HomeMy WebLinkAbout10 CHAPTER 9
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PARKS, RECREATION AND OPEN SPACE PLAN
Chapter 9
Getting it All Done
Previous chapters inventoried and analyzed the existing parks, open spaces, and recreation
programs. The result is a series of recommendations to meet the needs of our present and future
residents. Chapter 9 takes the recommendations from Chapters 3 through 8 and integrates them
into a plan of action. Looking at all the needs together is useful for providing a "global" picture of
our long-term vision. Following the action and implementation plan outlined in this chapter will
accomplish that vision.
This chapter is divided into three primary components:
I. Meeting Park and Open Space Needs
II. Meeting Recreation Facility and Program Needs
III. Financing Future Capital Improvements
This chapter will also provide a summary of the recommended actions, cost estimates for
implementing these improvements, give an approximate time frame for completion, and indicate
possible funding sources.
I. Meeting Park and Open Space Needs
Section I compiles the conclusions and recommendations from previous chapters and creates a
program that, if followed, will keep Auburn on track to provide recreational sites for its constituents.
The following four steps are necessary to ensure that we have sufficient parks and open spaces
for all our residents, and future residents and that they are in optimal condition.
Step 1: Maintain Existing Parks and Facilities
Step 2: Renovate Existing Parks and Facilities
Step 3: Acquire and Develop New Parks and Facilities
Step 4: Acquire and Manage Open Space
9-1
Auburn .. More Than You Imagined
Cl1Y OF AUBURN, WASHINGTON
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Table 9-1, opposite, provides a summary of identified actions to accomplish each of the steps
above. The following pages and the Appendix provide more information about each of these
action items.
Step 1: Maintain Existing Parks and Facilities
Survey respondents reported that maintaining our parks is of primary importance. Management
and maintenance of parks is an on-going task that occurs in all parks. Those locations, which are
highly visible or heavily used, receive highest priority. .
As new parks are added to the system, maintenance requirements will also grow. In addition to
appropriate staff increases, a new park maintenance facility may be needed to handle work in an
efficient manner in the Lea Hill annexation area.
Step 2: Improve Existing Parks and Facilities
Auburn residents expressed, in the public survey and in public meetings, that upgrading existing
parks and providing more beautification projects were high priorities. Renovation of parks should
include measures to improve aesthetics, circulation, safety, accessibility to all persons, and to
rehabilitate or replace recreation equipment and facilities/amenities. Highest priority is given to
those parks that experience extremely high use or represent a particularly important resource.
Parks with safety or accessibility issues will also receive high priority. The Appendix details .
improvement projects, their estimated costs, and proposed funding sources.
Step 3: Acquire and Develop New Parks and Facilities
With a growing population, and land still available for future growth, it is necessary to consider
acquisition and development of parks to serve our future population. The standards recommended
in Chapter 3 provide the basis for determining how much land and what facilities we need now,
and what may be needed in the future.
Step 4: Acquire and Manage Open Space
The City owns several open space properties, some of which were recently acquired. Some of
these acquisitions will receive minimal development suitable for a passive recreation
experience. Land, that is environmentally sensitive or inaccessible, may not receive frequent
visitors, but will still require stewardship to guarantee and monitor the health and conditions
found in these locations.
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9-2
I PARKS, RECREATION AND OPEN SPACE PLAN
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. TABLE 9-1
Summary of Identified Needs
Park and Open Space Land and Facilities
Step 1: Perform All parks shall receive regular maintenance to ensure that
Regular they are SAFE, HEALTHY, ATTRACTIVE and CLEAN.
Maintenance
Step 2: Improve 1. Renovate all parks to meet ADA requirements as
Existing Parks funding is acquired.
and Facilities 2. Perform major renovations:
Auburn Golf Course, Brannan, Cameron, Cedar Lanes,
Game Farm, Game Farm Park Wildernesss, Isaac Evans,
Les Gove, Shaughnessy Park.
Step 3: Acquire and Current Need: City owns the following properties.
Develop New Develop to meet current needs:
Parks Green River Access/Fenster Property; Green River
Stormwater Facility Park & Trail; Les Gove Park; Olson
Canyon Farmstead and Trail
Future Need:
. Develop by 2010: Hidden Valley Neighborhood Park,
Academy Area Community Park, North Auburn/Green
River Community Parks and Environmental Park
Develop by 2020: Downtown Park, West Hill Park
Develop Current Need: 5 gymnasiums, 1 Community Center,
Recreation 13 Soccer Fields
Facilities Future Need:
By 2010: 4 Softball/Youth Baseball fields, 6 football fields,
24 soccer fields, 13 tennis courts, 10 gymnasiums
By 2020: 1 baseball field, 11 Softball/Youth Basell fields,
10 football fields, 32 soccer fields, 2 tennis courts, 13
gymnasiums, and 1744 SF of pool.
Step 4: Manage Open Olson Canyon, Green River Access/Fenster Property,
Space Lakeland Nature Area, Critical Areas, Other lands as
identified
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Auburn .. More Than You Imagined 9-3
Population Estimates
Current Population
46,141
Year 2010
68,696
Year 2020
85,556
CI1Y OF AUBURN, WASHINGTON
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Future parkland needs are summarized in Table 9-2. This table uses
the standards in Chapter 3 to determine the number of additional
acres that will be needed in six years and 20 years from now if our
population continues to grow as expected. The purpose of each column
of Table 9-2 is described below.
Column 1: Park Type
Three park categories-neighborhood, community and linear parks-
are included in this table, indicating the "core" parks that make up the
majority of our park system. These are parks largely devoted to active
recreation or sports.
Columns 2 & 3:
2004 Total Existing Acresl 2004 Developed Acres
These columns compare total acreage in each of the core park categories
with the amount of land that is actually developed for recreational
use. This information reveals that more than 80% of the land in these
types of parks is already fully developed.
Column 4: 2004 Remaining Undeveloped Acres
The remaining undeveloped acreage found in existing parks is available
for development. In some instances, such as the neighborhood and
linear parks, these are largely incidental spaces that need a small amount
of landscaping or walkway to be complete. Our community parks
contain some larger spaces that could accommodate additional
recreational features or updating of facilities.
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Column 5: Park Standards-Developed Acres
per 1000 Residents
In Chapter 3 we recommended that a standard totaling 6.03 acres of
parkland be acquired and developed per 1,000 residents. The goal of
setting a standard is to ensure that the level and quality of parks
remains the same as it is today, even if the population of our community
increases. As noted in Chapter 3, these standards reflect the amount
of deve/opedacreage in our core park types: neighborhood, community
and linear parks.
Columns 6 & 7: Additional Acres Needed-2010 and 2020
The last two columns refer to the amount of developed park-land
needed in the future to meet the demands of a growing population.
These figures are based on the standard shown in the previous column.
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9-4
PARKS, RECREATION AND OPEN SPACE PLAN
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The number of acres needed is based on a projected growth of 68,696 people by 2010, and an
additional growth to 85,556 by 2020. An example of how to calculate the demand for new
parkland is shown below, using neighborhood parks as a sample.
Standard x
.76 X
New Residents/1000
6,300/1000
= Additional Acres
= 4.8
TABLE 9-2 Future Park Acreage Needs
Table 9-2
Future Park Acreage Needs
2004 2004
(Total (Dev'd
Acres) Acres)
60.60 52.60
484.10 325.86
None None
23.37 mi 23.37 mi
2004
(Undev'd
Acres)
8.00
158.24
None
None
Standard Add'.
(Dev'd Acres
Acres/1000) 2010
1.32/1000 30.08
4.50/1000 0.00
None None
0.21 mile/lOOO
Add'l
Acres
2020
52.26
0.0
None
Parks
Neighborhood Parks
Community Parks*
Open Space Areas*
Trails/linear Parks
. Open Space is calculated with Community Parks
. Recommended Park Land
Acquisition & Development
Table 9-2 establishes some target acreages to meet the needs of the future. The next step is to
take that information and begin to assess the best locations for development of parks.
Table 9-3, on the next page, describes where and how additional park demandâ can be met.
Each of these proposed park locations is described in more detail in the following pages, and
located in a general area on Map 9-1.
Column 1: Park Type
Three park categories-neighborhood, community and linear are included in this table, indicating
the "core" parks that make up the majority of our park system. These are parks largely devoted
to active recreation or sports.
Column 2: Recommended Development
on Currently Owned Park Land
Table 9-2 shows that there is land in existing parks which is not fully developed. Column 2 of
Table 9-3 indicates existing parks that are high priorities for further recreational development.
Development to meet current needs can be funded by the City's general fund, a bond issue, or
grant. If development is intended to meet the demand created by new residents, then these
would be considered "capacity" projects, and could be partially funded by impact fees.
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Auburn .. More Than You Imagined
9-5
AUBURN'S
DE ELOPMENT
STANDARDS
Neighborhood Parks
1.32 acres/lOOO
Community Parks
4.50 acres/lOOO
Trails/Linear Parks
0.21 miles/lOOO
TOTAL: 6.03 acresl
1000 residents
cm OF AUBURN, WASHINGTON
Column 3: Recommended Acquisitions and Development
in the Future
The additional acreage needed to meet our growing population is
listed in the previous table, in Columns 5 and 6. That information is
used in this table to determine the size and types of parks needed in
the future. The dates in Column 3 of this table refer to both acquisition
of land, and its development for recreational uses.
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Column 4: Acres Needed
This column indicates the number of acres to be acquired for each
proposed new park. The acreage may vary during actual purchase,
depending on the size of available parcels. However, impact fees
cannot be collected for more than the established standard. The
acreage shown for 2020 is the total acreage needed for neighborhood,
community, and linear parks, in addition to the acreage projected to
be needed by 2010.
Using Table 9-3
An example of how the information presented above can be used
follows:
Table 9-3 shows that 30.08 acres of neighborhood parks will
be needed by 2010, when we expect to have more than 22,500
new residents. In Table 9-3, Column 3, two possible
neighborhood parks are suggested, with approximate acreages
for each, adding up to a total of 4.8 acres.
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Additionally, other neighborhood parks are listed for
completion by 2020. Opportunities may arise during the first
six year period to acquire andlor develop one of the parks in
the 20 year list. Flexibility exists to take advantage of such
opportunities by updating the Capital Facilities Plan to include
a proposed park listed in a later time block.
Table 9-3 illustrates how park needs for future residents can be met.
One possibility for meeting these needs is to complete development
of partially developed parks; another is to develop recreation facilities
on park land that is now in City ownership, but that has had little or
no development.
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9-6
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PARKS, RECREATION AND OPEN SPACE PLAN
Table 9-3 ACTION PLAN
Recommended Park Land
Acquisitions and Development
Park Type Recommended Recommended Acres
Development: Acquisitions
Currently Owned Development
Park Land Future
Neighborhood Partially
Parks Developed By 2010:
To be completed: 1. Hidden Valley Park 4.8
1. Cedar lanes Park By 2020:
1. North Auburn Park 5.6
2. West Hill Park 5.6
Community Partially By 2010:
Parks Developed 1. North Auburn/
To be completed: River Park 13.0
2. Academy Area Pa rk 15.35
1. les Gove Pa rk
2. Brannan Park By 2020:
3. Downtown Pa rk 2.0
Undeveloped:
1. Green River Storm
water Facility & Park
2. Olson Canyon
Farmstead
3. Fenster Propery/
Green River Access
4. Jacobsen Tree Fa rm
Linear Parks Undeveloped: By 2010:
1. Green River 1. Southeast Trails Pk. 4.9
Stormwater Trail
By 2020:
1. Mill Creek Corridor
2. Environmental Park
3. White River Trail
Auburn .. More Than You Imagined
9-9
Cl1Y OF AUBURN, WASHINGTON
It is also possible to use impact fees that require developers to provide funds for the acquisition
and development of park land. As these fees are collected they will be put into a fund for park
development, and must be spent within six years. Auburn will use a single zone impact fee
system, so that funds collected can be spent anywhere in the city. Rapidly growing sections or
underserved areas of the city will be targeted for these funds. Other areas may also receive
development if land is available.
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Neighborhood Park Needs
Most of the City has good geographic coverage of Neighborhood Parks. Slight shortages occur in
some fully developed neighborhoods, such as the central part of Auburn, but these are offset by
Community Parks that serve the same areas. Almost 30.08 additional acres will be needed in this
category by 2010 to meet the projected increase in population. Several options for meeting
these needs are presented below.
2010:
Meeting Neighborhood Park Needs
To meet a need for 30.08 additional acres of Neighborhood Parks in 2010 it is recommended
that the City choose one of the following two options, or a combination of the two:
Option 1. Complete development of existing neighborhood parks.
The following parks have undeveloped acreage:
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Cedar Lanes Park
Lakeland Hills (undev
Auburndale Park II
North Auburn
8.27 acres
8.0 acres
9.34 acres
6.0 acres
TOTAL:
31.61 acres
Completing development of most parks listed above, while needed, is unlikely to create appreciable
increases in recreational facilities. Most need minor improvements such as landscaping or a
walkway. Of these, Cedar Lanes has the most capacity for increased use.
Option 2. Acquire and develop new park land. The following neighborhood has been identified
as an appropriate location for a new Neighborhood Park.
Hidden Valley Neighborhood Park4.8 acres
TOTAL: 4.8 acres
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9-10
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PARKS, RECREATION AND OPEN SPACE PLAN
2020:
Meeting Neighborhood Park Needs
Residential development in the northeast part of the city is expected to bring in up to 5000 new
residents. The area west of West Valley Highway is already experiencing development, and has
only one small park. New parks should be acquired and developed in these areas as new
development occurs. Residential development should result in two new parks of approximately
5.6 acres each to meet the recommended standard. These are listed in Table 9-3 as North
Auburn and West Hill Neighborhood Parks.
Future Acquisitions - 2010 to 2020
1. North Auburn Neighborhood Park 5.6 acres
2. West Hill Neighborhood Park 5.6 acres
Projected Additional Need by 2020: 11.2 acres
Community Park Needs
Geographic coverage of the city with community parks is good, with almost all residents living
within one mile of a community park. However, crowding may occasionally occur at some due to
their popularity. Analysis by neighborhood area shows that northeast Auburn, and the large area
east of M Street NE/SE are most in need of community parks.
Community parks typically contain more highly developed athletic fields than do neighborhood
parks, and also provide restrooms, parking, picnic shelters and other amenities. This makes
them more costly to develop.
2010:
Meeting Community Park Needs
Available Community Park land can be increased by completing partially developed parks,
developing unimproved land in City ownership, or by acquiring and developing new land. For
example, facilities such as a skate park, loop trail, play structure or basketball court could be
added to a partially developed Community Park. Some options for the next six years are described
below:
Option 1. Complete development of existing Community parks.
The following existing parks contain undeveloped acreage:
Brannan Park
GSA Park
Isaac Evans Park
Les Gove Park
Game Farm Wilderness
TOTAL:
3.25 acres
2.0 acres
1.5 acres
4.1 acres
2.0 acres
12.85 acres
9-11
Auburn .. More Than You Imagined
Cl1Y OF AUBURN, WASHINGTON
Highest priority should be given to Les Gove, Brannan and GSA Parks for redevelopment. Les
Gove and Brannan contain facilities which are very much in demand, and will be most beneficial
to the entire community if development occurs. Similarly, the redevelopment of GSA Park Phase
3 would include parking lot, restrooms, lighting and landscaping.
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Option 2. Develop unimproved land owned by the City into Community Parks.
The City acquired several properties, primarily with funds from the King County Open Space
Bond Issue. These properties are suitable for development as active or passive recreational sites,
including uses such as walking, or visiting an historic site. These parks will serve a distinctive
niche in the range of recreational opportunities in Auburn.
Fenster/Green R. Access
Olson Canyon Farmstead
Jacobsen Tree Farm
TOTAL:
13.4 acres
13.5 acres
29.04 acres
55.94 acres
Fenster Property/Green River Access
These properties are located along the Green River, between 2nd Street SE and the Auburn-
Black Diamond Road. They offer a good opportunity for access directly to the Green River for
water sports or for passive activities such as walking, fishing and picnicking along the river.
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Olson Canyon Farmstead
The Olson Canyon Farmstead is located just north of the Auburn Golf Course. It is a historic
site that is listed as an Auburn Historic Landmark. A house, barn, and several outbuildings,
envisioned to encompass the creation of a farmstead museum and a series of trails, including
a connection to the future Green River Trail.
Option 3. Acquire and develop new park land.
The following general locations have been identified as appropriate locations for new Community
parks, responding to new development as it occurs.
North Auburn/Green River
Community Park
Academy Area Community Park
TOTAL:
13.00 acres
15.35 acres
28.35 acres
North Auburn/Green River Community Park
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9-12
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PARKS, RECREATION AND OPEN SPACE PLAN
A greenbelt corridor along the north stretch of the Green River could be combined
with upland property to create a reasonably sized Community Park. Trails connecting
the residences with the park and the Green River Trail should be incorporated into the
design of new residential development.
Academy Area Park
A community park located in the area around the Adventist Academy would serve a
large and growing community that is somewhat distant from other recreational sites.
This is a desirable location for a well-developed sports complex.
2020:
Meeting Community Park Needs
Potential community park locations which have unique resources, or that are expected to receive
significant residential development over the next 20 years are identified here. These parks will be
acquired and developed concurrently with new housing construction. A balance between passive
and active recreational uses should continue to be pursued.
Proposed Acquisitions: 2010 to 2020
1. Downtown Park (Site not yet identified
. Projected Additional Need by 2020: 2 acres
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Trailsl Linear Parks
Trails/linear parks, which generally run along an existing linear feature such as a river or utility
corridor, are considered to serve the entire city. Auburn has a unique opportunity for linear park
development, with its generous supply of rivers, creeks, railroads and utility corridors. For this
reason, it should be emphasized that the standard is only a minimum suggested acreage. This is
a category where trail development also serves a transportation need and development beyond
the minimum standard will be very useful to community members.
2010:
Meeting TraillLinear Park Needs
Like the other types, Trail/Linear Park land can also be increased by completing partially developed
parks, by developing unimproved land currently in City ownership, or by acquiring and developing
new land. Several possibilities are described below:
Option 1. Complete development of existing Linear Parks.
1. Interurban Trail
Complete Improvements
9-13
Auburn .. More Than You Imagined
CI1Y OF AUBURN, WASHINGTON
Interurban Trail
The Interurban Trail is judged to be 85% complete. Completing the park would not add
additional trail miles, but would provide development of much needed trailhead and parking
improvements, signage, and landscaping and site furnishings to make the trail safer, and
more attractive and pleasant for users.
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Option 2. Complete development of existing City property as a Trail/Linear Park. The
following land has the potential for this type of development:
1. Green River Stormwater Facility/
Trails and Park
TOTAL:
15 acres
15 Acres
Green River Stormwater Facility/Trail and Park
A stormwater detention basin along the shoreline/conservancy areas of the Green River will
be in the master plan. This site will be designed as a joint use facility between the Parks and
Utility departments and will function as a recreation facility during the times when floodwaters
are not present. The Green River Trail will run through the site. Additional connecting trails
are possible in this location, as part of the private single family and multi-family development
along the west side of the Green River from 277th to Brannan Park.
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Option 3. Acquire and develop new park land.
The following site is desirable for future Linear Park development:
Southeast Trails Linear Park
TOTAL:
4.9 acres
4.9 acres
Southeast Trails linear Park
Existing trails in southeast Auburn, some of them on public watershed land, are used by many
equestrians. These should be formally adopted and converted into a Linear Park. Legal access
to these trails should be obtained soon to ensure that they remain available to horse owners
living in the area, and before ongoing development closes off easy access from the
neighborhood. Southeast Trails Linear Park is a high priority for the City.
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9-14
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PARKS, RECREATION AND OPEN SPACE PLAN
2020:
Meeting Linear Park Needs
Continuation of existing trails and development of Trails/Linear Parks is a high priority in Auburn.
Proposed Future Acquisitions:
1. Mill Creek Corridor Linear Park
2. White River Trail Extensions
3. Additional land at Auburn Environmental Park
8.0 acres
3.3 acres
85.0 acres
Projected Additional
Need by 2020:
11.3 acres
Mill Creek Corridor Unear Park
It is recommended that one or more sites along Mill Creek be obtained for educational/
interpretive purposes. A series of sites, with a connecting trail, would be most beneficial for
exhibiting the complexity and changing nature of the creek ecosystem. Several potential
locations are possible.
White River Trail Extensions
The White River Trail continues to be one of our most popular Trails/Linear Parks, and the
possibility of extending it both east and west will make it even more accessible and useful to
our residents.
9-15
Auburn .. More Than You Imagined
Cl1Y OF AUBURN, WASHINGTON
Summary of Park Land Needs
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Auburn is fortunate to still have many opportunities for expansion of its park system, both to
meet the needs of current residents, and for those who will be joining us in the next 20 years.
But it requires looking ahead, and sometimes making a commitment to acquiring land suitable
for these uses before development makes it impossible.
The options presented in the previous pages show the breadth of choices available during the
next six to twenty years. To recap, there are several directions we can take to continue to provide
fully developed, high quality parks for our community. We have several options to accomplish
this:
Option 1. Complete development in existing parks.
This approach is the least costly, because property purchase is not necessary. It also will provide
the finishing touches that several parks still need. However, most developed parks already contain
all the recreational facilities that are possible, and most development is more aesthetic or practical
(as in improved parking in nature. An exception is Les Gove Park; proposed redevelopment
here would provide extensive new facilities, including a Community Center. Master planning of
the Les Gove Park may open more active/passive opportunities for the community.
Option 2. Create parks using land currently owned by the City. Several properties have
been purchased or land turned over from King County in recent years that are suitable for
Neighborhood and Community Parks. Again, future costs will be lower because property purchase
is already complete. The Olson Canyon Farmstead and the Fenster/Green River Access properties·
discussed briefly above will give us the opportunity to develop some unique new Community
Parks. Because of their open space character and funding source, these parks are best developed
for passive recreations uses.
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Option 3. Acquire and develop new land, particularly to meet needs of new residents. These
parks will be acquired and developed as opportunities arise, such as gifts of land or grants, fee in
lieu of, or by impact fees collected from the development of new residential units.
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9-16
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PARKS, RECREATION AND OPEN SPACE PLAN
II. Meeting Recreation Facility and Program Needs
This section presents recreation facilities and programs planned for the present, and for six years
from now. Facilities and programs go hand-in-hand, since most recreation, educational or cultural
programs are possible only if an adequate facility is available.
Each major recreation facility type is discussed below, with suggestions for addressing deficiencies
and meeting the goals developed in Chapter 3. These goals can be used as new parks are
planned, to determine which facilities are most needed or most appropriate for the park being
considered.
Facility needs are determined by surveying residents about their level of recreation participation
and their needs and desires for the future, by examining national standards and recreation
trends, by input from the recreation staff, and by the number and type of sport teams and each
Baseball
Current need:
Participation rates and the growing interest in baseball indicate the City has a slight shortage of
. baseball fields, but not enough to warrant constructing a new field yet.
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To meet current need:
Occasional field shortages will be managed in the short term by restricting the number of games
or practices each team is entitled to each week, or by scheduling more games on the weekend.
To meet future need, 2020:
One additional baseball field will be needed by 2020. It is recommended that this be placed in a
new community park in the north or southeast part of the city.
Recommended Future Development:
North Auburn Community Park, Jacobsen Tree Farm,
or Academy Area Community Park 1 field
TOTAL: 1 field
9-17
Auburn .. More Than You Imagined
CI1Y OF AUBURN, WASHINGTON
Softball/Youth Baseball Fields
Current need:
Current needs are being met, although only by allowing play on substandard fields and restricting
practice time. No new field development is recommended at this time.
To meet future need, 2010:
Development of new community and neighborhood parks should include fields capable of
supporting softball and youth baseball. Fields should be located in the following areas as adjacent
residential neighborhoods develop.
Recommended Future Development:
Academy Area Community Park 3 fields
Hidden Valley Neighborhood Park 3 fields
Jacobsen Tree Farm 2 fields
TOTAL: 8 fields
Football Fields
Current need:
The demand for football fields has remained fairly constant in recent years. With the construction
of Auburn Mountain View High School, there are sufficient football fields for our current population.
The primary need now is for practice time.
To meet future need, 2010:
Six additional fields will be needed by 2010. It is recommended that one be located in central
Auburn and one in north Auburn.
Recommended Future Development:
Academy Area Community Park
North Auburn Community Park
Jacobsen Tree Farm
Additional sites to be located
1 field
1 field
2 fields
2 fields
6 fields
TOTAL:
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Soccer
Current need:
The rapidly growing interest in soccer has spurred the need for development of 13 new fields.
Recommended Soccer Field Development:
The City intends to work with the Auburn School District to upgrade some of their existing fields
to an acceptable playing surface and safety level that will be usable for both.
TOTAL:
7 fields
To meet future need, 2010:
Future soccer fields should be located in community parks when they are developed. One possible
way to meet future needs is shown below.
Recommended Future Soccer Field Development:
Upgrade Game Farm Park 2 fields, synthetic
Jacobsen Tree Farm 4 fields
. Academy Area Community Park 2 fields
North Auburn Community Park 1 field
Additional partnerships with schools and private organizations
TOTAL: 24 fields
Tennis Courts
Current and future need:
Sufficient tennis court space means that additional courts are not needed at this time. The recent
construction of eight tennis courts at Auburn Mountain View High School adjacent to Jacobsen
Tree Farm Park will provide sufficient court space for the city for many years.
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Community Center
Current need:
There are no community centers within the City at this time. Analysis of recreation needs reveals
a strong need for the types of facilities typically found in a community center.
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To meet current need:
The public opinion survey and competition for classrooms, gym space, exercise/fitness rooms
and event and gallery space all support the need for development of a community center. Les
Gove Park has been identified as the best location within the existing city limits for a community
center. This location was also confirmed while analyzing potential locations. An advisory group
of citizens will be evaluating the need and space requirements in 2005.
Recommended Development:
Les Gove Park
TOTAL:
1 Community Center
1 Community Center
To meet future need, 2010:
A goal of 1 community center per 30,000 residents has been established. With its current
boundaries, the city would probably not require an additional community center. With the .
proposed annexation of the Lea Hill area, there may be a need for an additional community
center.
Gymnasiums
Current need:
Gymnasiums which are available during the day and early evening hours are badly needed to
meet the needs of our existing residents. The Community Center proposed in this plan should
provide a minimum of three full-court gymnasiums to meet current need.
Recommended Development:
Community Center at Les Gove Park
TOTAL:
3 gyms
3 gyms
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To meet future need, 2010:
Within the next six years an additional ten gymnasiums will be needed. Some of this space may
become available if additional schools are built. Meantime, space should be reserved for
development of a third gymnasium at the proposed Community Center.
Recommended development:
Community Center
Future School Development
(8 gyms, available 15% of the time
TOTAL:
2 gym
2 gym
4 gyms
Swimming Pools
Current and future need:
Additional need for swimming pools is not expected now or in the near future. The construction
of the new YMCA has filled the current need.
Recreational Loop Trails
. Current need:
Recreational loop trails are located primarily in neighborhood and community parks, for easy
use and access by neighborhood residents. The following existing and proposed parks are
recommended to receive trail development.
Recommended Loop Trail Development:
Veterans Memorial Park 0.25 mile
Rotary Park 0.25 mile
West Hill Watershed 1.25 miles
Brannan Park 0.50 mile
Cedar Lanes Park 0.50 mile
Olson Canyon 1.50 miles
White River Trail .25 mile
TOTAL: 4.5 miles
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To meet future need, 2010:
The following proposed parks are recommended to receive recreation loop trail development by
2010. At least 1.6 miles of additional trails will be needed.
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Recommended Future Trail Development:
Academy Area Community Park
North Auburn Park
Hidden Valley Neighborhood Park
Auburn Environmental Park
TOTAL:
0.75 mile
1.00 mile
0.25 mile
1.75 miles
2.0 miles
RecreationfTransportation Trails
These longer, destination oriented trails serve recreating cyclists, pedestrians, equestrians and
other users, as well as those who use the trail for transportation purposes.
Current need:
The north Auburn portion of the Green River Trail is in the design stages. Construction can be
expected in the near future. Expansion of the White River Trail is also scheduled in the near
future. Efforts should continue to complete these important trail corridors.
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Recommended Recreation/Transportation Trail Development:
Green River Trail 4.0 miles
White River Trail 2.0 miles
TOTAL: 6.0 miles
To meet future need:
This plan recommends the development of two Linear Parks to meet the needs of future residents.
Mill Creek Corridor and South East Trails are proposed to meet trail needs by the year 2010.
Recommended Future Recreation/Transportation Trail Development
Mill Creek Corridor:
South East Trails:
TOTAL:
0.8 mile
1.5 miles
2.3 miles
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Skate Park Facility/BMX Facility
Current need:
Recent interest in in-line skating and skateboarding activities has brought the desire to create a
skate park facility to the attention of the City of Auburn. The City and a group of skate park
enthusiasts have explored the skate parks created in nearby communities. Sunset Park and an
additional potential BMX Bike park will be developed in the future.
Recommended Skate Park Development:
BMX Bike Site:
Sunset Park:
TOTAL:
1 facility
facility
1 faci lity
Recreation, Cultural and Heritage Program Services
Chapter 6, Recreation, Cultural, Heritage and Preservation Programs, developed an extensive list
of recommendations and conclusions. These recommendations, along with their estimated costs,
are found in the Appendix.
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III. Financing Future
Capital Improvements
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The projects and program improvements suggested in this plan will require a substantial financial
commitment to accomplish. Some ofthese can be achieved within the annual Parks and Recreation
Department budget. Other, more costly projects will need to be analyzed carefully to determine
the source(s of funding we want to pursue, and to determine when it will be fiscally advantageous
to pursue them.
There are five primary funding sources that can be used to finance park capital improvements:
1. City Funding-includes Bonds, the General Fund, and Real Estate Excise Tax
2. Grants and Countywide Initiatives
3. Developer Fees and Dedications (Impact Fees)
4. Gifts/Dedications/Donations
5. Program Fees
1. City Funding
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General Obligation Bonds, and the Real Estate Excise Tax (REET .
Typically, the General Fund pays for staff costs and operating expenses for the Parks and Recreation
Department. Ongoing, regular maintenance costs of parks and purchase of equipment are also
paid for in this manner. The General Fund has rarely been used in the past for large capital
projects such as the purchase of land, or building of new parks.
The Real Estate Excise Tax is a 0.5% tax on the sale of real estate. These funds can be used for
repair, replacement, and capital expenditures of park facilities. Partnerships with private
organizations (OPM .
2. Grants and Countywide Initiatives
Grants have been a very instrumental tool in building the park system we have today. Since the
1980s, the City has received more than $6 million from grant sources. A major source is the
State of Washington Interagency Committee for Outdoor Recreation (lAC which administers
state and federal funds for conservation and outdoor recreation purposes. lAC is made up of the
directors of four state agencies and five citizen members who bring together a wide range of
experience and viewpoints. .
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PARKS, RECREATION AND OPEN SPACE PLAN
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The largest program offered by the lAC is the Washington Wild/ifeand Recreation Program
(WWRP . This is available for local government projects involving the acquisition, development
and renovation of parks, urban wildlife habitat, open space, trails, and water access facilities.
All projects accepted for WWRP funding require a 50% local match, and a Parks, Recreation and
Open Space Plan adopted within the last six years. This Parks Plan will enable the City of Auburn
to apply for these funds from 2004 through 2010.
King County has sponsored several bond initiatives which have helped the City purchase land
andlor develop eight recreation sites in Auburn.
We will continue to aggressively pursue all grant opportunities that will assist in the renovation of
existing parks, or development of new ones.
3. Developer Fees
The State Environmental Protection Act (SEPA allows cities to request mitigation for impacts to
the park system created by large scale residential development. In Auburn land has been contributed
by developers to create Lakeland Hills Park, Sunset Park, Gaines Park, and Mill Pond Park.
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Existing standards for the City assert that developments of 50 or more dwelling units create
sufficient impact on the availability of park space that mitigation should be provided. The 1986
Park Plan established standards of 6 acres per 1000 residents for Community Parks and 1.25
acres per 1000 for Neighborhood Parks. Under SEPA developers typically contribute land only,
and the City is responsible for all development.
This 2005 Parks Plan recommends the adoption of impact fees for parks, as allowed by the
Growth Management Act of 1990. Impact fees for parks are used to pay for the capital costs of
public facilities needed to serve the people who occupy new residential development. Capital
costs may include the purchase of land and costs for designing and constructing recreation
facilities. These fees are paid by the developer of any residential unit, not just by those building
more than 50 units. The term "developer" is used to denote anyone who is obligated to pay
impact fees, including builders, owners or developers.
Credit for Contributions by the Developer
Impact fees do not include any other forms of developer contributions or exactions, such as
mitigation or voluntary payments authorized by SEPA. Since there are other sources of revenue
available for park development, impact fees are not expected to pay for 100% of new park
development. The City also has the choice of accepting cash for the impact fee, or accepting
land, recreational improvements or a combination of these. If the City accepts a method other
than cash, the developer will receive a credit in-lieu of impact fees.
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Service Area for Impact Fees and Expenditures
Parks and recreation facilities impact fees are collected and expended throughout the City of
Auburn. The City boundaries create a single service area for park impact fees. Impact fees must
be spent on capital projects contained in an adopted capital facilities plan, or they can be used to
reimburse the government for the unused capacity of existing facilities. For example, some
existing park land is not yet fully developed. Where improvements for these areas are identified
in this plan, impact fees can be used to help pay for such improvements. Impact fees not
expended within six years must be refunded.
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Development Standards
This Plan depicts five different types of park land within Auburn:
1. Neighborhood parks
2. Community parks
3. Trails/Linear parks
4. Open space land
5. Special use areas
The first three of these, Neighborhood, Community and Trails/linear Parks are considered the
"core" parks in our system. These are the parks which are the most intensely developed and used
for recreation. Developers will be required to contribute to this core system by providing cash,
land, recreational facilities, or a combination, as described above. The standards established in
Chapter 3 of this plan will be used to determine the parks impact fee. .
Section II of this chapter identifies capital projects that will be (
current level of parks and recreation facilities, and (2 needed to meet the expected growth,
based on the adopted development standards.
Rates for Impact Fees
Impact fees are calculated based on the projected cost of buying land appropriate for each of the
park categories, and the costs of purchasing, installing or constructing the recreation facilities
and amenities typical to each type of park. A separate cost calculation is made for each of the
three types of core parks. Impact fee rates are found in the document "Rate Study for Impact
Fees for Parks and Recreation Facilities."
4. Gifts
The City occasionally receives gifts of land, land leases, or money for park properties. These
have primarily come from other public agencies.
The City pursued gifts in the Sharing and Gift Catalog. This source will be explored and marketed
in the future more thoroughly. The Parks Department intends to establish a "Give to the Future"
program to encourage more private donations. The program will provide information to individuals
about how to contribute, the tax benefits of giving, and projects that need sponsors. .
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PARKS, RECREATION AND OPEN SPACE PLAN
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Capital campaigns to solicit funds could be a significant source of income for special projects. For
example, the White River Valley Historical Museum raised $480,000 in cash and in-kind donations
through its very effective capital campaign. These funds will enable the Historical Society to
make significant improvements to the Museum building and displays.
5. Program Fees
Another method for raising capital or covering operating expenses may include increasing fees for
facilities such as picnic shelters or baseball fields. Similarly, increasing the administrative charge
affordable to individuals who are residents of Auburn and to small groups. However, when large
groups use facilities, fees should be charged that reflect the additional staffing, equipment and
cleanup needed.
An example of program fees is the capital improvement fee charged to adult athletic teams. This
fee generates about $20,000 annually. These funds have been used to improve facilities used by
adult athletic teams such as the installation of a new restroom at Fulmer Field and a new light
system at Brannan Park Field #2.
. Summary of Park Financing Options
The City has several options it can use to fund development of new parks, and improvements or
expansions of existing parks. The most realistic approach is to pursue each of the five primary
funding mechanisms described above.
With the adoption of the Parks, Recreation and Open Space Plan, the City will be eligible to
compete for grants from lAC and other sources. To efficiently use limited staff grant writing
time the Parks and Recreation Department intends to aggressively track and apply for those
grants that will be most beneficial to the City and for which it has a good chance of success.
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