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HomeMy WebLinkAbout02 CHAPTER 1 . . . PARKS, RECREATION AND OPEN SPACE PLAN Chapter 1 Who are We What is a Parks Plan? The complex puzzle of the Parks and Recreation Department property, programs and people are demanding jobs. It is accomplished through the joint efforts of six citizen boards, 47 permanent City staff members, 47 seasonal workers, more than 100 part-time or contract instructors, coaches and recreation support staff, and more than 500 volunteers. The following pages describe each of these groups. Working together, they see our parks are attractive and well-maintained and the programs meet the needs of Auburn residents. The Auburn Parks and Recreation Department From a modest two person staff in 1969, the Parks and Recreation Department has developed a comprehensive program of recreation, heritage and cultural arts activities, park maintenance and new park development keeping a full-time staff of over 40 very busy. The Parks Department consists of eight divisions, each of which is responsible for a specific type of task. The divisions are: · Administration · Auburn Golf Course · Cultural Programs Division · Historic Preservation (White River Valley Museum) · Mountain View Cemetery · Park Facilities and Maintenance · Recreation Services · Senior Activity Center A short synopsis of the responsibilities of each division follows; some of these are described in more detail in other sections of the Park Plan. 1-1 Auburn * More Than You Imagined CI1Y OF AUBURN, WASHINGTON . · Administration The Administrative staff consists of the Parks and Recreation Director, the Parks Planning and Development Manager and one administrative staff. The Director oversees the activities of the entire department, and reports directly to the Mayor. · Auburn Golf Course The Auburn Golf Course is a City-owned 18-hole course. Five golf course staff and seven seasonal workers administer, maintain and make improvements to the course. Professional services are contracted for the clubhouse activities. · Cultural Programs Arts programming includes five major programs and events. These are community art programs, access, facilities, education, and resources for artists and organizations. The Cultural Programs Manager, with the assistance of the Cultural Programs Coordinator and part time arts assistant, manages this expanding program. A substantial group of . volunteers assists at performances, major events, and support. · Historic Preservation The White River Valley Museum, located in Les Gave Park, is the Historic Preservation Division. The museum was built, and furnished by the White River Historical Society. The Museum has been renovated twice in the past seven years with grant funds and an aggressive capital improvement campaign. The City _pays the wages of a full-time_Museum Director and two half-time curators. The Director is responsible for the overall administration of the facility and reports to the Parks and Development Manager. Both of these individuals cooperatively plan fund-raising strategies for the facility and work with the board on long-range development. The City also funds two half-time curators who care for the collection and make up the exhibits. Two half-time educators, who have built an education program and a strong group of trained volunteers, are funded by the Historical Society. The Historical Society also funds a half-time clerical support person._Volunteers and Historical Society members provide much of the help needed to maintain the collection and provide visitor services. . 1-2 . . . PARKS, RECREATION AND OPEN SPACE PLAN · Mountain View Cemetery This public cemetery is well-known for its lovely site and outstanding views of Mount Rainier and the Green River Valley. Cemetery staff maintain the 30-acre site and are responsible for an average of 300 burials a year. Six full-time staff and three seasonal workers maintain and operate the Cemetery. · Park Facilities and Maintenance The Maintenance division is responsible for the care and renovation of all City parks, more than 30 beautification areas, City Hall, Parks and Recreation Administration Building, Museum, Les Gave Multi-Purpose Building, Veterans Park Kitchen Building, Senior Activity Center, Fire Stations and other public properties. This division employs 17 full-time staff and 14 seasonal workers. · Recreation Services The Recreation Division is responsible for the administration of over 350 preschool, youth, teen, and adult classes and workshops, 575 youth and adult athletic teams, 10 citywide events and the specialized recreation programs. They produce numerous marketing materials and a recreation gUide of classes, programs and events. A Recreation Manager and a Recreation Special Projects and Marketing Supervisor and seven full-time members supervise more than 100 part-time staff and 500 volunteers. The administrative staff keeps the department running smoothly, as they register thousands of participants in sports and recreation programs, provide clerical support, and balance the books each month. · Senior Activity Center The Senior Activity Center provides recreation, education, health, nutrition and outreach services and legal information to citizens, age 55 and older. This is accomplished with three full-time staff, and more than 16,000 hours of volunteer assistance. Auburn * More Than You Imagined 1-3 CI1Y OF AUBURN, WASHINGTON Public Input to the . Parks 8r.. Recreation Department Six committees, comprised of Auburn residents, provide input to the Department on a regular basis. These are the Parks and Recreation Board, the Senior Center Advisory Council, the Urban Tree Board, the Cemetery Board, and the Auburn Arts Commission, and the White River Valley Museum Board. Additionally, the Library Board, the Auburn Youth Council, the Men's and Women's Clubs at the Golf Course give direct input to the Department regarding its divisions. These committees provide the public voice ensuring activities carried out by the Department meet the needs of a broad-based constituency. The Park and Recreation Board The Parks and Recreation Board is a seven-member committee appointed by the Mayor. The Policy Manual of the Park Board describes its purpose "to maximize the recreational opportunities and thereby improve the quality of life for all residents of the City". The Board meets once a month to review plans for new parks, requests for use of parks, changes in policy and other similar matters. It serves as a sounding board for the community, helping the City to identify recreational and park needs and deficiencies. Its role is primarily advisory. Recommendations are made to the City Council for matters requiring the Council's action. The Senior Activity Center Advisory Council . The Senior Activity Center Advisory Council is a 17-member committee appointed by the Senior Center Supervisor. It serves as a sounding board, helping staff to make decisions on Center services and activities and on general operation of the facility. The group meets monthly to evaluate recent activities, give input on current and future programs, and review suggestions from Center participants. Members serve a two-year term with half of the group rotating out each year to allow continuity in the group. The Urban Tree Board Created in 2004, the Urban Tree Board meets monthly to review city tree planting issues and coordinate education of the citizens of Auburn about the city urban forest. The Cemetery Board The five member cemetery board functions in a advisory capacity to the mayor and city council on policy matters relating to long range planning, capital improvements, fee structure, cemetery expansion, rules and regulations and preliminary budget. The board meets a minimum of four times per year. . 1-4 PARKS, RECREATION AND OPEN SPACE PLAN . The Arts Commission The Auburn Arts Commission is a local arts agency composed of 12 volunteer members. The mission of the Arts Commission "is to foster cultural growth and enrichment within the community while sponsoring programs representative of the arts spectrum." The Auburn Arts Commission works with the Cultural Programs staff in determining appropriate programs, exhibits, and events for the city. In giving gUidance to the City staff, the Commission strives for excellence, diversity, and vitality in programming while broadening the availability and appreciation of the arts in our community. Commission members attempt to select arts programs, which are accessible yet challenging to local audiences. White River Historical Society Board The Historical Society Board is the governing body of the White River Valley Museum. Seventeen members are divided between city appointments and Society elected members. The mission of the White River Valley Museum is to preserve the heritage of the Valley through collection of artifacts and photographs and through the development of educational displays, programs, and materials. The Board works with the Museum Director to determine exhibit themes, programs, collection management, and to develop budgets. The Board sets all administrative policies for the facility while the implementation of these policies and the development of specific programs is carried out by staff. . Why a Park Plan? Every few years the City of Auburn looks at its parks and its recreation programs and evaluates how well they're working and how they can be improved. The last plan was written in 1997, and many changes have occurred in Auburn since then. Between 1997 and 2004 our population grew by 25%, and constructed over 3,938 new homes and apartments. The demand for recreational space increases with the population. In addition, more flexible work schedules mean the parks are no longer just a weekend destination. Our city parks are used from dawn to dusk, seven days a week, by people of all ages. All these things continue to add up to a system of parks that are heavily used and enjoyed. Periodic renewal of existing parks, as well as additions to the park system, are necessary to meet the needs of new and old users alike. This plan is intended to update the current Parks, Recreation and Open Space Plan and take look at where we are and the direction in which residents and user groups want to see our parks and recreation programs head. It will focus on what can be achieved over the next six years, and will be tied to the City's Capital Facilities Plan. This will enable park project funding and development to be co-ordinated with other City and Community projects. . Auburn * More Than You Imagined 1-5 CI1Y OF AUBURN, WASHINGTON There are four objectives to be achieved through the production of this plan: 1. Provide guidance for the Parks and Recreation Department 2. Provide input to the citywide Capital Facilities Plan (CFP) 3. Maintain funding eligibility for grants 4. Comply with the Growth Management Act . 1. Provide guidance for the Parks and Recreation Department in the following areas: · park and open space land acquisition · recreation facility development, and · recreation program development The planning process used in this document evaluates the property for which the Parks Department is responsible and the recreational programs it sponsors. The Plan makes specific recommendations for the present and near-future, and general recommendations for the longer term. Information gained in this process will determine whether additional parks are needed, where future demand is expected to occur, and where land should be acquired to meet current and future needs. It will also provide information about the changing general recreation interests of Americans, and Auburn residents specifically. This process provides direction for the continuing success of our many recreation programs. 2. Provide input to the citywide Capital Facilities Plan (CFP). The City of Auburn maintains, and periodically updates, a coordinated plan for providing and financing major public facilities. These are projects that require a substantial investment of money and planning to complete. The construction of all new parks, and the substantial renovation of any existing parks, are included in the CFP where they are evaluated against other City needs, such as construction of new sewer lines or development of a new fire station. Based on available budget and urgency of need, each project in the CFP is given a priority and assigned a date when it is anticipated to be accomplished. The Park Plan prioritizes the large scale investments needed for parks and open spaces for the years to come. . 3. Maintain funding eligibility for grants. Most sources of county, state and federal funding for parks and recreation facilities require funded projects be reflected within an up-to-date park plan. This ensures such funds are used efficiently and for projects with clearly recognized benefits. Examples of such funding sources include the Washington Interagency Committee for Outdoor Recreation (lAC), and the King County Conservation Futures Fund. The continued ability to successfully compete for outside funding is critical to our ability to provide an excellent park system. The City of Auburn has received nearly $4 million from outside funding sources since 1967. Game Farm Park is an example; the City received outside funding which contributed to the development. For this project combined contributions from the lAC and King County totaled $250,000. . 1-6 . . . PARKS, RECREATION AND OPEN SPACE PLAN 4. Comply with the Growth Management Act (GMA) The Growth Management Act passed in 1991 recommends cities and counties develop recreation plans that complement the expected land development pattern of the community. The Land Use element of the Comprehensive Plan requires the identification of existing and future public facilities, such as parks and trails. The Growth Management Act also requires us to "identify open space corridors within and between urban growth areas." They include lands useful for recreation, wildlife habitat, trails, and connection of critical areas." 5. Develop Implementation & Funding Strategy The Plan outlines the needed park, art, and recreation facilities for the future in the City of Auburn and in the future annexation areas surrounding the city. Funding strategies ofthe current sources and those needed in the future are noted in the Plan. The Implementation section of the Plan guides the development by answering the questions of; where, when, and estimated costs to develop or construct and related to the CIP. The City needs to address the need for mitigation fees from developer under the authority of the State Environmental Policy Act. Currently only developments over 50 units provide park land or fee in lieu of park land. Acquisition of park land in the urban growth area needs to be addressed and preserve the opportunity to provide parks for the future city residents. Real Estate Excise Tax (REET) dollars, State and Federal grants and donations provide the only funding sources for parks acquisition and development. Other sources of funding need to sought out to help the funding of parks and programs in the future which may include: · Capital Improvement Program · General Obligation Bond · HUD Block Grants · Certificate of Participation · Councilmanic Bond · Public Land Trusts · Exchange of Property · Private Grants and Foundations · National Tree Trust · Municipal Art Fund · Land and Water Conservation Fund · Washington State Arts Commission Grant · Hotel/Motel Tax · Special Serial Levy · Revenue Bond · Park Impact Fees · Private Utility Tax · Donations · Lifetime Estates · Joint Public/Private Partnership · Urban Forestry Grants · Parks, Arts, and Recreation Organization · Miscellaneous Grants Managed by lAC · Aquatic Lands Enhancement Account · National Endowment for the Arts · Conservation Futures Auburn * More Than You Imagined 1-7 cm OF AUBURN, WASHINGTON . Strategy The Park and Recreation Board, and the City Council will implement a priority list for establishing funding for the next 6 years of this Park Plan. What's Happened Since 1997? The years since the last Park and Recreation Plan was a period of very active growth and development for both the Auburn community and the City's Parks and Recreation Programs. Most notable has been the acquisition of Auburndale Park, Auburndale II Park, Lea Hill Park, Jornada Park, Sunset Park, Lakeland Linear Park, and the Jacobsen Tree Farm. In addition we have developed Gaines Park. These new parks total 74.57 acres. Auburndale Park Auburndale II Park Sunset Park Acquisition of Jacobsen Tree Farm Gaines Park Lea Hill Athletic Complex Lakeland Hills Linear Park Ballard Park Renovation Jornada Park . These new parks and trails, and the rehabilitated older parks, are significant achievements realized in a relatively short period of time. They have been instrumental in meeting the recreation needs of a rapidly expanding population. Land for trail development has also been dedicated, acquired or improved in two locations: 1. In association with the Lakeland Hills development 2. In south Auburn, along the Green River Redevelopment efforts have taken place at the Auburn Golf Course, Brannan Park, City Park, Fulmer Field, Game Farm Park, GSA Park, the Green River footbridge connecting Isaac Evans and Dykstra Parks, Indian Tom Park, Lea Hill Tennis Court, Pioneer Cemetery, Cedar lanes Park, Rotary Park, Terminal Park and Les Gove Park. . 1-8 PARKS, RECREATION AND OPEN SPACE PLAN . How This Plan is Organized Updating the existing Park and Recreation Plan is not difficult due to the good ground work done in past years by the City Council, the Parks and Recreation Board and parks and recreation staff, its complexity arises due to the many facets which must be examined and digested in order to produce a useful document. Major Findings of this Plan Although this plan and its recommended actions are fairly detailed, it can be summarized in a few major points: 1. Take care of the parks and facilities we already have; 2. Expand our park system to meet the needs of our population, which increased; 3. Ensure open spaces are maintained, both for the quality of life they engender, and their environmental and wildlife value; 4. Continue to strive to meet the varied recreation needs of all segments of the population; and 5. Prioritize and find funding sources to secure the current level of services the . Parks Department provides prior to taking on new facilities. The following items look at each goal in slightly expanded detail. The remainder of the Plan can be referred to for more in-depth coverage of each topic. 1. Continuing Care for Existing Parks: Auburn residents overwhelmingly felt existing parks should receive highest priority. Chapter 5, Our Park System Today, discusses each park individually and provides recommendations for improvement. The review of existing parks finds our park system is reaching an age when both minor and major renovations are needed. Some of this need is in response to improved information about safety, particularly in the realm of playground equipment and design. The Federal Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) requires the City of Auburn make changes to parks to ensure accessibility to all persons. Changing aesthetic expectations and a desire to improve the image of Auburn continue to be strong factors in some of the recommended renovations. These include improvements such as landscaping, water conservation irrigation systems, and new site furnishings. . Auburn * More Than You Imagined 1-9 CI1Y OF AUBURN, WASHINGTON 2. New Parks and Facilities A Community Attitude & Interest Citizen Survey conducted of over 400 Auburn residents was conducted by Leisure Vision (a division of ETC Institute) in March 2004. As part of this process, standards were established for the number of parks and recreational facilities (such as baseball fields) that are needed for each 1000 residents. Although there is some similarity between different communities, standards are individualized to meet the unique needs and interests of the local population. . Since the Community Attitude & Interest Citizen Survey was completed, the City will consider the use of impact fees for development of new parks that are built in response to increased population. The standard used currently is 6.03 acres per 1000 residents. This will maintain our neighborhood, community and linear parks at their current level. Goals included specialized recreation facilities. Although Auburn has some of the best recreation facilities in the area, our recent population growth is placing pressure on existing resources. A critical lack of indoor facilities is restricting the City's ability to provide a complete range of recreation programs and opportunities. The plan and staff recommends minimum development of the following recreation facilities to meet current demand: · Five gymnasiums · 15 to 25 miles of recreational loop trails · 30 miles of recreation/transportation trails · Thirteen soccer fields · One community center . All standards and descriptions of current and future needs for parks and the facilities are fully detailed in Chapter 3, The Community Attitude & Interest Citizen Survey and Park Board and staff recommendations. 3. Open Space: The topic of open space is included in the City of Auburn Parks, Recreation and Open Space Plan. This is partially in response to the Growth Management Act, which requires we plan for open space, but is also in response to local interest in maintaining a bit of Auburn's past image as a rural community. The plan for open space outlined in Chapter 7 and proposes a new Open Space Program that would seek to conserve significant natural resources, and in some cases acquire and manage land as open space. A system of greenbelts which interconnect and provide travel corridors for people and/or wildlife is recommended. . 1-10 . . . PARKS, RECREATION AND OPEN SPACE PLAN 4. Meeting the Recreation Needs of All Residents: The City can offer a broad range of classes, activities, league sports and community events appealing to persons of all ages and abilities. An overview of the recreation programs currently offered by the City reveals an excellent series of programs hampered by a lack of space. The construction of a community center, as mentioned above, is critical to the continued development of recreation programming in Auburn. A few of the identified recreational needs for the community include improved programming for youth, a wider selection of adult classes and activities, and expanded programs for the diverse needs of retirees and senior citizens, who now range from age 55 to 95. Space needs are also high on the list: · Activity areas for teens, multipurpose space for classrooms, and exercise rooms for aerobics/ fitness · Gallery space, studio space, rehearsal space, and small performance areas · Community meeting rooms/classrooms · Walking and running areas The Challenge Ahead Accomplishing the tasks laid out in this Parks, Recreation and Open Space Plan are a continuation of the existing Parks, Recreation and Open Space Plan. Many of the actions recommended are already underway. For example, the afternoon and late night programs for teens continues to be a positive factor on teens. The key to achieving the large vision is to continue to identify what needs to be done, and to begin methodically executing those tasks. This plan begins to identify and prioritize the tasks. The recommendations and conclusions found in Chapters 3 through 8 are compiled and summarized in Chapter 9, and for some this will be a logical starting point. Others may want to know the whys and haws of the plan's development and then the conclusions. It is recommended you read straight through the plan. 1-11 Auburn * More Than You Imagined CI1Y OF AUBURN, WASHINGTON Plan Organization by Chapter . 1: Who are We What is a Parks Plan? 2: Our Auburn Community Demographic Information Geographic Setting and Natural Resources History of the Area 3: Public Involvement Public Participation Process Recreation Needs Assessment Existing & Future Park Land Needs Facility Needs 4: Goals &. Policies 5: Our Park System Today Park Inventory and Recommendations 6: Recreation and Cultural Programs Athletic Programs Cultural Programs Heritage and Preservation Programs Leisure and Education Programs Marketing and Community Events Senior Activity Center Programs Specialized Recreation Programs Teen Programs 7: Open Space Defines a Community 8: Auburn Trails . 9: Implementation &. Action Plan Park and Open Space Needs Recreation Facility & Program Needs Financing improvements Appendix Recreation Survey Capital Improvements List Cost Summaries . 1-12