HomeMy WebLinkAbout1992-09-28 - MinutesMembers Present: PUBLIC MEETING WALKER PARK EXPANSION SEPTEMBER 28, 1992 7:00 PM Alexander, Anderson, Jenkins, Palmer, Waite Staff Present: Braswell, Clark, Cox, Edmonston City Staff Present: Kevin Crosson Media Present: Rusty Garrett -NWA Times, Mark Minton -Morning News, John Bolt -Wash. County Observer, Channel 5, Channel 40/29 The meeting was called to order by PRAB Chairman, Steve Alexander, at Jefferson Elementary School Cafeteria. He introduced the PRAB, staff, and candidates for mayor and alderman. He stated this is the second of three public meetings and is intended to gather information only, not to hold a debate. On August 27, we had the first public meeting to gather input on the development. We used site analysis maps for more information. Op August 31, Callans and Associates met with PRAB. PRAB was given alternatives as to how the contours of the land were and what we could and could not do with the property. On September 2, PRAB met on the site to view the area. PRAB then asked Callans and Associates to design the park with baseball fields, soccer fields, senior citizen facility, and nature area. On September 15, PRAB facilities committee met to discuss the plan from the inputs received. Tonight we are here for Callans and Associates to present the concept plan. Judy Brittenum: I would like to express my appreciation to everyone that has helped us. We hope everyone feels they had some input. We have worked very hard to sensitively handle the nature and historical area. There were a lot of site constraints and a lot of opportunity. Karen Rollet: When we began the project, we were looking at only part of Walker Park. Now, we are looking at the entire park. Here is some history on Walker Park. Archibald Yell lived in the house on the top of the slope. From his house, he could see buffalo in the valley. His friends watered their horses in his well. At the bottom of the slope, it is flat. Each flat area has a different character. One has large, old oak trees. There also some open fields that were allowed to grow in. They have "second growth" which included locust trees and bois de arc trees. This area has an "island effect" which means it is completely surrounded by an urban Judy Brittenum: PRAB Page 2 environment. A wildlife biologist said that the same birds that exist in this area are the same birds in your backyard. Examples of a good ecology parks are Finger Park and Lake Fayetteville. We were given options by the PRAB. 1. four baseball fields, two soccer fields, senior citizen facility, and consider other activities. 2. six soccer fields and the rest the same 3. Look at park as a whole. Another option would be to bulldoze thewhole site which would not be feasible. We decided to look at the whole park. There have been a lot of compromises. There are less baseball fields, parking lots were limited to site extremities for children's safety, and many of the locust trees need to be removed because of the dangerous thorns. PRAB has given us certain directions. We listened to the three areas of concern: 1. Trees 2. Impact on neighborhood 3. consideration of multi-purpose use. Safety involves more than just children playing in the street. It involves the woodland management, and clearing the underbrush. Many people don't know what goes on in this site. The lower slope is adjacent to the existing baseball fields. It will have a natural buffer because the way the soil and slope are arranged. Park will have two use areas: 1. Nature and historic area is on upper slope 2. Lower area is dedicated to sports The senior citizen's facility can also be located there. Only 7 1/2 to 8 1/2 acres of the 36 acres will be touched. There will be some underbrush taken out and trails installed. Otherwise, it is virtually like it was. Three baseball fields and two soccer fields have been added. Parking is located a little to the interior, not right off the street. There is a drop off in each lot for children to be let out. All of the baseball is located together and the soccer is located together. There is preservation of the oak trees on the southeast and northeast of property. PRAB Page 3 PUBLIC COMMENTS: Richard Berquist: I use the handball courts and would hate to see them taken out. Dale Clark: Ila Campbell: Karen Rollet• Charles Moorman: The handball courts are in a place that is earmarked for a future field. The tennis and basketball courts will be left intact. If possible, we might find another location to move it. I represent the Friends of Youth Recreation. We are pleased with the soccer request, but we had requested six regulation baseball fields. This has been cut in half. Our proposal predicted for the next ten years. It was stated that the reason why the fourth field was not on the plan because of the cost and trees involved. Was the Park Board aware of the topography when they purchased the land? Our children's needs are a priority. Immediate needs as well as long term would be planned for. The concept plan does meet the immediate needs, but not the long term. The needs list we received from the baseball association asked for three fields by the year 2002, a fourth field by 2005, and a fifth and sixth field after 2000, but maybe never. There are two special interest groups: baseball/soccer and nature. There were three surveys taken: Director Henry's, Vision Study and Mayor for a Moment. In Directors Henry's survey, the three most important issues facing our city were 1) solid waste, 2) city planning, 4) tree ordinance and historic preservation. Recreation was not listed. Out of the vision study there were 988 items listed, only a handful of items bearing recreation. There was no mention of organized sports except for a rugby field. The Mayor for a Moment study revealed the top 40 issues. Natural beauty came in third of forty issues and unspecified recreation came in nineteenth of forty. • Bob Bond: Ila Campbell: Robert Reus: Steve Alexander: PRAB Page 4 I have been an umpire at Walker Park for five years, and I love the sport. This plan would be frightfully expensive. I don't think we can afford it. We should use the land in a more natural way. We could serve the children much better. Historically, organized sports have not gone before the City for land or money. However, with the increased participation, we cannot privately keep up with the needs of the youth. If we took a poll on the streets or in the schools, you will find many interested in organized sports. I am not familiar with these surveys. The plan is too, outrageously expensive. I cannot go along with it and if elected Mayor I won't support it. I believe we should put new land into soccer and use Walker for baseball. Build the soccer facility on flat land. Build an arboretum on the new property and keep it all nature. $1.3 million would probably turn into 2 or 3 million. I can't endorse this plan. This podium is not designed to be a political arena. We are here to discuss the design of this park. Betty •The nation, state and city all have problems. The further we get from nature and creation, the further we are from reality. What about the family of red fox that live in the park. There are other things available besides sports. Dennis Kelly: Bambino Baseball President -I believe this was a full plan to recognize the needs. I feel that the baseball program will suffer in the long run. There is more than one side to this, we don't want all sports or to pull all trees down. I walked across the property before coming here tonight. I saw a few birds, beer cans, wine bottles, a shack with a bedroll. This is not what you want youth to stumble onto. What if your child disappears. These are vagrants living there. The area needs to be cleaned up. Baseball is the cleanest recreation for a child. There is no smoking, tobacco, you don't have to make Mike Deering: Larry Tabor: Bob Byers: Bob McAnarney: PRAB Page 5 grades, or be rich. They are all one on the field. I request to PRAB that there is a need for more baseball fields. Baseball is one of the best program the city has to offer and one reason why is all of the volunteers. Instead of developing this park, give the money to the homeless. Volunteer president of the Soccer.Association. I never thought this park could be so political. It really disturbs me it got to this point. Sports play an important part in our society.There Is an interest there. Our program is not to turn into "jocks", but participation in sports gives the youth social interaction and to participate outdoors. I believe it is a good plan. We were willing to give 50% to nature and the plan now has less than 25% of the land used for sports. This is a compromise. The city doesn't have the resources to buy land for $200,000 to leave it as it is, and to buy land elsewhere for the fields. The plan offers a good compromise and we would like it to go forward. We have a preliminary estimate of 1.3 million on this project. If the same facilities were to be built on flat land it would cost $600,000. The city had the opportunity to purchase land adjacent to the existing Walker Park land. This was an ideal situation. You would think that this is the only place that trees grow. We have a pin -pointed area in the heart of the city that needs use. The land needs to be developed for sports since sports have been in the area forever. I believe we need to squeeze another field on the southeast side. You will have trees and picnicking on the north side. If we do not go ahead and develop this today, we will have to pay more in the future. If we do not develop this, we need grass infields on the baseball fields, scoreboards, water fountains in the dugouts. Our existing facilities are socially unacceptable and embarrassing. The existing fields are not maintained. We would like to compete with the surrounding city's facilities. Baseball is suffering. Carol Conger: Bob Byers: Larry Tabor: Karen Rollet: Don Nelms: Betty • Pete Jenkins: Betty • • PRAB Page 6 Are you putting in speed bumps and more police patrol in this area? Don't forget the specifics for the plans on down the line. I support the concept of an arboretum. What about the cost commitment? What is the percentage of the kids involved are boys and girls? It looks like we are providing for the boys. What are we doing for girls? The preliminary estimate entails all of the area. worst scenario. The grading cut in half since most of used on site and not hauled • of $1.3 million We estimated the could probably be the cut could be off. We have the largest participation for girls in soccer in the state. There are currently 18 girl's teams. There are over 4,000 kids enrollgd in K-7 and over 1,000 that participate in baseball and soccer. Therefore there is an estimate of 25% of the youth, in that age group, in Fayetteville are involved in these sports. I believe that baseball was the single most influence in my life. I learned organization and cooperation. I coached baseball. It is an American sport. We bought the land. The City owns it. It can't be left in the form it is. The law makes us responsible and liable for what happens on this land. The city is responsible for the safety of the public. It is important that we manage this, or we need to sell it. I think it is important to keep trees. I have a farm and I keep it natural. We live in the city and we must face that` fact. This park will also be a good place to walk. We need the land for wildlife. Explain how you would like to see the land developed for nature. Use the land in the Girl Scout and the Boy Scout program, and maybe an arboretum. Develop as a place kids can go for a survival program. Young people can not take advantage of what is not available to them. Recreation - nature study area. Stephen Miller: Coralie Koonce: Dale Clark: Barbara Moorman: Colleen Pancake: Kathy Rue: Don Elliot: PRAB Page 7 Professional biologist with the Corps -The bird list does not include the summer list. I congratulate the people that worked this plan out. I would also like to see basketball improved. Why do baseball and soccer have to be together? I would like to see flat land bought for either soccer or baseball.- Build an arboretum, hiking trail, fitness stations if you do not develop this land for sports. The land will not be unused. Once you cut this land, it's gone. Be cautious. Why are you pushing this so hard and so fast. I would like to see an final detail cost analysis. Move out to flat land that is not touched for the compromise. The playing fields needs are not going to be met in the future. What are the reasons why the soccer fields are not in Industrial Park? Industrial Park has never been open for us. We do have a lease for Combs Park which is in the flood plain. No trees should be cut in Fayetteville. Only 20% of the land in Industrial Park is used. We need to use it. PRAB has not looked at other options. The meetings have not been in the paper. Why go through this before an overall parks plan and tree ordinance is adopted. I enjoyed growing up climbing trees. I moved here five years ago. I am afraid Fayetteville will be over developed like the suburb I grew up in. We need to work like a community. People are rushing things. Rushing before the new City'Board is elected. My son plays baseball, is in the boy scouts, and climbs trees. I would like to compliment you on the plan. We signed a petition to buy this land. If we cannot use it, lets sell the land to a developer and take the money to provide a place for the kids to play elsewhere. I compliment you on the plan. You have taken all sides. Government moves too slow for me. We needed this two years ago. Stephen Zisner: Drew Wilson: Steve Alexander: Stephan Miller: Larry Tabor: Bob Byers: Steve Alexander: Alan Beauchamp: Dale Clark: Larry Tabor: Alah Beauchamp: John Cole: I have been a neighbor compliment PRAB, but 34 make everyone happy. This plan is a fine job. Not did, someone would be against PRAB Page 8 • for ten years. I do acres isn't enough to matter you. what you Lets vote. Is this a suitable compromise. We have had the needs presented and are trying to address these needs. There is not enough for soccer, baseball, or nature. A vote will not be satisfactory. A true poll would be in the newspaper asking," Do you want to develop Walker to include sport facilities?" You need a statistician Newspaper and public accurate. to complete a survey. meetings are not People in Fayetteville do not want to pay for that. Mistakes are not geared at any one interest group. Keep the trees. Develop the ballfields elsewhere where there are not trees. Across from Asbell is a flat land. Why not use that for soccer? We have been exploring that land for years. Other land would have the same problems of traffic, neighbors, and probably some rare animal. We have lost 1/3 of trees since pilgrim times. We need to preserve the earth. This was a good plan. The meeting adjourned at 9:20 p.m. Plek -Pc) &Lc__ oji "tog �.� 2 0-eattereL 1'c. r FeLi, n1 Jot h 624_- DOM %DOM ET//,07/" J 6 c_u % VeNN6r“ Q03ERsof1/4./ n n �annz� Nn nn 3 Q , ;cr&t rrI) 6),\AL C/ I41;*_fl_ 44-1 41 tz_euev pi/ / cpyv GSA 4e. isc zoo *! Loc us1- NC SeghorK 3141 KAtev Ne. (DC,.2 ©c"14,1 ►n qtr c w deve-lard 1_Y AZ lac -14-v‘iiii-fry Sags 0104-14E- sT, ()Al �i-as- sa 4/444e_ 41-d! 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