2 CityCtr&BandimereMasterPlansCITYOF
FROM:
DATE:
SUB J:
MEMORANDUM
TO: Park & Recreation Commission
Todd Hoffman, Park & Recreation Director
January 22, 1998
Commission Review, City Center Park and Bandimere Park,
Proposed Master Plans and Project Budget
On January 13, the Park & Recreation Commission reviewed design alternatives
for City Center Park and Bandimere Park. Upon hearing public comment, they
directed staffand Brauer and Associates to refine the park master plan based on
their direction. A preliminary master plan statement for both Bandimere and City
Center Parks as prepared by Jeff Schoenbauer of Brauer & Associates, including
graphics, are attached. Mr. Schoenbauer will be present on Tuesday cvening to
discuss these plans with the commission. Preliminary budget numbers will also
be presented.
It is our desire to see the commission make a recommendation on both master
plans to the city council on Tuesday evening.
ATTACItMENTS
1. Public notification letters
2. Preliminary master plan statement and proposed master plan designs
c:
Mayor and City Council
Don Ashworth, City Manager
Todd Gerhardt, Assistant City Manager
Kate Aanenson, Planning Director
Anita Benson, City Engineer
Jeff Schoenbauer, Brauer & Associates
g:'.park',rc fcrcn'parkmastcqflans 1-27.ktoc.doc
CITYOF
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January 22, 1998
Dear Resident:
Please find enclosed a preliminary master plan statement including design sketches
for both Bandimere and City Center Community Parks. On Tuesday, January 27, Jeff
Schoenbauer of Brauer and Associates will present his findings relative to these
documents to the Park 8,: Recreation Commission. The meeting is scheduled for 7:30
p.m. in the City Council Chambers at City Hall. This is your opportunity to comment
on these plans prior to tile Park & Recreation Commission making a recommendation
to tile City Council.
Future meetings scheduled tbr this project include:
· February 9
City Council will review tile Master Plan and pro. jeer
budgel and authorize completion of construction
documents package
· March 9
City Council will review construction documents and cost
estimates and authorize advertising for bids
· April 13
City Council will review bids and award the contract
If at any time you would like to discuss these projects xvith a stalT representative,
please contact Jeff Schoenbauer at Brauer and Associates at 832-9475 or mc at 937-
1900 ext, 121.
I look forward to your continued participation in these projects.
Sincerely,
/ o.:'..// //
Todd Hoffman
Park & Recreation Director
c~
Mayor and City Council
Don Ashworth, City Manager
Todd Gerhardt, Assistant City Manager
Kate Aancnson, Planning Director
Anita Benson, City Engineer
Scott Itarr, Public Safety Director
Dale Gregory, Park Superintendent
Jeff Schoenbauer, Braucr & Associates
Preliminar~ Master Plan Statement Pro)eot: 97-42 Bandimere Community Park / City Center Park
Date: 1/20/~8
Bandimere and City Center Parks
Preliminary Haster Plan Statement
To:
Chanhassen City Council
Chanhassen Parks Commission
Chanhassen City Staff
Prepared By: Jeff Schoenbauer, Brauer & Associates, Ltd.
Project Status
The design process for Bandimere and City Center parks is progressing in accordance with the established schedule. To date,
two public meetings have been held: The first meeting was held on November 18t~ to discuss and compile a list of program
items and ideas and discuss site related design issues. A second public meeting was held on lanuary 13~'~ with the Park and
Recreation Commission to review concept plans for- each park. The attached preliminary master plan for each park evolved
fi-om the outcome of those two meetings. These plans are scheduled to be publically reviewed on Ianuary 27~' with the Park
and Recreation Commission. Revisions to the master plans will be made as appropriate based on public comment and feedback
from the Parks and Recreation Commission. A final presentation is currently scheduled for February 9~' with the City Council.
Evaluation of the technical aspects and regulatory concerns associated with the development of each park is also underway and
will proceed in conce~t with plan refinements.
Master Plan Discussion
The following tables provide written statements that coincide with the master plans for each park. These statements provide a
more in depth overview of some of the design ideas being considered, as well as provide additional background infor marion
about specific concerns where warranted.
Item
City Center Park Preliminary Master Plan
Discussion
Overall Context of i~laster Plan Plan focuses on creating a civic campus atmosphere by using various architectural features,
visual cues, walkway layouts and landscaping to tie City Hall, the school, fire station, and
neighborhoods into a cohesive and appealing community park
Youth Athletic Facilities : The plan provides four ballfields with infields and backstops. Two 40x80 yard soccer fields
are provided, with additional soccer field overlays available as shown on the plan.
Note that the local youth baseball association has a strong desire for an additional hal/field at
this site, which could be accommodated if the two designated soccer fields were
eliminated. However, this approach would eliminate all of the designated soccer-fields from
the plan.
~r~,u, er ~ ~%sociates. Ltd. File C:~docs~97~97-42chan~.,~)rema.ltr.w~d r
Preliminary Master Plan Statement
Proiect: 97-42 Bandimere Community Park / City Center Park
Children's Play Area
Hockey Rinks and Summer
Skate Park
Parking lots and realigned
roadway
The play areas (play equipment) and hardcourt areas have been consolidated near the
school to: accommodate school district/community children's outdoor program space;
maximize opportunity to monitor all activities; minimize conflict between children's play
areas and roadways/parking lots; maximize efficient use of limited space within the park.
Note that the final shape and design character of the play areas will be based on more
detailed evaluation of existing features and specific types of game surfaces needed - ranging
from hopscotch and four-square to basketball - by the school district and community.
The hockey rinks and surrounding area will be completely redesigned to accommodate
year-round use, including the removal of some of the berming to improve access, site
lines, aesthetics, and drainage. Hardsurfacing will also be added to the rink area to
accommodate in-line skating and a skate park. Consideration is being given to removable
hockey boards to allow for a wider range of summer uses and configurations.
Additional parking will be provided on the north side of the school by expanding the
existing parking lot to the north. The play areas and equipment that already exist or are
planned for this area will be relocated within the park. This allows for additional parking to
be provided on the periphery of the park rather than taking up valuable internal space.
The plan also shows the realignment of the parking lot and drive on the north side of City
Hall as a design option. This serves a couple of purposes:
° It allows for more direct access from Kerber to the parking lots near the school, which is
important if parking pressures along Kerber are to be reduced.
· It creates an edge to the park, which opens up new sight lines and provides more
pedestrian access points.
Note that the plan provides aboul~ 40 to 50 new parking spaces, which is the maximum
feasible unless a parking lot is developed internal to the site. Given the extent of parking
available within this area of the city during non-peak business hours, it seems prudent to
, minimize the use of park land for parking lots and drives.
Park Trails and Paths The layout of the paths and trails coincides with the key points of access into the park from
adjacent roads and neighborhoods. The path system also provides interconnection
between key building entrances at the school, City Hall, and fire station. The location of the
pathways will continue to be refined as the project progresses through the design process.
Aesthetics and Landscaping A variety of design techniques will be used to improve the overall aesthetic character of the
park area and soften the hard lines of the buildings and structures. This is especially true
with respect to the school building, which is utilitarian in appearance from the west side of
the building. Landscaping of various types will also be used to enhance the overall appeal of
the park.
Tennis Courts ! Given the high cost for relocation, the tennis courts are proposed to remain in their
current location. As they wear and require reconstruction, consideration should be given
to pushing them further north and transferring the open green space into the core of the
park site.
Warming House Within the context of the budget, it is expected that this building will be limited to a
, warming house with perhaps restrooms if budget allows. The detail program for- this
strudure has not been completed as this point.
Brauer St Associates, Ltd. -- File C:\docs\97~97-4)chan\nremn itt wn~l
Preliminar/Master Plan Statement Proiect: 97-42 Bandimere Communit~ Park / City Center Park
Bandimere Park Preliminary Master Plan
Item
Overall Context of Master
Plan
Youth Athletic Facilities
Discussion
Plan focuses on creating a community/neighborhood park for residents south of Hwy. 212 and
a youth athletic complex for city-wide use.
The plan provides three ballfields of varying sizes and two "soccer greens" to accommodate the
needs of the local athletic associations. The sizes and design features of each of these facilities is
based on user group surveys conducted as part of the design process and discussions with the
user groups during the public meetings.
It should be noted that the local associations representing youth baseball and softball have been
adamant about having a fourth ballfield included in the design. Clearly, program demands
underscore the fact that another ballfield is warranted within the city, as is another soccer field
or two. Given the importance of the issue to the local youth athletic groups, one of the
concept plans publically presented was modified to illustrate the feasibility of adding another
ballfield in lieu of soccer green space. Figure... illustrates this concept.
Unfortunately, the general shape and character of the site coupled with the impact of the
Williams Pipeline traversing it precludes the possibility of accommodating an additional athletic
field without significant design compromises and additional construction costs. As noted on the
plan the parking lot is at least 70 spaces short of the minimum recommended for the number
of facilities being proposed. In addition, earthwork would be significantly more challenging and
costly due to inherent site grades coupled with the limitations posed by the pipeline.
The parking lot and drive configuration focuses on keeping vehicular movement to the
periphery of the site while still providing reasonable access to the facilities. Providing on-site
parking as near as possible to the soccer green on the northeast side of the park reduces the
likelihood of parking occurring in the surrounding neighborhoods, which was a major concern
of nearby residents.
The layout of the trails coincides with the key points of access into the park from adjacent
neighborhoods. The trail system will also connect to the city-wide system on tt~e northwest
and southwest corners of the park. The location of the pathways will continue to be refined as
tt% proiect progresses through the design process.
The general character and function of the adjacent neighborhood park on the east side of ihe
site will continue largely unchanged, with the exception of adding a trail link between the
neighborhood and community parks. In addition, with the new soccer greens being developed
in Bandimere, it is recommended that the use of the small soccer field in the neighborhood
park for programmed activities be reduced or eliminated. This will return the use of this space
to the neighborhood as well as reduce the propensity for non-local traffic in the surrounding
neighborhood.
A variety of design techniques will be used to enhance the overall aesthetic character of the
park, soften the lines of the built facilities, and provide a buffer between the park and adjacent
p~ operties. It is anticipated that native prairies and wildflowers will be used in certain areas of
the park to enhance its overall appearance and ecological diversity, control storm runoff, reduce
nutrient migration from fertilizers, and reduce the amount of day-to-day maintenance.
Wherever feasible, the existing trees will be preserved and protected during construction.
Parking lots and realigned
roadway
Park Trails and Pattss
Neighbo~ hood Park
Aesthetics, Landscaping,
and Buffering
Erauer & Associates, Ltd. File C:\docs\97~97-42chanXx~)rems.ltr.wDd s
Prelimina~ Master Plan Statement Proiect: 97-42 Bandimere Community Park / City Center Park
Commons Area and
Green Space
The commons area encompasses the restroom/storage building and picnic shelter, play area,
and surrounding open space. The building is situated to overlook Riley Lake and service the
athletic facilities and general park users. A children's play area is also proposed in this space.
Areas defined as open green space are turfed areas suitable for general park use and open play.
Given that Bandimere Park services community park needs in addition to the athletic facilities,
the common area and green spaces become important aspects of the overall appeal of the park
to the non-sport oriented user and thus should not be overlooked.
Hockey Rinks and Winter
Uses
Tennis Courts
Given the limited space and budget, hockey facilities would be located as an overlay on the
large parking lot. Temporary boards and a portable warming house would be required should
the demand for this facility manifest itself. In the shorter term, the rinks at City Center Park and
the Recreation Center will be the primary rinks available to the community.
, A sliding hill can be accommodated within the park. The final location will be determined in
concert with the final grading plan.
Although tennis courts were not considered the highest priority for the park, a location was
provided for them in the event that they would be added in the future. It is not anticipated that
the development budget will allow for their construction under this phase unless another facility
was eliminated.
Srauer & Asiociates, Ltd. -- File C:\docs\97~97-42chan~premp.ltr.wl~d ~