TO: Mayor and City Council
THROUGH: Steve Powers, City Manager
FROM: Peter Fernandez, PE, Public Works Director
SUBJECT:
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Adopting Fairview Park Master Plan
Ward(s): 2, 3, 4, and 7
Councilor(s): Andersen, Nanke, McCoid, Bednarz
Neighborhood(s): South Central, South East, SouthWest, Sunnyslope, Faye Wright, Morningside, Southeast Mill Creek, South Gateway
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ISSUE:
Shall City Council adopt the proposed Fairview Park Master Plan?
RECOMMENDATION:
recommendation
Adopt the proposed Fairview Park Master Plan
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SUMMARY AND BACKGROUND:
The proposed Fairview Park Master Plan (Attachment 1) describes the appropriate amenities and uses for the park and provides guidelines for its future development.
Fairview Park will be a 27.5-acre community park located in the Sustainable Fairview planned unit development. Situated southeast of downtown Salem and southwest of the Salem Municipal Airport, the park site includes many large mature trees that were planted in the early 1900s when the Fairview Training Center was originally developed. The park offers rolling topography with views of the Cascades to the east and is bordered by the West Middle Fork of Pringle Creek along the northeastern edge. This park can accommodate a variety of recreational uses and will directly serve almost half of the neighborhoods in Salem: South Central, South East, South West, Sunnyslope, Faye Wright, Morningside, Southeast Mill Creek, and South Gateway.
Fairview Park will serve as a community park in the Salem park system and will fulfill a need for more community parks in south and east Salem. Per the Comprehensive Park System Master Plan (adopted May 2013), community parks provide a variety of active and passive recreational opportunities for all age groups and are generally larger in size and serve a wider base of residents than neighborhood parks. Community parks typically include sports fields, active recreation opportunities, and facilities available for reservations for group events. Community parks also serve as neighborhood parks for nearby residents by providing playgrounds, picnic areas, trails, and other passive recreation opportunities within walking distance of homes.
FACTS AND FINDINGS:
1. The Fairview Park Master Plan identifies the following features for the park: two play areas, a splash fountain, an event space, a sand volleyball court, a baseball/softball field, an off-leash dog area, a multiuse field, a basketball court, and four pickleball courts. See Attachment 2 for the conceptual layout of the park.
2. Developing Fairview Park Master Plan involved a robust public process that included three public meetings and three separate online surveys. Attendance at the public meetings ranged between 35 and 50 participants. The online surveys had between 100 and 300 responders each and together generated over 600 comments on early drafts of the master plan. Additionally, City staff maintained a project webpage that was linked to the City of Salem park information page on the main public website. This webpage was updated regularly and contained background information, historical documents, survey results, and copies of presentations and other material. In addition to the meetings and surveys, staff responded to public input via email and personal conversations, and a presentation was provided to the Morningside Neighborhood Association.
3. At the May 12, 2016, meeting of the Salem Parks and Recreation Advisory Board, the members unanimously approved a motion recommending City Council adopt the Fairview Park Master Plan.
4. Council adoption of the Fairview Park Master Plan is a condition of the Purchase and Sale Agreement (PSA) for the purchase of the property by the City. The seller is also obligated by the PSA to obtain final approval of a Refinement Plan, which must be consistent with the park master plan. Additional information regarding the PSA is provided in the April 25, 2016, Staff Report to City Council, item 3.3(c), at
http://www.cityofsalem.net/CouncilMeetingAgenda/Documents/353/3.3c.pdf
5. If approved, development of Fairview Park will proceed in at least two phases. The first phase is planned for completion within one year after purchase of the property. This phase involves constructing soft trails and gravel parking areas, providing site facilities (tables, benches, etc.), and establishing an off-leash dog area. A second phase is envisioned to be completed within five years of purchase and will include paved multiuse trails, playgrounds, the splash fountain, shelters, restrooms, paved parking, and the sports fields.
6. Total cost for all the amenities identified in the Fairview Park Master Plan ranges between approximately $6M and $9M. The upper end of this estimate is based on installing lighting and using artificial turf at the sports fields.
Funding for the purchase of the park property and for some of the amenities at Fairview Park will be provided through Park Systems Development Charges. Additional funding may be provided through a combination of local government grants from the Oregon Department of Parks and Recreation, individual and corporate donations, and volunteer services.
Robert D. Chandler, PhD, PE
Assistant Public Works Director
Attachments:
1. Proposed Fairview Park Master Plan
2. Overview of Proposed Fairview Park Amenities
06/07/2016