2... Bolin Creek Trail Phase 3 construction (Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd. to Umstead Park) Complete except for area affected by coal ash

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1 Parks & Recreation Capital and Maintenance Project Update OCTOBER 2017 Inside this Issue PARKS & TRAIL NEWS BOLIN CREEK COAL ASH AREA TANYARD BRANCH TRAIL INCLUSIVE PLAYGROUND SOUTHERN COMMUNITY PARK PLAYGROUND 6 MORGAN CREEK TRAIL EXPANSION 7 MEADOWMONT PARK 8 9 HOMESTEAD SYNTHETIC TURF SOUTHERN COMM. PARK EXERCISE EQUIPMENT The Chapel Hill Parks and Recreation Department believes that the citizens of Chapel Hill deserve a diverse choice of recreational amenities that promote health, enjoyment, community values, and environmental sustainability. HIGHLIGHTS Tanyard Branch Trail, Phase 3: See page 5. Work will likely begin in late August or early September. Joe Herzenberg Memorial Bench: See page 3. The new bench will likely be ready for a dedication ceremony in December. You have received this communication because your address is on one of the Chapel Hill Parks and Recreation Department s distribution lists for various capital and planning projects. If you do not wish to receive this update (about once every days) please let me know. You can reply to the or call me at (919) Also, if you desire additional information please do not hesitate to contact me. Southern Community Park Playground The renovation and expansion project was completed in October. (see page 10) Communications: We are adding interested people to our distribution list for these projects. If you know anyone who would like to be kept informed please have them contact me. To reach me with questions or comments please , call, or write at: Bill Webster, Planning & Development Manager 200 Plant Road Chapel Hill, NC (919) bwebster@townofchapelhill.org Review of Plans: Plans for some projects can be reviewed in my office. To review plans, please make an appointment. The Friends of Chapel Hill Parks, Recreation & Greenways, a registered 501(C)3 organization, supports the activities, programs, and facilities of the Chapel Hill Parks and Recreation Department. Our fundraising efforts have helped to improve park facilities and greenways in Chapel Hill. We would appreciate your support. For further information and to donate, please visit our website at friendschparksrec.org

2 1. PARKS & TRAILS NEWS Most of the articles in this newsletter concern larger planning and construction efforts. This section gives us an opportunity to report on policy issues and smaller, but important construction and planning projects that serve the community. VOTERS APPROVE BONDS On November 3, 2015 Chapel Hill voters approved all five bond orders including Parks, Greenways, Streets and Sidewalks, Solid Waste Facility, and Stormwater. PARKS BONDS The $8,000,000 Parks bond is intended to be used for the following purposes: New administrative headquarters for the Parks and Recreation Department New programming space (may share the same building with administration) Capital level improvements and renovations of aging parks. PLANNING & DEVELOPMENT UPDATE GREENWAYS BONDS The $5,000,000 Greenways Bond is intended to be used for the Bolin Creek Trail, Morgan Creek Trail, and Tanyard Branch Trail. The following projects have been selected for use of bond funds. Progress is in red. Bolin Creek Trail Phase 3 construction (Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd. to Umstead Park) Complete except for area affected by coal ash Tanyard Branch Trail Phase 3 construction (Umstead Park to existing Tanyard Branch Trail) Currently under construction. Expected completion summer of 2018) Morgan Creek Trail design/permitting (Three separate projects. See page 11) Currently under design It is possible that specific projects may change if conditions change. This can occur as long as the funds are used to pay for the general purposes approved by the voters. The improvements and renovations portion of the bond is for $1,000,000. So far the following projects have been identified. Progress is in red. Southern Community Park Playground Complete Homestead Park Synthetic Turf Conversion Project Bidding and Geotech Investigation Cedar Falls Park Tennis Courts Rebuild Preliminary Design Cedar Falls Park Inclusive Playground Public Input Process Underway Morgan Creek Land Purchase Working with NC Botanical Garden. $50,000 reserved. Greenway bonds are currently being used to build the last phase of the Tanyard Branch Trail

3 ORANGE COUNTY PARK LOCATOR We urge everyone to use the park locator for Orange County. It is a great tool for finding the perfect park for any outing. You can search for parks that meet your needs. For example, if you need a park with a dog park, playground, and basketball the Park Locator can help. To use it go to: Orange County governments are now collaborating on a Trail Locator. As soon as it is ready for use we will notify the public. EAGLE SCOUT PROJECTS The Eagle designation is the pinnacle of scouting and can only be earned through many years of hard work and community service. The final step is to undertake a significant project that will benefit the community. The Chapel Hill Parks and Recreation Department has long supported the young men of our community by finding suitable Eagle projects. The number of Eagle projects we help with each year varies tremendously. Sometimes we have many going on at the same time, sometimes there are none. If you are an Eagle candidate feel free to contact me at or at bwebster@townofchapelhill.org. JOE HERZENBERG MEMORIAL BENCH The Friends of the Chapel Hill Parks and Recreation Department ( has provided the funding needed to install a memorial bench to both serve the users of the trail and honor Joe Herzenberg. The bench will be installed at a rest and viewing area just west of Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd. overlooking Bolin Creek. Joe was a former Town Council member, served for seven years on the Greenways Commission, and championed open space and trails throughout his public years. Joe was also the Friends largest donor. In his will he specified that his bequeathment should be used for benches and Bolin Creek. The artist team reports that the bench should be completed in November. If the bench is finished as promised we will try to schedule a ribbon cutting in December COMPREHENSIVE PARKS MASTER PLAN GREENWAYS MASTER PLAN MOBILITY AND CONNECTIVITY PLAN These Master Plans are components of the Town s Comprehensive Plan and as such will guide our decisions for the next 5 to 10 years. Comprehensive Parks Plan Greenways Master Plan MOBILITY PLAN: The Town is currently working toward development of an integrated Mobility Plan that will combine information and planning for multiple modals of travel including sidewalks, greenways, bike facilities, and transit. For more information please visit: Mobility and Connectivity Plan The late Joe Herzenberg was a friend and patron of the Bolin Creek Trail. He was also a member of the Town Council, Chair of the Greenways Commission, and served on many committees in Chapel Hill.

4 SOUTHERN COMMUNITY PARK EXERCISE EQUIPMENT PLANNING & DEVELOPMENT UPDATE A partnership with the Town of Chapel Hill, Market Street Association, Inc., and the Friends of Chapel Hill Parks and Recreation allowed us to purchase and install 10 outdoor exercise stations at Southern Community Park. Market Street Association, Inc. and the Town split the cost of the equipment and installation. The Friends provided the financial structure for accepting donations. The 10 stations are in six exercise pods located in Southern Community Park and along the Fan Branch Trail, between Scroggs School and Dogwood Acres Drive. Above are pictures of three of the 6 exercise station pods

5 2. BOLIN CREEK TRAIL (Coal Ash Area) PLANNING & DEVELOPMENT UPDATE 3. TANYARD BRANCH TRAIL (PHASE 3) Location: Jay Street to Umstead Park Current Status: Under Construction Design Firm: Stewart Engineering Contractor: S&C Construction LLC Anticipated Construction Cost: $1,490,000 Anticipated Start: September 2017 Anticipated Completion: Summer 2018 This trail will allow pedestrians and bicyclists to travel from the Northside neighborhood to Umstead Park and the future extension of the Bolin Creek Trail. Once complete this trail system will allow off road pedestrian/ bicycle transportation over a large portion of central Chapel Hill. Tanyard Branch will provide access from the Bolin Creek Trail to the downtown area at the least possible grade. Although only.4 mile in length the trail corridor has many issues that will require creative solutions to address steep slopes, proximity to Tanyard Branch, and the need to avoid as many large trees as possible. SPECIAL NOTICE REGARDING THE COAL ASH SITE Many people have asked when the new trail will be connected to the original section of the Bolin Creek Trail on the east side of Martin Luther King Kr Blvd. We understand the many benefits of quickly connecting the two sides of Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd including a safer crossing of Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd. The trail corridor has been cleared and rough graded. However, an old coal ash deposal site has been found on the Police Station property. Before we can construct the trail the Town requires additional information in order to make an informed decision on how best to deal with the deposal site. At this time we have no information on when the connection will be made. For more information please visit the Town s coal ash web page:

6 The first of several retaining walls have been installed. Rather than completely remove several trees we have topped them and left the trunks as future wildlife habitat. The new trail will merge with the existing Tanyard Branch Trail at this point between Jay Street and McMasters Street, near the Northside School

7 LINKING THE BOLIN CREEK AND TANYARD BRANCH TRAILS You very rightly may be wondering how Phase 3A of the Bolin Creek Trail and Phase 3 of the Tanyard Branch Trail will be linked. See below. Note that a gap still exists east of Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd. due to the coal ash situation.

8 4. INCLUSIVE PLAYGROUND PROJECT Location: Cedar Falls Park Current Status: Preliminary design work underway Design Firm: WithersRavenel, Inc. The Town has ten playgrounds in public parks. All of them have some degree of accessibility for children with mental and/or physical disabilities. However, we do not have a single play area that can be considered all or mostly accessible. This project will result in a destination playground that will be used by all of Chapel Hill s children. We are designing this playground using the Seven Principles of Universal Design in order to provide a facility that is open and fun for everyone. Option 2 Rams Horns The first step in the process determined that Cedar Falls Park had the best combination of cost, space, and potential for creative design. The next step is to establish a basic design that can be used for more detailed construction plans and documents. PUBLIC WORKSHOP (October 9, 2017) A public workshop was held at the Chapel Hill Public Library. We unveiled several design concepts. If you were unable to attend you may still contribute ideas via bwebster@townofchapelhill.org. You can see small versions of the proposed options below. However, to download full size version please go to the Town s Inclusive Playground webpage. Option 3 Tucked in the Woods Conceptual Play Settings Option 1 Compact Traditional

9 FUNDRAISING FOR THE INCLUSIVE PLAYGROUND The Friends of the Chapel Hill Parks and Recreation Department has started fund raising for the Inclusive Playground. You can donate by writing a check to: Friends of Chapel Hill Parks & Recreation 200 Plant Road Chapel Hill, NC (or) Via PayPal at Donate for Inclusive Playground The Friends organization is seeking a motivated volunteer to run a campaign to raise funds that would supplement any funds provided by the Town. If you are interested in what an Inclusive Playground might look like you can visit the Kids Together Park in Cary. Here is a link that provides some information: The playground is expected to be significantly more expensive than a standard play area because of the larger amount of land needed and the specialized equipment anticipated to be installed. We expect the playground will be built in phases. Any fund raising will help us complete the project sooner. If you think you can help please me at bwebster@townofchapelhill.org NEXT STEPS: WE will incorporate comments received and then develop a single concept plan. We will ask for a final round of public comment and then proceed to finalize the design and build a first phase.

10 5. PLAYGROUND IMPROVEMENTS PLANNING & DEVELOPMENT UPDATE COMMUNITY CENTER PARK Current Status: Identify funding Anticipated Start: Spring 2018 Anticipated Completion: Spring 2018 We recently fixed several drainage problems in and around the playground. The next step will be to totally remove the old poured-inplace fall surface and replace it with a new surface. We expect work on that project to start in the spring of SOUTHERN COMMUNITY PARK Current Status: Complete Contractor: Creative Playscapes Contract: $159,000 This project is now complete and the playground is open to the public. Work included: Removed the existing wood fiber surface Added sod around the perimeter Replaced drainage system Installed new rubber poured-in-place fall surface Add several new natural play elements The old playground surface must be replaced in the near future. New rubberized fall surface

11 6. MORGAN CREEK TRAIL EXPANSION Location: Three locations along Morgan Creek Current Status: Design ongoing Design Firm: Stewart Engineering Design Contract: $381,982 The existing Morgan Creek/Fan Branch Trails system is the longest paved trail system in Orange County. The current system links Southern Community Park, Southern Village, Scroggs School, and Merritt s Pasture. Parking is provided at a parking lot on the western end of the trail and within Southern Community Park and Southern Village. We are looking at two specific areas for expansion of the current trail and a stand-alone bridge that would serve residents of the area. New sod around the play area. Morgan Creek Trail East: The current trail ends at the edge of Merritt s Pasture. The design team will help us understand how we might be able to continue the trail to the east, and with NCDOT s approval, continue at least to Morgan Creek Road. This will give residents living east of Merritt s Pasture legal access to the Pasture and the trails. Currently there is no legal access from the east except for those few residents who have properties that adjoin the Pasture. We are considering an expansion of this portion of the project to include a possible bicycle/pedestrian crossing of Fordham Boulevard at Oteys Road. As currently visualized this might include a pedestrian activated HAWK crossing system that would stop traffic and allow pedestrians to safely cross. There is much work to be done and the idea may not be feasible. We ll report as information becomes available. New natural play features. Merritt s Pasture from the current eastern end of the Morgan Creek Trail.

12 Morgan Creek Trail West: The western end of the existing trail ends at a parking lot south of Fordham Boulevard. The design team will look at how best to extend the trail to Smith Level Road and Carrboro. The Town of Carrboro is currently looking at how best to extend the trail west within its jurisdiction. The Town recently purchased two key easements. Morgan Creek Bridge to Connect Ashe Place and Arboretum Drive: The design team will explore the possibility of installing a bridge over Morgan Creek to connect the large neighborhoods on both sides of the creek. This bridge would be designed to handle only bicycle and pedestrian traffic. Special Note: We recently concluded that a bridge at Ashe Place and Arboretum will not be possible due to flood modeling issues. We are currently looking at other possible locations. We will report once we have enough information to share. 7A. MEADOWMONT PARK BRIDGE REPLACEMENT Location: Meadowmont Park between Rashkis School and Lancaster Drive Current Status: Preparing to Rebid Design Firm: Alpha and Omega Engineering Anticipated Completion: Spring/Summer 2018 (design only) NOTE: We bid this project in June. However, bids came in over budget. We intend to re-bid in late The trail through Meadowmont Park includes two bridges that were originally built for farm access over Little Creek and across the extensive wetlands around Little Creek. Those bridges are now in poor condition. We recently made emergency repairs to one of the bridges that should allow access until permanent replacement bridges can be installed. We have recently run flood modeling and have determined that we can now proceed without a lengthy FEMA map revision

13 7B. MEADOWMONT PARK DAM REPLACEMENT Location: Meadowmont Park near Rashkis School Current Status: On Hold Design Firm: Gannet Fleming Engineering Anticipated Completion: unknown The existing pond at Meadowmont Park is one of the prettiest spots in Chapel Hill. Unfortunately the dam that creates the pond must be renovated. When the Town assumed ownership the dam was already in poor condition, with large trees growing out of the structure. We have finished working on a design to rebuild the dam and add a safety shelf around the edge of the pond. The next step will be to secure funding.

14 8. HOMESTEAD PARK SYNTHETIC TURF SOCCER FIELDS Location: Homestead Park Current Status: Planning for Construction Anticipated Start: Winter 2017 Anticipated Completion: Spring 2018 The Town built two soccer fields in Homestead Park in the late 1990s. These fields are critical to youth soccer programming efforts in Chapel Hill. Unfortunately, like all grass fields they must be closed every summer and winter in order to allow the grass to rest and grow. If we allowed these fields to be used without closure all the grass would be killed due to overuse. This is a picture of the Town s only existing synthetic turf field, located in Cedar Falls Park. This project will replace the grass fields with an artificial turf surface. The conversion from grass to synthetic turf will allow us to keep the fields open all year. Play will be possible in almost every possible weather condition, including rain. In theory, these fields could be used every day of the year. We are currently gathering all the costs related to this project. It is expected to cost over $1,000,000 for all aspects of the replacement. Carolina Youth Soccer and Rainbow Soccer, two local soccer organizations, have agreed to provide $800,000 to be used toward the project. They will be reimbursed in the form of waived rental fees until such time as their contribution has been returned to them. We will provide updates as we gather more information on costs, materials, design, and schedule. COMPLETED PROJECTS BY YEAR 2007 Cedar Falls Play Area Community Center Renovations Hargraves Park Site Improvements Hargraves Park Playground Replacement Homestead Park Restrooms Renovation Homestead Park Skate Park Improvements Homestead Water Line Replacement Meadowmont Park Drainage Improvements Tanyard Branch Trail Renovations Umstead Park Restrooms Renovation 2008 Athletic Light Assessment and Removal Community Center Park Walkways Replacement Dry Creek Greenway Trail Concept Plan Dry Creek Natural Surface Trail Hargraves Park Playground Surface Replacement Homestead Park Aquatics Center Park and Facility Assessment Sport Art Gymnastics Connection to OWASA water and renovation of septic field 2009 Athletic Light Replacement Bolin Creek Trail Mural Art Renovation Project Bolin Creek Trail Pavement Repairs Cedar Falls Cell Tower Removal Community Center Retaining Wall/Public Art Project Fan Branch Trail Bridge Decking Replacement Southern Community Park 2010 Battle Branch Trail Renovation Design and Permitting Battle Branch Trail Temporary Boardwalk Repairs Bolin Creek Trail Pipe Replacement at Sunrise Kitchen Bolin Creek Trail Renovation Assessment Study Booker Creek Trail Tree Removal Project Cedar Falls Scoreboard Replacement Chapel Hill Skate Park Renovations Greenway Percent for Art Project (Al Frega, artist) Homestead Park Batting Cage Renovations Meadowmont Trail Bridge Repair Oakwood Drive Open Space Shed Removal Old Chapel Hill Cemetery Fence Replacement Project 2011 Bolin Creek Trail Bollards and drainage Recycling Containers Installed in all Parks Greenways and Bicycle Map Battle Branch Trail Sign Replacement Morgan Creek Trail, Phase

15 Southern Community Park (Signs, benches, bridges) Oakwood Park Play Area Renovation Battle Branch Bridge Replacement (Glendale Drive) Hargraves Park Scoreboard Installation PLANNING & DEVELOPMENT UPDATE 2012 Battle Branch Bridge Structural Repairs (downstream of Glendale Drive) Bolin Creek Trail (Entrance and direction signs) Dry Creek Trail Bridge Replacement (near ECHHS) Southern Community Park Disk Golf Course Tee Pads Community Center Park Poured-in-Place Fall Surface Cedar Falls Trail Entrance Signs/Kiosks Homestead Park Playground Surface Renovation Community Center Park Turf Renovation Southern Community Park Turf Renovation Hargraves Park Stormwater Improvements Umstead Park Stormwater Improvements 2013 Ephesus and Phillips Tennis Courts Renovations Southern Community Park Athletic Light Installation Adoption of 2013 Greenways Master Plan Adoption of 2013 Comprehensive Parks Plan Umstead Park Sand Volleyball Courts Homestead Park Bridges Repair Battle Branch Trail Boardwalk, Stairs, and Bridge Repair Cedar Falls Park Synthetic Turf Field with lights 2014 Umstead Park Playground Replacement Oakwood Park Path Renovation Cedar Falls Construction of Synthetic Field Bolin Creek Trail Stairs 2015 Community Center/Homestead Park Play Equipment Tanyard Branch Trail P Temporary repair of Lower Booker Creek Trail Bridge Temporary repair of Meadowmont Park Bridge Southern Community Park Small Dog Park Gazebo Addition of Pickleball Courts at Ephesus Park Westwood Park Improvements Pine Knolls Playground Poured in Place Surfacing Installation of five bicycle/pedestrian trail counters Bridge and Retaining Wall Inspection Program Started 2017 Bolin Creek Trail Phase 3 (except coal ash area) Southern Community Park Playground Renovation Southern Community Park Exercise Equipment Installation Community Center Park Drainage Improvements