Lasley Park Design Concepts Feedback from meeting on March 3, 2016

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1 Lasley Park Design Concepts Feedback from meeting on March 3, Which design concept do you prefer for the play experience? C and E - I like the boulders C and E Lots of different play options for all ages Free play, etc LOVE the boulders! Love natural play space Love the seating areas by the playground A feels like it combines a great sitting area that accesses both the playground and a children's open area very fluently I would like the playground to be replaced. Add exercise equipment along the current paths E - accommodates older and younger kids, but also really like the B concept due to shady area to site and watch. F - Ability to watch over separate play areas for older/younger kids D - Creativity of play area and hill. I'd play there! Bring back sledding Central location. Wood equipment deteriorates. Older/Younger children. Visible by parents Need shade trees that cover play area. Slides get hot. Metal gets hot. A - I like the concept of play features spread out connected by paths. I like (illegible) paths. I like the idea of natural adventure and the circular? C - I like the organic log features C - exercise amenities, gravel running path, open grass field to play and shaded area C - arrangement of play areas. F - play areas for different ages and arrangement of play areas. F - Open Space A - I like how the path was adjusted to fit the changes. I liked the placement of the playground better than other concepts in that it was still very far away from Florida St., central, and still partly in the space it is now. As a parent, I like to have my kids far away from a busy street, and far away from the noise pollution. Where the playground is now is one of the only peaceful parts of the park. Concept B seemed least appealing. Yuck. I felt the playground was far too close to Florida St. It would be noisy and dangerous for children. I generally like the placement of the playground in Concept C, and that they moved the volleyball court to make space for it. However, I d like to see the present playground area preserved and added to in the area of where the volleyball court currently sits. So perhaps moving the volleyball court west of the tennis court would be better. I liked some of the concepts for a playground with Concept C, but I lean toward liking the traditional type of playground versus adventure play. I feel the playground at Belmar Park is sort of adventure play, but that it really lacks options for children. All they can do is climb up on the fake rocks or jump from fake rock to fake rock. That s not a lot. Traditional playgrounds generally seem to have a lot more options for activity, but I suppose it depends on what is chosen. Some kind of mix of adventure play and traditional play might be nice, but only if the emphasis is put on the traditional and lots of options for children. Also, I would mention that it is wonderful to climb up high on the current playground at sunset and see the view of the mountains. This is another reason to keep the current playground close to where it currently is, as it s at a high point. For those who have concerns about where the current playground is placed for safety reasons, it might make sense to relocate the picnic pavilion, because that gives the playground a feel of isolation.

2 Concept D seemed a little over the top, literally and figuratively. Adding a hill where none existed seems like it would break off the usefulness of the east side of the hill, lead to more isolation of various parts of the park (creating safety issues), and would not be good for the existing trees in the area of the hill, some of which are wonderful. I also wasn t crazy about the playground options. Perhaps that combined with traditional playground options would be ok, but not just the natural play options. E - I also liked some of the traditional playground designs for BOTH young children and older children in this concept. I did not like the placement of the playground so close to Florida and a parking lot. Dangerous especially with parents being distracted with their workout. (Although someone brought up that people can use the playgrounds at Lasley Elementary, technically we can t. I can t get my stroller over there or up the hill onto the playground. Further, we can t take our children there during school hours, and technically are not supposed to go onto school grounds anytime.) F - I liked that they moved the volleyball court to the other side of the park and the general placement of the playground, although as I said above I d like to see part of the playground stay where it currently is. I liked their idea about having 2 areas of play for older and younger children. 2. What design concept do you prefer for the layout of the parks E -I like that it is very connected with lots of different options C Provides a nice organic trail for running F has amazing terrain change and maximizes the running trail The design of C is improved to what the park currently has Additional paths E - Love multiple inter linked pathways C - Opens up area not used now by tennis courts and adds interest of forest E - Multiple entrances. Don't like the parking on it. More than one (a few) ways around park A - not too many paths and even less cement paths B - Fitness path C - well done and all connected (not too much, just right) A - overall design B - overall design and exercise loop E - loved idea of primary and secondary curvy paths One downfall of Concept A was the figure 8 design of the walking path with plants on either side. I felt that would cut off the openness of the south area of the park. It s too much vegetation. Perhaps flowers or xeriscape should be in the corners of the park. C - I like the idea of widening the path, especially along the south side of the park. Along those lines, I would suggest that if any barriers are put up on that south side of the park that they not prevent people from entering the park at each intersection. I often walk to the park with my wide stroller, cross Florida at Newland St., and walk straight up into the park. I would hate to have to walk down to Otis or Jay to get into the park. Further, the access can t be steps for someone who has a stroller. D - I also liked the winding pathways that go all over the park. Their path on the northwest corner seems a little safer, as it s not so tucked into the trees.

3 3. Which design concept do you prefer for the amenities? E - Central park area, by parking and easily accessible to playground & covered area C has great design flow and everything feels like a natural change Move volleyball court. Add another porta potty west side Like playground for older kids and other side for younger kids E - Shading structures E - Signage and distinctive shade structures. Light and airy C - for all ages Remove volleyball and art features More porta potties E - I like trees at entrance, but not that art. Some art. C - Loop on backside of tennis courts C - shaded area, plant life, picnic area B - exercise loop. C - forested area with tables E - parking area for elderly/disabled. F - playground for areas for different ages of kids None What I liked best about Concept A is how it changed the layout of the courts and created better use of that space, to create more room for a playground (I would just want to emphasize the current trees need to be preserved). Moving the volleyball or basketball court to the west side of the tennis courts is a good idea so that the playground could extend from where it is now into the area where the volleyball court is now. That would be the ideal placement, I think. There are some wonderful trees near the current playground that the kids love to play under, but more space is needed. Additionally, you don t want the playground to be too close to the basketball or volleyball courts, as loose balls can fly and injure children (unless a fence was put around the courts). D - I don t like the idea of putting the pavilion where the current playground sits. That s one of the best locations in the park for a view, and it would be a shame to take it with the ugly pavilion. 4. Which design concept do you prefer for the open space/lawn? E - Still good open space, but also some hills and such No preference here - every open space is great C - additional sidewalk north side of the park E - Tranquil, but still available for organized play like soccer, flag football, lacrosse C, D and E - make use of far north west corner of park D - views of mountains Don't want level for football/soccer I like having one fairly large section of lawn but not too big I like the bridge. I like the winding path B - flatness of the lawn C - Loved that you left an open field to play and a gravel run area.

4 A - overall design. E - also overall design - actually broke up a lot of the open space E would make the park less of an unused open space. Concept C better preserved the open space, and I liked the idea of widening the amount of park space that gets used by putting more paths around the northwest area of the park through the trees (although I have some concerns about safety in that regard, as it is so isolated). F - I liked that they preserved the lawn and open space, but I don t know what I think of the idea of flattening the lawn. Then you would need a retaining wall to get up with strollers/kids, and kids/people couldn t just run from the south side of the park to the north side, which is actually really fun. It would seem unnatural to change the grade of the park that much. It s supposed to be a hill to climb, and it s flat enough that people are able to use it for sports. Keeping with the neighborhood park theme, we don t need it to be used for even more sports, so why bother flattening? 5. Which design concept do you prefer for trees and plantings? Love the forest areas Love the different environments to run/walk through C with the flow F with the nice use of the diverse areas Add more trees and fewer flower gardens Lots of trees and shrubs C - Forest area, shaded area C, D and E - colorful, year round. Forest of trees C - I like the idea of having some space for flowers and colorful plants F - Variety Low water plants. Like forest area. Veggie/flower kids garden I like lots of low water planting with flowers! Also, love the forest idea. Also liked the hill - though maybe not big trees. Some fruit trees would be nice Like shaded sidewalk I like the boulders B - limited reduction of open space More shaded trees other than the evergreens A - overall plantings. B - overall mixed plantings. C - forested area with tables F - idea of seasonal plant palate - LOVE that! D - I did like the grove of trees down in the southeast corner. That would be nice to cut off noise. F - I liked the idea of planting even more trees along Florida for more of a buffer from traffic noise. 6. Please describe the features that you find most exciting. The playgrounds - natural. Lots of different play spaces for all ages Forest area I love the logs along the path in B A - amazing sitting areas C - utilizes great circulation

5 E - has great private areas D - hill idea was a great divider for privacy I would like to see some consistent lighting and bike racks Exercise equipment throughout the park. New playground. Updated lighting, picnic areas, bathroom facilities Safer, more accessible playground, parking, edge area to help feel enclosed Create play area in D - unique, recognizes there is a heavily used play area at the school I think the concept of a complete park redo is great - this park needs it! E - Entrances Levels/hills, bridges, tunnels, shady walkways. Keep views Fitness loop; buffer from Florida; path to northwest of tennis. Buffer of plants from Florida Ave Shaded areas - colorful plants Xeric plants/less grass; adding slopes; experiencing mountain views; Looping trails as opposed to straight line trails; lots more plants and with seasonal palate Planting to separate Florida from the park Concept E had one of the most original and good ideas I ve heard of, which is to add some kind of adult work out area near the playground so parents can work out while watching their children. I don t know why nobody s ever thought of that, but I ve never seen that done. I always wish I could work out while my kids play. I d be curious to know more about the ideas for that work out area. It would have to be safe for kids, as they will inevitably want to explore that too. But interesting and useful for adults wanting a work out. 7. Please identify any missing features or elements. Can there be fruit trees/community gardens? Please keep the volleyball court, basketball court, tennis courts and add a porta potty on the west side. Attractive lighting - not a lot more but 1 or 2 adjacent to large picnic pavilion. Lighting - solar, LED. What about lit ground level pathways? Doggie cleanup stations Sledding hill. Potty at west end. F, E & C - made something of west end in addition to structure Lighting and onsite parking Setting aside some parking space with ADA accessibility is a great idea. The surrounding community has many elderly/disabled persons. Potential to add to adjacent properties Benches adjacent to play areas; more benches everywhere Large unique play structure Add larger picnic area and picnic tables Community gardens - with school and local gardeners THANK YOU for doing this. Actual fitness stations and perimeter paths No additional parking is needed Make sure tennis, basketball and volleyball courts all stay. Maybe have grills. No parking needed. Community garden missing, needed. Maybe a disc golf (small) course in one of the open grassy areas; solar lighting; In one of the Denver dog parks, they have a special water fountain - top for humans, bottom for dogs. Adult areas for bocce ball, horseshoes, corn hole etc.

6 Thanks! Lighting I think a bridge would be a huge liability and would encourage vagrants to hangout in the park. Other All the plans/ideas looked very good. I would like to add the concept of a community garden. It appears there is a lot of input/interest from the surrounding neighborhood. Please loot at the possibility of including a community garden in the plan. This garden would include individual plots assigned on a lottery system for vegetables, etc. Generally speaking, I felt the students understood the wishes of the neighborhood especially with regard to It should remain a small neighborhood park not something serving people outside the neighborhood. There is no need for parking, and no reason to take up what little space there is with parking. Other Issues: All trees need to be preserved. Lighting was not addressed, and needs to be. Both preserving the night sky, and providing enough lighting for the safety of children on the playground and late night walkers, needs to be considered. We are generally happy with the park, so I think that most of the attention should be given to the playground and perhaps better placement of things. Concept E also had one of the worst ideas of any design which was to have a parking lot on the south side of the park off of Florida St. As someone who crosses busy Florida St. with small children frequently, I can say with certainty that a parking lot where they placed it or anywhere along Florida would lead to a more dangerous crossing for us and for the Lasley Elementary children. With people turning left or right out of the parking lot, in addition to traffic, this would be horrible. Additionally, it s totally unnecessary to take the very little amount of greenspace we have and to put asphalt on it when Otis Street sits empty all day long for parking. This very issue is what shut down the park renovations before, and generally the students understood to stay away from this issue, so I m not sure why this particular concept ignored that.