 4. Pavilion for large groups 5. Parking 6. Basketball courts 7. Lighting 8. Wider Trails 9. Gazebo The only additions I would suggest would be some kind of Park Attendant or Security so that this wonderful facility won't end up like the Lake Fayetteville Park! 57. It (Gulley) is a very pretty area and I would like to see it used for small groups/families/individuals. I believe a separate path for bicycles should be included in the plans. Also a tennis court to accommodate three or four groups and a volleyball court would be appropriate. A swimming pool is not needed. 58. Gulley Park should not be designed for use by large groups, but should be instead for individual families and groups of up to 8 to 10. Appropriate uses: jogging, walking, picnics, tennis, handball, volley ball, kite flying. Inappropriate uses: baseball, youth center, swimming pool. The criterion should be: "Will this bring in a large group of people all at the same time?" If so, then it is an inappropriate use. Large groups change the character of a park. Fayetteville needs a few parks that are for small groups. Kansas City's Loose Park, south of the Plaza, is a good example of what Gulley Park should be. 59. My wife and I presently use Gulley Park approx. 2 times per week, primarily for walking and on occasion with some of our younger grandchildren to use the play area. There is a definite need for substantially increased in parking area. we like the naturalness of the park and the opportunities it offers individuals to do and provide for their own vacation while avoiding the congestion, noise, and accompanying clutter and debris that usually are found in parks that have ball fields and special sport facilities. 60. I currently use the park (Gulley) frequently for jogging or walking. It is safe, relaxing, and away from the traffic. I believe Gulley Park would be more effectively used by the community if it retains its open character without becoming crowded with buildings or other structures. I am familiar with parks in other cities that are great assets both to local citizens as well as visitors. One of these is Zilker Park in Austin Texas. Another such area is the parkway along Chicago's Lake Michigan. And lastly, I recall visiting Nashville years ago and spending time in the green space about the Parthenon.